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.”

"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.”

------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for sharing.

Lew

On 1/5/2014 9:51 AM, 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.”

Great story, I'm sorry for your loss.

--
Jeff

On Sun, 05 Jan 2014 08:51:45 -0600, 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

I'm sorry for your losses. I hope you were able to tell your FIL
"thank you" for his service before his passing.

On 1/5/2014 9:51 AM, 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".

snip

Sorry...

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.

Most of the Greatest Generation kept those memories to themselves. I
think it is valuable to have this out in the open and available.

There are options, such as:

http://gutenberg.org/

I've been working my way through memoirs in the Civil War section, it
sheds new light.

Gutenberg also has a self publishing arm. There are other options,
depends on whether just getting it out there is more important than the
money.

Jeff

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.”

"basilisk" wrote in message
...

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

This message is timely... I was on the phone last night until about 1:15 AM
comforting a friend whose father John passed away a year ago on 1/4/2013.
John earned two purple hearts... D-Day at Normandy and another that neither
of us know the details of as he NOT ONCE discussed any of it. It was only
after he died that his wife told us about Normandy... He never gave up on
anything right to the end.

During the last conversation I had with him a day or so before he passed he
told me that he wanted me to have his tools, amongst them are also his
father's tools, both in their original wooden tool boxes. Both men were
professional carpenters and I understand that the older tools are
beautifully ornate. I told him I was honored... If all goes well I'll be
picking them up from FL this spring and getting them back to NY where they
started from in the first place. I think that to keep two complete sets of
hand tools together in their original wooden tool boxes is something special
and I'd never break them up.

John's workmanship was impeccable and I've never seen any paint work that
was better... In that last conversation I thanked him for teaching me how to
paint.. This as John helped me paint the house he built for his mother that
I purchased before they all moved to FL around 1979. John was a great guy...
quick of wit as it sounds like William A. Posey was... brothers in arms
though on opposite sides of the globe. Not many of them left...

John

On 01/05/2014 10:50 AM, Gordon Shumway wrote:
On Sun, 05 Jan 2014 08:51:45 -0600, 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

I'm sorry for your losses. I hope you were able to tell your FIL
"thank you" for his service before his passing.

On more than one occasion I did just that, although he wasn't in service
all that long before the war ended he was a Marine until the day he died.

basilisk

On 01/05/2014 10:58 AM, John Grossbohlin wrote:
"basilisk" wrote in message
...

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

This message is timely... I was on the phone last night until about 1:15
AM comforting a friend whose father John passed away a year ago on
1/4/2013. John earned two purple hearts... D-Day at Normandy and another
that neither of us know the details of as he NOT ONCE discussed any of
it. It was only after he died that his wife told us about Normandy... He
never gave up on anything right to the end.

During the last conversation I had with him a day or so before he passed
he told me that he wanted me to have his tools, amongst them are also
his father's tools, both in their original wooden tool boxes. Both men
were professional carpenters and I understand that the older tools are
beautifully ornate. I told him I was honored... If all goes well I'll
be picking them up from FL this spring and getting them back to NY where
they started from in the first place. I think that to keep two complete
sets of hand tools together in their original wooden tool boxes is
something special and I'd never break them up.

John's workmanship was impeccable and I've never seen any paint work
that was better... In that last conversation I thanked him for teaching
me how to paint.. This as John helped me paint the house he built for
his mother that I purchased before they all moved to FL around 1979.
John was a great guy... quick of wit as it sounds like William A. Posey
was... brothers in arms though on opposite sides of the globe. Not many
of them left...

John

I had a number of relatives that were in WWII and most spoke little of
their service, my Grandfather was in the army and I would have never
known except for a single framed picture of him in uniform.

You're right their numbers are dwindling fast, seems like a year or so
ago I read an article that said WWII vets were dying at the rate of 1500
a day.

basilisk

Thank you for sharing this personal history.

One of my uncles was in the Battle of the Bulge - and would politely redirect the
conversation the few times I brought up the subject.

Was not until I realized many years later from my own experience that for some, discussing
such life altering events can take you back mentally to the time and place of the event.
That so many veterans endured events that I cannot begin to imagine - very much understand
their decision to not discuss.

Am equally thankful for those that do contribute their experiences to living history
accounts. There is no substitute for a first hand account. Were it not for first hand
accounts from those that were there, the revisionist *******s would stand a chance of
getting the gullible and uninformed of believing their distortions of fact.

That your FIL finally received his dress blues before passing is a most fitting and
deserved recognition of his service.

Thank you and my condolences to you and your family for your loss.

Doug


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.”