"basilisk" wrote:

My FIL passed away New Years day, another of the Greatest
Generation,
that did not know the meaning of "quit" or "couldn't".

The article below says he was a light machine gunner, but he was
much more, he fought in the Japanese island also as an advance scout
and sniper.

After the war he worked as a millwright in Tennessee Coal and Iron
rolling mills in Birmingham, survived cancer in his fifties,
survived a heart attack in his sixties and again at 85. After
surviving cancer
he turned to farming and coon hunting for entertainment.

Very tough and independent up until my wife passed in 2011, her
passing took a lot out of him and he declined rapidly over the last
two years.

He lived a full, well lived life.

The article below appeared originally in the Shelby County Reporter.


basilisk


WWII vet sees dreams fulfilled
Published 5:38pm Monday, May 7, 2012
By CHRISTINE BOATRWIGHT / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – As William A. Posey walked into Parnell Memorial
Library, U.S. military veterans, family and community members alike
stood in honor of the World War II veteran.

On May 7, Posey had a dream fulfilled.

Posey, who was born in Back Creek and now lives in Montevallo, had
written a book in 1979 about his WWII experiences, but never had the
book published. His book, titled “Dress Blues,” concludes with, “I
am proud to be able to say, ‘I was a Marine,’ though I never did get
those blasted dress blues!”

When he told his Southern Care Hospice nurse, Ollie Munford, about
his book and his desire to see it published, she took the manuscript
to Mara Tierce, community relations director of Southern Care in
Clanton.

“Ollie came in and said, ‘Mara, we need to get this published,’”
Tierce said.

Following the discussion, Tierce met Dixon Brooke Jr., president and
CEO of EBSCO Industries, at a South Shelby Chamber of Commerce
luncheon. When she mentioned the book, Brooke told Tierce to contact
his assistant. In the end, EBSCO published Posey’s book for family
members, then printed a second time as word spread.



Tierce then got in touch with Robert Horton, public information
officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs. She invited Horton
to a book signing she set up for Posey in Montevallo, but their
conversation led to something more.

“Mr. Posey’s book is called ‘Dress Blues,’ but he never got them,”
Tierce said. “I asked Mr. Horton, ‘How hard would be to get this man
his dress blues?’

“It was a God thing,” she added. “The only person who can order
dress blues is a former Marine, and Bob Horton is a former Marine.”

Rep. Kurt Wallace thanks William Posey for his service before
having his copy of "Dress Blues" signed by the author. (Reporter
photo/Christine Boatwright)

Tierce also called State Representative Kurt Wallace, R-Maplesville,
to see how he could help. Wallace was one of the people who
contributed to the purchase of Posey’s dress blues, which were
presented to 93-year-old Posey at his book signing.

“Mara Tierce contacted me, and as I’m a military guy, I said tell me
how I can help,” Wallace said. “To get dress blues is to say you’ve
reached a pinnacle. You earn them.”

Social Worker Pam Boykin worked with Posey through Southern Care.

“He’s a cut-up,” she said, smiling. “I thought he was just a good,
old, country boy, and then I found out he’d been an avid writer.”

After Posey walked through the group of veterans in red from the
Marine Corps League at the library, he was seated at the front of
the room next to his brother, Richard Posey, who is also a WWII
veteran.

“Oh my,” said Posey of the event and of the more than 50 attendees.

Posey volunteered for the Marine Corp in 1944 at the age of 25.
After 10 months of service overseas as a light machine gunner, he
was honorably discharged.

As he wrote in his book, “Dress Blues,” Posey joined the Marines
because “I wanted the best training I could get to better my chances
of survival over there. In my opinion, the Corps proved that
training.”

At his book signing, Posey smiled and put a hand to his mouth as
Horton unwrapped two packages in front of him. The packages
contained the hat and uniform to his dress blues.

“I’ll try them on when I get home,” Posey said, smiling. “Thank you.
You’ll have to read my ‘Dress Blues.’ Every word is true … more or
less.”

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Thank you for sharing.

Lew