Belmont Village Quarterly Newsletter
on Senior Living

A Salute to Veterans

Independence Day – commonly known as the Fourth of July – is typically associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, baseball games and various other patriotic public and private events. But let us not forget that this federal holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring the United States’ independence as a new nation. Nor should we forget that just as the Continental Army fought for our independence, brave men and women of the United States have continued to fight for, and on behalf of, our country.

On June 24, 2008, Belmont Village at Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia, recognized area veterans at a special celebration and reception. On hand to thank the veterans for their services to our country was Georgia State Senator Jack Murphy, who himself was a veteran airman (U.S. Air Force, 1960-64). “These men paved the way for those of us who followed, and I’m honored to have been included in this celebration of our veterans and servicemen,” the Senator commented.

Kendall Crye, Belmont Village Community Relations Associate, also honored the veterans with her remarks. “At Belmont Village, we’re fortunate that we get to meet and spend time with many of our veterans and learn from their experiences. It’s a privilege to be able to honor them in this way.”

Crye then read short biographies of each local veteran who was present, while Senator Murphy presented a certificate and Georgia state flag to each of the men. Among those present was Belmont Village resident Dr. James LeRoy Rabb (U.S. Navy, 1943-1946). As a Lieutenant Junior Grade on the SS Carole, he used small boats to transport troops throughout the South Pacific, including to the beaches at Okinawa. He recalled being on a ship with legendary war correspondent Ernie Pyle. A local veteran who was also present at the event, Wilson McClure (U.S. Army, 1943-1946), served as an Army Medic in the South Pacific. During the ceremony he recognized Dr. Rabb’s name and explained to the crowd that he was one of the men Dr. Rabb took to the beaches at Okinawa. “I always wondered what happened to him,” explained former Master Sgt. McClure.

In addition to Sen. Murphy, Dr. Rabb and Wilson McClure, who came to the celebration dressed in his original Army uniform, other veterans present also had interesting stories to share about their military years.

• Eugene “Cap” Verdery (U.S. Navy, 1941-1968) served in WWII and the Korean War, and was Executive Officer at the Naval Air Station in Cuba during the Bay of Pigs.
  
  
• Carl Feuchtinger (U.S. Army Air Force, 1942-1945) didn’t serve overseas, but provided crucial ground training for novice Air Force pilots.
  
  
• Bourke Floyd (U.S. Army Air Force, 1942-1945) was a togglier who flew bombing missions in a B-17 over Berlin. He remembers celebrating VE Day on May 7, 1945.
  
  
• Wesley Jones (U.S. Army, 1943-1965) served in the Pacific and Hawaii during World War II, and was an Army Ordinance Major when he retired from his military career.
  
  
• Evan Mathis (U.S. Navy, 1943-1954) attended the Naval Academy and was roommates for a few months with former President Jimmy Carter.
  
  
• Jack DuPuis (U.S. Navy Air Corps, 1943-1947) was trained as a torpedo pilot and preparing for combat just as the war ended.
  
  
• Francis Mulkeen (U.S. Army Air Force, 1943-1946) served as an in-flight radio operator with the 101st Bombardment Photo Squadron in New Guinea.
  
  
• Joe Baggarly (U.S. Army Air Force, 1943-1945) was responsible for B-25 bomber maintenance and production lines maintenance at Turner Air Force Base in Albany.
  
  
• Allen Jones (U.S. Army, 1943) was an Army Private who proudly served at Camp Pickett, Virginia.
  
  
• Charles Shepherd, Jr. (U.S. Army Infantry, 1944-1945) was awarded two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, a Silver Star for Gallantry in Action, and the French Croix deGuerre.
  
  
• Bill McMillian (U.S. Army Air Force, 1944-1945) remembers flying over a field of red, white and blue poppies, which locals in the Netherlands cut to spell “Thanks Yanks.”
  
  
• Eduardo Montalvo (U.S. Army Air Force, 1945-1947) was an airplane mechanic in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After a tornado, his battalion delivered needed supplies to areas near his base.
  
  
• Kevin DeCantillon (U.S. Navy, 1971-1975) served in Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia, and in the Mediterranean on two different destroyers.

Kevin DeCantillon, who currently serves as Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Atlanta, closed the ceremony with a blessing. A local barbershop quartet, which also opened the ceremony with the National Anthem, performed for attendees while everyone reminisced and enjoyed refreshments.

Belmont Village is grateful to these and all other veterans who are residents of our communities, as well as other men and women who have served or
are currently in the military, for their service to our country.

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