Tuesday, May 9, 2017

A true hero

JJ came across these old newspaper articles about a Jackson soldier who was captured by the Nazis after his B-17 was shot down over East Prussia in World War II:




I posted the article on the JJ Facebook page last week and asked if anyone knew a member of Sergeant Hemphill's family.  It would be nice to know what happened to such a brave man.  As luck would have it, his two sons replied although the good Sergeant is no longer with us.  Both sons provided more information on Facebook:

My Dad also. He flew 13, I think, missions as a waist gunner in a B-24 bomber and was shot down over East Prussia. He and the crew bailed out and lived through the ordeal to spend over a year in several German prison camps. His captivity included a forced march of over six hundred miles. A true hero.

 This was my Dad. Thanks for posting. I remember seeing this as a child. My Mom (93) will be surprised to see it. He was a POW for 15 months before he was liberated by the Australians. Again thanks for posting.

Sergeant Hemphill was able to write his parents while a POW:


The Army presented a medal for his service to his parents while he was a POW:


He eventually returned home:

Damn. 

Posted by Kingfish at 6:47 PM

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Able to write as a POW...my how war was still civil at times...sadly, ISIS will let you only smile for the camera moments before you're beheaded.

May 9, 2017 at 7:23 PM
Anonymous said...

Right @7:23. The Nazis were such a civilized bunch.

May 10, 2017 at 6:29 AM
Anonymous said...

The house he came home to looks abandoned, at least according to Google Street View. I think about his homecoming and what a joyous day that must've been. It's such a shame that the place where that celebration was held is basically neglected now.

May 10, 2017 at 6:39 AM
Anonymous said...

The Clarion Ledger reporting on thefts downtown, sex trafficking, and flooding. April 1944.

May 10, 2017 at 7:41 AM
Anonymous said...

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing JJ

May 10, 2017 at 8:14 AM
Anonymous said...

I noticed his sister, Minnie Davis, was a Pharmacist. Just wondering if this is the family that owned Hemphill's Drug Store, which was located next to the A&P Grocery Store (now Rainbow Co-op) on Old Canton Road? Hemphill's Drug Store was first located at Spengler’s Corner in Downtown Jackson.

May 10, 2017 at 8:21 AM
Steve said...

Any relation to Phillip Hemphill?

May 10, 2017 at 6:33 PM
Kingfish said...

The Nazis tended to treat the American POW's a little better than the other prisoners.

July 9, 2021 at 10:28 PM

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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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