In Remembrance

                                                                                  Remembering Our Veterans

The Merryville Cemetery Association is honored to begin a series of individual tributes recognizing the men and women who served our country. This page represents the first of many profiles we will create to ensure every veteran laid to rest in Merryville Cemetery is remembered with dignity, gratitude, and respect.  As we continue this project, each veteran will receive a dedicated page sharing their story, service, and legacy. Our goal is to preserve their memory for future generations and honor the sacrifices they made for our community and our nation.

Airman Cadet Mance Decalve Start is memorialized at the Merryville Cemetery as he made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States during World War 11.  The Lake Charles American Press News reported that the service was held on March 12, 1943.  As a cadet for the Army Air Corps while training at Turner Field in Albany, Georgia, a crash resulted in his death along with another aviation cadet on March 9, 1943.  Mance was only 27 years old at the time nearing completion of training.  Mance had graduated from Merryville High School in 1933 as per records from the Merryville Alumni Association.  Following graduation from Merryville, he attended Louisiana State University and obtained obtained a degree in Agronomy in 1936.  Upon graduation, Mance moved to Washington, DC to work with the Census Bureau.  After a year at the Bureau, he moved to Rock Hill, La. where he worked with the Soil Conservation Service which is part of the Department of Agriculture.  Mance enlisted in the Ary Air Forces in August of 1942 and was accepted as an Aviation Cadet.  After acceptance, he attended Ground School in Montgomery, Al. and Basic Flight Training in North Carolina.  He was finishing his advance training at Turner Field when the crash occurred.  As he was due to receive his wings on April 10th, his commanding officer presented the to his parents.

Mance was the son of Reverend and Mrs. M.H. Stark and likely naed after his Grandfather anson "Mance" Decalve Neely (1853-1931) also laid to rest in the Merryville Cemetery.  His sisters were Naomi, Mary, and Elizabeth, with brothers, Paul, Leonard and David.  His accomplishments were many and his life though short was a tribute to the people and all veterans of Merryville.