A mighty return

Soldiers get big welcome after spending year in Iraq

November 17, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

WARE SHOALS — Though it was billed as a celebration, it could have been more appropriately titled a mass reunion.
More than 120 soldiers from the South Carolina National Guard Delta Company 111th Signal Battalion were welcomed home Thursday after a one-year deployment in Iraq, reuniting them with their friends and families. A number of the troops are from the Lakelands area.
A large, vocal crowd — one that filled up the entire home stands at Ware Shoals High School’s Riegel Stadium — gave “D-Company” a rousing greeting as the troops arrived at the school. With police cars and fire engines leading the way with their lights flashing and sirens blaring, the troops rolled in aboard a trio of chartered buses.
Teenagers and adults alike lined the street leading to the stadium and waved American flags as the buses passed.
Soldiers smiled and waved from within, many of them videotaping or snapping pictures of the crowd.
When the battalion finally made its way to the field — winding through the baseball stands on the east end of Riegel Stadium — the crowd erupted with a thunderous round of applause and cheers as the soldiers smiled and swayed with anticipation.
The Fort Jackson band played the troops onto the field to the tune of “God Bless America.”
As the soldiers stood at attention, a ceremony was conducted in their honor.
“Welcome home,” Maj. Gen. Stanhope Spears said to the troops, addressing them from the podium. “We appreciate a job well done. I think it also important to thank all these family members out here today, and all the employers. You are all important in helping these men and women serve our country.”
Gen. Thomas Sinclair later took the stage, comparing the soldiers’ sacrifice and commitment to that of George Washington and his troops in the winter of 1776.
Col. Ronald Huff also spoke of commitment.
“There are 300 million people in the United States, according to the last census,” Huff said. “There are roughly 1.5 million men and women in the armed forces. That means there are about 298 million people who have no idea what these troops go through and the tremendous commitment they show in serving their country.”
Huff’s comments drew a hearty ovation from the audience and more than a few smiles from D Company.

AFTER SEVERAL MORE military dignitaries took the stage to honor the battalion, the moment the soldiers had been waiting on for more than a year arrived: They were dismissed.
As soon as the dismissal occurred, many of the troops sprinted for the grandstands to greet family and friends.
Likewise, people began pouring out of the bleachers, leaping over the top rail to greet fathers, sons, mothers, sisters and pals who had been away for so long.
“This is just wonderful, seeing so many people out there to greet us,” said Nick Warren, of Iva. “The first thing I did when I got on that field is look for my family. It feels great to be back here with them.”
There was one member of Warren’s family whom he hadn’t been missing while he was in Iraq: his father, Ernest. That’s because Ernest also was in Iraq with the 111th. Nick said it ultimately was an advantage having his dad with him at war.
“At first, I was concerned about it because of my mom having both of us gone,” Nick said. “But after a while, it was really nice having someone over there I knew I could turn to if I needed to.”
Soldier Benjamin Black was exuberant when asked about his feelings on the day’s events.
“How does it look?” Black asked as he received hugs from his girlfriend and several others. “I felt a great deal of pride when we rolled up and saw the scene here.”
As tears flowed and family members continued to greet each other, many of the crowd moved toward the main concourse, where copious amounts of food and drink had been donated for troops and those in attendance.
“We came out to give each of the soldiers a package of desserts to take home,” said Food Lion manager Jeremy Fuller. Fuller was joined by three other Food Lion representatives — Nancy Smith, Kisha Williams and Marie Pope — who worked on their day off to get food to the returning troops.
As the revelry and goodwill continued, one soldier stood several yards away, smiling contently as he watched the reuniting of families. Van Turbeville, also a member of the 111th, experienced a more personal greeting from his family four months earlier. He was forced to return early because of injuries he had incurred in Iraq.
He was pleased to see his friends and fellow soldiers again Thursday.
“Today is a great day,” Turbeville said. “I’ve been back for four months, and I can’t begin to say how good it is to see these guys get home safe, too.”

Want a new PlayStation? Get in line

November 17, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Chris Romeo, 21, from Athens, Ga., doesn’t play video games.
But he’s been sitting outside Greenwood’s Wal-Mart since early Wednesday morning waiting for the PlayStation 3, which was released early this morning. The weather hasn’t been spectacular since Romeo set up camp with his friends Clay Carraway and Frank Bianchi, 22, also from Athens.
Thunderstorms tore through the Lakelands overnight Wednesday and the temperature dropped into the 50s Thursday afternoon.
Romeo and the other Georgia boys were the first to wait in line for the PlayStation 3 release, but were soon joined by more. About 24 people were lined up next to Wal-Mart Thursday afternoon.
PlayStation 3s went on sale at 12:01 a.m. today, according to a previous article in The Index-Journal. Demand is high for the video game consoles, as stores will only get a handful of the $499 to $599 PlayStations at a time.
The University of Georgia students are spending their time exposed to the elements for the sake of adventure, Romeo said.
“It was something new, too,” he said.
Carraway said they chose Greenwood’s Wal-Mart because it was the closest 24-hour store with no lines for the PlayStation 3.
Making money is also a good incentive to stay outdoors. Carraway and Bianchi plan to sell their PS3s on eBay for a few thousand bucks. So the boys stay warm by wrapping in sleeping bags and keep boredom away by reading or talking to the people who walk the line.
“It’s a great conversation starter,” Bianchi said.
PlayStation 3 squatters aren’t allowed to wait inside the store. Carraway said he heard from Wal-Mart managers that California stores had been having problems with fights between customers while they waited.
The Georgians aren’t the only ones hoping to make money off Sony, the PlayStation’s manufacturer.
Ashley Boswell, 18, and Susan Gardner, 23, of Greenwood were camping out — Boswell since midnight Thursday and Gardner since 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
Boswell heard the PS3 will sell for about $2,000 on eBay.
That amount sounds good to Gardner.
“I’m trying to buy Christmas,” she said.
The wait is made easier as family and friends bring people food, warm clothing and sometimes replace them in line, Boswell said.
The line has a few rules, Gardner said.
No one can leave the concrete surface near the store’s left entrance unless they are going to the bathroom inside the store. Otherwise, they lose their place in line, Gardner said.
She calls time and temperature to find out how cold it is outside. It was 53 degrees Fahrenheit at about 4 p.m. Thursday.
Still, some people can’t believe anyone would want to wait in line for hours for a video game console.
“Everybody who walks by says we’re crazy,” Boswell said.
At the very back of the line, Lori Coleman, 46, her two children Kaela, 12, and J.D, 17, waited with their friend Eric Hassler, 16, all from Ware Shoals.
J.D. also plans to buy and sell his PS3.
“This is the most excited I’ve ever been standing in line,” he said.
Romeo and the other Georgia students will take off as soon as they get their PlayStations.
“We’ve got class in the morning,” Bianchi said.

Turning the tide

2 area players helping North Greenville change from a mediocre to a winning team

November 17, 2006

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

Talk about perseverance and a winning attitude.
These are two attributes former Lakelands-area football players, Travis Talbert, a former Greenwood High School standout, and Tim Brown, a former bruising running back at Abbeville, carried with them when they stepped up to the North Greenville University campus.
“Travis had a very good year for us. He’s a very good player, and he’s made a lot of big plays at critical times for us this year,” Crusaders’ coach Mike Taylor said. “Tim is our fullback in all of our two-back sets and he’s averaging well over five yards a carry. He’s really done a great job on the inside run game for us.”
After finishing the 2005 campaign with a 3-8 record, including five losses by less than eight points, the Crusaders’ have turned things around this season.
The Crusaders’ 9-2 record is evidence of that, along with a No. 23 ranking in the latest NCAA Division II poll, and being selected by the National Christian College Athletic Association to host the 2006 Victory Bowl at 1 p.m. Saturday at Younts Stadium.
The team will play the Malone College Pioneers (7-3), from Canton, Ohio, in the first-ever bowl game in Tigerville and only the third in school history.
“We’ve learned on offense that we’re a very consistent offensive football team and we just don’t depend on big plays,” Taylor said. “We can run the ball and throw it. We’ve learned that consistency and consistent practice helps you be successful.”
Talbert and Brown have contributed to the team’s success this season, but it didn’t begin with the first game. Both players are glad to see the hard work paying off and are glad they stayed mentally strong through the rough times.
“It feels great to be back to a championship-type caliber level and winning games,” Talbert said. “We went from two seasons of being 3-8, struggling, people leaving the program, and I’m glad I stayed and stuck it out.”
He said Taylor’s coaching style was a major factor in the team’s turnaround.
“He separated the people who wanted to be here and the people who didn’t,” Talbert said. “He stuck to his guns and didn’t change his philosophy. Everyone may not have agreed with it at the time, but it worked because now we’re winning.
“Coming from Greenwood, I was mentally trained to become a winner. Even when we were losing games here, winning was always on my mind. I was never satisfied with losing and even though we’re 9-2 right now, I’m asking why we are not undefeated.”

TALBERT IS DEFINITELY having success for the Crusaders this year with a team-leading 58 receptions for 851 yards and seven touchdowns.
Brown, who is in his final season with the Crusaders, brought a no-quit attitude to the team while leading the way for two 1,000-yard rushers from his fullback position. He’s also managed to grind out 337 yards on 64 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per run while scoring five touchdowns.
Brown’s best game this season arguably was against Edward Waters. He scored two rushing touchdowns while rushing for 73 yards on nine carries.
“It feels great right now, and I kind of looked forward to the success,” Brown said. “Last year, we really only lost two games and I was looking forward to going into this year because I felt like we were going to have a big season.
Everybody who came back knew what it felt like to lose, so they put in work over the summer.
“We all came from winning high school programs. So, it’s up for us to turn it around.”
Brown’s perspective on the losses during the previous years served as a motivational tool prior to this season. Now, it has paid off.
“I just felt like I was up for the challenge,” Brown said. “When you put in work, it pays off in the long run and you get rewarded. For me, I just felt like it was a reward and I’m glad to be involved in a postseason game.”
A major factor in the team’s success wasn’t just the Crusaders’ explosive offense, which broke the school record for single-season scoring, but the interior defensive line and the offensive line, which he said is more experienced this season. When you toss in Taylor, it was only a matter of time before the Crusaders turned things around.
“The only thing coach Taylor wants to do is win. It seems like sometimes he can be hard on us, but in the end he really just wants what’s best for us,” Brown said. “As players we want to win, and as a coach, he wants to win.”

Opinion

How to describe gangs? There ought to be a law

November 17, 2006

We know there are gangs around, and we know they can be trouble. We see evidence of their presence in Greenwood from time to time. Law enforcement agencies confirm they are here, so it’s not a matter of speculation. It’s fact.
Gangs and gang activity have grown in recent years all over South Carolina. While you might expect to see them in bigger metropolitan areas, they also have spread to smaller communities.
We know the behavior of gangs. It’s usually criminal ..... drugs, rape, violence in many forms. Despite everything we know, though, there doesn’t appear to be a common definition to characterize gangs. At least there’s not one, officials say, everyone can relate to.

THAT’S A PROBLEM, IT SEEMS. Unless there is a viable description of what constitutes a gang South Carolina will never be able to successfully fight them. That is, it can’t if law enforcement agencies can’t agree on what a gang is.
That’s what University of South Carolina researchers recently told a group of residents and police at an Anti-Gang and Youth Violence Prevention Summit in Columbia.
“We’ve got to begin moving toward some common understanding of what we’re talking about,” said Professor Michael Smith. He said having a lot of compiled data and intelligence-gathering are useless unless everyone is “working from the same sheet of music.” It should be the same in Greenwood as it is in Charleston or Anderson or any other place.
Many agree that South Carolina needs legislation to define gangs so law enforcement agencies can reliably track their activities.

COLUMBIA MAYOR BOB COBLE says such legislation will be the capital city’s top priority for the upcoming legislative session.
There has been gang legislation introduced before, but it went nowhere because of some concerns that innocent people would be targeted by law enforcement.
That argument should fade in face of the threat that gangs have become to all law-abiding people of South Carolina.
Blacks, whites, Hispanics and others can and do fall victim to what often appears to have no rhyme or reason.
Lawmakers should act quickly to define gangs. Continuing and increasing gang-related and gang-generated crime makes that a no-brainer. Thirty-five states have court-tested gang legislation. There is no reason South Carolina shouldn’t join them. There are growing numbers of reasons it should. Ask any law officer.

Obituaries

Lucile Black

DUE WEST — Lucile Fisher Black, 85, resident of 219 S. Main St., wife of Herbert David Black, Jr., died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006 at Carlisle Nursing Center in Due West, SC.
Born in Abbeville Co., SC, she was a daughter of the late John Linton and Annie Gable Fisher.
She was a retired school teacher, having graduated from Antreville High School. She received her BS Degree from Erskine College and her MED from Clemson University. She was a member of the Due West ARP Church.
Survivors are her husband of the home, Herbert D. Black, Jr.; 2 daughters, Elizabeth B. Neely and her husband, Harry of Rock Hill, SC, Wanda B. Coleman and her husband, Jim of Abbeville, SC; 1 sister, Martha Suttles of Antreville, SC; 5 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother John Linton Fisher.
Memorial services will be conducted Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 at 3 p.m. from the Due West ARP Church with the Rev. Calvin Draffin and Dr. James Bell.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home. The family will receive friends after services, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 at the Due West ARP Church. The family is at the home, 219 S. Main St., Due West, SC.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. Conway Shirley, PO Box 566, Due West, SC 29639 or to the Due West ARP Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Hilliard Allen, PO Box 397, Due West, SC 29639.
Online condolences may be made to the Black family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC is in charge of arrangements.

Carolyn Letman

McCORMICK — Ms. Carolyn Letman died Nov. 13, 2006. She was born on June 19, 1951 to Dorothy Mae Sibert Letman and the late Herbert Letman, Jr. She was a member of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, a graduate of Mims High School and was formerly employed at General Motors Inc.
Survivors are: her mother, Dorothy M. Letman of the home; husband, Larry D. Ledford of Oak Park, MI; a daughter, Lakeisha D. Letman of McCormick, SC; three stepdaughters, Diamond D. Ledford, LaJewel J. Lenorre and Larresha Ledford, all of Detroit, MI; seven sisters, Dorothy J. Wilmore and Thelma Letman of Freeport, NY, Nellie Letman of Toledo, OH, Joanne Letman of Greenville, SC, Jackie Searles, Carmella (Gary) Burton and Shalonda Starks, all of McCormick; four brothers, Herbert (Sonny) Letman, III of the home, James Holloway, Jr. of McCormick, Antino (Christy) Starks of Abbeville, SC and Lance (Idella) Starks of Augusta, GA; a very special “Auntie”, Robbie (Eddie) White of McCormick and one aunt of Detroit, Alkrema Sibert; one great-aunt, Alice Hurley of Hodges, SC. Preceding her in death was a brother James Letman. Services are Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Moriah with the Pastor Rev. Roderick Cummings and Rev. Derrick Scott officiating. Interment is in the church cemetery. Pallbearers are Gregory Sibert, Donnell Jenkins, Marcus Tutt, Clarence Jenkins, Jr., Torvarius Middleton and Sonny Adams. The body is at Walker Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Moses ‘Sugarman’ Marshall

Moses “Sugarman” Marquette Marshall, 21, of 217 Marion Avenue, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006 at his home. Born in Greenwood to Moses M. Carter Jr. and the late Virginia Marshall, he was a member of Dunham Temple C.M.E. Church. He was a graduate of Emerald High School class of 2003. Survivors include his father and stepmother, Stella Carter of the home; one daughter, Shakia Aiken of Greenwood; one sister, Jasmine Carter of the home; one brother, Malik Carter and two stepbrothers Travis and Jamie Boyd, all of the home; maternal grandparents, Emanuel (Janie) Wallace of Hodges; maternal great-grandparents, Willie B. (Janie Ruth) Marshall of Bradley. Services will be Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006 at 2 p.m. at Dunham Temple C.M.E. Church, conducted by Pastor James McKee. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m..Burial is in The Evening Star Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday 5-8 p.m. at the home. Online condolences can be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. is assisting the Marshall family.

Johnathan Carl Vaughan, Jr.

COLUMBIA — Services for Johnathan Carl Vaughan, Jr., CPO, USN (Ret.), 81, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel, with interment in Bush River Memorial Gardens with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Friday Nov. 17, 2006 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210.
Mr. Vaughan passed away Nov. 16, 2006. Born Feb. 11 1925, he was the son of the late Johnathan Collier Vaughan, Sr. and Lillie Essie Hellams Vaughan. Mr. Vaughan was predeceased by his former wife, Martha Byrd Vaughan. He was a member of Riverland Hills Baptist Church, a Mason, a member of the Dutch Fork Masonic Lodge, Fleet Reserve Association, D.A.V., started the Jr. Naval ROTC at Brookland-Cayce High School, was a WWII Veteran, and served on board the USS Essex.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Wiedemann Vaughan, of Columbia; children, Maria Vaughan Hanson (Charles) of Newberry, Anita Vaughan Booth (Rudy) of Columbia, Rebecca W. Pogoota (Ron) of Lexington, Barbara W. Corley (Ronnie) of Lexington and Daniel T. Wiedemann (Lola Jane) of Columbia; six grandchildren, Paul (Renee) Hanson, Matthew (Lacey) Hanson, John (Ashley) Hanson, Jason (Kellye) Booth, Amanda (Matthew) Downing, Bonnie (Steve) Booth, Jennifer (Ritchie) Adams, Benjamin Hook, Daniel Hook, Robin Dimery and Erin (Chad) Corley; sisters, Vera Kelly of Greenwood and Essie Henderson of Columbia.
www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com
(803) 359-6118

Grace Whitfield

ANDERSON — Mrs. Grace Inez Griffin Whitfield, age 86, of 3210 Dixon Road, Anderson, SC, wife of the late Daniel Levis Whitfield, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006 at her residence.
Born in Hall County, GA, on Oct. 12, 1920, Mrs. Whitfield was the daughter of the late Brooks Griffin and Viola Massey Griffin. She was a member of Double Springs Baptist Church and was a homemaker. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Survivors include sons, David Earl Whitfield and his wife, Alice, Gerald Whitfield and his wife, Pam, and Gary Whitfield, all of Anderson, SC; daughters, Mary Ellen Nalley and her husband, Gene of Anderson, SC, Gloria Meredith and her husband, Larry of Greenwood, SC; daughters-in-law, Brenda and Mildred of Anderson, SC; seven grandchildren, Dale, Ricky and Greg Whitfield, Tammy Scarboro, Deborah Whitfield, Larry Meredith, Jr., and Jeff Meredith; eleven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by children, Joyce Ralph Whitfield, Martha Helen Whitfield, Donnie Lane Whitfield and Daniel Levis Whitfield, Jr.; granddaughter, Angela Grace Nalley; four brothers and five sisters.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 at 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel of The McDougald Funeral Home, officiated by Dr. Ron Fousek. Interment will follow in Westminster First Baptist Church Cemetery in Westminster, SC. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, Nov. 17, 2006 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The family will be at the residence.
Flowers are optional. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com.
The McDougald Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.