FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Ebling, Lee
County Veterans Services
(941) 339-6225
UPDATED MEMORIAL FOR LEE’S FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS PLANNED
FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 7, 2001) – Lee County is asking for the public’s help in updating a memorial of county residents who died in wars during the 20th century.
An existing plaque – on a stone in front of the Old County Courthouse in downtown Fort Myers – has fallen into disrepair. In addition, it was erected in 1967 and includes only those who died through the first part of the Vietnam War.
Alice Peters, general manager of Springwood Court assisted living community, is spearheading the effort along with the Lee County Veterans Services Office. Marriott – Springwood’s parent company – has agreed to pay for the cost.
Peters got involved in the project after one of her residents, Gordon Colcord, 84, asked to display a 1965 Memorial Day News-Press article that listed those Lee County residents who had died in battle since World War I. The article, titled "Lest We Forget," included many of Colcord’s friends who died in World War II. Peters wanted to complete the list but couldn’t find anyone who had kept it updated.
The county’s Veterans Services Office has been working to update the list, but needs the help of residents to make corrections and ensure the it is complete (see the list, to date, attached).
The county is hoping to update the existing memorial by adding the new names and creating a viewing area with benches.
If you have additions or corrections for the list of names, call Alice Peters at 278-0078 or John Ebling, with Lee County Veterans Services, at 339-6225.
Lee County Commissioner Andy Coy, who is the Commission’s liaison for Veterans Affairs, has been actively involved in the project and says he hopes to unveil the updated memorial by this Memorial Day.
"As we enter the 21st century, wouldn’t this be a wonderful way to honor those who made it possible for us to see a new millennium," says Coy.
UPDATED LIST OF LEE COUNTY RESIDENTS
WHO SERVED IN THE U.S. MILITARY
AND WERE KILLED IN ACTION
|
WORLD WAR I |
||
| SKELTON,
Curtis P. |
WILKISON, Rabe O. | |
|
WORLD WAR II |
||
| ACUFF,
Elbert ALDERMAN, Bill ANDREU, John BAKER, Warren BIRKS, Fred BURDICK, Allen BRANNEN, Aubrey T. BRANNON, Benjamin CAIL, William CARTER, Andrew CAULEY, Jack CLARKSON, James L CLAVILLE, Daniel L. Jr. COLEMAN, Bennie COWART, Blane COWART, Melvin *CURTIS, CUMMINGS, Melvin DANLEY, James F. DANIELS, O.K. DAVIS, Alfred DURANCE, B.T. DeFOOR, Charles DeFOOR, Morgan DERINGTON, Tom Jr. ELWELL, Marvin FLINT, Ernest FUTCH, Oscar FORDHAM, M.C. |
GIBBS, Harry E. GALLEY, Clinton GILBERT, Roy HAIGHT, NED HAMMEL, Edward HARDEN, Roswell HENDRY, Harry Jr. HICKS, Jesse B. HUGLEY, Ned JEFFERSON, Oscar JEWEL, Harry JUSTICE, Floyd F. KANT, Nelson KANTZ, Volney KALER, James W. KINCHEN, Howard KURTZ, John LAMB, Everett LOWE, Jimmy LOWE, Milton MAGAHA, Ernest MILLER, Robert MORALIS, Emanuel MELLOR, Jack MURPHY, John MOON, Alton B. NEWMAN, Fred PACH, William PATRICK, James |
PATRICK, Justice POWELL, Ellis POWELL, Talmadge POWERS, Joseph POWERS, Louis H. RANDALL, Jimmy Sr. RANDALL, Jimmy Jr. RIGSBY, Greer RITCH, Joseph RUTLEDGE, Barron R. RIGDON, F.W. RUSSEL, Lee R. ROBINSON, Turner ROSE, Clifford SMITH, Jack STEWART, Ernest SCALLEY, Marvin SUMMERALL, Marvin TURNER, William D. Jr. WATSON, Emory WALDROP, Billy WALKER, Ballon E. WEEKLY, Pharis WERT, Charles WILLIA, Langley WHITWORTH, Hector J. WOOTEN, Andrew J. WYNN, Matthews YOUMANS, Edward T.
|
|
KOREAN WAR |
||
| BOUCHARD,
Rolland CREWS, James |
JAMES, Carroll JONES, Joseph |
MIKELL, Carnell WHITE, David |
|
VIETNAM WAR |
||
| ATWELL,
Donald W. BRYANT, Cullie W. **CUTINHA, Nicholas J. DEAN, Christopher Jr. FLOYD, Robert G. FORTE, Frederick C. Jr. GUCOFSKI, Stephen D. HAYWARD, John K. HELVESTON, Robert |
HIX, William HUTTING, Roy D. IRVIN, Paul E JOHNSON, William L. KIRKPATRICK, Ronald R. LUCKEY, James A. McGEE, Thomas Lee MILLER, J.C. Theodore MOORE, Willie James |
OTT, Raymond Earl RHODES, Willie M. ROLLE, John B. SCHULTZ, Ernest M. III SMALLWOOD, Thomas SPAINHOWER, Clayton THEISEN, George D. WATSON, Columbus Jr. WHITTEN, Robert Eugene |
|
PERSIAN GULF WAR |
|
| CROCKFORD, James F. Jr. |
HAISMAN, Gary D. |
*First name not legible from U.S. Army list.
**Medal of Honor recipient.