It is our honor to salute Korean War Veteran Bill Scott. In 1948, the 17-year-old high school student served as a member of the Alabama Army National Guard. That same year, Mr. Scott's unit was activated and sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for U.S. Army basic training. Members of the 8th and 31st Infantry Divisions also received training at the facility. 

Mr. Scott was wounded twice in two fierce campaigns. During the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, he and his comrades endured sub-zero weather, earning them the title of the "Frozen Chosin". Mr. Scott was hit by shrapnel. "I remember feeling the intensity of the shock wave that threw us into the air and thirty feet back," Scott said. Following his recovery, Mr. Scott returned to his unit. It wouldn't be long before he would have another close call with death. "It was Easter Sunday and 5:30 in the morning. It had taken us seven days to cross a river only to find ourselves outnumbered ten-to-one. I was critically injured by a bayonet and blacked out," Scott added. "I woke up in a body bag. It was then I heard the words from God, 'Have no fear and believe.' A fellow soldier saw my body bag moving. Reaching inside, he touched my shoulder and said, 'Lieutenant, Thank God!'" Mr. Scott's heroic service earned him the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Silver Star medals. "I'm not a lucky soldier; I'm a double-blessed soldier. I have God to thank for survival," Scott said. 

Two years ago, Mr. Scott left his home in Alabama to live near his daughter in north Mississippi. The 93-year-old leads an active lifestyle which includes playing bingo at the VFW Post 4272 with his girlfriend, Mary McDill.

Anyone who would like to nominate a veteran to be featured in our newsletter, please call Susan Parker at (662) 687-2570 or send her an email at [email protected].

Terry and Steve Holman have worked on the family farm in Hamilton since they were children. Their parents, Lem and Dorris Holman, started their farming operation in the 1950s. Over the years, both brothers pursued careers beyond the farm, but always helped out when their parents needed them. In 1990, Terry retired from his job in the trucking industry to work full-time on the farm.

Most farmers, including Terry and Steve, say there are good years and challenging ones. "This has been a tough one because we have not had enough rain," Terry said. "The lack of rain isn't our only problem. We are paying more for inputs to grow a good crop, while dealing with decreasing prices per bushel."

Mississippi State University Extension Service Agent Randall Nevins spends many days in the field with Monroe County and area farmers. Recently, he met with the Holman brothers to discuss the upcoming cotton, peanut, and soybean harvest. When the time comes, the whole family participates in the harvest. "I am mostly retired from farming," Steve said. "Even so, I climb on a tractor this time of year with my sons and nephew. This is definitely a family business."

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues on the next Farm Bill. Our farmers and ranchers need our support without burdensome regulations.

Mississippi's outstanding workforce, coupled with our pro-business climate, attracts some of the most successful companies to our great state. In July, Amplify Cell Technologies, a joint venture between Accelera, Daimler Trucks & Buses US Holding LLC, and PACCAR, broke ground on a battery cell manufacturing plant in Marshall County. More than 2,000 jobs will be created to manufacture lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cells.

Recently, I was pleased to receive an update on their progress. Pictured are Traci Kraus, Executive Director, Government Relations, Cummins Inc., John Rich, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, PACCAR, and Kel Kearns, CEO and COO, Amplify Cell Technologies.

Lieutenant General Eric Austin, USMC Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration, and Sergeant Major Anthony Loftus, Senior Enlisted Advisor 

Mississippi Bankers Association

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