ANITA ASHWORTH pulled open the door to the Warrior Exhibit. Outside, traffic circled the square, everyday life in motion — its freedom preserved by those remembered within these walls. Time slowed as she passed the faces and memorabilia honoring Lincoln County residents who served our country across generations of war.
Hope and anticipation swelled as she neared the World War II area. Here, she would discover the faces behind the stories she tells. Their sacrifice — and the holes left in their families and communities — became personal. Through her contributions to Stories Behind the Stars, Ashworth honors not just the fallen but also the lives they lived and the loved ones they left behind.
Her connection to the fallen reaches beyond research. “I went from Army brat to Army wife,” she said, noting that both her father and late husband retired from the Army. “With my love of history and genealogy, this project was close to my heart.”
Stories Behind the Stars is a national project preserving the memory of over 400,000 Americans who died during World War II. When Ashworth read about it in a Huntsville newspaper, she signed up and completed the project’s online “boot camp” to learn how to help.
Many of the men Ashworth researched came from small communities like Flintville, Taft, and Petersburg. “Many came from large families and worked on the family farm,” she said. “The majority came from small communities around Fayetteville.” Some left mills or fields behind. Many had only a grammar school education.
“But when they were drafted, they went and fought bravely and patriotically for their country.”
Families like Charles and Annie Wright of Fayetteville lost not one but two sons — James Levi and Charles Oscar. Both served in the Navy. Both were lost at sea — one in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific.
Ashworth begins each profile with census records, searching for where they lived, what their families were like, and whether they worked on a farm or in a local mill. Military records help her trace their units and battles, and she turns to newspaper archives and obituaries to piece together more personal moments.
“I usually start writing their profiles with a little background information,” she explained. “The census records provide many details … Military records are my biggest resource, as well as Find-a-Grave and newspaper articles and obituaries.”
Sometimes, family members share photographs or stories directly. One niece sent Ashworth pictures of her uncle, Tec-5 Howard Benson, including one in uniform. Photos and shared details bring life to their stories, ensuring they are not faceless names identified by their service records.
You can help Ashworth preserve Lincoln County’s stories.
“I am still hoping to find pictures of many of Lincoln County’s World War II fallen,” she said. “I am grateful to be able to contribute to this worthwhile project and tell the stories of these men, who would otherwise be forgotten.”
In places like the Warrior Exhibit — and through her careful research — their names are remembered, their stories retold, and their sacrifices are never forgotten. GN
To share information about a Lincoln County WWII fallen soldier, contact Anita Ashworth by calling (256) 651-8615 or emailing her at anita.ashworth@att.net. The Stories are posted on fold3.com.
