Rockwall commemorates 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack

(ROCKWALL, TX – Dec. 8, 2016) On a Sunday morning on Dec. 7, 1941, in the tropical Hawaiian islands, a fleet of Japanese warplanes attacked the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor. Over 2,000 lost their lives in the attack that ultimately led to the American entry into World War II.

Yesterday, dozens across the county gathered inside Liberty Hall of the Rockwall County Courthouse– among them, 19 Rockwall County WWII veterans – to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The remembrance program was sponsored by Rockwall County, American Legion Terry Fisher Post #117 of Rockwall, and the Rockwall County Historical Foundation, and featured keynote speakers State Senator Bob Hall, Post #117 Commander Mike Donegan and Col. Scott Murray, USAF (ret).

DSC_0074_1 — From L to R: Post #117 American Legionnaires Todd Manning and Lee Gilbert; Post #117 First Vice Commander Mark Kipphut; Col. Scott Murray, USAF (ret); State Senator Bob Hall; Post #117 Commander Mike Donegan; FUMC Rockwall Pastor Dr. Joe Pool.

State Senator Hall presented a proclamation recognizing the Pearl Harbor Remembrance event in Rockwall County. In his address, Hall paid respects to the “Greatest Generation” – the men and women who in their lifetime endured and overcame some of the toughest hardships the country has ever known.

“Your generation lived through the Great Depression, and then when the call came you stepped up and took on the two mightiest armies in the world,” Hall said. “And we weren’t prepared for it. Some of you headed out using weapons left over from WWI. But you went out and did the job.”

Post #117 American Legionnaires Lee Gilbert and Todd Manning read out the names of those Rockwall County residents who lost their lives in service to our country during WWII, as a bell was struck to honor the sacrifice and bravery of the fallen.

Rockwall County WWII Dead
Sherman Allen
Thomas Cleo Brown
A.J. Bishoff, Jr.
Walter Estell Carr
Winfred Rowland Darr, Jr.
Cruz Garcia
Frank Watkins, Jr.
Garland Taylor
Wayne Max Houser
Harmon W. Moore
A.R. Dawson
Grover K. West
L.V. Edwards
Elmer Morrow
James Akins
Adolphus Nichols
Jack Pearson
Hubert Hancock
Billye Deweese Steward
Richard Earl St. John
Landrum Leach
Carl Bird
Muriel Bost
Handley Holmes
Weldon Eugen Tyree
G. R. Howell
Ray T. Gill

Rockwall County WWII Veterans
Jack Alexander Saint Aubin John Ausmuth
James Baird                                Marcus Belcher Robert Bruce
Herman Billnitzer Ed Crumpo                                       John Edwards
Alvin Ecksland Wayne Fisher Leonard Garren
Mildred Gandor                          Henry Godwin D. Groohuseh
Patrick Griffin Charles Guagler “Coach” Hawkins
Ralph Hall Don Henderson Dan Jordan
Chuck Johnson Wayne Jones Claud P. Keefer
“Red” Keffer Curtis Leftwich Al Lurie
John Macivor Robert Martens Jessie McMillan
Taylor McClure                           Andy Miles                                      Eddie Miel
Walker Mills Charles Miller Jack Oglilvie
Bill Patterson Earl Price Joe Price
Vernon Ribera                             Earl Sloan                                         Dave Tolan
Paul Watters                               Joe Williams                                    Bert Walthal
Ronald Weibel                            Dowell Wright