Herschell Pack
By: Don L Meenach
Paintsville Herald, October 1986:
HERSHELL PACK
River resident Hershell Pack, 66, died Monday, October 13, in Cabell Huntington Hospital following an extended illness.
Mr. Pack was born November 1, 1919, in Johnson County, the son of Henry and Rebecca Murry Pack. He was a retired Johnson County Board of Education administrator and a member of the Georges Creek United Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife, Herman Lee Castle Pack, who he married May 15, 1946, at Lowmansville; two daughters, Dr. Marilyn Hicks, of Durham, NC, and Joann Rowe, of Cincinnati, Ohio; a sister, Ruth Smith, of Phoenix, AZ; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 15, in Georges Creek United Baptist Church with Elders Ernest Jenkins and Ervin Preston officiating.
Burial was in the church cemetery with Preston Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Herschell was born in River, the son of Henry and Rebecca Murray Pack on 1 Nov 1919. His siblings were Ossie, Olla, Oshall, and Ruthie. He taught within the Johnson County schools before he enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 1942. His draft registration was dated 17 July 1941. In 1941-42 taught at George's Creek, 1946-47 taught at George's Creek; 1947-48 did not appear on any teacher's list; 1948-49, taught at Sycamore schools.
Hershell married Herma Lee Castle on 15 May 1946, Johnson Co. KY. Herma Lee as born 19 May 1922, on Castle Fork Road, Johnson C. KY. They had two children, Dr. Marilyn Pack, born 5 May 1947 and Joan Pack born 10 Nov. 1954. (Marine Corps Birthday!)
Marilyn is a graduate of the University of Louisville, College of Medicine, and is married to Dana Jack Hicks. Joan is married to Jerry M. Swain.
Herschell wrote the following to his Mother and family while in service.
My Darling Mother and family;
When I look around myself and see my fellow comrades, Marines, who have returned from the battle torn fronts, I realize the fates have been very kind to me. When you hear people speaking harshly of American youth they don't realize how wrong they are. When one sees the marks of hazardous hardships written over the bodies of these Marines he knows that American youth was never soft and weak.
Out there where the strong are separated from the weak, our boys have proved to the enemy and the world as well that Americans are born with a lack of fear and a strong love of freedom. Many of our boys have died and many more will die before we have triumphed over the barbarous hordes that have been loosed upon civilization. If our people regard these sacrifices indifferently and soon forget, it will be the most cruel ingratitude the world has known.
If anything good or great comes as a result of this was, it should be credited to those boys who have died so others might remain free. We feel that the flame of unity and organization should burn more brightly than ever from the home front. When a group or organization refuses for reasons of higher wages or other reasons to cooperate and give the boys on the front the very best equipment and materials, they are our enemies.
Mother, I think of you often and look forward to the time I can return home but at the present I have a greater duty to perform, one for God, my country and you.
Your loving son,
Herschell
This letter indeed shows the love and dedication that our brave soldiers have always had and the commitment that was emblazoned on their hearts.