Rockdale Citizen

Military News

Local vet survives three wars

February 14, 2012

Most combat veterans live and sleep with the nightmares of only one war, but Bill Edwardy of Conyers copes with the vivid memories of three.

Rockdale vet recalls tank battles in WWII

Rockdale County resident Freeman Barber described his time serving in a Sherman tank during World War II as being part of a team out of necessity. "Only the tank commander with his head popped up from the top hatch knows what's going on," he said.

Vietnam Vet deals with battle memories 40 years after guns went silent

Robert Atkinson endured unremitting fighting and psychological trauma, dodged mortar and rocket attacks, and survived hand-to-hand combat against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong human wave attacks. Decades would pass before hypnosis took Atkinson back to Vietnam for proper closure. Before hypnosis he could vividly recall only 24 hours in the war zone.

Gerald Hipps: 'A story to tell' about Iwo Jima

Jasper County resident Gerald Hipps guarded the Marine flag-raisers on Iwo Jima.

Jackson flew the "Wampus Cat" B-17 bomber in WWII

Newton County resident Britt Jackson spent 15 months as a prisoner of war in the infamous Stalag 17 during World War II. Known by many Americans as the setting for the hit TV sitcom "Hogan's Heroes," Stalag 17 was certainly not a situation comedy to the airmen imprisoned there.

Conyers VFW post seeking new members

The Conyers VFW post is looking for new members from Rockdale, Newton and DeKalb counties.

Marine Britton fought racism, perceptions during WWII, Korea

Theodore R. Britton Jr. dealt with racial segregation at home but was a brother in the U.S. Marine Corps as World War II wound down. Denied a commission during the Korean War, he led a successful life of learning that culminated in an ambassadorship to Barbados and Grenada.

Conyers VFW quartermaster recalls his days in Vietnam

Arriving 'in-country' during the infamous communist Tet Offensive of February 1968, Vince Przybyszewski experienced the complexity of the war called Vietnam.

Flag disposal ceremony rescheduled

Organizers of the U.S. flag disposal ceremony at the Georgia Veterans War Memorial has rescheduled the event for 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Walk of Heroes flag ceremony postponed

Bad weather causes stop to Pearl Harbor remembrance

The unserviceable flag disposal ceremony planned for 5 p.m. today at Georgia Veterans War Memorial is cancelled due to inclement weather conditions, according to organizers.

Walk of Heroes plans flag disposal ceremony

The Walk of Heroes Foundation is seeking old, worn out United States flags for a flag disposal service to be held at the Veterans Memorial Park in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Peterson flew P-51 Mustang fighter in Pacific during WWII

For a kid who didn't finish high school Wilhelm Herbert "Bill" Peterson ended up with a college degree and eventually in the seat of a P-51 Mustang fighter plane in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

Marine Corps assignments varied for Girardin

Ray Girardin was one of seven brothers to serve in the military. He chose the Marines.

Aukerman saw the war through B-24 gun turret

Arlie Aukerman completed 25 dangerous missions as a nose gunner on a B-24 Liberator, including a 1,300-plane raid over Berlin on March 18, 1945. As a member of the 453rd Bomb Group, Aukerman fought the war over Europe in good company: Oscar winning actor Jimmy Stewart piloted one of the B-24s and Walter Matthau served on a ground crew in the 453th at the RAF base Old Buckingham, near Attleborough, England.

Veterans honored at Rockdale's Walk of Heroes

The message delivered by Tommy Clack was basic during Friday's Veterans Day program at the Walk of Heroes in Black Shoals Park. He urged people to thank a veteran, support them and never forget the service they provided to their country.