Greenwood man helped in war by protecting ‘valuable cargo’

February 3, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal staff writer

Greenwood resident Carl Merritt’s duty in the U.S. Navy during World War II was unlike that of most soldiers.
Rather than fighting in the forests of Europe or in the skies above the Pacific, Merritt’s task was to help protect the most important cargo the United States would send overseas during the war – President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Merritt, now 80, originally from Chesterfield County, said he spent most of his youth “hitchhiking around the country,” and traveling back and forth between North and South Carolina.
When his father got a job working in a mill in Greenwood, his family moved into a boarding house at the corner of Merriman and Lee streets.
The year was 1942, and Merritt, only a teenager at the time, found a job at Greenwood Mills Plant 5.
“I worked as a clean-up hand, and I did everything they wanted me to,” he said, laughing. “But the war was coming on, and they trained me to be a weaver. That was where I wanted to be – I was mechanical-minded, and those looms fascinated me.”
As the war on the European front required more and more American forces, Merritt knew he would eventually be called into service.
“A group of five of us boys (from the boarding house) were expecting our notices. We went up to the draft office and told the lady working there that we wanted to know when our names were going to come up,” he said. “She looked through the mail and said, ‘You boys will be getting your letters next week.’ And sure enough, we got them in the mail the next week.”
On Oct. 7, 1943, Merritt packed his bags and left Greenwood for Camp Croft in Spartanburg, where he was examined and sworn into the U.S. Navy.
“I didn’t think they would take me due to the condition of my (weak) eyes,” he said. “But I passed, and we were sworn into whatever branch of the military we wanted - I picked the Navy.”
After a short return to Greenwood, Merritt was ordered to report to a U.S. naval training center in Bainbridge, Md., where he began basic military training and rifle training.
“They teach you which foot is right and which foot is left,” he said, laughing, adding that drill instructors were serious about getting the men ready for battle. “You learned how to say ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘No, sir,’ ‘Thank you, sir’ – if you didn’t drill like you were supposed to, they came down on you hard. It was a tough nut to crack because teaching a person to be obedient takes a while – it takes patience.”
While in Bainbridge, Merritt attended gunner’s school, where he learned to fire everything from rifles to an anti-aircraft gun.
“They taught you everything about the guns and what shooting was all about. You wouldn’t have any problem if they took you out and put you on any kind of gun,” he said.
In 1944, Merritt received orders to report to a naval yard in Philadelphia, where the U.S.S. Savannah, which had previously been stationed near the Italian coast, was being repaired after taking a direct hit from a 500-pound German bomb.
“While the ship was in dry-dock being fixed, I trained on how to load the guns. My job was to put the powder in it, and it was a 78-pound cartridge that looked just like a big .22-caliber rifle bullet,” he said, adding that firing the guns from his station in the No. 3 gun turret took very quick and very precise work.
Soon after Merritt arrived in Philadelphia, the 608-foot-long Savannah was repaired and ready for service. The crew took the ship on a “shakedown” cruise to South America to test it out before returning to combat service.
“We wanted to see what the ship could do and see how it would react. We were going about 38 mph when the captain called for reverse from that speed,” he said. “The whole ship shook, and we didn’t know what was going to happen. You could hear the propellers on the back of the ship (making loud noises). If it hadn’t held up, they would have taken it back to Philadelphia, but it took everything the captain gave it.”
Merritt, who had never seen the crystal-blue waters of the West Indies and South American shores, said he was impressed with the scenery.
“The water was so beautiful and clean – I had never seen anything like that before,” he said. “The natives were in the water with their boats, and the soldiers would throw coins into the water to watch the natives dive in to get them.”
When the ship returned to U.S. shores, Merritt said the soldiers were given orders to head to the Mediterranean Sea, but the ship wasn’t headed for battle.
It was now early 1945, and World War II was nearing an end after a successful Allied counteroffensive against the German army at the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes.
Three days into its journey to the Mediterranean, the Savannah joined an armada of U.S. destroyers and ships, including the U.S.S. Quincy, which, unbeknownst to Merritt at the time, was carrying FDR. The president was en route to the Yalta Conference to meet with Joseph Stalin, leader of the then Soviet Union, and Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Great Britain, for one of the most important conferences of the “big three” superpowers during the war. “The Germans knew exactly where we were going and what for, but we didn’t know at that time,” Merritt said. “Our job was to be a decoy – to get between the president and any danger.” Merritt said the ships did encounter danger in the Strait of Gibraltar, the narrow inlet between Spain and Morocco that serves as the Atlantic’s entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. “There was a German spy nest there looking for us. The U.S. sent agents in there and busted it up eight hours before we were supposed to go through there,” he said. Merritt said he eventually caught a glimpse of the president aboard the Quincy – something he said he will never forget.
“From where I was, I could see the top part of the president and his daughter pushing him in his wheelchair. I knew it was him because (by then) we had gotten word,” he said. “I thank God that I got the chance to see him.”
When the ships reached Malta, a tiny island in the Mediterranean, the Quincy continued on to Cairo, Egypt. But Merritt’s ship, the Savannah, stopped for a short stay at the island before heading to Alexandria, Egypt, where they were stationed during the Yalta Conference.
When the conference ended on Feb. 11, 1945, Roosevelt returned to Egypt, and the fleet of U.S. destroyers and cruisers was reassembled for the journey home.
“When we got back to the Rock of Gibraltar and came out into the Atlantic, we thought we had half of the English Navy out there waiting on us,” Merritt said. “We had no such armada going in as we did coming out. There were American and English ships and airplanes, and we knew something must have been up for that many to congregate in one place.”
But Merritt said the ships completed their journey without incident, and the president made it safely back to Washington.
On April 12, 1945, nearly two months after his return to the states, Merritt was stationed on a ship in the Chesapeake Bay near Norfolk, Va., when the news of Roosevelt’s death came over the radio.
“The announcement came over the 12 o’clock news that the president had passed away,” he said. “It made me very sad. We had had an experience together.”
By mid-1945, the major battles of World War II were over, and Merritt spent his final months of service on a naval ship near the coast of Maine, before being discharged from service in April of 1946.
Even though he never saw the violence of ground and air combat that some American soldiers experienced, Merritt said he was proud of his important duty in the war.
“I look at it as a privilege to have been chosen for that escort duty, and you better believe we took it seriously,” he said. “I am very proud of my part in service.”

Making the right choice

Five football players from Emerald City sign with colleges

February 3, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

National Signing Day proved to be a banner day for the city of Greenwood.
Five high school football players, four from Greenwood and one from Emerald, signed their letters of intent Wednesday to play college football on the first day that student-athletes can sign with colleges.
Emerald’s Shrine Bowl kicker/punter Christopher Tommie stayed in the Upstate, signing with Wofford College.
Greenwood’s Antavious Coates, Zearrick Matthews, Gabe Butler and Shrine Bowler Alonzo Higgins gave coach Shell Dula his largest signing day class during his tenure at the school.
“It’s a great day for Greenwood. It’s a great day for Greenwood athletics and Greenwood High School,” Dula said. “This day allows them to give back to their parents. Their parents have sacrificed and provided for them. Now, with their God-given talent, they’re able to give back in some degree, because it certainly is a financial help to any family.
“It’s a great day for us, because we’ve seen these young men that entered our program in the ninth grade develop mentally, socially and spiritually, and now they take a big step in their life.”
Coates signed with the University of Georgia, and Matthews did the same with Marshall. Butler signed with Newberry College, while Higgins signed with Southwest Mississippi Community College.
Tommie, who signed with Division I-AA Wofford, became the first player from Emerald to sign with a Division I school on signing day.
The Emerald senior had drawn interest from a couple of larger Division I school to come in as a non-scholarship walk-on, but Tommie chose to go where he could make an early impact.
“If I would have gone somewhere bigger, there may have been a chance that I wouldn’t have seen the field until my senior year,” he said. “Now, I can go out there my freshman year and contribute.”
Tommie’s signing fills a much-needed void on the Terriers’ roster.
Wofford’s punter at the start of the 2004 season left after the third game, leaving senior backup quarterback Trey Rodgers to fill the job.
“They told me that I am going to come in and punt this year and do kickoffs,” Tommie said. “They said with their kicker being a junior next year, that I’ll be in competition with him for kicking duties.
“They told me earlier in the year that I may be doing medium to longer field goals and he would have the shorter ones. But I may get all of the field goals, but that depends on if I can win the spot.”
Coates and Matthews each showed off their new school pride, wearing hats and shirts from their perspective schools.
“This a special part of my life,” Matthews said. “I’m making a decision of my lifetime. My parents are happy for me, and I’m just happy to be in this situation. This a big dream of mine.”
Wednesday was a special day for the two Greenwood seniors, with the duo each signing with Division I school despite being injured for most of their senior years.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Coates missed the Eagles’ final eight games after seriously injuring his knee. But Coates, who committed to Georgia before the start of football season, said he is looking forward to showing the Bulldog coaches who stood by him that they weren’t wrong about him.
“I think when I went up to the camp last year I proved that I was a player,” Coates said. “But I’m glad they stuck with me through the injury. I’m going to go out there with the same passion as I played when I was here.”
Matthews recovered from a high-ankle sprain to play several positions for the Eagles this season, including quarterback, wide out and defensive back.
The 5-11, 175-pound Matthews said he was being recruited by the Thundering Herd as a defensive back. Three of Marshall’s top four corners from last season were seniors.
“When coach (George) Darlington (Marshall’s special teams coach/recruiting coordinator) came for a home visit, I enjoyed everything he had to say about the program,” Matthews said. “That’s when I knew I wanted to go there.”
Like Matthews, Butler, a 6-2, 260-pound offensive linemen, knew immediately where he wanted to go and quickly snapped up the offer from the Indians.
“It’s one of the best feelings I’ve had,” Butler said. “It doesn’t really hit until you sign that paper and it becomes official. I think Newberry is the best fit for me. I like the coaches. It’s a great feeling there. It’s like a family.”
The Lakelands are also had three high school seniors sign letters of intent to play collegiate soccer Wednesday.
Greenwood’s Tyler Davis signed with Lander, and Emerald’s Brian Amey signed with Erskine.
Ware Shoals’ Michael Clark signed with Coker, becoming the first Hornet to receive a scholarship for soccer.

Making the right choice

Five football players from Emerald City sign with colleges

February 3, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Opinion

Bill Voiselle, Ninety Six had special relationship

February 3, 2005

Most people love their hometowns. Few, however, love a community more than Bill Voiselle loved Ninety Six. None, though, get an opportunity to “advertise” their hometowns in a World Series ….. except one.
Bill Voiselle did. He was the only Major League baseball player to wear his town’s name on the back of his uniform, for which he got special permission. It wasn’t written, of course, but the numerals “96” could not be mistaken.
Voiselle was a special kind of man, no doubt about it. He could have lived anywhere. But Ninety Six is a special kind of place, and to Voiselle, it was home. That was where he returned – the only place he wanted to live – when his baseball days were over.

VOISELLE WOULD HAVE never even considered living any other place. That says a lot about Ninety Six, of course, but it says more about Voiselle. He was always tied to his roots.
If only one word could be used to describe this great role model, it would have to be “humble.” He was a role model, certainly, for adults as much as kids. He showed us what the phrase “to love thy neighbor” really means. He lived it every day.
One other thing made him stand out among many stand-out athletes and indeed all of humanity. In an era when athletes and former athletes take greed to the limit, Voiselle was different. He was generous with his autograph. He continued to sign, even when it became difficult to write ….. and he never charged anyone a penny to do it, either, something rare in today’s ego-driven world of sports.

TODAY’S FILTHY RICH athletes could learn a lesson about caring from the life of Bill Voiselle. Following in his footsteps could help them dispel some of the negativity that defines so much in so many sports these days.
It would be hard to say if Ninety Six loved Bill Voiselle more than Voiselle loved it. One thing’s for sure, though. it was a mutual admiration society if there ever was one.
Old number “96” died Monday, but his life was a shining example for all of us ….. a beacon to help us follow the “golden rule” in our own relationships.
Humble? Yes. Loyal? Yes. Loved? Just ask the people of Ninety Six.

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

Obituaries

Kenneth Batton

WATERLOO – Kenneth Duff Batton, 62, resident of 51 Edgewood Harbor in Waterloo, husband of June Leona Baker Batton, died February 1, 2005 in Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood, May 30, 1942, he was the son of the late Roy L. and Heppie Agnes Duff Batton. He was a 1959 graduate of Greenwood High School and 1970 graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato and numerous professional schools. Mr. Batton’s career as a Computer Scientist began virtually at the inception of the use of the computer as a commercial/industrial tool. He was a Senior Systems Analyst for Minnesota State University, Instructor in Computer Science and Director of Computer Science for Associated Colleges of Central Kansas, Assistant Director of the Office of Computing Activities and Director, Administrative Computing, University of Virginia Medical Center Computer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, Deputy Director, Executive Office of the President Computer Center, Washington, D.C., Program Director, Alaska Federal Data Processing Center, Anchorage, Alaska, Data Base Administrator, NASA Scientific and Technical Information Facility, Linthicum, Maryland, Subcontracts Administrator for Prince George’s County Data Center, Maryland and Configuration Manager, World Weather Facility, Suitland, Maryland.He performed numerous assignments for various NASA facilities, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Social Security Administration, other Federal Government, State of Minnesota, and State of Virginia.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a son, James Stanislaus Batton of Triangle, Virginia; a daughter, Michele Dean Allen of Laurel, Maryland; a step-daughter, Kristen Nicole Gaffney of Yorktown, Virginia; a step-son, Kevin Merritt Anderson of Rockville, Maryland and grandchildren, Dylan and Cassidy Batton; Megan, Laura and Shannon Gaffney and Julia, Olivia and Joseph Anderson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1PM Friday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Clinton with Rev. Denise Seymour and Rev. Debbie Wood officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family is at the home on Edgewood Harbor and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 5:30 to 7:30 Thursday evening.
Flowers are specifically not requested. Memorials to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lutheran Men in Missions, 1009 S. Broad Street, Clinton, SC 29325 or to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 1741, Greenwood, SC 29648 are encouraged.
For additional information please visit
www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home is assisting the Batton family.
PAID OBITUARY

Jesse Bouchillon

ABBEVILLE, SC – Jesse Lee Bouchillon, 16, resident of 531 Bouchillon Rd, Nation Community, Abbeville, SC died Tuesday Feb. 1, 2005 at his home.
Born in Anderson, SC he was a son of Dave Pruitt Bouchillon and Rita Whitfield Thomas. He was a sophomore at Dixie High School were he was very active in school activities. He was a member of the Dixie High School football team and was the Head Goaltender on the Varsity Soccer Team.
Survivors are: his father-Dave Pruitt Bouchillon of the home; mother, Rita Whitfield Thomas of Greenville, SC; 2 sisters-Tracy Clamp, Anderson, SC; Angie Gray, Anderson, SC; grandmothers-Patsy Bouchillon, Abbeville, SC; Sarah Graham, Anderson, SC.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, Feb. 4, 2005 at 2:00 PM from Due West ARP Church with the Rev. Terry Greer officiating. The burial will follow in Bells United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family is at the home of Wendy Newell, 1854 Hwy 284, Abbeville, SC and the home of his sister, Tracy Clamp, 2610 Whitehall Ave. in Anderson, SC.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Thursday evening.
Memorials may be made to the Dixie High School Booster Club, PO Box 158, Due West, SC 29639.
Active Pallbearers will be Kyle Crawford, Matthew Graham, Chris Graham, Christian Kay, Jeffery Hannah, Jacob Turner, Elijah Proctor and John Proctor.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of The Dixie High School football and soccer teams.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Ida Frances Brown

SALUDA — Ida Frances Lindsay Brown, 76, widow of John R. Brown, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2005 at University Hospital in Augusta, Ga.
Born in Newberry County, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Martha Nutridge Lindsay. She was a domestic worker and a member of Young Mount Zion Baptist Church.
She was the last survivor of her immediate family.
Services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Young Mount Zion Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Robert Livingston, assisted by the Rev. James G. Sims, Evangelist Wilhelmena Coleman and Minister Charles Harris. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are family and friends.
The family is at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grady Minick, 2024 Columbia Highway 378, Saluda.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Ruby Caughman

WARE SHOALS — Ruby Ouzts Caughman, 90, of 49 Smith St., widow of Billie T. Caughman, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 at Magnolia Manor.
Born in Arcadia, La., she was a daughter of the late John Henry and Jessie Bodie Ouzts. She retired from Riegel Textile Co. and was a member of Ware Shoals United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Daniel Caughman of Flatrock, N.C., and Michael Caughman of Greenville; a sister, Dorothy Morrison of Ware Shoals; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Ware Shoals United Methodist Church, conducted by the Revs. Fred Treaster and Carol Wray. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. The body will be placed in the church at 1.
Visitation is 1-2 Friday at the church.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Jeffrey A. Childs

WATERLOO — Jeffrey Alan Childs, 44, of 294 Rest Road, husband of Rhonda Kennedy Childs, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 at his home.
Born in Lexington, N.C., he was a son of Martin and Bertha Davis Childs. He was a former construction worker and a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; his parents of Waterloo; a son, Richard Kennedy of Waterloo; a daughter, Cortni Childs of the home; two brothers, Tim Childs of Hickory Tavern and Randy Childs of Waterloo; a sister, Wanda Childs Cooper of Inman; grandmother, Selly Young; and three grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Friday at Mount Olive Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Gerald Crawford and by Mike McCall. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 7-8:30 tonight at Kennedy Mortuary in Laurens.
The family is at the home.
The Kennedy Mortuary is in charge.

Velma Donovan

Velma Lane Donovan, 95, widow of William Andrew “Pat” Donovan, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005 at Wesley Commons.
Born in Seviere County, Tenn., she was a daughter of the late William Pless and Mary Matilda Caughron Lane. She formerly worked in the school cafeteria at Farragut School, Farragut, Tenn., and was a member of First Baptist Church, Concord, Tenn.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Jack (Patsy) Whatley of Greenwood; a son, William Andrew “Andy” Donovan of Knoxville, Tenn.; two sisters, Mattye Ross and Mary Kate Franklin, both of Knoxville; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Friday at Click Funeral Home in Farragut, conducted by the Revs. Steve Peek and David Hyers. Burial is in Concord Masonic Cemetery in Concord.
Pallbearers are Lynn Wallace, Bob Donovan, Brian Johnson, Sherman Patterson, Wayne Hartzog, Charles Benson and Carl Lane.
Visitation is 10-11 Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Wesley Commons Healthcare, 1110 Marshall Road, Greenwood, SC 29646 or First Baptist Church in Concord, Tenn.
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Ty Shewbert

Lewis Tyson “Ty” Shewbert, 84, formerly of Ware Shoals, husband of Lucy H. Shewbert, died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004 in the Atlanta area.
Survivors include his wife and a stepson, Dr. Randy Beggs.
A memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Leon Jones.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

CORRECTION

For the obituary of James Robards in Wednesday’s paper, the visitation was omitted from the information given to The Index-Journal.
Visitation is 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at Blyth Funeral Home, prior to memorial services.