George Hinton Boucher was born April 20, 1913, son of Solomon Kury Basha and Elizabeth Hinton Hoff Basha, in Charleston, SC. He passed away June 3, 2016. He was 103 years old. At the age of five, he lost both parents during the flu pandemic. He was adopted by Anna Carter Boucher, widow of Clarence Root Boucher. He attended public schools in Charleston and earned a competitive, full academic scholarship to Clemson A&M College, now Clemson University. As a student he was a member of the swim team. He later served as Treasurer for his Clemson class. He received a B.S. degree with highest honors in Agricultural Chemistry in 1934. He was commissioned as a 2nd LT in the Army Reserves through the Clemson ROTC program. George was working for the National Weather Bureau (Geodetic Survey) in Pennsylvania but was visiting in Washington , DC, when he heard President Roosevelt's speech declaring, "…a date that will live in infamy". World War II was declared. George was called into active service at the Army Infantry Center at Ft. Benning, GA for the Advanced Infantry Officer's course, and he began training as cadre for two Infantry Divisions being formed at Blacksburg, VA. Later he helped form the 86th Division at Camp Howze, TX. He assembled troops for the D-Day invasion in Europe in an old military camp in Honiton, England. As part of the 175th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division, he fought across Germany to the Elbe River outside of Berlin. He was assigned the duty of helping clear out Nazi work and death camps. When the war ended, he served with the occupation troops in the Bremen-Bremerhaven area. In 1947, he was honorably discharged with the rank of major. He returned to civilian life and taught in the Anderson, SC public school system. When the Korean War started, George was called to active duty and assigned as an assistant professor of Military Science and Tactics from 1950-1952 at Clemson A&M College, preparing students for military service. In 1952 he was assigned to the Far Eastern Command and sent to the 5th Regimental Combat Team as Executive Officer, 1st Battalion. He saw action in the Kumhwa and Chosin vallys. The 5th Regimental Combat Team has the distinction of having engaged the enemy in combat 94.4% of its stay on the front line. His unit earned the Presidential Unit Citation, Distinguished Unit Citation, and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. George was proud of the star atop his Combat Infantryman's Badge. Both his hands were wounded by shrapnel, but he did not accept medical assistance or accept a purple heart because he felt it was part of his job for which he did not deserve special recognition. He was an expert in hand-to-hand combat and an expert marksman. He was chosen by his men to compete for the rating of Expert Infantryman. He earned fourteen medals and awards, including the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and V for Valor twice. He was later chosen to receive the Order of Saint Maurice. He served multiple tours as a United Nations Peacekeeper. He returned to the states and was assigned to Headquarters, Ft. Jackson, SC where he established communication and educational facilities. After leaving Ft. Jackson in 1955, he was assigned to the Pentagon where he was advisor to the Army and Air Force Joint Welfare Board and Custodian of the Army Central Welfare Fund, the Mess Fund, and the Historical Fund. This was followed by an assignment in 1959 to the G-2 Section, Second Army, Fort Meade, Maryland, where he was involved in security matters. He developed curriculum for the Defense School. He is FBI qualified, but chose to remain military. As one of his duties, he investigated and issued security clearances for the Second Army and the Military District of Washington, including for the White House. From 1962-1964 he served as Commanding Officer of the U.S. Army Depot at Bussac-Foret, France. In 1964, he was assigned to the G-3 Section, US Communications Zone in Orleans, France. George retired in 1966 and returned to teaching in the Anderson, SC public school system. He later worked as a stockbroker and investment specialist. He volunteered for Hospice, the Salvation Army Boys Club, was an active member of the Anderson Roadrunners, delivered for Meals on Wheels, and regularly worked at polls during elections. He donated over ten gallons of blood to the American Red Cross. George has been active in the community serving as president of the Lions Club, five time president of the Military Officers' Association of America-Piedmont, president of The Retired Officers' Association of South Carolina Council of Chapters, and founder of the Greenwood Chapter of The Retired Officers' Association. He has regularly attended Clemson football games with his family and friends. He is a member of IPTAY. He has encouraged many young people to attend Clemson by hosting them for football games and giving them his special tour of the campus. He continued to attend games when he could. He received the Silver Tiger award. In 2014, he was honored on Military Appreciation Day during the Clemson football game as an American hero and remained to watch the game. George participated in the National Games and the Senior Olympics multiple times and won twenty medals in running events of different lengths, including 5K and 10K races. He carried the International Olympic torch on a leg of its journey to Salt Lake City, Utah for the 2002 International Winter Games. George has been faithful in his Christian walk. He has been a lifelong member of Citadel Square Baptist Church in Charleston, SC, but always attended and supported churched wherever he lived. He was a certified United Methodist Lay speaker. While in the military in battle zones, in the absence of a chaplain, he regularly conducted worship and prayer requested by men on the front lines. He was the first to offer help and the last to take credit for his success. He exemplified fatherhood, home, peace, and security to his family and many others. Humble and honest, George was forever the courteous southern gentleman. While ever a quiet, peaceful man, he was willing to go wherever his country sent him and do whatever was needed to keep his home and his family safe. He valued his God, his country, his family, and his friends. He is survived by his daughter, Beverly Boucher Smith (W. Fred) of Rock Hill; sons, Carter Boucher (Diana) of Williamston and Walter Boucher (Leslie) of Anderson; and two grandchildren, Mary Boucher and Andrea Boucher Goodine. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Laurie Keaton Boucher; and two brothers, Charles Beauregard Barsha and Arnold Hinton Ruff. The Graveside Service with Full Military Honors will be held at M.J. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery on Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. officiated by Rev. Dr. L. Thomas Richie. The family will receive friends at The McDougald Funeral Home on Thursday prior to the service from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to Wycliffe Bible Translators at P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL or to the Fisher House Foundation at 111 Rockville Pike, Ste. 420, Rockville, MD 20850 or to Army Emergency Relief at 200 Stovall St., Room 5S33, Alexandria, VA 22322. A message of condolence may be sent by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com. Services under the direction of The McDougald Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Anderson, SC. Events Visitation Thursday, June 9, 2016 1:00PM - 2:30PM The McDougald Funeral Home 2211 North Main Street Anderson, SC 29621 Email: Gail@mcdougaldfuneralhome.com,laurel@mcdougaldfuneralhome.com Phone: (864) 224-4343 Graveside service Thursday, June 9, 2016 3:00PM M.J. 'Dolly' Cooper Veterans Cemetery 140 Inway Drive Anderson, SC 29621 Phone: 864-332-8022 Final Resting Place M.J. 'Dolly' Cooper Veterans Cemetery 140 Inway Drive Anderson, SC 29621