Paris, Tenn.–Local unsung heroes were given their due at Friday’s program by Suzanne Richter at the Paris-Henry County Heritage Center. Long-time educator Richter spoke at the latest Lunch & Learn program hosted by the Henry County/Paris Bicentennial Committee.
“Often our heroes are those whose names appear in the paper, who are elected officials, who are rich and successful in business, who are beautiful and talented. We feature many here at the Heritage Center. But just as important for our community, any community, are those whose contributions were different, often involved in giving their lives or their time unselfishly”, Richter said.
Two men who she spotlighted were William Brooks Toler, killed in action in France in January of 1945; and Robert James Bennett, a smoke jumper who was killed in 1949 in a fire in Montana. Richter also related the history of the Paris Rescue Squad.
From Richter’s program:
William Brooks Toler was killed in action on January 25, 1945, just 3 months and 7 days before Germany surrendered and World War II ended in Europe.
He was born on March 7, 1919, only son of Claude C. Toler and Bertha May Bruce, who owned Toler’s Business College. Brooks attended Grove High School and graduated from Morgan School for Boys in Petersburg TN. He then attended the University of Tennessee for a year and one year at Cumberland University Law School before military service. He planned to return to law school after the war.
Toler was a tank commander, fighting first in the invasion of North Africa. His transport ship was torpedoed on Nov 12, 1942, and he and his fellow soldiers were blasted into the water; they swam to shore and joined in the battle to conquer Casablanca.
Toler served for 28 months in Europe and participated in six major engagements; nearly all of his service was in active battle.
In early 1945 Toler’s 756th Tank Battalion was operating behind enemy lines and became trapped by German counterattacks. He was killed as he attempted to evacuate his disabled tank. His driver was awarded the Bronze star for attempting to save Sgt. Toler’s life. Brooks was buried in the Epinal American Cemetery in France.
After the war, his remains were sent back to Paris on the L&N Railroad’s Pan American. The body arrived at the Depot where the hearse awaited and with crowds of Paris citizens also waiting to welcome his body home. Toler’s funeral was at the Methodist Church and he was buried in Maplewood Cemetery with full military honors.
Robert James Bennett, age 22, died on August 5, 1949, in a raging Montana forest fire, described as the worst forest fire in 40 years. At his death, he was a student at Montana University in Missoula, in his third year in the Forestry Division. Like many healthy, strong young men in that geographic area, in the summers he was a smokejumper, part of an elite group of fire fighters stationed at Hale Field, Montana.
Bobby was the son of Guy Bennett and Anne Louise Moses Bennett; he had one brother Guy and two sisters Jeannie and Joyce. Mr. Bennett was notified by telegram of the loss of his son and then he had to arrange the funeral and await the arrival of the body.
Smokejumpers were used first in the 1930s. They were specially trained to parachute into an already burning fire and create fire brakes from the inside. Smokejumpers became a reality in the 1940s. The jumpers were usually young men who needed a summer job with an older squad member in charge. In the 1940s the Forest Service had switched from aerial water drops to experiments with parachute jumping. Prior to Mann Gulch, however, no smokejumper had ever died; in Mann Gulch 12 plus one fire guard died.
The events of Mann Gulch forever changed the world of firefighting. The Forest Service would institute new training techniques and improved safety measures. The agency also would place more emphasis on fire research and the science of fire behavior, resulting in improved techniques and equipment. However, the developments will never overshadow the immense tragedy for this group of firefighters.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin.