Medal of Honor recipient visits Bishopville

Surprise guest gets standing ovation at Cothran luncheon

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

BISHOPVILLE - One of the nation’s 97 living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor was a surprise guest at Saturday’s luncheon honoring the late James Cothran of Bishopville, the only national commander of the VFW from South Carolina.

Retired Maj. Gen. James Everett Livingston, 69, a 33-year veteran of the Marine Corps, made the trip from his home in Mount Pleasant to pay respects to the Cothran family.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States and is bestowed upon a member of the armed forces when that person goes above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy.

The Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1861 and because of the nature of its criteria, less than 3,500 have been awarded, most of them posthumously.

Gilbert Baker, commander of the Bishopville VFW Post 3096, said it was an honor to have Livingston at the luncheon.

“We gave him a standing ovation,” Baker said. “Everyone knew that the major general was a special man. As far as I know, we’ve never had a medal of honor recipient to come to Bishopville.”

Bishopville Mayor Tom Alexander said Livingston spoke about the purpose of war for about six to eight minutes during the luncheon.

“I think he was well versed,” Alexander said. “He said it’s all about freedom. When America is involved in war, we are about bringing peace and freedom to people and protecting our own freedom.”

Alexander said one Lee County resident received the medal of honor posthumously for his bravery in World War I.

James D. Heriot, who served in the Army, received the award for actions he took in France on Oct. 12, 1918.

Livingston received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions as captain of a Marine company on May 2, 1968, in Vietnam. He is also the recipient of many military awards and citations, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and commendation medals.



Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.



On the Net:
For more information on Livingston or Heriot, log on to www.cmohs.org