Kelton Speegle was born July 18, 1927 in Cullman County and lived in the Trimble and Crane Hill communities. His parents were Urban and Callie (White) Speegle. Kelton was a young boy when his father died from a gunshot wound to the head, and afterwards, he worked on the family farm to help support his mother and siblings.
At the age of 18, Kelton joined the U.S. Army, serving in World War II and Korea. He was attached to the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Speegle rose to the rank of Master Sergeant.
On January 2, 1952, while fighting the enemy in North Korea, Speegle was wounded in the abdomen. He died from his wounds two days later on January 4, 1952. He was just 24 years old. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
MSGT Kelton Speegle is now laid to rest at Valley Springs Church Cemetery in Good Hope. He is honored on the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and on the Korean War monument at Cullman’s Veterans Memorial Park.
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