East Texas Medal Recipient Posthumously Honored

GLADEWATER — An East Texas war hero for whom a stretch of U.S. Highway 80 may soon be named was honored Saturday at the Gladewater Memorial Cemetery to mark Medal of Honor Day. According to KETK, Master Sgt. Travis E. Watkins, who died near Yongsan while defending his unit during the Korean War, is the only known Medal of Honor recipient buried in Northeast Texas. The ceremony included a proclamation by Gladewater’s mayor and the reading of Watkins’ citation for the Medal of Honor. State Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, has filed a bill in Texas House to name U.S. 80 from U.S. Highway 271 to Big Sandy the Sergeant Travis E. Watkins Memorial Highway.