Hide Article Text (OCR)
On Oct. 9, 1779 Count CasimirPulaski, a Polish citizen of high degree, who had volunteered his services, to aid in America’s fight for independence, led his corps of caValry . and light infantry., into the battle for , the seige' of Savannah. He was severely wounded, and two daiys later he died in his thirty second year. He , gave his life for America.One hundred, thirty five years later, on April 22, 1914, Henry, Pulliam, an American citizen of ordinary means,who had volunteered with 11. other sailor§ on his ship to go ashore in the occupation of Vera Cruz, in- the Mexican hostilities, followed- his leader into battle. He . was severely . wounded. Two weeks later on May 5, he died. He was 32-years-old, and his hometown was Pulaski, Va., one of the towns bearing the name of the famous Polish soldieK The following is a true story of a Pulaski hero. It was. told in part in this cc'unin .two years ago. I think it needs to be retold.'oh this celebration of Count Pulaski Day.William Henry Pulliam was born on Feb, 6, 1882, in a modest home on Maple Street, in the Town of Pulaski, the son of Mollie and George Pulliam, the latter being the village blacks- rriith. His parents nourished Henry, and watched him grow six feet tall, handsome, and fearless. No doubt they wanted much for their son. Much more than to realize that he had giveni 1« * ^i - ,his life in some far off land of which they had never heard' —Nevertheless, upon hearing of .his boy’s death, George Pulliam’s only recorded remark was, “He gave his life for his country. He was my boy,”As a youth, Henry tried his hand at painting and paperhanging as a,trade, but at that time stories of adventure were pouring in from the West'. The same restlessness that had brought his parents and grandparents west of the Allegheny IVfountains now pulled at young Henry like' a magnet,- until* finally he left home in his late teens to seek his fortune in the then wild west.After almost 11 years of working in several, western states, he gave way to the lure of the sea, joining the U.S. Navy; In 1911, two days before his 29th , birthday he was ordered to board the USS Utah. In a short time he had proven himself and was a Fireman First, Class. ’During the trouble between the /United States and Mexico the American fleet . was ordered to Mexican waters. Pulliam was one of the ‘ lucky twelve” aboard his ship who would go ashore with the Marines for the occupation of Vera Cruz, Fighting was furious, and Pulliam and his comrades were ordered by their commanding officer to seek* cover. Pulliam, who had already . manned his gun, chose to fight, His only retreat was to his position behind his gun; his only purpose to direct its deadly fire in the direction of the enemy. ■ • „ •Repeatedly ignoring the order to ' abandon his gun, the young Puldskian4 * •'stood at hts post while his comrades were forced to withdraw. Standing alone’ Henry Pulliam, in his first combat experience; Would become a hero. Unaffected by the first hum of enemy fire he continued to do battle. Then came the seeopd wound, and again he did not cease/firing. Not until the third bullet pierced his breast .and penetrated his spinal Column did the mountain boy from Casimir Pulaski’s , namesake fall away from his gun.Henry Pulliam had dared and done the uttermost, and fell to the ground, a bleeding hero. Aboard the hospital ship Solace young Henry gained the reputation of being one of the “best . patients ever on the ship”. He died on May 5 . before ever again touching . American soil, ;r * * * '* . - ^ * *On Friday evening, May 15, 1914, as '. the old courthouse clock was striking seven the train bearing ,the body of Henry Pulliam rolled into Pulaski,_sto be met by more than a thousand people: This^laboratrhero%wetcbrrrr“ would be followed by two days of honor such as has never before or since come to a Pulaski warrior. From the train the body was removed and put on a horsedrawn caisson draped in an American flag, and removed to the armory on Valley Street. There it remained under guard while preparations were made for the funeral, and the large crowd expected from thrqughout““the“-state—to“;pay_ tribute to the only. Virginian to lose his life in the occupation'orTeFa' Cruz.On Sunday morning the body was—• • ♦. .r *■moved into the corridor of the Court / House. Fjrst Lt. E.W. Calfee, future longtime mayor of Pulaski, was in-! charge of the guard which watched** over the body while citizens passed to view the closed oak casket until time . for the afternoon funeral. I am quite sure that this is' the only time a body has lain in state in the Pulaski CountyCourthouse corridor. • . •*I ----The funeral procession consisting of; * area military units, Boy Scouts, and ’ citizens and digpitaries from far and ; wide stretched from the courthouse ; all the “way to Oakwood Cemetery.' ‘ Flags throughout town flew at.lt; half-mast, and along the route.oif the;-procession several homes Were fit- '!tingly decorated with 'flags. Upon'5 reaching the cemetery a crowd as. large as that which had crowded the/ courthouse ■ lawn where the funeral service was held, waited to witness . the interment. _.i .— . , *Henry Pulliam was buried with full -^military-honors, and.oh hiscasket-was— ’a wreath of Sago palm and laurel leaves tied with white ribbons,’ bearing a card On White House stationary signed “The President..4 * •* * * • * *Henry Pulliam- Fireman First. Class, U.S.’ Navy. American, Virginian, Pulaskian, sleeps in an*, honored graVe in the southwest corner of Oakwood Cemetery. His grave and marker need attention. He _“gave“fiis all7. Is there an organization in Pulaski that will.accept the. challenge to tendhis grave?
Newspaper Details
, ,
Mon, Jan 01, 0001
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Sharon H.
NA, 20 Sep 2021
Other Publications Near ,
The Pulaski News
Pulaski Times Journal
Pulaski News Review
Pulaski Staunton News Leader
Pulaski Southwest Times
