U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) recently took to the Senate floor to honor the service and sacrifice of five Alabama veterans who valiantly served the United States in uniform.
From the French countryside and the Vietnamese jungles, to the deserts of the Middle East and all places in between, the Alabamians that were honored on the floor of the world’s greatest deliberative body answered the call to serve their nation.
The veterans Alabama’s junior senator honored are as follows:
- Corporal Edsel Bonds of Samson
- Sergeant George Mills of Decatur
- Lieutenant Colonel Fred Lacy of Auburn
- Corporal Clyde Haynes of Vestavia Hills
- Sergeant Ryan Charrier of Orange Beach.
“In battles before World War One and in battles since, our service members and veterans have served to protect the American way of life,” Tuberville proclaimed.
“We all wake up each morning and enjoy the freedoms this great country affords us – because of our veterans,” he added. “Because it was our veterans – our men and women in uniform – who were there when their country needed them most. While their roles span multiple theaters and decades, our veterans were, and continue to be, united by a common mission – to protect and to defend the United States of America. This is a great responsibility they shouldered, and they deserve gratitude equal to their great sacrifice.”
The senator continued, “Alabama is home to nearly 400,000 veterans, and today, it is my honor to recognize a few of them for their service. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many veterans from my great state, and I am always inspired by their service, and their sacrifice. Their patriotism is unmatched, and their courage is unwavering.”
“Like that of Corporal Edsel Bonds from Samson, Alabama, who experienced a shell blast to his right femur on January 28, 1966, while on a mission to intercept guerillas during the Vietnam War… Corporal Bonds risked his life and limb because he believed that America is worth sacrificing for,” said Tuberville.
The shell blast Bonds absorbed destroyed four inches of femur bones and numerous muscle groups.
“One-hundred-year-old Sergeant George Mills of Decatur, Alabama showed great bravery during his time serving in World War II,” he proclaimed. “During this initial attack, Sergeant Mills – despite being injured – sprang to action to help save the lives of those in his company. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his bravery.”
The Purple Heart veteran recalled being provided no food while under custody of the Germans. Mills and his unit were forced to eat scraps they managed to find in barns. Mills articulated on what he viewed as the need for Americans to understand history so as to not repeat it in the future.
“Another American hero is Fred Lacy, of Auburn, Alabama,” declared Tuberville. “A Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, Mr. Lacy provided valuable leadership and negotiation skills during his time in Europe, Korea, and Vietnam…When reflecting on his service, he says that it was, ‘a privilege to serve.’ And that spirit of service is something he carries with him even after his time in the military.”
Lacy said he was “exceedingly pleased” that he was able to serve his country due to the United States being “a great blessing” to him.
“Corporal Clyde Haynes from Vestavia Hills, Alabamia, who served in the Army Air Forces’ 439th Troop Carrier Group during World War II,” added Tuberville. “Mr. Haynes shared the joy of walking with children in France as they rushed out of their houses and filled the streets to celebrate their new liberation from Nazi rule.”
Haynes recounted the moment as one of his “favorite memories” in the war as the children were elated to be freed from German occupation.
The senator continued, “But freedom does not come without cost. There are many service members who pay the ultimate price for our freedom—never to return home. There are the families left behind who sit down to dinner every night with an empty seat at the table, knowing that life for them will never be the same. They too, have shouldered the cost of America’s liberty, and deserve our gratitude.”
“Most of us will never know the full weight of preserving our freedom – never have to endure sleepless nights from the harrowing memories of the battlefield, bear pain from war injuries, or miss important events with our family and friends,” Tuberville advised.
“Like [Ryan] Charrier, from Orange Beach, Alabama, who served as a United States Air Force Technical Sergeant in the War in Afghanistan with the 442nd Fighter Wing. He received his first deployment when his children were just eight and four years old.”
Charrier expressed his desire for Americans to “never forget” the sacrifice of those who answered the call to fight the United States’ war on terror.
Tuberville concluded, “May we join together as a nation this Veterans Day to honor our veterans who have served this nation and defended our freedom and values we hold so dear. To our veterans, I say ‘thank you’ for your sacrifice. Our nation will be forever indebted to you.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.