By Gaylen Duskey
From the front porch of the old house where Bernard Pious Bell and Roy D. ‘Red’ Stump lived you could see the roof of a house on the main Hog Knob Ridge road where a little later one – actually it overlapped the time when Stump lived in the house – a man named Obert ‘Toby’ Fowler brought his brought his family to live there where he planned to be a gentleman farmer.
And it kind of worked out that way.
Fowler was a Marine veteran from both WWI and WWII and was fond of doing close order drills with his Marine saber for anybody who wanted to watch, But more than that he married Alma Peggy Offutt Ice. She was the widow of William F. Ice and the mother of William L. Ice and Clovis Drexel Ice.
When they married he bought a farm on Hog Knob and set out to be a gentleman farmer and they made a lot of progress at it building a barn that was a bit of an engineering marvel with three levels – one for the cattle, one for general work and one for storage – tying them together with cantilevers and topping it off with a rolled aluminum roof.
It was something else and it was built by Obert, his two step sons and neighbor Sherman Stump.
While William Ice got into the business world and moved to Pittsburgh, but Drexel played football good enough to play in the West Virginia North-South game before joining the Army.
He was also the first person to see the baby me outside my family, the doctor and midwife when he stopped in on his way to school that cold January 17th morning in 1948.
And we became great friends during my real early years as he would stop by the house and take me for rides in his vehicle. I guess I was the only person ever to call him “Jeep” since that’s what he drove.
When he joined the military he because the quintessential professional soldier while remaining a true Calhoun Countian.
Narrative Emphasizing Military Career: Command Sergeant Major Clovis Drexel Ice
This narrative focuses on the distinguished military career of Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Clovis Drexel Ice, drawing on all available details from the provided document.
Command Sergeant Major Clovis Drexel Ice (1933–1991) was a pioneering figure in U.S. Army military intelligence, airborne, and special forces operations, whose career left a lasting impact on the nation’s defense capabilities.
Born on January 15, 1933, CSM Ice dedicated 26 years of his life to the United States Army, serving with distinction in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. His expertise and leadership were instrumental in advancing the field of military intelligence. Notably, he was a principal developer of direct support tactical signals intelligence (SIGINT) operations and played a key role in the design of the Manpack Intercept equipment. This innovation revolutionized SIGINT support for tactical commanders, enhancing the Army’s ability to gather and act on critical battlefield information.
Throughout his career, CSM Ice received numerous awards and recognitions, reflecting his exceptional service and valor. Among his many decorations were
• Legion of Merit (1977): Awarded by the U.S. Congress for “performance of exceptionally meritorious service during his 26 years of faithful and honorable service.”
• Bronze Star (Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster): Recognizing repeated acts of heroism or meritorious service in a combat zone.
• Meritorious Service Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster): For outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service.
• Air Medal: For meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
• Army Commendation Medal (Three Oak Leaf Clusters): For sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service.
• Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with Four Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal, and many more.
CSM Ice’s legacy extends beyond his personal achievements. He was inducted into the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in 1988, a testament to his enduring contributions to the field. In recognition of his impact, both a highway and a museum at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, bear his name. A plaque honoring him is also displayed on the front of the Calhoun County Courthouse.
After retiring from the Army, CSM Ice continued to serve his fellow veterans through his work with the Veterans Administration. His dedication to service, innovation in military intelligence, and leadership in combat and peacetime operations have made him a revered figure among Calhoun County’s military heroes and in the broader Army community.
CSM Clovis Drexel Ice is interred at Arlington National Cemetery (Section 43 Site 4314), a fitting resting place for a soldier whose career exemplified honor, courage, and commitment to country.
He is part of Our History and part of how we got to where we are.
