Vincent Runnels recently received (with the help of Senator Kit Bond) duplicates of medals he received in World War II.
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The original medals were lost in a house fire in 1956. Vincent served in the Navy between June 12, 1942, and Nov. 5, 1945. He participated in George S. Patton’s Operation Torch in Safi, French Morocco, Nov. 8-10, 1942. His destroyer, the USS Cole, was the first ship to unload soldiers on a pier while under fire. It was considered a suicide mission, and Vincent earned a Presidential Citation for his participation in that mission. During the mission, Vincent had the distinction of meeting and talking to General Patton.
Vincent was born in Gallatin in 1921, and graduated from Gallatin High School. In 1945, he married Alma Fowler of Lyman, S.C., and they farmed northeast of Gallatin until they moved to Savannah in 2006. They are the parents of three children. They have four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The following is a newspaper clipping from WW II about Mr. Runnels:
Vincent Runnels, Gallatin young man, cited for bravery in action
Officers and crew of the U.S. S. Cole and the Bernadou were cited by President Roosevelt on May 4 for bravery in action in carrying out a "suicidal" mission, when they lead the first wave of ships to carry the first group of assault troops into the unknown harbor of Safi, French Morocco.
In the darkness of the early morning of Nov. 8 the Cole and the Bernadou steamed in toward Safi. They slipped quietly and unnoticed at first through the calm waters. Then the French troops in Safi spotted them and the shore batteries opened fire. The gun crew of the two old destroyers silenced the shore batteries and continued on to their destination. American ships off shore had joined in the bombardment.
Though a heavy cross-fire from machine guns mounted on the jetties at the narrow harbor mouth, the Cole and the Bernadou steamed on, sneaking through vessels lying at anchor and on toward appointed objectives. The Bernadou was beached to permit immediate landing of her assault party. The Cole pushed on through the harbor and discharged her landing troops on the dock. The two four stackers had discharged their troops without the loss of a man, and soon after the landing, resistance ceased.
Old four stackers, the Cole and the Bernadou were built in 1913 to meet the submarine menace of the first World War.
But they saw no action — not in the last war. Before they were ready for duty, the Armistice was signed, and the two ships were decommissioned.
In 1939, 20 years after their launching, the Cole and Bernadou shook off their mooring lines. Remodeled and re-equipped, they put to sea to join the battle against the submarine threat of the present war.
For many months the two served in the Atlantic anti-submarine patrol. Then, in November, 1942, they joined the armada, which was to carry American forces to French North Africa.
Vincent Runnels, Gallatin young man, seaman 1st class, was a member of the gun crew of the Cole and was among those decorated by the President of the United States for bravery in action in carrying out a most hazardous mission in the face of heavy gunfire, otherwise referred to by the president as a "suicidal mission." Each man was decorated with the "Silver Star" for outstanding action, also presented a certificate of citation signed by President Roosevelt. Their boat was presented a bronze plaque put on the ship. This ship now flies a flag that is flown by no other of the Atlantic fleet.
The officers and crew of these ships were also cited by Admiral King of the Atlantic Fleet, at which time they received service bars, and, still earlier, this same group were cited by Secretary Knox.
Vincent Runnels is the son of Mr. And Mrs. Cleo Runnels of Gallatin, Route 2, and a grandson of the late W.T. DeWitt and wife of Trenton, Route 7.