Photos from The Birmingham News
Sunday, October 31, 2010, by Beverly S. Taylor
The dance at the downtown VFW on 11th Avenue North in Birmingham, Ala., is shown on Oct 30, 2010. Many VFW posts are closing while this one is attracting new members with WIFI and dances. The floor was crowded with dancers at times. Front and center are Malinda Baucum of Mountain Brook and Steve Tawbush of North Shelby with Anne England and Ken George of Vestavia Hills at right. ( Beverly Taylor/The Birmingham News ) <<click for more>>
From the Shelby County Reporter
December 20, 2010, by Katie Hurst
Company honors service to country
MONTEVALLO — Boatright Railroad Products in Montevallo chose a non-traditional way to honor veterans and active military personnel this year, by providing them some holiday cheer at the company’s annual Christmas party.
Every year Boatright Companies, a railroad industry supplier, hosts a Christmas party for the employees at each of its companies, said Shane Boatright, Boatright Companies CEO and president. This year the company invited veterans and their families to join the party at American Village Dec. 17, he said.
“I thought in some way we’ve got to be able to recognize these people and have veterans of all wars there and salute them for their duty,” he said. <<click for more>>
From The Birmingham News
November 11, 2010,
by Jeff Hansen
Ranks thinning at VFW posts across Birmingham (with video and slideshow)
Bucky Walter, a proud World War II Merchant Marine, used to march with an American flag in Birmingham's Veterans Day parade.
But last year the 83-year-old had to quit. Old age is overtaking Walter and his fellow members of America's "greatest generation." That toll can be seen at Veterans of Foreign Wars posts all across Birmingham... <<click for more>>
Osmond Kelly Ingram was born on 4 August 1887 in Pratt City, Alabama. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from that state as an Apprentice Seaman in November 1903. In the course of his Naval career, he advanced to the rank of Gunner's Mate First Class and, during World War I, served on board the destroyer Cassin. On 15 October 1917, while his ship was operating off the Irish coast, she was attacked by the German submarine U-61. Gunner's Mate Ingram spotted an incoming torpedo and, realizing that it could hit near the depth charges at the ship's stern, he ran aft in an attempt to release them before the torpedo arrived. However, the torpedo struck the ship before he could achieve his purpose and Ingram was killed in the ensuing explosion. For his "extraordinary heroism" on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Also noteworthy for being the first U.S. Navy enlisted man killed in action during World War I, Osmond K. Ingram is listed on the Wall of the Missing at the American Battle Monuments Commission Cemetery, Brookwood, Surrey, England.
USS Osmond Ingram (DD-255, later AVD-9 and APD-35), 1919-1946, was named in honor of Gunner's Mate First Class Osmond K. Ingram.
Medal of Honor citation of Gunner's Mate First Class Osmond K. Ingram (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 117):
"For extraordinary heroism in the presence of the enemy on the occasion of the torpedoing of the Cassin, on 15 October 1917. While the Cassin was searching for the submarine, INGRAM sighted the torpedo coming, and realizing that it might strike the ship aft in the vicinity of the depth charges, ran aft with the intention of releasing the depth charges before the torpedo could reach the Cassin. The torpedo struck the ship before he could accomplish his purpose and Ingram was killed by the explosion. The depth charges exploded immediately afterward. His life was sacrificed in an attempt to save the ship and his shipmates, as the damage to the ship would have been much less if he had been able to release the depth charges."