True American Heroes

“Professional artists don’t get inspired. If you wait to get inspired you’ll starve to death,” he said. Tony Biagi is a bit of a pragmatist. He does what works, and it’s been working now for well over 40 years. Biagi, a decorated veteran, discovered his artistic gift after he was injured and hospitalized on a mission in Vietnam. During his two-month stay in the hospital, Biagi became despondent and prayedthat God would be with him. One day, God answered his prayers when a Red Cross worker visited Biagi and gave him a paint by numbers set. Biagi enjoyed the gift and quickly began putting it to use. However, he soon abandoned the elementary painting books and began looking through magazines for new material. Before long, hospital patients and Army officials were soliciting Biagi for personal paintings. After completing a painting, he would give the work away free of charge. Biagi soon realized that there was quite a market for his artwork.

Upon his return to America, Biagi began painting each evening after returning from the office. Each day he would follow the same routine. He’d come home, eat supper and retire to his upstairs studio where he would work continuously for four to five hours. His wife soon brought to his attention that he was making more money painting at night and on weekends than he did during the week. Biagi requested a discharge from the U.S. Army and never looked back. Since the late 60s, Biagi has painted professionally and has completed between 80 and 90 prints. He has sold most of them. A few originals remain hanging from the wall of his home.

Also adorning the walls of his residence are many of his limited edition prints. Although Biagi has specialized in wildlife painting, he has recently incorporated this subject matter into other medium such as sculpting and wood carving. Biagi’s other interests include Civil War-era paintings. Biagi has painted university campuses by commission and has sold original works to individuals and corporations throughout the United States and Europe.

During World War II, the 17th Airborne Division earned more Medals of Honor than any other airborne division and sustained casualties nearly double the daily combat average of the other airborne divisions. In the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, the troopers of the 17th entered combat in waist-high snow with poor intelligence and inadequate artillery support, facing two German panzer armies in a bloody combat on a narrow, high-rimmed road known as Dead Man's Ridge. In early March 1945, the division participated in Operation Varsity, the last airborne operation of the war, executing a daylight jump into the Ruhr heartland, across the Rhine River.

The local draft board told Richard Weaver it might be six or seven months before he was inducted to serve in World War II, but the 18-year-old enlisted right away along with his buddies from Delone Catholic High School.

Weaver, now 98, who grew up and still resides in Bonneauville, was the star of this past weekend’s annual meeting of the Scions of the 17th Airborne. The organization was founded by family members and descendants of the men who served in the famed division.

The 17th fought in the Battle of the Bulge and its members landed by parachute and unpowered glider in Operation Varsity, the largest airborne assault in history. Weaver is one of 23 known living veterans of the division, said his son-in-law Dennis Neal, who is chair of the Scions Membership and Marketing Committee.

Operation Varsity was essentially “the end of the war” for the Germans, Weaver said Friday, 78 years to the day after it happened.

The engine-less gliders, whose landings he described as “a controlled crash,” were not the soldiers’ favored option. “I’m not flying in one of those,” Weaver had said at the time, but his captain thought otherwise.

“I could have had my ticket punched 20 times in one day, but I’m still here,” Weaver said of his three years of service in Europe.

Weaver recounted numerous memories of the time when he and his compatriots “kept taking town after town back from the Germans.”

Weaver, a technical sergeant attached to the division’s headquarters, once found himself among several officers at Haltern, Germany, including Maj. Gen. William Miley, the airborne strategy innovator who led the 17th.

The general was on the phone. He hung up and said, “Gentlemen, I think we’d better go in the basement now.”

Within moments, a shell destroyed the back half of the building, he said. The next shell took out some trees and a couple of jeeps. The next “hit right where we were standing five minutes before. I’ve never heard such a noise in my life,” Weaver said.

“I never thanked my general for saving my life” until last fall, when Weaver made it a point to visit Miley’s grave in Mississippi.

Weaver’s story about Miley was recounted during a ceremony to dedicate a memorial to the general at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, N.C., said the Scions’ secretary, Ed Siergiej.

Weaver visited the grave with Neal and his daughter, Eileen Neal, who live near the site.

Eileen is one of the 11 children Weaver had with his wife Jeanne.

She wrote in his high school yearbook that she hoped to marry and have a dozen children.

“I told her I was the man for the job,” he said.

The couple also reared two foster children.

“When you’ve got so many, what’s a couple more?” Weaver said.

Weaver supported the family by working as a plasterer. He worked in many local homes, including that of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower.

Weaver said he has attended four reunions, including one in Belgium and Germany, hosted by the Scions, who work to preserve and honor the memory of the 17th’s contributions to Allied victory.

As a 19-year-old, Frederick Joseph “Jerry” Rein fought in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, an epic battle often referred to as the “Frozen Chosin” due to extreme frigid temperatures.

Frederick Joseph “Jerry” Rein, was born on January 25, 1931, in Meridian, MS.  He passed away at the age of 90 on February 13, 2021, in Madison, MS.   While a student at Meridian High School, Jerry held several jobs including working at First National Bank in Meridian, which began a long and enjoyable career in the banking industry.  Upon graduation from high school, Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the First Marine Division, Chief of Staff Section, during the Korean War. Upon completion of his service in the Marine Corps, Jerry returned to Meridian to marry his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Nell Young Rein, and to continue his education.  While working at First National Bank in Meridian, he graduated from Meridian Junior College and completed his BS degree from State Teachers College in Livingston, AL (University of West Alabama). In 1963, the Reins moved to Brookhaven, MS, where Jerry continued his career with Brookhaven Bank and Trust Company.  Jerry took great pleasure is finding ways to help his customers achieve their financial goals.  During his career, he was responsible for a number of advancements in the local market including the introduction of main frame computer systems and ATMs.  Rein retired in 1993 as Executive Vice President of Trustmark National Bank, the successor of Brookhaven Bank, and remained on the Advisory Board for many years. Subscribe to our free email newsletter Get the latest news sent to your inbox Rein was a graduate of the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University and completed the Commercial Bank Management program at Columbia University and the Senior Bank Officers Management program at Harvard University.  Jerry served as president of the following organizations in Brookhaven:  Junior Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Brookhaven/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, United Fund of Lincoln County, and the Saint Francis School Board.  He also served as treasurer of the Lincoln County March of Dimes and the Lincoln County Red Cross.  He formerly served on the Zoning Committee for the City of Brookhaven and on the Bank Operations Automation Committee for the Independent Bankers Association of America (IBAA). He was also a member of the Mississippi Bankers’ Association and was recognized for 50 years of service to the industry in 2001.  Rein served two terms as Mississippi Executive Councilman on the Board of the Independent Bankers Association of America and two terms as State Director of the Louisiana-Alabama-Mississippi Automated Clearing House Association.  He served as President of the Krewe of Ceres in 1988 and was King of the Krewe in 1992.  Rein was appointed in 1995 by Governor Fordice to the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Home Corporation, where he served two terms.  He was a member and past treasurer of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. While he had many accomplishments, Jerry’s pride and joy was his family.  He eagerly  followed their activities and supported them in every way imaginable.   Jerry’s deep love, concern and wise counsel will remain an inspiration.  Jerry is survived by his son, F. Joseph “Joey” Rein, Jr., daughter-in-law Alice Watkins Rein, and grandsons William Joseph Rein and Richard Watkins Rein. Preceding him in death were his parents, Clarence and Ethel Rein, brothers Clarence Richard “Dick” Rein, Jr., and John Ready Rein, and his dear wife of 46 years, Nell Young Rein.

Mr. Summers was a veteran of World War II, having enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the Signal Corps. Following basic training, he was responsible for training recruits, serving as a platoon leader and a drill instructor at Fort Crowder, MO. His over seas duties were in the Pacific theater where he was appointed one of 3 NCOs assigned to the personal staff of Brig. Gen. Powell, Commander of Signal Forces in the Pacific.

Following the war, Mr. Summers enrolled at Mississippi State University where he earned a B.S. degree in Agriculture and was awarded membership in Alpha Zeta honorary fraternity. He worked five years for the USDA in Meridian, where he met and married Ruth Brown. He was very active in church, civic, charitable, and professional organizations. He was a Boy Scout leader and was a Mason. He was President of the Meridian Junior Chamber of Commerce and a director of Meridian/Lauderdale County Chamber of Commerce.

In 1958, after working in sales for 2 years with Wayne Feeds in Searcy, Arkansas, he relocated his family to Brookhaven and began his career with Arbor Acres, an international poultry company specializing in poultry genetics and research, based in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He advanced to Vice- President, and Manager of Sales & Customer Service for the domestic division comprising the US and Canada. He was also used for special assignment to the International Division where he worked as a consultant in several countries of Europe and Asia. For a number of years, he served as instructor for management seminars at the University of Connecticut. He was the recipient of several industry awards both regional and national.

Mr. Summers was an active member of First Baptist Church in Brookhaven and taught a men’s Bible class for more than 60 years. He has served as Chairman of Deacons, as well as a member of numerous committees. He was a faithful witness to all who knew him.

In later years, he enjoyed recording historical descriptions of his WWII and life experiences, and contributed his knowledge of early Brookhaven to a book of the history of those years. He was a charter member and a director of the Brookhaven Historical Society and also served as a volunteer host at the Brookhaven Military Museum.

Mr. Summers died at the age of 96 on September 7, 2019

Mal Jones served in the Navy during WW2 on the USS Raven, a minesweeper.

Mr. Jones was born in Sabraton, WV, October 22, 1923.

He spent his early childhood in Salem, VA. After leaving Salem, he lived in Washington, D.C.

Jones dropped out of high school to become an apprentice machinist in the Naval Gun Factory in Washington.

He volunteered for the U.S. Navy, serving four years from March 1943 until December 1946, then enlisted in the inactive reserve until his discharge in 1954, serving the entire time as a Gunners Mate.

His total time on active duty was aboard the USS Raven, a Navy mine sweeper, seeing action in World War II.

His ship sailed to England April 3, 1944, in preparation for the D-Day invasion of Europe, June 6, 1944.

The Raven crew witnessed the first casualties of the D-Day invasion as the ship Osprey, ahead of them, struck a mine.

The Raven, along with other minesweepers, were within sight of the Normandy coast at 2 a.m., hours before the actual landings.

Following a month and a half at Normandy, sweeping mines, his ship sailed for the Mediterranean Sea for the Southern France invasion August 15, 1944.

Jones was discharged from the Navy in December of 1946 at San Diego, CA.

For his service in World War II, awards included: the Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign medal with two stars, Cold War ribbon, and years later, he became a “Chevalier” of Legion of Honor, awarded by the French Government for participation in the freedom of France.

Following his wartime service he entered the field of radio broadcasting and newspaper.

His 39 years in broacasting as announcer and station manager included times at WMDC, Hazlehurst, 33 years; Cumberland, MD; Hattiesburg; and McComb.

During his time with WMDC, he became known as the Voice of the Colonels, Copiah Academy football, play-by-play, until 1985.

In addition to his morning radio show, he reported national and state election results to TV, radio stations, and nationwide news agencies for 30 years.

He retired from radio in 1986.

His newspaper career began immediately with the Copiah County Courier, lasting for seven years, as advertising manager, doing sideline duties as photographer and reporter.

During these years he won many awards for Best Sports Page, Best Spot News Photograph, Best Feature Story plus many Honorable Mentions in other categories, through the Mississippi Press Association.

Jones served as “stringer” for the old Jackson Daily news for 25 years.

Packed away are many of his memories in forms of plaques awarded for his talents as Master of Ceremonies for local schools, churches and civic organizations. He was MC for the Miss Copiah County Beauty Pageant for more than 25 years.

In 2001, he was named Volunteer of the Year by the Hazlehurst Chamber of Commerce and “Ageless Hero” by Blue Cross-Blue Shield.

One of his proudest achievements was that of keeping in touch with his former shipmates of the USS Raven through his tri-monthly newsletter since 1991.

A highlight of his life was being baptized at the age of 87, thanks to Reverend David Steveline of the Hazlehurst United Methodist Church.

Malcolm L. (Mal) Jones died on May 29, 2018 at the age of 94.

Retired Col. Ron Rutland talks about his 30+ years of service in the U.S. Air Force.

Sidney Arnold - U.S. Army Veteran talks about the Cold War

Mr. Thrasher fought in the Coral Sea Battle, the Battle of Midway, where he was on the USS Yorktown when it went down, and he served in the Philippines. During his military service, Wendell received the America Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal with four bronze stars, the World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. After being honorably discharged, he was involved in the Yorktown CV-5, the Battle of Midway, and the Coral Sea Battle Reunions. In 2014 and 2015, Wendell was honored in the Battle of Midway Commemorations in St. Augustine, Florida for his distinguished service. He was also honored at the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea Commemoration held in New York City in 2017 for his distinguished service. While there, he was honored by the Prime Minister of Australia and had dinner with the President of the United States and several other distinguished guests.

Wendell Earl Thrasher, 92, passed away on August 4, 2017 at his home in Moulton, Mississippi.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOULTON, MS - As a know-it-all teenager in September 1941, Wendell Earl Thrasher ignored his mother's warning about the possibility of seeing combat if he enlisted in the Navy.

Thrasher quit school as a junior and went into the service at 17, only to get caught up in the action after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor three months later.

Now 81, Thrasher returned to Lawrence County High School on Thursday for a ceremony where he finally received a high school diploma through a special program to award them to World War II veterans.

His stepgrandson, Jake Farris, was a member of the regular graduating class.

"I think it's cool," Farris said. "Not many people get to graduate with a grandpa."

After leaving school, Thrasher went on to see action that included the Battle of the Coral Sea aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in May 1942. He recalled the flash of an explosion that killed all the sailors in a gun position yet spared him.

"When I came to, they had me piled up with the dead," he told The Decatur Daily. "Someone was washing us with saltwater to get the blood off. I was as bloody as they were and not a scratch on me."

After his release from the Navy, Thrasher helped construct silos at a flour mill in Decatur, and he eventually left Alabama to find work in Northern paper mills.

He moved back to Lawrence County in the 1960s, bought a convenience store and farmed while working swing shifts at the Champion paper mill.

He retired from the mill in 1992.

Thrasher and his wife Ocille have five children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Thrasher said he never regretted ignoring his mother's advice to stay in school

"But when I saw the (Japanese) planes coming in, it was the first thing I thought about," Thrasher said.

Information from: The Decatur Daily

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