Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who died in service to the country. The following men from Tipton County died while serving the country during wartime. A memorial commemorating their sacrifice is at the Tipton County Veterans Museum on Bert Johnston Avenue in Covington. Mexican War Calvin Jarnigan Civil War G. M. Adams, Elijah E. Ewart, Samuel Lane, E. G. … [Read more...] about Remembering Tipton County’s fallen servicemembers on Memorial Day
MIlitary Matters
Recognizing the disparity in news coverage for African American and white soldiers in The Leader
During the early years of the Covington Leader, each week one could find a very short paragraph titled “Colored Folks” which would provide a few sentences of news thought to be of interest to the county’s African American community. During the United States’ entrance into World War II, The Leader printed lists of Tipton County soldiers, black and white, called for military … [Read more...] about Recognizing the disparity in news coverage for African American and white soldiers in The Leader
Letters from the Warfront: In 1944, Sgt. Ernest Taylor wrote to The Leader about Negro History Week
On Feb. 24, 1944, The Covington Leader published a letter from Sgt. Ernest Eugene Taylor, of Mason, commemorating what was then known as Negro History Week. In his letter, Taylor spelled out his hopes for progress with race relations in the coming year. The letter, in its entirety, reads: (Editor's note: The following letter was received Friday from Sgt. Ernest Eugene Taylor, … [Read more...] about Letters from the Warfront: In 1944, Sgt. Ernest Taylor wrote to The Leader about Negro History Week
Mason’s Ahmid Doggett served and died during World War I
During the First World War, Tipton County lost both Black and white sons to the ravages of war, as grief knows no color and death does not discriminate. Ahmid D. Doggett of Mason, was born on Sept. 15, 1886, one of seven children born to Andrew T. Doggett and Sylvia Glass. His parents, both widowers, were married Oct. 12, 1885 in Mason in a hopeful attempt at finding love and … [Read more...] about Mason’s Ahmid Doggett served and died during World War I
African-Americans enlisted in World War I to prove patriotism
More than 350,000 Black Americans served in segregated units during World War I and Townsend Cemetery in Covington is the final resting place for many of them. When the United States declared war against Germany in April 1917, the War Department quickly realized that the United States did not have enough men to ensure a victory overseas. On May 18, 1917, congress passed the … [Read more...] about African-Americans enlisted in World War I to prove patriotism
Read Houston’s Gordon’s forthright take on the My Lai Massacre
Fifty years ago, on March 16, 1968, in the South Vietnamese village of Son My, two American Army combat infantry companies systematically slaughtered more than 500 unarmed Vietnamese - old men, women, children, babes in arms. Nearly 300 soldiers, civilian advisors, military and CIA intelligence operatives, ARVN troops and South Vietnamese Special Police participated. They … [Read more...] about Read Houston’s Gordon’s forthright take on the My Lai Massacre
Vietnam veteran Rudolph Boykin Jr. honored as June 2017 Veteran of the Month
World War II veteran Rudolph Boykin Sr., was honored as the Veteran of the Month in March, and now his namesake, Rudolph Boykin Jr., has been selected as the June 2017 Veteran of the Month. He was nominated by family friend and fellow veteran John McBride. Boykin Jr. was the first son and third born of 14 children to Boykin, Sr. and his wife, Annie Sue Flowers on June 6, 1948 … [Read more...] about Vietnam veteran Rudolph Boykin Jr. honored as June 2017 Veteran of the Month
Remembering Pearl Harbor: Charleston brothers Bill Jim and Rob Roy Davis survived the attack
Charleston natives Bill Jim Davis and his brother, Rob Roy, were stationed aboard the USS Helena when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. It started out as a regular day, Bill Jim has recalled. "We were tied up at a dock there at Pearl Harbor and, normally on Sunday, there was a boy there at the dock who sold a Sunday paper," he said in a video promoting … [Read more...] about Remembering Pearl Harbor: Charleston brothers Bill Jim and Rob Roy Davis survived the attack
