A 1997 Miller County High School graduate and Star Student, First Lt. Dan T. Malcom Jr., was presented with a Presidential citation and the Bronze Star Medal (with combat distinguishing device) posthumously on Tuesday, November 22, 2005.
The ceremony took place in Willis Park in Bainbridge, where the name of the fallen hero was added to the veteran’s monument recently. A group of family, friends, veterans and Marines were there to hear the citation and events leading to the death of 25-year-old First Lt. Malcom.
The citation and medal were accepted by his sister, Dana Killebrew of Donalsonville. The letter was written to the fallen hero’s mother, Mrs. Cherry Malcom, a resident of Miller Nursing Home in Colquitt who was unable to attend the presentation.
The following was read by a Marine staff sergeant concerning the presentation:
“The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal (posthumously) to First Lieutenant Dan T. Malcom Jr., United States Marines Corps Reserve, for service as set forth in the following:
Citation: For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations involving conflict with an opposing force while serving as Fire Support Team Leader, Company A, 1st Batallion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force on November 10, 2004, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II. As the company attacked to seize the Al Fallujah, Iraq, Government Complex, First Lieutenant Malcom executed a comprehensive fire support plan that took into consideration the multitude of friendly adjacent units, the ever-present possibility of civilians, and the extreme danger close nature of the high intensity urban battlefield. After the initial breach, and from an exposed position on a rooftop, he orchestrated the first of many air, artillery and mortar missions in support of the attacking platoons. Despite the heavy volume of enemy fire directed at him and the team, he never wavered in his mission to support the Company with accurate, danger close fires. As the position became increasingly untenable, he coordinated a covered withdrawal in order to provide support. As he made his final rush to a covered position, a sniper's bullet struck and mortally wounded him. By his zealous initiative, courageous actions, and exceptional dedication to duty, First Lieutenant Malcom gallantly gave his life for his country and reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.
For the President, John F. Sattler, Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central.”
The wording on the second award was as follows: “1st Lieutenant Malcolm is recommended for the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device for his actions on November 10, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq, during "Operation Phantom Fury." He was assigned as the Company Fire Support Team (FiST) Leader for Company A, 1st Battalion 8th Marine Regiment.
“Company A crossed the railroad tracks that served as the line of Departure at 0400 on November 10. The company's mission was to attack to seize the Fallujah government complex in the heart of the city. As the FiST leader, 1st Lieutenant Malcolm developed an innovative fire support plan that carried the company from the line of departure to the objective area. His planning took into consideration the multitude of friendly adjacent units, the ever-present possibility of civilians, and the extreme danger close nature of high intensity urban battlefield.
As the company made the initial breach into the government complex, 1st Lieutenant Malcolm immediately began scouting a location for his FiST to best support the company in the attack. As the fire rifle platoon secured the former Iraqi Police Station, he moved his team to the roof and began assessing the situation. At approximately 0700, the company came under intense enemy coordinating calls for fire from the attacking platoons. From the rooftop of the police station, he expertly facilitated and cleared the company's first of many air, artillery, and mortar missions. Despite the high volume of enemy fire, 1st Lieutenant Malcom remained in an exposed position, as this was where he felt he could best prosecute fires in support of the company.
As the attacking platoons continued to clear towards the south, 1st Lieutenant Malcom saw an opportunity to get better observation of the battlefield and followed in trace with his FiST. He positioned his team on the roof of the Ministry of Education Building that sat on the southeastern portion of the compound. From this vantage point, he was able to accurately employ supporting arms in support of the entire company. By this time, the enemy had begun to deliver a tremendous amount of firepower towards the company. While under fire, 1st Lieutenant Malcom remained in his exposed position and continued to call for and adjust supporting arms within 100 meters of the company's forward trace. Although his supporting fires were delivering a tremendous blow in support of the attacking platoons, the amount of enemy fire directed at him and his team continued to increase to the point of having them effectively suppressed. Realizing that his position was no longer tenable, he made the decision to re-locate to an interior room that would still provide enough observation to prosecute fires. As he and his FiST team were suppressed to the point of having to hug the ground below a two-foot wall, he began planning the hasty withdrawal from the rooftop. Using all available Marines, they began suppressing the buildings to the south and east and he began shuttling his FiST to cover. As this was taking place, the forward platoons were fiercely engaged with the enemy. Not wanting the lose his tactical awareness of the height, 1st Lieutenant Malcom had his team members begin scouting the more suitable location while he remained on the rooftop. At one point during this process, he was moving to validate the new position when an enemy bullet glanced off his helmet and embedded in the wall next to the company command group. He shrugged if off, checked out the new position and went back to the rooftop to ensure his Marines were all under cover and to get one more look at his supported platoons from this untenable but highly advantageous observation point. As he was moving back to cover the last time, an enemy sniper round hit him and killed him instantly.“
Letter
“Dear Mrs. Malcom,
Please accept this award of the Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device to your son, Dan, for his brave and valorous service in combat during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM II. I know there are no awards that can be presented nor words I can offer to soothe the grief of such an overwhelming loss, but I wanted to extend to you my heartfelt sorrow and that of the Marines with whom Dan served.
Dan's death was a profound loss. His selfless and devoted service to our Corps and to his fellow Marines was and is an inspiration to all. During the initial assault on Fallujah, Dan, a Fire Support Team Leader, engaged in heavy combat and direct enemy fire. He planned, coordinated, and executed countless direct and in-direct fire missions in support of his fellow Marines enabling them to quickly overcome the enemy's defense. Dan gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom, and his actions are not forgotten by his men, the Marine Corps, and our country.
I pray that God will grant you peace and strength at this time of bereavement. Our prayers are with you, and we share your deep sorrow. We greatly valued Dan's distinguished service and will treasure his memory. He will not be forgotten.
With deepest sympathy,
R.F. Natonski
Major General, U.S. Marines Commanding General”
First Lt. Dan Malcom Jr. was killed November 10, 2004. The next day his death was announced at a Veteran’s Day service in Colquitt. His body was brought to Colquitt for full military services, and he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The sixth annual "Holiday Express Train," sponsored by the Georgia Southwestern Railroad, will whistle across southwest Georgia with Santa and other local dignitaries on-board December 2 through 4.
The train, decorated in holiday fashion, will stop and allow children of all ages to visit with Santa and receive a holiday candy treat. More than 1,500 children and parents are expected to attend this years's event.
The Georgia Southwestern Railroad will offer free one-way train rides between stops (riders must sign release forms, and all children must be accompanied by an adult).
Sasser will be the only stop on Friday, Dec. 2.
The train will run from Smithville to Eufaula, AL, on Saturday, Dec. 3.
On Sunday, Dec. 4, the Santa train will arrive in Edison at 1:30 p.m. and depart at 1:45 p.m. It will arrive in Arlington at 2:10 p.m. and depart for Damascus at 2:25 p.m. The train will arrive in Damascus at 2:50 p.m. and leave for Colquitt at 3:05 p.m. Santa and the train crew will arrive in Colquitt at 3:30 p.m. and depart at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4.
"This is really a great way to bring everyone together for the holidays," said Terry Small, president of the Georgia Southwestern Railroad. "Kids love getting to talk with Santa and especially love his train." "We enjoy being able to bring Santa out to southwest Georgia and visit with our neighbors and friends."

Teresa Youmans, Colquitt city president of Merchants & Farmers Bank, today announced the bank will change its name to “Ameris” effective December 1, 2005.
“Our new name signifies our renewed commitment to our unique style of community banking - one that is grounded in personal relationships. It’s the basis for our success to date,” said Youmans. “Ameris is from the Latin word “amicus” or friend, so in a single word, we’ve captured the spirit of our style of community banking.”
Merchants & Farmers Bank is one of 12 sister banks that make up ABC Bancorp, a holding company located in Moultrie, Georgia. The banks will operate under the name Ameris while ABC Bancorp will change its name to Ameris Bancorp on December 1, 2005. Ownership of Merchants & Farmers Bank and ABC Bancorp has not changed. The new brand name is part of a strategic plan to improve operational and marketing efficiencies, facilitating growth in current markets and expansion in other high growth markets in the Southeast.
“Once our transition is complete early in 2006, customers of Merchants & Farmers Bank will have the convenience of banking at all Ameris locations,” said Youmans. “When traveling, you’ll easily identify Ameris in locations as nearby as Cairo and Albany, Georgia, Dothan, Alabama, and Crawfordville, Florida, as well as more than 30 other locations in Georgia, Florida and Alabama.”
Customers can continue to use their current checks, deposit tickets, ATM and debit cards. Bank signs will begin to change later this month. Merchants & Farmers Bank is notifying customers, shareholders and vendors about its upcoming name change through written correspondence and its website. A marketing campaign will launch in December to help with the name transition and to build brand recognition.
Merchants & Farmers Bank is located in Donalsonville and has a second bank office in Colquitt as well as a branch at Lake Seminole. ABC Bancorp’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq national market under the symbol “ABCB.” The trading symbol will not change when the new name takes effect.

You can go to Atlanta, New York or San Francisco, and people will ask and tell you about the play, Swamp Gravy. Many thousands of people from around the U.S.A. and other countries around the world have seen and enjoyed the many different plays telling the stories of our southern past.
A few years ago, the Colquitt Miller Arts Council branched out from dreaming to doing other shows between the spring and fall Swamp Gravy plays.
Cotton Hall, the rustic, now very comfortable cotton warehouse renovated into a unique theatre, is also the setting for what has become a tradition in Colquitt during the holiday season. A Southern Christmas Carol opened its third season this past weekend and will run until December 18 . Based on Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol, Rob Lauer gave his play a definite southern flavor in language and action. The show features a cast of talented professionals, spotlighted in several original musical numbers that are part of the production.
Seasonal comedy, traditional holiday carols, and original musical scores come together to bring you A Southern Christmas Carol which opened Saturday, November 26th in Cotton Hall.
For the third year, the Colquitt Miller Arts Council (producers of Swamp Gravy) is presenting A Southern Christmas Carol which will be performed eight times a week from now until December 18th.
Premiering two years ago in Colquitt, and being performed last year, A Southern Christmas Carol has received rave reviews from regional theatre critics and audiences alike. Written by award winning playwright Rob Lauer, the show sets the familiar story of Scrooge, the town’s stingy cotton gin owner, in rural Georgia during the Great Depression. Throughout the show you will see Scrooge as he is haunted by a host of Christmas Spirits, and also you will enjoy rousing original music by Rob. Lauer and Steve Hacker.
The show stars professionals who are cast out of New York and Atlanta. Each cast member performs multiple roles. This year’s production features Allison Spragin who is returning in her role of Celie. Allison is also serving as the cast’s vocal director, and is from Atlanta. Director Rob Lauer is also returned to direct the show along with playing his role as Freddie. The arts council is pleased to welcome many new and talented cast members who include Sincee J. Daniels who has performed in the Toronto production of Disney’s The Lion King, Matt Gibson who among numerous credits include Oklahoma! and The Sopranos. Lauren e. Hauser is joining the cast this year before she joins the cast of Tokyo Disney in Japan as Slue-Foot Sue in January. Other talented cast members who were cast out of New York for this production include Michael Mahany, Nick Mannix, Michael J. Muldoon, Dorothy Savage, and Dawn Timm, each one adding their own new twist to the characters they are playing.
We are also happy for our returning production staff which includes Rob Lauer, Allison Spragin, Steve Hacker (musical arranger and accompanist), Price Johnston (Lighting Designer) and Amy Cain (Stage Manager). We are also pleased to have Karen Beyer back again this year as choreographer whose credits include among others, the hit film Sweet Home Alabama.
If you want to start the Christmas Season with something to get you into the season, this is the play that will make you think about what it’s all about.
The Southern Christmas Carol is the real meaning behind what Christmas should be about, helping those less fortunate than us.
See the ad this week for special family prices, or call 229-758-5450 for more information or reservations to one of the shows in December.

Week of November 27, 2005