Sean C. Morgan
More than 1 million people have been killed in war serving the United States of America since the War for Independence.
That’s the price of freedom, said Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs Director Jim Willis of Albany at the annual All Veterans Dinner at the Vet’s Club in Sweet Home Saturday night.
“Days like today, we pay tribute to (veterans), both living and dead,” Willis said. Among them, he recounted the story of Edward Christopher Allworth, the soldier for whom the new veterans home in Lebanon is named.
“We all know Armistice Day,” Willis said. That was the day World War I ended, Nov. 11, 1918.
“What we don’t know is that the troops that were fighting in World War I didn’t know about the negotiations going on at a very high level,” Willis said. They were fighting in the days leading up to the end of the war. On Nov. 5, 1918, Allworth and his company were attempting to cross the Meuse River across a bridge near Clery-le-Petit, a French village. German artillery blew the bridge up, and the infantry company was split between the two sides of the river.
Allworth led his company into the water and across the river where the company pushed forward another kilometer and captured about 100 German soldiers, more than the troops Allworth had with him.
For his actions, Allworth was awarded the Medal of Honor, Willis said. He was 23.
“I thought, what was I doing when I was 23 years old,” Willis said. “I can guarantee I wasn’t jumping into a river in November and leading troops across.”
Allworth entered the Army in 1917 as a first lieutenant, Willis said. On the day in question, he was a company commander. He was discharged as a major in 1922.
He returned to his alma mater, Oregon Agricultural College, now Oregon State University, and joined the faculty. In 1927, he assumed leadership of the Alumni Association and remained there until 1963 when he retired. He died in 1966.
He had a son, another Edward Allworth, Willis said. Just before D-Day, June 4, 1944, his son, with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, parachuted behind enemy lines and for his actions earned a bronze star and later a purple heart.
Edward Allworth Jr. later earned his master’s degree and doctorate then became a professor at Columbia University, Willis said. He lived to see the Veterans Home named after his father.
Allworth Jr.’s son is a commissioned Air Force officer now, Willis said.
Both Allworths served their communities long after leaving the military, Willis said.
The new home will employ some 200 people and serve 150 veterans, Willis said. It will include a wing to serve veterans with Alz-heimer’s and dementia and those needing skilled nursing.
It is under construction now, Willis said, but that process will likely be dormant until March because “it’s hard to build in the mist.”