Norwood Simmons, Carolyn Hall who is the widow of the late James Hall, Dr. Glenn Tucker, Harold George, Dr. John Rice, James L. James, and Joe Banks were the veterans honored Monday evening during the House of Heroes ceremony.

LAKE PARK — Harold George entered combat at Metz, France, from September to December 1944.

The Army staff sergeant was there when Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army reclaimed the French city from Nazi occupation.

George won the Silver Star for “knocking out” a German fortification. In training, he’d earned top score on the rifle range. George’s last combat came in the Ruhr Valley before his division returned to the States to prepare for the Japanese invasion after the fall of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich.

The massive Japanese invasion never came. The atomic bomb led to Japan’s surrender.

George left the Army in 1946. He returned to civilian life. He worked in probations for more than 30 years. He married the former Betty Sinclair in 1949; they had two sons and a daughter. They have lived on Francis Lake in Lake Park for 47 years.

On Monday, Harold George, now 90, rose from the pew of the Lake Park United Methodist Church. Wife Betty stood at his side during the recitation of his World War II service.

George was one of seven veterans honored Monday during the 2015 House of Heroes ceremony.

House of Heroes is dedicated to repaying veterans’ service by helping them with the maintenance of their homes. Work which the veterans can no longer effectively perform due to age, disability or lack of finances. It is dedicated to helping surviving veterans.

Pastor Wayne Anthony founded House of Heroes in 1999 while in Columbus. In the past several years, House of Heroes has helped veterans in Columbus and Philadelphia; Plano, Texas, and Charlotte, N.C.; Phoenix, Ariz., and Nashville, Tenn.; and several communities across Georgia, including the

Valdosta-area for the past three years.

Anthony once served as pastor for Lake Park United Methodist Church, which adopted the program.

Not all of the veterans needed assistance with their homes this year, but the project honored them during the Monday evening service. Volunteers performed several household chores Saturday for the veterans who needed assistance.

On Monday evening, Tim Oliver, a House of Heroes board member, read the service records of each veteran recipient as the veteran, family, or the veteran’s survivor received an American flag that had once flown above the national Capitol and a patriotic quilt from Withlacoochee Quilters Guild, Janet Toffolo, Becky Faircloth, and Sharon Corbett with Sew Into Quilting.

— James L. James is a retired Air Force technical sergeant. He joined the Air National Guard at the age of 17. He transferred to active duty and attended aircraft mechanic school. His service included two tours of Vietnam duty at Danang Air Force Base.

“During his second tour in 1968 at Bien Hin AFB, he was wounded by shrapnel from an explosion and his right foot was severed,” Oliver said. “It was reattached and he was able to walk again.”

He stood Monday night in Lake Park UMC with wife Minnie. They live in Lake Park. He has two sons and two step-children.   

— Norwood Simmons served as an airman second class and spent his entire enlistment at Moody Air Force Base. He was named airman of the month.

He married Elizabeth Clayton. They moved to Maryland where he worked 46 years with the government. They had three sons, with only one son still living. After 57 years of marriage, Elizabeth passed away in December.

— Dr. Glenn G. Tucker served as a seaman first class. He dropped out of high school to join the Navy with about 40 other students. In 1945, he was sent to Guam and assigned to the U.S.S. Gilbert Islands which assisted in battle at Okinawa.

After the war, Tucker attended school and became a high school science teacher before becoming a professor who taught science education at Marshall University, Austin Peay State University and Valdosta State. Between university assignments, Tucker served as a high school principal and a Georgia state science consultant.

He married the late Dr. Beverly Stroup. They had four children. They moved to Lake Park in 1973. Competitive pistol shooting is his hobby. He has written and published four books.

— The late James Hall served as an Army private first class. His wife, Carolyn Hall, represented him Monday during the ceremony.

James Hall served from Jan. 31, 1951, through Jan. 31, 1953, with the 325th Tank Battalion Headquarters and Service Company.

After the Army, he returned to Lake Park. He married Carolyn Guest. They had three children. He worked for more than 30 years with the Clyattville paper mill. He farmed 140 acres.

— Joe Banks is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. In June 1953, he joined the Air Force receiving flight training and an officer’s commission via the Aviation Cadet Program.

“During his Air Force career, Joe mostly served as an instructor and fighter pilot flying 301 combat missions in Vietnam,” Oliver said. “His most memorable assignment was as commander of the 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron (The Lucky Devils) at Phan Rang, Vietnam.

“He received 28 medals and awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, 16 Air Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.”

He married Gail Powell. They have five daughters. They have lived on Long Pond since 1971. He served as Lowndes County tag agent and deputy tax commissioner.

— Dr. John Rice served as an Army corporal. He served with the Army Medical Corps from 1952 through 1954. He received the National Defense Service and Good Conduct medals.

After the Army, Rice attended Florida State University for grad school. There he met Betty; they married and had two daughters.

He became dean of students and associate professor of psychology at Georgia Southwestern College. He became a full professor at Valdosta State. He retired in 1995 from VSU to care for Betty during the final stages of cancer.

He lives in Valdosta.