It was my friend, local lawyer John Gallaspy, who desired to recognize Brigadier General Edward Stanley Ott about whom I wrote a column at Fair time, back in October of 2015.
Mr. John recalled my father, the late Col. (ret) Cecil C. Ellzey, having played a role in a memorable program, 61 years ago this Friday, honoring the great military leader, a Mt. Hermon native, at Franklinton High School. While I had not yet arrived in the fall of 1964, I have the original materials (from my father's files) from October 17, 1964.
And Mr. John was present and accounted for. He poignantly noted, "While it's a grim thing to say, I'm probably the only person who's alive who was there." A nonagenarian, he's likely right.
Mr. John emphasized, "General Ott had a brilliant mind. His ability was very apparent. His research and experimenting came in very handy in World War II and in the less dramatic war I was in, the Korean War."
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Weston Ott of Mt. Hermon, Edward Stanley Ott was born on Fair Oaks Plantation in Mt. Hermon in December of 1892. He began his education at the Mt. Hermon School, later relocated to Mile Branch Settlement, before embarking on his illustrious military career. Following his graduation from Louisiana State University (The Old War School) in 1917 where he served as editor of "The Reveille," General Ott was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of Artillery on August 15, 1917, just in time for World War I.
Volunteering for Reserve Officers Training Camp in Little Rock, Arkansas, he demonstrated his "ability to handle horses" which led to his assignment with the 3rd Infantry Division, which figured prominently in the second Battle of the Marne in World War I. Ott graduated from Field Artillery School in 1925; Command and General Staff School in 1935, and Army War College in 1938. He was retained as an instructor at all Military schools upon graduation. His promotions continued through grades to Brigadier General, on June 24, 1944. General Ott was married to Denise Maria Koch Ott.
His major assignments were: War Department General Staff - 1939 - 1942; commanded 91st Infantry Division Artillery - 1942 - 1943; commanded XV Corps Artillery - 1943 - 1945; and Army Ground Forces Staff - 1945 - 1947. And he is well remembered for his introduction of radar in locating ground targets during World War II.
Shortly after his death in November of 1982, General Ott was quoted in "The Era-Leader" as having said of his time during World War II, "As we were marking time in Lorraine, I was offered a radar set if I wanted it. On a visit to the Anzio Beachhead in Italy with my commander, Gen. Wade H. Haislip, I had observed that our ship's radar picked up buildings containing iron on islands in the sea. I saw possibilities of radar as a new means of acquiring targets on the ground."
His employment of radar was a significant success in target acquisition for the artillery.
Just as Mr. John remembered, it was my father, then Lt. Col. Cecil Ellzey, who presented General Ott's remarkable resume of military service to the crowd. Mr. John informed that the Dough Boys from World War I were, at that time, presiding over veterans' events and they reveled in recognizing General Ott. They "Mustered," going through old drill formations as part of the celebration. And it was indeed the American Veterans of World War I, Sixth Louisiana Congressional District, Franklinton Barracks No. 3196 and Bogalusa Barracks No. 3233, who welcomed their guest of honor, Washington Parish native, Brigadier General Edward Stanley Ott, United States Army, Retired, to the Franklinton High School Auditorium. He had been escorted by Washington Parish police from the Washington Parish line on the Amite Highway. The General was accompanied by his sons (rank at that time), Lt. Col. David Ewing Ott, U.S. Army, who became a Lieutenant General, and Lt. Col. Edward Stanley Ott, Jr., U.S. Army, who became a Colonel, along with Lt. Col. Norman Ott, Jr., U. S. Army Reserve.
My father always reminded that General Ott's sons were West Pointers, impressive in of itself.
Early last December, I had the privilege to visit West Point in New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River, for the AAC Football Championship. In bone-chilling 20-something degree weather (there was a pre-game guide advising how not to die of hypothermia at the game!), we watched Tulane, my alma mater, flounder in Michie Stadium (Army 35 - Tulane 14). No matter that, West Point was everything my Daddy said it would be. Historic, patriotic, and honor. It was General Douglas MacArthur who reminisced, "In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange mournful mutter of the battlefield. But in the evening of my memory, always I come back to West Point. Always there echoes and re-echoes Duty - Honor - Country."
Back to Franklinton, once the distinguished guest of honor - General Ott - arrived, the Franklinton High School Band played under the direction of Mr. Byron Dunn Wales. Following the Salute from the U.S. Army Tank, the General's March, the Ruffles and Flourishes, and the Star Spangled Banner, the program commenced.
After the invocation by Chaplain Russell Cronin, Commander Excie C. Bannister introduced the guests. General Ott received a warm welcome from Mayor Pro Tem N. L. Smith of Franklinton; Mayor Jesse H. Cutrer of Bogalusa; and President of the Washington Parish Police Jury, S. A. Knight, in addition to Honorary Citizenship and keys to both Franklinton and Bogalusa. And General Ott was honored with a tribute from then 1st Lt. Jewell Blair, who later became a Colonel, on behalf of the Louisiana National Guard.
Before his retirement on February 28, 1947, General Ott had amassed a multitude of awards including the Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster; World War I Victory Medal, with Five Battle Clasps; American Defense Medal; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, with Silver Service Star (5 campaigns); World War II Victory Medal; Occupation of Germany Medal; War Department Identification Badge; French Chevalier de Legion d'Honneur and Croix de Guerre with palm; and British Distinguished Service Order.
Following his introduction, General Ott gave his much anticipated address - "A General's Philosophy of Life" - to the delight of all present at FHS. The three principles he lived by were listed in "The Era-Leader" article, as follows: "(1) Anything worth doing is worth doing well; (2) First things first; and (3) We must go forward as we cannot stand still because if we do we will surely slip back." In evidence of the latter, he pointed to the downfall of Hitler, who "stood still" while the mighty American Military forged forward.
Brigadier General Edward Stanley Ott never stood still as demonstrated by his dedicated service to our country and highly decorated military career. Yet, he was a man of great humility, writing my father the kindest letter, following the ceremony that fall of 1964, still in Daddy's desk. General Ott's letter read in part, "The participation of your Guard Unit added a very great deal to the 'Day.' All in all, I was overcome and deeply touched. The eleven gun salute was perfect."
Thank you, Mr. John, for reminding me. A perfect salute for a great man and general - our very own General Edward Stanley Ott.
