Click to play music.
Rockport Heroes Remembered!
Military Series Of Some Heroes From The
Korean War.
Time May Be Immortal-Soldiers
Are Not!
Web Page by jrd on 5/4/16.
Added obituary on 1/17/21.
Music File Is An Old Military Tune:
"Under The
Double Eagle"
This Military Series Is Designed To
Give Honor To Those From The Rockport/Echols Area That Served Our Country. I Have Not Left
Out Anyone Intentionally, As I Can Only Include Those That I Have Information About.
If You Know Or Aware Of Anyone That I Have Not Included, Please Feel Free To Send
Me Some Material And I will Include Them In The Series. Thanks.
Jay Shrull.
Jay Shrull was born in Rockport and spent a few years in this old river town before
his family moved to an area near Echols where Ken Mine eventually stripped the old
home place as well as the school in which he received his first formal education.
Jubilee School, a small one-room school, was located in the heart of the Ken Mine
Coal Reserve Field and would be long gone in the nineteen fifties, but it served its'
purpose in educating many of the local farm family children. In the early twentieth
century, it was not uncommon for a student to walk a mile or two, to and from school.
Chores in the morning before school, a long walk to school, one room school education,
a walk back home, and chores before dark certainly kept most children in those days
occupied. A few years later, the Shrull family would move to Hartford where Jay
completed his elementary education.
At age 18, Jay went to Louisville to join the Army. On 11/8/48, Jay reported for
basic training at Fort Knox Army Base. After completing a 13 week basic training
course at Ft. Knox, he was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas for Artillery Training. Jay
graduated from the six month Artillery Training Course at Ft. Bliss and was sent
to Fort Ord in California for processing. He was then sent to Eielson Air Force
Base in Alaska to serve in an Artillery Battery in helping to protect Eielson
Air Force Base and other Air Force bases in Alaska. Help was needed in the field
of communications while he was in Alaska and Jay switched to the communication
field. Without proper training in Morse Code, Jay was limited in the communication
field, but was able to maintain his position. From Alaska, Jay was sent to Fort
Meade, Maryland as a communications specialist where he received official training
in Morse Code. While serving as a communication specialist after completing the
Morse Code Training program, the Army in their infinite wisdom was in need of an
Artillery Sergeant in an Artillery Battalion in the Washington D. C. area and Jay
was selected. He spent the rest of his military time in various battalions in the
D. C. area and was honorably discharged on 11/7/53.
After being discharged from the Army, Jay worked at various jobs until he was able
to land his dream job working for the Cadillac Division of General Motors Corporation
in Michigan. After thirty-five years with Cadillac, Jay retired and eventually returned
back to Hartford, Ky. just about where he started life. Today, Jay is living in the
Dogwood Retreat, an assisted living facility in Hartford, KY.
An early marriage to Retha Tichenor did not last long and later in life, Jay married
Ida Gresel Vandiver. A son and a daughter from this marriage made this couple very
proud. It was a busy time in the Detroit area for Jay, with his work, community
events and of raising a family of two children. Before the the empty nest syndrome and
the big decision for retirement, Jay's marriage came to an end. Some time later, Jay
would marry Julia Teressa Suyo and they would stay together until she died after
35 years of marriage. Jay was not to be alone in life and took Martha Betsy for
his wife. After a few years of married life, Jay and Martha parted and Jay ended
up back in Ohio County. He can be reached at the Dogwood Retreat in Hartford.
Thanks Jay, for your service to our country.
.......................................................
Obituary from Owensboro-Messenger Inquirer.
William J. Shull.
Hartford - William J. Shull, age 90 of Hartford, Kentucky passed away Thursday, January
14, 2021 at Ohio County Hospital. He was born on March 14, 1930 in Rockport, Kentucky
the son of the late Euclid R and Mabel Chinn Shull. William was a member of Hartford
Baptist Church and a Life member of the Kentucky Historical Society. J. was an Army
Veteran of the Korean War serving two times in Alaska.
Aside from his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife Jullie Teresa Shull,
his second wife Martha Betsy White Shull and a brother, Veachel Shull. He is survived
by two children, William David Shull and Lela Selvo, three grandchildren, two brothers,
Wendell Lee Shull and Jim Shull, one sister, Juanita Proffer and two special friends,
Donald and Lois McGuire.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 17, 2021 at Miller-Schapmire
Funeral Home in Hartford, Kentucky. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will
be held from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
All those who wish to honor and remember William J. Shull in person at the funeral home
are required to wear a mask or approved face covering while in the funeral home.
Miller-Schapmire Funeral Home is both honored and privileged to be entrusted with the
care of Mr. Shull. Share your messages of condolence with the family of William J.
Shull and sign her virtual guestbook at www.millerschapmire.com.
...............
The Forgotten War!
.............................
Write-up on Jay's military career written by j. r. durham after talking with Jay
Shrull.
One Rockport area soldier never made it back home. Click on the following
link for more information.
James W. Maddox.
Earlier Map Of Korea
Showing the 38th
Parallel.
The Korean War took place from June 25, 1950,
to July 27, 1953. Korea had been divided after World War II, when Japanese control
ended. The northern part was occupied by Soviet troops until 1948 and the southern
part by Americans until 1949. Efforts to reunify Korea failed, and the divided
regions became independent countries. The Korean War began when communist North
Korea invaded South Korea in 1950 and captured the capital Seoul. The United Nations
Security Council voted to aid South Korea, and the United States led the peacekeeping
forces. China and USSR supported North Korea. Although 20 other nations eventually
became involved in the war, the Koreans saw it primarily as a civil war between the
north and south. The armistice line north of the 38th parallel along the battle line
ended the fighting, but Korea has remained divided into North Korea and South Korea
for decades since.
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jrd