Individual Details

Death

Harry Lee Rodgers Sr., 89, died Friday, Nov. 12, 2010, at the Veterans Administration Nursing Home in Kosciusko. He was born Jan. 9, 1921, in Mansfield, Ark., to Sudie Mae Neely and T.J. Rodgers Sr. He was retired from both farming and the seed business. He was a member of First Baptist Church. 

Mr. Rodgers, a tech sergeant, was the recipient of the Silver Service Star Ribbon for his service in the European African Middle Eastern Campaign. He also earned two Bronze Service Stars, one Silver Star and a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster. He served in the First U. S. Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion (Big Red 1), Headquarters Advancing Company, and saw duty in the Algerian-French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central European theaters. He was part of the first wave of soldiers to hit Omaha Beach at 7:15 a.m., June 6, 1944. He waded through waist-deep, stormy seas past sand dunes while carrying his radio backset over his head to keep it dry, so that he could radio back to support ships for coordinates to take out the enemy bunkers. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion.

He married Ivah E. Coburn Rodgers on July 15, 1945, in West Point. She preceded him in death on April 14, 1997.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Calvert Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. R.C. Bryan officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in West Point. Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include two sons, Harry Rodgers (Martha) of Columbus and Jeffrey G. Rodgers of West Point.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one sister and six brothers.

Pallbearers will be Ted Judson, Richard Smith, John Elliott, Richard South, Charles Brand, Billy Vest, Pete Dexter and Bud Tumlinson.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of his Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church, Jimmy Bryan, Athen E. Duke and Billy Coleman.