By James
Dee
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Kaleigh Lain
presents Gene Broughton with
his Expert Marksman Badge. His wife, Mattie Jo,
stands next to him and holds some of
the boxes with his other medals.
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A World War II veteran and his wife returned to their home
to find someone had ransacked their home, taking several firearms
and antique currency. Also missing was a box containing the
veteran's ribbons and other military honors earned in the
European Theater.
Charles Eugene "Gene" Broughton of Lake Tansi,
Tennessee, a small town outside of Crossville in Cumberland
County, had served three years with the 2nd Ammunition Section,
Service Battery of the 335th Field Artillery Battalion of
the 87th Infantry Division. "Of everything we lost, my
battle stars and dog tags are the things I missed most"
Broughton said.
While Broughton had put the burglary behind him and accepted
the loss of his valuables; little did he realize that he would
soon get his legacy in return and it would come from a group
of Girl Scouts from a city over 60 miles away. Girl Scout
Troops 534 and 300 of Knoxville, Tennessee worked to save
Gene Broughton's legacy.
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Speakers and presenters
watch GeneBroughton arrive.
From left to right, James Dee, Kaleigh Lain,
Amanda Dee, Brock Hill and Capt. Steven Turner.
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James Dee, an amateur historian in Knoxville, heard the story
on the evening news. Mr. Dee is also a leader in his daughter's
Girl Scout troop and he was finishing a project with his scout
troop, in which the girls had listened to a World War II WAVE
tell about her service during the war. The girls presented
her with the medals she earned during the war. The Navy veteran
had her ribbons, but not the medals associated with the ribbons.
When one of the scouts heard Dee talking about the burglary,
the girl asked if they couldn't replace what he lost. Dee
called Gene Broughton to learn more about what he lost in
the burglary. "He told me what bothered him wasn't that
he had lost these things, but he had lost a legacy. He wanted
to pass these things on to his daughters." Dee said.
That is when Dee decided that the Girl Scouts would not be
replacing what he lost, but give him his legacy instead. Dee
has worked with a number of veterans, writing their biographies
and conducting video-taped interviews to preserve their history.
"Medals are the strongest bond that civilians have with
veterans." Dee noted. So the Girl Scouts set out to raise
money to purchase Broughton's medals and badges. In addition,
Dee wrote a book describing Broughton's service. The book
included pictures and full descriptions of his medals and
badges.
On the Friday before the Memorial Day weekend, May 30, family,
friends and neighbors gathered at the Lake Tansi's Veterans
Park to honor Broughton with a surprise ceremony. When his
car drove-up, Broughton was happily surprised to see all four
of his daughters, some came as far as England to be there,
along with most of his 27 foster children and over 100 friends
and neighbors. He was greeted by James Dee, his daughter Amanda,
fellow Girl Scout Kaleigh Lain, Cumberland County Mayor Brock
Hill and Captain Steven Turner of the Tennessee Army National
Guard.
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James Dee pins
the Honorable Service Lapel
Pin, "Ruptured Duck", on Gene Broughton
as his wife Mattie Jo looks on.
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"I'm totally surprised," Broughton said. "To
think that so many people came out for this."
After the surprised veteran was brought to a front-row seat,
he listened to James Dee tell him from behind the podium that
everyone there had gathered to honor him. Dee told the audience
that "although the people may not be physically here,
the Tanasi Council of Girl Scouts, the citizens of Knox County,
and the U.S. Army stand beside me and their representatives
have joined me to give Gene what he richly deserves and to
right an inexcusable wrong."
Dee had determined what medals Broughton earned based on
his discharge papers. The Girl Scouts raised money to purchase
the medals from a commercial source. "Although the girls
were ready to work really hard, they really didn't have to,"
Dee said. "Many people simply gave us money. They said
they wanted to be a part of this. When the people of Knox
County heard your story, they stepped forward and helped without
asking."
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Captain Steven
Turner, Tennessee Army
National Guard, describes the medals
earned by Gene Broughton.
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Captain Steve Turner with the Tennessee Army National Guard
presented the medals on behalf of the Adjutant General of
Tennessee. "It gives me great pleasure to be here today,
honoring a veteran of World War II, and a member of the greatest
generation this country has ever known," Capt. Turner
said.
"This veteran has earned the right to wear these medals
and ribbons proudly. I would ask that those of you, who can
stand, please do as we present these medals and fix a terrible
wrong,"
Capt. Turner described what Broughton had done to earn his
medals while Girl Scout Kaleigh Lain gave the medals to the
veteran. Broughton was presented the Army Good Conduct Medal,
American Campaign Medal, European Campaign Medal with three
campaign stars and the World War II Victory Medal. He earned
the Expert Marksman badge and he had the Honorable Service
Lapel Pin, also known as the Ruptured Duck, pined on his shirt.
Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill along with Dee's daughter
Amanda presented Broughton the book. "On this Memorial
Day weekend, I know there are a lot of folks that appreciate
the fact you were successful, and were able to save countless
lives because of your and other's bravery," Hill said.
"Thank you very much for your service."
Toward the end of the ceremony Gene Broughton took the microphone
and addressed the crowd from his chair, all the while cradling
five boxes, containing his military honors, under his arm.
He told how he was glad it was the Girl Scouts that presented
him his medals since he was made an honorary Girl Scout in
the 1950's after working extensively with his daughter's Girl
Scout troops. He had a lifetime of community service and has
received numerous awards and recognition for his good works.
However he said his "greatest service of all was to my
country."
"I thank and praise all of you for the support you
have given, not to me, because I just represent a whole bunch
of men and they all, I know, are really blessed by what's
gone on here today. I thank you all so much."
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Gene Broughton
talks to Girl Scouts Amanda Dee
and Kaleigh Lain after the ceremony.
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On Friday, June 6, Gene Broughton passed away. The family
received an electronic copy of the book James Dee had written,
so it could be easily copied and given to family members.
Electronic copies were distributed at his memorial service;
all in hopes his legacy of service will live beyond his children's
lifetime, his grand children lifetimes, hopefully forever.
An article and videos of the ceremony can be found at the
web site of WBIR in Knoxville, TN, at the links provided below:
The author, James Dee, can be reached by
email.
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