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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

We lost another of "the greatest generation" Friday

Updated: I posted a photo of one of Odis' grandpa's who was also a veteran. Below is the picture of George Hamrick who was a Sgt. in the 55th Ga. Inf. Reg't. Co. H (George's GG-grandson whose name is also George Hamrick went to school with me). I thought it was pretty cool that there was a photo of Odis holding this picture of his grandpappy displayed at his funeral. I wonder if George's daddy fought in the Mexican-American war, or the Creek Indian Wars and if his granddaddy was in the War of 1812 or the Revoloution, and so on and so forth.  I do know one of Odis's boys was a Vietnam veteran. It is kind of like that old song where "the highway rolls on forever".

I went to Odis Bishop's funeral today. I suppose it was only fitting he died on Memorial Day Weekend. He was 92. He lived a good life, still was driving, and was in pretty good health up until a few weeks ago. He worked with my daddy back in the early 70's. He was a member of the 106th "Golden Lions" Division. He told me his regiment was almost killed off to the man in the "Battle of the Bulge". I've since researched his unit. Their casualties were very high. Those who were not dead, in a hospital or captured ended up guarding a a bunch of SS soldiers in the beautiful resort town of Bad Ems, Germany towards the end and just after the war. Odis was in this bunch. He once showed me his photographs and mementos he had "liberated". Odis was a very knowledgeable man and he never met a stranger. R.I.P. Odis.

Odis' obit

                                                     

1 comment:

  1. 2 full regiments of the 106th were taken without putting up much of a fight, thanks to the division commander who was greeted with Bronx cheers by his men as he was driven off to captivity for surrendering so easily.

    If Mr Odis was one of those who was able to fight on, I hope he was decorated.

    Oh, yeah, that Army didn't decorate you for doing your duty.

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