Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / May 15, 2019, edition 1 / Page 2
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2 THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15,2019 Vet gives rare talk about D-Day BY REGGIE PONDER The Daily Advance Vernon Lingle has never liked to talk much about his military service during the Normady invasion on D-Day. Lingle, 94, was a Navy gunner’s mate on an infan try landing vessel that fer ried troops and supplies to Omaha Beach the day of the Allied invasion of France on June 6, 1944. The invasion landed more than 160,000 troops at Normandy, giving the Allies a foothold in Eu rope that eventually led to the end of the German oc cupation of France and the end of World War II on the Western Front. Lingle, who served in both the U.S. Navy and Air Force, has been asked numerous times to speak about his D- Day service to groups rang ing from public school stu dents to church gatherings. And he has always politely declined. “I have never done any public speaking and I don’t intend to,” Lingle said. “I get nervous.” Lingle likens his experi ence during the D-Day inva sion to going into hell and coming back, saying he nev er dwelt on the horrors of that day, choosing to focus instead on his thankfulness for living through it. Recently he was asked to speak at the Elizabeth City- Pasquotank County Senior Center about his wartime experiences. “I told them I thank God every day that I’m able to say ‘hello everybody,’” Lin gle recalled. “And then I sat down.” So he was initially reluc tant to take part in a U.S. SUBMITTED PHOTO Vernon Lingle recently spoke of his experiences in D-Day during World War II. Department of Defense project chronicling D-Day from the viewpoint of those who were there. Katie Lange, who writes articles for defense.gov and various DoD social media platforms, said she is inter viewing three D-Day vet erans for an article on the invasion in connection with the upcoming 75th anniver sary of D-Day on June 6. The other two veterans are Col. Richard Hayman of Oregon, who served in the Army Air Forces, and Robert Fagan of Texas, who served in the Army. On Thursday, Lange vis ited Elizabeth City to inter view Lingle. The interview was scheduled to take place at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6060, where Lingle is a member. Lingle, however, ex pressed some reluctance about the DoD interview when he learned it would involve video. “What have I gotten my self into?” he wondered aloud. Lingle ultimately agreed to the interview with Lange, saying he did so because he realizes there are not many World War II veterans still alive. “And I think I’m the only D-Day veteran in this (VFW post),” he said. Lingle said that when June 6,1944, arrived and the assault on Normandy began, he and he other sailors were confident they had done all they could do to prepare for the invasion. “We trained so long and so hard that I don’t think we worried about the invasion at all,” he said. “We were glad it was going to be over with.” On the evening of D-Day, the vessel he was aboard was towing a barge loaded with ammunition and other supplies when planes over head began attacking it and other supply boats. “Shells were falling all over the place during that invasion,” Lingle recalled. Lingle said his most vivid memories of D-Day are gruesome. “In my mind all I can see is that beach littered with dead bodies,” he said. But Lingle said those memories have never inter fered with him being able to move on with his life. He served a total of 13 years in the Navy and then served in the Air Force until his retire ment in 1964. Lingle, who is from the rural community of Faith near Salisbury in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, said he and his wife bought a lot at Snug Harbor after he retired from the military and civil service. When his wife’s health declined about a de cade ago they moved here from Florida to be closer to their son in Williamsburg, Virginia, and he became in volved in the VFW in Eliza beth City. He said he has epjoyed the fellowship in the VFW. All ages get along very well in veterans organiza tions, he said. “I bowled with them until three months ago,” Lingle said. “I was bowling with people in their 20s.” Ken Sandridge, com mander of VFW Post 6060, said he appreciates Lingle’s humility and is glad he overcame his reticence and agreed to be part of Lange’s article. “It is absolutely fantas tic,” Sandridge said. “There are not a lot of World War II veterans that are remaining with us.” And those who are still around rarely talk about their experiences, San dridge said. Lange said the recollec tions of Lingle and the other veterans are “a living piece of history” that will help tell the story of D-Day for the 75th anniversary. For Lingle, he keeps com ing back to a feeling of grati tude for surviving an expe rience that was so deadly for others. Allied casualties on June 6, 1944 have been estimated at 10,000 killed, wounded or missing in ac tion. Of that number, 6,603 were Americans. “I told my preacher—and this was years ago — I told him I’m not worried about going to hell,” Lingle said. “And he said, ‘why not?’ and I said, ‘because I’ve been there.’” Tip Leads To Arrest SUBMITTED PHOTO Based on a tip to Hertford Police Officer Max Robeson, Michael Lee Douglas, 50, of Plymouth was arrested for possession of stolen property, misdemeanor larceny and driving while license revoked. Police provided a photo of the van in the Hertford Food Lion parking lot to The Perquimans Weekly and then the Weekly posted the picture on its Facebook page asking for help. Truck fire MEETING Continued from 1 Judge Tillett’s order re voked a previous $15,000 cash bond set by Judge J.C. Cole after Jackson failed to appear in court. In it’s place he set a $15,000 secured bond. That meant Jackson got back the $15,000 in cash was not jailed, but did have to pay for the secured bond. Tillett’s order said Jack- son could continue to per form his job as a Hertford Town Board member, but only on conditions. Jackson can’t be in close proximity with Eley but Judge Tillett set out exemp- MEMORIAL Continued from 1 October of 1985 he was as signed to Marine Corps Se curity Force Training Cen ter, Virginia Beach, VA, and served as an instructor and senior noncommissioned of ficer in charge of the physi cal security/antiterrorism section and a subject matter expert and academics offi cer. He was later deployed with a mobile training team to Southeast Asia In February 1992, then tions. That includes a physi cal barrier. Also allowed are communications by electronic or audio technol ogy, or a separation by more than 20 feet. For the purposes of Mon day’s meeting, a physical barrier was erected to the right of Mayor Horace Reid and Eley. It’s the type of typ ical office furniture used to create the walls of a cubicle but this was just one side. Jackson’s seat is the left of the mayor’s seat. Jackson showed up for the regular 7:30 p.m. meet ing. Judge Tillett’s order is temporary until the assault matter is heard or until the order is modified. Jackson said it was up to Judge Tillett to determine if the partition wall was enough to comply with the order. The town council asked Eley to step out of the meet ing because it wanted to talk about the money it says Eley owes the town. Eley, as with other firefighters, have been paid a bonus by the town based on the number of calls they go on. Jackson said that violates a town policy because council members aren’t supposed to get any money from the town outside of their town board salary. Jackson’s is appealing January’s guilty verdict to Superior Court. The case has yet to be heard. Jackson is scheduled to appear in court on July 9 on a separate charge of perjury, a felony. A Perquimans County grand jury found Jackson perjured himself when asked if he was on bond when he was arrested in February 2018 on a traffic stop and Jackson said he wasn’t. If found guilty Jackson could face at least five months in jail and lose his ability to vote or hold elect ed office. As for the special meeting Monday, the policies involve contracts with the town a social media policy. PHOTO BY ED LEICHESTER A truck burns on West Railroad Avenue on May 7. Firefighters from Hertford and Winfall werd abteto®- extinguish the blaze and keep it from spreading to nearby structures. Pet show held at Missing Mill GARDEN Continued from 1 ton. “When it came to vendors we were at capacity,” Shook said. More than 100 people have gone through the lo cal Master Gardener train ing program and Shook said about 65 are still active in it. After they complete the program they are expected to volunteer back 40 hours the following year to help Gunnery Sergeant Grasty was selected and promoted to Warrant Officer. Upon graduation from school, he was assigned to a weapons training battalion at Paris Island. He was transferred to the Marine Corps Secu rity Force Training Com pany in Chesapeake and retired in June 2000. Grasty was called into the ministry in 2007, serv ing as interim pastor in sev eral local churches. He has served as the bi-vocational pastor at Freedom Baptist Ministries of Elizabeth City others. Master Gardeners staff a hotline at 482-6585 on Tues days and Thursday from 10 a.m. until noon. People can call in with gardening ques tions. For those interested in going through the program, registration starts on July 1. Weekly classes start in September and run through early December. The cost of the program is $85 for the instruction book. For more information, call 482- 6585. OBITUARY POLICY For information on submitting obituaries or death notices Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., call 329-9505 or email obits@ap- genc.com and specify that you are interested in obituary information for The Perquimans Weekly. On weekends and holidays, email obits© apgenc.com. Obituaries must be received, processed and approved by 8 a.m. on Tuesday to appear in print in the Wednesday edition. Death notices can include the name and age of the decedent; funeral and visitation or viewing information; and the name of the funeral home. for seven years. He is married to his wife, Cynthia, of 42 years, and they live in Elizabeth City. They have two daughters, Amy Grasty and Sara Bu kowski, both of Raleigh. The observance will in clude the posting of the service colors by the Post 126 Honor Guard; POW/ MIA Memorial; a salute to our military services; and our roll call of deceased county veterans since the last Memorial Day obser vance. Hertford American Legion Auxiliary Unit 126, Boy Scout Troop 150; and Cub Scout Pack 150 will participate. The Perquimans County High School band under the direction of Malik Bar- rows is providing music and taps for the obser vance. Wreath presenters in clude Perquimans County, the Town of Hertford, the Town of Winfall, the Inter- County Ruritan Club; the Sons of the American Rev olution; Colonial Dames; DAR; and American Legion Posts 126 and 362. PRAYER Continued from 1 School Principal John Las siter asked for God to give elected leaders courage. Rachel Sanders prayed for school students and staff “who have never heard your name.” She is a teacher at Perquimans County High School and was praying for teachers and school staff. “Lord you have already won the battle,” Sanders said. Tony Cook, a senior at PCHS, thanked God for all his gifts. “We are coming together today because it is your day, not just today but every day. Please give students your guidance.” Praying for churches, Pastor Greg Owenby of Bethel Baptist Church asked “I pray God you give us a deep seeded love. Help our churches stand up.” Pastor Todd Kemp men tioned John 3:16 and asked By BRIANNA CAVANAUGH and CHEYANNE STORY The first annual Perqui mans Pet Show at Missing Mill Park as part of the Riverbash Festival. The show was open to all species and breeds of animals. Pet owners were asked to donate pet sup plies in lieu of an entry fee to benefit the Tri-County Animal Shelter. Lucy and Faith, two dogs who are currently available for adoption at Tri-County, joined in the fun with some help from two younger audience volunteers. The canines and a rab bit competed in Best Dressed, Most Obedient, Biggest, Smallest, Best Beggar and Best Rescue Pet. Ripken took home the most obedient and biggest. Suzy and Mr. Gib- bles tied for Best Dressed so the audience had to be polled to decide the win ner. It could be Suzy’s prancing in her angel cos tume that was the decid ing factor. Calvin who was the youngest at 4 months old, was the smallest. Roll, Deputy Farrar’s dog par ticipated in the best beg gar and most likely won when he stole the sweet treat. Plans are being made to transition the Pet Show to a Pet Carnival for 2020. Watch for Riverbash 2020 for more details. (Brianna Cavanaugh and Cheyanne Story are interns seeking future careers in the field of animal science. They de signed the pet show.) Perquimans WEEKLY (USPS428-080) Vol. 87 No. 20 Published each Wednesday. A publication of Adams Publishing Group Established 1934 111 W. Market St., Hertford. NC 27944 Mike Goodman Publisher BANKRUPTCY Peter Williams News Editor Bev Alexander Advertising Representative O. FORECLOSURE O LAWSUITS I- CAR REPOSSESSION COTAX LEVIES AND GARNISHMENTS Call Allen C. Brown Attorney 252-752-0952 A Debt Relief Agency helping people eliminate debt through bankruptcy Phone 252-426-5728 • Fax 252-426-4625 Email: perquimansweekly@ncweeklies.com Subscription Rates In Daily Advance home delivery area $26.25* All other continental U.S $32.50* *Plus applicable sales tax. Activation fee of $1.99 will be collected with all new subscriptions. Deactivation fees may apply for early cancellation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Perquimans Weekly, Hertford, NC 27944
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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