James G. Smith

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Selma has always been fertile grounds for young men and women choosing to serve in our military. They have accounted of themselves in an exemplary manner garnering from the highest military award through all the others in the arsenal for valor and distinguished service. Unfortunately, Selma has not been as thoughtful in recognizing and paying tribute to its native sons and daughters as other towns and cities have across the nation.

Only recently in a conversation with Johnny Russell was I made aware of one such native son completely overlooked by Selma. Johnny is a life long resident of Selma, and along with his late brothers, Edgar and Donnie, were all contributors and veterans of World War II.

I wonder how many recall John A. Dowthitt from yesteryear? Johnny recalls playing baseball with Dowthitt on the junior high baseball field during their school years.

It just so happens Dowthitt was the recipient of the nation’s second highest military award given for bravery and valor under enemy fire, the Distinguished Service Cross. Dowthitt, a product of Selma, Ala., distinguished himself in the United States Army in the Philippines. Mobilized with the National Guard unit from Selma in 1941, he proceeded to achieve a prominent position in the annals of military history.

The citation awarded Dowthitt reads as follows: Home of Record: Selma, Alabama

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John A. Dowthitt, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company E, 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 10 February 1945, at Manila, Philippine Islands. After an early morning amphibious assault on Provisor Island against enemy machine gun fire, Private Dowthitt and another soldier undertook to evacuate three of their wounded companions. Taking the most seriously wounded in their boat they paddled back across the fifty-yard wide estuary, occasionally maneuvering their boat to push the boat which was paddled by the other two wounded men. Enemy machine gun fire badly damaged both boats and sprayed the water around them but they succeeded in reaching the shelter of a curve in the Estero de Paco and delivered the casualties to the Command Post. Upon receipt of word that another man had been badly wounded, Private Dowthitt and his companion again volunteered to attempt the dangerous double crossing. Selecting an undamaged boat they took with them a mortar squad and a load of ammunition to reinforce the group on the island. Despite continued enemy fire from three machine guns which again riddled their boat, they successfully completed the trip, bringing back two wounded men. Totally defenseless while exposed to the hostile fire on these crossings, Private Dowthitt displayed extraordinary heroism and at the risk of his life assisted in evacuating five wounded comrades to safety. His intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 37th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 49 (1945)

Unfortunately, the intervening years from the end of the war until now are not known to us and attempts to make contact with relatives have failed. We do know, thanks to John Coon, his residence at death in 1992 was Omaha, Neb. He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park with a military marker signifying the Distinguished Service Cross to his credit. Dowthitt’s wife, Marian A. Dowthitt, died in Omaha in 2012. His father, John Alfred Dowthitt (1877-1932) is buried here in New Live Oak Cemetery.

As far as Selma, there is nothing to my knowledge here to signify he was ever a part of the community.

He is only remembered by those who knew him here growing up on the streets of Selma. Somehow it seems there should be more in the way of remembrance in the home town of an American hero, but then, this is Selma.