Fort Jackson commander: Base to support ‘joint flavor of training’

May 14, 2005

By WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal senior staff writer

South Carolina’s struggling economy got a reprieve Friday when the Department of Defense recommended maintaining the state’s major military installations.
“A military base means jobs,” said Brig. Gen. Abraham Turner, commander of Columbia’s Fort Jackson. “A military base brings the military culture to a community, so whenever you have a military installation in any community, it’s a good deal.”
Fort Jackson has 4,600 employees and contributes $2.6 billion to the state’s economy, he said. “We’re one of the largest employers in the state, so it’s a big deal that we’re still here,” he said. “Of course, that list has to go to the president and Congress. The final decision will be made later on in September.”
It was also announced Friday that Fort Jackson would take on the responsibility of training new chaplains for all branches of the military. Again, this will add to the “military culture” of South Carolina, he said.
“We’re picking up the responsibility to not just train the Army, but supporting the joint flavor of training,” he said. “That means incorporating all the different services.”
Turner was in Greenwood Friday at Workman’s Restaurant to speak to a scholarship dinner for the Greenwood chapter of the South Carolina State University Alumni.
The Mount Pleasant, S.C., native is leaving Fort Jackson to become Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training at Fort Monroe, Va.
He took command of Fort Jackson in January, 2004.

GHS’ Martin has last swing

Senior playing in Class AAAA golf finals

May 14, 2005

By BRIAN HOWARD
Assistant sports editor

Ben Martin has had a golf club in his hand for as long as he can remember.
That is probably why the Greenwood High School senior knows his way around the golf course.
Martin looks to complete his high school golf career next week in the Class AAAA state meet in Greenville at the Furman University golf course.
He will play 36 holes Monday — beginning the opening round at 9:36 a.m., then completing the day with an afternoon round at 2:26 p.m. — and finish up with 18 holes Tuesday.
“I’ve played in two state tournaments there and the State Am (amateur tournament) qualifier there,” Martin said. “I figure I am playing well and hoping to win.”
Martin proved he was playing well at the Region I-AAAA event.
He opened the two-day tourney with a 74, shot a 71 on the second day for a total of 145 and was named the region’s individual champion.
The individual honor gave Martin a chance to represent Greenwood at the state tournament. Only the top two teams at the region meet play in the state finals, and as a team the Eagles placed third.
“Ben is quality young man,” Greenwood golf coach Mike Hudson said. “He has a great work ethic. He’s won the Southern Cross and Jimmy Self tournaments, and that is a credit to how hard he works.”
Martin said he is a little disappointed he’ll be the only Greenwood player at state.
“I’ve played up there the last two years,” Martin said. “I played pretty good last year, so I got some good memories going back toward this year.”
Martin began golfing when he was three or four years old, going to the Greenwood Country Club with his father, James.
“He brought me out here and taught me the basics until I got to a high enough level where I could take lessons,” Martin said. “I started taking lessons from Billy Delk, the teaching pro at the country club. He’s been working with me for probably three or four years.”
When Martin began his high school career, he only played in a few tournaments as a freshman, then was the Eagles’ fourth or fifth player as a sophomore and played almost every tournament.
But it was his junior year when he started to excel.
“That is when I started playing a lot better,” Martin said. “I played behind Vince (Hatfield) last year and we both had some good tournaments; a couple of top tens and top fives.”
After a solid junior year, colleges across the country began contacting Martin. One school he wanted to go to was Alabama – the school his father attended.
But the Crimson Tide coach wasn’t too interested and Martin, who has a weighted GPA of 4.7, jumped at the chance to go to Clemson.
“I was a big Alabama fan, because my dad went there,” Martin said. “I thought about going there, but I didn’t hear too much from the coach. Last season, I started playing some tournaments and I was playing good.
“(Clemson) Coach (Larry) Penley sent me a couple of letters and I just started talking to him.”
He signed with Clemson and will room with one of his rivals - Philip Mollica of T.L. Hanna.
Mollica and Martin will compete in the state finals, and it won’t be the first time they have squared off.
The two spent the better part of nine hours together during the final round of the Southern Cross Invitational April 30.
At the Palmetto Golf Club, they staged a final-round duel for individual honors in the prep golf event.
Martin won on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff when Mollica three-putted from about 25 feet.
Martin started the second day of the tournament with a two-shot lead ahead of Mollica and increased that margin to five going into the final nine holes.
But the left-handed Mollica birdied the 10th, 13th and 16th holes to track down Martin and force a playoff.
After both players made birdie putts on the first playoff hole, Martin two-putted and watched his future roommate three-putt to get the win.
“It was fun going into a playoff with him,” Martin said. “It kind of takes that nervousness away when you are familiar with an opponent. I was beating him for most of the day, then he came back on me, before I was able to get the win. It was a good match.”

Opinion

Recruiting violations show need for reform of system

May 14, 2005

The pickings have been a little lean for army recruiters of late. They have quotas to fill, but sometimes it’s not all that easy. In fact, there’s presently a slump in recruiting, which is generally blamed on the war in Iraq and the extended tours of duty that some on active duty have had to serve. For three straight months recruiters failed to make their active-duty quotas.
With the quotas, of course, the creative soul will come up with ways to enhance the military attraction for would-be recruits. The good recruiters will find ways to get the job done and done properly, without violating any rules. In fact, many of them have served in Greenwood through the years. Unfortunately, though, there are some who will do anything to make their quotas, and it doesn’t matter if the rules have to be bent or broken.

THINGS APPARENTLY GOT out of hand recently in some recruiting offices though. There were so many complaints about aggressive tactics used by military recruiters the Army called a one-day halt in recruiting activities nationwide.
Some of the “unusual” incidents, according to reports:
-One recruiter threatened a prospect with prison time for not keeping an appointment.
-Another provided a possible enlistee with laxatives to help him lose weight and pass a military physical examination.
-Recruits were instructed on how to cover up instances of illegal drug use.
Some schools, and parents, complained to authorities that some recruiters were overly aggressive in pursuing teenagers in the classroom and at their homes. This fiscal year, it was reported the Army is investigating 480 allegations of improper conduct by recruiters. In 2004 there were 957 reports of improper recruiting conducting. In 2003 there were 955, and in 2002 there were 745.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE Army said the one-day halt in recruiting would give recruiters a day to “focus on how they can do a very tough mission without violating good order and discipline.”
Proper recruiting methods will be emphasized, along with what not to do.
It sounds much like the proverbial barn door closing after the horse is out. All recruiters, before they start work, should be well versed on all these things. It also sounds as if strict psychological exams, complete with background checks, are needed as part of the training system. If they already are, they should be more comprehensive.
Irresponsible recruiting methods can be more of a deterrent than war.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Dock Hagood

Robert Clark “Dock” Hagood Jr., 49, died Friday, May 13, 2005.
Born in Albuquerque, N.M., he was a son of Robert C. Hagood Sr. and Willie “Nese” Gary Hagood. He was employed by Unireal Construction and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his parents of Greenwood; a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Hagood of Hodges; two sisters, Monika Hagood of Greenwood and Brenda Sanders of Irmo; and a brother, Marty Hagood of Greenwood.
A memorial service is 11 a.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Joseph Ouzts.
Visitation is after the service at the cemetery.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Rilla Hastings

NINETY SIX – Rilla Waites Hastings, 79, of 1011 Old Edgefield Road, Ninety Six, widow of Paul W. Hastings, died Friday, May 13, 2005 at McCormick Health Care Center.
Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Joe and Mary Ann Waites. She was retired from Milliken in Saluda and was a member of Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by a son, Paul William Hastings.
Surviving is a son and daughter-in-law, Perry and Jimmie Hastings of Greenwood; a daughter-in-law, Shirley Hastings of Greenwood and three grandchildren, Kelli Hastings of Charleston, Kevin Hastings of Ft. Campbell, KY and Brandon Hastings of Greenwood.
Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bob Napier and the Rev. John Walsh officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The family is at the home of Mrs. Bertha Hastings, 1013 Old Edgefield Road, Ninety Six.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of South Carolina, 945 E. Main Street, Suite 3, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Bill Jones

GREENWOOD, SC – James Wilson “Bill” Jones 74, formerly of 1113 Florence Street, Greenwood, died Wednesday, May 11, 2005 in Tampa, Florida.
Born in Plevna, AL, he was a son of the late Larkin Hartwell and Alta Estelle Walker Jones. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Surviving is a sister, Emogene Jones Little of Laurens, SC and a brother and sister-in-law, Joe Allen and Edna B. Jones of Tampa, FL.
Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Randy Sloan officiating.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family is at the home of his sister, Emogene Little, 1405 Stagecoach Road, Laurens, SC.
Memorials may be made to LifePath Hospice, 3010 W. Azeele Street, Tampa, FL 33609.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Genevia Lomax

McCORMICK — Services for Genevia Lomax are 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Tranquil A.M.E. Church in Troy, conducted by the Revs. Jackie Whitted and Derrick Scott. Burial is in Springfield A.M.E. Church Cemetery, McCormick. The body will be placed in the church at 1.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are family friends.
Honorary escorts are McCormick County Water and Sewer Authority co-workers.
Visitation is at the home, Wilkie Trailer Park, Chamberlain Ferry Road, Highway 378.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Fred Coleman Peeler

ABBEVILLE – Fred Coleman Peeler, 40, of 504 Church Street was called home to heaven Friday morning, May 13, 2005 after an extended illness at his residence. He was born in Abbeville to Fred V. Peeler and Janice Bracknell Coleman. Mr. Peeler was married to Janice Wagler and formerly married to Kelly Knox. He was a graduate of Abbeville High School; he attended Georgia Southern University, and had worked for Harper Construction in Greenville, SC.
Mr. Peeler is survived by his mother, Janice B. Coleman, his father and step-mother, Fred and Nancy Peeler, two sons, Jared and John Patrick Peeler, a daughter, Megan Nicole Peeler, a brother, Bob Stroud, special friends the Bill Glace Family, and a host of other close friends.
The family will receive friends from 2:00PM to 3:00PM Sunday, May 15, 2005 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral Services will follow at 3:00PM in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Long Cane Cemetery.
The family will be at the home of Fred and Nancy Peeler 504 Church St., Abbeville.
Memorial contributions in memory of Coleman Peeler may be sent to the Soteria Outreach Ministry, PO Box 6061, Greenville, SC 29606 or to the Faith Home of Abbeville, 309 Washington St., Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be sent to the Peeler family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Peeler family.
PAID OBITUARY

Ida Mae Perrin

McCORMICK — Services for Ida Mae Perrin are 1 p.m. Monday at Zion Temple Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Greenwood, conducted by Pastor Patrick T. Carter, assisted by Minister Frank Puckett.
Burial is in Overbrook Cemetery, McCormick. The body will be placed in the church at noon.
Pallbearers are church officers and friends.
The family is at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Pierce in McCormick.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Carrie Lou Williams

NINETY SIX — Services for Carrie Lou Williams, of 3121 Highway 248, are at noon Monday at Old Mount Zion Baptist Church, Epworth, conducted by the Rev. Clyde D. Cannon, assisted by the Rev. Willie Cannady, Minister Robert Harrison and Apostle Theotis White. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews.
Flower bearers are nieces.
Honorary escorts are members of Women’s Home Aid Society No. 104 and church missionaries.
The family is at the home.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com