Millard Cross
Millard Cross (April 22, 1917 – April 17, 1945) was a soldier from Smith Creek killed in action in northern Italy during World War II.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born April 22, 1917, Millard Cross was the son of Marion Cross (1886-1964) and Lutempa Carson (1884-1968). His paternal grandfather, Larkin Cross, was murdered by Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. He had a second cousin, once removed, Clinton Cross, who was also from Smith Creek and was killed during World War II.
Millard’s siblings included Sherman Cross (1911-1911), Alonzo B. Cross (1913-1946), Luther Landon Cross (1914-1997), Elery D. Cross (1919-1978) and Bailey B. Cross (1924-1987).
He graduated from Huntsville High School and attended East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn. on a basketball scholarship. He served as a school teacher in the Scott County School System. He married Edna Posey (1916-1998), and they had one son, James Millard Cross (1942-2022).
World War II
Lt. Cross enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a company commander in the 91st Infantry Division. He was killed in northern Italy on April 17, 1945, five days before his 28th birthday.
According to a letter sent by Capt. Dean T. Stevenson, a chaplain in the U.S. Army, to Lt. Cross’s wife, Edna, he was serving with Co. K, 361st Infantry, 5th Army and was attacking a heavily-fortified German position in northern Italy when he was killed.
Stevenson wrote: “The company’s mission was to advanced to high ground about 500 yards to its front. Millard was leading his platoon forward up steep rugged terrain. While he was advancing he was severely wounded by an enemy rifleman. He passed away shortly after while he was being carried to the Battalion Aid Station.”
Stevenson also wrote: “Perhaps there is an additional comfort to you to know that your husband was a fine leader of men and one held in high esteem by all of us who had come to know him. He never failed to complete a task at hand no matter how difficult it was. As a result of such heroic and unselfish action our Regiment was able to capture this high ground and move on against the enemy. Your husband died in pursuit of his sacred duty, giving his life that others might live free from tyranny and oppression. Recall those beautiful words of Holy Scripture, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'”
Aftermath
Lt. Millard was initially interred at a military cemetery in northern Italy. However, his body was later returned stateside in January 1946, and he was buried at Potter Cemetery in Huntsville.
He received the Purple Heart award. 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.
Edna did not remarry. She died in 1998 and is buried in Johnson City, Tenn., where she moved after their son graduated from Huntsville High School in the 1950s. Like his father, James Millard Cross graduated from ETSU and was a school teacher. He was a career educator in the Washington County (Tenn.) School System, and was a veteran of the Vietnam War and Desert Storm, as a colonel in the U.S. Army. He died on Oct. 26, 2022 and is buried at the same cemetery as his mother.