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68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
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Orange Immortal [60158]
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68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 4, 2012, 10:13 PM
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135lb. soldier was wounded twice on the same day in or around St.Lo. He had been France for about three weeks. Early in the day, he was hit with shrapnel from a bomb that killed a soldier he had been huddled up with in a bomb crater. He had just run out when the bomb exploded, injuring him and killing the other soldier. Later that same day he was attempting to cross a field and a German machine gunner was firing shots at him as he ran. He would run a few feet and dive. The German kept shooting behind him, so he decided to make it to the woods for cover. He was shot through the left arm with a 7MM round and nearly bled to death before coming across some American soldiers who got him to a hospital where he sat out the Battle of the Buldge. He told me his Captain came to his ward at that time and gave the men there three bullets and their rifles and told them if the Germans got that far, it was fight to the last man. Luckily for him and us, the Germans were stopped by the efforts of thousands of young men just like him.
Regretfully, after a recent bout with a severe stroke, he passed away last week. If you have seen the movie,"Saving Private Ryan", my father in law lived a life just like Private Ryan. He was one of our Great American Heroes and will be sorely missed.
A Ware Shoals native, William Leon Dodson,Jr. leaves behind a wife of 60 plus years, three children who are graduates of the University of South Carolina or Clemson University, and seven grand children.The eldest is a Clemson graduate and soon to be graduate of the University of Michigan Architectural grad school. The second eldest is a University of South Carolina grad and the rest of the grandchildren are well on their way.
I hope y'all don't mind, but I just wanted to give him this tribute for his service to our country and a life well lived.
Bryan Black, Easley, South Carolina
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Heisman Winner [79660]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 4, 2012, 10:17 PM
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I'd mind if you didnt share that. Great story of a great American. RIP and thanks to him for his service
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Orange Blooded [2440]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 4, 2012, 10:23 PM
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Amen
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Orange Blooded [2755]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 4, 2012, 10:38 PM
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Thank God for men like him. I have a 4 year old daughter and found out the other week I have another child (Tiger) on the way. Without these great heros I could never enjoy my freedom. God bless him and your family!
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Ultimate Clemson Legend [101300]
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I salute Billy Dodson Jr for his service to USA. RIP Sir.
Jul 4, 2012, 10:51 PM
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Go TiGERs!
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All-Pro [747]
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Salute from me as well***
Jul 4, 2012, 11:17 PM
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Orange Blooded [2755]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 5, 2012, 7:51 PM
[ in reply to Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9", ] |
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Really I get a TD for that. Lmao
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Valley Protector [1463]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 4, 2012, 11:24 PM
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Thanks for sharing
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Hall of Famer [22966]
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An American Hero***
Jul 4, 2012, 11:26 PM
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All-TigerNet [11435]
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Who is the trash that TD this post?***
Jul 4, 2012, 11:31 PM
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Orange Blooded [2755]
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Re: Who is the trash that TD this post?***
Jul 4, 2012, 11:40 PM
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I was just about to ask the same #### question!
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Orange Blooded [2175]
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Orange Blooded [2196]
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Thanks for posting. We should NEVER forget their
Jul 4, 2012, 11:41 PM
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sacrifices!
My grandfather recnetly passed. He too was a WWII vet...one of the greatest generation.
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Orange Beast [6333]
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I knew Mr Leon all my life and went to school with his son
Jul 5, 2012, 12:38 AM
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and not a finer man would you find. He and Miss Betty were jewels. My one and only insurance man for my entire family until he retired. He will be missed!!
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CU Guru [1899]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 5, 2012, 1:26 AM
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Blessings to you and your family. My Dad was there at
ST LO, and the Battle of the Bulge...so they were there in that HeII together. GOD only knows what they went through.
Thanks to all the men and women who've served and who are serving!
GO TIGERS!!!
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Heisman Winner [85061]
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Small world. After reading your posts for years, I find
Jul 5, 2012, 6:52 AM
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out that I knew your wife and sister-in law my first years working as a school psychologist in Ware Shoals. Both lovely young ladies so you married a winner regardless of which one chose you. Please give them my condolences. I wish your entire family God's blessings in this difficult time.
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Orange Immortal [60158]
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I married Betty Anne, a true Southern Belle.***
Jul 5, 2012, 7:56 AM
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Paw Warrior [4925]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 5, 2012, 7:20 AM
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ago and it sounds like they very were much alike. They truly were the Great Generation. God Bless Them All.
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Game Day Hero [4170]
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To your Father-in-law and All others
Jul 5, 2012, 7:56 AM
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who have and do serve our great country, THUMBS UP!!
Great post!!
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Legend [6933]
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Salute this local war hero Mr. Dodson & watch tonight on TV
Jul 5, 2012, 8:02 AM
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& watch Airborne Paratrooper Capt. T. Moffat Burris(Clemson, 1940) on
SCETV at 8 pm (check your local listings). He was played by Robert Redford on A BRIDGE TOO FAR. He and two of his men captured 15 thousand nazi soldiers, & his exploits are too numerous to list here after landing in N. Africa, Sicily and then to Holland, where last year he recieved their highest Medal and jumped out of a plane at age 90. This year, at age 91, I heard him being interviewed on NPR and he is humerous, humble and will bring tears with his description of being first to go into Concentration Camp. His stories are vital so history is not repeated.
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Ultimate Clemson Legend [105933]
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Thanks for sharing Spud, and for the 3 people who
Jul 5, 2012, 8:23 AM
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TD'd Spud's tribute to an American hero, I hope you did it on accident. No true son of Clemson would do that.
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null [3]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 5, 2012, 8:40 AM
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You are correct that you should be proud of yout FATHER.
He was a true American hero!!
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Game Changer [1640]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 5, 2012, 9:21 AM
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My family was also origionally from Ware Shoals. My father was in WWI, when I was born in March of 1944 my Brother,Bo Godfrey Clemson class of '42 was in England, a second Lt. in the 8th Infantry serving under General Bob Jones. He also fought through France and recieved a purple heart.
When I started Clemson, the first day of football practice as a rat manager, then Coach Jones wanted to know if I was Bo's brother. I was lucky enough to meet some of the finest men in Clemson history - Coach Howard, Gen. Jones, Captain Jervey, Col. Robbins, Bill McCellan, Banks McFadden,Herman McGee, and many others...
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110%er [8015]
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Three people TD'd this? What garbage.***
Jul 5, 2012, 9:21 AM
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110%er [5249]
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Must've been Germans***
Jul 5, 2012, 11:23 AM
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Orange Blooded [2440]
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Re: Must've been Germans***
Jul 5, 2012, 6:08 PM
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or left wing liberals
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Clemson Sports Icon [55413]
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Clemson Icon [24101]
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National Champion [7936]
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American hero***
Jul 5, 2012, 9:25 AM
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CU Guru [1081]
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The Greatest Generation!! ******
Jul 5, 2012, 9:31 AM
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TigerNet Icon [153642]
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Sorry I can only "Thumbs Up" this once. Thanks for sharing.***
Jul 5, 2012, 10:37 AM
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Head Coach [790]
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Great post..we can never give enough tribute to those guys***
Jul 5, 2012, 12:09 PM
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All-American [591]
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Is that...
Jul 5, 2012, 1:26 PM
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Virginia who is graduating from grad school? Time flies! Is she still singing?
Thanks for the nice tribute for your father-in-law. As an Air Force guy, I love to read about the respect we have for our military forces and all they've done for us to keep this country free and great.
Glenn
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Orange Immortal [60158]
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Yes it is. Just finished her second year and is working in
Jul 5, 2012, 1:47 PM
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Paris this summer for an architect that met her at a dinner at the university. I am afraid the singing has been put on the back burner for a while. You know how you architects love to torture yourselves working!!!!!
Hope your girls are doing fine too...
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Rival Killer [3055]
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Don't mind a bit...
Jul 5, 2012, 5:50 PM
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Thanks for sharing Bryan, Your father-in-law was my agent for many years. I grew up with his kids. My sincere sympathies to you and your family.
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Fan [88]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 5, 2012, 5:54 PM
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Reading that just made the hair on my arms stand up. Salute!
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Orange Blooded [4787]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 5, 2012, 7:56 PM
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you can be proud of your father-in-law. he just might have been with a soldier named harold metz, who, yes, fought in metz,france. this hero was a family friend. god rest his soul.
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Clemson Icon [26266]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 5, 2012, 8:43 PM
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My sentiments echo every comment made in these threads. I served thirty years and just retired last year. Nothing I did in my career can hold a candle to the sacrifices your father and his generation made so that we can live in freedom. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
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Orange Blooded [4098]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 5, 2012, 8:51 PM
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All of us owe our FREEDOM to those like him and all the others that served! I just hope those guys know how much we appreciate what they did!! We will never match them!!!my prayers are with you and your family!!
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Hall of Famer [8187]
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my grandfather
Jul 5, 2012, 9:46 PM
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was part of the 101st airborne and fought in normandy, holland, and bastogne. He won the silver star when he ran straight through mg42 fire and took out the mg42 crew. His squad was pinned down. He was from Ware Shoals as well.
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Orange Immortal [60158]
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If you wouldn't mind Tmailing me his name , I would like to
Jul 5, 2012, 10:30 PM
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pass that along. I am sure they would be interested! Thanks.
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Dynasty Maker [3117]
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My grandfather was in the 101st Airborne as well (327th Glid
Jul 6, 2012, 6:08 PM
[ in reply to my grandfather ] |
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er Division). Was pinned down at Bastogne as well. Graduated from Clemson in 1935. From Chester, SC.
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CU Guru [1898]
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Well Done
Jul 6, 2012, 12:29 AM
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God bless this great man.
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Game Changer [1876]
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Prayers for you all-lovely tribute to a great man.***
Jul 6, 2012, 6:30 PM
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Varsity [106]
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Re: Bump back to the top!!
Jul 6, 2012, 6:56 PM
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We thank him for his service!!
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TigerNet Elite [70006]
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A hero indeed..wish I could have thanked him in person***
Jul 6, 2012, 7:09 PM
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Game Day Hero [4228]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 6, 2012, 7:30 PM
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As a Vietnam era vet, I'm most thankful for his sacrifice and service.
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Associate AD [800]
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Re: 68 year ago today,on July the 4th, my father in law, a 5'9",
Jul 6, 2012, 7:54 PM
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Thank you for sharing. I am in awe of the courage those men and women have who fight for our country. Rest in peace.
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Replies: 47
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