Posted on 05/26/2003 10:53:57 AM PDT by GSWarrior
Along the main entrances to the small, rural Alabama town of Leeds are modest, unpretentious red, white and blue signs welcoming visitors. The signs read: "Leeds-City of Valor-America's Most Decorated City." At the bottom of the signs are the words, "Heroes Above the Call-Erwin, Lawley, McLaughlin."
Leeds (Ala.) Memorial Park features three monuments, each bearing a bronze plaque inscribed with the Medal of Honor citation for its three war heroes.
Signs leading into Leeds boast the city's designation as "America's Most Decorated City."
According to philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The true test of a civilization is not the census, nor the size of the cities, nor the crops-no, but the kind of man the country turns out." Every large city and small town across America has contributed to turning out what Emerson referred to as Representative Men-men who make America what it is-"the land of the free and home of the brave." But in proportion to its size, no city in America has turned out as many heroes as Leeds. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society has declared the town the most decorated city in America.
Leeds is not large. The 2000 U.S. Census shows the population at 9,946. But what Leeds lacks in size, it makes up for in extraordinary men. Practically all baseball fans are familiar with Hall of Fame inductee Harry "The Hat" Walker. And most everyone has heard the name Charles Barkley. Both men are former residents of Leeds.
The names printed on the signs-Lt. William Lawley, Staff Sgt. Henry "Red" Erwin and Pfc. Alford McLaughlin-also are native sons of Leeds and recipients of America's highest tribute, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Since the medal's inception during the Civil War, a total of 3,427 have been awarded. Of this total, only 2,553 have been bestowed on enlisted men during America's conflicts.
Throughout the early years of the 20th century, Leeds was turning out heroes who gallantly served their country during World War II and the Korean conflict.
The first brave act of a young man from Leeds, on the morning of Feb. 20, 1944, occurred as 1,700 planes took off from bases in England. Lt. William Lawley's B-17 "Cabin in the Sky" was one of them.
Over the target, Lawley's crew discovered a glitch in the bomb release system; the bomb load was stuck inside the aircraft. Slower and heavier than the other bombers of the 305th Bomb Group, the crew was easy prey for the 20 German fighters that attacked them. Controls were shot away, an engine was set ablaze, and the co-pilot was killed. The others aboard were wounded-two of them so severely that it was impossible for them to bail out. Lawley, although badly wounded in the face, hands and neck, decided to attempt the grueling five-hour trip back to England in order to save his crew.
Somewhere over France, Lawley lost consciousness. He was revived by the bombardier, who also was wounded. He helped Lawley maintain control of the aircraft.
Over the English Channel, the crew was able to release the stuck bombs, making the aircraft faster and lighter. Near the English Coast, an engine ran out of fuel, and another caught fire. This left the massive four-engine bomber flying on one engine-and the pilot's skill and determination. All aboard survived the fiery crash landing at Redhill, a small fighter base south of London.
Lawley flew four more missions before returning to the United States to promote the sale of war bonds. He served with the Air Force until 1972, retiring as a colonel. He died in 1999 at the age of 78.
Leeds' second recipient of the medal was Staff Sgt. Henry E. "Red" Erwin, who served as a radio operator with the 52nd Bomb Squadron. On April 12, 1945, Erwin was aboard a B-29 bound for a target in Japan. His aircraft led the raid. En route to the target, Erwin was supposed to pull the pin on a phosphorous bomb and drop it out of the aircraft through a tube in the floor. The smoke from the burning phosphorous would allow the formation of bombers to assemble near the lead plane and follow it to the target without breaking radio silence. A malfunction in the fuse caused the canister to ignite prematurely. It exploded in Erwin's face. He was blinded and had an ear burned off. But Erwin realized that the white-hot container would burn through the aluminum floor of the aircraft in a matter of seconds, and drop into the area where the bombs were stored. He located the spewing canister, picked it up and felt his way toward the front of the aircraft, intending to throw it out the co-pilot's window.
On his way to the cockpit, Erwin encountered the navigator's table down and locked, blocking his path. He had to cradle the burning object against his body with one hand in order to move the table; all the while, the phosphorous was burning his skin. He disposed of the bomb, and his only words during the rest of the flight were to inquire about the condition of his crewmates.
Maj. Gen. Curtis LeMay was notified of Erwin's heroic act, and he heard that Erwin probably would not survive. LeMay pushed through approval for a Congressional Medal of Honor to be flown to Guam as quickly as possible and presented to Erwin.
Thirty months and many reconstructive surgeries later, Erwin received a disability discharge from the military, but he continued to serve. For the next 37 years he served as a benefit counselor at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Birmingham, Ala.
The third medal recipient, Pfc. Alford McLaughlin, is depicted in an oil painting that hangs in a Leeds restaurant. It shows a marine standing atop sandbags that surround his gun placement. In it, he has lifted a machine gun from its tripod and is firing it from the hip.
His citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on the night of 4-5 September 1952. … Private First Class McLaughlin maintained a constant flow of devastating fire upon the enemy, alternately employing two machine guns, a carbine and hand grenades. … Standing up in full view, he shouted words of encouragement to his comrades above the din of battle and throughout a series of fanatical enemy attacks. …" In addition to the Medal of Honor, McLaughlin received the Purple Heart with Gold Star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia and Europe Clasps, The Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
McLaughlin was promoted to sergeant before his discharge from the Marine Corps in 1967. That ended a 22-year career that began in 1945, when he enlisted at the age of 17. A section of Highway 119 that runs through Leeds has been designated the Erwin, McLaughlin, Lawley Medal of Honor Highway. Along a stretch of the highway is Leeds Memorial Park, where three monuments, each bearing a bronze plaque inscribed with the Medal of Honor citation, pay homage to these brave men.
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