Veterans’ Exhibit

Hobert owens

Hobert Owens lived in Smokey Junction and worked for Clinchmore Coal Mining Co. before the war. He was drafted in 1942 as one of about one million soldiers in the Tennessee Maneuvers in Middle Tennessee. The Middle Tennessee State University has a large digital collection of images from this event. After a short leave that allowed him to return home, he was sent to Europe. Owens was killed in action on August 11, 1944. He sent his family the letter seen below the day before, and they did not receive it until after the news of his death had reached them. Owens’ remains were not returned to Scott County until 1948 and he was buried at the Riverview Cemetery in Smoky Junction. 

thurmond mullins

Thurmond Mullins, originally from Dickenson County, Virginia, enlisted in the US Army in 1942.  Mullins served in the 6th Armored Division that liberated the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Among the prisoners liberated by the 6th Armored Division was a 17-year-old from Romania, by the name of Elie Wisel. After the war ended, Mullins moved to Scott County as camp store manager for the Ritter Log Company.  He met his wife Oakey Jo Willis here and operated several other small businesses. He also served on the Scott County Board of Education from 1974 until his death in 1985.