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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jul '48
George Robert Stallings, No. 15652, Class of 1946
Killed August 27, 1946 near Williams Field, Arizona. Interment
at Smithfield's Sunset Memorial Park, Smithfield, North Carolina |
When Bob Stallings was graduated from West Point
in 1946, the Howitzer carried these words below his photograph:
"Conscientious, hard working, Bob had a higher goal than
most of us, and his high standards served to buck us up".
That was a fitting tribute from West Point classmates
who unmistakably caught the deep meaning of Bob Stalling's life
in the short span of years they were privileged to be associated
with him. The same tribute could be paid appropriately by those
who knew him in his home town of Smithfield, North Carolina.
For from the time Bob joined the church at the age of nine until
his death in a plane crash when he was not yet 21, his life never
ceased to inspire achievement and radiate Christian love.
As Lieutenant George Robert Stallings of the Army
Air Forces, this young exponent of purposeful living died in
the military service of his country. On August 27, 1946, less
than six weeks after he had reported for special fighter plane
training at Williams Field, Arizona, he was killed in a plane
accident nine miles from his base.
When death came, Bob was engaged in an activity
which was not his first love. He accepted military pursuit as
something inevitable for our times, but he abhorred war with
a passion born of his fervent love of Christian principles. Because
his country had given him an education, he felt that duty and
fair play called him to serve his country in a military way,
at least for a while. But he knew that ultimately he would have
to answer a greater call that of becoming a Christian minister
and devoting his life to the cause of peace in the moral realm.
Bob felt the first strong urge to enter the ministry
while in his first year at West Point. He revealed his inner
feeling to his parents during the Christmas vacation. From then
on this urge grew more and more powerful until it gripped his
whole personality.The development of Bob's interest in a ministerial
career was no surprise to the people of his native community.
They looked upon it as the natural outgrowth of boyhood activities
that gave primacy to the spiritual rather than the material values
of life. The events of his life reveal graphically that the turn
toward a religious career was no result of any sudden inspiration.
Bob was born in Smithfield on November 27, 1925.
He joined Centenary Methodist Church in Smithfield on April 12,
1935, having become interested in the church partly as a result
of attendance at Sunday School, but chiefly because of parental
guidance. His father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Sam H. Stallings,
were among the most loyal and active members of Centenary Church.
Following their example, he was not content with merely having
his name on the church roll. He early accepted responsibilities
in the Sunday School and in his high school days took roles of
leadership in the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
The Church claimed his first loyalty but Bob did
not neglect worthwhile non-religious endeavors. He joined a Boy
Scout troop in 1937 and had completed the requirements for becoming
an Eagle Scout three months before he was 14 years old and eligible
to receive the Eagle badge. As a scout he was elected an Honor
Camper at Camp Tuscarora and received additional high recognition
when he was elected to membership in the Order of the Arrow,
honorary scout fraternity.
His high school career brought him numerous honors.
He was a member of the high school band, played on the school's
athletic teams, and became president of his class during his
senior year. All the while he excelled in scholarship, ranking
as an honor student. He had a flair for public speaking and made
many civic and religious talks in school and in churches. He
was a member of the high school debating team and when he was
graduated held the distinction of never having been on the losing
side of a debate.
Bob attended North Carolina State College at Raleigh
in 1942-43 and there also became a campus leader as well as an
honor student. He became secretary of the Y.M.C.A. and was elected
president of the Wesley at the college, a unique honor for a
member of the freshman class. He was frequently a participant
in youth forums. He was made of such genuine stuff and his record
of achievements was so impressive that no one was surprised when
he received an appointment to West Point in February, 1943. He
arrived at the Military Academy in June of that same year and
was assigned to Company F-2, becoming a Cadet Sergeant during
his First Class year.
His first question as a plebe was, "Where
is the West Point Youth Fellowship?'' There of course was none,
but Bob nevertheless found outlets for religious expression.
He was quick to win friends with his friendly disposition and
no opportunity was lost to spend his influence for good. He became
a Sunday School teacher at the Academy and during vacations it
was not uncommon for him to be found attending religious conferences
and speaking in churches. Several times while on vacation in
North Carolina he filled the pulpit of Raleigh's Fairmont Methodist
Church.
At West Point he again gave expression to his well
rounded nature. He became a member of the track and cross country
teams and won letters in these sports. Other activities included
membership in the Academy's debating society and Ski Club. In
1945, from April to June, Bob received primary flight training
at the Lodwick School of Aeronautics, Lakeland, Fla. In July
and August of the same year, he underwent basic pilot training
at Stewart Field, Newburgh, New York. He received his wings and
was graduated from West Point in June 1946, one of 875 cadets
who were commissioned as Second Lieutenants.
After a brief vacation at home -- his last with
his family --Bob reported for special training at Williams Field
on July 19. The news of his death a few weeks later was a stunning
blow to his home community. On September 3 a sorrowing throng
of relatives, friends and townspeople generally overflowed Centenary
Methodist Church where military funeral rites were held. The
body was interred in Smithfield's Sunset Memorial Park.
Bob Stallings was not afraid to die. He often thought
of death and what it would be like to face it. He expressed his
ideas in letters to friends shortly before the experience was
his. In a religious talk delivered at a church service while
home on vacation, Bob had frankly discussed the Christian's view
of death. After relating a series of war stories about soldiers
who had heroically given their lives or had narrowly escaped
death, he concluded, "I wonder if there's any difference
between the man who dies believing that there is a loving God
to greet him as he enters his new world, and the man who believes
that this is the end." He left the thought as a question
to be answered by each worshipper in the quiet of meditation.
His own answer did not have to be spoken. It stood out crystal
clear in his firmly-rooted Christian faith.
In the passing of Bob Stallings, the world lost
a promising great spokesman for righteous living. A passing such
as his is not easily understood. Every thing pointed to a great
future before him. But always to be remembered is that Bob had
a great past behind him, for few men with a full span of life
have contributed more to the upbuildlng of this world than Bob
contributed in his short 20 years of purposeful living. His exemplary
life will live on and on in the lives of those who crossed his
path.
-- T. J. L.
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