Ceremonies to Honor Veterans Like Central’s Earl N. Colbey

CENTRAL — Tomorrow is Veterans Day and, over the next few days, Central residents will honor our Veterans with at least three ceremonies:

• Thursday, Nov. 10. May-

or’s Veterans Celebration, Grace

United Pentecostal Church on

Hooper Road across from Wildcat Stadium.  Retired Gen. Hunt Downer will speak. Come and honor the veterans.  6 p.m.

• Friday, Nov. 11. Annual Veterans Day Program sponsored by Central Middle School’s 6th graders, Wildcat Stadium.  1 p.m.

• Sunday, Nov. 13. Veterans Mass at St. Alphonsus Church, 14040 Greenwell Springs Rd.  Open to the public.  10 a.m.

All veterans and all members of the public are invited to all these events.

Who Will Be Honored?

All of our veterans, living and dead, will be remembered.

Boy Sailor, Age 14

Residents will honor men like Earl N. Colbey, the boy sailor, who was willing to give everything in defense of our country.  Truly believing that patriotism and love of country have no age limits, Earl Colbey, who was born in 1930, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 during World War II.  He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid for two years.  During this time, the Intrepid fought to liberate the Philippines and in the battle for Okinawa.

In 1946, when the Navy discovered that Colbey, a two-year veteran, was only 16, they booted him out.  Then in 1948, while still only 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, two years before the Korean War.

When that war broke out in May 1950, Colbey had just reached 20.  On June 29, he volunteered to fight in Korea and less than a week later he was in Korea and being strafed by North Korean planes.  On July 5, his position was attacked by 54 North Korean tanks.  The 500 GI’s were overrun by more than 35,000 North Koreans.  He was captured July 6.

Tiger Death March.  A total of 889 captives were taken to ManPo and turned over to a policeman whom they nicknamed the Tiger.  He led the prisoners on a brutal 150-mile death march.  Anyone who was too sick or injured to continue was killed on the spot.  The others were subjected to cruelty and inhumane treatment which was made even worse by the indescribable cold.  Men had no food, no medicine, no winter clothing, and virtually no heat.

One year later, when the Chinese took control, there were only 234 prisoners still alive.

Earl had dropped from 198 pounds to 118, but he was happy just to be alive.

The Chinese were not as cruel, but subjected them to mental torture and attempted to brainwash them.  More than three years after his capture, he was repatriated.  He weighed 145 pounds.

Colbey said he never resented the treatment he received at the hands of the North Koreans or the Chinese.  But he said he did resent the treatment the veterans received at the hands of the American people after his return.  He said they were not properly cared for and were repeatedly told, “We cannot help you.”

But later he said the men who had fought and suffered so much were recognized by the Veterans Administration and given better attention.

After the war, Earl Colbey moved to the Central area.  His grandson is Rev. Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church on Hooper.

Like so many veterans, Earl Colbey was a true American patriot, whose sacrifices helped Americans live in peace and freedom.