Vanceburg in Lewis County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Veterans Memorial Park

Lest We Forget

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 23, 2021

1. Veterans Memorial Park Monument, front

Inscription.

Veterans Memorial Park. Lest We Forget. Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Thomas Pugh October 21, 1020 , December 18, 1951. Lieutenant Commander Tom Pugh, Navy pilot, served on the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45)(VG-194) during the Korean War and was killed when his plane was damaged on a mission over North Korea. Pugh was the recipient of many medals, foremost among them the Distinguished Flying Cross on a mission flown four days prior to his death. The DFC was awarded for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a pilot and flight leader. Skillfully leading his flight of twelve attack aircraft in a hazardous strike against vital enemy rail installations. Lieutenant Commander Pugh braved intense hostile antiaircraft fire to press home his attack, personally scoring three direct hits. By his aggressive determination, superb airmanship, and courageous devotion to duty in the face of string opposition, Lieutenant Commander Push upheld the highest traditions of United States Naval Service. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943, Pugh was a line officer aboard the USS Pruitt during World War II. , Korean War. Bloomfield, Carl K. . Dowdy, Oliver H. . Elliott, Charles P. . Goodwin, Martia H. . Hall, Raymond D. . McCormick, Howard . Richols, Paul B. . Pugh, Benjamin T. . Vinson, Earnest L. . Willis, Adam M. , Spanish-American War. Arthur, Clarence A. . Brewer, Frank M. . Denton, Henry , World War I. Adams, Clarence . Blizzard, Thomas V. . Burns, Alvin . Chadwick, John L. . Cooper, Robert G. . Dempsey, Clyde . Dyer, Daniel . Dyer, Otto . Forbes, Mack L. . Latham, Otto D. . Lawrence, Herman . McCarty, James D. . McClain, Fred B. . McGill, Robert . Moore, Earnest E. . Nolan, Isom . Penrod, William McKinley . Rayborn, Glen . Renchen, Aubrey D. . Ruckle, Luther . Ruark, Alva L. Simpson, Roland . Smith, Frank . Stevens, James M. . Stout, Earl J. . Veach, William . Welch, Arthur M. . Wilson, William I. , World War II. Armstrong, Ermal E. . Armstrong, James . Bloomfield, Carlen J. . Bodkins, James I. . Brewer, Homer C. . Bruce, Alexander T. . Conley, Clyde . Conn, John W. . Cottingham, C., Jr. . Cox, Raymond L. . Davenport, Kenneth G. . Durham, Robert L. . Esham, Gilbert C. . Evans, Raymond E. . Felty, Conroy F. . Ginn, Andrew F. . Hamilton, Lawrence . Hardy, Maurice C. . Harr, Howard R. . Harrison, Marion D. . Hickle, Charles . Holt, Walter . Horsley, Floyd W. . Hughes, Percy D. . Ingram, Joseph A. . Jones, Norman R. . Jordan, Troy W. . Kennard, James D. .Kilgore, Clyde E. . Lewis, George M. . Lowder, Rowland O. . McClurg, Ben . McEldowney, Charles I. . Meadows, Estill Lee . Nolen, Earsel . Payton, Russell L. . Perry, Charles E. . Picklesimer, Gordon B. . Polley, Everett K. . Rice, George W. . Richardson, Homer . Roe, Arlin F. . Rolph, Elmo . Ruggles, Donald N. . Sapp, Dallas L. . Scott, Wilbur D. . Silvey, Hurley R. . Smith, Winnie . Sparks, Alva . Spriggs, Charles W. . Staton, James E. . Stone, Fielden J. . Stone, Tinsley . Stone, William O. . Thacker, James L. . Voiers, Charles. Jr. . Willis, Leslie H. . Wilson, Eugene Davis . Young, Tom H. , Cold War Period. Bryan, Harold D. . Lykins, George W. . Royal, James M. . Thomas, Franklin . Zornes, Hobert T. , Vietnam Conflict. Boggs, Ira Carl, Jr. . Bradford, Charles N. . Butler, Omal Lee . Carver, Richard Allen . Clark, Roger Dale . Griffith, Dale E. . Fitch, William Andrew . Hughes, William B. . Perry, William Edward, Jr. . Polley, Roger Dale . Ray, Timothy . Rose, Robert L. . Sparks, William Douglas . Stamm, Monte Lewis . Wadkins, Woots Earl

Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Thomas Pugh
October 21, 1020 — December 18, 1951
Lieutenant Commander Tom Pugh, Navy pilot, served on the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45)(VG-194) during the Korean War and was killed when his plane was damaged on a mission over North Korea. Pugh was the recipient of many medals, foremost among them the Distinguished Flying Cross on a mission flown four days prior to his death. The DFC was awarded for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a pilot and flight leader. Skillfully leading his flight of twelve attack aircraft in a hazardous strike against vital enemy rail installations. Lieutenant Commander Pugh braved intense hostile antiaircraft fire to press home his attack, personally scoring three direct hits. By his aggressive determination, superb airmanship, and courageous devotion to duty in the face of string opposition, Lieutenant Commander Push upheld the highest traditions of United States Naval Service. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943, Pugh was a line officer aboard the USS Pruitt during World War II.

Korean War. Bloomfield, Carl K. • Dowdy, Oliver H. • Elliott, Charles P. • Goodwin, Martia H. • Hall, Raymond D. • McCormick, Howard • Richols, Paul B. • Pugh, Benjamin T. • Vinson, Earnest L.

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• Willis, Adam M.

Spanish-American War. Arthur, Clarence A. • Brewer, Frank M. • Denton, Henry

World War I. Adams, Clarence • Blizzard, Thomas V. • Burns, Alvin • Chadwick, John L. • Cooper, Robert G. • Dempsey, Clyde • Dyer, Daniel • Dyer, Otto • Forbes, Mack L. • Latham, Otto D. • Lawrence, Herman • McCarty, James D. • McClain, Fred B. • McGill, Robert • Moore, Earnest E. • Nolan, Isom • Penrod, William McKinley • Rayborn, Glen • Renchen, Aubrey D. • Ruckle, Luther • Ruark, Alva L. Simpson, Roland • Smith, Frank • Stevens, James M. • Stout, Earl J. • Veach, William • Welch, Arthur M. • Wilson, William I.

World War II. Armstrong, Ermal E. • Armstrong, James • Bloomfield, Carlen J. • Bodkins, James I. • Brewer, Homer C. • Bruce, Alexander T. • Conley, Clyde • Conn, John W. • Cottingham, C., Jr. • Cox, Raymond L. • Davenport, Kenneth G. • Durham, Robert L. • Esham, Gilbert C. • Evans, Raymond E. • Felty, Conroy F. • Ginn, Andrew F. • Hamilton, Lawrence • Hardy, Maurice C. • Harr, Howard R. • Harrison, Marion D. • Hickle, Charles • Holt, Walter • Horsley, Floyd W. • Hughes, Percy D. • Ingram, Joseph A. • Jones, Norman R. • Jordan, Troy W. • Kennard, James D. •Kilgore, Clyde E. • Lewis, George M. • Lowder, Rowland O. • McClurg, Ben • McEldowney, Charles I. • Meadows, Estill Lee • Nolen, Earsel • Payton, Russell L. • Perry, Charles

Veterans Memorial Park Monument, back image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 23, 2021

2. Veterans Memorial Park Monument, back

E. • Picklesimer, Gordon B. • Polley, Everett K. • Rice, George W. • Richardson, Homer • Roe, Arlin F. • Rolph, Elmo • Ruggles, Donald N. • Sapp, Dallas L. • Scott, Wilbur D. • Silvey, Hurley R. • Smith, Winnie • Sparks, Alva • Spriggs, Charles W. • Staton, James E. • Stone, Fielden J. • Stone, Tinsley • Stone, William O. • Thacker, James L. • Voiers, Charles. Jr. • Willis, Leslie H. • Wilson, Eugene Davis • Young, Tom H.

Cold War Period. Bryan, Harold D. • Lykins, George W. • Royal, James M. • Thomas, Franklin • Zornes, Hobert T.

Vietnam Conflict. Boggs, Ira Carl, Jr. • Bradford, Charles N. • Butler, Omal Lee • Carver, Richard Allen • Clark, Roger Dale • Griffith, Dale E. • Fitch, William Andrew • Hughes, William B. • Perry, William Edward, Jr. • Polley, Roger Dale • Ray, Timothy • Rose, Robert L. • Sparks, William Douglas • Stamm, Monte Lewis • Wadkins, Woots Earl

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, Cold • War, Korean • War, Spanish-American • War, Vietnam • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Valor in Aerial Operations series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 18, 1951.

Location. 38° 36.158′ N, 83° 19.024′ W. Marker is in Vanceburg, Kentucky, in Lewis County. Memorial is at

Edward Chatman, Private, U.S. Army image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 23, 2021

3. Edward Chatman, Private, U.S. Army

Mar 10 1922 ✝ Dec 26, 1991
Distinguished Service Cross, Burma
This tablet is behind the monument, on the ground at the flagpole circle.

the intersection of Main Street and Front Street, on the left when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 257 Main St, Vanceburg KY 41179, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lewis and Clark Cottonwood Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); Carter House (within shouting distance of this marker); Stamper Block (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hickle’s Pool Room (about 300 feet away); Vanceburg Depot (about 500 feet away); Deposit Bank (about 500 feet away); Halbert House (about 600 feet away); Commercial Hotel (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vanceburg.

Veterans Memorial Park, Vanceburg, Kentucky image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 23, 2021

4. Veterans Memorial Park, Vanceburg, Kentucky

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 23, 2021

5. Veterans Memorial Park, Vanceburg, Kentucky

Veterans Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 23, 2021

6. Veterans Memorial Park

The brass tablet from Photo No. 3 can be seen in the foreground. The Ohio River flows past the park behind the gazebos.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 219 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 28, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.