Rutherford Weekly

Our 18th Year • Issue No. 32 • August 12, 2010 EZ Wireless Unlimited Minutes Unlimited Text Message Nationwide Cellular Works On The Nations Largest Network NO CONTRACT • NO CREDIT CHECK Starting At “SMALL T WN FRIENDL “SMALL TOWN FRIENDL Y”® Y” 369 Butler Road, Forest City, North Carolina 28043 • Phone: 828-248-1408 • 644 S. Broadway St. Forest City 1013 DAYS IN HELL... Fri., Aug. 13th th Coastal Series Coastal Plain League Championship Series e hip Sat., Aug. 14 - 7:05 If NecessarIf Necessary $9 box seat • $ McNair Field TICKETS TICKETS 9 box seat • 7 adult $6 youth / senior 6 youth / senior (Price Per Game) (Price Per Game) McNair Field Forest C t NC Forest Citi y, NC 828-245-0000 SAT., AUGUST 14 CLIFFSIDE LITTLE LEAGUE PARK 11-2 SUN., AUGUST 15 HARRIS LITTLE LEAGUE PARK 2-4 $30 per child 10 additional child from same household $ OPEN TO ALL SURROUNDING PLAYERS AGES 4-16. 828-245-0000 for informationfor information FALL BALL SIGN UPS FALL BALL SIGN UPS 7 adult 7:05 7:05 Korean War POW Bailey Gillespie ONE OF MANY HEROES OF THE FORGOTTEN WAR By M A. Andrews • maandrews@rutherfor week .com By M.A.. Andrews • maandrews@rutherfordweeklly.com The conflict began on June 25, 1950. It was not called a war at the time, but referred to as a "police action" due to the fact that Congress had not declared it a war. But regardless of the terminology, it was a war, a nasty war! Aside from The Republic of South Korea, there were eventually 21 additional nations involved in this war on their side. It became known as The Forgotten War -The Unknown War. Unfortunately, it also became a his- torical blur. Those courageous men and women in our Armed Forces who fought so bravely, became forgotten heroes. However, the final numbers were staggering. When the armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, the United States toll of forgotten heroes was: 36,516 dead, 92,134 wounded, 8,176 missing in action (MIA) and 7,245 prisoners of war (POW)! One of those POW's was from Rutherford County. He fought for freedom and after being captured, spent 1013 days in hell! He survived as a POW in a brutal situation where over half died. He is now 80 years old and lives with his wife in Spindale in a house they built in 1955. This man, this member of the U. S. Army who served in Korea and was a prisoner of war, is Bailey Gillespie. I met Bailey once before, but this time I was able to spend a few hours with him and his great wife Joy at their home. In his living room, surrounded with framed mementoes and medals on the walls, we talked. Bailey will tell you about the time he spent as a POW if he is having a good day. Other days, he just doesn't talk about it at all. His wife and caretaker, Joy, watches over her husband and hero very closely. Fortunately for me, on the day we met, he was having a good day. Speaking of Joy, one of the fun times I had with them, was when we discussed how he met her. It was at a BBQ restaurant in Ellenboro named Dinks! Joy and a girlfriend had gone there to eat. In comes this Army Sergeant named Bailey. He speaks with her and finally gives her his phone number. Worried that he might be married, Joy called the number to check him out. Bailey's father answered the phone and assured Joy that his son was not married. As an only child, Joy Oakley's parents were quite protective. When I asked Joy what she thought of Bailey when she first met him, she said "I thought he was the most handsome and best looking man I had ever seen." Perhaps her answer explains why, after just two weeks, she married Bailey! Also, the parents all approved. They have one daughter Christy (now Christy Shires) who has a daughter, Summer. Summer has two boys which are the highlight of Bailey's life. Bailey wrote a book entitled "Korean War Remembered" which boldly states that "Freedom Is Not Free" and also that, without doubt, we won the Korean War! When he sits back in his easy chair, Bailey reflects. You discover how kind and generous this man is. It is obvious when you speak with him, that he wrote the book for a least two rea- sons. One, he did not want people to forget. Two, the book obviously helped Bailey get rid of many things that continued to make him a prisoner - the thoughts, the memories, the horror of being a POW for almost three years. He says in his preface: "We could have been shot, we could have starved to death, but by the grace of God, some of us were spared." The brutal treatment, the death march he sur- vived, friends who died in his arms, and his near death experience are all a part of those 1013 POW days! It was all pure hell. As a POW Bailey described his near death experience and the time God appeared to him. He had come down with dysentery and had a high fever and chills. He felt that he was lying in a grave in a tight coffin. Bailey prayed. Suddenly a bright light appeared at a dis- tance and came toward him and stopped at his feet. There were no words, but at that moment, Bailey felt good and got better. Bailey says "God appeared to me that night. I am sure God was with me. He saved my life." This man, this hero, was given a small New Testament. He hid it from his captures. If they knew he had it they would have killed him. He kept it as he spent his "time in hell". Bailey still has that great book. It is now framed and kept in a special place of honor in his home. The day we spent with Bailey and his wife Joy Inside This WInside This Week:eek: Obituaries...................................22 Church Happenings....................25 Community News........................13 Rutherford County Cooks..............6 Bob's Carolina' ............................8 Obituaries...................................22 Let's Talk Bible............................25 Did You Realize?.........................11 nquiriing Photographer.................23 Let's Talk Bible............................25 Did You Realize?.........................11 IInquir ng Photog apher ...............23 Church Happenings....................25 Community News........................13 Rutherford County Cooks..............6 Bob s Carolina Wea her................24eathert Outdoor TtOu door Tru hs..............................8uthst Classifieds...............................2-28 ..............24 Classifieds...............................2-28 Local Churches ..........................29 Business & Services DirectoriD rectory.....................................30.....................................30 Faces, Places & Things...............10 aces, Places & Things...............10 Local Churches ..........................29 Business & Services Our hero autographing his book to me which he kindly presented as a gift. was so beneficial and uplifting. It gave me addi- tional insight as to what makes our country so great. When you have heros like Bailey, you thank God that you were born in the United States of America. A country where we cherish freedom and are willing to fight and, if necessary, die to keep our freedom. Bailey is one of our many heroes of The Forgotten War. However, we shall always be thankful for those who protected us during that time. We shall no longer forget! Thanks Bailey, we salute you! 828-202-5597 No Connection Fee! EZ Wireless $4495 pageplus Email: advertising@rutherfordweekly.com Per Mo. HOME PHONE SERVICE • FIRST MONTH FREE! $15.65 His beloved POW companion, "The New Testament" now framed and in a place of honor. His dog tags, picture and some of the medals he was given. Also his VIP Pass from the dedication of the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D. C. The cover of his book in which he relates his 1013 days in hell! “We empathize in this trying economy - ALL PRICES REDUCED - We Start With Trust”rust 2626 S. York Rd. • Gastonia, NC 704-824-4000 The Byrd Turn Key Home with all Options $59 per sq. ft. • Payment $ 4.5% Fixed Rate with Approved Credit 600 per mo. Including Land! ©CommunityFirstMedia 16,000 copies 6,000 copies THURSD THURSDAY! EVER EVERY Vs. Vs.

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