William Vance, great grandfather to Luther D. La(y)ne, first entered service as Pvt. William Vance, Company B. First Arkansas Regiment, 30-Day Volunteers, CSA. This company was organized at Mount Tabor Church, Lawrence (now Sharp) County, Arkansas, by Captain John W. Peter. The company enlisted for 30 days on November 19, 1861, and was discharged on December 18, 1861, at Camp Borland, near Pocahontas, Arkansas.

Next we find Pvt. William Vance, in The First Arkansas Confederate Mounted Rifles. and the last place I found him was in, Capt. Hudleston's, Company D, Freestone's Regiment of Partisans, CSA. It was with this company and Regiment that he gave the ultimate sacrifice, his life.

Pension records filed by Nancy Vance, widow of William Vance, found at the Arkansas History Commission show he was killed in action near the Big Blue River in Missouri during General Sterling Price’s second invasion of Missouri.

This family gave 4 sons to the cause. George W. died near Pocahontas, Gainsboro V.B., died while serving in McCarver's 21st Infantry, John Lee was killed at Corinth Mississippi, while serving with McCarver's 21st Infantry, and William Vance was killed near the Big Blue River in Missouri, while serving in Freestone's Regiment of Partisans.

  PFC. BIRD LANE--grandfather to Luther D. La(y)ne
Shaver’s Regiment, Company F. 38th Arkansas Infantry .
Enlisted July 21, 1862 at Evening Shade, Arkansas. By Capt. W.C. Adams.
Remarks on Company Muster Roll states he was present on August 31, 1863 and paid by Maj. Gibbs. Remarks on pay voucher states he was: Regimental Teamster since March 16, 1863 by order of Col. Baber.

38th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Organized by companies in July and August, 1862, combined to organize as the 38th Arkansas Infantry Regiment on September 21, 1862. Assigned to Shaver's Brigade, Hindman's Division, January through February of 1863. Reassigned to Tappan's Brigade under MajorGeneral Sterling Price in April, 1863 where the regiment fought in the defense of Little Rock on September 10, 1863. Retreated with Price into southwestern Arkansas, where the regiment fought throughout the Camden Campaign and at Jenkins' Ferry on April 30, 1864. Remained in service in southwestern Arkansas until surrendered with MG Kirby Smith's army on May 26, 1865.
Officers: Col. Robert G. Shaver. Field Officers: Lt. Col. William C. Adams; Maj. (later Lt. Col.) Milton D. Baber; Maj. R.R. Henry.

REPORT of THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF ARKANSAS for the period of THE LATE REBELLION, AND TO NOVEMBER 1, 1866. PRIVATE BIRD LANE enlisted in COMPANY A, FOURTH ARKANSAS MOUNTED INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS . ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. January 25, 1864.

4th REGIMENT INFANTRY.
Organized at Batesville and Fort Smith, Ark., January to May, 1864. Attached to District of Northeast Arkansas, Dept. of Arkansas, to June, 1864. District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corps, to October, 1864.
SERVICE.--Operations in Northeast Arkansas January 1-30, 1864. Lunenburg January 19 (Detachment). Morgan's Mills, Spring River, White County, February 9. Waugh's Farm, near Batesville, February 19. Scout from Batesville February 25. At Clarksville till May 18. Moved to Fort Smith May 18, and duty there till July 21. Moved to Little Rock July 21, and duty there till October. Organization not completed and Regiment transferred to 2nd Arkansas Infantry October 28, 1864.

 2nd REGIMENT INFANTRY.
Organized at Springfield, Mo., and Fort Smith, Ark., October, 1863, to March, 1864. Organization completed at Fort Smith March 13, 1864. Attached to District of the Frontier, Dept. of Missouri, to January, 1864. District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corp., Dept. of Arkansas, January, 1864. 2nd Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corps, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Corps, to May, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Corps, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th corps, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 7th Corps, to August, 1865.
SERVICE.--Skirmish at Clarksville December 15, 1863. Affair at Jacksonport, Ark., November 21, 1863. At Fort Smith till March, 1864. Steele's Expedition to Camden March 23-May 3. Prairie D'Ann April 9-12. Moscow April 13. Limestone Valley April 17 (Detachment). Jenkins' Ferry, Saline River, April 30. Duty at Little Rock till July and at Lewisburg till September. Ordered to Little Rock September 10, and duty there till October 18. Escort train to Fort Smith October- November. Moved to Clarksville December 31, and duty there and at Fort Smith till August. Mustered out August 8, 1865.

This is an exert from a book written by Goodspeed in the 1890s;
There has always been in Independence County a strong sentiment of loyalty to the general government. Out of about 1,800 votes east in the county for delegates to the State convention before the first guns were fired in the Civil War, only about 300 were given to the candidates favoring secession. As soon, however, as the "dogs of war" were let loose, the loyal sentiment was suppressed and the secession element became predominant. Many Union men refugeed to the North, and many others were pressed into the Confederate service. Companies for the Confederate army begun to be organized in the spring of 1861, and before the struggle was over the county had furnished about fifteen companies for that army. These were commanded respectively by Capts. W. E. Gibbs, John H. Dye, George W. Rutherford, J. W. Cullins, S. C. Jones, S. Carson, J. S. Tracy, W. S.Smalley, T. J. Morgan, N. Floyd, E. Bridewell, S. J. McGuffin, James McCauley and others. The most of these companies served in the Seventh and Eighth Arkansas Confederate regiments. On the 3rd of May, 1862, Gen. Curtis, of the Federal army, arrived at and established his headquarters at Batesville, and sent portions of his army to occupy other points in this part of the State. Immediately afterward a battalion of six companies, commanded respectively by Capts. Turney, H. V. Gray, Davis and others, was organized at Batesville under the charge of Col. Elisha Baxter, for the Federal army. After marching this battalion to Helena. Col. Baxter, who declined further to command it, turned it over to Lieut.-Col. Bundy, of Chicago, who assumed command. This battalion was raised principally in Independence County. (Bird Lane was in this Unit) In the fall of 1863, Col. Baxter recruited and organized another battalion of six companies at Batesville, known as the ----Fourth Arkansas Mounted Infantry, or "Steele Guards,----" the latter name being in honor of Gen. Steele. The nucleus of this battalion was the company of Capt. William P. Berry. This command was also raised mostly in Independence County. It served about a year for the Union cause, and was disbanded without having been mustered into the United States service. A number of loyal men joined Col. Phelps' Missouri and other Federal regiments. By the best authority it is estimated that from first to last about 1,000 men of the county served in the Union army. Gen. Curtis remained with his army at Batesville until nearly July 1,1862. This place was reoccupied about the 1st of January, 1864, by a Federal force under Col. Livingston, who held it for several months, and at the close of the war, and for some time after, it was garrisoned by Federal troops. In January or February, 1864, while Col. Livingston commanded the post of Batesville, he sent a forage train into the country under an escort of about 180 soldiers. This force was attacked, a few miles out, by a Confederate force under Capt. George Rutherford. The escort was defeated, with some loss in killed and wounded, the forage train was captured and some forty-odd wagons were burned, and the mules taken away by the Confederates. This was known as the "Waugh Fight," and was the only engagement in the county between the contending parties worthy of mention. The county was over-run by both armies, the results of which were somewhat felt by private citizens.

STEELE’S GUARD at JENKIN’S FERRY, ARKANSAS(Byrd Lane)
Army of the United States of America
DESTRUCTION OF WAGONS
An Iowa soldier writes that Steele's column experienced much difficulty crossing the swamp east of the Saline River. Federal soldiers, according to this source, were compelled to wait and linger near the enemy while the long train of wagons would stick in the mud and the mules would flounder in the mire. Although many wagons were destroyed, the train still stretched out two or three miles. Soldiers cut down all the nearby young pine trees, carried them to the deepest part of the mire, and so built corduroy across most of the swamp. When a wagon stuck, every endeavor was made to raise it. If all means failed, the mules were unhitched and the wagon broken or burned. The contents were thrown over the ground where many of the cartridges and powder kegs exploded.
The artillery horses were continually falling, while the limbers, caissons, and guns sank to the axles.

 Freeman's Regiment, Missouri Cavalry
SAMUEL LEWIS VANCE - LUTHER D. Layne --GREAT GRAND UNCLE
2ND. SGT S.L. VANCE - CO D - Evening Shade, Ark.
also listed in same Co. ; Vance, Marion - CO D - Pvt. - Evening Shade, Ark.
GEORGE W. VANCE - LUTHER D. Layne---GREAT GRANDUNCLE

JOHN IRA McMELLON DOBBS - SARAH WILLYNE COLLIER Layne--GRAND FATHER

Arkansas Confederate pension applications list John I. Dobbs in Company I, Coronel Dobbins' Arkansas Cavalry. He applied for pension in 1901, he died July 19, 1932.
1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Dobbin's)
Organized with eight companies (A-H) in April, 1863 by increasing Chrisman's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion to near-regimental strength. Commanded by Colonel Archibald S. Dobbins and Major Samuel M. Corley. Assigned to the Arkansas Cavalry Brigade in Walker's Division in June, 1863. Fought in the battle of Helena on July 4, 1863. Colonel Dobbins assumed command following General Walker's death in a duel immediately prior to the federal attack on Little Rock in September, 1863. The regiment participated with Walker's old division in the Little Rock campaign at the Terry's Ferry crossing and at Fourche Bayou, retreating to the vicinity of Benton following the fall of Little Rock. Fought in the battle of Pine Bluff on October 25, 1863. The regiment was broken up on January 3, 1864, and the men reassigned to Morgan's 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment.

 Freeman's Regiment, Missouri Cavalry

Dobbs, J.I. - CO E - Pvt. - Independence, Co.
Grand Father of Sarah Willyne Collier Layne. Appears on a Muster and Descriptive Roll of Prisoners of War of the Army of the Northern Sub-District of Arkansas, and surrendered on the 11th day of May, 1865, by Brigadier General M. Jeff. Thompson, CSA, commending said Army, to Major General G.M. Dodge, U.S.A. commanding Department of the Missouri.
Paroled at Jacksonport, Arkansas, June 5, 1865.
Enlisted at Independence County, Arkansas, Age 24 years, eyes blue, hair dark, Complexion light, height 5ft- 7 inches, born in Tenn.
Dobbs, M.I. - CO E - Pvt. - Independence, Co. Brother of John I.M. Dobbs, Grand uncle of Sarah Willyne Collier Layne.
Marcus I. Dobbs was only 14 years old when the Civil War started. I do not know when he enlisted, but he was very young. He could not have been over 18 when the war ended. Hell of a way to start a young life.

 Colonel Freeman CSA
This will give you an idea of the man our kin fought with. TDL

Born in Benton, Missouri on February 22, 1829, to James and Rebecca (Roberts) Freeman. Thomas spent most of his youth growing up in Crawford County, Missouri and attending subscription schools. He learned the blacksmith trade and also engaged in raising livestock. In his spare time he read law and was admitted to the bar in St. Louis. He practiced law off and on until the Civil War broke out.
In 1849, Thomas married Mary Lamb a native of Crawford County. She died in 1861 leaving him with seven children. Later he married Mrs. Olive Spangle, a native of Connecticut and they had one child.
When the Civil War broke out Freeman helped to organize a regiment of troops for the Missouri State Guards. He was given the rank of Lieutenant in the Dent County Cavalry Company of General James McBrides’s Seventh Division. He rose in rank rapidly as he was soon promoted to Captain and just a few days later to Colonel.
On February 14, 1862, at Crane Creek, during the Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge) campaign Freeman was captured with 29 of his men by Major William D. Bowen’s Federal Missouri Cavalry Battalion. He was sent to the Federal Military Prison at Alton, Illinois, where he was paroled on June 18, 1862. He returned to his regiment and reorganized them as partisan rangers.
Later on January 16, 1864 he reorganized it as Freeman’s Missouri Cavalry Regiment with himself in command. Subsequently, he led a brigade under the command of General Joseph Shelby in Northern Arkansas. During General Price’s Missouri Raid in the fall of 1864 the brigade was attached to General Marmaduke’s Division. The additional units that made up Freeman’s Brigade was Lt. Colonel Barney Ford’s Arkansas Cavalry Battalion and Fristoe’s Regiment Missouri Cavalry.
During the period from his parole until Prices’s Raid, Freeman established a headquarters near Mammoth Spring, Arkansas and the Spring River Mill. His area of activity ranged over Northern Arkansas and as far north as Salem and Houston in Southern Missouri. The number of troops in his command ranged from 200 to 1500 men.
Having his headquarters near the Spring River Mill provided his men with lots of game and fresh water. The horses for his cavalry raids had plenty of forage and grain. The availability of water and forage also brought raiding Federal troops to destroy the Rebel stronghold, which brought about several skirmishes with Freeman’s command.
Not much is know of Freeman’s activities as he did not file reports with his superiors. What is written about his activities was done by others, including the enemy. His troops fought well but were usually short on arms and did not fare as well as some well armed brigades. General Price did report that Freeman shot two of his own men for marauding on the Missouri Raid.
Freeman was wounded four times during the war and his command was one of the last to surrender on June 6, 1865.
After the war Freeman practiced law in Jacksonport, Arkansas for three years before moving back to Missouri. In 1886 he was elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney in Newton County after filing that vacancy by appointment.

 Samuel M. McSpadden
John Dillard McSpadden
Both,Grand Uncles of Sarah Willyne Collier Layne

Exerts from a letter recieved from fellow McSpadden researcher and 3rd cousin twice removed, Brian Robertson.

{ "George Acton Steele McSpadden(another brother) served in Fristoe's Missouri Cavalry.

Samuel M. McSpadden served with brother (John Dillard) in the 8th Arkansas. Samuel and John both enlisted Sept. 23, 1861 in Pocahontas. Samuel was 18 and John was 22 at time of enlistment. They both enlisted in Co. B of the 14th McCarver's Regiment (which later became the 9th Infantry Battalion before being combined because of losses into the 8th Arkansas). Both of them were in new Co. F of the 8th Arkansas.

Samuel was severely wounded in the battle of Murfreesboro, TN on December 31, 1862. He was captured in the battle at Jonesboro, GA on September 1, 1864 and exchanged at Rough and Ready, GA on Sept. 19/22, 1864.

There is a good chance that John was also captured at Jonesboro (since they were in the same Co.) but I can't prove it. Samuel and John were both paroled at Greensboro, NC near the end of April 1865. They were part of the 1st Arkansas Regiment of Consolidated Volunteers. This regiment was composed of several different Arkansas regiments who were consolidated into one regiment because of losses."}

 The 8th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment

was organized under state service at Camp Price, near Jacksonport (just south of present-day Newport, AR) on July 13, 1861. Companies of the 8th Ark. mustered in at Camp Price, Oil Trough, West Point, and Pocahontas. The 8th Arkansas was mustered into Confederate service for a period of 12 months (later extended "for the war") on September 10, 1861.
The Regiment's first commander was Colonel William K. Patterson. Field Officers were Major (later Lt. Col. and Col.) George F. Baucum, Lt. Col. H.M. Couch, Col. John H. Kelly, Major John A. Price, Major (later Lt. Col.) Anderson Watkins, Lt. Col James H. Wilson, and Major W.P. Witt.
Following organization, the 8th Arkansas marched to Pocahontas where it was sworn into Confederate service under the command of General Hardee. In October, 1861 Hardee took his division, including the 8th Ark., across the Mississippi River into Kentucky, where they served on occupation duty until the Confederates were forced to evacuate that state after the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson in February, 1862. Hardee moved to Nashville, then retreated south to Corinth, Mississippi later in March.
The 8th Arkansas's first taste of battle was a big bite, when they were thrown into the Battle of Shiloh on April 6-7 as part of Wood's Brigade in Hardee's Corps, as part of the Confederate right wing in that battle, entering the early part of the battle at Fraley's Field, then the desperate fight to reduce the "hornet's nest", and finally rolling up against Grant's Last Line just before dark. The 8th suffered heavily at Shiloh, losing more than half its strength.
Following the repulse at Shiloh, the 8th served in the early part of the Corinth campaign, then went with Bragg as a part of Liddell's Brigade (what would soon be come as the Army of Tennessee's "Arkansas Brigade" of Pat Cleburne's Division to invade Kentucky once again, fighting and losing heavily again at Perryville and at Stone's River. After Stone's River, the 8th Ark. was so reduced in manpower that it was combined with the 19th Arkansas in order to maintain some semblance of combat power. They were engaged in the Tullahoma (TN) campaign, and fought at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Ringgold Gap, the Atlanta Campaign, Dalton, GA; Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, the Atlanta campaign and siege thereof, were captured at Jonesboro, and paroled just in time for the disastrous campaign at Franklin and Nashville, TN. They returned to the Carolinas under Gen'l Joe Johnston where they attempted to fight off Sherman's advance on Richmond from the rear, and in the final battle of the western Confederate army at Bentonville. Less than a hundred survivors were still with the colors when they surrendered with the Army of Tennessee on April 26, 1865 near Durham, North Carolina.

Civil War
SAMUEL KING McSPADDEN
GREAT GRAND UNCLE OF SARAH WILLYNE COLLIER Layne
Samuel King MCSPADDEN, Col. CSA (R:5336), born on 12 Nov 1823 at McMinnville, Warren Co., Tennessee; died on 3 May 1896 at Centre, Cherokee Co., Alabama; buried in May 1896 at Cherokee Co., Alabama.

From page 169 of: "Alabama, Her History, Resources, War Records and Public
Men": "Cherokee County":

Samuel King McSpadden of this county, was born near McMinnville, Tennessee,
November 21, 1823. In 1842, he walked to Alabama. He worked in Lebanon, Portersville, and Talladega until 1850. Having read law by the help of Hon. S. F. Rice, he was licensed as an attorney in 1848. Two years later he came to Centre, and began practice with George S. Walden. In 1856 he was selected Brigadier General of militia, and a year later was chosen state Senator over Col. Clifton; and re-elected in 1860 over A. L. Woodlief. Volunteering as a private, he was appointed major of the Nineteenth Alabama at it's organization. He participated at Shiloh, and served through the Kentucky campaign. In October 1862, he became Colonel. He led the nineteenth at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga,
Missionary Ridge, Dalton, and Resaca. In the latter battle he was captured, and remained on Johnson's Island till the closing hours of the war. In 1865 he was elected Chancellor, and held the office until displaced by Congress in 1868. He then practiced law in Centre.

From notes provided by Robert J. Moon, a Samuel K. descendant:

"Abstract of Personal and Military Service
Samuel King McSpadden (1823-1896)
Alabama Archives 1971 (A-911)

1. Order of promotion:
A. Enlisted at Huntsville as a private on August 17, 1861
B. Elected Major on September 5, 1861
C. Became Lt. Colonel on September 17 1861
D. Became Colonel on October 30, 1862
(He rejoined the Regiment on September 24, 1861 at Blue Springs, five miles
north of Huntsville from leave of absence.

2. On August 31, 1863, at Chickamauga he was absent because of illness.

3. Before capture he had received a twenty day leave (Shelbyville) from
Wither's Division, Polk's Corps, Army of Tennessee - left on 9th January,
1863.

4. He was captured at the Battle of Resaca on May 14, 1864. The report of
capture was made from Lovejoy Station, Georgia, September 18, 1864. He was
serving in the Army of Tennessee, Brig. General Z. C. Deas Brigade in
Johnson's Division and had been appointed to that station by Secretary of
War, J. A. Sedden - March 31, 1864. When taken prisoner he was in Deas'
Brigade, Anderson's Division.

5. A report of May 18, 1864, reports him as a prisoner of war on list at the
Military Prison, Louisville, KY - had been captured May 14, 1864.

6. He was sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio on May 21, 1864 from Louisville - the
Johnson's Island, Ohio Register #2, page 103.

7. He appears on roll of prisoners at Depot of Prisoners of War, near Sandusky,
Ohio
AUGUST 16-SEPTEMBER 22, 1863.--The Chickamauga Campaign.

 Revolutionary War

THOMAS McSPADDEN The 2nd
3RD GREAT GRAND FATHER OF SARAH WILLYNE COLLIER Layne

THOMAS C. MCSPADDEN II
Notes from Mormon Family History files, corrections and notes from "Way Back When" by Anna B. McSpadden.

Born 3 /12 / 1748 near Lexington, VA. married Mary or Amanda Scott. Died 5 / 11 / 1833 MT Juliet, Wilson Co. TN. Rev. War Vet.
From "Rev. Soldiers" - Microfilm - State Archives, Columbia, SC:
"McSpaddin, Thomas C., Wilson Co., Tenn. Born in Augusta Co., Virginia about
12th of March, 1748. Pvt under Capt. Edmondson, Col. Campbell's Command. Was
residing on Laurel Fork of Holston River in Edmundson's settlement. Moved to
Davidson Co., Tenn about 1785, where he lived until about the year 1809-10,
then moved to Wilson Co., Tenn. where he died May 11, 1833. Widow - Mary."

from "Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Vol. 3"
"McSPADDEN, Thomas Bell & Big Springs Rds, E. of Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN"

 Thomas J. Stroud
Great-Great Grandfather to Sarah Willyne Collier

Quote ; by Oliver Henry Perry Stroud [son ]

Thomas J. Stroud served in the War of 1812, under [General Andrew] Jackson, and was in the battle of New Orleans, his father also being in service in that war. Gen. Jackson was an intimate friend of the Strouds, and made their house his home a great portion of the time, and lived with them during the period he was making the race for the presidency. Thomas Stroud became a wealthy man, and to his marriage, which occurred in 1813, a family of fourteen children were born, ten of whom are now alive:

 George Acton Steel McSpadden
[Grand Uncle and husband of Grand Aunt Elizabeth Dobbs.]

Fristoe's Missouri Cavalry, Confederate States of America.

John Stroud
GREAT GRAND UNCLE OF Sarah Willyne Collier Layne

Company B. Fristoe's Missouri Cavalry Regiment. Confederate States of America.

In May, 1864 Colonel Edward T. Fristoe of Rappahannoch, VA, was appointed commander of a band of Confederate soldiers that were to be known as Fristoe's Regiment. The 35 year old Colonel took command of a unit that had began organizing in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas in the late 1863 and early 1864.
Fristoes's Regiment was officially organized in July, 1864 with 830 officers and men. It served in the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy. During General Sterling Prices's Missouri Expedition it was attached to Colonel Thomas R. Freeman's Brigade of Major General John S. Marmaduke's Division.
This unit, like most units that were organized during the Civil War, formed companies made up from the cities, towns, or counties in the area loyal to their respective cause. The age of the men ranged from 15 to 45 years of age.
The Regiment saw it's first action in Northern Arkansas in late February and early March of 1864. The unit was commanded at that time by J. H. Tracy, who led the band of about 40 Confederate guerrillas against a party of Sixth Cavalry, Missouri Militia near the North Fork of White River.

 

GEORGE HENRY LANE 804th. Engineers Aviation Construction Batalion Seebees Brother to Luther D. Layne

George Henry Lane joined the 804th Engineers, Aviation Construction Battalion--Seabee, September 19, 1942 and spent the next 33 months and 17 days in the service of his country.
From his duty station at Schofield Barracks at Hickam Field, Honolulu, Hawaii he was in 5 major campaigns in the South Pacific, building dummy Air Ports on Katon Island to fool the Japs, Building real air ports in the Marshall Islands , on Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands, The Mariana and on Sipan.
In the early days of the war, it was especially difficult, due to the lack of proper equipment and resources.
While building Air Port runways for the 7th Air Force The Japanese bombers raided at will, in the day the old, outdated P-40s used to defend the field did not have the power to reach the altitude of the bombers and at night the field was brightly lit by flood lights. It wasn't until the new P-54 airplanes arrived, with their new, more powerful engines that America begin to take control of the sky. George said he sat on his Dozer and watched one air raid where the P-54s shot Down 18 Japanese Zeros and only lost 2 P-54s.
It was 12 hours on and 12 hours off with no relief, George tells of one morning when he got on his dozer and found his seat covered with blood. His partner had been killed by a sniper During the night. There was nothing to do but clean it up and Stash his M-1 behind the seat and go to work.
It was on Sipan, while assigned to the 20th Air Force, later in the war, where the B-29 Super Fortress made bombing runs on the Japanese Home Islands. One of his jobs was to sit between runway A & B and move any wrecks or mis-starts, if it crashed or failed to take off he had one minute to clear it for the next plane. It was from these runways that pilot Paul Tibets took off in the B-29 Super fortress called The "Enola Gay " at 2:45 in the morning of August 6, 1945, carrying the bomb called "Little Boy" , on his way to Hiroshima, Japan.
George and the Seabees were next in line to go to Iowa Jima when he was hurt while bull dozing an old sugar mill. He flew back to Hickam Field in Hawaii and the C-47 Dokota air plane caught on fire and they had to circle around over the ocean until the fire was controlled. The plane landed safely on a taxi strip. Thank you Uncle George.

At the ripe "old age" of 33, Luther D. Layne enlisted in the United States Army Air Force May 4, 1944 at Marked Tree, Poinsett County, Arkansas and was immediately sent to Camp Robertson Arkansas and after indoctrination, inoculation and according to him a bit of inebriations, he traveled by train to Laughlin Field, home of the famed AAF Pilot School in Del Rio, Texas.

After "basic" he was trained as a Supply Clerk and was transferred to Hammer Field, Fresno, California and was waiting to be "shipped out" when the War ended. He entered the AAF Regional Station Hospital and was declared physicialy disable by Colonel Louis K. Pohl M.D, Medical Corps. and given a Honorable Discharge November 16, 1945.

While in service to his country he received The Good Conduct Medal, The American Theater Medal and The Marksman Medal {Carbine}.