What Is North Carolina's Order of the Long Leaf Pine?

In the last post I wrote that Wilmington's Wilbur Jones had been given this honor.

It is one of the top honors that the state can bestow.

It is granted to those individuals who have shown extraordinary service to the state and is the highest award granted by the governor.

Nominations can be made for those with 30 or more years to the State of North Carolina.  A request formit must be made by a human resources officer for state emplyees.

Some others who have received the award:

Ricgard Petty

Andy Griffith

Charles Kurault

Billy Graham

Dean Smith

--GreGen

Wilbur Jones Receives North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine

From the February 8, 2023, WWAY 3 ABC Wilmington, N.C.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine was presented to Wilmington resident  and native Wilbur Jones on Tuesday night  during the City Council meeting.

Captain Jones received this prestigious honor for his  service to the Tar Heel State.

Jones is a veteran, author and historian.

He also plays a role in having Wilmington named as the first American World War II Heritage City.

The amount of knowledge this man has on Wilmington during the war is amazing.  He is to World War II as Chris Fonvielle is to Wilmington's Civil War history.

A Well-Deserved Honor.  --GreGen

Wilmington's WW II Heroes-- Part 6: 'The Greatest Adventure of Their Young Lives'

Ensign LEON STEIN, USS LST-703, saw action at Balikpapau. Borneo, and  in the Philippines landings.

First Lieutenant JOHN KELLY, late of Company I, 120th Infantry Regiment, wrote from Okinawa:  "We are really giving the yellow devils a fit.  Hope to be on Front Street again."

First Lieutenant LEON ANDREWS, late of the 252nd Coast Artillery, led a tank battalion on Okinawa.

His brother, 1st Lt. JAMES ANDREWS, fought in New Guinea and Luzon.

And so, they went to war, and came home.

"During squadron reunions when they gather to fight the Burma campaign once again,"  P-38 pilot BILLY BROADFOOT's 459th Fighter Squadron history book reads, "they realize that they, particularly the pilots, were bonded together forevermore during the greatest adventure of their young lives."

At this 76th anniversary of the war's end, Wilmington admires their greatest adventures.  We forever thank them.

Wilmington native, author, military author and retired Navy captain WILBUR JONES grew up here during World War II.  UNC Wilmington presented him with its Distinguished Citizen  Award for 2021 for his history preservation efforts and  support or UNC-W.

What this man has done for the history of Wilmington during World War II is amazing.

--GreGen

Wilmington's World War II Heroes-- Part 2: C-B-I, U-boats, Convoys,4 Sons, LST

Captain Roddy Kidder flew P-51 fighters in the China-Burma-India Theater.

Sergeant Robert Edwards, flying out of Wilmington's Bluethenthal Field, crewed a B-24 bomber  that sank a German U-boat in 1942.

Col. C.D.  Cunningham and First Sgt. Fuller Sistrunk of the National Guard 252nd Coast Artillery Battalion, protected  oil refineries on Aruba, sinking two U-boats.

Homer Webb, merchant marine, survived the sinking of the SS Esso Houston sinking n route to Montevideo, Uruguay, May 1842.

*********************************** 

MEDITERRANEAN 

Navy doctor James Lounsbury served in the Mediterranean convoys and later in minesweeping near Japan.

B-25 bombardier-navigator 1st Lt. James Lee flew  56 missions from Corsica.  His mother, Bessie Williams, sent four sons into the Army, including Capt.  Charles in France and Tech 5/c Ralph in England.

Jack Hart fought in North Africa and Sicily before transferring to Burma

Martin Willard served on the USS LST-1012 during the invasion of Southern France, August 1944.

--GreGen

Wilmington's World War II Veterans-- Part 1: 'Rice Paddy Navy', the 'Hump' and 'Flying Tigers'

From the  August 15, 2021, Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News " 'Bonded together forevermore':  Honoring  Wilmington's World War II heroes" by Wilbur D. Jones Jr..

Three Wilmington Navy men served withy the Sino-American Cooperative  Organization, better-known as the "Rice Paddy Navy."  They were a group of guerillas, intelligence agents and weather observers operating behind Japanese lines.

They included Yeoman 1st Class Marvin Murphy

Boatswains Mate  1st Class G.C. West

W.S. Rourk

********************************

Captain Skinny Pennington flew C-54 cargo transports over  the "Hump" (Himalayas) along the "Aluminum Trail" (so-named because of the wreckage of crashed aircraft) into China from India.

Donald Whelpley served  18 months with the "Flying Tigers" P-40 fighter squadrons.

Of course, if you want to know anything about Wilmington, N.C., in the war, M r. Jones is the man to see.

--GreGen

Wilmington, N.C. Gets Its New Signs: 'First WW II Heritage City'

From WWAY 3 ABC, Wilmington, N.C.  "Wilmington adds 'First WW II Heritage City' to welcome signs" by Peyton Furtado.

You might just notice a change in those welcome to Wilmington signs around town.  A  new plaque has been added saying "America's 1st WW II Heritage City."

Wilmington was given this honor last September largely through the efforts of Wilbur D. Jones.

Of course, in my humble opinion, Wilmington should also add the words "Photo Enforced Stop Light City of the U.S."  They sure have a lot of them.  Probably more than even Chicago.

--GreGen

President Trump to Visit Wilmington on Wednesday, Sept. 2 to Declare the City the Nation's First World War II Heritage City

From the August 30, 2020, U.S. News & World Report  "Trump to visit Wilmington to declare it WW II 'Heritage City' "The visit is timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Japanese signing of the surrender terms on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

Legislation enacted last year requires the U.S. Secretary of the Interior  to declare at least one American city every year to be a World War II Heritage City.  Wilmington is the first one to receive the honor thanks in large to the efforts of Wilbur D. Jones who worked many years to have cities which had a lot to do with the war so honored.

Wilmington is also the home of the battleship USS North Carolina since 1962.

A great honor for Wilmington

--GreGen

Wilmington's WW II Role, By the Numbers-- Part 3: Rommel's Afrika Korps and Housing

Wilmington, North Carolina

550--  German POWs from Rommel's Afrika Korps

3,500--  Estimated number of uniformed soldiers hosted by the USO each week from 1941-1945.

5,495--  Public Housing units constructed to help deal with the population surge.

100,000--  County population by late 1943.    Three years later, it was 43,000 in peace time.

Information from Wilbur Jones

--GreGen

Wilmington N.C.Could Become the First WW II Heritage City

From March 12, 2019, WWAY News, Wilmington, N.C..

President Trump signed the bill into law today.  It was authored by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC).

The new law allows the secretary of the interior to annually designate a U.S. city as American World War II Heritage City and there is a good chance Wilmington will be the first one.

Wilmington was the site of the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company which built 243 ships during the war as well as many other items from the war.  Click on the Wilmington NC At War label for more information.

This has been the dream of Wilmington resident Wilbur D. Jones who has been the force behind this for many years.

So Congratulations Mr. Jones!!!  --GreGen

Wilmington May Become Country's First World War II Heritage City

From the June 11, 2018, WWAY, Wilmington, N.C.

Wilbur Jones says there are two major criteria for a city to get this honor.  One is what the city did for the war effort.  The second is what the city does now to preserve that heritage.

Last week, the N.C. House of Representatives adopted a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to recognize one city in the United States every year for that honor.

Wilbur Jones has been spearheading this effort for the last ten years.

During the war, 243 ships were built in Wilmington and the city was flooded with U.S. military personnel.  The battleship USS North Carolina and the Hannah Block USO Building are examples of World War II preservation.

Jones will be in Washington, D.C., this week to talk with North Carolina senators and representatives about the project.

Good Luck Mr. Jones.  --GreGen

Three Pearl Harbor Survivors at Dec. 7 Commemoration in Wilmington, N.C.

From the December 7, 2017, Wilmington (NC) Star-News  "Locals salute veterans, remember Pearl Harbor" Ben Steelman.

Twenty-five World War II veterans were in attendance at the USO/Community Arts Center Building in Wilmington.  Wilbur D. Jones, Jr., noted Wilmington World War II authority was there as well.

Three Pearl Harbor veterans were also there:

Harold Garrish who was an ensign with the Fleet Gunnery Party on Ford Island.

William Hendley was on the USS Oklahoma.

Leslie "Bud" Hollenbeck was a signalman on the USS Pennsylvania.

Jones also recognized three Wilmington residents who were killed in action December 7, 1941:

Signalman Harvey Howard Horrek on the USS Arizona

Boatswain's Mate Herbert F. Melton on the USS Oklahoma

Radioman 2nd Class Clyde Carson Moore on the USS Shaw.

Jones was seven years old on December 7, 1941.

--GreGen

Celebrating Wilmington's Role in World War II-- Part 2: "America's World War II City"

"America's Wor
"A retired U.S. Naval Reserve captain and historian, Wilbur Jones began a quest in 2007 to have Wilmington named 'America's World War II City.'  He was motivated not only by the city's contributions during the war years at historic sites, including the Cape Fear Museum, Shipyard Market, Burgwin-Wright  House, and the most visible symbol in the city: the steel-gray, flag-fluttering behemoth known as the Battleship North Carolina.

"Jones has persisted in his pursuit of a bill that would grant the historic designation, but legislation has stalled.  Happily, 2018 is looking better for Jones' dream."

By Susan Stafford Kelly

Hannah Block Historic USO Building
120 South Second Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 341-7860

Celebrating Wilmington's Role in World War II-- Part 1: Wilbur Jones

From the January Our State (North Carolina) Magazine  "The Liberty Armada" by Philip Gerard.

Without a doubt, Wilbur Jones is to Wilmington, North Carolina,  in World War II as Chris Fonvielle is to Wilmington in the Civil War.  I'd sure like to meet him and have him give a tour of the sites.  he has even written two books on it.

"A wartime youngster, Wilbur Jones well remembers the constant activity surrounding shipbuilding in his hometown of Wilmington, particularly the social events taking place just as constantly at the Orange Street USO.  The building has been preserved as a community arts center, as well as a public museum featuring furniture and signage, plus the original floor and piano, Hannah Block, for whom the building is named, played the piano when she worked at the USO."

--GreGen

Wilmington, N.C. in the War-- Part 2: U-boat Attack at Kure Beach

Other parts of Wilmington's role in the war can be found at The Wilmington Railroad Museum and the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science.

Wilbur D. Jones was a U.S. Navy captain who came back home in 1977 and he has a two-hour tour that he gives to showcase Wilmington's World War II sites.  He was seven when Pearl Harbor was bombed.  His father and mother were active volunteers during the war.

The first stop ion his tour is Robert Strange Park, the site of a German POW camp where about 550 members of Rommel's Afrika Korps were imprisoned.

Then they go to Fort Fisher, an old Civil War fort that saw use as as an anti-aircraft training site.  The famous Bazooka guns were tested here.

Then, it is on to U-boats at Kure Beach.  A cottage on Atlantic Avenue is believed to be the site of the only German attack on the U.S. eastern seaboard.  On a night in July 1943, a U-boat surfaced off Kure Beach in view of a couple sitting out on the cottage's front porch and fired several shells from its deck gun at the Ethyl-Dow chemical plant, 1/2 mile away where an aviation component fuel was manufactured.

The shots missed, but a few days later a German submarine was sunk about 20 miles offshore.

The final stop is at the Hannah Block Historic USO.

--GreGen

Wilmington, N.C. in the War-- Part 1: American World War II City

From the March 16, 2016, New York Times "The Battles of Wilmington, N.C.-- in World War II, That Is" by John Hanc.

Wilbur D. Jones, 81 was born in Wilmington and for the last 16 years has led an effort to recognize his city's role in the war effort and turn Wilmington into a sprawling "museum of the home front."

He wants Wilmington designated as the "American World War II City" and has worked with local legislators and testified before Congress on its behalf.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved creating the title and bestowing it on a new city every year.

Wilmington's biggest World  War II attraction, of course, is the battleship USS North Carolina.

--GreGen

Wilmington on Track to Become the First World War II City-- Part 2

In addition, there were three German POW camps in Wilmington and the headquarters of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was located in the city.  This line was a major mover of goods and soldiers.

The North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, at the time the state's largest employer, built 243 cargo vessels, mostly Liberty Ships.

The war brought many workers and military personnel to the city, causing severe housing shortages.

Wilbur Jones was seven and remembers listening to the announcement of the Pearl Harbor attack on te radio when it broke into the broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagle-Washington Redskin game and said that there was an emergency and all officials needed to report immediately to their offices.

Wilmington lost three men in the attack.He recently was appointed to the USS North Carolina Battleship Commission and started the effort for city recognition in 2008.

There is no one who knows more about Wilmington's role during World War II than Mr. Jones.

--GreGen

Wilmington on Track to Become the First World War II City-- Part 1

From the Oct. 29, 2013, Wilmington (NC) Star-News by Julian March.

The hard part is over.  On Monday a bill to designate at least one U.S. city a year, with Wilmington as the first one, passed the U.S. House of Representatives.  Now, it just needs passage in the Senate and a presidential signature.

The two-year effort to proclaim Wilmington as an American World War II City is the brainchild of Wilbur Jones of Wilmington, a military historian.

Wilmington lost 248 men in the war out of thousands who served.  The Air Force trained at the city's airport, the Army at Fort Fisher, the Navy at Fort Caswell and Coast Guard Wrightsville Beach.

Definitely a Deserved Honor.  --GreGen

Wilmington's Mr. World War II: Wilbur D. Jones-- Part 3

Mr. Jones' Navy service led to a 41-year career with the Department of Defense.  For awhile, he was chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Barry Goldwater Jr.  Then, he was appointed to a position in the Nixon administration and ran Nixon's re-election campaign in New Hampshire in 1972.  After a brief stint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, he worked as an advance man for President Ford from 1975 to 1977.  A highlight of that was being with Ford at America's Bicentennial celebration in New York Harbor.

After that, he held a series of government jobs, retiring in 1996.

He and his wife decided to move back to Wilmington in 1997.  In September, he heard a radio news story about plans to tear down the USO building on South Second Street.  Besides the historical value of the building, it was one of 14 World War II buildings in Wilmington.  The building also had family connections.  His father had been on the dedication committee for the building and his sister met her future husband there.

He and a group got the Wilmington City Council to save the building in 2000 and its new incarnation as the Hannah Block Historic USO was dedicted July 4, 2008.  Right now, Wilbur Jones is working with U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre to promote House Bill 2712 which would establish a yearly "American World War II City" with Wilmington being the first one.

The Kind of Person Every City Needs.  --GreGen

A Much-Deserved Honor to Wilmington's Mr. World War II-- Pt. 1

From the July 15th Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Lifetime of Achievements: 2012 Star News Lifetime Achievement Award Winners."

WILBUR D. JONES USNR(RET)

Every year the newspaper looks for individulas in a wide variety of fields who have extraordinary talents and have accomplished much for the city and region.

Past winners ith a World War II connection include Hugh Morton, one of the founders of the North Carolina Azalea Festival and instrumental in bringing the battleship USS North Carolina to Wilmington who won in 2005.  In 2009, Hannah Block, a charter member of the USO club at Second and Orange streets.

One of the three winners this year is a man I'm familiar with, Wilbur D. Jones.  I have come across his name many times in conjunction with his work with Wilmington and World War II.

The article gave a lot of information on him which I will go into next post.

A Well-Deserved Honor.  --GreGen