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Covington Veterans Foundation is committed to finding and publishing information on all veterans from the county. We particularly need information on WW II veterans and veterans who were killed in the Korean War. In 2022, we published a magazine on area Vietnam veterans who were killed in that war. We will have a program honoring Korean War veterans this Veterans Day, 2023, and publish a magazine honoring those killed in the war. If you have any information on the following veterans, email the author johnfayevick@yahoo.com.

There are four WW II veterans that the author would like to write about:

SGT. Howard E. Meredith, U.S. Army, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, born Nov. 5, 1916, killed in action Dec. 22, 1944. Mother, Mrs. Willie H. Meredith. Buried Mt. Gilead Baptist Cemetery, Covington County, Al. 

PFC Frank Biggs, U.S Army, born Nov. 26, 1923, killed in action Jan. 19, 1945. He is buried in Antioch Cemetery. His parents were Rosie and Henry Biggs.

Tech/Sgt. Andrew Douglas Franklin, Sr., U.S. Army Air Corps, born Sep. 24, 1922, died Mar. 6, 1976. Buried at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery. Spouse listed as Callie Jewel Butler Franklin. Franklin was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 based at Toretta Field, Italy. He was shot down and sent to Stalag Luft IV in Germany. His children were listed: Andrew Douglas Franklin, Jr.; Joyce Diane Franklin Turner; Sherry Mozell Franklin Biggs; Allen Butler Franklin; Kenneth Eldred Franklin; Terry Kyle Franklin; Timothy Eugene Franklin; Marvin Craig Franklin; and Karen Luana Franklin McGlaun. 

PFC William L. Ludlam, U.S. Army, born Jan 27, 1920, killed in action on D-Day Jun. 6, 1944. He served with the 42nd Field Artillery Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. He is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Red Level.

There are several Korean War veterans about whom we need info:

PVT James L. C. Jeter, U.S. Army, born 1930 or 1931, mother C. Edison, spouse Ruby Faye Jeter. Siblings, Charles, Donald, Ronnie, Josephine and Frances. Jeter was killed in action on Apr. 17, 1953, in Korea. He was awarded the Silver Star posthumously. He served with Company B, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. His funeral was held on July 9, 1953, from the Rawls Baptist Church and he was buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Red Level. 

MSGT. Tellis W. Donaldson, U.S. Army, Battery C, 38th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. Born Apr. 6, 1914, parents Lena and R.C. Donaldson, Lockhart, AL., killed in action Nov. 30, 1950, near Kunu-ri, N. Korea. MIA body not recovered. 

PVT. Lawrence D. Grantham, U.S. Army, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Born Feb. 1, 1932, killed in action Jun. 15, 1953 in N. Korea. Parents, Joel Benjamin and Olar D. Coleman Grantham. Buried, Whistler Cemetery, Eight Mile, Al.

John Vick