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Montgomery Advertiser - Alabama Journal article: Paul Franson Ends 43-Year Army Career

Top Guard Instructor Veteran Of Two Wars And Mexican Campaign

Up Through Ranks

Former Chief Of Staff For 5th Division Says Gen. Patton Was Tops

Col. Paul O. Franson, senior Army instructor for the Alabama National Guard, will retire from

active duty today. He is a veteran of 43 years of Army service, having risen from buck private to chief of staff of the 5th Division of Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.'s Third Army in Europe during World War II. Col. Franson, a native of Montgomery, hit the Normandy beaches with his division shortly after DDay, in early July, 1944, and saw the battle against the Nazis from a front line position, through France and across Germany. During the months of combat Franson often saw Patton daily, and became familiar with many topranking figures of the war in Europe - Generals Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley and Britain's Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery among them.

Russian Award

Among many decorations won by Col. Franson is one given him by Soviet Russia after the 5th

Division met the Russian armies at a point on the Austria-Czechoslovakian frontier. Joining the Army as a private of the 2nd Infantry (Montgomery True Blues) May 5, 1905, he served with the Alabama Brigade on the Mexican Border and with the 31st (Dixie) Division during World War I. Named Chief of Staff of the 5th Division April 30, 1942, Col. Franson was quickly shipped, with that division overseas, to Iceland, Northern Ireland and England.

Under Fire

As part of Patton's Third Army the 5th Division came under fire almost immediately they landed in France for the invasion. They took part in the fierce fighting around St. Lo before driving across the Cherbourg Peninsular (sic) to cut off the German garrison at that French port from their communications with the German army. "At that time Montgomery (Field Marshal Montgomery) and his British troops were magnificently withstanding several German heavy panzer divisions in the nearby Caen area," Franson said. He next described heavy battles in the Caumont area followed by a rapid thrust south of Rennes, and eastward through Angers, across the Seine and past Reims only to run out of gas and come to a full stop before Verdun.

Lost Chance

"This stop robbed us of the chance of taking the fortress of Metz, which had almost been evacuated by the retreating Germans," Franson said. Col. Franson, as one of Patton's chiefs of staff, shares Patton's criticism about the way the Supreme Command failed to send the Third Army the gas they urgently needed, at Verdun. "The Germans, seeing us gasless, re-fortified Metz and it took us months and cost us thousands of lives later to capture it," Franson states. "With gas we could have taken Metz. We were ready to go ahead and needed it more than other Armies which were stalled." Soon after Metz had been taken, the 5th Division was detached from Patton's command and sent to help the hard-pressed First Army then facing the famous German 1944 attack in the snow shrouded hills of the Ardennes Forest. This was the "Battle of the Bulge" in the Bastogne area near Luxembourg. Rejoining the Third Army the 5th "secretly" crossed the Rhine March 23, 1945 at Oppenheim, between Mainz and Mannheim and stormed Frankfort. This crossing of the river was done without artillery preparation. The 5th's drive across Europe came to its final stop on its prearranged "deadline" in the area of a small Austrian town called Grafenau, near the Czechoslovak frontier.

Prefer U. S. Lines

"The oncoming Russians were pushing thousands of Germans towards us" Franson says, "and as a matter of fact most of these Germans were trying to get to us and behind our lines to escape the Russians." Franson said "our orders were, however to stop these Germans because they were considered Russian prisoners, so we closed our lines tight to stop them coming through." Franson said the thousands of defeated Germans were, therefore, squeezed in a narrow corridor between the American and Russian front lines. Col. Franson received his Soviet decoration, the Order of the Red Star, a few days after this incident "in one of the most amazing investitures I have ever seen," he said. The Russians sent for a copy of the American national anthem by 'plane and a band of their professional musicians played it that same night at the ceremony "about as well as I have ever heard it played," he said Several other officers received Soviet awards, flying into the Russian area, across the German "prison-camp corridor" for it. "They've put on more dog' for an investiture than any other Army I know," Franson said. "with the firing of guns, rockets, flares, machine guns, and everything else that had around."

Vodka and Food

Franson then described a typical Russian dinner which ended the ceremonies, with vodka and

plenty to eat. Franson said the "Russians soldiers all seemed very young - about 23 or 24 - and very smart and alert." These are some of Franson's observations on famous generals: Eisenhower - "A good diplomatic general." Bradley - "A fine fighting general. He is the studious type. He does not say very much, but is the brain power behind strategic planning. When he speaks, what he says is d--- good." Montgomery - "A first-rate soldier. He spoke to a large group of us senior officers a few weeks

before the invasion. He lectured us one whole day on all he had learned from his successful fight against the Germans in Africa. He knew his stuff and is full of personality and driving power."

Patton His Idol But Patton is the Colonel's idol. In his room he has picture of the General and also a picture of Patton's grave. "He was a great leader - and a driver," Franson says. "He was a 'soldier's general' visiting the front line almost daily on many occasions, and seeing for himself. Quite often he did not use profanity. Often he used it only as part of an 'act'. He was a great showman. His clothes and leather were always immaculate. He was always pushing onward." Col. Franson said that Patton was "highly-strung" which was probably the reason for the GI faceslapping incident earlier in Italy. "He and just come from battle; his outfit's nose was bloody" Franson said, and he had seen his men with their stomachs out, their legs off, bleeding on the battle fields, and then saw others who were psycho - many of them, wards full of them, unscratched, but mentally sick - afraid and unnerved. Something probably snapped for a few minutes inside that highly-strung, power-driven, complex man which was Patton and he committed the mistake he later so bitterly regretted," Franson said. Franson agreed that it was "the diplomatic general" Eisenhower, who "saved" Patton and kept him after this incident for his later victorious drive across Europe.

Until a permanent successor to Col. Franson is appointed, Col. L. E. Toole, now stationed in

Birmingham, will assume the temporary duties of Chief Instructor to the Guard," the Military

Department announced. Col. Franson states that he intends to continue living in Montgomery during his retirement.

FUNERAL NOTICE - Johnson City, Tennessee); September 2, 1963:

DEVAULT. EDWARD GUERRANT JR. -- Funeral services for Edward Guerrant DeVault, 56, Leesburg, who died Sunday in Memorial Hospital will be at 3:30 p. m. Monday at Leesburg Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Ferguson Wood, the Rev. John Yelton and the Rev. Lee Carico officiating. Burial will be in Leesburg Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Don Carson, Don Harris, Robert Rankin, Horace Rankin, Tom Fox, Mack Hicks. Honorary pallbearers will be elders and deacons of Leesburg Presbyterian Church and W. F. Hicks, Charles Lowry, Francis Hines, Virgil Bell, Guy Harris, Robert Hannabas, John Crookshanks, Robert Clark, Joe Bacon, Will Rankin, Bert Wolfe, Pierce Fleenor, Richard Knight and Joe Chase. The body was returned to the home Sunday and was removed to the church Monday to lie in state. Dillow-Taylor is in charge.

OBITUARY

Funeral services for Miss Fain DeVault, 25, popular young Bristol woman who died Tuesday afternoon at Catawba Sanitorium, where she had been a patient for sixteen months, will be conducted this afternoon at 3 o'clock from the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. G. DeVault, 612 Sixth street. Her parents had been with her for ten days, and were at her bedside at the time of her death. Services will be in charge of Rev. H. H. Thompson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, assisted by the Rev. Dan Graham, Blountville, Tenn., and interment will follow in Glenwood Cemetery.

Active pall bearers: Frank Winston, Berkeley Rucker, LeRoy Roberts, Nolden Butcher and Charles Martin.

Honorary pall bearers: (very long list) ... Margaret Hughlett.

Miss DeVault was one of Bristol's most attractive young women, and was very popular among the younger set. Before being admitted to the sanitorium she was an active member of the First Presbyterian church. She received her education at Tennessee high school, graduating with the class of '27, and Virginia Intermont College where she graduated in the class of '29.

She taught for three years in a Sullivan county school near Kingsport.

Surviving are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. G. DeVault; two sisters, Mary and Jane, and one brother, E. G. DeVault, Jr.

OBITUARY

Mary Butcher - JOHNSON CITY

Mary Russell DeVault Butcher, age 92, died Monday, December 11, 2006 at her home in Johnson City.

Mrs. Butcher had also resided in Bristol, TN and Leesburg, TN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward & Martha Fain DeVault and her husband of fifty years, James Nolden Butcher. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Churches in Bristol and Leesburg. Mrs. Butcher's interest in the history of Washington County ranged from her activity in the State of Franklin DAR to opening her home, the DeVault Tavern, to tour groups and historical organizations including the Governor's School.

Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Casto Ramsey of Abingdon, VA ; two children, Martha B. Crowe, of the home and Jim Butcher of Bristol, TN; four granddaughters, Elizabeth and Maggie Crowe, both of Johnson City, Cassie Peters, Mechanicsville, VA and Jamie Butcher, Princeton, NJ; and one great grandson, Thomas Noah Peters, Mechanicsville, VA.

The family will receive friends from 12:30-2:00 pm Thursday, December 14, 2006 at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Leesburg with Dr. David Wadsworth officiating.

Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers are encouraged to make donations to the memorial fund of their choice.

Condolences may be sent to the Butcher family online at www.dillow-taylor.com.

Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Jonesborough, 753-3821.

OBITUARY

Jane Lochiel DeVault Ramsey

Mrs. Jane Lochiel DeVault Ramsey passed away on Friday, July 11, 2008 at Grace Healthcare in Abingdon.

Mrs. Ramsey was the daughter of the late Edward Guerrant DeVault and Martha Fain DeVault. She attended King College and was a member of Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Rebecca Jane Ramsey, her brother, Edward DeVault and her sister Mary DeVault Butcher.

Mrs. Jane DeVault Ramsey is survived by her husband, Charles Casto Ramsey; one son, Charles “Skip” Hilman Ramsey, Damascus, VA; one daughter, Mary Fain Ramsey and her husband Lewis Purifoy, Charlottesville, VA; one neice, Martha Butcher Crowe; three nephews, James Butcher, Ed and Russell DeVault; two grandchildren, Anna Ramsey Purifoy and Layla Anne Smith; and three great grandchildren Izabella, Solana, and Nyellie Smith. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Ruby Zieg, her children Steve and Randy Zieg, and Karla Cline, their children and grandchildren.

A graveside service for Mrs. Jane DeVault Ramsey will be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 1 pm at Glenwood Cemetery in Bristol, TN. The family will receive friends at the home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southwest Virginia, 301 East Valley Street, Abingdon, VA 24210 or Grace Rehabilitation Center, 600 Walden Rd., Abingdon, VA 24210.

OBITUARY - Johnson City Press, October 24, 1988

JAMES N. BUTCHER

James Nolden Butcher, 79, Rt. 6, Jonesborough, died Saturday, Oct. 22, 1988, in Johnson City Medical Hospital.

He was a native of McMinnville and a son of the late J. B. and Leona Farless Butcher.

Mr. Butcher attended the University of Tennessee and was a graduate of King College, Bristol. He played football at both schools.

He was retired from Tennessee Eastman Co., after more than 35 years service.

Mr. Butcher was a charter member of Rosemont Presbyterian Church, where he served as deacon and trustee. He was also an elder in Leesburg Presbyterian Church.

He was a member of Leesburg Ruritan.

Survivors include his wife, Mary DeVault Butcher, one son, Jim Butcher, Bristol; one daughter, Mrs. Martha Crowe, Johnson City; three sisters, Mrs. Grace Denton and Mrs. Nannie Fairbanks, both of McMinnville, and Mrs. Eunice Harris, Old Hickory; and four grandchildren.

Dillow-Taylor (753-3821.)

Obituary:

ROSEBOROUGH Douglas DeVault Roseborough, 91, of Jacksonville, FL passed away December 26, 2014. He was born in Mount Dora, FL on Jan. 8, 1923, to Douglas and Mary Roseborough. Beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he is survived by his wife of 69 years, Barbara, three children (Virginia, Mary Lee, Doug, Jr.), five grandchildren (Tommy, Susan, Drew, Ben, Will), 14 great-grandchildren, and two sisters (Marian and Laura). He served as a Navy lieutenant in World War II and worked for Sears & Roebuck for over 30 years. He was an avid Florida Gator fan. A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday December 31, 2014 at the Southside Chapel of George H. Hewell and Son Funeral Home, 4140 University Blvd., S. with Rev. Clayton Turner officiating.

OBITUARY - The Kingsport Times (Kingsport, Tennessee); Tuesday, February 16, 1954; page 1 column 1:

Electric Shock Kills Foreman at TEC Plant

Allison Galloway Dies While Demonstrating For Training Program

Shocks from a 13,800-volt line at Tennessee Eastman Company were fatal to Allison D. Galloway, 45, early Tuesday morning despite work of the Kingsport Life Saving Crew.

Galloway was an electrical shift foreman in the companies power department. As part of a training program, he was explaining to another foreman how the electrical equipment in one of the company's power houses worked when he was fatally shocked. The accident occurred at 3:55 a.m.

The other foreman, Grover Lawson reported to company officials that Galloway had unlocked and opened the door to a compartment housing part of the control equipment when the accident occurred. Galloway's right hand and foot were burned by the charge through his body.

The Kingsport Life Saving Crew and physicians from the Eastman Medical Department were called immediately to the power house and worked for more than an hour to revive the man. Galloway failed to respond to treatment.

His body was removed to Holston Valley Community Hospital and later to Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home.

Galloway had been with the Eastman Company for nearly 20 years at the time of his death. The family home is at 3232 Ashley Avenue. He was a native of the Boone's Creek Community in Washington County.

A Navy veteran of World War II, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Gray's Station and of Boone's Creek Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Irene Moore Galloway; his mother, Mrs. Robert L. Galloway of Boone's Creek; two brothers, Samuel J. Galloway of Arlington, Va. and Ralph N. Galloway of Johnson City.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at the First Methodist Church, with the Rev. C. A. Brabston and Dr. W. R. Rigell officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.

The body will remain at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home until the hour of the services.

OBITUARY - The Kingsport Times (Kingsport, Tennessee); Wednesday, February 17, 1954; page 7 column 1 (photo):

ALLISON D. GALLOWAY - Funeral services were to be held at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon for Allison D. Galloway, 45, Tennessee Eastman Company foreman who was killed by electrical shock Tuesday. Burial was to be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Galloway, who lived at 3332 Ashley avenue had been with Eastman for nearly 20 years.