A movie hit theaters Feb. 17, 2014, that would also hit close to home for 94-year-old Auburn alumnus Pete Turnham.
"The Monuments Men" was directed by George Clooney and was based on the true story of a World War II platoon that was tasked in guarding a castle that held over 1,000 years of history. Pete was that true story.
Pete received the Bronze Star medal with “V” for valor and heroism during combat in World War II, according to Tim Turnham, Pete’s son. Pete was unavailable for comment at this time because of medical reasons.
“He has told me on occasion that by being a young officer, he didn’t really know what the war was about," Tim said. "I mean, he knew he was there fighting for his country, but he didn’t really know why. Dad said it was not until they freed a concentration camp and saw the people in the condition they were in that he knew why he was there.”
At the conclusion of the war, Pete and 200 other men were assigned to guard the Neuschwanstein castle located in Southern Bavaria, Germany.
Before Pete was assigned to guard the castle, a small group of men that included George Thomas Jones from Monroeville was guarding it when it was discovered that the castle contained all the artwork Hitler had stolen from various museums across Europe. When they discovered how much the art was worth, Pete and the others were sent to the castle.
It was this castle that inspired the creation of the movie, "The Monuments Men."
In March, history collided when Jones got his grandson to drive him to Auburn to finally meet Pete Turnham.
"That was crazy," said Joe Turnham, Pete's son. "They finally met after 70 years and they reminisced about the war and it was a really tender and special moment."
After the war, Pete went on to serve in the Alabama state legislature for 40 consecutive years.
"I grew up in politics," Joe said. "Dad was elected for the first time the year before I was born, so I have been working on his campaign since I could walk. We could never go to a restaurant just to go eat. I always told everybody, ‘We worked our way into the restaurant and we worked our way out of the restaurant.'"
Joe said despite his father's busy life, he always made time for him and his brother Tim.
"He was a very busy man because he was a business man," Joe said. "He was in the Army Reserve for 20 years. After he was discharged from World War II, he was in the Alabama legislature for 40 consecutive years, but he always made extra time for us. He would take us to the Braves game and take us fishing. We did the things that fathers and sons did and I knew it must have been really hard especially after he worked 14-16-hour days."
Joe said he remembers his father being loved by the whole community.
"I also remember how beloved he was," Joe said. "I am always amazed at how for the last 30 years when I travel around Alabama I have at least one persons come up to me and say ‘you don’t know me but I know your father and he did something for me that changed my life and I will always remember that'. They were all such touching stories about things he did for the people around him that he knew could never repay him in the material sense. It just shows how humble he is."
Pete currently works as the CEO of Alabama Contract Sales Co., which provides design and installation for several projects including stadium seating, according to their website.
“My favorite memories I have with my father are when I was growing up," Tim said. "His job involved driving around to different courthouses. I would ride with him in the summer and all that windshield time we had together serves as my fondest memories.”
Tim said he is proud of his father's accomplishments.
“If I could describe my father in three words I would say veteran, statesman and gentleman, because he truly was all of those things,” Tim said.
Joe told a story about his father's favorite picture.
"His favorite picture in the whole world is a picture of George Patton in a Jeep addressing the Third Army, which Dad was a part of," Joe said. "George Patton named his Jeep the War Eagle. Patton was at Fort Benning and he used to watch the Auburn vs. Georgia games in Columbus, Georgia. Patton admired the way the Auburn team fought so much he wanted his men to fight like the War Eagles did so he named his Jeep the War Eagle, and Dad has had more fun making copies of that picture and sending it to people."
Joe said Pete loved Auburn.
“If it was something that was going to be for Auburn you better believe Pete Turnham was going to fight for it," Joe said.
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