Political Quotes

“Funeral services will be held today in my State for Walter Grey Hemphill, Jr., a World War II hero, who was also a very close personal friend. He was best known in our community as a former star athlete at Byram High School, who was recruited to play football at the University of Mississippi in 1941, as a successful coach and teacher at his alma mater, a respected vice president and general manager of Deviney Construction Co., an active member and chairman of the deacons at the First Baptist Church of Byram, and as a past worthy patron of the Order of the Eastern Star. While most of his friends knew that Walter Grey Hemphill, Jr., had been a veteran of World War II, few were aware of the details of his combat experiences. The fact that he was one of the true heroes of the Battle of the Bulge was not something he talked about very easily. The citation he received awarding him the Silver Star for valor in battle described his bravery under fire and his willingness to risk his life to save the lives of his fellow paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division in the fighting near Bastogne, Belgium, in December 1944. He destroyed a German gun emplacement with an explosive charge at close range while under heavy enemy fire. His courageous action saved the lives of the members of his unit, but he was seriously wounded in the process. He received two Purple Hearts and spent over a year in hospitals recovering from his injuries.”