Obituary of Ernest Aldridge Marcum

MSG Ernest Aldridge Marcum, United States Army, Retired, age 90, of Ozark, passed away Sunday, December 9, 2012. Funeral services will be graveside 11:00 A. M. Tuesday, December 11, 2012, in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, 531 Highway 231, Ozark, Alabama, with Dr. Leon Estep officiating. Interment will follow with full Military Honors, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. There will be no formal visitation. Mr. Marcum was born September 1, 1922 in Jefferson County, Corner, Alabama, to the late Wiley Edgar Marcum and Jenny Mae Mitchell Marcum. He was educated in the Jefferson County school system. Ernest enlisted in the United States Army on January 22, 1940. Following basic training at Fort McClellan, he participated in the 1940 Louisiana and 1941 Tennessee maneuvers took part in ski training in Wisconsin and served in Iceland. As World War II intensified, his unit was sent to England and Northern Ireland to prepare for the invasion of Europe. He fought with the 5th Infantry Division in September 1944 near Dermot, France. As a combat infantryman with General George Patton's Third Army, Ernest participated in the relief of the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. After fighting across France, Luxembourg and southwestern Germany, Ernest was in Czechoslovakia when the Germans surrendered in May 1945. When North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950, Ernest was stationed in Japan. He served as a heavy weapons NCO with the 7th Infantry Division during General Douglas MacArthur's invasion at Inchon. Ernest and Betty Campbell Marcum were married on March 14, 1953 in Warrior, Alabama. Ernest served a second tour in Korea in 1954-55. He also served in various assignments at Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, and Fort Carson. Decorations and honors include the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for heroism and two Oak Leaf Clusters. Ernest retired on March 31, 1964 as a Master Sergeant after serving six years as the air traffic control tower chief and chief of ground control approach at the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker. In addition to his parents, Ernest is preceded in death by five brothers, five sisters, and several nieces and nephews. Survivors include his beloved wife of more than 59 years, Betty Campbell Marcum of Ozark; two sons, Perry Marcum of Ozark, David Marcum and wife Debbie of Andalusia, Alabama; one daughter, Debbie Blanchard and husband James of Ozark; grandchildren; Jamie and husband Burt Ahlzadeh of Auburn, Alabama, Abby and husband Justin Fetsko of Dothan, Alabama, Grant Marcum and Colin Marcum of Andalusia, Alabama; great grandchildren, Moe Forbes, Naomi Ahlzadeh, Emily and Houston Fetsko. Service Information