Area WWII veteran receives standing ovation for service

When S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, invited Bill Church to attend a session of the S.C. House of Representative recently, Church was pleased and readily accepted.

"I enjoyed the tour of the State House they gave us," he said. "But I wasn't expecting that he (Taylor) would have me stand up in front of all those people and be introduced."

Actually, that was the point. Taylor presented a proclamation to the House membership, praising the World War II service of Church, 88, who was twice wounded and was later a German prisoner of war.

"His story is amazing," Taylor said via email. "Mr. Church received a lengthy standing ovation from legislators. It was very heart-warming, and many legislators told me they were moved by his patriotism and heroism."

Church grew up in North Wilkesboro, N.C., and at the time he was drafted into the U.S. Army, he was 19, enjoying the bluegrass music he played and also his summer job at a furniture factory.

He served with the 5th Army in the 3rd Infantry Division and saw his first action at Salerno in southern Italy and then Naples in the north. The fighting went on into 1944 and was on the beach of Anzio, south of Rome, where 4,400 soldiers were killed, Church said. They encountered 280mm shells from all directions.

"I took a bullet through my left shoulder," said Church. "I was in the hospital for two weeks, and they sent me back to the front lines with a drainage tube in my back."

Rome was liberated from the Germans, and Church went to fight in France. He participated in an amphibious landing, and many more soldiers lost their lives. Church was wounded once more in the knee and foot. When he recovered, he rejoined his unit, which was fighting along the Rhine River.

He and his platoon were later captured by the Germans and were housed in a prison camp for several months, "where they nearly starved us to death," Church said. "I had been at 180 pounds and lost 70 pounds."

He and other POWs were liberated when the town won its freedom. Eventually, Church recovered again and returned to action in 1945 before being taken to the regimental headquarters and sent back to the United States. He was discharged in November that year.

Church moved to Aiken in 1952, and he spent 35 years as a welder and inspector at the Savannah River Plant. He and his wife Emma have been married for 56 years.

In the proclamation, Taylor said: "We, the members of the S.C. House of Representatives, are honored to recognize this outstanding World War II veteran and extend our appreciation for all he has done for Aiken County, the state of South Carolina and the United States of America."

Church was awarded two Purple Hearts and five medal campaign stars for his service. He's still amazed by the recognition at the State House. Several legislators "told me they had never seen a reception like that," Church said.