MARKERS NOTING MILITARY VETERANS
(Help for Mr. Lee's history class)
Revolutionary War
Markers for Revolutionary War veterans must always be viewed with suspicion; many are placed to support questionable memberships in the Daughters of American Revolution or Sons of the Revolution. The marker for Phillip Rushing at Rushing Grove Cemetery is one such bad marker. Phillip Rushing lived and died in what was to become Decatur County, but he is not buried at Rushing Grove and the other Rushings in the cemetery are not his descendants. Phillip Rushing's descendants in Decatur County are named White, Welch, and Lacy. Most likely he is buried at the Minie Cemetery in the Concord Community. Phillip's birth and death dates on the marker are wrong. A less flawed marker for a Revolutionary War veteran is that of Vincent Moreland at Smith Chapel Cemetery in Henderson County, though his 1838 death date may be suspect. However, his exact burial spot is not known. The markers for Vincent Moreland and Samuel Moreland (see below) were placed amid the fieldstone in the area where the Moreland family burials most likely occurred. Burial places are unknown for most Revolutionary War veterans buried in Decatur County.
War of 1812
John Jackson, Ivey Cemetery
John B. Rice, Peace Chapel Cemetery
John H. Essary, Union Church Cemetery, Henderson County
Samuel Moreland, Smith Chapel Cemetery, Henderson County
Jacob Myracle, Duke's Chapel Cemetery, Henderson County
Mexican War
None known to be marked in Decatur or Henderson counties.
In Madison County at Taylor Cemetery (east side of Campbell Street, about 1/4 mile south of I-40): Everett G. Pearcy
In Perry County at Harder Cemetery on Rockhouse Creek: Edmond Harder
Civil War
Most major Decatur County families moved here between 1820 and 1850, so many students in the class will have an ancestor who fought in the civil war. Decatur Countians fought for both the Confederacy (e.g., Leeonadus Rushing, Campground Cemetery) and the Union (e.g., J. W. Morgan, Campground Cemetery). You probably will want to search out the marker for one of your own ancestors. Blacks also fought in the Civil War (see Edward Clay and Peter McDonald in the Clay Cemetery on Pentecost Street in Parsons).
Spanish-American War
This war was so short that there was no mobilization and few served.
John N. Woods in the northwestern section of Holladay Cemetery (Benton Co.)
Lonnie F. Brooks in Lexington Cemetery (his marker is east of the north-south access drive and north of the Old City Cemetery and its cast iron fence)
John Diviney in the Curry Cemetery east of Lobelville (Perry Co.)
John L. Tate in Bethel Cemetery south of Linden (Perry Co.)
World War I
Most large active cemeteries will have several World War I veterans. Both Decaturville cemeteries have World War I veterans (10 white, 2 black).
Mexican Revolution (1910-1920)
Relations were tense between the United States and Mexico during the decade long Mexican Revolution. The U.S. Navy occupied the Mexican Port of Vera Cruze in 1914 and in 1914-1915 the U.S. Army invaded Mexico seeking retribution on the bandit Pancho Villa for his cross-border raid. Bernard E. Lee at Sardis Ridge Cemetery served in the Navy near the Mexican border during this period.
World War II
World War II veterans are dying off now, so military markers for this war are common at all large active cemeteries.
Korean War
The statement about World War II veterans applies to the Korean War as well. There are five Korean War veterans at the Crossroads Cemetery near Parsons (Billy Joe Dailey, William Harvey, Bevely Dean Mays, Lloyd L. Sherwood, Herbert L. Spencer, Earl Rogers Western).
Cuban Missile Crisis
Ronald Franklin Asbell in the northeast section of Lexington Cemetery served in the Navy during this event.
Vietnam
Likely to be found in any large active cemetery, markers for Vietnam veterans perhaps are easiest to find in black cemeteries (see Walter Russell Smith and Gary Smith Yarbro at the black Decaturville Cemetery).
Persian Gulf War
I do not know of any Gulf War veterans in Decatur or Henderson counties with their service indicated. In early 2004 in Madison County there are three black Persian Gulf War veterans with markers showing their service.
At Parkway Memorial Gardens on Paul Coffman Drive in East Jackson: Jessie Lee Anderson, James Jerome Finger
At Medon C.M.E. Cemetery: Ira D. Kelly
David Donahue
October 2004
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