Southern Graves

I'm a military brat , and proud of it. The military brats subculture has emerged over the last 200 years.  The age of the phenomenon has meant military brats have also been described by a number of researchers as one of the America's oldest and yet least well-known and largely invisible subcultures.  They have also been described as a "modern nomadic subculture".  [ Wikipedia ] My two grandfathers, Asa Logue (left) and B. J. Lincecum, and my father.  Not pictured is my maternal grandmother.  She also served.  All saw war, though not all saw front-line combat. I never considered myself as part of a subculture , but I suppose it's true.  Being America's oldest subculture makes sense, as the United States Army turns 241 today.  Since America' birthday is considered to be 4 July 1776, the United States Army is actually a year older than the country. And though I did not plan to include this sentiment when I first decided to write this post, here it ...

Especially his family history. I love, love, love to find stones like these. Lowell put seven generations of his paternal ancestry on the back of his granite tombstone. Even though a good genealogist would not take this information as the gospel, it is a great starting point. And I firmly believe it could provide a casual passerby with a spark of desire to find out more about their personal history. Gene Oakes was born in Montezuma, Georgia in 1948, the eldest son of Luther Avery Oakes, Jr.  He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam era, and spent the last 16 years of his life in Jacksonville, Florida.  His 2006 obituary states, "He will always be remembered as a man who dearly loved God, family, Jaguar football, history, lighthouses, genealogy, collecting hot sauces, traveling with family and sitting on his porch to watch the birds." Sounds like a cool dude. Son of Luther Avery Oakes, Jr.  Jan 15, 1916 - Jun 16, 2009 Luther Avery Oakes, Sr.  ...

Claude Verner Giles (1949 - 1970) Photo © 2011 S. Lincecum Claude Verner Giles was killed in Vietnam. A little over a month before his 21st birthday, this Clayton, Rabun County, Georgia boy was struck down likely by small arms fire. According to the Vietnam War Military Casualties database, Claude was a member of the Church of God, and he left behind a young widow. Claude's military grave marker at Taylor's Chapel Cemetery on Black Rock Mountain contains quite a few acronyms. With the help of a list created by the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Alliance, I was able to decipher them. Claude received (posthumously, I presume) a Bronze Star Medal & Oak Leaf Cluster, an Air Medal & 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, an Army Commendation Medal, and a Purple Heart. Thank-you, Sgt Giles, for your service.