Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/54361
"RUTHERFORD COUNTY'S ONLY AUDITED NEWSPAPER" KNOWLEDGE in the mind, HONESTY in the hear STRENGTH in the body. Y in the heart, Classes for 5 years to adult toning program in the nation. First 2 weeks & uniform Rated the # Special 1 cardio/muscle Anniversary $29.95 † Our 20th Year • Issue No. 5 • February 2, 2012 Licensed & certi ed nationally recognized award-winning member of the US Black Belt Schools Fish Fryish F Sunshine 231 Toney Road 231 Toney Road February 3 Sunshine School School ebruary 3 5:00 pm 5:00 pm Kids under 12 6 Kids under 12 $ in cafeteria in cafeteria Adults dults $ 8 1915. His name -. He Ser ed In Three W WWII, K, By: M.A. Andrews • maandrews@rutherfordweekly.com He was born in Golden Valley, Rutherford County on August 12, 1915 His name - Blaine Yelton. He was one of 6 boys and 4 girls. He' now 96 years old and proudly served his country in the U. S. Air Force s right 31 years! He was born in Golden Valley, Rutherford County on August 12, Blaine Yelton. He was one of 6 boys and 4 girls. He's now 96 years old and proudly served his country in the U. S. Air Force for 31 years! That' for 31 years! That's right 31 years! His family had a farm and saw mill. As a youngster he walked two miles to a one room school house. He quit school in the ninth grade His family had a farm and saw mill. As a youngster he walked two miles to a one room school house. He quit school in the ninth grade and went to work in a mine and did some logging. He fi nally moved back home in 1942 and was drafted. WWII was on and Blaine Yelton, l like many was called to serve his countr He was sent to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. It was the largest SUPER SUNDAY! 2/5/12 VS VS 6:30 Kick OFF Kick OFF PL PLAY PAGE 18 AGE 18 $ WIN 100 Country Ham & Chicken Pie Supper Benefit for Susan Logan (cancer patient) Saturday, Feb. 4 4:30pm-7pm at Mt. Vernon Clubhouse $8 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12 Under 5 free Mt. Vernon Community Club To Go Orders: 828-223-1768 Sponsored by: When compared to 1.5 Mbps DSL service. Offer ends 3/31/12. Offer valid for new customers. Some restrictions may apply. May not be available in all areas. See www.yournorthland.com/offers for more details. Internet starting at Faster, more reliable Internet. 12 Mbps. 8x faster than DSL. (828) 245-1633 yournorthland.com Blaine top middle with cap on. He and the 453 crew in front of their bomber plane affectionaly named "Available". The Sergeant home on leave in front of his car. A handsome Blaine in his WWII fl ight gear. WIN 100 NBC NBC He was sent to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. It was the largest training base and most diversifi training base and most diversifi ed in air education. The host unit at ed in air education. The host unit at Sheppard is the 82nd Training Wing. It was established as Sheppard Field on 300 acres. A Texas cattleman sold the land to the U. S. Army for just one dollar! It offi for just one dollar! It offi cially opened as an Army Air Corps training center on 17 October 1941. This is where Blaine Yelton's career began. 2/5/12 Sheppard is the 82nd Training Wing. It was established as Sheppard Field on 300 acres. A Texas cattleman sold the land to the U. S. Army cially opened as an Army Air Corps training center on 17 October 1941. This is where Blaine Yelton's career began. In addition to basic training, it was where aviation mechanics were In addition to basic training, it was where aviation mechanics were trained. Blaine trained 16 hour days and fi trained. Blaine trained 16 hour days and fi nally graduated in Septem- ber 1942. His training continued at the Boeing Aircraft plant in Seattle, nally graduated in Septem- ber 1942. His training continued at the Boeing Aircraft plant in Seattle, Washington.ashington. The war was on and everything was on the fast track. He continued ight engineer and then sent to gunnery school. Arizona for assignment on a B-17 plane but all crews were fi lled up so they assigned him to a B-24 and he had to re-train at a B-24 fl ight schoo . He graduated on the B-24 and was sent to the South Pacifi c and was based there for six months. He fl ew 55 bombing missions. After this he was sent to New Zealand for R & R. He continued fl ying on missions and by the end of World War II he had become a Staff The war was on and everything was on the fast track. He continued training and became a fl training and became a fl ight engineer and then sent to gunnery school. His job was two fold - air mechanic and gunner. He was sent to Tucson, and was based there for six months. He fl ew 55 bombing missions. After this he was sent to New Zealand for R & R. He continued fl ying on missions and by the end of World War II he had become a Staff Sergeant. He had served six more months in the South Pacifi c. His next step was as an Instructor in both fl ight engineering and gunnery school in Boise, Idaho. It had become obvious that this ninth grade drop out was liked very much by the Air Force and he liked them Sergeant. He had served six more months in the South Pacifi c. His next step was as an Instructor in both fl ight engineering and gunnery school in Boise, Idaho. It had become obvious that this ninth grade drop out was liked very much by the Air Force and he liked them His job was two fold - air mechanic and gunner. He was sent to Tucson, Arizona for assignment on a B-17 plane but all crews were fi lled up so they assigned him to a B-24 and he had to re-train at a B-24 fl ight school. He graduated on the B-24 and was sent to the South Pacifil and went to work in a mine and did some logging. He fi nally moved to Miami, Florida and got a better paying job driving trucks. He came to Miami, Florida and got a better paying job driving trucks. He came back home in 1942 and was drafted. WWII was on and Blaine Yelton, ike many,, was called to serve his country. Th s was the beginning of This was the beginning ofi his 31 year career which included World War II, the Korean War and Three wars - one man! his 31 year career which included World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam W the Vietnam War. Three wars - one man! By: M.A. Andrews • maandrews@rutherfordweekly.com too. He was fl too. He was fl ying, repairing and going everywhere. He was sent to Guam and ying, repairing and going everywhere. He was sent to Guam and studied bomb sight and auto pilot for one year. It was constant training for Blaine Yelton. When he was stationed in West Palm Beach, Florida he was switched studied bomb sight and auto pilot for one year. It was constant training for Blaine elton. When he was stationed in West Palm Beach, Florida he was switched from bombers to cargo planes. He was in from bombers to cargo planes. He was in Tokyo when the Korean war broke out.okyo when the Korean war broke out. He spent the next two years overhauling the cargo planes, the C-54 ew all over Blaine Yelton Today Three War Veteran He spent the next two years overhauling the cargo planes, the C-54 and then working for the CIA for two and a hal and then working for the CIA for two and a half years. He flf years. He fl ew all over t the world and later was assigned to the Douglas C-124 Globemaster elton was promoted to Master Ser- he world and later was assigned to the Douglas C-124 Globemaster, nicknamed "Old Shakey". Blaine Yi n cknamed "Old Shakey". Blaine Yelton was promoted to Master Ser geant, then Senior Master Sergeant and the last seven years of his geant, then Senior Master Sergeant and the last seven years of his career, Chief Master Sergeant. career, Chief Master Sergeant. When the Vietnam war emerged (1959 to 1975) he was there serv- When the Vietnam war emerged (1959 to 1975) he was there serv- ing as Chief of Maintenance. He fiing as Chief of Maintenance. He fi nally retired in 1971. 31 years and nally retired in 1971. 31 years and three wars later three wars later. He is married to Louise who is now 88 years old. They have two "in a C-141 cargo jet". He drove until he was 95 years and then "they took my license away took my license away. I had a perfect record. I'd still like to drive". Blaine also water skied until he was 90 years old. He says he likes to He is married to Louise who is now 88 years old. They have two daughters, Patricia and Nancy. After the service he bought 413 acres daughters, Patricia and Nancy. After the service he bought 413 acres in Cane Creek. He dealt in timber and cattle. He said he loved the air in Cane Creek. He dealt in timber and cattle. He said he loved the air for force work and bragged that he had even fl own over the North Pole go hunting once in a while and limits himself to "just one deer a year." He says "I'm a lucky old man". His closest call with death was during a close call". When I asked him if there was anything he'd like to do that he hasn't done, he quickly replied: "Y that he hasn't done, he quickly replied: "Yes! I'd like to go on a Safaries! I'd like to go on a Safari in Africa!" in Africa!" Blaine Yelton still has a great mind and enjoys the company of his . He is an amazing example of what has always made this coun- you Blaine for all that you have done for our countrl ce work and bragged that he had even fl own over the North Pole "in a C-141 cargo jet". He drove until he was 95 years and then "they . I had a perfect record. I'd still like to drive". Blaine also water skied until he was 90 years old. He says he likes to go hunting once in a while and limits himself to "just one deer a year." He says "I'm a lucky old man". His closest call with death was during the Korean war when a 20 mm shell hit the left side of the plane and hit the Korean war when a 20 mm shell hit the left side of the plane and hit him on the back where he was on the right side of the plane. "That was him on the back where he was on the right side of the plane. "That was a close call". When I asked him if there was anything he'd like to do Blaine Yelton still has a great mind and enjoys the company of his family family. He is an amazing example of what has always made this coun- trtry great. I can't say enough good things abouty great. I can't say enough good things about this good man. Thank this good man. Thank you B aine for all that you have done for our country. He Served In Three Wars! WWII Korea Viietnamea,V, etnam Since 1975 140 W. Main St. • Forest City 828-245-5792 16,000 COPIES 16,000 COPIES THURSDAYSTHURSDAYS ©Community First Media