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SATURDAY
PROCLAIMED JEB
SEAGLE DAY IN LINCOLNTON
By Jon Mayhew
LINCOLNTON -- The date was Oct.
25, 1983. Lincoln County native Jeb
Seagle was flying a mission in Grenada when he
was shot down and
forced behind enemy lines.
What Seagle did next is something heroes are made
of; he heard enemy
soldiers approaching the crash site and
distracted them to give his
helpless pilot and others the chance to be
rescued.
According to the proclamation Mayor David Black
plans to read 3 p.m.
Saturday, "he ultimately sacrificed his own
life."
Saturday will be proclaimed Jeb Seagle Day in
Lincolnton.
Seagle will be awarded the second highest honor
in the nation, the Navy
Cross. The ceremony will be held on the eat side
of the Court Square
starting at 3 p.m. and will consist of a memorial
service and the laying of a
wreath.
Capt Jeb Seagle was the Co-pilot of an AH-1T shot
down by the triple a
sites while trying to assist an Army unit that
was in trouble in downtown St.
Georges. Capt Seagle was unhurt, however his
Pilot, Capt Howard was
badly wounded and had lost a hand.
The two pilots held up by a tree in the crash
site and called for help.
HMM-261 launched a rescue CH-46 and all
understood that the crash site
was completely covered by the AAA. Capt Howard
drew his pistol in an
attempt to shoot himself, informing Capt Seagle
that he should get clear
and take care of himself.
Seagle took the pistol away from Capt Howard and
went towards the Army
unit to seek help. Seagle was captured and
executed just north of the
crash site.
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