Written by Edna Liggin

“I want to come back to these hills when it’s over.” Marvin told us when he was home on his last furlough. This week he came home to rest in peace forever in these hills he called home.

It was a bright blue October day in 1943 when he smiled goodbye as he left home to face his greatest adventure with the same courage he displayed as a sturdy lad of two. Then he’d ventured miles down a railroad track, alone, in quest of the unknown ahead.

In 1943, at that time the war was almost two years old and the end wasn’t yet in sight. He knew as did thousands of others in training, that ahead was overseas and action before victory and peace.

Behind him were tedious exacting, weary hours of training, beginning November 7th, 1941 at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. Later came maneuvers in California’s fierce, hot deserts and the icy mountains of Tennessee in winter. His training was compiled of many months, toll and discipline and was to be expended in such a short time.

In December 1943 he crossed over to North Ireland and after several months waiting his D-Day to land in France came. He met the fury of battle into which he was plunged with the courage and brawny that comes not just from army training but from the disciplined inner man, born to be loyal and faithful to his country and home.

Wounded once, slightly, Marvin was hospitalized in England at the same time his brother, Robert L., was convalescing from a wound. However, they were unable to contact one another. Soon Marvin was back in action in France while Robert was to eventually return home by plane to a U. S. hospital.

It was during those desperate fighting days of September 1944 that Marvin was fatally wounded. He died September 16th.

He was born February 19th, 1919 and attended school at Union Gin and Bernice. He was a member of Patrick Baptist Church.

To all of us who knew him, Marvin will always be remembered as a quiet, thoughtful, courteous boy, kind to his mother and family.

He was ready when needed – to serve his country – to fight and die – that the generation after him might grow up in freedom and in peace.

A Cousin

Mrs. Edna Liggin

Note: His birthday was February 23, 1919. He was the son of William Jesse and Bertha Lee Tabor Fomby. He had three brothers, William Lee Fomby, Robert Laurence Fomby and James Wilson Fomby. He also had four sisters, Mary Beatrice Fomby Fleisher, Doris Marie Fomby Crowell, Evelyn Aline Fomby Moore and Tressie Lee Fomby Upshaw.