Central High School Knoxville,  Tennessee Sequoyah 1919 Centralites and Their Uncle Sam Hats off to Central's heroes, almost 200 of them! With the first call of Uncle Sam for volunteers to help fight the barbarous Hun many of the loyal sons of dear old Central High were ready for immediate service.  They were represented in all branches of the service Some went as "doughboys,"  going into the trenches and over the top to help win liberty and freedom for the civilized peoples of the earth.  Others preferred to be "gobs,"  therefore volunteered to don the loose-fitting uniform of the sailor, going onto the high seas, helping to take the soldiers across the broad waters and later to carry food, clothing and munitions of war to them, that they might efficiently combat with the foe.  Still there were others who chose to combine these two branches and we found them in the marine corps, familiarly called the "devil dogs."  Also, there were several who went into the newest and possibly the most thrilling branch of service, the aviation corps. All Centralites were justly proud of these courageous and gallant young men, who are the exponents of true Americanism. To those who are fortunate enough to return from the fields of battle, or from the camps on this side, we can express our appreciation for what they have done, for the untold sufferings and hardships through which they went.  We can show them every possible courtesy and consideration in the years to come, if they will let us, all as a part of our endless debt to them for the sacrifices which they underwent for us who, for various reasons, remained at home. But what can we say or do to pay even a small part of the debt we owe to those noble and manly fellows who lie sleeping beneath the poppies on Flanders' fields, those who made the supreme sacrifice as their contribution to world-wide democracy?  There is nothing that we can do to counterbalance their sacrifice.  We can but bow our heads in reverence at the mention of their names, and pay our respects to their relatives who loss we share. Of those heroes of C. H. S. who took up arms against the hideous hordes of the kaiser, there are five who did not live to see and enjoy the glorious thrill of success which they helped so much to bring about.  Gold stars have replaced the blue for them, and their names are indelibly stamped upon our hearts and affections. Those giving their all to the cause of freedom are: Capt. Rolfe Moody Lieut. Richard Boyd Corp. David French George Ogle Dewey Johnson There are, also, those who have endured the agonies of many deaths as they battled against the ruthless Germans, many of them receiving almost mortal wounds, but who have, nevertheless, survived and have been permitted to share the sweetness of the greatest victory of all history.  They have the glory that goes to those who helped make this history. We need but to recall some of the many thrilling news items which have been printed in the recent months to see how much old Central High has contributed toward the victory. The flame of patriotism which has urged these noble warriors on to their duty was, in many cases, kindled through their work at Central High.  Many of them received their inspiration for leadership while battling with the problems at their alma mater. The large number of Centralites who have made successful military officers have, no doubt, looked back to their high school days and realized that the lessons of co-operative team work gotten on the gridiron and in the various activities of their school days have been invaluable. Many of the boys from C. H. S. have won merited promotions on the field of battle, and several have been cited for unusually courageous deeds.  They have filled successfully and creditably almost every line of work in the army and navy. We are proud of them. Again, we say, hats off to Central's heroes, almost 200 of them. - Carlos S. Campbell [ Return to Central High School "Sequoyah" - 1919 ] [ Return to Knox County Schools - Past & Present ] [ Return to Knox County, TNGenWeb ] Copyright © 2000,  Rose-Anne Cunningham Bray.  All rights reserved.