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Arcelle Aaron Starnes, also known a "Buck" was born in Iredell Co., N.C. His birth certificate only lists his mother Lilly Starnes or Mooresville, age 19. She was a textile operator and was not married at the time of his birth. He was her first child. The father is not listed. He was born at 8:40 am. His death certificate lists his father as E. L. Starnes. [which I am hoping is in error as that is his grandfathers initials, easily confused if they asked her the fathers name and she gave her fathers name.] His mother married James Dennis Smith shortly after his birth and sometimes the last name Smith was used by him.

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Arcelle Aaron Starnes was my Dad's oldest brother. Everyone called him "Buck." I never understood why his last name wasn't "Smith" like my Dad and his other 2 brothers and his sister. As I got older my mother explained it was because my grandfather Smith wasn't his father. I have wondered if he was names AA for his birth father. My Mom told me that the Starnes was because it was my grandmother Smith's maiden name. My Dad was born in 1927 so Buick and Wayne were both born before that. I may have the actual date because I think I have his military record "somewhere." The UDC did give him a MSA [Military Service Award] award so I know I have it. My DAD and all his brothers were in WWII. Buck & Wayne were in the Army, Daddy was in the Navy and Ned was in the Marines. Buck was at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and he was "never the same" again, as the adults always said. He was in VA hospitals a lot. I can remember coming home from school one day and Buck was sitting in my Dad's extra car that was parked in the driveway. I wasn't afraid of him so invited him in the house. I called my mother at work when I got inside, which was the "rule" for us. I was the youngest so usually the first one home. Seems to me that Mother came right home. At that time she worked really close, at the FCX store, which was Farmer's Exchange over on 321. We lived at 908 N. Broad Street at that time. We had moved from Gastonia to Charlotte in 1958. I remember that my mother was very unhappy about it. [the move to Gastonia] I can remember years later when we moved back to Charlotte and I was very unhappy about it, in 1968. The eleventh grade is a TERRIBLE time to change schools. I think my mother probably came right home because she was a little unsure about Buck. When I was about 7 or 8 I was staying with Grandma Smith and I went for a walk with Buck. When Mother came to get me they couldn't find us and panic ensued. We were just walking around the neighborhood and like I said I was never afraid of Buck...I do remember that it was hot and he had a bottle of water - not like we have today. Anyway, the best I remember, it was a rinsed out whiskey bottle and had water in it. It was nasty and I didn't drink it. That was the last of my excursions with Buck for a while. Although I do remember it to this day - 9/28/2021! Over 60 years, considering I will be 70 on my next birthday - In February - that's pretty good I think!

written by his niece Kathy Smith Brewer on 9/28/2021.

To add more to this, I only remember my mom speaking kindly about it him. I am pretty sure he left each of his nieces and nephews something like $500 in his will. I believe he had a leg amputated and mom visiting him in the hospital and all he wanted was a Coke. She felt so bad about that.

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Arcelle A. Starnes, "North Carolina, Deaths, 1931-1994"

Name: Arcelle A. Starnes

Titles and Terms:

Event Type: Death

Event Date:

Event Place: Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina

Birth Year: 1922

Birth Year (Estimated):

Burial Date:

Burial Place: Charlotte, Nc

Cemetery: Forest Lawn

Funeral Home:

Residence Place: Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC

Address: 237 N. Tryon Street

Gender: Male

Age: 57

Marital Status: Single

Race (Original): White

Occupation: Retired

Birth Date: 10 Mar 1922

Birthplace: Iredell Co., Nc

Father's Name:E. L. Starnes

Father's Titles and Terms:

Father's Birthplace:

Mother's Name:Lillie May Starnes

∼Aaron A Smith

United States World War II Army Enlistment Records

Name: Aaron A Smith

Name (Original): SMITH AARON A

Event Type: Military Service

Event Date: 30 Oct 1942

Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law

Event Place: Ft Bragg, North Carolina, United States

Race: w

Citizenship Status: citizen

Birth Year: 1922

Birthplace: NORTH CAROLINA

Education Level: 4 years of high school

Marital Status: Single, without dependents

Military Rank: Private

Army Branch: Air Corps

Source Reference: Civil Life

Serial Number: 14103601

Affiliate ARC Identifier: 1263923

Box Film Number: 01582.15

Affiliate Publication Title: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946

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"Buck" was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Scofield Barracks, and was there when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1942.

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1930 Census, Mooresville, Iredell Co., N.C.

HOUSEHOLD

Elias L Starns Head M 66 North Carolina

Mattie Starns Wife F 63 North Carolina

Arthur Starns Grandson M 7 North Carolina

Some of the other columns not shown above provide the following info:

- Grandon listed as Arthur - Arcelle Aaron Starnes was Lillie's son before her marriage to JD Smith. I think this record is of Arcelle and not Arthur as I can't find another Arthur in the family and the birth age is correct for it to be Arcelle.

- Ellias Owns his home and the value is listed as 1000

- They were 18 (Ellias) and 15 (Mattie) years old when they were married

- They are able to read and write

- Their occupation is listed as "None"

- They owned a Radio

- The census was taken on April 7, 1930 and Ellias died Oct. 8, 1930

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