Celebrating Greenville’s Own ‘Unbroken’
This Memorial Day, Anthony Moore of Absolute Climate Control wanted to thank veterans for their service. He partnered with Upstate Warrior Solution which led him to lifelong Greenville-area resident Frank Tooley, age 88, and his incredible tale of survival in a North Korean POW camp.
At 19 years old, Tooley, a barefoot cotton picker, enlisted in the U.S. Army three weeks after the start of the Korean War. After a month, he found himself in the mountains of the 38th Parallel. Many of his companions were killed. Tooley was taken prisoner by the Chinese and interred in a prison camp for more than two years. By sheer determination, he survived while he watched other prisoners die from starvation. After Armistice Day in 1953 and spending a year in a military hospital following several surgeries, Tooley returned to Greenville. He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for a tour of five years. In 1970, he was elected a county magistrate.
“How could I allow a hero to suffer in the Carolina heat after all he had been through,” Moore said. “We owe so much to these heroes who fought for our freedom.”
Moore donated his time and equipment replacing Tooley’s failing HVAC system.
Upstate Warrior Solution (UWS) is a community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that CONNECTS warriors and their families to resources and opportunities, LEADS them through the process of self-empowerment, and INSPIRES the community to embrace local warriors and their families as valued neighbors and friends. UWS serves Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Greenville counties. The vision of UWS is to restore our warriors with a sense of purpose and to empower the community to be responsive to our warriors and their families. Learn more about Upstate Warrior Solution at upstatewarriorsolution.org.
Absolute Climate Control offers discounts for all veterans and first responders.
Contact: Brian Tedeschi
864-434-0086