Published: June 19, 2009 11:26 pm      

Eight brothers, one road

Blaine honors Isons with highway sign

BLAINE — Eight brothers set out from this rural crossroads a generation ago as young men in uniform.

They served their country well and then scattered to lives across the country, far from their homeplace on Cains Creek Road.

On Friday, the four surviving brothers came back to Blaine. Howard, James, Robert and Curtis Ison made the trip back at the request of their families and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which has named Cains Creek Road — Ky. 3394 — the Ison Brothers Veterans Memorial Highway.

About 100 packed the Blaine Community Center to unveil the commemorative road sign. The rectangle of regulation highway department green with white letters is to be erected on the road as a permanent reminder of their service.

Three of the brothers declined invitations to speak at the gathering, but Curtis Ison, the youngest, mused on the decision to follow his brothers’ example. “We go through life making choices and decisions,” he said. “One decision I made 50 years ago, to join the military service, was a good decision ... it was probably the best decision I ever made.”

Curtis Ison, born in 1940, served in the Air Force from 1958 to 1962. He lives in San Jose, Calif.

Robert Ison, born in 1936, also was in the Air Force from 1958 to 1962. He lives in Columbus.

James Ison, born in 1931, made the Air Force his career and now lives in Temple, Texas.

Howard Ison, the eldest surviving brother, was born in 1926 and served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946 and then in the Army, Army Reserve and Air Force. He lives in Tampa.

Coming back to Blaine and seeing the turnout in his and his brothers’ honor was “unbelievable,” he said. “I left 67 years ago. Coming back is always like coming back home.”

The ceremony also honored the four brothers who have died:

Carl Ison, born in 1919 and died in 1986, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1936 to 1940 and the Navy from 1943 to 1946.

Merrill Ison, 1922-1991, served in the CCC and joined the Navy in 1941, serving until 1946.

Archie Ison, 1925-2002, was in the Navy from 1943 to 1945 and was awarded the Purple Heart for his efforts during the invasion of Anzio, Italy.

Kenneth Ison, born in 1928, also made a career of the Air Force and served from 1947 to 1968. He died in 1996.

Family members accepted commemorative proclamations from the Kentucky House of Representative in their honor.

Donald and Ronald Boyer, stepsons of Kenneth Ison, accepted on his behalf and talked about their stepfather’s career and influence.

“I believe Kenneth is looking down and smiling,” Ronald Boyer said. Though strict, their stepfather was a good role model for boys growing up on Cains Creek, he said. “We’re proud of what he did.”

The honor is overdue, said Emmett H. Barker, pastor of nearby Elizabeth Baptist Church. Barker grew up with Curtis and knew Robert Ison, though he was older.

“This is a close-knit community. The community respects them and loves to do something like this for them.”