Hunter’s Forgotten Memorial, Part 4

It is underneath the F-105D where the names of personnel and organizations that sponsored the memorial eight years ago are engraved in marble. However the passing of time has told a much different story, not only of neglect but one of disregard. Even though the City of Douglasville is solely responsible for maintaining the memorial, it is the lack of awareness from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion to protect the memorial that is raising questions.

The two groups collaborated to bring the F-105D, one of only six left in the world, to Douglasville in order to honor 1^st Lt. Robert Gerald Hunter. Nearly $40,000 and a grand volunteer effort paved the way for a splendid memorial. Yet after Memorial Day 1998, all parties affiliated with constructing the memorial moved on, never questioning the status in which the memorial has become known for.

Eight years later questions still remain in the wake of political forgetfulness. Despite all the problems associated with the memorial, basic fundamentals of care were not advised. From not being knowledgeable to veterans group not heeding the call, the future of Hunter’s Memorial is in jeopardy.

It is evident that since July 2006 the memorial has progressively worsened to the state that it is in today. The summer’s heat has further faded the paint, insignias peeling away from the surface, and more damage has been done to the memorial. Even the letters spelling out Hunter’s name have become unreadable.

There are some indications that someone has provided maintenance to the aircraft by closing the hatches that were left open for over five months and weeds have been removed in some areas. Nevertheless this does not resolve the larger issues, leaving the memorial in its current state.

After the Veterans of Foreign Wars transferred ownership of the F-105D to the City of Douglasville, it was beginning of many problems to come. The veteran groups that supported the project walked away because responsibility was in the hands of the City. Furthermore there were very few people at the time within the local government that had military experience and any aircraft training.

In 2000 a new City administration took over, Mayor Charles Camp (currently District 2 Commissioner) transferred his powers to Councilman Mickey Thompson. Both men favored the memorial, but that is where common ground became foreign. It is in the year’s later that the memorial aged quickly under the hot, humid Southern sun. Offers to repaint the aircraft were declined and letters were sent by residents to the Mayor’s office about the memorial’s condition. Yet no actions were made.

The aircraft has never been periodically washed as required, leaving hand prints and stains in the same place as they did before in July. One of the lights beneath the aircraft has received more damage with no signs of repair. Weeds have been found around the engraved bricks again on the right side of the memorial.

Former Parks and Recreation Committee Chairman Earl Cosgrove was fundamental in erecting the memorial, but he no longer works for the City of Douglasville. Mr. Cosgrove still thinks about the memorial from time to time, wondering if anyone still cares. Many people that worked for the City in 1998 and who were associated with the memorial have moved on to other agendas or passed away.

March 25, 2007 will mark the 61^st anniversary when 1^st Lt. Robert Gerald Hunter was shot down and later killed in Laos during the Vietnam War. Although the memorial will remain in place, it is unclear if the F-105D will still be there on that spring day.

Below is a list of the original sponsors that are listed at the memorial from 1998.

City of Douglasville

• Mayor Charles L. Camp
• Mayor Pro-Tem Rick Denson
• Charles J. Banks
• Earl C. Cosgrove
• Harvey Jones
• Bonnie Kemp
• Winton H. Moreland
• Mickey Thompson

Gold - Douglas County Board of Commissioners

• Rita Rainwater, Chairman
• Claude Abercrombie
• Bill Ash
• Barbara Glore
• Johnny Groover

Silver

• Mozley Memorial Gardens
• Woodgraphics, Inc.

Bronze

• The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Douglas County Post 10798 - Earl C. Cosgrove, Commander
• AMVETS of Douglas County Post 118 - John H. Sheffield, Commander
• The American Legion, Frank P. Dorris Post 145 - William L. Byrd, Commander
• the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 145 - Dorma Dubois, President
• Sons of the American Legion, Squardon 145 - Andrew Dubois, Commander
• Douglas County Republician Party - C. Lofton Fouts, Jr., Chairman
• Col. Gordon E. Johnson III, U.S.M.C.R.
• Citizens & Merchants Bank Employees
• Donald B. Bennet, U.S.A.F.
• Mickey & Janice Thompson, State Farm Agency
• Woody Trucking, Inc.
• The Barry W. Head Family
• Home Builders Association of Douglas County
• Jack F. Gamel, C.P.A.
• Ron Wilson, Jourdan Technologies, Inc.
• Greystone Power Corporation
• Georgia Power Company
• Benchmark Homes, Inc.
• Chunyin Wu Wang
• Robert R. Pope
• Jimmy R. Smith
• The Aaron & Kay Hudson Family
• Douglasville Ace Hardware
• Matt Davis Lighting, Inc.
• Claude K. Rainwater, Jr.
• Col. Wayne N. Fowler, U.S.M.C.
• Blue Circle Aggregates, Inc.
• The Douglas County Sentinel
• Outback Steakhouse
• David & Jenny McDade
• Sam Roberts, State Senator

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