Emanuel County Veterans Center

05/29/2025

11/07/2024

Getting ready to head back for a left total hip replacement. More titiaum, Donna will be able to take me to the recycling center when my time comes.

09/04/2024

Veterans Breakfast!! Please make sure you sign up on this original post so we don't miss anyone or for those that attend the normal Monday meetings at the library there will be a sign up sheet there as well. Hope to see you all on the 28th. Thank you ALL for your services!🫡🤝

07/22/2024

***Update at Bottom***

MIA Merrill’s Marauder replacement “Buck” Bagley’s remains identified in 80th year after his combat death


It’s been a week since Nathan “Woody” Bagley, 80, from Rincon, GA, received a life-altering call from William E. Cox, Past Conflict Repatriation Branch, FT Knox, KY telling him that remains of his father, Luther E. “Buck” Bagley, had been identified.

His father, who has been MIA since he was Killed in Action July 25, 1944, was one of about 2,500 reinforcements to the expendable, top-secret 5307th Composite Unit Provisional, better known as Merrill’s Marauders, flown into Myitkyina, Burma to fight against the superior Japanese 18th Division.

“Woody” was stunned after answering Cox’s 9 AM call on Tuesday, May 14th, and learning that DNA he’d sent in years ago had enabled his father’s remains to be identified.

“Somehow I managed to talk and answer Cox’s questions, but I actually went into a ‘lockdown” state and reality didn’t hit me until after the call ended,” said “Woody.” “I walked toward my wife, Pat, to tell her, and I couldn’t talk. Pat thought something horrible had happened since it was 10 minutes before I could speak. Both of us were crying.”

“Woody” and Pat immediately drove to Pembroke, GA, to gather with other family members and tell his mother, Eleanor Stark, who turns 100 in September, that “Buck” would be coming home. Tears began flowing again.

“The only thing we know at this point is that his remains have been identified,” said “Woody,” explaining that funeral details and additional information will be officially provided by the Army.

Woody was 11 months old and his mother was 19 when a relative went to Southeastern Shipbuilding Corp., in Savannah, where she was working as a Rosie the Riveter, to tell her “Buck” had been Killed In Action in Burma July 25, 1944, at age 22.

“Buck” was 20 years old – and Eleanor 17 – when he was drafted in 1942 from his hometown of Fitzgerald, GA. He had been working in a cotton mill after quitting high school to support his parents.

Eleanor and baby “Woody” were able to visit “Buck” only once after he joined the Army and before he shipped out of Fort Meade, MD port of embarkation “to parts unknown.”

“Even though I remarried and have three wonderful daughters, ‘Buck’ was the ‘great love of my life’,” said Eleanor. “I am grateful that God let me live long enough to make this happen. I have been waiting with a broken heart for 80 years.”

“Buck” was a Private First Class, K Company, assigned to the 5307th Composite Unit Provisional, nicknamed Merrill’s Marauders, when he arrived in the China Burma India Theater in late May 1944.

After northern Burma’s strategic Myitkyina airfield had been seized May 17, 1944, with only about 200 combat capable Merrill’s Marauders remaining, “Buck was among the first 5307th CUP reinforcements flown in to help hold the airfield and capture the town of Myitkyina.

When “Buck” was Killed In Action July 25, 1944, it was only one week from when the town of Myitkyina finally fell Aug. 3, 1944. One week later, the 5307th CUP dissolved Aug. 10, 1944.

The tiny number of remaining Marauders plus the 5307th CUP replacements became the 475th Infantry. Today’s 75th Ranger Regiment, headquartered at Fort Moore, GA (previously Fort Benning) traces its lineage to Merrill’s Marauders. The 75th Ranger Regiment crest is the Marauder patch.

In 2020, a Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the Merrill’s Marauder unit, honoring all the men who had served in the 5307th CUP up until it was dissolved Aug. 10, 1944, “in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service in the jungles of Burma during WW II.”

The last living Merrill’s Marauder, Russell “Huck” Hamler, who died Dec. 26, 2023, at age 99 in Pennsylvania, was interred January 19, 2024, at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies near Pittsburgh.

****UPDATE****

The Funeral for this Veteran will be Aug 10th in Fitzgerald, Ga. The Veterans of Emanuel County have received a 48 Star Flag that will be draped over the casket. The Georgia VFW District 6 has also requested Memorial Certificates from National Headquarters to be presented to the family

07/16/2024

I had to make a screenshot to share this post. Let's help this Gold Star Daughter find out about her dad.

06/17/2024

"Nasworthy Speaks to the Veterans"

"The Veterans at the Library held their weekly meeting, Monday morning June 17, 2024, at the Franklin Memorial Library at 9:00. With Chair Johnny Tapley presiding, we had 45 in attendance. After the invocation and the pledge to the U.S. Flag, Chair Johnny introduced Veteran Scotty Nasworthy to present his program on the Veterans Administration and the Wreaths Across America. Scotty went through several benefits that a veteran can receive from the VA which is found in the VA Federal Veterans Benefits Handbook. Its available online at: https://www.va.gov/OPA/publicatins/benefits book.asp. Also, you can get information on veterans benefits provided by the State of Georgia that is available online at: https://veterans.georgia.gov/state-benefits. Scotty also talked to us about the 58 Emanuel County cemeteries that we have WALKED and have checked the veterans graves out. He also provided us with a list of the more than 120 Emanuel County cemeteries that need to be walked to make sure we have all Emanuel County veterans identified. So far this year we have 2,400 veterans identified in Emanuel County cemeteries and hope to have a lot more by "Wreaths Across America" day on Saturday, December 14th. At the end of our meeting, Chair Johnny called on Veteran Richard Claxton to make an announcement. On Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 7 pm, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 103 AND THE VFW will Sponsor and host "MUSIC SHOWCASE SWAINSBORO" at the Swainsboro Auditorium on West Church Street. The doors will open at 6:00 pm and there will be a $5.00 admission charge with (12 and under FREE). Showcasing local talent playing classic hits! Master of Ceremonies will be Ron Bivins THE SHOWCASE BAND consisting of Dawn Phillips, Phil Wilson, Billy Cooler, Lige Moore and Donnie McNeely. FEATURED GUESTS: Rhonda & the Relics, The May Belles, Mark Graham, Darren Barwick, Ohoopee Angels, The Four Plys and Kendall Hadden & Company."

03/05/2024

if you have an iPhone (I don't), you need to check this