Hurst Lewallen
Hurstle “Hurst” Lewallen (June 28, 1913 – Jan. 10, 1945) was a soldier from Glenmary killed in Belgium during World War II.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born June 28, 1913, Hurst Lewallen was the son of Ulysses Matthew Lewallen (1884-1933) and Abline Gail Pemberton (1886-1958) of Glenmary. Both the Lewallen and Pemberton families were prominent in Glenmary. “Ulys” Lewallen’s grandfather was John Lewallen, Scott County’s first sheriff. Ulys’s father was Campbell County Lewallen, a Civil War veteran. “Abbie” Pemberton’s brother was Gatewood Pemberton, a prominent landowner in early Glenmary. Another brother was Heywood Kingston Pemberton, who served as Scott County School Superintendent in the 1890s.
Hurst’s siblings included Edna Kearney (1906-1932), Millie Jane Human (1907-1993), Harley Pearson Lewallen (1909-1954), Geneva Thompson (1911-1980), Charles Donald Lewallen (1919-1920) and Reba Venna Lewallen (1921-1922).
In 1933, 20-year-old Hurst was charged in the death of his father, Ulys. According to a newspaper report, the two men had been working in the hay field and Ulys sent Hurst to the house for a lantern at dusk. When he returned, Hurst was reprimanded by Ulys, who felt he had taken too long to retrieve the lantern. During an argument, Hurst claimed that Ulys attacked him with a pitchfork, forcing him to defend himself. Ulys was shot six times and died instantly. Hurst was arrested and held on a $5,000 bond.
Hurst Lewallen did not marry.
World War II
Hurst Lewallen enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry division. He fought in the European theater of World War II and obtained the rank of Technician Fifth Class. He died on Jan. 10, 1945 during a battle in Belgium.
According to a letter sent by the War Department to Lewallen’s mother: “He fell on the field of battle and died immediately being spared lengthy suffering. To you, he was a beloved son; to us he was a comrade in arms, faithful in the performance of his duties and long to be remembered. Our country honors him as a man who laid down his life that others might continue to enjoy its blessings.“
He was initially interred at a military cemetery in Belgium. However, his remains were later returned to Scott County, and he was buried at Lewallen Cemetery in Glenmary, where his parents are also buried.
He was awarded the Purple Heart. He is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida, the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville, and the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Knoxville.