LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Had Salvator Pate not shoved Poe Bostic to the floor of an old school house in Korea in the 1950s, Bostic’s life would have not spanned 87 wonderful years.  It would have been cut short by almost 70 years.  Bostic’s fellow Marine, Pate, saved Bostic’s life from the bullet of an enemy sniper who was later captured by the pair.

TOP PHOTO:  Left is Mitzi and right is Kim, Poe’s daughters at the May 2019 Memorial Day Ceremony at Jacksboro.  Campbell County Mayor E.L. Morton said, “His dedicated daughters reflect his love of family, his fellow Honor Guardsmen and women reflect his leadership, dedication to duty and country. “

“That’s why dad called me Little Sal sometimes and even named a dog after Sal,” said Poe’s youngest daughter, Mitzi, who was known as Lil’ Poe on a regular basis.  Bostic and Pate survived the Korea War and made it back safely to the states.

When the Leathernecks parted ways at San Francisco upon their return home, they did not stay in touch.  Mitzi said when the Internet age began developing in the 1990s, she searched for Sal.  And found him in Ohio.  After a 46 year separation, Mitzi and her sister Kim arranged the reunion of Poe and Sal which began with a prank phone call from Sal to Poe.  Poe had no idea what his daughters had done.  After that call, they met in person a few times.  They discovered that they each married their sweethearts on April 11, 1952, for Poe and 1953 for Sal.

Sal and Poe cared for a couple of Korean boys during the war after their parents were killed.  One of the boys was named Kim, and when Poe’s daughter was born, Anna Faye, Poe’s late wife, could not think of a name for their first born daughter.  Then the name Kim came to her, and she knew Poe would love that.  And he did.

Poe was born in a coal camp on King Mountain near Clairfield.  “He was never ashamed of growing up so poor, but he really turned his life around after joining the Marines in 1947 at age 16,” said Mitzi.

Poe, in his Marine Corp uniform, visits with friends at the May Memorial Day Celebration on the grounds of the Campbell County Veterans Memorial Wall that he designed.

Campbell County Mayor E.L. Morton, and retired U-S Army veteran, said, “Poe Bostic was a friend and hero to all who knew him.  His love of family, country and county were his calling cards.”  Morton went on to say, “what Poe Bostic did for us all at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War serves as motivation to grow a better tomorrow, no matter how hard or impossible it may seem. ”  Bostic was a survivor known as the “Frozen Chosin.”

Poe was missing in action for two weeks.  It was when was trapped in a valley with the enemy all around.  He said at night he could he them saying ” you die tonight, Marine.”  That story made it back to newspapers in the states and was actually read by a mother and her daughter who prayed for Poe.  Little did any of them know that Poe would marry the daughter years later.

Along with a 40 year career at Y-12 at Oak Ridge, Poe, an architectural draftsman, also played key roles at home in Campbell County.  He was a member of the Campbell County Honor Guard.  He designed many buildings and churches around the area including the old Whiteway Plaza Shopping Center and the Coolidge First Baptist Church.  Read Poe’s full obituary HERE.

“This photo is classic dad,” said Mitzi Bostic.

Mitzi said, “He raised us like little Marines, and yesterday was the last time we pinned his medals on him.  This was the last time.”

Bostic lived 87 years of serving God, country and Corp.  Morton added, “The Marine Corps Hymn says the gates of Heaven are guarded by United States Marines.  Poe is the on guard for us now.”  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/23/2019-6AM)

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