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REMEMBERING JEB
SEAGLE ON JEB SEAGLE DAY
Photo
by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Ann Davis (left) receives a hug from
Lincolnton Mayor David Black
after a ceremony honoring her late son-in-law
Capt. Jeb F. Seagle.
By Jon Mayhew
LINCOLNTON -- Oct. 25, 1983 is
an important day in Lincoln County history.
It’s an important day for Lincolnton
residents and especially an important day for Jeb
Seagle’s family.
Their beloved son, brother and friend -- Jeb
Seagle -- made the ultimate sacrifice to his
country by giving his life in the line of
military duty, to ensure the ultimate safety of
others.
Saturday, people gathered on the east side of the
Court Square to remember Jeb F. Seagle on his
special day, as proclaimed by Lincolnton Mayor
David Black.
Black said he first met Seagle on a church
softball field.
Photo
by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Members of the Marine Corps League Jeb Seagle
Detachment proudly displayed the American flag
during
the ceremony honoring Jeb F. Seagle Saturday.
“I met Jeb when I first moved to Lincolnton
in 1974,” said Black. “We were also
students at Appalachian State. I lost touch with
him until I returned back to Lincolnton, where I
learned he had been killed in duty.”
Black said Seagle’s death was overshadowed
by another event that took the lives of more than
250 marines in Lebanon a few days prior to
Seagle’s death.
“Jeb’s unit had been diverted from
Lebanon to Grenada,” said Black.
The Jeb F. Seagle Detachment of the Marine Corps
League (MCL) held the ceremony Saturday that
included a wreath laying, patriotic songs and a
prayer from the marine corps chaplain.
Photo
by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Seagle's
Mother-in-law, Ann Davis, helps to lay
a wreath near the name of her son-in-law, Jeb
Seagle. Seagle was killed in Grenada in 1983.
“It’s a proud day for the marines of
Lincoln County and the Seagle family,” said
Steve Reep with the MCL, Jeb Seagle Detachment.
Twenty-five years ago Saturday, Seagle was flying
a mission in Grenada when he was shot down and
forced behind enemy lines.
Once regaining conciousness, Seagle heard enemy
soldiers approaching the crash site and
distracted them to give his helpless pilot and
others the chance to be rescued.
Besides Saturday’s proclamation, Seagle was
posthumously awarded the second highest American
honor: the Navy Cross.
Ann Davis of Lincolnton was Seagle’s
mother-in-law. She wiped a tear away after laying
a wreath near Seagle’s name at the war
memorial downtown.
Photo
by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Seagle's
name, as it appears on the war
memorial in downtown Lincolnton.
She said Seagle always called her
“mom.”
“While it’s a sad day, I know that Jeb
was happy doing what he wanted to do,” said
Davis. “He wanted to be a marine.”
The fact Seagle wanted to be a marine was
confirmed by Seagle’s friend, Kenny
Hartsell. Hartsell placed his hand on the war
memorial near Seagle’s name after the
ceremony ended. He momentarily paused, patted
Seagle’s name, then smiled.
“He had the opportunity to be the town
manager of Kernersville after his
education,” recalled Hartsell. “He said
all he wanted to do is to go fly a plane.”
When Hartsell heard of Seagle’s plan, he
asked his friend if he was crazy.
“He said that all he wanted to do is be a
marine,” said Hartsell.
Thank you, Captain Jeb F. Seagle, for
making the Supreme Sacrifice in Grenada
in 1983. God Bless You.
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