Hall of Heroes add Spartanburg County veterans Bud Moore, 2 Marshall Tucker Band members

Spartanburg has a legendary race car driver and two Southern rock artists among the 21 veterans whose names will appear in the Hall of Heroes.

Spartanburg County's Hall of Heroes induction ceremony was on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. The event honored 21 veterans, including Toy Caldwell, Doug Gray and Bud Moore, whose names and pictures will appear at the county's Veterans Affairs Office in Spartanburg.

Walter Maynard “Bud” Moore Jr., was a World War II veteran, who volunteered in the Army after graduating high school. He landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and participated in Gen. George S. Patton’s sweep across Europe. Moore was wounded five times, earned two Bronze Stars and was a decorated veteran.

After his military service, Moore built cars and engines, changed tires and directed pit crews. His Fords won five times, including three in a row, in the 1970s. He was inducted into the Talladega-based International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Toy Caldwell, a founding member of the Marshall Tucker Band, was in the United States Marines and trained at Parris Island. After being wounded in Vietnam in September 1968, he was evacuated for two weeks and then returned for duty. He served from '65 until '69 and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Vietnam.

Douglas “Doug” Gray was a co-founder of the Marshall Tucker Band and served in the military from July 1968 through February 1970. He earned the rank of Sergeant E-5 during a stint that included time in Vietnam. Gray, trained at Fort Ord in California and entered the Army at Fort Jackson in Columbia.

Since 1996, Gray has been the sole original member performing with the group. Marshall Tucker Band's notable hits are: "Can't You See," "Take the Highway," "Fire on the Mountain," "This Ol' Cowboy," "Searchin' for a Rainbow" and "Heard It in a Love Song."

Spartanburg County veterans say US should back Israel in war

During the Spartanburg ceremony on Oct. 12, area veterans paid tribute to the heroes honored and gave their opinions on the fighting between Israel and Hamas that started on Oct. 7.

Veterans said the U.S. should back Israel in its war against Hamas and other militant groups. But they said it should be without sending U.S. troops

No boots on the ground. Advisers maybe," said Vietnam Army veteran Douglas Jones, commander of American Legion Post 270 in Woodruff.

The war has already claimed more than 4,000 lives on both sides, including those of 30 Americans.

As of Monday, Oct. 16, Israel reported more than 1,400 Israelis were killed, the majority of them civilians, in Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault. At least 155 others, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza.

The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded through Sunday, Oct. 15, according to the Associated Press.

Vietnam Air Force veteran Carroll Owings, commander of American Legion Post 28 in Spartanburg, said America's priority should be to help U.S. citizens who may still be trapped in Israel, where several major airlines have suspended flights.

"We definitely need to take care of our people," Owings said.

Army veteran Earl Schmidt of Lyman said Israel is well-equipped to handle its own war, even though militant groups are said to be using American weapons left behind during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"(Israel has) plenty of equipment and intelligence," he said. "They don't need our troops."

Ret. Navy Lt. Ballard Brown, a World War II veteran from the South Carolina State Guard, said the U.S. has shown a commitment by sending the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean to deter a rise in the war.

On Saturday, Oct, 14, another aircraft carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, was also deployed to the region.

"We don't need to send any troops," Brown said. "They have all they need."

Navy veteran Larry Brown of Spartanburg, who was on active duty from 1965-67, said the U.S. will likely use special operation forces to help Israel rescue Americans still in Israel.

He said he supports "whatever it takes to get them back."

Hall of Heroes honors 'exceptional service'

The Hall of Heroes program was started by Director of Spartanburg County Veterans Affairs Brent Cobb. Each year, a committee chooses veterans nominated for induction for their exceptional and honorable service in the Armed Forces.

Earlier on Oct. 12, the Veterans Affairs Office renamed its conference room after one of this year's inductees, World War II First Lt. Hoyt Goodale, who was killed during the Battle of the Bulge and was an original member of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

This year's inductees include:

Robert “Bob” Bostwick, Korea and Occupation Japan; Bennie Brashears, Vietnam; Ballard Brown, World War II, Korea, Vietnam; Toy Caldwell Jr., Vietnam; Reuben “DE” Calvert Jr., Vietnam; Jesse Campbell, Korea; Luther Floyd, Vietnam; James George, Vietnam; Thomas Gibbs Sr., Vietnam.

Also, Hoyt Goodale, World War II, killed in action; Robert Graham, Vietnam; Douglas “Doug” Gray, Vietnam; Jack Kaplan Jr., Vietnam, Afghanistan; Carson Koepsell, Korea, Occupation Japan; Charles Landen Sr., Vietnam; Walter “Bud” Moore Jr., World War II; James Owens, Vietnam; Paul Padgett, World War II, Korea, killed in action; George Reitmeier, World War II; Charles “Charlie” Tapp, Vietnam; Donald Williams, Vietnam.

Bob Montgomery covers Spartanburg County politics and growth & development. Reach him via email at bob.montgomery@shj.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg race car driver, 2 rock stars among 21 veterans honored