Pearl Harbor seaman from Madison Co. honored with tribute service

HARDEMAN COUNTY, Tenn. — The 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor hit close to home. West Tennesseans gathered to honor and remember the first seaman from Madison County who lost his life on that tragic day.

On Dec. 7, 1941, S2C Luther Elvin Cisco, a Madison County native, lost his life during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Seventy-five years later, local leaders payed tribute to Cisco’s service.

“The first man from Madison County to die in World War II,” Bolivar Mayor Barrett Stevens said. “He’s also the first body to be brought back here for burial.”

Although Cisco’s body was brought back to his hometown, a military funeral was never held.

“The war was just starting in those days, and the military did not have the capability of performing a real military funeral,” Stevens said.

Mayor Stevens said he had been working to find family members of the fallen seaman. His efforts led him to Cisco’s nephew David and a few cousins.

“He was dedicated to this country,” David Cisco said. “He went in not knowing what was going to happen. There was war on the horizon, and he went in. Things didn’t work out. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time at Pearl Harbor, but he died a brave man.”

David Cisco was given a flag in honor of his uncle. “I plan to have it put in a case and keep it as a memory and then pass it on to some other members of my family and one of my sons or grandsons,” Cisco said.

The tribute ended with local leaders form Madison and Hardeman counties placing wreaths in front of Cisco’s tombstone.

“This is a wonderful country, and he helped make it a better country,” David said.

A proclamation was presented on behalf of Gov. Bill Haslam. Dec. 7 will now be known as “Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.”