Memorials

We remember.

We remember young men and women - forever young.

We remember our family members - like John E. who did not reach 21 and was buried near where he fell in France, until the war was over. His parents, like many others, asked for his remains to be returned home. His headstone, imposing, stands alongside those of his parents. He came home to the place where he went to school, ran barefoot through the fields and along dirt roads, flirted with girls, raised mules,* and worked on the farm. A second son, John was later remembered by his just older brother (only a year the elder) when H named his second son, John. He remembered and we remember.**

When John came home, he was welcomed - and his family comforted - by hundreds of family, friends, and neighbors.  They all remembered.

Detail of John E.'s stone.

We remember our neighbors.

We know our neighbors in such odd ways. We walk some miles each week and see them in the early morning or just before dusk. We know few names, but smile or nod when we meet. People move in and out so often. It is hard to keep up.

People only move into North Belton. And there is a spot DH calls the "Soldiers' Corner." These silent neighbors' headstones disclose information which led me on another journey today - to learn a little of their stories.

This weekend we will remember some of them.

I. Marion Stanley

Part of the "Soldiers' Corner"

PVT Marion E. Stanley

Marion E. Stanley enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard (for one year) in 1940, or so the records show. He deployed to Europe and was taken prisoner in Italy. He died in a POW camp in Germany in 1944 or 1945. The records show conflicting dates. His death certificate dates (Born March 15, 1921, killed 1944) do not match the dates on his headstone (March 15, 1919 to March 31, 1945). His cause of death is also not clear. He was either killed in transport, executed at the camp, or killed while attempting escape. His Texas death certificate shows only "D.K." in multiple blanks and recommends checking the records of the Adjutant General from 1944.

What is clear that Marion went to war, died in that war, and came home in 1949.

Marion was the son of Albert Stanley and Lee Dunn Stanley Blankenship. He had two older sisters and (at least) 5 younger half-siblings.  He was reportedly a married man, but I did not find his wife's name nor any indication that he had children.

Rest in peace, PVT Marion Stanley.

Added a flag for Marion.

WWII Monument at courthouse square

PVT Stanley's name on the monument

II. Paul N. Holcome

SGT Paul N. Holcome

Paul Nunn Holcome's stone is also misleading. It only indicates his service in WWII. The 1945 date made me think he too died in the war. He did not, but there is more to SGT Holcome's story.

Paul Holcome served in both WWI and WWII. He was injured in 1943 and returned home because his injuries prevented him from serving further. His death certificate shows he was a pharmacist and that he died from shotgun wounds - a homicide. Holcome's death and funeral were on the front page of the local paper, but my limited research provided nothing further.

Paul's parents were Jackson D. (Dock) Holcome*** and Mary Jane Light Holcome (or Halcome or  Halcomb depending on the document). He was a divorced man, but I did not find an ex-wife's name, nor did I find any children. The spelling of the last name caused significant confusion as there were many Holcombs in the area. Paul did have a brother Emmett Eli and a sister, Alene Holcome Kelley,**** who served in the WAACs during WWII, survived the war, and was buried next to her brother in 1980.

Rest in peace, SGT Paul Holcome. Rest in peace, Alene Kelley.



NOTES:

* John E. was a muleskinner in the war...a good job for a boy just off the farm.
** My youngest brother, son of that second second John, named his second son John as well. It is a pattern I only recognized as I typed this post.
*** More on Jackson's bunch - http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=head-wall&id=I27154
**** Also found this "Allene" and "Cora Alene Holcome Kelly." Alene was married to Wade Curtis Kelley and had a couple of children including C. Clifton and Ann in whose obituary Alene was mentioned - http://www.rockportpilot.com/obituaries/article_f85f46ef-afb2-59fa-9a60-0e05ca923e7f.html