Veterans Voices: Erwin veteran still serves in Lord's army
ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) — Bill Booth served in the Army during the Korean War era. Now, he has a different role in the Lord's army as a preacher.
'The thing about being in the service..being in the Army, Paul's writing in Timothy says be a good soldier in Jesus Christ so we're all soldiers of the cross so I'm still in the battle,' Booth said.
Booth, an Erwin native, has preached in several states across the Southeast.
'Being a part of the Army makes us realize that we were always concerned about the other fella that was with us and that's the idea in being in the Army and God's army,' Booth said.
Before Booth was a preacher, he was assigned to the Armor and Infantry Division of the Army during the Korean War era.
'They needed truck drivers more than they needed radio operators, and maybe I figured I could drive a truck before I could go to radio school but anyway I ended up being in the motor pool there at Arlington Hall Station,' he said.
Booth joined on his own accord since he was of age for the draft.
'We shifted a lot of people from the base there over to the Pentagon and different places in Washington D.C., I know I had a route to the Army map service pretty regular on that,' Booth said.
'I got to go inside the Pentagon and see some of that,' he said. 'It was like a town inside of a big building and seeing all the big colonels and big generals.'
Going on his own though set Booth up for success in the decades to come.
'You have to be disciplined in your life and it has been a great help to me,' Booth said. 'I know there's times I'd like to be doing something else and I need to be preparing my messages.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Would this be the last letter he would write?
The sun was setting in England on June 10, 1944. Back home, it was still afternoon. He was sitting in the cab of his deuce-and-a-half — a 2.5 ton Army truck, ready to roll onto a ship that would take him and other truckers across 435 miles of the English channel to Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. Some 2,400 Americans had already been killed, wounded or reported missing on that beach in the four days since June 6. And now, he was on his way. It was the fifth anniversary of the day he and the girl he loved had eloped 'Girl' was right. She was 17. He was 21. And now, they — like so many other couples — were so far apart. So, as he waited to roll onto the ship, he started to write a letter home. He must have wondered if it would be the last he would ever write. 'Dearest Darling Wife: Hello, Honey, how are you by now? I feel better already. Just as I started, they came in. I mean the mail. Ha! Ha! I got three regular letters and a V-mail from you. I got my anniversary card yesterday and a V-mail from you. Sure was glad to get them. It was on time too and so cute.' He added, 'I am reading over your letters and I wanted to write you some more today of all days. This is one anniversary I will remember a long time. From the looks of things, now maybe I will get to be with you the next one and I hope a lot sooner. I guess you are worried about me, but no need of that, Honey. It won't do any good. I guess maybe you will start getting mail now that the big push is underway.' After crossing the channel, the trucks rolled off the ship into the water. They couldn't get all the way to the beach. Several trucks stalled in the water. But his made it. His next letter came from France on June 19. 'Dearest Darling Wife: Well, Honey, I haven't got to write you since our anniversary. I have been rather busy since. I think I will like this place pretty good when they quit celebrating so much. Ha! Ha! I wonder if I'll ever learn to talk to anyone here? It seems to me like these people have had a lot of stuff to put up with the past four years. Guess I can't say anything much except I'm in France.' It would be December of 1945 before he made it back home to her. And I was born 15 months later. That's just one story out of hundreds of thousands from those days 81 years ago when America fought to save the world.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
On 81st anniversary of D-Day, one US Navy veteran's son is the first American Pope
On this 81st anniversary of D-Day, the Pentagon has shared a powerful connection between the Vatican and the U.S. military. Pope Leo XIV's father, Louis Marius Prevost, served as a Navy officer during the historic 1944 Normandy landings. Prevost, born in Chicago in 1920, was commissioned into the Navy in November 1943. He served as the executive officer of a tank landing ship during Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France June 6, 1944. World War Ii Veterans Travel To Normandy For Emotional D-day Commemoration Later, he commanded an infantry landing craft in Operation Dragoon, the August 1944 Allied landing in southern the war, Prevost returned to Illinois, where he became superintendent of Brookwood School District 167 and later principal of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Chicago. He was also a catechist, teaching Christian Sox Installing Pope Leo Xiv Graphic Near His 2005 World Series Seat Prevost married Mildred Agnes Martinez in 1949, and they had three sons, including Robert Francis Prevost, who was elected Pope Leo XIV May 8, 2025, becoming the first American-born this week, Pope Leo XIV signed a baseball at the Vatican, a nod to his Chicago roots and lifelong support for the White Sox. The team has honored him with a commemorative installation at Guaranteed Rate Field. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Vatican for comment but has not yet received a response. Read On The Fox News AppOriginal article source: On 81st anniversary of D-Day, one US Navy veteran's son is the first American Pope
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Donald L. Agler, Austintown, Ohio
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Donald L. Agler, 92, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was born to the late Paul L. and Kathryn Ruegsegger Agler on October 17, 1932 in Beach City, Ohio. Find obituaries from your high school Donald wed Mary Lou Muzenjack on October 6,1956, and they celebrated 57 wonderful years of marriage. Mary Lou passed away February 2014. Donald was a 1950 Chaney High School graduate, affectionately nicknamed 'Hogs'where he played football, basketball and baseball. Following graduation, he honorably served in the United States Marine Corps from June 1952 through June 1955. His military service took him overseas during the Korean War. Following discharge, he began his career at Ohio Bell Telephone and remained there for 32 years, retiring as a Central Office supervisor. He then went on to work as a toll collector at the Ohio Turnpike, Gate 15, for 14 years. Don will be remembered for his friendly demeanor and his quick wit combined with sarcasm. He enjoyed coaching his son on various Little League teams in the Millcreek Junior Baseball League. Frequent vacations were taken with his wife MaryLou to Las Vegas and Florida, especially enjoying 'Youngstown Day.' Don also loved calling his Ohio Bell retiree friends to remind them of the monthly breakfast, which he never missed. Anyone who knew Don also knew of the passion he had for horse racing at Waterford/Mountaineer Park. At one time, he was the proud owner of his own race horse, J.O. Stoop, which he enjoyed several wins with at Mountaineer. Donald is survived by his son, Donald Jr. (Carol) of Boardman; daughter, Betsy Agler of Austintown; grandchildren, Shelby Parker (T.J.) of Austintown and Anthony (Alicia) Morocco of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; six great-grandchildren, Anthony and Adriana Morocco of Mt. Pleasant and Kenley, Mila, Trey and London Parker of Austintown; sister-in-law, Jennie Costas of Columbus; and several nieces and nephews. Donald also leaves his granddog, Bella, who would sit on his lap for hours to receive endless attention. In addition to his parents, Don was predeceased by his brothers, Paul Rodney and John Robert Agler; nephew, Thomas Agler; sister-in-law, Beverley Agler; and brother-in-law, James Costas. He was also predeceased by his step-father, George Salaggi. The family wishes to thank the staff of Aventura at Humility House Assisted Living for the wonderful care and always going above and beyond to keep a watchful eye on Don. Family and friends may call 9:00 – 11:00 a.m Thursday, June 12, 2025, at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel, 4303 Mahoning Ave., with a funeral service to follow. Entombment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown, where military honors will be performed in recognition of his service to our country. Donations can be made to Friends of Fido, ℅ Mahoning County Dog Pound, 1230 Meridian Road, Youngstown, OH 44509 in memory of Don. Family and friends may visit to send condolences to Don's family. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald L. Agler, please visit our flower 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
