Banners honoring Ozark County veterans go up on square to commemorate U.S. birthday
Banners honoring Ozark County veterans who died in combat are being displayed on the Gainesville square in honor of America's 250 birthday. Those entering the square from the southwest corner are met with this banner honoring Audie Luna, who died in 1945 during World War II. The back of each banner expresses thanks to all Ozark County veterans and credits those who helped make the project possible.
PFC Matthew England, a 2007 Lutie graduate, lost his life at the age of 22 when an insurgent’s homemade bomb blew up his Army vehicle on June 8, 2011, while he was serving in Iraq. A banner honoring him is hung on the first lampost on Third Street, facing a portion of Highway 160 that has been designated by Congress as the “Matthew J. England Memorial Highway.”
Robert N. Ireland, a 1953 graduate of Gainesville High School, had served in the Air Force 17 years when his AC-130 was shot down over Laos on April 22, 1970. His body was never found; bone fragments from the crash site were buried in one casket in Arlington National Cemetery in 1995 with a marker bearing all 10 crew members' names.
This banner displayed on the east side of the Gainesville square honors two Ozark County veterans who died during World War I and II. The death in 1918 of James Duckworth, left, was reported by the Ozark County Times Toledo correspondent, who wrote that he had died at a training camp in Michigan; his death was attributed to the influenza epidemic. Duckworth's father met the train in Ava in a horse-drawn wagon to accept his son's body and carry it to the Otter Creek Cemetery for burial. John Freeman, right, was from Dora and died near LaCambe, France, in 1944. Freeman had five brothers; three of them also served in World War II.
By Janet Taber
Ozark County Historium volunteer
In honor of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, a plan was recently enacted to honor Ozark County veterans who gave their lives in service to this country. Thanks to the efforts of Bo Friese of Bargain Bin (who also is the caretaker of the landscaping on the square in Gainesville), Doug Hawkins of Shelter Insurance, photographer Karla Smith and volunteers at the Ozark County Historium, Century Bank of the Ozarks and the Ozark County Chamber of Commerce, the square is now enhanced by hanging banners on the vintage-inspired light posts.
The large banners display a photo, birth and death dates, and military branch in which the veteran served, as well as the phrase, “Some Gave All.” The 20 displayed banners are similar in size and material as those that are hung each May to recognize graduating seniors of Gainesville High School. This is the first batch of veterans banners; the effort is ongoing to find photos of all Ozark Countians who died while in service, beginning with World War I and continuing until the present day.
These veterans are included in the first group of bannerse: Arnold Boyle, Jerry M. Corp, Gail Davis, James Duckworth, Matthew England, John L. Freeman, Doyle L. Harris, Marlyn C. Herd, Elza Hillhouse, Robert Ireland, Guy H. Johnston, Audie Luna, Hanson Mahan, Thurlow Mullins, Chester R. North, Leroy Kesner Peacock, Orlind Perry, Millard Pierce, John Edward Ray and Rayferd M. Wallace.
In displaying the banners, Friese took care to hang the banner honoring Matthew England, who died in Iraq in 2011, at the end of Third Street facing Highway 160 because the section of the highway between the city limits signs is dedicated to England.
As this is an ongoing effort to memorialize all veterans who died in service, the organizers invite the help of anyone in finding photos or connections to families of the remaining veterans for whom no photos were found. Though it may not be conclusive, the list includes the following who died during World War I: William H. Anderson, Roscoe Beard, Lawrence Cates, William E. Freeman, Ethmer M. Green, Gillmore Gillette, Virgil Y. Mahan, Claude Riggs, Frank Riggs, and John W. Wright.
From World War II, the search is ongoing for Rolla R. Bowen, Chester R. Bowler, George Russell Deatherage, Merle Fletcher, Clinton E. Heriford, Barney R. Hicks, Leffel C. Hicks, Clifford M. Howard, Gordon W. Howard, Kenneth G. Hunter, Jess Killion, Herbert H. Lee, Vernon D. Martin, Harvey Noon, Stanford Pruitt, Luther P. Smart, William A. Smith, Leland Tracy, Elmer Treason, Ralph J. Wright, and Jay Yates, Jr.
To date, this project has been funded by donations; additional funds are needed as additional photos are found and more banners are created. Those interested in donating to the project are asked to please contact Bo Friese or Doug Hawkins at their places of business in Gainesville. To make a tax-deductible donation, the Ozark County Historium, a local, 501C3 not-for-profit corporation, will accept donations that will be designated for use in the banner project. Please note in the memo line of a check that you wish your donation to be used only for this purpose.