Memorial Service Honors Veterans
The Graham Star (Note:
partial article only, highlighting Wayne Carringer)
May 27, 2004
Louise H. Stewart
The Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 8635 walked tall and proud Sunday as they presented the colors for the
Memorial Day Service at Sweetgum Baptist Church.
The ceremony gave the community a chance to show its gratitude for those who have served.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, Post Chaplain Buddy Adams gave the invocation. Adams, who served in
the
Vietnam War, talked about the sacrifices and suffering our military endures fighting a war to
defend our country
and protect our freedom to worship as we choose.
The recognition of veterans was given by Allen Garver, and the names of Graham County servicemen
and women who
were killed in action were read by Jerry Sherrill.
Several of Graham County’s prominent heroes got the chance to speak at the ceremony, including
World War II
veteran Wayne Carringer,
who made the opening remarks.
Carringer survived the 65-mile “Bataan Death March” in April 1942. He was a prisoner of war in the
Phillippines and
Japan for 3 1/2 years, enduring torture, beatings, starvation, humiliation and solitary
confinement, among other atrocities.
He also was forced to work slave labor in a Japanese coal mine.
Carringer’s weight dropped from 145 to 75 pounds from being fed one bowl of rice and cabbage leaf
soup
twice daily and was classified as a “ghost soldier.” He still has black pin head scars on his back
from coal dust
getting into the sores after many beatings.
He was even declared dead and memorialized at the Graham County Courthouse. A year later, the Red
Cross found
him at a POW camp near Nagasaki, Japan, working in the Mitsubishi coal mines.
Carringer said his strong faith in God and country helped him survive.
In his remarks Sunday, Carringer reminded everyone the importance of honoring our military in all
foreign countries
during conflicts and remembering our fallen heroes who lost their lives.
May God bless all of our veterans, past and present.