John Robert “Bobby” Upchurch
November 15, 1924 – November 11, 1944

"Bobby" graduated at Sidney Lanier High School in 1943, 2 years before I did. He was very talented, playing the Clarinet in the band.

World War II was in progress and he enlisted, I think, in the Army's ASTP Program and was sent to Dahlonega College at Dahlonega, GA., where he expected to begin college studies for the rest of the war but when the war was on the line, in late 1944, he was ordered into the 55th Armored Engineers Battalion, 10th Armored Division, given short training, and shipped to Europe. My recollection is that only a few days or weeks later, his unit was trying to lay a bridge across the Moselle River in France where he was killed by German machine gun fire on November 11, 1944. Later the army returned his few belongings - including his clarinet, which was broken into several pieces.

Bobby and I were 1st cousins, and I spent many days and nights with him - at my home on Cloverdale Park, at his home on Cleveland Ave. (later Rosa Parks Ave), and at his place in Autauga County. We took tap dancing together- he was pretty good - and he introduced me to photography, a hobby I still enjoy. We spent hours playing football and he was a great punter. He was by far my closest cousin. I will always remember him as a fine and completely likable young man. This is written shortly after July 4, 1995 and I am still unable to express orally, the terrible price our family paid in 1944 for the continued blessing of Freedom.

Written by James Taylor Upchurch, Jr., Class of 1945, and used with the permission of his daughter, Eleanor Upchurch (Lucas), Class of 1976.