Erle Cocke, Jr Day Celebration

~~ By: Cherry M. Howell

It has come to my attention that many people are interested in the Erle Cocke, Jr. Day celebration. If you ask someone about it, almost everyone has the same remembrances. The answer is almost verbatim, “Oh, it was a huge celebration and there was a big parade. The weather was strange. It started out warm but was freezing before the day was over.”

Now as Paul Harvey would have said, “Here is the rest of the story.”

Erle Cocke Jr. was born in Dawson on Church Street on May 10, 1921. He grew to manhood in Macon and Atlanta, graduated from the University of GA in 1942 and immediately joined the Army. Erle Cocke would become a WWII Hero. As a captain in Europe during the final years of World War II, he led reconnaissance patrols behind enemy lines and was captured by Germans three times. He escaped twice, but the third time was shot repeatedly by a firing squad and left for dead, but was saved by German civilians. He spent 18 months in military hospitals, had 17 operations and earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre, and was nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross. After his service Cocke went to Harvard Business School where he graduated with a M. B. A. Degree. He would later be honored with honorary doctorates from three other universities.

Cocke became state commander of the American Legion in 1950, and at 29 was the youngest person ever elected national commander of the veterans’ organization. He selected his birth place, Dawson, to have the honor of the Celebration. Dawson was justly proud of her son and plans were made for a large parade and program for the National Dignitaries. Many citizens of Dawson took responsibility for providing necessary comforts, food and entertainment for the visitors.

The Celebration took place on Nov 4, 1950. At that time, it was the largest celebration in the history of Terrell County. Special guests included Secretary of Defense, the Honorable George C. Marshall, General John R. Hodges, Secretary of Treasury, John W. Snyder and virtually every top ranking General in the U. S. Army, and Miss National Press Photographer, Sue Carol of Opelika AL. Also present were two United States Senators, three members of the United States House of Representatives, five Mayors of GA cities, six former National Commanders of the American Legion, five members of the National Executive Committee and ten State Departmental Heads of GA.

There were 12,000 marchers in the parade, 13 bands, 16 floats, 38 color bearers of towns and cities, business displays from Dawson and many other towns and cities, in all 104 groups. It took 6 hours for the parade to pass. The only thing that happened to mar the day, but this has made it well remembered, the temperature dropped from 70 degrees to 12 degrees before the day was over. By morning it was down to 6 degrees.

It is interesting to know that Erle Cocke, Jr. would serve as advisor to four US Presidents, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. When the nation celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, Cocke was honored as the symbolic veteran of all wars at the Iwo Jima Monument.

Earle Cocke, Jr. died April 23, 2000 and was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 34, Site 602-11.

The Terrell County History Museum is a Project of the Terrell County Historical Preservation Society The Museum is open by appointment only. For an appointment, please call Kathy Hicks at 229- 995-2866, preferably two days in advance. Individuals or groups are welcome.