Liz Thompson, left, and her son, Jordan Thompson, right, present Frank Starrett, center, with his WWII Combat
Medals and Ribbons, that he had lost over 60 years ago, at Homecoming Ceremonies, in Yantis, Friday night.
Yantis WWII Veteran Receives
Lost Combat Medals, Friday Night
by: Bobby McDonald
What began as a college class assignment in 2003, for Liz Thompson of Yantis, ended with an honored Yantis, WWII Veteran receiving his combat medals and ribbons, after losing them over 60 years ago. James Franklin "Frank" Starrett, of Yantis, was totally surprised on Friday night, when his neighbor, Liz Thompson, called him out of the stands, between the Lady Owl and Owl games and presented him with his war medals that he had indicated he would "give anything to have!"
Back in 2003, Thompson had been attending college and was required to write an essay for one of her classes, about a local veteran. She traveled down the road in Yantis and interviewed her neighbor, Frank Starrett, who told her all about his participation in the CCC and then being drafted into the U.S. Army, when he turned 18, in 1943. Starrett served in Africa, Calcutta, India, and traveled the Ledo and Burma Road into China, as a truck driver and maintenance construction engineer, where his unit built and repaired bridges damaged by the war.
However, it was after returning to the states, following honorable discharge in 1945, that Starrett's medals were destroyed by fire, he told Thompson. That's when, after completing her interview, she began a journey to get the medals re-issued for Mr. Starrett. "It was just something that kept bothering me, that he was such a nice man and such a great neighbor, that this was something I could do to make him happy!" recalled Thompson, as she described the process. "We had to get some documentation and work with some of his family members, behind the scenes, to get it done, and then about three weeks ago, the medals were sent to me. With Homecoming activities scheduled for Friday night, it just seemed like the perfect time to present them to Mr. Starrett, when a large gathering of his friends, neighbors, and the people he protected with his service would be present. That's when we started working on getting him to the ballgame, so that we could make the presentation!"
"The singing of the national anthem, at tonight's game has an even more special meaning," commented one of the Yantis basketball players, as he saluted the flag on Friday night. "When you've just seen someone be reunited with something so special, it makes you stop and realize just what sacrifices have been made, all through the years, to make it possible for us to enjoy the good times, here in Yantis!"
Starrett, like so many other young men from Hopkins and neighboring Wood counties, grew up on a poor cotton farm, in the Reilly Springs Community. He quit school when he was 14 to help the family make a living, and then joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and was placed in a work camp in Mesa, Colorado, at the age of seventeen. Then, almost a year later, in March of 1943, following his eighteenth birthday, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was first taken to a base in Mineral Wells, Texas, where he received a haircut, his "dog-tags" and the service number of #38476229. Then, he was transfered to Sheppard Field, in Wichita Falls, for Basic Training. He was assigned to the 1880th Army Air Force Aviation Engineers Battalion and headed for Geiger Field, in Spokane,Washington, for additional training.
Starrett's next duty was in Almagordo and White Sands New Mexico, and then on to Camp Patrick Henry, in Virginia. He then boarded a ship, "The A.E. Anderson" and headed overseas to Oran Africa, where his unit guarded the town, while the Germans were being taken thru the town to a prison camp.
A totally surprised, Frank Starrett, holds his head, as Liz Thompson reads about his distinguished
service, during WWII.
Next, Starrett was aboard "The Highland Princess" to Bombay, India, and a train trip to Calcutta. Once in Calcutta, Frank and his unit started the long trip up the Ledo Road to Burma Road, rebuilding and repairing bridges, damaged by the war. They traveled over 600 miles carrying supplies and transporting materials, as they made repairs.
Frank stated that one of the things he would always remember was when he was in China, one day he observed a Chinese businessman pushing a wheel barrow full of money toward the bank, and not one person bothered him or tried to steal any of it! "Imagine that happening today, anywhere in the world!" exclaimed Starrett.
Like any other serviceman, Starrett states that he enjoyed the letters from home, throughout his tour of duty. "A 'green' ol' boy from Reilly Springs, Texas, who was over 10,000 miles from home, was mighty glad to hear from his folks and to know that everything was all right!" expressed Starrett. "We were making about $17.00 a day and I was sending much of it home to help my family, who were coming out of the Great Depression!"
"The war made men out of many, many boys!" remembers Starrett. "I returned home to Texas and was astounded how the people back home appreciated the service we had done, in making certain the Germans and Japanese hadn't taken-over the world!"
Once back in Hopkins and Wood Counties, Frank met a young lady from Yantis, by the name of Velma Bussell, and they were married on July 5, 1947. The Starretts moved to Dallas, and reared a family of two sons, while he worked for Dallas Power and Light Company, until his retirement in 1983. Velma and Frank moved back to Yantis, where Frank bought some beef cattle and they enjoyed their "golden years," until Velma passed away from lung cancer. Frank still resides in Yantis, enjoys his cattle, drinking coffee at the cafe, and visiting with family and friends!
Jordan Thompson gives each of the medals the family had managed to acquire
to WWII veteran, Frank Starrett.
"I had no idea that Liz and her family were working so hard to get these medals for me!" exclaimed a very happy, Frank Starrett, on Friday night! "It's great to have wonderful friends and neighbors. That's what makes this community such a great place to live!"
TEC5 James Franklin Starrett was awarded: the European-Middle East-North African Theater Ribbon; Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Bronze Service Star; India Burma Campaign Bronze Service Star; Markmanship and Rifle Medals; and a certificate for his service in the CBI Theater from President Truman.
Congratulations to Mr. Frank Starrett on once again being reunited with his war decoration medals and a special thanks for his service to this country, during WWII!
Saluting the American flag had new meaning for the Yantis Basketball Team, once they had witnessed
the presentation of medals to community resident, Frank Starrett, on Friday night!
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