• Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices
    • Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices

Franklin County Times
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries
  • Records
  • Subscribe
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Policies
  • Terms of use
  • Submit a news tip
  • Submit a photo
  • Birth Announcement
  • Birthday announcement
  • Engagement announcement
  • Wedding announcement
  • Submit a Classified Ad
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
    Franklin County Times
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
    PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Jerry Fancher
    Franklin County, News, Red Bay, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - News Main, Z - TOP HOME
     By  Alison James Published 
    6:08 pm Wednesday, May 1, 2024

    PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Jerry Fancher

  • 🞬
    ❮❯
    “I don’t think I would be where I am today if it had not been for the military. It taught me leadership, discipline, respect, motivation, integrity.” That’s how Jerry Paul Fancher sums up his four years in United States Marines.

    Fancher, 59, of Red Bay enlisted in the military from 1983-1987. He said military service was something he had always admired. He had just graduated from Belmont High School in Mississippi, and he knew he wasn’t ready for college. Military service seemed like an excellent choice.

    “My dad thought it was a good thing for me,” Fancher said. “Mom was like most moms – didn’t want you to go – but I was pretty set on going.”

    Basic training was at Parris Island, S.C., in November 1983. “The good thing was, it didn’t matter what society you came from, what your race was, we all got treated equal. It bonded you in a brotherhood, as a unit and as a team.” After basic, Fancher went to advanced infantry training. “You got to actually do your job and train a little more,” he said. “It was more like a school – but still a lot of running, competence courses, combat courses, rifle ranges, learning how to shoot different weapons.” With Fancher’s performance, he earned a meritorious promotion, entering into his post-training service as a lance corporal.

    Following training, Fancher spent one year on a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, assigned to security patrol. After that he served as a war-guided missile operator for an infantry unit. A member of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, Fancher was stationed at Camp Geiger in Jacksonville, N.C. – but that’s not where he spent his time. His battalion would go on six-month floats on Navy vessels and train all over Europe.

    “You’re always training, in the event that something were to happen. You stand ready at all times,” said Fancher. His days included PT as well as classroom study in topics like enemy tactics and equipment, shooting skills, navigation and more.

    “It was a lot of learning and growing up in the military, and I think it would be helpful to so many people,” Fancher said. “It teaches you to respect yourself and respect others.”

    Fancher was also stationed in Okinawa for six months, and part of his training included helicopter missions. “You would walk off or rappel off and then go through simulated missions,” Fancher explained. Another training mission took place in Costa Rica. Fancher’s unit also made it to the silver screen; they can be seen in the background of scenes in “Heartbreak Ridge” with Clint Eastwood.

    Following the completion of his service in 1987, Fancher returned to the area where he had grown up. He said in a way, it was hard to be in military training all those years and not be called on to actively defend his country. His unit had been part of the U.S.’ efforts in Beirut, Lebanon, just before Fancher joined up.

    “People are always telling me ‘thank you for your service.’ I usually say it was as good for me as it was for them,” Fancher said. He said for his part, he would rather see people respect the flag and appreciate “how good a country we’ve got, compared to a lot of other countries. You can go to any school you want to. If you want to be a mechanic, a nurse, a doctor, if you want to go to church – you have all those privileges … Our opportunities are unlimited here in the United States.

    “We’re proud of what we did, and we’re proud of our country,” he added. “We all want to see the country do better. That’s why we enlisted … It hurts us a little bit deeper when we see it mishandled. We get fired up about it.”

    Following his military service, Fancher married his wife Charlene – they had known each other in high school – and he worked at Cooper Tire and Rubber Company in Tupelo, Miss. Today he owns Fancher’s Taxidermy and Deer Processing.

    Also on Franklin County Times
    Red Bay opts not to take over cemetery
    Main, News, Red Bay, ...
    Red Bay opts not to take over cemetery
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    May 14, 2025
    RED BAY – City officials declined an offer to accept ownership of the privately owned Hillcrest Memorial Garden Cemetery located on Golden Road. Mayor...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Town picks Burks for Place 3 vacancy
    Main, Z - News Main
    Town picks Burks for Place 3 vacancy
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    May 14, 2025
    PHIL CAMPBELL -- The town council has named Billy Burks to fill the vacant Place 3 position. The vacancy was created when former Place 3 Councilman Ed...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    RFD hires 2 as full-time firefighters
    Main, Z - News Main
    RFD hires 2 as full-time firefighters
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    May 14, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE – Two part-time firefighters have been hired full-time to fill two vacancies that recently occurred as the result of one termination and ...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Murray’s post to be filled by Ivey
    Main, Z - News Main
    Murray’s post to be filled by Ivey
    By Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
    May 14, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE — A vacancyleftontheFranklin County Commission after the death of District 1 commissioner Michael Lewis Murray will be filled via appoint...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    GRADUATION PATHWAYS
    Main, Z - News Main
    GRADUATION PATHWAYS
    Workforce option available in fall
    By Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
    May 14, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE Some high school students may soon opt out of two years’ worth of math and science courses. To do so they must choose Alabama’s new high ...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Legislators take action to help rural hospitals
    Columnists, Opinion
    Legislators take action to help rural hospitals
    May 14, 2025
    Alabama’s rural hospitals are vanishing. This devastating crisis is unfolding in the heart of our state, jeopardizing not only the health of our peopl...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    District 1 club learns about landscapes
    Opinion
    HERE AND NOW
    District 1 club learns about landscapes
    May 14, 2025
    Members of the District 1 Garden Club of Alabama met at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Decatur to learn about landscapes and install new officers. Har...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
    Opinion
    YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
    May 14, 2025
    Russellville City Council The Russellville City Council meets at 6 p.m. every first and third Monday at city hall. 256-332-6060.
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    ❮ ❯
    Latest Local News
    Red Bay opts not to take over cemetery
    Red Bay opts not to take over cemetery
    RED BAY – City officials declined an offer to accept ownership of the privately owned Hillcrest Memorial Garden Cemetery located on Golden Road. Mayor...
    May 14, 2025
    Morgan wins cybersecurity award
    Morgan wins cybersecurity award
    RUSSELLVILLE Russellville High School graduate Sarah Morgan recently received the Departmentof Computer Science Outstanding Cybersecurity Undergraduat...
    May 14, 2025
    Super Citizen program honors students, heroes
    Super Citizen program honors students, heroes
    RUSSELLVILLE Second and third graders from West Elementary and Russellville Elementary recently celebrated finishing their 10-week Liberty Learning Fo...
    May 14, 2025
    Sorority donates 435 books to PCES students
    Sorority donates 435 books to PCES students
    PHIL CAMPBELL -- The Muscle Shoals Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority has donated 435 books to the elementary school – one for every student.Ja...
    May 14, 2025
    NWSCC hosts county math tournament
    PHIL CAMPBELL -- Franklin County teams made up of students from grades seven through 12 recently competed in a county math tournament at Northwest Sho...
    May 14, 2025

    More Local News

    Latest Stories
    Marriages
    Apr.29 • Derek Andrew Henderson to Taylor Claire Glover • Canseco Zosima Alvarez to Lara Luis Angel Salinas
    May 14, 2025
    Calendar Of Events
    May19 – Russellville City Council Meeting.Meetings are held at 6 p.m. in City Hall in downtown Russellville.May20– TheRussellville City Schools Board ...
    May 14, 2025
    Land Transactions
    Apr. 22 • Tony and Tonya Welch to Justin and Alanis Epperson, survivorship • Federal National Mortgage Association and Fannie Mae to Derek and Damita ...
    May 14, 2025
    Martha Fay Cooke
    May 5, 2025 Martha Fay Cooke, 85, of Russellville, passed away May 5. Burial was May 8 in the Knights of Pythias Cemetery. Spry Memorial Chapel direct...
    May 14, 2025
    Joseph Onan Lindsey, Sr.
    May 2, 2025 Joseph Onan Lindsey, Sr., 84, of Russellville, passed away May 2. Visitation was May 9 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Spry Memorial Chapel. A se...
    May 14, 2025
    Latest Sports
    2 Belgreen Anglers are state champions
    2 Belgreen Anglers are state champions
    BELGREEN – Two members of the Belgreen High School fishing team, the Belgreen Anglers, brought home the school’s first state fishing championship. Sev...
    May 14, 2025
    PCHS senior signs to play golf at NWSCC
    PCHS senior signs to play golf at NWSCC
    PHIL CAMPBELL -- Kaylie Motes has signed a scholarship to play golf at Northwest Shoals Community College. Motes, who has been playing for four years,...
    May 14, 2025
    Spruce Pine athlete brings home 2 gold medals
    Spruce Pine athlete brings home 2 gold medals
    SPRUCE PINE -- Luke Herring, a senior student athlete at Hackleburg High School, earned golds for discus and shot put at the state track meet in Cullm...
    May 14, 2025
    Lady Golden Tigers go 1-2 in Class 5A regional
    Lady Golden Tigers go 1-2 in Class 5A regional
    The softball postseason run by the Russellville Lady Golden Tigers came to an end at the AHSAA Class 5A North Regional held at the Florence Sportsplex...
    May 14, 2025
    Belgreen punches ticket to state tourney
    Belgreen punches ticket to state tourney
    In a stunning display of resilience and grit, the Belgreen Bulldogs softball team battled their way through the elimination bracket of the Class 2A No...
    May 14, 2025

    More Sports Stories

    x

    Sections

    • Home
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyles
    • Obits
    • Special Sections
    • Sponsored Content
      • Home
      • News
      • Sports
      • Opinion
      • Lifestyles
      • Obits
      • Special Sections
      • Sponsored Content

    Services

    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise With Us
    • Policies
    • Terms of use
    • Submit a news tip
    • Submit a photo
    • Birth announcement
    • Birthday announcement
    • Engagement announcement
    • Wedding announcement
    • Submit a Classified Ad
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise With Us
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter

    Follow Us

    Copyright

    © , Franklin County Times