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Emerald OdomDowell County brothers heeded the call to action.Before the war had ended, and the forces of Adolph Hitler had fallen, the lives of James, Howard,Harry, William,Ralph, Charles,Emerald and Richard Odom together again were forever4After the wa started, our whole family was neverscrapbook is kept as a memorial of her family and parents.“After the war started, ourwhole family was never together again for one time,” Peery said. “They were scattered all over. All during those times of theforThey were scattered all over” Mildred Peerytheir sisterchanged.Today, the legacy of the eight men lives on, as family and friendsprepare to cele- -brate the true meaning of Memorial Day.“The eight boys served in World War II, six in theNavy, one in the Marines and one in the Air Force,” said their sister, Mildred Peery, who resides in Wythe County. “I feel this is a record for the number of boys (from one family) being in service at one time.”The story of Peery’s eight brothers, four of whom are deceased, is captured in a vintage family scrapbook.war, we just didn’t appreciate the holidays. We just didn’t know where theyand whatwere,type of condition — they were in.”On May 9, 1942, the family received a message from the Navy Department, which said Harry Odom was listed as missing in action in the Manila Bay area. On March 6, 1943, Harry was identified as a prisoner of war in the Philippine Islands.Harry’s story was well documented by the Daily Telegraph, which first reported that the former Welch High School football star wasBrothers, A-3Harry OdomHoward OdomRalph OdomRichard OdomWilliam Odom
Newspaper Details
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Bluefield, West Virginia, US
Mon, May 26, 1997
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Becky K.
NA, 05 Jul 2023
Other Publications Near Bluefield, West Virginia
Bluefield Evening Leader
Bluefield Daily Leader
Bluefield Sunset News
Bluefield Sunday Telegraph
The New Daily Telegraph
