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CSM Thomas J. Kemmer – Oak Island
Thomas KemmerCommand Sergeant Major (R) Thomas J. Kemmer
Oak Island, NC - April 21, 1931 - June 29, 2009 - Thomas James Kemmer was born
in Pittsburg, PA on April 21, 1931 to Thomas and Rose Flaherty Kemmer.
Tom was baptized at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Pittsburgh, PA on December 21, 1934.
At the young age of 17, Tom enlisted in the US Army on March 1, 1949 while living in Miami, FL.
After completion of Basic Infantry Training and Advanced Infantry Training, he was assigned to Battery C, 125th Field Artillery Battalion, Ft. Rucker, AL.
He experienced his first combat tour during the Korean War.
He knew then his calling in life was to be a professional soldier.
He reenlisted on August 21, 1952 while assigned to Mortar Battery, 504th Airborne Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC.
He again reenlisted on June 21, 1960 while assigned to Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Abn).
He completed the US Naval Underwater School in Key West, FL in 1962 and was sent to Vietnam as an Advisor shortly thereafter.
On July 16, 1963, he was wounded in a mortar attack while serving in Can Tho, South Vietnam.
In 1965, he returned to Ft Bragg and in 1967 completed the High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Course and in 1968 completed the Vietnamese Language Course at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. During his second tour in Vietnam, he was the Team Sergeant for Special Forces Operational Detachment A-502. In 1970, he was selected to participate in a top secret operation known as the Son Tay Raid. There were fifty six (56) Green Berets selected to participate in this rescue operation to free American Prisoners of War being held in a North Vietnamese prison located just 23 miles west of the capital of North Vietnam. He was one of fourteen (14) members in the ‘Blueboy’ element that landed inside the prison compound. As a direct result of his actions during this operation, he was awarded the coveted Distinguished Service Cross (our Nation’s 2nd highest award for Valor). He retired after completing 28 years on March 31, 1977 as the Command Sergeant Major, 5th Special Forces Group (Abn), Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
Following retirement, Tom was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and later fulfilled his lifelong love of the sea as a Boat Captain.
His military awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Combat Infantryman’s Badge (2nd Award), Master Parachutist Badge, SCUBA Badge, Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Clasps, Japanese Occupation Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, WWII Occupation Medal (Germany), Good Conduct Medal (9th Award), Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Parachutist Badge, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
Tom is survived by his wife, Judy, of the home, a son, Thomas (Fayetteville, NC), and 3 daughters, Deborah (Tallahassee, FL), Theresa (Cary, NC) and Christilyne (Rocky Mount, NC). His legacy includes six grandchildren.
A memorial service will full military honors will be held Thursday July 16, 2009 at 2:00 pm at the Southport Community Building, 223 E. bay Street, Southport NC with Reverend Roy F. Hill officiating.
A reception will immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Special Forces Association, Att: Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 41436 Fayetteville, NC 28302 or Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Dr. Wilmington, NC 28401.
MAJ Dennis Karl Finley US Army (ret)
Boiling Spring Lakes - Mr. Dennis Karl Finley age 70 of 1191 S. Shore Drive, Boiling Spring Lakes died Monday June 29, 2009 at his home.
Mr. Finley was born
in Cabell County West Virginia on May 15, 1939 and was the son of the late Edgar and Doris Ferguson Finley. He was a U.S. Army Retired Major during which time he served two tours in Vietnam. He was also retired Safety Director at Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal. Mr. Finley was a Mason and also an avid hunter and fisherman.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann Finley of the home; two children, James Finley and wife Lori of Dallas, Texas, Susan Finley Thomas and husband MAJ Jason Thomas of Leavenworth, Kansas; five grandchildren, James “Clay” Finley, Benjamin Finley, Carter Finley, Nathan Thomas, Cullen Thomas; a brother, Dale K. Finley and wife Judy of Huntington, West Virginia; a sister, Donna Edgar of Huntington, West Virginia; numerous nieces and nephews and a honorary grandchild, Chase Smith of Boiling Spring Lakes. In addition he had numerous lifelong and loyal friends.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 Thursday evening at Peacock-Newnam & White funeral service, Southport.
Funeral services and burial will follow in Kenova, West Virginia by Rollins Funeral Home (304) 453-1751
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Fisher House, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Cleft Palate Foundation, or the charity of one’s choice.
Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport
Mr. Kenneth Horne – Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach - Mr. Kenneth Horne age 65 of Sunset Beach, NC died June 27, 2009 at his home.
Mr. Horne was born
in Calabash, NC on August 16, 1943 and was the son of the late Woodrow Horne and Annie Smith Long. He was preceded in death by a sister Christine Hughes. Mr. Horne was a commercial fisherman and carpenter.
He is survived by his wife Brenda Smith Horne of the home; a son, Keith Horne of Sunset Beach and a daughter, Teri Horne of Calabash ; three grandchildren, Kasey, Maxton, Adam.
A memorial service will be Tuesday June 30, 2009 at 2pm at Lighthouse Mission Church in Calabash with Reverend Ronnie Smith officiating.
Jeffrey Swaim – Southport
Southport - Mr. Jeffrey Scott Swaim, age 40 of 918 N. Shore Dr., Southport, NC formerly of Burlington, NC died Thursday July 16, 2009 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Swaim was born
in Long Beach, California on August 7, 1968 and was the son of Sheila Rudd Buckner of Southport and the late Jimmy Leon Swaim. Jeffrey was an Automobile Painter and loved music and loved to sing.
Survivors in addition to his mother include his wife, Heather Swaim; two brothers, Jeromy Swaim of Burlington, Christopher Wilson of Southport; three sisters, Shelly Ann Swaim of Burlington, Stacy Lynn Swaim of Southport, Christy Clemmons of Burlington; paternal grandfather, Jesse O. Swaim of Long Beach, Ca.; maternal grandmother, Iona Rudd of Burlington; nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday August 8, 2009 at 2pm at the Cedar Rock Park Shelter 4 in Alamance County, NC.
William Wayne Milligan – Supply
Supply - William Wayne Milligan, II, age 25 of Ocean Highway West, Supply died Tuesday June 23, 2009 in Dayton, Ohio.
Mr. Milligan was born
July 25, 1983 in Salem, Virginia to William Wayne Milligan, Sr. and Amelia Holden Milligan. Wayne graduated North Carolina State University with honors having earned his Bachelors Degree in computer engineering and electrical engineering. He was planning to attend University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio to obtain his Masters Degree. Wayne also attended First Baptist Church, Shallotte.
Survivors include his mother Amelia Jane Baker; step-father Dennis Baker; sister Rhonda Hughley and husband Brian of Kailua, Hawaii; maternal grandmother Orian Holden of Supply; two aunts Derinda Holden Green of Mint Hill, and Marianna Boyd of Supply; uncle Harvard Holden of Supply; two nieces Miranda Smith and Makyala Hughley, one nephew Micah Hughley; and numerous cousins.
Funeral services will be Tuesday June 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church Shallotte with Reverend Robert Weathers and Reverend Tony Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at the church.
Marie Waters – Oak Island
Oak Island - Ms. Waters was born
in Brooklyn, NY but was orphaned at a young age. She was then raised by an aunt and uncle in Rock Hill, SC. While living in Rock Hill, Ms. Waters met and married the love of her life, Harley A. Waters. Together they built a life in Rock Hill. Harley and Marie built a home in Rock Hill, doing most of the labor themselves. One of the greatest joys of Ms. Waters’ life was her daughter Dot Schuck. Ms. Waters spent all of Dot’s formative years being a homemaker and full time mother.
Once Dot married and left home, Ms. Waters and her husband Harley began the second phase of their life together which was a grand adventure. Harley was an electrician by trade and the Waters moved to Miami Beach, Florida just as that area began to experience its building boom. While they established their home base in Miami, they did not let grass grow under their feet. Together they hitched a mobile home to their car and traveled across this great country taking advantage of the sights and actually experiencing life in many small towns along the way. Their working travels even took them to the Caribbean Islands where they lived for a number of years affording their family the opportunity to visit and plant the seed of desire for island living in the future.
The second greatest pleasure of Mrs. Waters’ life was her two granddaughters, Beverly Eury and Valerie Norwood. Beverly and Valerie spent many summers in Miami with their grandparents, Marie and Harley. She delighted in being a grandmother and spent time with the girls every chance she got. Later in life, Ms. Waters was fortunate enough to become not only a grandmother but a great-grandmother and even a great-great grandmother.
Threaded throughout the fabric of Marie’s life was a deep and abiding faith in the Lord and a dedication to serving him in many ways. Marie volunteered throughout her life assisting the elderly, the handicapped and less fortunate. She faithfully and regularly attended various churches in both Miami, Florida and Scottsboro, Alabama.
Scottsboro, Alabama is where Ms. Waters decided to spend her summers once she reached the age of retirement. In addition to being very involved in church and volunteering, Ms. Waters began to make beautiful quilts that her family will cherish for generations to come. Ms. Waters was widowed over twenty years ago and continued to travel between Miami and Alabama but added Oak Island to her frequently visited destinations to spend more time with family.
Five years ago, Ms. Waters decided it was time for her to settle a bit closer to her daughter Dot and her granddaughters, Beverly and Valerie. She bought a home in Oak Island and her final years were spent living in this beautiful seaside community in the daily company of her daughter and grandchildren. She leaves behind also a dear back door neighbor, Denise Ray, and a dear down the street neighbor, Peg Weisenfluh.
A graveside service was held at Northwood Cemetery in Southport.
