WWII hero gave us Star at the Square, before going off to war

James “Bub” Longmire of La Follette was killed in action on D-Day, June 6, 1944

By Charlie Hutson

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The memory of World War II hero James “Bub” Longmire lives on on this Christmas through a photo of the star he created and gave to the City of La Follette. The Star at the Square, as it was dubbed, was put in place before Longmire went off to war and continued to be a fixture for Christmas seasons for some time.

As the story goes, Longmire was a tinner for La Follette Hardware & Lumber Company installing Williamson Furnaces. He later owned his own business. The Star at the Square was fashioned and built by Longmire before he joined the U-S Army.

Rather than waiting to be drafted, Longmire joined the U-S Army and trained for the invasion of France on D-Day. But Longmire never returned to La Follette to see handiwork again. He fell that day, June 6, 1944, on the shores of France and lies buried in a soldiers grave “over there”.

On Monday, July 23, 1944, Longmire’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard L. Longmire, received a wire from the War Department that their son, T-5 James died in action in France, Tuesday, June 6 (D-Day).

It was said that James “Bub” was well known around his native La Follette and admired by all.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-12/24/2025-6AM)