MDH-Veterans-November2018

Our Military Heroes

NOVEMBER 9, 2017 VETERAN’S DAY SPECIAL SECTION A publication of the Morris Herald-News, a division of Shaw Media

Charles Akin

Edward R. Aldrich

Leroy E. Aldrich

Nickalous N. Aldrich

Jon Allen

Lester Allen

Richard J. Allen

Bryanna Andersen

Ariel Anderson

Morris, IL Army H 1963-1969

Morris, IL Army H 1968-1971

Aurora, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died Sept. 29, 2011

Amarillo, TX Marines H 2004 Died Aug. 27, 2004

South Wilmington, IL Army H 1969-1971

South Wilmington, IL Navy H 1943-1946

Livingston, CA Navy H 1965-1971

Minooka, IL Army H 2007-present

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Nov. 26, 2008

Carl E. Anderson

Dan Anderson

Daniel Anderson

Glen Anderson

Kevin Anderson

Paul A. Anderson

Ralph Anderson

Rolf Anderson

William R. Anderson

Fort Dodge, IA Army Air Corp. H 1941-45 Died Oct. 21, 2001

Coal City, IL Army H 1962-1963

Dwight, IL Marines H 2005-2010

Lisbon, IL Army H 1941-1945

Morris, IL Navy H 1985-1989

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died June 8, 2011

Seneca, IL Army H 1943-1945

Lisbon, IL Army H 1953-1955

Wilmington, IL Navy H 1974-1995

Ronald Andrae

Raymond R. Andreae

Norman H. Appleton

Ken Arneson

Robert L. Arnsdorff

Lloyd Arthur

Robert Ashbaugh

Alfred Austino

Kirk Babcock

Barrington, IL Navy H 1955-1959 Died Oct. 1, 2010

Morris, IL Army H 1954-1956

Coal City, IL Marines H 1953-1956 Died May 29, 2011

Morris, IL Navy H 1946-1948

Morris, IL Air Force H 1951-1955

Verona, IL Navy H 1945-1946 Died April 16, 2007

Verona, IL Navy H 1965-1970 Deceased

Ransom, IL Army H 1950-1952

Morris, IL Air Force H 1987-2009

Just two simple words…

James I. Reeves 1918-1989 U.S. Army Air Force 1943-1945 Pacific Theater Operations

Thank you

On Veterans Day

Robert B. Baskerville 1923 - 1981 US Army 1942-1945 European Theater Operations

and always, we remember

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Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. • Morris 815/942-2500 • Coal City 815/634-2125 • Gardner 815/237-2526 Baskerville Funeral Home • Wilmington 815/476-2181 • www.reevesfuneral.com

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Joseph L. Reeves U.S. Navy 2009 - Present

Christopher J. Baskerville US Air Force 2013 - Present

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James W. Reeves U.S. Navy 2003 - Present

your sacrifices and honor our freedom.

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Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

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w Choice A

Serving our country has a very big effect on loved ones of those who serve. Family life is disrupted for spouses and children, careers put on hold, and the price of personal

country on our behalf by making this Christmas special for 12 area families.

Wishes will be granted each day December 12-23 2017.

Simply tell us what your Christmas wish is for your family this year.

To be eligible to have your wish granted, you: • Must be a resident of Grundy County • Need to be currently in the military or have been honorably discharged • Entries should be filled out by the service person, his/her spouse, or significant other and submitted by 5PM on Nov.13th, 2017. www.morrisherald-news.com/stnick Forms may be submitted to: the Morris Herald-News c/o Opperation St. Nick 909 Liberty Street Morris, IL 60450

Â

12 Days of Christmas Giving Participation Form Name Address

Phone

Military Branch

Dates Served

Your Christmas Wish

3

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

To give back to those who are serving, or have served, Operation St. Nick is granting any wish up to $2,500 for 12 Grundy County military families with children.

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

n Number of Children

Ages

Can the Morris Herald-News contact you to be part of the story?

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVING Dreams come true for local military families

SM-CL1474987

Yes

No

Sponsored by: MORRIS

HERALD NEWS

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

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Three generations of Johnson family chose to serve at different times for different reasons

By ALLISON SELK – Shaw Media Correspondent The first Johnson ancestor of the Wendell Johnson family came to America from Sweden and joined the United States Army. Now, generations later, the Johnson family still has strong ties to the United States military.

In 1967, Wendell Johnson was drafted into the Army and left his wife and infant daughter to fight in Vietnam. He was overseas for seven months until he was wounded in service and sent home.

When he arrived home, his employer told him that he was a hazard to the job. This veteran had to switch careers, focus on his wife and baby and readjust to civilian life.

Wendell’s son, Doug Johnson, joined the Navy out of high school with the goal of a fouryear term.

“I needed structure in my life. I joined to do four years. Four turned into eight, eight turned into 12 and so on,” Doug Johnson said.

Twenty-two years after he first enlisted, Doug Johnson retired from the United States Navy and now works at a prison.

Wendell’s grandson, Brent Johnson Jr., or Bubba as they all call him, enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 with his parents’ permission and left for training two weeks after high school graduation on June 10, 2013.

He deployed to Afghanistan during 2015 and 2016 and spent his 21st birthday drinking non-alcoholic beer overseas with his fellow soldiers. He now attends Joliet Junior College, wrestles for the college and is currently active in the National Guard.

All three men of the same family chose to enter the military for different reasons, in different periods of history, but all have pride in their service.

Wendell did not have a choice, he was drafted and taken from good job and had already begun his family, but he made it clear that he harbors zero regrets of his time served.

“I am proud of doing what I did. Even though I was not a career soldier, I am proud of my time there. When we lost squad leaders I was promoted to squad leader because I was the oldest at 23. They called me pappy. I said I couldn’t do this, and was told, I had to take care of the kids.”

Doug decided that college was not the correct path for him, and craved structure and order and found that it was easier to stay in the military than find a reason to get out.

“I stayed in so long because of the camara-

derie, brotherhood, sisterhood and the commonality of doing something for so long. I was scared to change jobs and there was no reason to do so,” Doug said.

“I saw everybody going off to college and thought that somebody had to go out and do this job,” Brent Jr. said. “It was nice to see my little sisters protected, I would rather do this job than my little sisters having to do it.”

Even though what took them into the military differed, the bond they have because of their service to the country remains the stronghold.

Doug said although they do not talk about everything that has happened in each military career, he knows that veterans can suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) so the bond of military service allows them to understand how to talk to one another and not create a trigger.

“Each veteran carries something inside,” Doug said. Each of the men experienced varied hardships and have comfort knowing the brotherhood they share as veterans can be found also at home.

“We lost a lot of members and that was the hardest part. I think about their home life and how they will never be a father or grandfather and have that life line extended. Plus, their family has to live with the pain,” Wendell said.

Brent Jr. said his hardest part was to go into third world countries and see the way the people live, conditions he never knew existed and how when he gave a boy a candy bar it made him weep. He then comes home to “first world problems” and has a hard time wrapping his head around what people deem as a major problem.

He said he also gets upset when he witnesses disrespect to our country and flag. “It sucks when I came home to see that, that’s not what I fought for,” Brent Jr. said.

Wendell said he was proud of the lineage of veterans in his family, but that he never pushed the military on any of his children or grandchildren.

“Both adults knew what they wanted to do, and I’m also proud what I did for our country.

Somebody protected me when I was growing up and took freedoms for granted. I realize now how the World War II veterans fought for me and now I appreciate it more,” Wendell said.

“And now I appreciate what Doug and my grandson did for our country. I’m glad they could carry on the tradition.”

Doug Johnson (left) served in the United States Navy for 22 years before his retirement. His father, Wendell Johnson was drafted into the Army in 1967 and fought in Vietnam for seven months until he was injured in the line of duty. (Jacquelyne Johnson)

Army Vietnam veteran Wendell Johnson (right) welcomes home his grandson Brent Johnson Jr. or Bubba from his deployment to Afghanistan with the Army in 2016. (Jacquelyne Johnson)

5

Max M. Babcock

Verne E. Babcock

Elwyn Baker

Aloysius Ballun

Arthur Ronald Barker Poplar Bluff, MO Army H 1965-1968

Morris, IL Army H 1966-1968 Died Aug. 29, 2011

Seneca, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died 1994

H. Michael Bates

Jeff Beck

Todd Beck

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died Jan. 12, 2010

Morris, IL Army H 1960-1966 Died Aug. 20, 2012

Morris, IL Air Force H 1959-1965 Died Feb. 2011

Mazon, IL Army H 1944-1946

Elwood, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died Aug. 25, 1991

Stockton, IL Army H 1958-1960

Brian Barla

Jerry Barla

Louis Barla

Rob Barla

Edward D. Basham

Matthew D. Basham

Seneca, IL Navy H 1985-1989

Richard Becker

Minooka, IL Army H 1963-1966 Died July 5, 2016

Seneca, IL Navy H 1956-1959

Dalton R. Bednarik

Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1944 Died July 28, 1964

Robert Barkley

Andy Barla

Marshall L. Bardell

Cherokee Village, AR Marines H 1956-1959

Marseilles, IL Navy H 1992-1996

Braidwood, IL Army H 1952-1954

Coal City, IL Navy H 2005-2009

Morris, IL Army H 1966-1968

Morris, IL Army H 1972-1975

Morris, IL Navy H 2009-2015

Edward R. Bednarik

Gerald Bednarik

Donald Bekker

Gregory L. Bell

Harold Bell

Kenneth Bell

Robert Bell

Morris, IL Navy H 1967-1971

Morris, IL Marines H WWII & Korea Died Dec. 11, 2008

Morris, IL Marines H 1988-1992 Desert Storm

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1954

Morris, IL Marines H 1953-1956

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died Aug. 4, 1972

Charles L. Benbrooks

Earl Benge

George S. Benger

Butch Benson

Clarence Benson

Earl Benson

Ronald K. Belt

Ronald L. Bell

Gerald Belt

Morris, IL Marines H 1952-1953

Morris, IL Army H 1957-1959

Ed Benson

George Keith Benson II

Newark, IL Army H 1917-1919 Died Nov. 16, 1971

Coal City, IL Army H 1966-1968 Died Oct. 28, 2008

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died March 21, 1970

Ronald Benson

Mazon, IL Army H 1957-1959

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1956-1957

Coal City, IL Marines H 1944-1946 Died Dec. 23, 2009

Kissimmee, FL Air Force H 1966-1970

Morris, IL Army H 1968-1970

Newark, IL Army H WWII Died 1985

Morris, IL Navy H 1945-1946 Died Oct. 29, 2002

Sven Benson

John Berg

Orland Berg

John Bertot

Dennis Best

George Bexson

Newark, IL Army H 1917-1919 Died 1945

Morris, IL Army H 1917-1919 Died June 22, 1978

Minooka, IL Army H 1943-1946

Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died April 23, 2009

Morris, IL Army H 1970-1972

Gardner, IL Army H 1958-1961

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

Lowell Babcock

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

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Edward Beyer

Joseph A. Bien

Jospeh P. Bien

Alvin Biros

Michael Biros

August Black

Brian Black

Robert “Bob” Blaine

John A. Blake

Joliet, IL Army H 1955-1958

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died July 1, 2000

Green Valley, AZ Army H 1969-1970 Died Feb. 14, 2004

Seneca, IL Army Air Force H 1942-44 Died March 4, 1994

Seneca, IL Marines H 1969-1971 Died March 13,1997

Morris, IL Military Intelligence Army H 1941-1945

Morris, IL Navy H 2003-2007

Coal City, IL Army H 1957-1959 Died June 20, 2007

Morris, IL Army Air Corp. H 1946-47 Died Feb. 5, 2002

Warren Blake

William “Bud” Blake Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died Oct. 21, 2006

William L. Blake

Morris, IL Calvary Vet Corp.H1918-1919 Died May 26, 1973

Stephen V. Bliefield

Verona, IL Air Force H 2008-present

Micheal W. Bogart

Joliet, IL Marines H 1973-1977

Bruce A. Boling

Mazon, IL Air Force H 1991-present

Leon Bonneur

Morris, IL Army H 1956-1966 Died Oct. 10, 2015

Robert Borgstrom

Morris, IL Navy H 1959-1964

Bob Born

Coal City, IL Marines H 1973-1977

Brad Born

Don Born

Ervin Born

John Born

Ray Born

William Boswell

Bernard Bounds

Richard Bradley

Richard L. Bradley

Morris, IL Army H 1945-1946 Died June 30, 2011

Coal City, IL Air Force H 1971-1975

Coal City, IL Marines H 1943-1946 Died Dec. 15, 2006

Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died June 1, 2009

Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died March 9, 2010

Coal City, IL Army/Air ForceH1939-45 Died Aug. 13, 1991

Seneca, IL Army, Nat’l Guard H 2011-present

Bloomington, IL Marines H 1965-1967

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Aug. 18, 2009

Morris, IL Army H 1962-1965

John E. Brady

LeRoy W. Brady

Leroy Brandt

George Brayton

Charles Brehm

Raymond L. Brenczewski

Raymond P. Brenczewski Joliet, IL Army H WWII Died 2004

Hugh Brennan

Joliet, IL Air Force H 1986-2006

Scott Breslar

Morris, IL Army H 1974-1975

Robert E. Brooks I

William L. Brooks

John Broucek

Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1946

Northlake, IL Army H 1964-1966 Died March 22, 2014

Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died June 11, 2001

Morris, IL Navy H 1951-1955

Morris, IL Army H 1952-1954

Joliet, IL Army H 1966-1968

Andrew R. Brewer

Andrew W. Brian

Donald E. Bright

Lonnie Briley

Walter D. Britz

Joe Brochman

Coal City, IL Army National Guard H 2006-present

Morris, IL Army H 2006-2008

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

Morris, IL Army H 1956-1976 Died Aug. 7, 2009

Joliet, IL Army H 1968-1970 Died April 3, 2005

Stillwater, MN Army H 1954-1956

Morris, IL Army H 1939-1945 Died March 14, 1963

Gardner, IL Navy Reserves H 1956-1962

Braceville, IL Army H 1954-1956

7

Robert D. Brown

Robert E. Brown

Emil Buberle

Charles L. Bumgardner

Kenneth E. Bunker

Francis A. Bunton

John Patrick Bunton

Jeff Alan Burchfield

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1964 Died June 6, 2007

Zephyr Hills, FL Army H 1951-1953

Morris IL Air ForceH1943-46, 1950-51 Died Sept. 1987

Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died April 23, 2006

Carbon Hill, IL Army H 1967-1969

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Aug. 24, 1972

Coal City, IL Navy H 1944-1945 Died April 19, 1966

Coal City, IL Marines H 1973-1975

Morris, IL Air Force H 1989-1994

Jeff Alan Burchfield

Gene Burd

Carl B. Burkett

Bruce Burkhart

Melvin Butler

Charles G. Butterfield, Sr. Morris, IL Army H 1946-1947 Died Feb. 25, 2005

William Butterfield

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died March 19,1996

Agnes LaDelle Byers Braceville, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died 2010

Robert A. Byers

Braceville, IL Marines H 1943-1945 Died 2002

Catherine A. Canik

Edward L. Canik

Paul Canik

Charles L. Carey

Morris, IL Army H 2001-present

Plano, IL Navy H 1963-1967

Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died Jan. 1, 1999

Mazon, IL Army Air Corp. H 1942-46 Air Force H 1946-1979

Toledo, OH Navy H 1945-1949

Jack Cacello

Pete Cacello

Danny Cain

Charles Callahan

Daniel Callahan

South Wilmington, IL Army H 1941-1945

Morris, IL Air Force H 1942-1945 Died Dec. 11, 1968

Morris, IL Air Force H 1956-1959 Died Oct. 14, 2010

Morris, IL Air Force H 1955-1958

Brodhead, WI Navy H 1968-1971

Homer Glen, IL Marines H 1942-1944 Died March 9, 2007

Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1967

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died June 17, 2013

Albert “Swede” Carlson

Leonard S. Carlson

Robert S. Carlson

Eric Carriger

Edward J. Cepiel, Sr.

Bridget Lenzie Cermak Coal City, IL IL Nat’l Guard H 1990-1996

Ralph Chamness

Reddick, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died June 2006

Ralph T. Chandler

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died 1980

Frank Cheshareck

Morris, IL Marines H 1953-1955 Died July 7, 2009

Ron Cingrani

John Clampitt

Evan E. Clark

Candace M. Clay

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died May 6, 2001

Kinsman, IL Air ForceH1941-45, 52-53 Died Feb. 1998

Morris, IL Marines H 1969-1972

Chapin, IL Marines H 2006-2011

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died June 20, 2011

Louis Bernard Cheshareck

William Cheshareck

Willie Cheshareck

Richard “Riz” Chouinard

Milford Christianson

Morris, IL Army Air ForceH1946-49 Died April 15, 1955

Morris, IL Army H 1945-1946 Died Feb. 27, 2010

Morris, IL Army H WWII Died Feb. 7, 1997

Morris, IL Air Force H 1942-1953 Died July 19, 2016

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Feb. 28, 1982

Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1967

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died March 6, 2002

Gardner, IL Army H 1955-1957

Minooka, IL Navy H 2002-2013

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

South Wilmington, IL Army H 1970-1971

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

George Brown

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

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AUTOMOTIVE

The Entire Staff at Greenway Motors Would Like To Say

Thank You

To Our United States Veterans We

Honor Those Who Serve

300 Bedford Rd. (Rt. 6) • Morris, IL 60450

855-827-4778

9

Matthew R. Clay

Chester Claypool

Jared Claypool

John LeRoy Claypool

Lester Claypool

Rodney A. Clements

Jack Cobb

Robert E. Cohenour

Minooka, IL Navy H 2005-2010

Minooka, IL Marines H 2004-2013

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died May 2001

Morris, IL Marines H 2003-2004

Morris, IL Army H 1958-1960

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died May 25,1980

Morris, IL Marines H 1968-1972 Died May 21, 2007

Glen Allen, MO Air Force H 1951-1955

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1947 Died July 31, 1985

Edward “Ted” Conley

Chad Cook

Daniel R. Cook, Sr.

Orin C. Cooper

Clemer Corn

S. Carter Corsello

Joseph Corsello

Thomas F. Costello

Douglas Cotter

Morris, IL Navy H 1941-1945 Died Dec. 16, 2007

Morris, IL Army H 1991-present

Morris, IL Army H 1967-1969

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

Braidwood, IL Navy H 1942-1947

Morris, IL Army H 1988-2010

Morris, IL Army H 1952-1954

Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died July 4, 2003

Morris, IL Army H 1968-1970

Daniel P. Cox

Dean W. Cox

Robert Craig

Don Crater

Walter Cripe

George Cromwell

William Cromwell

Andy Cronin

Curtis Cronin

Rockdale, IL Army H 1985-1988

Morris, IL Army H 1953-1954

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1952-1956 Died April 11, 2009

Cedar Lake, MN Air Force H 1968-1972

Mazon, IL Army H 1950-1958 Died April 21, 1980

Mazon, IL Coast Guard H 1942-44 Died Dec. 23, 1983

Dwight, IL Navy H active

Dwight, IL Navy H 1998-2011

Joshua Crosby

James K. Cryder

Harold H. Cunning

Bill G. Daniels

Curtis Danielson

Jerome Danielson

Robert Darin

Eugene W. Datti

Bernard C. Davidson

Seneca, IL Army H 2004-present

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died July 15, 2010

So. Wilmington, IL Air Force H 1951-1953

Coal City, IL Army H 1951-1953

Marseilles, IL Army H 1946-1948 Died Jan. 7, 1982

Marseilles, IL Army H 1941-1946 Died Sept. 6, 1948

Morris, IL Marines H 1975-1979

Marseilles, IL Army H 1965-1967

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1961 Died March 15, 1981

John R. “Jack” Davidson

Maurice R. “Buck” Davidson

Mark Davis

Matthew Davis

Robert Davis

Wesley J. Davis

Ryan P. Davisson

Joseph L. Davito

Lee J. Davito

Morris, IL Navy H 1946-1948 Died Sept. 15, 1991

Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died April 25, 1994

Joliet, IL Army H 2003-present

Joliet, IL Army H 2005-present

Morris, IL Army H 1962-1964

Morris, IL Navy H 2005-present

Minooka, IL Navy H 2005-present

Coal City, IL Army Air Force H 1943-45 Died July 17, 2001

Coal City, IL Army H 1972-1975

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Branson, MO Navy H 1980-1983

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

Christine M. Clay

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

10 Glenn “Dutch” DeLong Elvin Davy

Harry Davy

Neil E. Davy

Juan R. De Leon

Glenn G. Dearth

Wilbert J. Dearth

Robert Lee Decker

Gary DeLong

Coal City, IL Army H 1945-1946 Died Nov. 22, 2001

Morris, IL Navy H 1958-1964

Coal City, IL Air Force H 1968-1973

Seguin, TX Army H 1970-1973

Coal City, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died Sept. 2003

Coal City, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died 1975

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946

Dwight, IL Marines H 1968-1970

Robert DeLong

Zachary D. DeLong

Rob Dettman

Irving DeWald

John N. Diederich

Albert Dinelli

Louis A. Dinelli

Mario D. Dinelli

Dwight/Streator, IL Marines H Korea Died 1990s

Peter Dinelli

Dwight, IL Army H WWII Died 1994

Dwight, IL Marines H active

Morris, IL Army H 1997-2009

Coal City, IL Navy H 1957-1976

Morris, IL Army H 1958-1963

So. Wilmington, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died June 25, 2001

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died Nov. 21, 2011

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died April 5, 2006

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died Oct. 2, 1981

Terry Dingbaum

Tim Dippon

Raymond Dirker

Kyle Dite

Louis C. Dite

Owen P. Dite

Raymond Dite

Richard A. Dite

James W. Dolan, Jr.

Dubuque, IA Army H 1988-1991

Dwight, IL Marines H 2000-2004

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died April 6, 2003

Terre Haute, IN Army H 2009-present

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died April 15, 1967

Joliet, IL Army H 1970-1972

Morris, IL Army H 1945-1946

Morris, IL Army H 1959-1960

Morris, IL Army H 1966-1969

James Wayne Dolan

Pete Dolan

Terrence Donahue

John F. Doran

Andrew J. Downs

Jacob Downs

Michael A. Downs

Bob Drake

Dan Dransfeldt

Morris, IL Army H 1991-1996 Died Jan. 20, 1996

Diamond, IL Army H 1953-1956, 1962-1965

Morris, IL Army H 1966-1968

Dwight, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died April 10, 1959

Channahon, IL Army H 1966-1969 Died Dec. 6, 2010

New Lenox, IL Army H 2013-present

Channahon, IL Army H 1990-2008

New Lenox, IL Marines H 1941-1946 Died Sept. 13, 1999

Morris, IL Army H 1969-1971

Robert B. Duket

Carl Eugene Dummitt

Mike Dummitt

Peter Dummitt

David Dunlap

Bob Durkee

Donald “Tink” Durkee

Erwin “Nick” Durkee

George Durkee

Rockford, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died Feb. 13, 2005

Morris, IL Army H 1946-1947 Died May 4, 2006

Morris, IL Army H 1969-1972

Morris, IL Marines H 1964-1988

Dwight, IL Air Force H active

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died 2007

Morris, IL Army H 1946-1948 Died 1993

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died Sept. 20, 2011

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died 1972

11

Vincent J. Eddy

David Edge

Everett Egeland

Roy Egeland

Tyler Eichelberger

Jerry Einhaus, Sr.

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died 1975

John Durkee

Morris, IL Army H 1953-1955 Died 1957

Henry (Hank) Dyer Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died Dec. 30, 2011

Morris, IL Air Force H 1965-1969

Ashland, MS Marines H 1966-1967

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died March 7, 2005

Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1945

Diamond, IL Navy H 2009-2013

Seneca, IL Army H 1968-1970

Tom Einhaus

Kenneth D. Elberson

Louie Eliakis

Steve A. Eliakis

Derek W. Ellis

Dwayne L. Ellis

Derek Elsey

John R. Ely

Harion Enervold

Morris, IL Marines H 1960-1963

Morris, IL Army H 1954-1956

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died 1996

Ottawa, IL Navy H 1983-1988

Ottawa, IL Navy H 1956-1960

Dwight, IL Air Force H active

Mazon, IL Air Force H 1961-1964

Seneca, IL Marines H 1966-1970

Harris Enervold

Olaf Enervold

Richard Enervold

Burdett O. Enger

Matt Enger

Raymond “Bud” Enger Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Dec. 1971

William English, Jr.

So. Wilmington, IL Army H WWII Died 1994

John Enrietta

Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died March 8, 1997

Dale B. Eslinger

Minooka, IL Army H 1968-1972

Ersel Fannin

J. Marvin Fannin

Lloyd V. Fannin

Lloyd Fannin

John “Louie” Farber

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946

Roger Eslinger

Thomson, IL Air Force H 1962-1966 Died March 11, 2006

John D. Farrero, Sr.

Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1948 Died Feb. 20, 1990

Seneca, IL Marines H 1970-1974

O. B. Evans

Gadsden, TN Army H 1952-1954 Died June 9, 2010

Richard Farrero

Coal City, IL Army H 1966-1968

Morris, IL Army H 1956-1958

Wilmer “Bill” Falck Melvin, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Oct. 16, 2005

Leo Fatlan

Gardner, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Feb. 21, 2010

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died June 20, 2005

Joseph O. Fancher

Morris, IL Army Air ForceH1942-1945 Died 1976

Tom Feehan

Morris, IL Navy H 1945-1946 Died 1980

Morris, IL Marines H 2007-2011

Camp Dix, KY Army H 1941-1945 Died Nov. 10, 2000

James R. Feeney, Sr.

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Oct. 28, 1971

Morris, IL Air Force H 1949-1954

Richard J. Ferguson

Morris, IL Navy Air H 1950-1954

Morris, IL Army H 1949-1952

Russell Ferguson

Morris, IL Marines H 1958-1961

Morris, IL Army H 1944-1945 Died 1980

William M. Ferguson

Morris, IL Marines H 1951-1953

Morris, IL Marines H 2007-2011

Dominic Ferrari

Gardner, IL Army H 1958-1960

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Seneca, IL Navy H 1961-1981 Died July 14, 1986

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

Jim Durkee

The Giving Spirit Operation St. Nick helps Grundy County veterans in times of need Morris Herald-News ‘12 Days of Christmas Giving’ is one of the many programs Operation St. Nick has to serve Grundy County residents.

Each year in December, Operation St. Nick grants wishes worth up to $2,500 to 12 active military personnel or military veterans who live in Grundy County who were honorably discharged.

Joe Schmitz, Operation St. Nick President says, “Helping our Military personnel and Veterans by granting them a Christmas wish that they most likely would not be able to receive for their families, is a wonderful and humbling way to say ‘THANK YOU’ for your service. It’s not just Operation St. Nick saying ‘THANK YOU’ to our Military and Veterans, it’s the entire Grundy County Community that donates and wants to salute those who serve our Country.”

In 2016, a wish was fulfilled for a young ser-

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

viceman who was stationed in Germany, but unable to fly home because of the cost of the round trip flight. “We were able to fly him home, and take care of a couple of his wishes for gifts. I thought his mother was going to pass out when we told her his wish was granted,” said Schmitz.

The board gives first priority to servicepersons and veterans who have families and are struggling. The gifts can range in variety from gift cards to home improvement assistance and more.

Funds for the 12 Days of Christmas Giving come mostly from Operation St. Nick’s Norton Cup, which was held last summer. Additional funds come from the organization’s annual radio auction and donations from the public.

Grundy County veterans who have been honorably discharged and those who are currently in

Thanks

active service can apply for the program themselves, or family can nominate them.

To be eligible to have your wish granted, you: • Must be a resident of Grundy County • Need to be currently in the military or have been honorably discharged Entries should be filled out by the service person, significant other or family member and submitted by 5PM on Nov.13th, 2017.

Complete the form online at: www.morrisherald-news.com/stnick or complete the form on page 3 and mail to: Operation St. Nick, PO Box 781, Morris, IL 60450.

The following First Midwest Bank locations will also have applications available: Morris, Seneca, Minooka, Coal City, Wilmington and Gardner.

Wishes will be distributed Dec. 12-23.

HHHHHHHH

Fruland

Funeral Home A truly personal service in

TO OUR COUNTRY’S VETERANS

your time of need

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201 Liberty Street Morris, IL 60450 (815) 942-0130 www.grundybank.com

HHHHHHHH

adno=0293680 SM-CL1474438

Saluting the United States Armed Forces

• Locally Owned •Traditional Funeral Services • Offering Prepaid Funerals • Cremation & Memorial Services Available

121 W. Jefferson St. • Morris, IL

942-0700 • www.frulandfuneralhome.com

We Salute Our Veterans

Thank you Veterans!

We owe our way of life to your brave defense of freedom.

The country and it’s people are in your debt.

INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC

Richard Hexdall and Staff wish to Thank our Veterans for their service to our Country

To all our veterans and active-duty military, we thank you for your service

Visit our new Morris & Diamond locations to learn about the PLUS SM-CL1474416

| Veterans Day Special Section

12

322 Liberty St. (corner of Liberty 7 Jefferson) Morris, IL • 942-4900 • www.rothjorstadins.com

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13

Bill Finfrock

Daniel Finn

William Finn

Leonard R. Fioritto

Leonard Fioritto

Dale W. Fitch

Gary P. Fitzmaurice

Maurice Fleetwood

Verona, IL Navy H 1940-1945 Died June 25, 1986

Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967

Coal City, IL Army H 1970-1972

Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1945

Coal City, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died March 11, 1996

Coal City, IL Air Force H 1966-1970

Morris, IL Army H 1968-1970

Morris, IL Air Force H 1963-1967

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Oct. 29, 1973

Bob Flynn

Rocky L. Flynn

Dorsey Foster

Nathan Fox

Jessica (Claypool) Franz Morris, IL Marines H 2007-2010

Howard Fread

Morris, IL Army H 1917-1919 Died 1980

Gerald L. Friant

Morris, IL Army H 1964-1965

Glenn Friant

Morris, IL Army H 1958-1961

Leonard Friddle

Coal City, IL Army H 1965-1968

Kevin J. Gaffney

Marvin J. Gagliardo

Jim Gallagher

Norval Galloway

Robert A. Gallup

Morris, IL Navy H 1948-1952

Morris, IL Marines H 1968-1969

Morris, IL Navy H 1981-1985

Dwight, IL Marines H 2006-2010

Natalie Friend

Larry J. Frosch

William E. Fruland

Raymond D. Gaddo

Morris, IL Air Force H 1981-1985

Thomson, IL Air Force H 1961-1965 Died 2011

Morris, IL Air Force H 1974-2000

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died May 9, 2007

Poplar Grove, IL Navy H 2003-2012

Seneca, IL Navy H 1987-1991

Streator, IL Army H 1942-1945

Verona, IL Air Corp. H 1942-1946

On a day like today, it is important to remember freedom is not free.

Promoting the Welfare of Honorably Discharged Veterans The GCVAC can assist with most federal and state veterans benefits; such as:

• Assistance with enrollment in the VA health care system • Assistance with VA disability compensation & pension claims • Non-emergency transportation to Hines and the Joliet clinic • Financial assistance for veterans with basic needs • VA educational benefits (GI Bill) • Burial benefits • Surviving spouse programs • Military record retrieval / discharge documents • Referral to other programs & services in Will & Grundy Counties • ALL GCVAC programs and services are FREE

If it werre no ot fo or th hosse who fight and d have e fough ht for edom ms and va alues we enjoy, we wou uld d nott live the free he grea ate estt countr y in the hisstory y of the world. in th

Monthly meetings are open to veterans and the public and are held at 10am the 3rd Saturday of each month For more info call 815-941-3152 or email: vacgrundycounty@gmail.com

1320 Union St., Morris, IL 60450

SM-CL1474110

SM-CL1474395

w w w. f re d c d a m e s .cc o m

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Grundy County Veterans Assistance Commission

Coal City, IL Army H 1952-1953 Died June 17, 2011

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

Russell J. Finch

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

14

Gene Gang

Maurice G. Gantzert

Robert Garcia

Charles “Chuck” Garling Morris, IL Army H 1952-1954 Died March 1, 2007

Roy Gleen

Morris, IL Navy H 1952-1956

Mazon, IL Army H 1941-1963 Died Jan. 8, 1989

Morris, IL Marines H 1963-1967

Richard A. Gilmour

LeRoy Gilmoure

Lando Gingerich

Coal City, IL Army H 1957-1959

Mazon, IL Army H 1943-1946

Kalona, IA Air Force H 1950-1954

Leonard Don Goodwin

Jesse W. Gonnam

Verona, IL Air Force H 1941-1945 Died Aug. 2, 2002

Tom Granger

Ronald Goode

Crestview, FL Marines H 1953-1955 Died Nov. 8, 2006

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1953 Died Feb. 14, 2005

Reddick/Gardner, IL Army H 1940-1945 Died Nov. 10, 2006

Bob Gilbertson

Morris, IL Army H 1969-1971

Ralph Gilbertson, Sr. Mazon, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died Nov. 5, 2008

Coal City, IL Army H 1953-1955

Coal City, IL Marines H 1968-1970

Edward J. Glenney

Lyle Goff

Keith Golimowski

Michael Golimowski

James W. Gonnam

Morris, IL Navy H 1956-1960

Palmyra, IL Air Force H 1949-1953 Died May 30, 1989

Edna Roach Graham

Camp Point, IL Army Flight NurseH1941-45 Died March 1986

Ole M. Greenley, Sr.

Morris, IL Air Force H 1966-1969

Dick Gilchrist

John Gilchrist

Morris, IL Army H 2009-present

Morris, IL Army H 1968-1970

Verona, IL Army H 1972-1974

Tracy N. Graham

John Gram

Elmer T. Granger

Roger M. Gordon

Mazon, IL Army H 1968-1970

Ole M. Greenley, Jr.

Phil Gilbert

Nicholas W. Gregoire

Dale Grieff

L. Rice Graham

Griffin, GA Navy H 1941-1945 Died Feb. 2002

Morris, IL Navy H 2003-2008 Coast Guard ReservesH2009-present

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1946 Died Feb. 23, 2009

William J. Griffiths

Eric Gronski

Eddie Grove

Robert L. Gualandi

So. Wilmington, IL National Guard H 1976-1981

Morris, IL Navy H 1969-1970 Died Oct. 11, 2013

Morris, IL Navy H 1941-1945 Died Aug. 25, 1974

Morris, IL Marines H 2003-2006

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1968-1970

Mazon, IL Army H 1949-1953 Died March 6, 1996

Babcock, WI Army H 1965-1968

Morris, IL Army H Korean War Died March 13, 1996

Braceville, IL Marines H 1987-1997

Mervin “Bud” Guard

Stephen Guard

Gary Gunnerson

Chris Guthrie

Elwood Hahn

George W. Hall

William S. Halterman

Peter Hammond

Daniel Hamric

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died Dec. 2000

Morris, IL Army H 1969-1972

Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967

Morris, IL Air Force H 2010-present

Morris, IL Navy H 1953-1961

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died April 23, 2015

Mazon, IL Army Air Corp.H1941-45 Died Nov. 19, 2014

Morris, IL Navy H 1967-1971 Died Oct. 2, 2017

Morris, IL Army H 1988-1992

15

Lars M. Hansen

Leonard M. Hansen

Lowell R. Hansen

Sherman Hansen

Jerry Hanson

Lloyd Hanson

Raymond Hanson

Stanley Hanson

Morris, IL Air Force H 1943-1946 Died Jan. 27, 2013

Morris, IL Army H 1917-1919 Died Feb. 2, 1969

Morris, IL Army H 1950-1952

Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died 1988

Morris, IL Seabees H 1946-1949 Died Oct. 26, 2006

Bristol, IL Army H 1964-1966

Sheridan, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died Feb. 28, 2008

Newark, IL H Army H Died Jan. 31, 1955

Lisbon, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died May 29, 1964

Wally Hanson

William Hanson

Willis J. Hanson, Jr.

Willis J. Hanson, Sr.

David A. Harper

Joshua W. Harris

George E. Harrop

Henry D. Harseim

Donald Harvey

Morris, IL Coast Guard H 1969-1973

Morris, IL H Army H Died June 26, 1988

Morris, IL Air Force H 1967-1971 Died Sept. 3, 2014

Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died March 15, 2003

Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967

Romeoville/Forest Park, IL Army Nat’l GuardH2005 Died Sept. 17, 2008

Gardner, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Nov. 10, 2013

Morris, IL Army H 1965-1968

Braceville, IL Air Force H 1965-1969

Josh Harvey

Lonnie Harvey

Merrill C. Harvey

Maynard Hawkins

George Heap

Ron Heap

Trent Heap

John Heavens

William Heermann

Gardner, IL Navy H 2011

Coal City, IL Army/Air Force H 1982-1988, 2005-2011

Gardner, IL Army H 1964-1966 Died Oct. 8, 2015

Morris, IL Army H 1939-1941 Died Jan. 23, 2014

Morris, IL Air Force H 1943-1945

Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967

Morris, IL Army H 1989-1993

Coal City, IL Air Corps H 1963-1966

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1956 Died April 19, 2009

Nathan Hefner

Arnold Helgeson

Bennie Helland

Joseph G. Hemmersbach

Raymond E. Hemmersbach

Victor D. Hemmersbach

Adam Henderson

Jake Hendrix

Jay Hendrix

Minooka, IL Army H 1995-present

Morris, IL Coast Guard H 1942-1945

Morris, IL Army H 1953-1955

Morris, IL Air Force H 1973-1977

Morris, IL Air Force H 1968-1972

Morris, IL Air Force H 1966-1970

Morris, IL Marines H 2004-2008

Wedron, IL Marines H 1963-1967 Died April 18, 1993

Jupiter, FL Army H 1986-1996

Herbert Hentschel

Duane L. Heren

Gil Herrera

Leslie E. Hertenstein

Myron L. Hexdall

John Hextell

Ronald G. Hibler

Daniel Hicks

Greg Higgins

Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1970

Green Valley, IL Army H 1951-1952

New Lenox, IL Army H 2001-2009

Coal City, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died Jan. 5, 2003

Morris, IL Army H 1961-1963

Morris, IL Army H 1962-1968 Died Feb. 3, 1992

Coal City, IL Army H 1965-1967

Marseilles, IL Air Force H 1948-1952

Seneca, IL Army H 2006-2010

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

Harvey A. Hansen

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

16

John R. Higgins

Merlyn Higgins

Ruth Hiles

William Hiles

Earlyn K. Hill

Elton J. Hill

Lester M. Hill

Merwin F. Hill

Andrew M. Hillegass

Seneca, IL Army H 1951-1953

Seneca, IL Army H 1951-1953

Morris, IL Navy H WWII

Morris, IL Navy H WWII Died July 21, 2001

Mazon, IL Army H 1944-1945 Died May 18, 1964

Gardner, IL Army H 30 years Died Jan. 10, 1988

Mazon, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died March 14, 1945

Mazon, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died April 3, 2008

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Sept. 14, 2004

Vernon Hilt, Sr.

Bill Hiney

Gary Hively

Wayne Hodgson

Ralph Holbrook

Noel Holman

Raymond Holzhauer

Stephen Homerding

Timothy Hood

Lisbon, IL Army H 1944 Died July 13, 2003

Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967

Minooka, IL Navy H 1990-present

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died July, 2008

Minooka, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Sept. 18, 1975

Cedar Point, IL Navy H 1951-1955 Died March 4, 2007

Dwight, IL H Marines H KIA March 15, 2007

Plainfield, IL Army H WWII Died Oct. 1, 2001

Morris, IL Navy H 2006-present

Elizabeth Hortega

Ottawa, IL Navy H 2002-2007

Josiah Hortega

Ottawa, IL Marines H 1998-2006

William “Bill” Horton Yorkville, IL Army H 1956-1958 Died 1994

Gerald R. Houchin

Seneca, IL Marines H 1957-1972 Died Nov. 18, 1972

Keith O. Houchin

Seneca, IL Marines H 1952-1956 Died April 22, 2010

Harold G. Hougas

Marseilles, IL Army H 1951-1953

Irvin L. Hougas, Sr.

Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1945 Died March 1, 1945

James E. Hougas

Morris, IL Army H 1952-1956 Died Sept. 11, 2009

Troy Householder

Morris, IL Air Force H 1986-1989

Willard Howen

Nicholas Huerta

Steven M. Huettemann

Brian Humbert

Albert L. Hume

Michael T. Hume

Robert A. Hume

Dennis Huston

Robert Hutchings

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died June 4, 1993

Roy Hutchings, Jr.

Morris, IL Army H 1945-WWII Died Dec. 24, 2001

Braceville, IL Army H active

Ronald Hutton

Wilmington, IL Army H 1965-1967 Died June 19, 2012

Peru, IL Army H Desert Sheild/ Desert Storm

Gary L. Ingraham

Verona, IL Navy H 1957-1979

Dwight, IL Navy H active

Robert H. Inman

Coal City, IL Air Force H 1943-1945

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died 1993

Morris, IL Army H 1972-1974

Morris, IL Navy H 1968-1972

Gardner, IL Navy H 1964-1968 Died Jan. 22, 2017

John Iverson

Melvin L. Jackman

Luke Jackson

Barry W. Jaicomo

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died Aug. 14, 1993

Gardner, IL Army H 1954-1956

Seneca, IL Navy H 2011-2015 Marines H 2015-present

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1968-1970

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

Walter Jaicomo

So. Wilmington, IL Army H WWII Died Dec. 4, 1982

17

So. Wilmington, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died March 4, 2011

Ronald Jamieson

Dwight, IL Army H 1983-2010

Alfred “Red” Jenkins

Mazon, IL Army H 1965-1967

Carroll Jewett

George Jisa

Carl R. Johnson

Donald Johnson

Gary LeRoy Johnson

Gene A. Johnson

Mazon, IL Marines H 1918-1919 Died 1977

Coal City, IL Coast Guard H 1941-1947 Died Oct. 29, 1997

Chicago, IL Navy H 1941-1945

Verona, IL Army H 1958-1960

Morris, IL Air Force H 1966-1970

Newark, IL Army H 1952-1954

John O. Johnson

Dr. Larry C. Johnson

Lavern Johnson

LeRoy Palmer Johnson

Lester W. Johnson

Oliver Johnson

Jesse L. Johnson

Morris, IL H Marines H Died June 7, 1967

Harold F. Johnson

Gardner, IL Marines H 1943-1945

Scott Johnson

Harry A. Johnson

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died May 10, 1975

Silas Johnson

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Jan. 24, 2010

Vernon E. Johnson

Vernon K. Johnson

Brookfield, MO Army H 1969-1972

Morris, IL Air Force H 1963-1967

Morris, IL Seabees H 1966-1968

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Oct. 7, 2006

Morris, IL Air Force H 1942-1944 Died April 1, 1944

Hank Jones

Wesley E. Jorstad

Michael H. Joyce

Harold Kaldheim

Helen Kaldheim

Morris, IL Army H 1917-1921 Died July 24, 1959

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died April 28, 2000

Joliet, IL Army Air Force H 1944-46 Died Jan. 3, 1986

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Nov. 11, 2009

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died Dec. 27, 2008

So. Wilmington, IL Navy H 1944-1946

Seneca, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died July 23, 2003

Seneca, IL Air Corp. H 1942-1945

Robert R. Keech

Scott A. Keech

Ben F. Kelly

Jacob A. Kelly

Marvin Kessler

Robert M. Kimmey

Raymond C. “Dick” Kindelspire Morris, IL Army Air Corp. H 1941-45 Died Aug. 28, 2005

Eugene Klainsek

Joliet, IL Navy, ArmyH1943-1954 Died Feb. 8, 2017

Larry L. Kingman

Morris, IL Army H 1953-1955 Died March 9, 2012

Gerald R. Knudson

Nathan D. Knutson

Harry Kolb

Morris, IL Navy H 1945-1946 Died March 22, 2013

Morris, IL Navy H 1977-1981

Morris, IL Army Air Corp. H 1942-46

Mazon, IL Marines H 2013-present

Coal City, IL Navy H 1945-1946

Braceville, IL Army H 1968-1970

Jessica Klein

Earl F. Kleinfeldt

J. E. Kleinfeldt

Lee E. Kleinfeldt

Cate Klepacki

George F. Knudson

Morris, IL Navy H 1999-2007

Morris, IL Navy Air CorpH1942-45 Died Jan. 25, 2008

Morris, IL Navy H 1966-1970

Morris, IL Army H 1972-1974

Dwight, IL Air Force H active

Morris, IL Army H 1953-1955 Died 1999

Minooka, IL Army H 1951-1953

Newark, IL Army H 2010-present

Morris, IL Marines H 1941-1946 Died 1969

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Mazon, IL Army H 1971-1973

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

William J. Jaicomo

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

18

Don Komnick

John Kopczick

Raymond A. Kopczick

Stanley “Ike” Kopczick Morris, IL Navy H WWII Died 1970

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died Dec. 29, 1975

Morris, IL Navy H 2007-2009

Morris, IL Army H 1966-1969

Morris, IL Navy H 1961-1965

Joliet, IL Marines H 1956-1958

Frank B. Kuntz

Gary L. Kuntz

Gary R. Kuriger

William R. Kuriger

Ron Kyrouac

Charles Labaj

Morris, IL Army H 1968-1970

Morris, IL Army H Korean War Died 1964

Morris, IL Army Air Corp.H1940-46 Died 1995

Carl Kramer

Russell Kukman

Frank Kulig

Albert Kowalczyk

Ami Kowalczyk

Dennis E. Kowalczyk

Richard Kowalczyk

Marc Krakar

Morris, IL Navy H 1953-1957

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1945 Died 2010

Strawn, IL Army H 1941-1962 Died April 20, 2012

Morris, IL Navy H 1959-1962

Coal City, IL Army H 1972-1974

Coal City, IL Army H 1946-1947

Harvey, IL Army H 1953-1955

Crete, IL Navy H WWII

Walter R. Lacyk

James F. Lamie

Kurt Lamping

William J. Lanning

Daniel Lardi

Keith Larson

Milford “Muff ” Larson

David E. Latham

John T. Latham, Jr.

Gary L. Lawless

Morris, IL Army H 1950-1952

Coal City, IL Army H 1917-1919 Died March 9, 1968

Morris, IL Army H 1987-2011

Morris, IL Navy H 1962-1966 Died March 3, 2012

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1966-1968

Morris, IL Army H 1958-1961

John T. Latham, Sr.

Joe Laughary

Keith Laughary

Kevin Laughary

Kurt Laughary

Ruth Laughary

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

Essex, IL Air Force H 1968-1971 Died Jan. 12, 1991

Walter L. Lawless

Essex, IL Army H 1939-1945 Died Sept. 4, 1965

Morris, IL Army Air CorpH1940-45

Morris, IL Marines H 1970-1972

Morris, IL Navy H 2002-present

Morris, IL Navy H 2002-present

Massillon, OH Navy H 2003-present

Gardner, IL Army H 1970-1972

Gardner, IL Navy H 1945-1953

Arthur R. Leach

Rich Leach

Harry Leasure

Frank D. Lee

George E. Lee

Kevin W. Leeds

Tim Lehman

Daniel L. Leiter

Morris, IL Naval Aviation H 1942-1946

Morris, IL Navy H 1959-1965

Morris, IL Navy H 1947-1950 Died Jan. 11, 2011

Elgin, IL Marines H 1958, 8 yrs Reserves

Elgin, IL Army H 1954-1956

Morris, IL Air Force H 1984-1988

Dwight, IL Marines H 2002-2008

Coal City, IL Air Force H 1981-1985

Custer Park, IL Army H 1964-1967

Ray Layton

Richmond Hill, GA Army H 1960-1962

Dennis Lenzie

Gardner, IL Army H 1967-1968

19

Allan O. Leranger

Lindsay Leskanich

Eugene E. Lewis

Norman Lewis

Adam Lindley

Ray L. Lindley

Terry Livingston

Scott Lock

Gardner, IL Army H 1959-1960 Died 1965

Morris, IL Marines H 1969 Died May 20, 2008

Dwight, IL Army H active

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1954 Died Aug. 19, 2001

Morris, IL Marines H 1952-1955

Morris, IL Navy H 2003-2008

Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967

Coal City, IL Army H 1966-1968

Morris, IL Navy H 1980-2000

Albert Lovati

Alan D. Love

Granville A. Love

Clifford A. Lowery

William W. Lowery

Christopher Lutz

Frank Lutz

Lavern R. Lutz

Robert Lynes

Joliet, IL Navy H 1939-1942 Died Jan. 16, 1987

Morris, IL Marines H 1965-1969

Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died Sept. 1992

Mazon, IL Army Air Corp. H 1942-1945

Mazon, IL Marines H 1968-1971

Morris, IL Navy H 1993-1999

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1945

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

Morris, IL Army Air Force H 1943-45 Died July 10, 1970

Joseph A. Macaluso

Joseph M. Macaluso

Robert S. Macdonald

Donald Madison

Norman R. Madison

Samuel L. Lyons

Coal City, IL Army/Civil WarH1864-1865

Donald Lyon

Henry A. Lyons

Henry E. Lyons

Coal City, IL Air Force H 1950-1954

Coal City, IL Army/WWI H 1918-1919

Francis M. Maierhofer

Seneca, IL Air Force H 1950-1953

Bernard Mallaney

Kinsman, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died Jan. 10, 2015

Richard “Dick” Malone Morris, IL Army H 1946-1947 Died April 20, 2003

Amboy, IL Army H 1961-1964

Morris, IL Coast Guard H 1942-1946

Morris, IL Navy H 1951-1955

Coal City, IL Army H 1951-1953

Morris, IL Army H 1958-1961

Morris, IL Army H 1952-1954 Died Aug. 23, 2001

Clyde F. Mason

Gerald Matteson

Kenneth Matteson

Russell Matteson

Fred Matuszewski

John F. Maunder

John Mazza

Gene L. McArdle

Jim McCleary

Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1945 Died Sept. 7, 2012

Morris, IL Army H 1953-1954

Newark/Morris, IL Air Force H 1957-1961

Lawrence P. Marchesi

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died May 27, 1967

Coal City, IL Navy H 1940-1943 Died Feb. 7, 2003

Coal City, IL Army H 1964-1966

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died Sept. 3, 2001

Mazon, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died March 17, 2001

Mazon, IL Army CIA H 1953-1955

Walter Marnell

William V. Martin

Robert D. Martis

David M. Maskel

Emmett Maskel

Morris, IL Army H 1956-1962

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1945

Mazon, IL Air Force H 1987-present

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died April 3, 1969

Morris, IL Army H 1965-1966 Died Feb. 25, 1966

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Morris, IL Army H 1959-1965

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

Donald Lenzie

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

20

Dennis McCluckie

Earl (Mickey) McComas

Donald P. McCormack

Forrest McCormack

James R. McCormack

Kenneth McCormack

La Verne McCormack

Ken McCoy

Joseph B. McGuan

Morris, IL Army H 1966-1968

Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1954

Verona, IL Army H 1965-1968

Mazon, IL Army H 1963-1965

Mazon, IL Marines H 1964-1971

Verona, IL Marines H 1965-1969

Verona, IL Army H 1944-1945 Died March 10, 2009

Mazon, IL Army H 1966-1969 Died Dec. 2, 1976

Morris, IL Marines H 1963-1967 Died April 14, 2006

Paul E. McIntosh

Donald Dean McKinney

Jeremy N. McKinney

Jerry Jon McLuckie

John Wilton “Bill” McLuckie Coal City, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died March 21, 2000

Donald R. McMillan, Jr.

Gardner, IL Air Force H 1985-1989

Mack McMillin

Coal City, IL Army H 1945-1946 Died Sept. 2, 2013

John McNabb

Morris, IL Army H 1967-1969

Kate Meadows

Morris, IL Navy H 2000-present

Robert T. Meredith

Ed Meridith

James R. Meridith

Dominic J. Messina

Robert L. Metroz

Diamond, IL Army H 1964-1966

Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1946

Coal City, IL Navy H 2002-2006

Coal City, IL Army H 1971-1975

Richard Meadows

Ron E. Menees

Jackie L. Meredith

Llyod W. Meredith

Morris, IL Navy H 1966-1972

Seneca, IL Marines H 1953-1958

Braceville, IL Army H 1959-1961

Braceville, IL Army H 1948-1952

Braceville, IL Army H 1957-1959

Morris, IL Navy H 1951-1953 Died March 10, 2000

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died March 27, 2001

Tinley Park, IL Army H 2003-2010

Morris, IL Marines H 1998-2002

John (Jack) Micetich

Philip (Joe) Micetich

Alan H. Miller

Henry “Hank” Miller Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died 2006

Jacob D. Miller

Coal City, IL Marines H 2009-present

Lynn “Mike” Miller

Morris, IL Navy H 1945-1946, 1950-1952

Orville (Buck) Miller

Raleigh Miller

Sean Miller

Richard Mitchell

Elton L. Monson

Jim Moran

James W. Morrall

Coal City, IL Army H 1955-1956

Coal City, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died Nov. 10, 1968

Clifton, IL Navy H 1965-1980

William E. Miller

Joseph Misener

Terry Misener

Elgin, IL Army H 1946-1948 Died Feb. 4, 2002

Morris, IL Army H 1968-1970

Mazon, IL Army H 1967-1969

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died May 24, 2002

Morris, IL Marines H 1953-1955

Mazon, IL Army H 1970-1972

Coal City, IL Navy H 1956-1958

Morris, IL Marines H 1942-1945 Died Nov. 7, 1992

Diamond, IL Army Air Force H 1942-45 Died May 2000

John Morris, Jr.

Channahon, IL Navy H 1989-1993

Columbia, MO Navy H active

John Morris

Channahon, IL Army H 1965-1967 Viet Nam

21

Bill Morse

Thomas D. Mostyn

James Mulcahy

Mark Munger

Adam Murphy

J. F. Murphy

Terry Muscato

David S. Musgrave

Coal City, IL Navy H 1965-1969

Morris, IL Army H 1954-1956

Lockport, IL Merchant MarinesH1943-45 Died 1989

Streator, IL Navy H 1943-1946

Dwight, IL Marines H 1986-2011

Coal City, IL Army H 1914-1916 Died June 12, 1968

Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died Oct. 6, 1995

Streator, IL Marines H 1967-1971

Minooka, IL Navy H 1985-1994

Richard O. “Dick” Myers

John Nagra

Tim Nagra

H. Wayne Neal

Bill E. Nelson

Gerald Nelson

Ivan M. Nelson

Jack E. Nelson

Mitchell D. Nelson

Joliet, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died Nov. 28, 1988

Morris, IL Navy H 1976-1979

Coal City, IL Navy H 1946-1947

Morris, IL Navy H 1965-1967

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

Newark, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Nov. 7, 2009

Wilmington, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died March 21, 2005

Mazon, IL Army H 1953-1955 Died 1980

Donald Neville

Green Bay, WI Air Force H 1957-1961 Died Oct. 29, 2011

Elmer E. Newell

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died July 6, 2001

Richard “Dick” Newell Morris, IL Navy H 1951-1955

Charles John (Jack) Newport

Belvidere, IL Army H 1950-1951 Killed in Action Aug. 27, 1951

Gwendolyn Babcock Newport

Morris, IL Navy Nurses Corp.H1943-47 Died August 2009

James Newport

Kinsman, IL Air Force H 1941-1945 Died 1994

Madison Nguyen

Dwight, IL Marines H active

Larry E. Nickels

Morris, IL Navy H 1969-1975

Danny Niewinski

Morris, IL Navy H 2012-present

Henry H. Niewinski

Henry W. Niewinski Morris, IL Army H WWII

Cliff Nighsonger

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945

Delbert J. Noble

Wheaton, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died March 1, 1994

John Nolan

Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1946

Dale Norton

Alto Pass, IL Army H 1965-1967 Died Dec. 26, 2014

Terry C. Novotney

Streator, IL Army H 1959-1961

Chris Nugent

Wilmington, IL Army H 1980-1984

George Nugent

Morris, IL Navy H 1974-1978

Jeremiah Nugent, Sr.

Jerry Nugent

Mike Nugent

Patrick W. Nugent

Thomas Nugent

Erik Nusbaumer

Gerald O’Brien

Jack J. O’Hagen

Michael O’Hagen

Morris, IL Army H Korean War

Wilmington, IL Army H 1950-1953 Died March 8, 1996

Coal City, IL Air Force H 1975-1979

Wilmington, IL Army H 1976-1980

Wilmington, IL Navy H 1990-1997

Coal City, IL Air Force H 1980-2001

Morris, IL Air Force H active

Minooka, IL Army H 1963-1965

Chicago, IL Marines H 1947-1955 Died Dec. 1, 2003

Morris, IL Marines H 1990-1995

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1967 Died Dec. 31, 1998

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Daily Herald / morrisdailyherald.com

Wayne Morris

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

22

Tyler Oelschlager

Robert W. Ollerman

Gene Olson

Gregory T. Olson

Larry Olson

Maury Olson

Newan S. Olson

Richard O. Olson

Robert F. Olson

Dwight, IL Navy H active

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died July 15, 1980

Seneca, IL Air Force H 1950-1953 Died April 10, 2002

Morris, IL Navy H 1971-1975

Morris/Mazon, IL Army H 1968-1969

Gardner, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Jan. 8, 2012

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died 1974

Monmouth, IL Navy H 1955-1957 Died Jan. 2, 2012

Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1946

Roger L. Olson

Violet R. Olson

Joseph E. Opyd

Leo Paul Opyd, Sr.

Leon Paul Opyd, III

Leon Paul Opyd, Jr.

Luke Opyd

Dennis Orvis

Lawrence Orvis

Braceville, IL Army H 1966-1968

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1967 Died Oct. 31, 2003

Coal City, IL Army H 1997-2008

Gardner, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died June 4, 2002

Coal City, IL Army H 1990-1993

Gardner, IL Army H 1970-1972

Gardner, IL Navy H 2010-present

Seneca, IL Navy H 1967-1969

Seneca, IL Army H 1966-1969

Gordon Osmundson

LaVerne Osmundson

Elwyn E. Oswood

Milburn J. Oswood

Douglas Overbeck

Edward Pacchetti

Albert C. Pankey

Dennis N. Pankey

Gerald J. Pankey

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died Sept. 19, 2014

Morris, IL Air Force H 1943-1946 Died Jan. 17, 1978

Morris, IL Army H 1950-1952 Died Dec. 31, 1999

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died Oct. 11, 2003

Minooka, IL Navy H 1976-1984

Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1944 Died Oct. 2, 1988

Clifton, IL Army H WWI Died 1963

Clifton, IL Army H 1972-1974

Clifton, IL Army H 1946-1948 Died 1999

Gary Patton

Jeff Paulson

Willis Peacock

Delmar A. Peel

Delmar L. “Butch” Peel

John L. Perry

Agnes Peterson

Arthur Patterson

Seneca, IL Army H 1941-1944 Died March 28, 2003

Dick Parker

Morris, IL Army H 101st Airborne 1962-1964

Eugene G. “Pete” Peterson Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Oct. 23, 2013

Melvin A. Peterson

Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1947

Ottawa, IL Marines H 1966-1969

Morris, IL Navy H 1991-1993

Morris, IL Army H 1944-1945 Died March 23, 2001

Morris, IL Navy H 1941-1945 Died Sept. 30, 1996

Morris, IL Navy H 1962-1966 Died Feb. 13, 2005

Morris, IL Navy H 1953-1956

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946

Tim Pfaff

Donald L. Pfeifer, Sr.

Albert Phillips

Clarence Phillips

George W. Phillips

James R. Phillips, Sr.

John (Jack) Phillips

Morris IL Navy H 1981-1992

Gardner, IL Marines H 1951-1953

Jonesboro, AR Army H 1966-1968

Braceville, IL Army H 1943 Died 1985

Morris, IL Marines H 1953-1955 Died Feb. 6, 1977

Coal City, IL Marines H 1968-1972

Coal City, IL Marines H 1953-1955 Died Jan. 16, 2005

23

Coal City, IL Navy H 1976-1979

John M. Phillips, Sr.

Minooka, IL Marines H 1941-46, 48-53 Died Sept. 20, 2001

Joseph T. Phillips, Jr.

Coal City, IL Marines H 1953-1955

Joseph T. Phillips, Sr.

Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died Nov. 5, 1984

Robert Phillips

Morris, IL Marines H 1953-1955

Walter A. Phillips, Sr.

Morris, IL Marines H 1948-1952 Died Nov. 4, 1995

Frank Picciariello

Edward L. Pierard

Richard Pierce

Coal City, IL Army H 1960-1962 Died Nov. 11, 1991

Coal City, IL Army H 1957-1963

Morris, IL Army H 1954-1956 Died March 27, 2007

John Prebeg

Milan Prebeg

John F. Progress

Thomas F. Powell

Coal City, IL Navy H 1944-1945 Died Nov. 30, 1999

Albert J. Pilch

Chicago, IL H Army Air Force H 1944-1946

Russel Dale Pine

Morris, IL Navy H 1945-1948 Died 1948

Wayne E. Pine

Morris, IL Army H 1918

David G. Platt

Morris, IL Marines H 1966-1972 Died Sept. 1, 1975

Glenn Pope

Channahon, IL Air Force H 1967-1971

Joliet, IL Army H WWII Died 2013

Joliet, IL Army H WWII Deceased

Seneca, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died Nov. 16, 2002

Curtis Rasmusson

Ronald J. Rath

Francis M. Reano

Patrick Rafferty

Dwight, IL Army H active

Mark Prosser

Ivan Provance

G. Herbert Ranz

Amity Taylor Provenzano

Coal City, IL H Navy H Died March 9, 2005

Morris, IL Navy H 1997-2000

John K. Reed

R. Edward Reed

James I. Reeves

James W. Reeves

Morris, IL Army Air Force H 1941-45 Died Oct. 27, 2004

Morris, IL Navy H 1969-1971

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

Morris, IL Army H 1969-1971

Diamond, IL Navy Air Corp. H 1944-46 Died Aug. 25, 2011

Joseph L. Reeves

Edward J. Reiser

Leon J. Residori

Gary Rickmon

Kimberly Rieck

Morris, IL Air Force H 1989-2017

Morris, IL Navy H 1993-1997

Coal City, IL Army Air ForceH1943-45 Died April 14, 1989

Morris, IL Navy H 2003-present

Morris, IL Navy H 2009-present

Channahon, IL Army H 1967-1973 Died July 13, 2009

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1960-1962

Morris, IL Army H 1983-1986

Dwight, IL Navy H active

Dana Riegel

Jeremy Riegel

Paul L. Riegle

Timothy P. Riegle

George James Ringer

Jon Ringer

Martin J. Riordan, Jr.

Harold Ritke

Eugene Robertson

Dwight, IL Army H active

Dwight, IL Army H active

Brook, IN Navy H 1957-1960

Morris, IL Navy H 1982-2002

Indianapolis, IN Marines H 1982-2003

Webster City, IA Army H 1967-1969

Romeoville, IL Navy H 1941-1945 Died Jan. 7, 1994

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died Jan. 10, 2010

Morris, IL Navy H 1966-1970

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Joliet, IL Army H 2004-2-12

Michael A. Ranz

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Daily Herald / morrisdailyherald.com

John Phillips, Jr.

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

24

Brian Robisky

Dennis Robisky

Korey Rodrick

Kenneth Roe

Leland M. Roe

Wilmer Roe

Robert T. Rogers

John J. Ronchetti

Keith Roseland

Dwight, IL Air Force H active

Dwight, IL Air Force H active

Dwight, IL Nat’l Guard H Reservist

Seamon, OH Army H 1942-1945 Died March 15, 1965

Odell, IL Army Air Force H 1943-45

Piketon, OH Army H 1943-1945 Died Sept. 2006

Morris, IL Seabees H 1966-1968

Coal City, IL Army Air Force H 1943-45

Coal City, IL Army H 1969-1971

Wayne Roseland

Richard Rosencrans

Randall E. Rosengren

John B. Ross

John Roth, Jr.

John Roth, Sr.

Louis Ruffatti

Luverne Runestad

Marty Runestad

Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died April 15, 2014

Seneca, IL Army H 1952-1954

Serena, IL Army H 1969-1970

Coal City, IL Army Air Corp.H1918-1919

Morris, IL Army H 1966-1968

Morris, IL Army/Air Force H 1942-45 Died April 29, 1977

Coal City, IL Army H 1954-1956

Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died Jan. 13, 2013

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945

Orliss L. Runestad

Shawn P. Runge

Davis A. Runion

Clinton Ryder

Robert J. Ryder

William Richard Ryder Morris, IL Navy H 1971-1974

Joseph T. Sajnaj

LaSalle/Morris, IL Coast Guard H 1948-52

Mark J. Sajnaj

Morris, IL Air Force H 1985-1989

Michael G. Sajnaj, Jr.

Morris, IL Navy H 2006-present

David Sandeno

John R. Sanders, Jr.

John R. Sanders

Kevin Sanders

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died Nov. 11, 2009

Warsaw, IL Navy H 1984-1990

Morris, IL Marines H 2013

Morris, IL Army H 1964-1968

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died Nov. 14, 2007

Michael G. Sajnaj

Eric Sampson

Gordon Sampson

Orville L. “Bud” Sampson

Ronald Sampson

Morris, IL Navy Seabees H 1980-89

Morris, I L Air Force H 1983-87, 1990-2010 Retired

Morris, IL Navy H 1945-1947 Died Dec. 21, 2017

Morris, IL Army Air Corp. H 1943-45 Died May 29, 1998

Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1945 Died Dec. 25, 2008

Mazon/Verona, IL Army H 1969-1970

Morris, IL Army H 1967-1970

Chicago, IL Navy H 1942-1945

Morris, IL Army H 1981-present

Dario E. Sarti

Erica Sarti

Hannibal J. “Nibs” Sarti

Jared Sarti

James E. Satorius

Dean L. Savage

Dennis Scaman

Ken Scaman

William Scerine

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Jan. 9, 1994

Tucson, AZ Army H 2007-2011

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Jan. 31, 1991

Morris, IL Army H 2013-present

Minooka, IL Marines H 1966-1972

Gardner, IL Army H 1942-1943 Died Sept. 3, 1985

Morris, IL Army H 1972-1981

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died Feb. 5, 2016

Coal City, IL Marines H 1957-1960

25

Carl’s a good guy. He was then, and he

is now

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

“Then” was the late 1960s. He was getting ready to start his life.

He had begun his career as a barber and was planning his marriage to Patti.

But, like a lot of young men in those days, he got his draft notice. Realizing the high prospect of going to Vietnam, Carl made an unselfish decision ... he called off the wedding.

Not the romance, just the wedding. He didn’t want to leave a young widow.

He and I met at remote artillery firebase near the Cambodian border. Our tours overlapped by about eight months. That wasn’t a long time, but living inside a tiny compound with 100 soldiers for every hour of every day gives you pretty good insight into a lot of personalities.

We worked around the clock to calculate data for the heavy guns. Guns that could propel a 150-pound shell nearly 20 miles.

Guns that could devastate everything within 200 yards of where the shell landed. Guns that could roar so loudly that you can still hear them 49 years later.

Plus, Carl had a part-time job. He didn’t want to go two years without cutting hair. He might have forgotten what he learned.

So, he gave free haircuts when he had the time.

Picture this: We lived inside a dirt wall. We got one or two showers a week from the ice cold water pumped from our deep well. We let the sun heat water in our steel helmets in order to shave with 2-month-old blades.

But, we had haircuts. Not those foolish looking, white sidewalls, G.I. butcher specials.

Nope!

Real haircuts.

I went to Sydney for R & R. I told a young lady I was a soldier from Vietnam and she said I was a liar.

“Not with that haircut, you’re not. I’ve seen plenty of Yank soldiers, and you aunt one of ‘em, mate.”

As a barber, Carl knew the art of good small talk. A

This is the case here. Both are retired ... she from teaching, he from cutting hair. They spend half of the year in Florida and each has a few interests to keep active.

Carl likes fishing, ballgames and maybe dropping by the casino.

A few weeks ago he was at the boat. Across the room, he saw a gentleman about his age with a “Vietnam Veteran” hat. Carl took a break from the slot machine and walked toward him.

He asked the guy when he was in Vietnam. The guy told him it was 1968, so Carl asked which branch of the service. Army.

“Were you infantry?”

Nope, artillery.

“Where were you?”

Tay Ninh Province.

“Which artillery batallion?”

2nd of the 32nd.

“Were you B Battery?”

No, I was in A Battery. Never saw base camp.

“A Battery, huh? You would have been at French Fort. Which gun?”

Yeah, French Fort. No. 4 gun. I was the RTO. “Then you probably knew Mel Major. And, if you were the RTO, is your name Davis?”

Yeah, I knew Major! And, I’m Davis!

“I’m Miller... the guy who gave you haircuts and talked to you on the radio every night. And, I’ve got Mel’s phone number right here. Let’s call him. See, I told you I’d look you up when we both got back.”

Forty-nine years ago, a kid from The Region sat on a stack of sandbags 11,000 miles from home and got a free haircut from another kid from Northwest Indiana. It was a very big circle that brought them back together.

I wasn’t at the casino that afternoon, but I’d make a wager: There are only a few people remaining who remember that firebase and those days. And when two of them are together in the same room, each has an unspoken respect for the other.

So my bet is simply that they both smiled like they did when they were 21 years old.

When he got home that evening, Carl sent me a three word text: “I found Davis.”

I answered: “The guy from No. 4 gun? How? Where?”

Carl said, “At the casino in Gary. I lost a bunch of money, but it’s the best day I ever had at the boat.”

If I could start all over and pick a few people to stick with me for my whole life, Carl would be on that list. I regret the half a lifetime that I lost track of him.

But the time we had in Vietnam and the last decade where we have laughed with each other... and at each other ... has been a good definition of an “old Army buddy.”

He’s a good guy.

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Daily Herald / morrisdailyherald.com

By JON RINGER Special to the Morris Herald-News

10-minute clip and a little conversation about “where ya from back home?” and you felt like you were away from the war for awhile.

Carl got to know quite a few of the guys in the battery.

Once, he discovered that one of the guys on the guns was from Gary, Indiana. Carl is from “The Region” himself. Munster.

So they had some memories in common. “Hey, I’ll look you up when we get home,” said Carl the friendly barber.

Carl took his R&R in Hawaii and met up with Patti.

They could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe there was a wedding in their future after all.

Then, just before Christmas of 1968, Carl went back to the United States to finish his two-year tour. We kept in touch and probably figured that we’d be buddies forever.

But real life sometimes affects your best intentions. Make that “most times affects your best intentions.”

In the 1960s and early 1970s it wasn’t very popular to talk about Vietnam.

Those of us who served got far too much criticism and scorn for having done so. (And, today, we possibly get far too much praise and honor for what we did so long ago... as if it were our idea to go.)

Many didn’t talk much about Vietnam. Mostly because no one cared to hear it, or just because.

I saw Carl and Patti in the summer of 1970. We flew to New York for a wedding of another comrade from those days.

Fort Saint Barbara in Tay Ninh Province was a million miles behind us less than two years after we had left it.

Then ... nothing. Carl moved. I lost his contact information. I eventually started to believe that maybe that place and those people in the jungle might not have really existed.

One day I was given a book by another vet. It led me to a website that led me to an email address. I found them. Most of them.

Including Carl, who was still only 50 miles away.

We can’t replace the 40 years we were apart, but these last nine have been pretty special. We had a year in the jungle that would take us 15 years to tell about.

We all get together every couple of years, but Carl and I see each other more often ... three or four times a year ... and exchange thoughts about sports, life and how that year changed us into who we are.

Or sometimes, just a text about something one of us wants to say to someone he trusts.

He’s got a great memory. A couple of times he’s even told the story about the “guy from Gary” who got the haircut and talked to us every night from the No. 4 gun.

Carl said he had tried for years to find him but always hit a dead end.

Carl and Patti are a love story. Their time together pre-dates the war and still endures. Long marriages are often a testament to the character of both parties.

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

26

John F. Schimandle

John J. Schimandle

Wayne Schlappi

Louis Schmidberger Joliet, IL Navy H 1957-1959

Maquoketa, IA Navy H 1977-1983

Morris, IL Air Force H 1991-present

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953

Streator, IL Navy H 1960-1964

Dwight, IL Nat’l Guard H 2004-2011

Richard N. Scorby

Paul F. Scott

Dale Scubic

Aaron Seabert

Richard Sebby

Kenneth W. Seidler

Coal City, IL Army H WWII Died March 7, 1964

Coal City, IL Army H 1968-1974 Died Jan. 8, 2007

Morris, IL Army H 1952-1954

Chris Schreiner

Robert E. Schwiesow

Robert G. Schwiesow

Douglas Schmidt

Bradley Schmitt

Don Schmitz

Joe Schmitz

Jeremy Schou

Dwight, IL Marines H 2006-2011

Morris, IL Army H 2008-2011

Morris, IL Army H 1967-1969

Coal City, IL Navy H 1952-1956 Died Sept. 24, 2002

Morris, IL Navy H 1983-1987

Coal City, IL Army H 1966-1968

Terre Haute, IN Army H 2001-present

Coal City, IL Navy H 2005-2011

Chicago, IL Army Air Force H 1944-46 Died April 16, 2006

Kyle Senard

Terry Sengewald

Frank L. Sereno

Kenneth E. Sereno

Michael Sereno

Robert H. Sereno

Ryan Shannon

Thomas Sheahan

Jeffrey S. Sheedy

Dwight, IL Army H active

Morris, IL Marines H 1967-1971

Mazon, IL Army Air Corp H 1943-1945

Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946

Mazon, IL Navy H 2002-present

Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1946 Died Dec. 31, 1989

Morris, IL Navy H 2008-present

Morris, IL Army H 1954-1956 Died Dec. 10, 2006

Morris, IL Navy H 1965-1969 Died Nov. 15, 1975

Willard Sheedy, Jr.

Timothy Shenberg

Chuck Shepherd

Colin Michael Sheridan

Michael Thomas Sheridan

Alfred Shewmake

Bernard “Art” Shewmake Pasadena, CA Navy H 1941-1944 Died 1988

Donald Shewmake

Chicago, IL Army H 1941-1944 Died 1995

Jim Shewmake

Joliet, IL Army H 1942-1944 Died 1996

Alan Skwarczynski

Sheila Skwira

Frank Smith, Jr.

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Feb. 17, 2007

Morris, IL Army H 2006-2010

Minooka, IL Army H 1967-1973

Coal City, IL Navy H 2007-present

Carbon Hill, IL Army Air Corp. H 1943-46 Died Oct. 8, 1994

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1944 Died 1953

Rich Shewmake

Walter Shewmake

Jerry Shirtino, Jr.

Mark Allen Simons

M. J. (Peg) Sjostrom

Bennie Sklut

Chicago, IL Air Force H 1942-1944 Died 1981

Salt Lake City, UT Army H 1942-1944 Died Jan. 29, 2003

Coal City, IL Marines H 2010-present

Morris, IL Navy H 1987-1995 Died Sept. 5, 2013

Morris, IL Army H 1950-1953

Morris, IL Air Force H 1942-1945 Died April 6, 2001

Minooka, IL Army H 1969-1970

Las Cruces, NM WAC H 1966-1969

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946

27

Jeffrey Smith

Jim Smith

John K. Smith

Mark H. Smith

William “Buzzy” Smith

Richard Sohan

Wayne Sorensen

Bruce E. Southcombe

Minooka, IL Air Force H 1943-1945 Died Dec. 16, 1993

Minooka, IL Navy H 1986-1994

Morris, IL Army H WWII Died Dec. 12, 1962

Plainfield, IL Navy H 1950-1954

Sparta, VA Air Force H 1998-present

Coal City, IL Navy Seabee H 1943-45 Died March 21, 1964

Morris, IL Army H 1963-1965

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Aug. 22, 2014

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1946

Gina Spandet

Alan P. Spangler

Charlie Sparrow

Kyle Sparrow

Paul Sparrow

Tara Sparrow

Daniel F. Spencer

Neal “Corky” Spencer

P. Douglas Splain

Lockport, IL Army H 1953-1955 Died March 1, 2007

Morris, IL Marines H 1968-1972

Mazon, IL Army H 2001-2005

Mazon, IL Navy H 1995-2001

Florence, AL Army H 2002-2006

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1945 Died 1986

Morris, IL Navy H 1966-1970

Morris, IL Air Force H 1974-1978 Died March 9, 1990

Philip E. Splain

Paul Sprole

Robert Stangland

Robert Thomas Stansberry Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946

William Steele

Morris, IL Marines H 1976-1984

Emery (Jack) Steen

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died Jan. 2000

Mark W. Steen

Queen City, MO Army H 1940-1943 MIA April 11, 1943

Joel Steichen

Dwight, IL Marines H 2003-2007

Donald W. Sterritt, Jr.

Morris, IL Air Force H 1966-1970

Walter Stott

Robert Strandell

Michael Strange

Robert Strange, Sr.

Joseph Struck

Theodore Struck

Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1968 Died May 31, 1970

Morris, IL Navy H 1969-1975

Morris, IL Air Force H 1944-1945

Donald W. Sterritt, Sr.

Doug Sterritt

Matthew J. Steurer

Morris, IL Army H WWII Died July 12, 2000

Morris, IL Air Force H 1996-2006 Reserves H active

Dwight, IL Marines H active

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Nov. 1974

Morris, IL Army H 1974-2005

Morris, IL Marines H 1981-1985

Kewanee, IL Marines H 1957-1960

Morris, IL Army AirborneH1944-46 Died Oct. 31, 1999

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died Jan. 13, 2011

Michael Stuckey

Simon Sulaica, Jr.

Hezzie Summitt

Kristopher Surber

James A. Susan

James Sutton

Charles “Chuck” Suydam

Ernest W. Swanson

Josiah Swanson

Morris, IL Navy H 1968-1977

Toledo, OH Marines H 1962-1968 Died May 25, 2010

Sims, AK Army H 1944-1945

Morris, IL Army H 2009-present

Morris, IL Army H 1969-1972

Dwight, IL Air Force H 1990-2010

Coal City, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died March 10, 1990

Coal City, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died Feb. 13, 2000

Newark, IL Army Reserves H 2009

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Dwight, IL Nat’l Guard H active

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Daily Herald / morrisdailyherald.com

Henry A. Smith

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

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Daniel Swiggett

Morris, IL Army H 2002-2007

Jeff L. Swiggett

Morris, IL Army H 1982-1985

Barney A. Taylor

Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1967 Died Nov. 1, 1988

Joseph L. Taylor

Morris, IL Navy H 1996-2000

Jeremy Teague

Braidwood, IL Marines H 2000-2004

Ladd Tedford

Morris, IL Air Force H 1946-1948 Died 1983

Joshua A. Terando

Morris, IL Army H 1998-01, 2005 KIA Nov. 10, 2005

Donald E. Terry

Morris, IL Marines H 1944-1945 Died 1945

Justin Terry

Seneca, IL Marines H 1995-1999

Gerald Thompson

Morris, IL Air Corp. H 1953-1957

Ronald L. Terry

James E. Testa

Herbert J. Thom

Absher Thomas

George Thomas

Seth Thomas

William Thomas

Alden C. Thompson

Glenn Thompson

Morris, IL Marines H1953-1957 Deceased

Seneca, IL Marines H 1966-1968

Coal City, IL Air Force H 1954-1957 Died June 26, 2010

Coal City, IL Navy H 1944-1963 Died 1980

Strawn, IL Army H 1942-WWII Died Sept. 20, 2009

Morris, IL Navy H 1946-1948

Lockport, IL Army H 2013-present

Seneca, IL Army H 1969-Viet Nam

Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died May 27, 2015

Jerome Thompson

Lavern Thompson

Melvin Thompson

Milton Thompson

Thomas A. Thompson

Wayne Thompson

John R. Thorsen Morris, IL H Army H

Alvin G. Thorson

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died March 26, 1969

Morris, IL Navy H 1970-1976

H. Dale Thorson

Jeffrey Thorson

Ken Thorson

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Deceased

Morris, IL MarinesH1943-45, 50-52 Died March 29, 1997

Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946

Morris, IL Air Force H 1943-1946

Morris, IL Army H 1967-1969

Morris, IL Navy H 1945-1946 Deceased

Cyril T. Thorson

Dennis Thorson

Duanne Thorson

Edward Thorson

Emmett L. Thorson

Glenn Thorson

Byron A. Thorson

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died June 4, 1999

Morris, IL Air Force H 1969-1972 Died Sept. 10, 2013

Seneca, IL Army H 1983-1998

Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967

Mazon, IL Army Air CorpH1942-1945 Died April 8, 1990

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1946

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1952 Died April 3, 2000

Morris, IL Navy H 1992-2013 Died Oct. 11, 2013

Morris, IL Army Reserves H 1960-1966

Otto Thorson

Robert Thorson

“Georgie Glenn” Threewitt

David Tinsley

Joey Todd

David M. Togliatti

Michael J. Togliatti

Alvin J. Torkelson

Brian Trainor

Morris, IL H Army H Died 1947

Dwight, IL Army H 1965-1967

Benton, IL Navy H 1954-1962 Died Sept. 25, 2008

Yorkville, IL Army H 1971-1977

Dwight, IL Navy H 2004-2008

Coal City, IL Army H 1965-1967

Coal City, IL Marines H 1942-1946 Died Nov. 30, 1973

Channahon, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died Feb. 6, 2006

Dwight, IL Marines H 2002-2008

29

Donald Treadway

Wayne Trenter

Elwyn A. Trotter

Parry Tuggle

Charles Turner

Marvin Tyler

Edward Unger

Tony Unger

Dwight, IL Army H active

Mazon, IL Army H 1955-1958 Died March 22, 1998

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1954 Died June 24, 1993

Coal City/Morris, IL Army H 1941-1946

Morris, IL Air Force H 1961-1962

Butler, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died June 8, 1998

Coal City, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died Sept. 10, 2003

Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died June 29, 2002

Coal City, IL Coast Guard H 1942-46 Died May 3, 2006

Tim Urbanik

Gordon K. Vaksdal

Richard L. Valerio

Donald C. Valiente

William B. Vallow

Clay C. Van Tassel

Ralph Vanden

Conrad Vandervort

Gene Vandervort

Joliet IL Army H 1963-1966

Morris, IL Army H 1946-1948

Mazon, IL Air Force H 1973-0983

Coal City, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Feb. 7, 2005

Kinmundy/Morris, IL Army H 1952-1954 Died July 17, 2014

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died Oct. 11, 1986

Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1946 Died Jan. 18, 1990

Oswego, IL Marines H 1962-1966 Died May 12, 2001

Carbon Hill, IL Marines H 1957-1960

Willard E. Vaughn

Barton W. Vest

Robert J. Viano

James Vick

Edwin P. Viglia, Sr.

Sigurd S. Viland

James Vilt

Joseph Vilt

Kenneth W. Vilt

Gardner, IL Navy H 1961-1965

Coal City, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died March 30, 1993

Dwight, IL Army H active

Braidwood, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Feb. 22, 2015

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died June 11, 2005

Coal City, IL Army H 1968-1969 Died Jan. 2, 2013

Coal City, IL Navy H 1942-1946 Died March 2, 2004

Coal City, IL Army H 1959-1962 Died March 24, 1993

Kenneth J. Vlk

Thomas Vodacek

George Voelcker

Russell F. Vogen

John Vota

D. Duane Waisath

George C. Walczak

Daniel M. Walker

James Walsh

Coal City, IL Army H 1963-1965 Died April 9, 2013

Mazon, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died June 8, 1991

Morris, IL Army Air ForceH1941-1945 Died June 12, 2006

Newark, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Nov. 5, 2006

Coal City, IL Army Air Force H 1942-46 Died March 21, 2008

East St. Louis, IL Navy Aviation H 1950-1954

Chicago, IL 82nd Airborne H 1943-1946

Morris, IL Air Force H 2000-2005 Died Nov. 27, 2005

Mazon, IL Marines H 2004-2008

James E. Walsh

Thomas E. “Ed” Walsh

William “Bill” Walsh

William Wando

William T. Warren

Robert W. Warrick

Edward Washburn

Eric Washburn

Paul E. Washburn

Coal City, IL Navy H 1945-1946 Died June 5, 2008

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945

Verona, IL Navy H 1942-1946 Died July 14, 1979

Dwight, IL Marines H active

Morris, IL Air Force H 1940-1964 Died June 2, 1964

Morris, IL Coast Guard H 1945-1946 Died Feb. 26, 2009

Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died March 30, 1995

Morris, IL Navy H 1982-1986

Morris, IL Army H 1953-1955

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Rushville, IL Air Force H WWII, Korean War Died March 20, 2000

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

Chris Travis

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

| Veterans Day Special Section

30 Harry S. Watters

Ritchie, IL Army H 1941-1945

Richard A. Washburn

Robert Washburn

Morris, IL Air Force H 1959-1966

Morris, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died Jan. 2, 1999

Theodore L. Wendell

Terry Wenger

Clay Webb

Melvin P. Werden

Conrad Weitz

Frank W. Welch

Herman F. Welch

Dave Welsh

Douglas Welsh

Coal City, IL Marines H 1982-present

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died Sept. 20, 1980

Dwight, IL Air Force H 1942-1946 Died June 14, 2009

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946

Mazon, IL Army H 1966-1971

Mazon, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died 1957

Charles Whitaker

Eric White

James White

Harry L. Wickman

Lawrence W. Wickman

Nicholas R. Wickman

Channahon, IL Army H 1944-1945 Died Jan. 26, 1986

Dwight, IL Air Force H active

Morris, IL Army H 1957-1959

Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1967

Gardner, IL Marines H 1993-1997 Died Aug. 28, 2004

Gardner, IL Air Force H 1969-1973

Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1947

Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1947 Died Aug. 8, 2010

Morris, IL Navy H 2002-2013

Steven P. Wickman

Jerry Howard Wicks

Matthew Wilkey

Robert D. Wilkinson

Leslie Willis

“Pete” Willis

Robert Willis

Rudy Willis, II

Rudolph Willis

Morris, IL Navy H 1974-1980 Died June 4, 1993

Morris, IL Army H 1968-1969 Died Sept. 19, 1969

Dwight, IL Marines H active

Mazon, IL Army, Retired H 1946-70

Plainfield, IL Navy H 1951-1953 Died Sept. 2008

Braidwood, IL Army H 1951-1953

Godley, IL Air Force H 1951-1953

Morris, IL Army H 1979-1983 Died Oct. 16, 1994

Morris, IL Marines H 1952-1954 Died Sept. 6, 2004

Donald Lloyd Wills

Kendall Wills

Lloyd Wills

Stephen D. Wills

Ronald Wilson

Richard Winsor

Edwin D. Witt

Leonard J. Wozniak

Francis E. Wren, Jr.

Morris, IL Army H 1966-1968

Kempton, IL Navy H 2017-present

Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died Nov. 2, 2008

Morris, IL Marines H 1988-1993

So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1944 Died 1944

Morris, IL Air Force H 1965-1989

Mazon, IL Army H 1945-1947 Died Jan. 1998

Chicago, IL Army Air Corp. H 1942-43 MIA 1943, found 1972

Coal City, IL Army H 1964-1966 Died March 4, 2014

Archie Wynen

Allan Yarmer

Mello Yarmer

Michelle L. Yarmer

Fred Wurst, Sr.

Ojibwa, WI Navy H 1943-1945

Jason Wren

Coal City, IL Army H 1997-2001

Ronald Wren

Coal City, IL Army H 1969-1971

Jason G. Wright

Morris, IL Marines H 2004-2009

Fred Wurst, Jr.

Peotone, IL Army H 1969-1971

Long Beach, CA Army H 1968-1971 Died July 7, 2014

Plainfield, IL Navy H 1977-1983

Galatia, KS Army Air Corp. H 1942-46 Died Jan. 25, 1978

Verona, IL Navy H 2001-2009

Grundy County Veterans Assistance Commission fields calls to help

31

Edward Zelinko, Sr.

James Zelinko, Sr.

John Robert Zelko III

Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1945

Coal City, IL Army H 1968-1970

Morris, IL Army H 2006-2008

G. G. Zullo

Nicholas Zullo

James Zumbahlen

Morris, IL Army H 1964-1966 Died March 27, 1996

Morris, IL Air Force H 1960-1964

Morris, IL Air Force H 1943-1947 Died Sept. 30, 2011

and then Buck can tell them what medical records and military records to bring into the office meeting when they can being to file claims.

“Every program has its own nuances, so I am here to field Grundy CountyVeterans Assistance Commission Superintenall of the questions. I am here to navigate the process due to dent Ken Buck sees 10 to 15 new veterans each month at his the complexity of the government process,” Buck said.

Morris location at 1320 Union Street in Morris.

Buck has been trained also as a Veteran Service Officer which means he was accredited and trained and offers a physical and medical needs. more educated approach to the process.

Grundy County also offers a variety of human service or The veterans who walk through the doors of the office ganizations Buck can tap into to help the veterans who walk have been of all age, but each does have a specific need though his door. Between homeless shelters, social workusually due to age. He said the Vietnam veterans have aged ers, transition homes, organizations that combat hunger, and look into changing options with health care. chronic homelessness or chronic unemployment, veterans Also, some have experienced Agent Orange exposure in Grundy County have options even when the VA may not and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder episodes. He said the be able to fulfill a specific need. veterans from the Gulf War and Iraq and Afghanistan have “I want to tell other veterans to not be afraid to go and more service-connected disabilities. see Ken if they are in a bad situation. Ask for help because He said there has been more awareness of what services Ken will do everything humanly possible to help them. I are offered through the VA and with PTSD. Buck said, went from sleeping in my truck to living in an apartment in years ago, a veteran may file one to two disability claims a nice building,” Rollberg said. and now may file eight to 10.

Rollberg said he hopes to get back to work in the near “Part of it is the war going on now with exploding ve- future. He has his own semi truck, but he needs to pay for hicles, and IEDs, there are a lot more injuries,” Buck said. repairs in order for it to run right, due to sitting unused. He “With PTSD, there has been a stigma so veterans don’t said he was anxious to get on the road and being self supwant to admit they need help. But when they do, we can portive. get them help. Sometimes they struggle financially because Ken Buck of the PTSD. We are not a doctor or psychologist, but we Grundy County Veterans Assistance Commission know when there is something underlying and can get the 1320 Union Street • Morris, IL 60450 veteran help. “ 815-941-3152 • vacgrundycounty@gmail.com Buck said there are many services such as work therapy, Office hours Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. classes, support groups the VA can offer, more than just and 1 p.m. 4 p.m.

Harley D. Zhe

Morris, IL Army H 1952-1953

Norman E. Ziegler

Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died May 9, 2003

Ronald Ziegler

Morris, IL Army H 1969-1971

Chris Zierman

Morris, IL Marines H 2001-2004

Clarence R. Zingre

Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died March 13, 2011

Harry Zitzka

Morris, IL Army H 1951-1952

• Thursday, November 9, 2017

Army veteran and former truck driver Tom Rollberg lived in his semi-truck at a truck stop in Morris for two years. He battled the bitter cold, at times his truck was 11 degrees and his health had failed after he suffered two strokes.

“My doctor said, if I stayed in my truck one more winter, I would not be here come spring,” Rollberg said.

He did not know where to turn, he self-supported himself as a driver all of his life, and due to a series of events in his private life, he found himself broke, homeless and unable to work. Until a friend suggested he see a man named Ken Buck.

Buck, the Grundy County Veterans Assistance Commission (GCAVC) Superintendent fielded a call from Rollberg.

Rollberg said that called changed his life and now he can sit in an apartment with heat and furniture and hope to get back to work.

Buck found subsidized housing for Rollberg, sent him to Catholic Charities, which gave him a bed and the people at the apartment complex, and gave him furniture. Buck set him up and showed him how to apply for his social security benefits, and VA benefits, hooked him up with a ride to Hines VA Hospital for his appointments, especially after he suffered a heart attack after he moved into his apartment.

“Ken and those guys over there at the commission are Heaven sent,” Rollberg said.

Buck said the purpose of the GCAVC was to fill in the gaps of the VA and stresses he cannot accept or deny claims, but rather guide the veteran and or spouse to what they can apply for, and how to go into the process.

He said the best way to serve the veteran was to make sure they call, and talk to him about their specific situation

Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com

By ALLISON SELK – Shaw Media Correspondent

Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 9, 2017

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