The Lonely Road: Ultimate Sacrifices

The Lonely Road is the story of nine men who were killed in action in World War II. All lived on the same road in the small community of Nance in Crockett County, Tennessee, and all gave the supreme sacrifice for their country within 18 months of each other. They fought in different regiments, platoons, and divisions of the United States military. Eight died in the European Theater; the ninth died in the Pacific Theater.

The story is narrated through the eyes of Mr. Fred Colvett, also a WW II veteran and brother of one of the nine men. At a 2008 Crockett County Veterans Day service, a special memorial was dedicated to those who died in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam action. Fred was friends with all those killed in WW II. This dedication sparked Fred's memory and he recalls each man's young life, family, and their days before going into battle. His reflections include rich descriptions about life in rural America during the 1920s, '30s and '40s, and describes the devastating effects these losses had on the small Nance community.