Review

Issue 132 Volume 21 Serving Delta County Since 1880 50 cents

Monday, May 28

Swearing in of City Council

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Portraits of Valor

Staff photos by Cindy Roller

Memorial Day

Stripe and three Overseas Service Bars after three years of service to this country before his honorable discharge on Oc-tober 26, 1945. It is these honors qualifying him for the Portraits of Valor in Delta County. He is being honored by his neighbor Jessica Johnson of Ben Franklin and other family members. Vandygriff was an ammunitions worker in the Army, per-forming various jobs in connection with storage and issue of all types of ammunition including loading and unloading magazines and examination of ammunition for defects. His nephew, Loyd Vandygriff also of Ben Franklin, said his Uncle survived many extreme weather conditions surviving frostbite and drought carrying ammunitions with a wagon pulled by a mule across foreign soil. “He didn’t ever say too much about his time in the service,” said his nephew. “In fact he turned down the chance for a Pur-ple Heart for some shrapnel he received in his hand – he had that much pride.”

From left, David Phillips, JoAnn Preas and Willie “Bear” Wilkins take the oath of office administered by City Attorney Jay Garrett on Monday, May 21 after the ballots are canvassed and certified. The three Cooper City Council members were re-elected in the May 12 election.

Editor's Note: Third of a series of features focusing on Our Heroes

RE: MEMORIAL DAY FLAGS, OAKLAWN CEMETERY

American Legion Red Henderson Post 483 would like to remind all interested parties of the placing of American Flags at the graveside of all known veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. This event will take place at Oaklawn Cemetery in Cooper which includes those persons buried in New Home and Odd Fellows sections. All interested parties, family, veterans, organizations, churches, schools or interested persons who would like to honor veterans who have served our nation, please be at the flagpole at the East side of the cemetery at 9 a.m. this coming Saturday, May 26. If there are questions, feel free to contact Gary Thompson, CDR, at 903-395-4304, evenings.

AMERICAN LEGION RED HENDERSON POST 483 – VETERANS STILL SERVING AMERICA!

From the Commander’s Desk

By Cindy RollerEditor The Lions Club welcomed guests Tina Overman, Co-Co-ordinator of the Hope House in Cooper, Clint Hocutt, LBSW Case Manager for CASA for KIDS of Paris and veteran Roger Moore on Friday, May 11. Hocutt attended seeking vol-unteers to help represent chil-dren. He said he had eight cas-es in Delta County of abused or neglected children. Of the 40,840 children in Texas’ custody in 2009, 21,022 children did not have a CASA volunteer to stand up for them in court and 6,386 Texas chil-dren were awaiting adoption.Training for volunteers in-cludes 30 hours in the class-room and 10 in the courtroom. “This is the most cases we have seen in a longtime in this area,” said Hocutt. To find out how to get involved and make a difference for an abused child, citizens can con-tact Hocutt at 903-737-4346 or go to www.BecomeACASA.org. Being a resident of Delta County is not required just a bit of time, patience and love. Overman was the scheduled program for the meeting invited by member Margaret Chessher. Overman gave an update on the status of the Hope House and their efforts to obtain a 501c3. She has been working with her husband, Fred, for the past three years with the orga-

nization. “It is supported by the whole community,” said Overman on the work at the Hope House which is currently operating out of a donated 16x22 square foot building located on West Dallas Avenue. So far this quarter, the Hope House has cycled through 17,804 pounds of food and serves almost 40 clients. “We don’t enable them,” said Overman. “The Lord is why we do what we do.” Volunteers have donated 521 hours self-lessly to the effort. She noted contributions are always wel-come, including a need for jelly and peanut butter. “Space is our biggest issue now,” she said. The budget is worked on faith. Unable to find another suitable building in town, the organization is looking into building a metal structure. Only downside is the estimated $50,000 price tag. Overman expressed her ap-preciation for all that is done for their food bank and all the food banks in Delta County. She also along with the Club showed appreciation for the servicemen and women, dedi-cating their lives such as Roger Moore had, to our country. The meeting was dismissed following a meal catered by Fat Boys BBQ. At the upcoming May 25 meeting, newly elected Lions Club officers will be sworn into office.

Lions Club hears Community's needs

Retired USAF Master Sergeant Tommy Deeds of Cooper stands next to his father, Ernest Deeds, following his father receiving the French Legion of Honor. For his dedication and bravery, the French government awarded Deeds as a Knight with its Legion of Honor Medal for his service during the first wave that landed at Normandy in France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was shot in both arms, his left hip, both knees and his right foot, but the young soldier from Aubrey, Texas was alive. After his recovery he continued to serve in Europe and Austria. The Legion of Honor is just one of his many awards. Deeds earned the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, a Presidential Unit Citation, an Army Good Conduct and several others.

Tina Overman of Hope House (top) and Clint Hocutt of CASA for KIDS (below) speak to the Lions Club members at the May 11 meeting. The duo emphasized the need for awareness and contributions for people in Delta County. Club Officers will be sworn in this Friday, May 25.

Cooper Review Editor Cindy Roller receives the Media Honor Roll Award given by the Cooper ISD Board of Trustees represented by President Thomas Darden on Monday night. Photo courtesy of Judy Falls

Read more about school happenings inside this edition

Staff photo by Jim Butler

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French Legion of Honor awarded

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Jessica Johnson places an American

Flag on the grave of

US Army serviceman

Thomas Walter

Vandygriff. Below is his photo from his days in

service.

By Cindy RollerEditor Private First Class of the United States Army Thomas Wal-ter Vandygriff of Ben Franklin earned a Cam-paign Medal with three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star Medal, one Service

Living to almost 90 years old, Vandygriff passed away last March. He is buried in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Ben Franklin. He had lived the last 40 years up to his death as a bachelor after his divorce from his wife, Wanda, in which they had no children. Jessica Johnson, a neighbor in Ben Franklin, said her fam-ily “adopted” him as a grandfather. “We adopted him, and he adopted us,” said Johnson on the Veteran who lived just down the road. Johnson said Van-dygriff was proud to join the Army, serving several tours overseas including Italy and North Africa. She keeps a shad-owbox with some of his medals, his dog tags and a flag he received from Ralph Hall while being honored at the Patriots in the Park event. The lifelong Ben Franklin resident was generous and al-ways willing to help his neighbors. He spent his days farm-ing or in his shop repairing tractors. “He was either early or on time [for anything],” Johnson said was one of many Vandygriff’s attributes acquired while in the service. “Walter was a ‘jack of all trades’ from repairing engines to farm work,” said James Gayland Graham of Chattanooga, Tennessee, another nephew. “He was like a father to me. He taught me honesty, the meaning of being a good citizen and how to plow a straight row.” Graham noted Walter was not drafted; he joined the Army and loved the Country he served. Private Vandygriff had a strong belief in the fact he joined the campaign to fight a war and not just shoot people. This soldier was among the “Greatest Generation” to serve, doing his job and serving his country well. “If you ever mention his name, most people in this area will say, ‘Oh Walter, yes I know him,’” said Loyd Vandygriff on his Uncle. “He was a mentor to me.” This series was created to honor our Heroes each week until the Memorial Day holiday. The Delta County Tea Party and Delta County Conserva-tive Republican Club are taking donations to raise $300 for a granite paver to be placed at the Red River Valley Veterans Memorial in Lamar County to honor Walter Vandygriff for his Bronze Star Medal in the Medals for Valor Campaign. To memorialize a loved Veteran, contact Delta County Representative Pat Egert of the Red River Valley Veterans Memorial by phone at 903-325-4495 or e-mail: executivep-ersuasion@gmail.com. Wanting to explore more on a special Veteran? Visit the Delta County Public Library located on West Dallas Avenue in Cooper.

in Delta County

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