Private Luther Cecil Hurst was born in 1911. He was the son of John Wells Hurst and Maleta Evelyn Hammock and the brother of Taylor Hurst, Mayme Hurst, John Hurst, and Robert (Speedy) Hurst. Husband of Rosa E. Abbott. He lived in Sevier County in 1920, but moved to Blount County before enlisting for military service on August 4, 1943, in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He was killed in action fighting for his country.
I am the grandson of Speedy Hurst who is the brother of Luther Hurst. Speedy’s real name is Robert Hurst. Speedy also served in WWII but survived. Luther was born in a small house located on Pickens Gap Rd in Blount County. When he was young he married a woman named Rose who left him while he was in Germany and they did not have children. My grandmother, Bonnie Hurst, Speedy’s wife stated that Luther was killed by a mortar shell trying to build a bridge across the Rhine or Tigris River. She used to carry a news article in her purse that revealed that the only thing they found was a boot and one dog tag. When Speedy asked the US Army where Luther was when he got killed they stated that is classified; he died as a hero and that is all that matters. His entire family tree can be seen at smokykin.com. I have been working with them for years on updating the Hurst tree.
-Submitted by Wade Hurst, grand nephew
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 28 August 1911
- Date of death: 7 February 1945
- County: Blount
- Hometown: Seymour
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Valley Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Knox County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VI, Bottom Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Luther C. Hurst
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