Marshall McClung
There are heroes from most of the wars America has fought in buried in cemeteries across Graham County.
Thanks to information supplied by Jim Teasdale, we know there is a hero from Israel buried here also.
Ezekiel Shachar who was born on Feb. 3, 1928; fought In World War II for England; and was part of a Jewish Brigade that helped rescue prisoners from the notorious death camps that Germany operated. He went on to assist many Jews reach Israel after it was declared a country in 1948.
Shachar went on to help train the Israeli military now known as the Israeli Defense Force, which has become one of the most well-trained militaries in the world. He wrote training manuals which are still in use by the force today.
Shachar later went into the business world, where he was considered a genius. He married, and had two sons and a daughter. His older son became a doctor, while the other son was a college professor. The daughter did well also.
Sadly, he became a compulsive gambler and a chain smoker. In time, his wife left him.
He wound up in a rescue mission, where he asked for something to read as he could not handle just sitting in his room with nothing to do. He was given a Bible. Being a Jew, he began reading the Old Testament first. He then decided to read the New Testament, and was amazed to see that the two tied together word-for-word – and that all the prophesies listed in the Old Testament had come true as backed up by the New Testament.
He then accepted that Jesus Christ is the son of God. There was just too much evidence that verified this. This led him to be converted and a member of the Christian faith.
In time, Shachar became acquainted with the Teasdale family that operates Master’s Mission, a training facility for missionaries in the Little Snowbird section of Graham County. He visited the Teasdale family there and loved the area so much that he requested to be buried in Graham County.
The wording on the headstone is in Hebrew. He was 61 when he died on Feb. 28, 1989. At his request, the scripture reference Joshua 1:9 is also inscribed on the stone. Although the actual verse is not on the headstone, it reads; “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, mcclungs@email.com.