By Tiffany Green

STAFF WRITER

Sixty-two years after he was discharged from the service, at age 85, Clyde Hooten of Joppa was honored with a Bronze Star for Valor at a special Veteran’s Day program in Huntsville.

After meeting Hooten and researching his military past, Randy Withrow, a fellow veteran and director of the Veterans Memorial Museum in Huntsville, learned of an award Hooten had earned but never received.

“Randy is passionate about veterans,” said Gary Hooten, Clyde’s son.

Withrow called the Hootens last December asking for copies of his discharge papers. He told them he thought Hooten was eligible for the Bronze Star.

In October, Withrow called again with the good news. The medal had been approved in Washington, D.C.

Hooten was speechless when he heard he had been awarded the medal.

“People don’t realize what you went through over there, what soldiers went through to get what we got now — our freedoms,” he said. “I don’t think I was a hero. Some people might not agree, but all the heroes in the service are still over there. They never got to come home and enjoy what we fought for.”

Hooten was born and raised in Joppa. At the age of 22, he was drafted into the military. His two older brothers were already serving.

He was told in basic training the life expectancy of a soldier manning a machine gun was three minutes once the trigger was pulled. The machine gunners were quick targets for enemy fire.

Hooten, along with his fellow soldiers, were supposed to train for six more weeks but were needed at the Battle of the Bulge.

It was there where he learned his job — a machine gunner.

“They carried me to my machine gun,” Hooten said. “That was the first I knew of it.

It was at the Battle of the Bulge that 19,000 U.S. soldiers were killed. But Hooten said the worst was the bitter cold.

“There was a good three feet of snow,” he said. “We never had anything like that in Joppa.”

At night, the soldiers would dig foxholes in the snow and take turns keeping watch while the others could get rest.

“Every rag of clothing you had on would be frozen when you sat down in a foxhole.”

Hooten said even their food was frozen

“You ate a frozen K-ration when you got a chance. The water was frozen. You ate snow.”

Gary said the men knew what they were fighting for.

“They knew they were fighting for everything we believe in, our freedoms and our family at home,” Gary said. “If they had to die to do it, they were willing to do so.”

Hooten does not consider himself a hero, but he considered those who did not come home the real heroes.

“I would hate to know I had to go back through it, but I wouldn’t take nothing for what I did. I’m glad not to be a hero. I did what I was supposed to do, and I have enjoyed what I fought for.”

Hooten was previously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Oak Leaf, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with three Bronze Battle Stars and Combat Infantry Badge. It was these commendations and his service at the Battle of the Bulge as a machine gunner that lead to the awarding of the Bronze Star.

Hooten’s entire family was on hand to see him receive the award.

“We have always highly respected him as our dad,” Gary said. “What can you say about someone who is willing to do what these men did?”



‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 221.