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carl dodd car
Picture courtesy of Betty "Mullins" Foster

PEABODY PEOPLE, Vol. 2, No. 1....June, 1951
Posted by: Chris - 1/31/2004 (16:00) - 65.207.126.148
Original Peabody People magazine,a gift from my cousins who moved to Georgia. Belonged to my Great Grandfather Helton. Front page story that I may have to do in sections: ..............Lt. Carl H. Dodd Wins Nation's Highest Honor..Former Peabody Miner Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor.

No one in Harlan County Ky, could remember ever witnessing a greater welcome given one man. And after watching the Homecoming parade move through Harlan, Evarts,Kenvir and back to the Evarts football field for the speechmaking, the war hero's own people agreed it all couldn't have been inspired by a more gracious and and unassuming hero than Congressional Medal of Honor winner, 1st Lt. Carl Henry Dodd.
Carl Dodd, 26, only a few years ago was just another Kentucky boy. He had gone to grade school right there at Kenvir. And like so many other boys of his age, his father,Edd Dodd, a miner for 23 years, had taught him how to use a gun by hunting mountain squirrels.
Later on when Carl decided he needed a job he followed in his fathers footsteps. Supt. John Thompson gave him his first job loading coal at Mine 30, April 21, 1943,where his father worked. A few months later he ws drafted for service in World War II.
He returned to Kenvir after his discharge as asergeant in March, 1946, and went back to work at Mine 30 as a shot firer. But the army beckoned. He left his job at the mine Sept.26, 1946,and reenlisted with his former rank.
After a refresher course at Ft. Knox,Ky he was sent to Korea,for a while then back to HaWaii.but went into Korea for the third time with the fifth Infantry Regiment when North Korea Reds crossed the 38th parallel.

PEABODY PEOPLE, Vol. 2, No. 1....June, 1951

Posted by: Chris..Part 2 - 1/31/2004 (16:27) - 65.207.126.148
Continued..... On the back of his Congressional Medal of Honor is inscribed simply: "The Congress to 2nd Lt. Carl H. Dodd, Company E,5th infantry Regiment,54 Infantry Division, USA.
The action wasn't so simple- On Jan. 30,his company was orderd to occupy a hill near Subuk. Advancing into cleverly concealed enemy machine gun nests,his platoon sudenly found itself pinned down by murderous crossfire.
With uutmost courage, Lt. Dodd stood up alone and hurling grenades, charged uphill to take the first nest unaided. The Chinese heaved down grenades. Those that landed within reach he hurled back. He yelled for his platoon to follow him and went after thge next nest in a one man charge. His example spurred his men forward.They knocked out seven gun emplacements before night and furious enemy fire sealed them in. With daylight, Lt. Dodd led his men on to the top of the hill to write another chapter in the history of American bravery and courageous leadership. He also holds the Bronze satr and Silver star. He won the Silver star last August guiding seven of his men out of an enemy trap on the Masan front in Korea. He has been wounded twice and earned his commission in the field.

PEABODY PEOPLE, Vol. 2, No. 1....June, 1951

Posted by: Chris part 3 - 1/31/2004 (16:51) - 65.207.126.148
Now carl Dodd was coming home again, a winner of the Nationa highest honor,and the people of Harlan County wanted him to know how very proud they were of his great service. On mAy 26 the hero landed at the Harlan airport,here he was met by his family and a host of friends. Awaiting cars swept him away and escorted him home. On the way the motorcade met crowds who ignored the Thunder showers that fell, to wave and shout a Kentucky welcome to the local boy who had won the nations highest military award. Boy scouts and American Legion color guard from Kenvir joined the parade at Evarts. The Legionnaires from Black Mountain's Zester Bowlin Post fired a rifle salute to the boy they remembered playing football with at Evarts high school and working with at the Mine.
Lt. Dodd stopped the motorcaade at Mine 30 to shake hands with his old Troop 77 Scoutmaster,Keith Clark, Mine 31 wireman, to ask him how the troop was.
At Evarts football field crowds filled the rows of seats on the side of the hill facing the raised speakers platform in the center of the field. State and local dignitaries were there to pay tribute to the battlefield deeds of a brave man. As each was introduced,he praised Lt. Dodd,s courage and welcomed him back to Kentucky and Harlan County. Kentucky Gov. Lawrence Weatherby made him an honorary Kentucky Colonel.
Then at last it came time for the hero himself to speak. ANd the crowd grew quite for the moment they had waited for. Friends and neighbors of the Doods wondered if the bitter struggles on Korean soil had changed the Balck Mountain they once knew.
Lt. Dodd spoke simply and briefly. Thanking everyone for their kindness, he said" There are no individual heroes in Korea. There are something like a million men over there and they are all heroes. I also want to say that it is wonderful to be home and around the people I know".
The crowd was not disapointed. To friends and neighbors,Lt. Dodd was still the home town boy who had made good. " He's just like he always was", Edd had said of his son after meeting him at the brief airport reception.

PEABODY PEOPLE, Vol. 2, No. 1....June, 1951

Posted by: Chris Part 4 and conclusion - 1/31/2004 (17:19) - 65.207.126.148
The peole of Black Mountain outdid themselves to make him feel at home. Nothing was too good for the man cited by the nations president for superb leadership and extraordinary heroism. P.O. McKnight, Post adjutant, presented him with a life membership in the Black Mnt. Legion post. Bob Mills,Mine 30 Motorman, gave him a $500.00 war bond as a gift from the people of Black Mountain.The bond was purchased with money left from more than $800.00 collected for the Lt. Carl Dodd fund.Remainder was spent for food and clothing for the family and air transportation for Mrs. dodd to meet her son in Anderson Ind. Local unions for Mines 30 and 31 and the American legion post of Black Mountain each gave $100.00. Peabody coal company gave $50.00. The rest was made up of private contributions from union and company personnel.
When edd Dodds extra special guest and many neighbors dropped in for visits,his modest home became overcrowded. Division Supt. John Thompson offered Carl and his wife the use of the company guest house(Club House) and ordered a truck load of groceries(From the Commissary) for the Dodd home to ease the emergency and as a tribute from our company.
For transportation during his stay, Supt. thompson offered to arrange a car and initiated a county wide drive for contributions to buy a new car for his permanent use. Then there were the little things that will mean a great deal to the Dodds in later years. At special services at the Dodd's family church Lt. and Mrs dodd were presented a Bible by the congregation. After a well deserved 30 day furlogh, Lt. Dodd will be stationed at Fort Knox as an instuctor in infantry tactics. the respect,admiration, and best wishes of Peabody People everywhere go out to Lt. Dodd as a former cola miner, and as a great American who performed a truly heroic deed for our country. Also Peabody coal co had Lt. Dodd and his father flown to Chicago for a 4 day vaction all paid for by the company. He was personally given a tour of the main offices and city by Mr. Stuyvesany Peabody Jr.


More PEABODY PEOPLE Vol 2 No.1 June , 1951

Posted by: Chris Jones - 2/2/2004 (15:29) - 65.207.126.148
This Old Timer Worked on Opening Mines 30-31

San Hensley,77, helped open Mine 30 and 31. Kenvirs oldest resident, Sam has three sons working for Peabody today. They are Dave, headpiece man,Pete,main line man,Wilber, headpiece man. Around him in the picture are his daughter Vina,his grandaughter Ruby Wynn 17, and Mrs. Hensley.
Sam was born at Punkin center about 1 mile above Mine 31. He can recall the time when people in these parts didn't know waht coal was and burned wood for fuel. " In the early days we used flint and powder to start a fire. Chestnuts were so thick that you could rake ,em in. And it was nothing to go out and find plenty squirrels,coons, and turkeys for the table. Why I can remember the day I got six coons out of one tree."
A good worker always. Sam figures that planning ahead was partly responsible for his success. " Never see'd nothin, but I had a plan for it," He explained.
In all, Sam is responsible for having helped open many bridges and roads in addition to five mines in Harlan county. A hearty man throughout his life, he was known to carry a 100-pound sack of flour on his back over the mountain from Pennington Gap, Va., to Kenvir ,Ky., in the early days before the horseless carriage arrived and roads were what they are today.

Black Mountain Team Starts First Season

In this line up is the newly organized Black Mountain Red Soxs, composed of sons of employess of Mine 30 and 31. They wear the "Red Heart" symbol of Peabody Great Heart Coal, on their uniforms. Front row are George Steele.son of Loney Steele, Mine 31 face bos,Ronnie Roberts,son of Walter Roberts,Mine 30 night boss,Charles Brown,Joe Roberts,Glenn Jackson,Bobby McNabb, whose father is Grady McNabb, Mine 31 cutting machine operator. Back Row, are Gene Bryant,son of Charlie Bryant, Mine 31 coal loader,Gary Turner son of Fred Turner, Mine 3o coupler,Jimmy Strange,son of Homer strange, Mine 31 face boss, Charles Cole,who lives with George Dorsey, MIne 30 coal loader,Joe Mulkey,son of Homer Mulkey,Mine 30 electrician, Ralph Crider,son of John Crider,Mine 30 tipple operator, Bill dozier, son of Roscoe Dozier,Mine 31 motorman, and Roy Mulkey,whose father is Homer Mulkey,electrician. Managing the team are George Clayton,Mine 30 loader, and Loney Steele, Mine 31 conveyor loader.



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