Family in the Service
November 12, 2002
I usually give little thought to honoring veterans on Veteran’s Day. Sure, we have visited the Vietnam Memorial, many of the battlefields of the Civil War, War of Independence and the French-America War. In Europe, we visited the Verdun Cemetery, the beautiful American Cemetery in Normandy and the American Cemetery in Cambridge, England where Uncle Joe Heacock is buried. We have thought about Uncle Joe Heacock and his role in WWII, but Veteran’s Day has usually been a time when we watch the old survivors of our various wars march down main streets – then, quickly change TV channels. Of course, we appreciate the contribution these guys made to the survival of our civilization. But war inspires many unpleasant thoughts that we would rather avoid.
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| American Cemetery in Normandy, France |
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| American Cemetery in Cambridge, England |
Somehow, this year, with the ongoing war against terrorism, it struck me that there is a very good reason to honor our veterans – especially those who died (nobody really “gives” or “loses” their lives) or were injured in the defense of our country and the civilized world. But also, many of us “served” our country in the various military branches in either a voluntary or involuntary capacity. In retrospect, I volunteered to serve in the Marine Corps – but would I have joined if not under the threat of being drafted? Maybe not!
Anyway, it occurred to me that since I have been working on the Sterling/Heacock family tree, that several of our ancestors and living members of our family have served in the military. And, maybe I might be in a position to honor them by writing a brief account of their military histories. Of course, the records are very incomplete. If all the details were known, books could be written on the subject. But, let's start with what is written and assume that most of it is true.
When George Holmes was a lad the strife for freedom began, and, although a stripling, he managed to get into the army, someway, as a helper in the same regiment as that of this father, and afterward as a full-fledged soldier. Revolutionary records in the Archives of Massachusetts state that a receipt, dated midway, June 16, 1778, was signed by said Holmes and others belonging to Captain Moses Adams' Company, Colonel Brooks' Regiment, of Guards, for service from March 3, 1777, to April 3, 1778, five months at Cambridge and travel allowance for said term. He was in a secret expedition to Newport, R. Il, one month, six days. He was also in Captain Samuel Holden's Company, Colonel Ebenezer's (Suffolk County) Regiment, enlisted July 28, 1780; discharged October 1780; regiment raised to reinforce the Continental Army for three months (From the Holmes Geneology p. 131).
Andrew Jackson Sterling, my great-grandfather, enlisted in the Union Army in 1863 and served with Company B, Fourth Regiment of the West Virginia Cavalry until he was mustered out in Wheeling, Virginia in 1864.
Great-grandfather Salathiel Sterling served in the Union Army, WV Inf. Co. O.
Richard Heacock served in the 141st Infantry Band along the battlefront of France, 1917-19.
Joseph Wilson Heacock, Jr. was a lieutenant in the US Army Air Corps. He piloted a P-38 fighter and reconnaissance airplane over Europe during the Second World War. He died July 7, 1944, during a training accident in his P-38 while in England and is buried in Cambridge, England.
Marion Bruce Sterling enlisted in the U. S. Army on 7/8/1948 at the age of 19. Served in Army Antiaircraft in Hq. Battery 97 at Ft. Lee, VA. Transferred to Okinawa and honorably discharged 4/12/1952.
Winfield Lincoln Sterling enlisted in USMC 6/18/1956 in San Antonio, TX. Served in "G" Co., 2nd Battalion and "H&S" Co., 3rd Bn of the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in the Legal Section at Camp Pendleton, CA. Served 3 yrs. and received an honorable discharge in 1959 as Lance Corporal. Served in inactive reserves from April 1959 to June 1962.
Richard Scott Sterling joined the U.S. Air Force and served at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX then Gunter AFB, Montgomery AL in the Medical Group then at Hunter AFB, Savannah, GA. Promoted to Airman 1st Class, May 1963.
Peter Knowles Sterling enlisted in the US Navy at San Antonio November 30, 1962. Went to boot camp at the recruit training center in San Diego California. After boot camp was stationed aboard a Destroyer, the USS McDermott (DD 677) homeported in San Diego. In July 1993 had a collision with our "sister" ship the USS Gregory both ships were put out of commission. Went to the Navy's boilerman trade school (Great Lakes Illinois) and in May 1964 reported aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Wasp (CVS-18) in Boston Massachusetts. Served on her until honorably discharged as a 2nd class petty officer in June of 1967.
Wynter Leigh Miller served in the US Army Reserves.
My records of other cousins such as Howard Bair -- served in the US Navy, Dwayne Bair -- US Army. Others such as Dick Heacock, Edward Heacock, Jack Heacock, Fred Heacock or Terry Sterling are incomplete.
Who have I missed?
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