A real war involves ALL of the community
Burke County Courthouse
Morganton, Burke County
that I will support and defend
the Constitution of the United States
against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
and that I will obey the orders of the
President of the United States
and the orders of the officers appointed over me,
according to regulations
and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
So help me God."
That is the Oath of Enlisment, a promise all veterans have made. Some volunteered knowing full well it could eventually cost them their lives. Others were conscripted, pulled into a conflict not of their choosing, but still they recited that oath and became one with the others, "troops" for a government not always known to fully appreciate the difficulty of their separation from home and family.
This entire memorial is full of symbolism, love, and respect for our veterans of World War II. It tells us the names of over 140 men that did not return from that war, and also hints that war is not just about a failure to return home. It's also about how a hometown supports the troops, working in its' own way to arm them and assure the defeat of the enemy.
The 'Inductee' stands upon his schoolbooks as he recites the oath, because knowledge bolsters the strength of his convictions and the skills to perform the tasks of war.
Click on photo to read the names
of the Burke County Dead
Standing behind the Honor Roll of the fallen are three figures; a grief stricken mother with one hand trying to shield herself from the news of the loss as her other hand reaches for her husband who, as he also reaches for his spouse, is being embraced by the younger sister of the lost soldier. The young man is gone, but left behind are those that loved him dearly - and they will never forget this moment, when the news hit them as hard as any bullet.
Read the names. It's evident that some families gave more than others. Cline, Walker, Powell, Scott, Wright, Shuping, Smith, Icard, Huffman . . . can you imagine the worry of these families as they waited for news of the second, third, and even fourth son. And then it came. What is the cost of world war? What is the cost of peace? A Gold Star mother can tell you, it costs the life of a dear son or daughter.
Although this is called "Victory Plaza" it's really more of an enhanced sidewalk leading toward the courthouse. It's a busy street during the week and doubtless there are hundreds of people who will walk past each day and not give a second thought to what this all means.
There are several pedestal areas with busts commissioned by various individuals and groups. Each tells another story of war and life at home. Some, like 'Kilroy' are whimsical and bring a smile to every face that knows the story of how this endearing figure came to be everyplace he 'wuz'. Others remind us of the skills needed to win victory; nurses, welders, pilots, those that know how to plan and those that lead, those that stay home and worry as they work in a factory.
This is truly a wonderful memorial. It's so much more than a long list of names etched into stone. It is an excellent reminder of life during wartime. It's also a strong statement that to achieve victory everyone in the community will sacrifice something.
Two other monuments are found near the entrance to the courthouse. One is an Honor Roll listing of the fallen in VietNam and the other is a listing of Burke County law enforcement officers that have fallen on duty. The Victory Plaza presentation overshadows these two cenotaphs, which is bothersome.
1964-1975"
Sadly, some of the same family names that appeared on the World War II cenotaph also appear here. The chronological order of the listings gives a good idea of just how much the pace of the VietNam war had quickend in 1967, 1968 and 1969.
The death of S/Sgt Ralph Smith and so many of his comrades at LZ X-Ray in the NaDrang Valley in 1975 became the basis of a book and movie, "We Were Soldiers Once - And Young." 1st Lt Carl Gray was a military advisor to the 7th ARVN Infantry Regiment. The unit was overrun by Viet Cong at the Michelin Rubber Plantation, the entire unit was wiped out. Lt Noah Kraft was a Marine helicopter pilot commanding a Huey on the day he died. He was the only one of the 13 Marines aboard that survived the crash but he died in the field hospital that evening.
Listed as MIA, Marine Capt Doug Avery was later located and identifed, and Lt Col Robert H. Carter was Commander, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment when he died from small arms fire in Kontum Province.
