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Submitted: 7/27/11 • Approved: 7/28/11 • Last Updated: 8/28/12 • R568643-G0-S3
May 26, 1921--December 6, 1944
Born Crossroads, Izard County, Arkansas.
Killed In Action in France.
Son of George Thomas "Tom" & Mary Gillihan Copeland.
The Calico Rock Progress, Calico Rock, Arkansas, December 22, 1944:
Bynum Copeland Killed in Action in France
According to a War Department message received the early part of the week, Bynum Copeland, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Copeland of Cross Roads, was killed in action in France, during recent fighting there.
Another son of the Copeland's, Troy, was home on furlough recently after 26 months service in the Pacific.
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The Calico Rock Progress, Calico Rock, Arkansas, February 16, 1945:
Pfc Olen Copeland was born at Cross Roads, Arkansas and spent practically all his life in this vicinity. He was among the first group of 21-year-old inductees and after a period of training, which extended over a period of several months, in which he graduated as expert rifleman, hand grenade and machine gunner, he went overseas in September. He was immediately dispatched from England to the front line combat zone inside Germany, where he lost his life a few weeks later.
Brigadier General A. G. Bowling, commander of the 84th Rail Splitter Division, in a personal letter to his parents had this to say concerning his death:
"In the death of Pfc Copeland, this division has suffered a personal loss which will be hard to replace, as he was a good soldier and fought hard, always remaining cool and cheerful even under the strain of days of Combat. He never failed to be an inspiration to his fellow soldiers."
So let us not forget that while Olen gave his life as thousands of others have done, that we on the home front have a greater and more sacred obligation thrust upon us now to carefully uphold the great principles for which they have so nobly died. (Contributed)
(Photo courtesy of Vera Reeves)
Contributed on 7/27/11 by maxparnell
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Record #: 568643