Town of Six Mile, Semper Fi Barn, and Fort Prince George DAR Chapter
commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day:
Ceremony remembers 24 South Carolinians (two from Pickens County) who perished on D-Day,
Local World War II veterans (including one who fought on D-Day) are honored
By Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle
Click on the play button above to hear audio of Six Mile’s D-Day ceremony on June 6, 2024. (Audio by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Patricia Duncan Jones was only five years of age when her 19-year-old brother, Harold Duncan, was killed in action during the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach on the coast of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. Her memory is vivid as she recalls Harold leaving their Easley home to serve his country. “I remember my brother, when I was five years old, come and tell my mama goodbye. He was going into the service, and she was crying, and I remember me hanging onto her. I can see him now, hugging my mother. I can see him. I remember that far back.” Jones spoke those words to The Pickens County Chronicle immediately following a June 6, 2024 ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The ceremony, held at Six Mile Town Hall, was co-sponsored by the Town of Six Mile, Tom von Kaenel’s Semper Fi Barn, and the Fort Prince George Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). “This is so special,” Jones, who now lives in Anderson, said of the ceremony. “I knew I had to come to this.” Jones was one of 24 audience members to participate in a military identification tag (dog tag) hanging ceremony during the D-Day event. Each dog tag bore the name of one of the 24 servicemen from South Carolina who died on D-Day. Jones hung the dog tag upon which her brother’s name was engraved. “I’m so glad I got to do this,” Jones told The Chronicle following the ceremony, adding that it felt great to be present for the important occasion. “It was wonderful to be in a place like this, for people to know that he was special,” she said. “That’s special to me, because he was a very special person.” Even though she knew him for only a brief time, she remembers him vividly and fondly, describing him as “a wonderful, good guy” and remembering that he could play the piano without having taken lessons. “I’m one of 10 children,” she said. “We had a wonderful family. All of my family is gone, all of them except me.”
Patricia Duncan Jones and her niece attended Six Mile's June 6 ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Harold Duncan, Jones' brother, was among the 24 servicemen from South Carolina killed on D-Day, June 6, 1944, when he was only 19 years of age. Jones hung a dog tag in memory of her brother during the ceremony. (Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
In addition to paying respects to those who died on D-Day, the event also served to honor World War II veterans, four of whom were present for the event, and one of whom, Ralph Conte, fought on D-Day. Conte, who said that he will turn 104 in October, used his cell phone to take photographs of the audience, as members of the audience took photographs of him and the other World War II veterans.
The event began at 11:30 a.m., with attendees having the opportunity to meet and take photos with the World War II veterans. At noon, Tom von Kaenel welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming to the event that marked the 80-year anniversary of the Allies’ storming the beaches of Normandy. He noted that the purpose of the event was to remember the 24 South Carolinians who lost their lives that day but also to honor members of the Greatest Generation, four of whom were in attendance: Frederick T. Munk, Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy (retired), who served in the Pacific during World War II; Ralph Conte, Corporal, U.S. Army (retired), age 103, who served in the 94th Infantry Division and landed at Utah Beach on D-Day; Edward ‘Ed’ Zeigler, Sergeant, U.S. Army (retired), age 99 and seven months, who was in England during D-Day; and Raymond Dawkins, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army (retired), age 98, who served after D-Day.
World War II veterans Raymond Dawkins, Edward Zeigler, Fred Munk, and Ralph Conte (front) pose with Six Mile Mayor James Atkinson and members of the Fort Prince George Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution: Mildred Brewer, Carolyn Nations, Joyce Hansel, Anne Kilpatrick, Abby Moreno, and Ann Warmuth. (Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Lt. Col. Tom von Kaenel, U.S. Army (retired), founder of The Semper Fi Barn, a veterans retreat in Six Mile.
(Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Tom von Kaenel holds the microphone while each World War II veteran introduces himself to the audience. (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Six Mile Mayor James Atkinson welcomed everyone to Six Mile and thanked the DAR Fort Prince George Chapter and the Semper-Fi Barn for co-hosting the event. “Today, we are here to remember June 6, 1944, D-Day, a day marking the start of the liberation of western Europe from Nazi occupation,” he said. “We are here today to remember that historic event and the bravery, courage, sacrifice, and, in many cases, the ultimate sacrifice made by those in the Normandy landings that day. Eighty years ago, the Allies launched a simultaneous landing of U.S., British, Canadian, and French forces on five separate beaches: Sword Beach, Juno Beach, Gold Beach, Utah Beach, and Omaha Beach.
“Day-Day was the first day of Operation Neptune, a naval assault on the Normandy beaches and part of the larger Operation Overlord, the largest sea and airborne invasion in history, with more than 550,000 troops, over 6,000 ships, and more than 10,000 aircraft attacking the German occupation on the northern French coast. The successful attack was a turning point in the war and gave the Allies a foothold in Western Europe by shattering Hitler’s defenses, the concrete barrier bunkers and gun emplacements known as the Atlantic Wall. Despite heavy casualties, D-Day was a crucial success leading to the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.
“My own father entered the European battlefront via Utah Beach, and, throughout his entire life, carried a scar across the bridge of his nose, where enemy gunfire grazed him upon landing on the beach. Like most members of The Greatest Generation, he spoke little of the events of that day and time, but, because of the limited stories he did tell, this day is of particular significance to me, because of both his efforts and those of many soldiers, and I quote, ‘which reflected great credit upon yourself and your comrades.’ I have some displays here from my father, and a couple of them have actual signatures on them. One of them is by General Bradley, and, actually, that was the way General Bradley described what they had been through, or per meritorious service as described by General McBride, as you see on another one of these documents….
“In one of these documents here of my father’s, you see a brochure from the war, and, on the very front of it, it says, ‘Onward.’ That was basically the strategy – you’re going into this, and, no matter what, you don’t stop. You keep going forward.
“It’s sort of hard to us to visualize what those men went through on this day – going onto those five beaches and enemy artillery coming at them, but what was in their head was ‘onward and forward.’ So, indeed, this is a day of remembrance and thankfulness we should have for those who made those landings on those five beaches on this day.
“May the memory of what has occurred on this day in history and the destiny of our world thus changed by those brave soldiers never be forgotten. Today, we remember a day reflected by what you owed your country, and Patton continually stressed that, and the other generals stressed that. It was what you owed your country, not what your country owes you, a very different take on the way things were in that particular time.”
Atkinson said that the D-Day commemoration was a great event, and he thanked everyone involved. “I appreciate everyone being here today,” he added. “I appreciate the media. I appreciate the co-sponsors of this event. But, most of all, I appreciate these men here and men like them who did what they did to change the course of history in their various roles during World War II.”
Six Mile Mayor James Atkinson speaks about the significance of D-Day and members of the Greatest Generation, including his own father (who landed on Utah Beach and fought on D-Day). (Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Carolyn Nations, Regent of the Fort Prince George Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, gave the invocation, and, then, as “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played, the World War II veterans and audience members began to proudly sing our nation’s national anthem. Mayor Atkinson then led everyone in The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
Tom von Kaenel then asked each of the four World War II veterans to share about their experiences or their feelings about D-Day.
Munk said that he was serving in the Pacific and was probably 15 or 16 years old at the time. “Looking at it as a youngster, it was difficult to fathom what was really going on. However, at the time, and I’m proud to say, I had two brothers that were already in uniform at that time during yearly conscription. So, my heart goes out to veterans as a whole, and I’m so proud to be here with you people, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Amen.”
Conte shared, “I knew I was going to get called, sooner or later, so I expected it. We landed at Utah Beach, and we were 28 miles off the mark, which wasn’t good, and we had to walk 28 miles to our point, with a full pack, about 80 pounds, and, when we hit the beach, they found us, and all the 88’s went off, and I hid under a half-track all night, until it all stopped. And, in the morning, they called our companies, we got together, and then we were positioned. And none of us got hit, thank God. But I did on the 14th day. I got hit by shrapnel. It didn’t take long to get me. I thank God that I’m here. I’m always surprised that I’m still here and that I lived this long to tell it. And God bless all the friends that I made during my time in the Army that did not come back. And, to me, that’s very sad, and I never forgot it.”
Zeigler was 18 years old when all the young boys in Fairfax were riding in the country, enjoying not being in the Army. “Well, the radio was on, and they told us what had happened. Our President Roosevelt made this statement: ‘No 19-year-old boy will be sent overseas.’ I spent my 19th birthday in England. I worked on a small detachment that stayed in England, and we were in the transportation department of the Army. We were the ones that sent the ammunition to the soldiers in the gliders that went over that morning of the invasion. We were told that, if it weren’t for us, the soldiers wouldn’t be in much shape, because they wouldn’t have any food, any clothes, any ammunition, nothing. So, we felt we were very well needed. That just made us want to fight, ourselves. I was very fortunate. I did not have to fight in any part of the war. I was told by a captain, I believe it was, ‘You can enjoy your part in the Army – where we were in England, by enjoying what you are seeing – not going into every pub and tasting everything.’ So, I took his advice and I have many friends. One family invited me over to spend Christmas the first Christmas. I had never gotten a stocking for a Christmas gift, like they hang over the fireplace. I always got shoeboxes. We enjoyed that. But it was touching because we knew that our friends were going over and they were dying. But I want to tell you, may the Lord bless and keep America as strong as He can. And God bless America, and God bless each one of us. And may the good Lord keep us in His love.”
Dawkins said, “I was in basic training in Macon, Georgia, Camp Wheeler, when they told us they had invaded.” He was 18 years old. “When we finished basic, they were hunting men. I believe the highest-ranking man I ever saw when I was in the Army was a Major, and he said, ‘We’re going to give y’all five days delay en route from Macon, Georgia to Camp Shanks, New York, and I rode the troop train from Macon to Greenwood, South Carolina all day long. The ol’ Major said, ‘If I had my way, you boys would be on a plane going overseas, rather than going home.’ The only time I got off, in the United States, was that five-day delay en route. Then, I went over on the Queen Mary. There were a bunch of us. And I found out the British sure like boiled eggs. We’d eat boiled eggs for breakfast, we’d eat them for lunch, we’d eat them for supper. They put me and a British fellow on a 40-mm gun on the bow of the Queen Mary. I’d never seen a 40-mm gun. He was a nice fellow. He shared his tea with me when it was cold, and it warmed you up. Still, I didn’t really know what was going on. We joined the company, and that’s about what I remember.”
Next, the 24 South Carolinians who died on D-Day, who, as von Kaenel noted, paid the ultimate price, were honored by the hanging of a dog tag for each of them. Twenty four members of the audience, including several members of the Fort Prince George DAR Chapter and other audience members (including children), had volunteered to hang a dog tag. The names of the fallen were announced in alphabetical order, with the exception of the last name called — the one who was the youngest. Von Kaenel showed a slide with photos and information about each service member killed, as a member of the audience hung the dog tag with that individual’s name.
Following are the 24 South Carolinians who were killed on D-Day:
Private First Class Paul Jasper Baker (age 22, from Heath Springs) U.S. Army, Second Infantry Division, 38th Infantry Regiment.
Staff Sergeant James F. Bechtler (age 23, from Rock Hill), U.S. Army Air Corps. Bombardier, 394th Bomber Group, 587th Bomber Squadron.
Technician Fifth Class Tommy M. Bell (age 25, from Anderson), U.S. Army, Third Armored Division, 65th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, A Battery.
Chief Machinist Mate Charles Erastus Brewer (age 23, from Lexington), U.S. Navy aboard the USS Corry DD 463.
Technician Fifth Class Elmer Thomas Bryant (age 22, from Anderson), U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division, B Company 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Staff Sergeant Daniel L. Carlisle, Jr. (age 22, from Union), U.S. Army, Third Armored Division, 58th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.
Private Ernest Hill ‘Sonny’ Carroll (age 22, from Rock Hill), U.S. Army, 29th Infantry Division, 121st Engineer Combat Battalion.
Gunner’s Mate Second Class Harold Duncan (age 19, from Easley), U.S. Navy Reserves, Demolitions Unit.
Staff Sergeant Earle D. Elliott (age 21, from Walhalla), U.S. Army Air Corps, 389th Bomber Group, 566th Bomber Squadron.
Private Elmer ‘Boge’ Ellis (age 22, from Camden), U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division, B Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Private James E. Fulton, Jr. (age 19, from Georgetown), U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division, A Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.
First Lieutenant Fred E. Gillespie (age 22, from Pickens), U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division, F Company, 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Private First Class Charles Ray Johnson (age 19, from Hartsville), U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division, G Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Sergeant John Lloyd Johnson, Jr. (age 20, from Florence), U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division, A Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Flight Officer James Gus ‘Jimmy’ Metchicas (age 23, from Newberry), U.S. Army Air Corps, 438th Troop Carrier Group, 88th Troop Carrier Squadron.
Technician Fifth Class Fred M. Newton (age 26, from Iva), U.S. Army, 4th Infantry Division, 29th Field Artillery Battalion, B Battery.
Private First Class Curtis Pound (age 25, from West Columbia), U.S. Army, 4th Infantry Division, 8th Infantry Regiment.
Sergeant Dwight Leroy Roddey (age 31, from Newberry), U.S. Army, 1st Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Regiment, Company F.
Private Francis D. Shealy (age 25, from Summit), U.S. Army, 1st Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Regiment, Company K.
Private Sidney R. Smart (age 28, from Cannon Mills/York), U.S. Army, 4th Infantry Division, 29th Field Artillery Battalion, Battery B.
Seaman First Class Herbert Dean Spearman (age 21, from Spartanburg), U.S. Navy, Naval Reserve, USS Samuel Chase APA 26.
Private Henry Major Taylor (age 27, from Greenwood), U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division, 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, Headquarters Battery.
Technician Fourth Class William Wallace Whitlock (age 23, from Spartanburg), U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, Company A.
Water Tender Third Class Nick Pete Mitchell (age 18, from Laurens), U.S. Navy, USS Corry DD 463.
Twenty four volunteers from the audience hung a dog tag, each with a name of a serviceman from South Carolina who died on D-Day. (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Following the hanging of the dog tags, members of the Honor Guard of the American Legion Easley Post 52 gave a 21-gun salute, and Doug Henry played “Taps.”
World War II veterans Raymond Dawkins, Edward Zeigler, Ralph Conte, and Fred Munk during the playing of "Taps" (Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Mayor Atkinson presented a letter of appreciation to each World War II veteran present: “It is an honor and a privilege to have you in Six Mile here today to recognize your place in history as a veteran of World War II. Eighty years ago today, brave soldiers from the U.K., the U.S., Canada, and other countries took part in the Normandy campaign, which, despite heavy casualties, was a crucial success, leading to the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. Words cannot express our thanks and gratitude for your service to our country. We are so grateful for the sacrifice of you and your fellow soldiers and the change of destiny of our world as a result of your efforts. Many thanks to you always for what you have done. Kindest regards, the Town of Six Mile, James A. Atkinson, Six Mile Mayor.”
Six Mile Mayor James Atkinson reads a letter of appreciation given to each World War II veteran. (Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Atkinson noted that Pickens County has four Medal of Honor recipients. “Six Mile is a very patriotic town,” he said. “I’m proud of that.” Before light refreshments, served by the DAR, he wanted to conclude the ceremony by asking everyone in attendance to sing “God Bless America.” D-Day veteran Ralph Conte, age 103, held up his cell phone and recorded video of the audience singing “God Bless America.”
World War II veterans Raymond Dawkins, Edward Zeigler, Ralph Conte, and Fred Munk, members of The Greatest Generation, sing "God Bless America" with the audience. Conte takes video, with his cell phone, of the audience as everyone sings "God Bless America." (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
More photos
