MORGAN RAY TOMPKINS pauses for a photo (above) with his wife of 52 years, Loyce Tompkins, at the couple's home in the Ennice community. The couple have six sons, one daughter and 11 grandchildren. In the photo at left, Tompkins is shown soon after returning to the farm from World War II.

Local war hero recalls the past

The word 'hero' is frequently overused, but in Morgan Ray Tompkins' case, it is indeed appropriate.

An Alleghany native who resides in Ennice, Tompkins fought in numerous battles of World War II, in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. He was wounded in action on two separate occasions, a fact not fully recognized until earlier this year.

Tompkins grew up working on his family's farm. At 23, after the United States entered World War II, he volunteered for military service. "I just thought it was the right thing to do," he said.

He joined the Army for active service Aug. 9, 1943 at Fort Jackson, S.C. After training, he joined the 36th Division, 143rd Infantry Regiment and became a squad leader.

He was the only one in his company from North Carolina; most were from Texas.

"I never met a person I knew in the Army," he said.

He later learned that Oscar 'Doc' Evans of Sparta had also been part of the 36th division. Tompkins' first overseas destination was North Africa for a short time. "We went from there all the way through to Germany," he recalled.

He was part of the Italian campaign from January to June 1944, the southern France campaign from August to September of 1944 and 'Campaign Germany' beginning in September 1944. He received three bronze stars, one for each of those campaigns, and attained the rank of staff sergeant.

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