MONTEREY, Tenn. (AP) – As Talmadge Welch celebrated his 94th birthday Sept. 30, he got a brief reminder of his younger days.
His daughter Gail Tinch, who visited him at Standing Stone Care and Rehabilitation Center in Monterey, had brought him pumpkin cookies and flowers. She also pulled out a few old pictures – Welch in his Navy uniform, Welch during his preaching days, Welch with family members who have since passed away, including his childhood sweetheart and wife of 57 years, Sallie.
There was even a photo of the war ship that carried Welch to the Japanese island of Okinawa during World War II.
The war, of course, had been filled with plenty of dark, frightening days, most of which Welch kept to himself. Even so, the former Navy gunner put on his blue USS Neshoba cap and smiled broadly.
Welch, who was born in 1922 in the rural community of Bill’s Branch in Overton County, had joined the service near the end of the war. Before that, he had taken advantage of the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, public work relief program instituted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help families make ends meet during the Great Depression.