Singleton and Related Genealogy Pages
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1918 - 2017 (99 years)| Name | William Coskery “Billy/Mr. Billy” PLOWDEN [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] | |
| Prefix | Colonel | |
| Suffix | Jr. | |
| Birth | 15 Jul 1918 | New Zion, South Carolina  [3] |
| Gender | Male | |
| Education | he went to The Citadel and graduated in 1939 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration | |
| HIST | of New Zion, South Carolina Date Published: August 9, 2009 New Zion native, 91, still tirelessly works for veterans World War II veteran shows no signs of slowing down Photos Provided Billy Plowden, 91, works in his office recently. He is the state director of the federal Veterans Employment and Training Service in Columbia. By JASON WERMERS Item Staff Writer jwermers@theitem.com NEW ZION — Disabled veterans have an ally in Billy Plowden, an unassuming man who continues to work tirelessly on their behalf even though he recently celebrated his 91st birthday. The New Zion native is himself a veteran, having served in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II for three years. That gives him a special insight into the issues other veterans can face, but you won't catch him boasting of his wartime military service. Rather, he focuses on the next veteran he can serve. "I'm going to work as long as I can help a veteran. If I get where I can't help a veteran, then I'll quit," he said. "I just enjoy helping veterans; I like people. If I retired, I wouldn't be able to help." A typical weekday for Plowden involves him making the roughly 130-mile round trip to Columbia from New Zion so he can answer the call for his fellow veterans. In World War II, the battalion he commanded primarily supplied Allied forces in Burma and China, Douglas Wilson, a longtime friend of Plowden's, recently wrote in an essay. The man now known as Billy was born William Coskrey Plowden Jr. on July 15, 1918. He worked in his father's Ford dealership, helping assemble automobiles from the parts that were shipped there by train. He became a master mechanic while still a teenager, then went on to The Citadel and graduated in 1939 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. As a master mechanic, Plowden joined the Army and was given the task of getting trucks with antiaircraft equipment in operating condition. He also oversaw the shipping of men and equipment for the protection of New York City and California after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. In 1943, he was transferred to South Asia, where he was maintenance and supply officer for the all-black 21st Quartermaster Regiment. "The fact that there were so many black support personnel — builders, drivers, doctors, nurses, lab techs — in this theater is not as well-documented in the history books, though they played a vital role in these operations," Wilson wrote in the essay. Photo Provided These photos were taken in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. Plowden is in good health at 91, but he almost didn't make it to 30. A virulent strain of typhus almost killed him after he returned stateside. In India, his regiment lost 60 soldiers before they figured out that immersing the patient in an ice bath brought down the fever. Because doctors in the United States in the 1940s were not familiar with the Indian strain of typhus, Plowden and others with the disease had to direct their own treatment. Plowden recovered in Virginia, then returned to South Carolina, where he had to deal with a new disease: Asian malignant malaria. He recovered from that, too, and then returned to working with the military. He helped organize active reserve members in eastern South Carolina from an office in Sumter. Then-Gov. Strom Thurmond recruited Plowden into a new military unit, based in Columbia, that worked to establish provisional governments in occupied areas. "This began a lifelong friendship and active support for Strom Thurmond during his long political and public career," Wilson said. "On many occasions, Senator Thurmond would call Plowden to Washington for consultation on important legislation and decisions, especially involving veterans." Plowden also actively helped direct presidential campaigns for Thurmond's political allies, including Sen. Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. He served as assistant secretary for veterans employment and training, in the U.S. Department of Labor, during the Reagan administration. During his time in Washington, Plowden received the "Impact" award, the second-highest honor given by the Labor Department. Through it all, Plowden's focus was not on being recognized, Wilson said. Rather, his aim was to help veterans in need. Plowden told Wilson that his most satisfying effort was helping implement legislation that created a job-training program for veterans, especially those from the Vietnam era. In an interview with The Item, Plowden talked about a case in which he fought for a World War II veteran's rights. "I had a veteran who was terribly disabled as a result of his service to the country, but he was eaten up with arthritis and had a son and wife to support," Plowden said. "He was working hard, but nobody would help him. I took his case, went to Washington, and we won. As a result, he got enough money to send his son to college and become a lawyer." Date Published: August 4, 2009 New Zion native, 91, still tirelessly works for veterans Photo Provided Billy Plowden, a World War II veteran who turned 91 on July 15, is the state director of the federal Veterans Employment and Training Service in Columbia. By JASON WERMERS The Clarendon Sun jwermers@theitem.com NEW ZION — Billy Plowden may not be a familiar name to many people. But disabled veterans have either talked to him directly or received much-needed benefits because of his actions. Plowden, a World War II veteran who turned 91 on July 15, is showing no signs of slowing down. He is the state director of the federal Veterans Employment and Training Service in Columbia. He makes the roughly 130-mile round trip commute daily from his home in his native New Zion. Why doesn't Plowden, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II, take his well-deserved respite from work? “I'm going to work as long as I can help a veteran. If I get where I can't help a veteran, then I'll quit,” he said. “I just enjoy helping veterans. I like people. If I retired, I wouldn't be able to help.” Plowden served in what's known as the CBI Theater, for China, Burma and India. He commanded the 36th Quartermaster Battalion made up of 10 companies of black soldiers. Their primary purpose was to supply Allied forces in Burma and China, said Douglas Wilson, a longtime friend of Plowden's, wrote in an essay. The man now known as Billy was born William Coskrey Plowden Jr. on July 15, 1918. He worked in his father's Ford dealership, helping assemble automobiles from the parts that were shipped there by train. He became a master mechanic while still a teenager, then went on to The Citadel and graduated in 1939 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. As a master mechanic, Plowden joined the Army and was given the task of getting trucks with antiaircraft equipment in operating condition. He also oversaw the shipping of men and equipment for the protection of New York City and California after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. In 1943, he was transferred to South Asia, where he was maintenance and supply officer for the all-black 21st Quartermaster Regiment. “The fact that there were so many black support personnel — builders, drivers, doctors, nurses, lab techs — in this theater is not as well-documented in the history books, though they played a vital role in these operations,” Wilson said in the essay. Plowden is in good health at 91, but he almost didn't make it to 30. A virulent strain of typhus almost killed him after he returned stateside. In India, his regiment lost 60 soldiers before they figured out that immersing the patient in an ice bath brought down the fever. Because U.S. doctors in the 1940s were not familiar with the Indian strain of typhus, Plowden and others with the disease had to direct their own treatment. Plowden recovered in Virginia, then returned to South Carolina, where he had to deal with a new disease: Asian malignant malaria. He recovered from that, too, and then returned to working with the military. He helped organize active reserve members in eastern South Carolina from an office in Sumter. Then-Gov. Strom Thurmond recruited Plowden into a new military unit, based in Columbia, that worked to establish provisional governments in occupied areas. “This began a lifelong friendship and active support for Strom Thurmond during his long political and public career,” Wilson said. “On many occasions, Senator Thurmond would call Plowden to Washington for consultation on important legislation and decisions, especially involving veterans.” Plowden also actively helped direct presidential campaigns for Thurmond's political allies, including Sen. Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. He served as assistant secretary for veterans employment and training, in the U.S. Department of Labor, during the Reagan administration. During his time in Washington, Plowden received the “Impact” award, the second-highest honor given by the Labor Department. Through it all, Plowden's focus was not on being recognized, Wilson said. Rather, his aim was to help veterans in need. Plowden told Wilson that his most satisfying effort was helping implement legislation that created a job-training program for veterans, especially those from the Vietnam era. In an interview with The Clarendon Sun, Plowden talked about a case in which he fought for a World War II veteran's rights. “I had a veteran who was terribly disabled as a result of his service to the country, but he was eaten up with arthritis and had a son and wife to support,” Plowden said. “He was working hard, but nobody would help him. I took his case, went to Washington, and we won. As a result, he got enough money to send his son to college and become a lawyer.” Contact Staff Writer Jason Wermers at jwermers@theitem.com or (803) 774-1295. Date Published: August 9, 2009 Not standing still at 91 By DOUGLAS WILSON “Billy” Plowden is not a name familiar to most South Carolinians. If you are a military veteran, however, you probably either know him or know about him. This unassuming, humble man has been working on behalf of veterans most of his life, and for the past 33 years has been working with the Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) in Columbia. Though he turned 91 years of age in July, long after most people retire, he still commutes 65 miles each way between New Zion and Columbia each day to look after the concerns of the military veterans in South Carolina. VETS is a part of the U.S. Labor Department, not the Veterans Administration. It has representatives in every employment office in South Carolina to assist both able-bodied and disabled veterans who are looking for work. Plowden is a veteran of World War II. He served in the China – Burma – India Theater (CBI). While there he commanded the 36th Quartermaster Battalion, made up of 10 companies consisting of black soldiers, whose primary purpose was to provide supplies to the Allied fighting forces in Burma and China. The companies he commanded were also part of the building and maintenance of the Ledo Road, the primary land line between India and China through Burma. He became the youngest lieutenant colonel in that combat zone. William Coskrey Plowden Jr., known to all simply as “Billy,” was born in New Zion on July 15, 1918, at the close of World War I. When he was growing up, he worked in his father's Ford dealership assembling automobiles as they came in separate units, shipped in a railroad car box. He became a master mechanic while still in high school. He attended The Citadel in Charleston, graduating in 1939 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. After graduation he returned home to open a car dealership in Pamplico. As the specter of war in Europe loomed, U.S. Senator Jimmy Burns, learning that Billy was a master mechanic, convinced him to come on active duty. His first assignment was to Camp Stewart (now Fort Stewart) in Georgia as the motor and rail transportation officer, and he was tasked with getting the trucks and antiaircraft equipment in operating condition. He then was charged with the duty of shipping the men and equipment for the protection of New York City and California after Pearl Harbor. He was reassigned on a temporary basis to New Orleans to assist in the opening of that port for the use of the military. He was then transferred back to Camp Stewart. After organizing a motor maintenance district, he was then transferred to Fort Benning, Ga., where he transported troops for training under Gen. George S. Patton. His transfer to India and the Burma supply operations came in 1943. He was maintenance and supply officer for an all-black 21st Quartermaster Regiment. (The fact that there were so many black support personnel — builders, drivers, doctors, nurses, lab techs, etc., in this theater is not as well-documented in the history books, though they played a vital role in these operations.) Their primary role was to supply the Allied forces in Burma and China, including Merrill's Marauders. These consisted mainly of British and Chinese soldiers, as there were few American fighting forces in Burma and China. The primary delivery was the C-47 airlift of supplies from Ledo. When weather precluded air delivery, supplies were carried in by trucks and on foot. Some locations took six days of rugged marching to reach. Up to 37 people would carry supplies for the forces in Burma, and another 37 carried the supplies for the carriers. Thought he survived the years in India and Burma, Billy nearly died of typhus after returning to the United States. While in India, his regiment lost 60 members before they figured out that immersing the patient in an ice bath would bring down the fever, control the progress and cure the disease. Unfortunately, the doctors in the United States were not that familiar with the Indian strain of typhus, and patients like Billy had to walk them through their own treatment. After recovering from typhus in Virginia, Billy returned to South Carolina, only to be struck with Oriental malignant malaria. A classmate of his from The Citadel, Herman Singletary of Lake City, had become a doctor and was in private practice working there with the Whitehead Hospital. Dr. Singletary monitored the treatment and would sit with Billy during his periodic bouts with the disease. With this concerned and quality care, Billy was able to recover. Following his recovery, Billy worked briefly to help organize the active reserve military members in the eastern parts of South Carolina (Columbia to the coast) from an office in Sumter. Gov. Strom Thurmond recruited Plowden into a new military government unit based in Columbia, composed of senior ranking military officers, which would help establish a provisional government in occupation situations. This began a lifelong friendship and active support for Strom Thurmond during his long political and public career. On many occasions, Sen. Thurmond would call Plowden to Washington for consultation on important legislation and decisions, especially involving the veterans. Billy was an active supporter of Sen. Thurmond's political campaigns, which carried him into chairing or assisting in the South Carolina presidential campaigns for Sen. Barry Goldwater, Vice President Richard Nixon and Gov. Ronald Reagan. Several times Plowden was offered important government-appointed positions but would not, or could not, accept. President Reagan wasn't taking “No” for an answer, and with the support and assistance of Sen. Thurmond, convinced Plowden to accept the position of assistant secretary for veterans employment and training under the U.S. Department of Labor. After an extensive, grueling Senate confirmation hearing, Plowden served in that role with distinction. Plowden was instrumental in changing the Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) to become an independent agency within the Department of Labor. It had been a subsidiary of the Education and Training Agency (ETA). In recognition for his dedication and outstanding contributions to the veterans while serving in this role, and for streamlining the annual budget of the agency by more than $1 million, Billy Plowden received the “IMPACT” award, the second-highest award given by the Labor Department. Plowden remains committed to ensuring that the needs of the veterans are addressed. As the head of the VETS office in South Carolina, he works with the veterans representatives in each of the S.C. employment offices' local workforce centers throughout the state. The purpose of this program is to provide funding through state employment agencies to support dedicated staff positions, which provide job development, placement and support services directly to the qualified veterans. The LVER and DVOP positions are specialists, whose role is to give preference to service-related disabled veterans in job placement. It is his passion for service to those who have served their country that keeps William “Billy” Plowden on the road, 130 miles-plus per day, even past his 91st birthday. When asked what his most satisfying effort has been on behalf of the veterans, Plowden says it was helping to implement legislation that created the Emergency Veterans Job Training Program. This program was designed to place Vietnam-era veterans in jobs and help them make the transition back into productive civilian life. When asked how he hopes to be remembered, Billy reflects a moment and answers, “I hope I've done something for my people. I hope I've done my best for the veterans who have given so much for their country in the defense of our freedom and our way of life.” Billy Plowden, the citizens and veterans of South Carolina salute you. WILLIAM C. PLOWDEN JR. Posted Thursday, September 14, 2017 6:00 am NEW ZION - William Coskrey Plowden Jr., 99, widower of Ruth Pearson Wilbur Plowden, died on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, at McLeod Health Clarendon. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Sardinia Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Robert M. Jolly Jr. and the Rev. Dr. Gordon K. Reed officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at New Zion United Methodist Church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Stephens Funeral Home. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org WILLIAM C. PLOWDEN JR. • 1918 - 2017 ‘Mr. Americanism’ was known for helping fellow veterans Seen in his office in 2009, William C. "Billy" Plowden Jr. was known for his devotion to his fellow veterans. For decades, he worked tirelessly to get them the medical benefits and jobs they needed. SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Posted Friday, September 15, 2017 6:00 am NEW ZION - Mr. Americanism, mentor, patriot, Christian leader, decorated veteran and friend were just a few of the monikers the folks of New Zion and Sardinia used Wednesday to remember William C. Plowden Jr., who died that morning at the age of 99. The folks in New Zion didn't know him as William C. Plowden Jr. He was "Mr. Billy," a leader in the community and at his church, Sardinia Presbyterian Church, Steve Gamble said. Gamble served with Plowden at Black River American Legion Post 149 as well as at their church. "We had prayer meeting at his house a couple of weeks ago," Gamble said Wednesday afternoon. "He was talking about the old times. We're going to miss these guys who knew our history, and he was a history buff." Gamble said Plowden lived an extraordinary life. "He was proud to serve his country," Gamble added. "He served as the assistant secretary of labor for Veteran Employment and Training under President Reagan, and he was also the past national commander of the American Legion. He went all over the nation giving speeches on patriotism and Americanism." Plowden will be solely missed, Gamble said. "He was a great mentor to the young men in our church and our community," he said. "He was someone who was looked up to. He was a thoughtful guy. He was someone you could go to and ask a question, and the information he'd give you was enlightening. He was a leader with the highest integrity." Robert Gibbons called his long-time friend Mr. Americanism. "We will never forget Commander Plowden, who not only served his community, but also his county, state and his nation," Gibbons added. "He helped so many veterans. He helped with their medical needs, and he helped place veterans in jobs throughout our state." Gibbons said his fellow vet didn't want recognition for his good deeds. According to Gibbons, Plowden held numerous positions with Black River American Legion Post 149. "He served as our past post commander," Gibbons added. "He also served the American Legion at the state and national levels. He was a wonderful leader." In his youth, Plowden grew up in his father's Ford dealership earning the grade of master mechanic while in his teens. Plowden graduated from The Citadel before joining the U.S. Army in 1941. In 1943, Plowden was the youngest lieutenant colonel to serve his country in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II. He retired from the Army in 1965 with the rank of colonel. Plowden continued to serve his country after his retirement by working with veterans and disabled veterans. In 1992, his commitment to veterans earned him the Order of the Palmetto from then-Gov. Carroll Campbell. In 1998, Plowden received The Strom Thurmond Founders Award for his dedicated work with veterans. In 2009, Plowden said he didn't want to focus on exploits but on "the next veteran he can serve." Eight years ago, at the age of 91, Plowden would make the 130-mile trek to Columbia to help his follow veterans. "I'm going to work as long as I can help a veteran," he said then. "If I get where I can't help a veteran, then I'll quit. I just enjoy helping veterans. I like people. If I retired, I wouldn't be able to help." A funeral service for Plowden will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sardinia Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Robert M. Jolly Jr. and Dr. Gordon K. Reed officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in New Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery. - Sharron Haley [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] | |
| MILI | World War II - His first assignment was to Camp Stewart (now Fort Stewart) in Georgia as the motor and rail transportation officer, and he was tasked with getting the trucks and antiaircraft equipment in operating condition. He then was charged with the duty of shipping the men and equipment for the protection of New York City and California after Pearl Harbor. He joined the U.S. Army in 1941. In 1943, Plowden was the youngest lieutenant colonel to serve his country in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II. He retired from the Army in 1965 with the rank of colonel. [3, 9] | |
| Occupation | he worked in his father’s Ford dealership, helping assemble automobiles from the parts that were shipped there by train [3] | |
| _UID | D303D5FAAC4340EFBA1C6062ABEA562F7590 | |
| Death | 13 Sep 2017 | McLeod Health Clarendon Hospital, Clarendon County, South Carolina |
| Burial | 16 Sep 2017 | New Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery, New Zion, South Carolina [8] |
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| Person ID | I168608 | Singleton and Related Families |
| Last Modified | 17 Sep 2017 | |
| Father | William Coskery PLOWDEN, Sr. | |
| Mother | Juanita BOYKIN | |
| _UID | 246B96C2BCBE4E5A883F22FA8E990E5E7FE7 | |
| _UID | 246B96C2BCBE4E5A883F22FA8E990E5E7FE7 | |
| Family ID | F96839 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family | Living | |||
| Children |
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| Family ID | F114924 | Group Sheet | Family Chart | ||
| Last Modified | 20 Dec 2005 | |||
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