GARY WAYNE COX
Aircraft: Helicopter…4…0….7…Mike…Charlie…departing the ramp northbound…
Unicom: Have a safe trip…
All of the stories I have written have taken place during my tenure as airport manager. This one does not. It originated from Big Sandy and my brother, Larry Joe Cox, was my pilot, but it happened while I was working at Martin County Coal in the 90s.
It was also when the Warfield Liberty Festival was a pretty big event in Martin
County. Dolly Adkins, Lori Workman, Gloria Cox (my stepmother), Bonnie Triplett, Patsey Spears, Gladys Hinkle and my sister-in-law, Angie (Mullins) Runyon pretty well ran the show. Me, Ronald Workman and Billy Chapman, the three guys on the committee, just did what we were told to do.
During one of the meetings, Angie, who was in charge of the parade, informed us that she had contacted a Medal of Honor recipient and he had agreed to be the grand marshall of our parade. The only thing I knew about the Medal of Honor was that it was our nation’s highest award. I knew nothing else. Over the next couple of weeks, I got an education on the award and a tremendous amount of respect for those who have received it.
“Gary Wayne, this guy lives in Wurtland and he would prefer not to drive himself. The only thing he requested was someone to pick him up and take him back home after the parade. I volunteered you,” Angie said with a grin.
“I can do that. I think it would be interesting to talk with someone who has won our nation’s highest military award.”
While at work the next day and getting ready to load one of those many coal trains that used to come out of Wolf Creek, I was telling my friend, Ron Wicker, who was recording railroad car numbers for shipment, about my assignment.
Ron said, “Give me his name. I’ll go Google it and when I bring back the waybill, we can see how this guy got the Medal of Honor.”
That was the first time I had ever heard the word “Google.” After Ron explained what Google meant, I said, “His name is Ernie West, from Wurtland, Kentucky, and he served in the Korean War.”
When Ron returned with the waybill, he said, “Gary, I got the information on your guy, seems all the Medal of Honor people are issued a citation of why they are given the award. This is what I have learned about him.
Ernest E. West – Medal of Honor Citation
Pfc. West distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. He voluntarily accompanied a contingent to locate and destroy a reported enemy outpost. Nearing the objective, the patrol was ambushed and suffered numerous casualties. Observing his wounded leader lying in an exposed position, Pfc. West ordered the troops to withdraw, then braved intense fire to reach and assist him. While attempting evacuation, he was attacked by three hostile soldiers employing grenades and small-arms fire. Quickly shifting his body to shelter the officer, he killed the assailants with his rifle, then carried the helpless man to safety. He was critically wounded and lost an eye in this action but courageously returned through withering fire and bursting shells to assist the wounded. While evacuating two comrades, he closed with and killed three more of the foe. Pfc. West’s indomitable spirit, consummate valor, and intrepid actions inspired all who observed him, reflect the highest credit on himself, and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.
