Harlow F Bates

1913 – 1987
KOREAN WAR ERA

Bates served as a major in the United States Air Force from June 1953 to June 1955. He married Alice Allen in 1940 and they raised three daughters. During his civilian life,
he graduated from the University of Michigan and became a dentist. At the time of his recruitment, Bates was 40 years old and established in his dental career. The Air Force heavily recruited experienced civilian dentists during the Korean War.

His basic training was at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. His training required orientation to military structure, regulations and the medical service system.
He was not involved in combat, in fact, the armistice was signed one month after Bates entered the service.

Bates would have been assigned to a specific Air Force medical unit. He may very well have been assigned to Selfridge Air Force base.

In March 1964 he was in community theater with the Franklin Village Players. His role was Reverend Humphrey in the play See How They Run performed in the Farmington Players barn. 

Clarence Edward Botsford

1877 – 1962
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Unit: 31st Michigan Infantry Company G
Enlisted: 19 March 1898
Discharged: 17 May 1899
Married: Edith Wesley in 1914 raised 2 daughters and a son
Buried in the Franklin cemetery

After enlistment, the 31 st headed to Camp Eaton on Island Lake near Brighton, Michigan. They drilled daily, learned guard duty and followed a strict daily schedule.
Botsford’s unit was sent to Chickamauga, Georgia. Typhoid fever broke out and they moved to Camp Poland in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The unit prepared for possible deployment to Cuba, but the war ended before they sailed.

Botsford remained state side. He was discharged in Savannah, Georgia.

While in the service, 20 men died from sickness in southern camps and hospitals.

Botsford lived in Franklin for forty-five years. He worked for the Wire Cloth Factory.