The Four Oaks Chamber of Commerce in partnership with United Community Bank recognized Talmadge Snead and Earl Smith during the Four Oaks Chamber Veterans Recognition Program. Joan Pritchett, Executive Director of the Four Oaks Chamber presented the awards December 22nd at American Legion Post 346 in Four Oaks.
Mr. Snead was the recipient of the Lifetime of Service Award. He is a Korean and Vietnam Era US Army Veteran and an Army deep sea diver. He assisted in the training of the first African American US Army deep sea diver, Julius Green, and was a long-time member of the US Army Deep Sea Diver Association. He is a lifelong resident of the Four Oaks.
He is the Sunday School Superintendent trustee, cemetery lot procurement officer, and chairman of the building committee of the Four Oaks area church where he has been a member since age 12. He is also a past member of the Strickland Crossroads Fire Department. Additionally, he is past chairman of the Eastern District Wild Turkey Association and was the recipient of the North Carolina District Conservation’s Wildlife Services Award and has been a contributor of historical artifacts to the US Army’s Army Transportation Museum.
Mr. Earl Smith was the recipient of the Dedicated Service Award. Smith retired as an active-duty United States Army National Guardsman after 27 years of service to his country in uniform. During that time, he had five overseas deployments, one of which was in Iraq from 2003-2005. He was a member to the 30th Armored (Old Hickory) Brigade, a historic military unit comprised primarily of North Carolina’s native sons. He is a former Commander of a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, where he still serves as that Post’s Veterans Service Officer, connecting veterans and their families to needed assistance.
Additionally, and probably most importantly, Earl is a frequent visitor to the area’s rest and nursing homes, where he seeks out, visits, and provides assistance to the veterans of those institutions. He also provides transportation for veterans to medical visits, including to Veteran’s Administration medical facilities. He does all these activities at his own expense.
Each recipient received a plaque and a $250 donation on their behalf to the South Johnston Air Force Junior ROTC. Lt. Col. Eric Brewington was in attendance to receive the donations.
