Veterans take pride in Sumter County, city Purple Heart designations

Leroy Thompson Jr. said it gives him a special feeling when he enters Sumter County and sees the signs that designate his home is a Purple Heart County.

The designation is associated with the Purple Heart medal, which is the oldest military medal in the nation and is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who have been wounded or killed in combat. A Purple Heart County is one that recognizes and honors those veterans who have been awarded the medal.

Thompson earned two Purple Heart medals while serving in the U.S. Marines in Vietnam. He is also a member of the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which is named Gen. George L. Mabry Jr. Chapter 817. He and chapter Commander Harry Thompson, another Purple Heart medal recipient from his service in Vietnam, sat down recently and discussed how times have changed for the better for Vietnam War veterans.

The men explained that Vietnam was so controversial in the U.S. that veterans were not thought of highly when they returned home from service.

"We were considered to be drug addicts, and whatever the image was given out at the time is what we were considered," Leroy Thompson said. "But that has changed, and thank God for those changes of the thought patterns of our country."

Both men said they think civilians can more readily identify with veterans now because wars and conflicts can be followed daily on television as opposed to more than 50 years ago with Vietnam.

"I think the Afghan war and the Iraqi wars kind of opened Americans' eyes to what we actually went through," Thompson said. "People can visualize it more now and identify with veterans."

PURPLE HEART DESIGNATIONS

Sumter County has been a Purple Heart County since Nov. 11, 2014, which was Veterans Day that year, by a proclamation of Sumter County Council. Actually, the City of Sumter carries a similar declaration as a Purple Heart City, and Sumter City Council made its own proclamation on the designation on the same day, according to Sumter County Veterans Affairs Officer Valerie Brunson.

"The Purple Heart is a combat decoration that represents sacrifice, bravery and a commitment to defending the nation," Brunson said. "Both designations as a county and city affirm local government and the Veterans Services Division acknowledge the service members' contributions."

Leroy Thompson said it is a good feeling to know that Sumter has the designations.

"It really makes us feel good as a chapter that we can see that the city and the county do care about veterans," he said.

THE LOCAL CHAPTER

The Gen. George L. Mabry Jr. Chapter 817 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart has about 41 members, all of whom are Purple Heart veterans. The chapter represents Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties, according to Leroy Thompson. There are 11 total chapters in South Carolina.

Thompson said the local chapter's mission is to serve veterans and active-duty military and their families, with a focus on those in need through fundraisers.

There are plenty more Purple Heart veterans in Sumter County, and both men said the chapter is looking for younger Purple Heart veterans to become members. In its recruitment effort, the chapter will pay one half, or 50%, of a new member's lifetime membership fee.

The chapter meets every third Thursday of the month at the Sumter Combat Veterans Building, 529 Wise Drive.

If a veteran is interested in membership, he or she can contact Commander Harry Thompson at (803) 983-3770.