Honoring Our Military Heroes
NOVEMBER 11, 2016 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
Christopher J. Baskerville US Air Force 2013 - Present
Gr undy C o
un
ty •
SM-CL0395463
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
2015
a Re
Joseph L. Reeves U.S. Navy 2009 - Present
ter
de
r s’
ar ds
James W. Reeves U.S. Navy 2003 - Present
your sacrifices and honor our freedom.
• Gr ea
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
2
C
w eA
adno=0293572
3
Operation St. Nick is granting any wish up to $2,500 for 12 Grundy County military families with children.
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 th price of personal sacrifice is often times life changing. We want to repay those who have served our country on our behalf by making this Christmas special for 12 area families.
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 • Complete the official form online at www.morrisherald-news.com/stnick Forms are also available at the Morris Herald-News or any Grundy County Standard Bank location. Entries should be filled out by the service person, his/her spouse, or significant other and submitted to the Morris Herald-News or any Grundy County Standard Bank location by 5PM on November 16th, 2016.
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Wishes will be granted each day December 12 through 23 2016. Simply tell us what your Christmas wish is for your family this year.
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com
To gi give back to thos those who wh are serving, in or ha have served, ed
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
4
Morris Color Guards
By JEANNE MILLSAP – For Shaw Media
Morris Color Guard Commander Jerry Terando. Photo by Jeanne Millsap/For Shaw Media.
The Morris Color Guard has served the community and veterans for decades in one form or another, even as early as post-World War II. Color Guard Commander Jerry Terando said he’s seen photos of the guard in their Eisenhower jackets and pistol belts. They serve at funerals of veterans, at parades, ceremonies, banquets, car shows and wherever they’re invited to show their respects and lend a tone of patriotism. “It’s my esteemed honor to stand side-by-side with them,” Terando said. “We’re out there in the blistering heat, the rain, the wind, the snow. It’s like still being in service.” Terando even served at a veteran’s ceremony the day after his son, Army Sgt. Joshua Terando, was killed in action in Iraq in 2005. He understands the importance of the calling. Presenting the colors, folding and presenting the flag, playing taps and being a solid patriotic presence at funerals is one of the most significant duties of the color guard, Terando said. “We make sure that they get an honorable funeral,” he said. “All veterans’ honorable service should be honored.” Terando joined the Morris Color Guard in 1995. Working in construction, he had shifts that were flexible enough to allow him to attend daytime funerals and events. “It was something I believed in basically,” he said. “Someone’s got to keep filling in the ranks.” The 15 members of the guard are veterans from the Air Force, Navy, Army and Marines. They are retired or still working, and they all have one thing in common. “Their pride of service and the camaraderie and the opportunity to honor our veterans,” Terando said. Terando schedules as many guard members as he can to work funerals. The perfect number is 11, he said – two to fold the flag, one to call the commands, seven to fire the rifle volleys and one bugler. Morris Police Officer and Army veteran Steve Huettemann has been a bugler with the Morris Color Guard for almost 20 years. It’s a way to give back to the veterans, he said. For the first few years, he played echo taps with fellow vet Chuck Hammond. He now plays the song solo, after Hammond died in 2008. “Hopefully I play it correctly and beautifully and can help people move on,” he said. “I do it because it needs to be done. . . They get that special honor that not everyone gets, and it’s earned by them.” “It’s a great group, that’s for sure,” said Jim Maskel, an officer with the VFW Auxilliary. “They are very appreciated.” The auxiliary recently donated funds for the color guard to purchase heavier uniforms for winter use and for closets to store uniforms at the VFW.
The Morris Color Guard recently honored fellow guard member and Korean War veteran Gerald Matteson, seated. From left: Jerry Belt, Dan Havel, Jim Leonard, Bob Rogers, Larry Johnson, Mike Ebert and Ron McDaniel. Photo courtesy Jerry Terando. Photo by Jeanne Millsap/For Shaw Media.
The members of the color guard are veterans who served their country, then came home and continue to serve, Maskel said. Members of the guard also appreciate the local funeral homes, UC Davis-Callahan, Reeves, Fruland and Fred C. Dames, for their donations and being strong supporters. Huettemann said the guard is always looking for vets to serve with them on the Morris Color Guard. “For me, I try to help the family get closure,” he said, “because not a lot of people will go and volunteer for something where they could potentially die. When you sign your name on the line, that’s what you could be giving up. You’re giving your whole life for the service, and you have the potential of not coming back at all. . . They earn the ceremony. It’s something that we have to keep doing.”
5
Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died Jan. 12, 2010
Jerry Barla
Max M. Babcock
Verne E. Babcock
Elwyn Baker
Marshall L. Bardell
Arthur Ronald Barker
H. Michael Bates
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
Stockton, IL Army H 1958-1960
Louis Barla
Rob Barla
Edward D. Basham
Matthew D. Basham
Poplar Bluff, MO Army H 1965-1968
Robert Barkley
Morris, IL Army H 1966-1968 Died Aug. 29, 2011
Jeff Beck
Andy Barla
Seneca, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died 1994
Todd Beck
Brian Barla
Seneca, IL Navy H 1985-1989
Richard Becker
Seneca, IL Navy H 1956-1959
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
Minooka, IL Army H 1963-1966 Died July 5, 2016
Dalton R. Bednarik
Edward R. Bednarik
Gerald Bednarik
Donald Bekker
Gregory L. Bell
Harold Bell
Kenneth Bell
Robert Bell
Ronald L. Bell
Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1944 Died July 28, 1964
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
Morris, IL Marines H 1952-1953
Charles L. Benbrooks
Earl Benge
George S. Benger
Butch Benson
Clarence Benson
Earl Benson
Ed Benson
Ronald K. Belt
Gerald Belt
Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died March 21, 1970
Morris, IL Army H 1957-1959
George Keith Benson II
Coal City, IL Army H 1966-1968 Died Oct. 28, 2008
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
Newark, IL Army H 1917-1919 Died Nov. 16, 1971
Sven Benson
John Berg
Orland Berg
John Bertot
Dennis Best
George Bexson
Edward Beyer
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
Joliet, IL Army H 1955-1958
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
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 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
6
Joseph A. Bien
Jospeh P. Bien
Alvin Biros
Michael Biros
August Black
Brian Black
Robert “Bob” Blaine
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
William “Bud” Blake
William L. Blake
Stephen V. Bliefield
Micheal W. Bogart
Bruce A. Boling
Leon Bonneur
Robert Borgstrom
John A. Blake
Morris, IL Army Air Corp. H 1946-47 Died Feb. 5, 2002
Bob Born
Warren Blake
Morris, IL Army H 1945-1946 Died June 30, 2011
Brad Born
Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died Oct. 21, 2006
Morris, IL Calvary Vet Corp.H1918-1919 Died May 26, 1973
Verona, IL Air Force H 2008-present
Joliet, IL Marines H 1973-1977
Mazon, IL Air Force H 1991-present
Morris, IL Army H 1956-1966 Died Oct. 10, 2015
Morris, IL Navy H 1959-1964
Coal City, IL Marines H 1973-1977
Coal City, IL Air Force H 1971-1975
Don Born
Ervin Born
John Born
Ray Born
William Boswell
Bernard Bounds
Richard Bradley
Richard L. Bradley
John E. Brady
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
Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1946
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
Andrew R. Brewer
Coal City, IL Army National Guard H 2006-present
Robert E. Brooks I
William L. Brooks
John Broucek
George Brown
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 W. Brian
Donald E. Bright
Lonnie Briley
Walter D. Britz
Joe Brochman
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
Morris, IL Army H 1942-1964 Died June 6, 2007
7
Robert E. Brown
Emil Buberle
Charles L. Bumgardner
Kenneth E. Bunker
Francis A. Bunton
John Patrick Bunton
Jeff Alan Burchfield
Jeff Alan Burchfield
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
Morris, IL Army H 2001-present
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
Jack Cacello
South Wilmington, IL Army H 1970-1971
Catherine A. Canik
Edward L. Canik
Paul Canik
Charles L. Carey
Albert “Swede” Carlson
Louis Bernard Cheshareck
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
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
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
Morris, IL Army Air ForceH1946-49 Died April 15, 1955
Ron Cingrani
John Clampitt
Evan E. Clark
Candace M. Clay
Christine M. Clay
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
William Cheshareck
Willie Cheshareck
Richard “Riz” Chouinard
Milford Christianson
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
Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died May 6, 2001
Minooka, IL Navy H 2005-2010
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Zephyr Hills, FL Army H 1951-1953
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com
Robert D. Brown
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section 8
9
Chester Claypool
Jared Claypool
John LeRoy Claypool
Lester Claypool
Rodney A. Clements
Jack Cobb
Robert E. Cohenour
Edward “Ted” Conley
Daniel P. Cox
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
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
Branson, MO Navy H 1980-1983
Dean W. Cox
Robert Craig
Don Crater
Walter Cripe
George Cromwell
William Cromwell
Andy Cronin
Curtis Cronin
Joshua Crosby
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
Seneca, IL Army H 2004-present
James K. Cryder
Harold H. Cunning
Bill G. Daniels
Curtis Danielson
Jerome Danielson
Robert Darin
Eugene W. Datti
Bernard C. Davidson
John R. “Jack” Davidson
Elvin Davy
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
Maurice R. “Buck” Davidson
Mark Davis
Matthew Davis
Robert Davis
Wesley J. Davis
Ryan P. Davisson
Joseph L. Davito
Lee J. Davito
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
Morris, IL Navy H 1946-1948 Died Sept. 15, 1991
Coal City, IL Army H 1945-1946 Died Nov. 22, 2001
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Rockdale, IL Army H 1985-1988
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com
Matthew R. Clay
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
10 Glenn “Dutch” DeLong Harry Davy
Neil E. Davy
Juan R. De Leon
Glenn G. Dearth
Wilbert J. Dearth
Robert Lee Decker
Gary DeLong
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
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
Robert DeLong
Dwight, IL Army H WWII Died 1994
Peter Dinelli
Terry Dingbaum
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
Dubuque, IA Army H 1988-1991
Tim Dippon
Raymond Dirker
Kyle Dite
Louis C. Dite
Owen P. Dite
Raymond Dite
Richard A. Dite
James W. Dolan, Jr.
James Wayne Dolan
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
Morris, IL Army H 1991-1996 Died Jan. 20, 1996
Pete Dolan
Terrence Donahue
John F. Doran
Andrew J. Downs
Jacob Downs
Michael A. Downs
Bob Drake
Dan Dransfeldt
Robert B. Duket
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
Carl Eugene Dummitt
Mike Dummitt
Peter Dummitt
David Dunlap
Bob Durkee
Donald “Tink” Durkee
Erwin “Nick” Durkee
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 Army H 1969-1971
George Durkee
Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946 Died 1972
Rockford, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died Feb. 13, 2005
Jim Durkee
Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died 1975
11
Everett Egeland
Roy Egeland
Jerry Einhaus, Sr.
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
Seneca, IL Navy H 1961-1981 Died July 14, 1986
Kenneth D. Elberson
Louie Eliakis
Steve A. Eliakis
Derek W. Ellis
Dwayne L. Ellis
Derek Elsey
John R. Ely
Harion Enervold
Harris Enervold
Morris, IL Army H 1953-1955 Died 1957
David Edge
Tyler Eichelberger
Henry (Hank) Dyer
Tom Einhaus
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
Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946
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
Dale B. Eslinger
Minooka, IL Army H 1968-1972
Roger Eslinger
Thomson, IL Air Force H 1962-1966 Died March 11, 2006
O. B. Evans
Gadsden, TN Army H 1952-1954 Died June 9, 2010
Lloyd V. Fannin
Lloyd Fannin
John “Louie” Farber
John D. Farrero, Sr.
Richard Farrero
Seneca, IL Marines H 1970-1974
Morris, IL Army H 1956-1958
Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died June 20, 2005
Morris, IL Marines H 2007-2011
Wilmer “Bill” Falck
Joseph O. Fancher
Ersel Fannin
J. Marvin Fannin
Melvin, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Oct. 16, 2005
Morris, IL Army Air ForceH1942-1945 Died 1976
Camp Dix, KY Army H 1941-1945 Died Nov. 10, 2000
Morris, IL Air Force H 1949-1954
Morris, IL Army H 1949-1952
Morris, IL Army H 1944-1945 Died 1980
Morris, IL Marines H 2007-2011
Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1948 Died Feb. 20, 1990
Coal City, IL Army H 1966-1968
Leo Fatlan
Tom Feehan
James R. Feeney, Sr.
Richard J. Ferguson
Russell Ferguson
William M. Ferguson
Dominic Ferrari
Russell J. Finch
Bill Finfrock
Gardner, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Feb. 21, 2010
Morris, IL Navy H 1945-1946 Died 1980
Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Oct. 28, 1971
Morris, IL Navy Air H 1950-1954
Morris, IL Marines H 1958-1961
Morris, IL Marines H 1951-1953
Gardner, IL Army H 1958-1960
Verona, IL Navy H 1940-1945 Died June 25, 1986
Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Morris, IL Marines H 1960-1963
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com
Vincent J. Eddy
John Durkee
The Giving Spirit
Operation St. Nick helps Grundy County veterans in times of need By JEANNE MILLSAP – For Shaw Media Operation St. Nick has many programs that serve Grundy County residents, and one near and dear to the heart of the charity’s President Joe Schmitz is “12 Days of Christmas Giving.” This branch of Operation St. Nick chooses 12 active military personnel or military veterans who live in Grundy County and were honorably discharged and grants them wishes worth up to $2,500 each. It’s a service Schmitz said can be a bittersweet one for him and the board. “One veteran was struggling, raising a grandchild,” he said. “We gave him a check for his January rent. You’d think I’d given him the world. And it wasn’t that much money. . . Some of the stories we get…” It’s a way to pay back the people who are fighting for our country, Schmitz said, and who have served our country in the past. “Veterans, these are the people that have fought for our country, saved our country from terrorist activity, are protecting us here and all over the world,” he said, “and to be able to help them when they come home.
A lot of them are without jobs. If we can help them get through the holidays or make the holidays special for them, then it’s worth it.” Schmitz said he and the board give first priority to servicepersons and veterans who have families and are struggling. They also give to grandparents who are veterans and having difficulty making ends meet. The gifts run the gamut in variety. “We sent a soldier and his family to Texas for a grandfather’s funeral,” he said. “We partnered with (a funeral home) and helped a family to bury a soldier and to get an honorable burial at (Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery). We’ve purchased furniture and appliances for those who needed it.” Another wish was granted when the program flew a soldier and his wife home from service in Europe to be with their family at Christmas. One year, Schmitz visited the home of a Morris veteran who had applied for the program. He couldn’t afford a gift for a family member’s birthday, and Schmitz took him to a local store and helped him shop for just the right present.
Grundy County Veterans Assistance Commission
Willie and Joe were the story. The average Americans who left the comforts of home and family to serve for far less pay, glory and appreciation than they earned.
Promoting the Welfare of Honorably Discharged Veterans The GCVAC can assist with most federal and state veterans benefits; such as:
The ones who were lucky returned home where they became friends, neighbors and citizens who make the fiber of our communities.
• 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
Willie and Joe... Sarah and Jane... have given unmatchable gifts to all of us. November 11th is a good time to remember that those who serve may be a bit more than average Americans.
PAINT
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
1802 N. Division St., Suite 405 Morris, IL 60450 SM-CL0395466
“He was standing there with tears in his eyes,” he said. “The pleasure’s really mine and the board’s. It’s such a thrill to talk to these veterans. They’re so appreciative of any kind of help. It sure makes my Christmas, I’ll tell you that. St. Francis of Assisi was right, that you really receive by giving.” Funds for the 12 Days of Christmas Giving come mostly from Operation St. Nick’s Norton Cup, and also from the organization’s annual radio auction and other donations from the public. Grundy County veterans who have been honorably discharged and those who are currently in active service can apply for the program themselves, or friends and family can nominate them. Applications can be obtained at the Morris HeraldNews, 1802 N. Division Street, Suite 314, in Morris, or online at www.morrisherald-news.com/stnick. They are due Nov. 16 and may be turned in at any Standard Bank branch in Grundy County. Wishes are distributed Dec. 12-23.
Bill Mauldin was the cartoonist who created “Willie and Joe” during World War II. Although Mauldin served in Europe, was awarded a Purple Heart, and won two Pulitzer Prizes, he’s not the story.
adno=0293582
SM-CL0395461
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
12
PAPER AND FRAMES
525 Liberty • Morris • 942-3133 Open Daily 7:30-5:30 (parking available south of the building for your convenience)
“Just give me the aspirin. I already got a Purple Heart.” Bill Mauldin Stars and Stripes (1944)
13
Leonard R. Fioritto
William Finn
Leonard Fioritto
Dale W. Fitch
Gary P. Fitzmaurice
Maurice Fleetwood
Bob Flynn
Rocky L. Flynn
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
Morris, IL Navy H 1948-1952
Morris, IL Marines H 1968-1969
Dorsey Foster
Morris, IL Navy H 1981-1985
Nathan Fox
Dwight, IL Marines H 2006-2010
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
Natalie Friend
Morris, IL Air Force H 1981-1985
Larry J. Frosch
Thomson, IL Air Force H 1961-1965 Died 2011
William E. Fruland
Raymond D. Gaddo
Kevin J. Gaffney
Marvin J. Gagliardo
Jim Gallagher
Norval Galloway
Robert A. Gallup
Gene Gang
Maurice G. Gantzert
Morris, IL Air Force H 1974-2000
Poplar Grove, IL Navy H 2003-2012
Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died May 9, 2007
Coal City, IL Army H 1952-1953 Died June 17, 2011
Seneca, IL Navy H 1987-1991
Wee Salute Our Veterans W
Streator, IL Army H 1942-1945
Verona, IL Air Corp. H 1942-1946
Morris, IL Navy H 1952-1956
Mazon, IL Army H 1941-1963 Died Jan. 8, 1989
To all our Veterans and active duty military, we thank you for your service.
Angela Lilek Loan Officer 124 E. Main Street Morris, IL 60540
1-800-443-8780 ext. 2920
124 E. Main St. • Morris, IL 60450 • www.ffsbweb.com
We Salute Our Veterans To all our veterans and active-duty military, we thank you for your service
adno=0293635
SM-CL0395155
NMLS #1128192
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
Visit our new Morris & Diamond locations to learn about the PLUS MORRIS | DIAMOND | OTTAWA | PERU | MENDOTA www.FinancialPlus.org SM-CL0395161
SM-CL0395464
w w w. f re d c d a m e s .cc o m
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
On a day like today, it is important to remember freedom is not free.
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com
Daniel Finn
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
14
Robert Garcia
Charles “Chuck” Garling Morris, IL Army H 1952-1954 Died March 1, 2007
Lando Gingerich
Roy Gleen
Morris, IL Marines H 1963-1967
Kalona, IA Air Force H 1950-1954
Morris, IL Army H 1941-1953 Died Feb. 14, 2005
Leonard Don Goodwin
Roger M. Gordon
Crestview, FL Marines H 1953-1955 Died Nov. 8, 2006
Ole M. Greenley, Sr.
Phil Gilbert
Reddick/Gardner, IL Army H 1940-1945 Died Nov. 10, 2006
Bob Gilbertson
Morris, IL Army H 1969-1971
Ralph Gilbertson, Sr.
Dick Gilchrist
John Gilchrist
Mazon, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died Nov. 5, 2008
Coal City, IL Army H 1953-1955
Coal City, IL Marines H 1968-1970
Coal City, IL Army H 1957-1959
Mazon, IL Army H 1943-1946
Edward J. Glenney
Lyle Goff
Keith Golimowski
Michael Golimowski
James W. Gonnam
Jesse W. Gonnam
Ronald Goode
LeRoy Gilmoure
Morris, IL Navy H 1956-1960
Morris, IL Air Force H 1966-1969
Morris, IL Army H 2009-present
Morris, IL Army H 1968-1970
Verona, IL Army H 1972-1974
Verona, IL Air Force H 1941-1945 Died Aug. 2, 2002
Mazon, IL Army H 1968-1970
Edna Roach Graham
L. Rice Graham
Tracy N. Graham
John Gram
Elmer T. Granger
Tom Granger
Ole M. Greenley, Jr.
Palmyra, IL Air Force H 1949-1953 Died May 30, 1989
Nicholas W. Gregoire
Camp Point, IL Army Flight NurseH1941-45 Died March 1986
Griffin, GA Navy H 1941-1945 Died Feb. 2002
Morris, IL Navy H 2003-2008 Coast GuardH2009-present
Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953
So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1946 Died Feb. 23, 2009
So. Wilmington, IL National Guard H 1976-1981
Morris, IL Navy H 1969-1970 Died Oct. 11, 2013
Dale Grieff
William J. Griffiths
Eric Gronski
Eddie Grove
Robert L. Gualandi
Mervin “Bud” Guard Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died Dec. 2000
Stephen Guard
Morris, IL Army H 1969-1972
Lars M. Hansen
Leonard M. Hansen
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
Gary Gunnerson
Chris Guthrie
Elwood Hahn
George W. Hall
William S. Halterman
Daniel Hamric
Harvey A. Hansen
Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967
Richard A. Gilmour
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 Army H 1988-1992
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
15
Sherman Hansen
Jerry Hanson
Lloyd Hanson
Raymond Hanson
Stanley Hanson
Wally Hanson
William Hanson
Willis J. Hanson, Jr.
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
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
Willis J. Hanson, Sr.
David A. Harper
Joshua W. Harris
George E. Harrop
Henry D. Harseim
Donald Harvey
Josh Harvey
Lonnie Harvey
Merrill C. Harvey
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
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
Maynard Hawkins
George Heap
Ron Heap
Trent Heap
John Heavens
William Heermann
Nathan Hefner
Arnold Helgeson
Bennie Helland
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
Minooka, IL Army H 1995-present
Morris, IL Coast Guard H 1942-1945
Morris, IL Army H 1953-1955
Joseph G. Hemmersbach
Raymond E. Hemmersbach
Victor D. Hemmersbach
Adam Henderson
Jake Hendrix
Jay Hendrix
Herbert Hentschel
Duane L. Heren
Gil Herrera
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
Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1970
Green Valley, IL Army H 1951-1952
New Lenox, IL Army H 2001-2009
Leslie E. Hertenstein
Myron L. Hexdall
John Hextell
Ronald G. Hibler
Daniel Hicks
Greg Higgins
John R. Higgins
Merlyn Higgins
Ruth Hiles
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
Seneca, IL Army H 1951-1953
Seneca, IL Army H 1951-1953
Morris, IL Navy H WWII
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
Lowell R. Hansen
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
16
William Hiles
Earlyn K. Hill
Elton J. Hill
Lester M. Hill
Merwin F. Hill
Andrew M. Hillegass
Vernon Hilt, Sr.
Bill Hiney
Gary Hively
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
Lisbon, IL Army H 1944 Died July 13, 2003
Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967
Minooka, IL Navy H 1990-present
Wayne Hodgson
Ralph Holbrook
Noel Holman
Raymond Holzhauer
Stephen Homerding
Timothy Hood
Elizabeth Hortega
Josiah Hortega
William “Bill” Horton
Steven M. Huettemann
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
Ottawa, IL Navy H 2002-2007
Ottawa, IL Marines H 1998-2006
Gerald R. Houchin
Keith O. Houchin
Harold G. Hougas
Irvin L. Hougas, Sr.
James E. Hougas
Troy Householder
Willard Howen
Nicholas Huerta
Yorkville, IL Army H 1956-1958 Died 1994
Seneca, IL Marines H 1957-1972 Died Nov. 18, 1972
Seneca, IL Marines H 1952-1956 Died April 22, 2010
Marseilles, IL Army H 1951-1953
Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1945 Died March 1, 1945
Morris, IL Army H 1952-1956 Died Sept. 11, 2009
Morris, IL Air Force H 1986-1989
Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died June 4, 1993
Braceville, IL Army H active
Peru, IL Army H Desert Sheild/ Desert Storm
Brian Humbert
Albert L. Hume
Michael T. Hume
Robert A. Hume
Dennis Huston
Robert Hutchings
Roy Hutchings, Jr.
Ronald Hutton
Gary L. Ingraham
Dwight, IL Navy H active
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
Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953
Morris, IL Army H 1945-WWII Died Dec. 24, 2001
Wilmington, IL Army H 1965-1967 Died June 19, 2012
Verona, IL Navy H 1957-1979
Robert H. Inman
John Iverson
Melvin L. Jackman
Barry W. Jaicomo
Walter Jaicomo
William J. Jaicomo
Ronald Jamieson
Alfred “Red” Jenkins
Carroll Jewett
Coal City, IL Air Force H 1943-1945
Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died Aug. 14, 1993
Gardner, IL Army H 1954-1956
So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1968-1970
So. Wilmington, IL Army H WWII Died Dec. 4, 1982
So. Wilmington, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died March 4, 2011
Dwight, IL Army H 1983-2010
Mazon, IL Army H 1965-1967
Mazon, IL Marines H 1918-1919 Died 1977
17 Morris, IL H Marines H Died June 7, 1967
George Jisa
Carl R. Johnson
Donald Johnson
Gary LeRoy Johnson
Gene A. Johnson
Harold F. Johnson
Harry A. Johnson
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
Gardner, IL Marines H 1943-1945
Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died May 10, 1975
Dr. Larry C. Johnson
Lavern Johnson
LeRoy Palmer Johnson
Lester W. Johnson
Oliver Johnson
Scott Johnson
Silas Johnson
John O. 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
Mazon, IL Army H 1971-1973
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
Hank Jones
Wesley E. Jorstad
Michael H. Joyce
Harold Kaldheim
Helen Kaldheim
Robert R. Keech
Scott A. Keech
Ben F. Kelly
Jacob A. Kelly
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
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
Marvin Kessler
Coal City, IL Navy H 1945-1946
Robert M. Kimmey
Braceville, IL Army H 1968-1970
Raymond C. “Dick” Kindelspire Morris, IL Army Air Corp. H 1941-45 Died Aug. 28, 2005
Larry L. Kingman
Morris, IL Army H 1953-1955 Died March 9, 2012
Jessica Klein
Morris, IL Navy H 1999-2007
Earl F. Kleinfeldt
Morris, IL Navy Air CorpH1942-45 Died Jan. 25, 2008
J. E. Kleinfeldt
Morris, IL Navy H 1966-1970
Lee E. Kleinfeldt
Morris, IL Army H 1972-1974
Cate Klepacki
Dwight, IL Air Force H active
George F. Knudson
Gerald R. Knudson
Nathan D. Knutson
Harry Kolb
Don Komnick
John Kopczick
Raymond A. Kopczick
Stanley “Ike” Kopczick
Albert Kowalczyk
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
Morris, IL Army H 1968-1970
Morris, IL Army H Korean War Died 1964
Morris, IL Army Air Corp.H1940-46 Died 1995
Morris, IL Navy H WWII Died 1970
Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died Dec. 29, 1975
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Nov. 11, 2009
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com
Jesse L. Johnson
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
18
Ami Kowalczyk
Dennis E. Kowalczyk
Richard Kowalczyk
Marc Krakar
Carl Kramer
Russell Kukman
Frank Kulig
Frank B. Kuntz
Gary L. Kuntz
Morris, IL Navy H 2007-2009
Morris, IL Army H 1966-1969
Morris, IL Navy H 1961-1965
Joliet, IL Marines H 1956-1958
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
Gary R. Kuriger
William R. Kuriger
Ron Kyrouac
Charles Labaj
Walter R. Lacyk
James F. Lamie
Kurt Lamping
William J. Lanning
Daniel Lardi
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
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
Keith Larson
Milford “Muff ” Larson Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953
David E. Latham
Essex, IL Air Force H 1968-1971 Died Jan. 12, 1991
John T. Latham, Jr.
Custer Park, IL Army H 1964-1967
John T. Latham, Sr.
Essex, IL Army H 1939-1945 Died Sept. 4, 1965
Joe Laughary
Morris, IL Army Air CorpH1940-45
Keith Laughary
Morris, IL Marines H 1970-1972
Kevin Laughary
Morris, IL Navy H 2002-present
Kurt Laughary
Morris, IL Navy H 2002-present
Ruth Laughary
Gary L. Lawless
Walter L. Lawless
Ray Layton
Arthur R. Leach
Rich Leach
Harry Leasure
Frank D. Lee
George E. Lee
Morris, IL Army H 1958-1961
Massillon, OH Navy H 2003-present
Gardner, IL Army H 1970-1972
Gardner, IL Navy H 1945-1953
Richmond Hill, GA Army H 1960-1962
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
Kevin W. Leeds
Tim Lehman
Daniel L. Leiter
Dennis Lenzie
Donald Lenzie
Allan O. Leranger
Lindsay Leskanich
Eugene E. Lewis
Norman Lewis
Morris, IL Air Force H 1984-1988
Dwight, IL Marines H 2002-2008
Coal City, IL Air Force H 1981-1985
Gardner, IL Army H 1967-1968
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
19
Morris, IL Navy H 2003-2008
Ray L. Lindley
Morris, IL Army H 1965-1967
Terry Livingston
Coal City, IL Army H 1966-1968
Scott Lock
Morris, IL Navy H 1980-2000
Alan D. Love
Morris, IL Marines H 1965-1969
Granville A. Love
Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died Sept. 1992
Clifford A. Lowery
Mazon, IL Army Air Corp. H 1942-1945
William W. Lowery
Christopher Lutz
Mazon, IL Marines H 1968-1971
Morris, IL Navy H 1993-1999
Joseph A. Macaluso
Joseph M. Macaluso
Samuel L. Lyons
Coal City, IL Army/Civil WarH1864-1865
Frank Lutz
Lavern R. Lutz
Robert Lynes
Donald Lyon
Henry A. Lyons
Henry E. Lyons
Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953
Morris, IL Army Air Force H 1943-45 Died July 10, 1970
Morris, IL Army H 1959-1965
Coal City, IL Air Force H 1950-1954
Coal City, IL Army/WWI H 1918-1919
Robert S. Macdonald
Donald Madison
Norman R. Madison
Francis M. Maierhofer
Bernard Mallaney
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
Kenneth Matteson
Russell Matteson
Fred Matuszewski
John F. Maunder
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
Seneca, IL Air Force H 1950-1953
Kinsman, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died Jan. 10, 2015
Robert D. Martis
David M. Maskel
Emmett Maskel
Clyde F. Mason
Gerald Matteson
Lawrence P. Marchesi
Coal City, IL Navy H 1940-1943 Died Feb. 7, 2003
Coal City, IL Army H 1964-1966
Walter Marnell
William V. Martin
Coal City, IL Army H 1951-1953
Morris, IL Army H 1958-1961
Morris, IL Army H 1952-1954 Died Aug. 23, 2001
Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1945 Died Sept. 7, 2012
Morris, IL Army H 1953-1954
Newark/Morris, IL Air Force H 1957-1961
Morris, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died May 27, 1967
Morris, IL Army H 1956-1962
Morris, IL Army H 1943-1945
John Mazza
Gene L. McArdle
Jim McCleary
Dennis McCluckie
Earl (Mickey) McComas
Donald P. McCormack
Forrest McCormack
James R. McCormack
Kenneth McCormack
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
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
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1945
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com
Adam Lindley
| Veterans Day Special Section
20
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
La Verne McCormack
Ken McCoy
Joseph B. McGuan
Paul E. McIntosh
Jeremy N. McKinney
Donald Dean McKinney
Donald R. McMillan, Jr.
Jerry Jon McLuckie
John Wilton “Bill” McLuckie Coal City, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died March 21, 2000
Gardner, IL Air Force H 1985-1989
Robert T. Meredith
Ed Meridith
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
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
Mack McMillin
John McNabb
Kate Meadows
Richard Meadows
Ron E. Menees
Jackie L. Meredith
Llyod W. Meredith
Coal City, IL Army H 1945-1946 Died Sept. 2, 2013
Morris, IL Army H 1967-1969
Morris, IL Navy H 2000-present
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
James R. Meridith
Dominic J. Messina
Robert L. Metroz
John (Jack) Micetich
P. J. (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
Richard Mitchell
Elton L. Monson
Jim Moran
Morris, IL Navy H 1943-1946 Died March 27, 2001
Tinley Park, IL Army H 2003-2010
Morris, IL Marines H 1998-2002
Coal City, IL Army H 1955-1956
Coal City, IL Army H 1943-1946 Died Nov. 10, 1968
Clifton, IL Navy H 1965-1980
Orville (Buck) Miller
Raleigh Miller
Sean Miller
William E. Miller
Joseph Misener
Terry Misener
Coal City, IL Navy H 1956-1958
Diamond, IL Army Air Force H 1942-45 Died May 2000
Columbia, MO Navy H active
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
Saluting the United States Armed Forces
hbtbank.com
adno=0293606
INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC
SM-CL0395106
SM-CL0395437
Some may work among us, some we’ve never met; In honor of those who served, your service we will not forget.
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.
322 Liberty St. (corner of Liberty 7 Jefferson) Morris, IL • 942-4900 • www.rothjorstadins.com
21
John Morris, Jr.
John Morris
Wayne Morris
Bill Morse
Thomas D. Mostyn
Morris, IL Marines H 1942-1945 Died Nov. 7, 1992
Channahon, IL Navy H 1989-1993
Channahon, IL Army H 1965-1967 Viet Nam
Coal City, IL Navy H 1965-1969
Morris, IL Army H 1954-1956
Lockport, IL Merchant MarinesH1943-45 Died 1989
J. F. Murphy
Terry Muscato
David S. Musgrave
Richard O. “Dick” Myers
John Nagra
Tim Nagra
James Mulcahy
Streator, IL Navy H 1943-1946
H. Wayne Neal
Mark Munger
Dwight, IL Marines H 1986-2011
Bill E. Nelson
Adam Murphy
Coal City, IL Army H 1914-1916 Died June 12, 1968
Gerald Nelson
Streator, IL Marines H 1967-1971
Minooka, IL Navy H 1985-1994
Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1967 Died Dec. 31, 1998
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
Ivan M. Nelson
Jack E. Nelson
Mitchell D. Nelson
Donald Neville
Elmer E. Newell
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
Cliff Nighsonger
Delbert J. Noble
John Nolan
Dale Norton
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
Green Bay, WI Air Force H 1957-1961 Died Oct. 29, 2011
Morris, IL Army H 1942-1946 Died July 6, 2001
Madison Nguyen
Larry E. Nickels
Danny Niewinski
Henry H. Niewinski
Henry W. Niewinski
Dwight, IL Marines H active
Morris, IL Navy H 1969-1975
Morris, IL Navy H 2012-present
Morris, IL Army H Korean War
Thanks
Morris, IL Army H WWII
Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945
Wheaton, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died March 1, 1994
HHHHHHHH
Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1946
Alto Pass, IL Army H 1965-1967 Died Dec. 26, 2014
Fruland
Funeral Home A truly personal service in
TO OUR COUNTRY’S VETERANS
201 Liberty Street Morris, IL 60450 (815) 942-0130 www.grundybank.com adno=0293680
SM-CL0395465
SM-CL0395105
your time of need
Richard Hexdall and Staff wish to Thank our Veterans for their service to our Country
HHHHHHHH
• Locally Owned •Traditional Funeral Services • Offering Prepaid Funerals • Cremation & Memorial Services Available
121 W. Jefferson St. • Morris, IL
942-0700 • www.frulandfuneralhome.com
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1945 Died Oct. 6, 1995
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Daily Herald / morrisdailyherald.com
James W. Morrall
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
22
Terry C. Novotney
Chris Nugent
George Nugent
Jeremiah Nugent, Sr.
Jerry Nugent
Mike Nugent
Patrick W. Nugent
Thomas Nugent
Erik Nusbaumer
Streator, IL Army H 1959-1961
Wilmington, IL Army H 1980-1984
Morris, IL Navy H 1974-1978
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
Gerald O’Brien
Jack J. O’Hagen
Michael O’Hagen
Tyler Oelschlager Dwight, IL Navy H active
Robert W. Ollerman
Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died July 15, 1980
Gene Olson
Seneca, IL Air Force H 1950-1953 Died April 10, 2002
Gregory T. Olson
Morris, IL Navy H 1971-1975
Larry Olson
Morris/Mazon, IL Army H 1968-1969
Maury Olson
Gardner, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died Jan. 8, 2012
Roger L. Olson
Violet R. Olson
Joseph E. Opyd
Leo Paul Opyd, Sr.
Leon Paul Opyd, III
Leon Paul Opyd, Jr.
Minooka, IL Army H 1963-1965
Chicago, IL Marines H 1947-1955 Died Dec. 1, 2003
Morris, IL Marines H 1990-1995
Newan S. Olson
Richard O. Olson
Robert F. Olson
Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died 1974
Monmouth, IL Navy H 1955-1957 Died Jan. 2, 2012
Morris, IL Navy H 1942-1946
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
Luke Opyd
Dennis Orvis
Lawrence Orvis
Gordon Osmundson
LaVerne Osmundson
Elwyn E. Oswood
Milburn J. Oswood
Douglas Overbeck
Edward Pacchetti
Gardner, IL Navy H 2010-present
Seneca, IL Navy H 1967-1969
Seneca, IL Army H 1966-1969
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
Gary Patton
Jeff Paulson
Willis Peacock
Delmar A. Peel
Arthur Patterson
Seneca, IL Army H 1941-1944 Died March 28, 2003
Albert C. Pankey
Clifton, IL Army H WWI Died 1963
Dennis N. Pankey
Clifton, IL Army H 1972-1974
Gerald J. Pankey
Clifton, IL Army H 1946-1948 Died 1999
Dick Parker
Morris, IL Army H 101st Airborne 1962-1964
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
23
John L. Perry
Eugene G. “Pete” Peterson Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died Oct. 23, 2013
Morris, IL Marines H 1943-1947
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
John Phillips, Jr.
John M. Phillips, Sr.
Joseph T. Phillips, Jr.
Joseph T. Phillips, Sr.
Robert Phillips
Walter A. Phillips, Sr.
Morris, IL Navy H 1962-1966 Died Feb. 13, 2005
Morris, IL Navy H 1953-1956
Morris, IL Navy H 1944-1946
George W. Phillips
James R. Phillips, Sr.
John (Jack) Phillips
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
Coal City, IL Navy H 1976-1979
Melvin A. Peterson
Minooka, IL Marines H 1941-46, 48-53 Died Sept. 20, 2001
Tim Pfaff
Coal City, IL Marines H 1953-1955
Donald L. Pfeifer, Sr.
Albert Phillips
Agnes Peterson
Coal City, IL Navy H 1943-1945 Died Nov. 5, 1984
Morris, IL Marines H 1953-1955
Clarence Phillips
Morris, IL Marines H 1948-1952 Died Nov. 4, 1995
Thomas F. Powell
Coal City, IL Navy H 1944-1945 Died Nov. 30, 1999
Frank Picciariello
Coal City, IL Army H 1960-1962 Died Nov. 11, 1991
Edward L. Pierard
Coal City, IL Army H 1957-1963
Richard Pierce
Morris, IL Army H 1954-1956 Died March 27, 2007
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
Dwight, IL Army H active
John Prebeg
Milan Prebeg
John F. Progress
Mark Prosser
Ivan Provance
Joliet, IL Army H WWII Died 2013
Joliet, IL Army H WWII Deceased
Seneca, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died Nov. 16, 2002
Joliet, IL Army H 2004-2-12
Coal City, IL H Navy H Died March 9, 2005
Morris, IL Navy H 1997-2000
Curtis Rasmusson
Ronald J. Rath
Francis M. Reano
John K. Reed
R. Edward Reed
James I. Reeves
Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953
Morris, IL Army H 1969-1971
Diamond, IL Navy Air Corp. H 1944-46 Died Aug. 25, 2011
Morris, IL Air Force H 1989-present
Morris, IL Navy H 1993-1997
G. Herbert Ranz
Amity Taylor Provenzano
Coal City, IL Army Air ForceH1943-45 Died April 14, 1989
James W. Reeves
Morris, IL Navy H 2003-present
Michael A. Ranz
Morris, IL Army Air Force H 1941-45 Died Oct. 27, 2004
Morris, IL Navy H 1969-1971
Joseph L. Reeves
Edward J. Reiser
Morris, IL Navy H 2009-present
Channahon, IL Army H 1967-1973 Died July 13, 2009
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Patrick Rafferty
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Daily Herald / morrisdailyherald.com
Delmar L. “Butch” Peel
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
24
Leon J. Residori
Gary Rickmon
Kimberly Rieck
Dana Riegel
Jeremy Riegel
Paul L. Riegle
Timothy P. Riegle
George James Ringer
Jon Ringer
So. Wilmington, IL Army H 1960-1962
Morris, IL Army H 1983-1986
Dwight, IL Navy H active
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
Martin J. Riordan, Jr.
Harold Ritke
Eugene Robertson
Brian Robisky
Dennis Robisky
Korey Rodrick
Kenneth Roe
Leland M. Roe
Wilmer Roe
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
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
Robert T. Rogers
John J. Ronchetti
Keith Roseland
Wayne Roseland
Richard Rosencrans
Randall E. Rosengren
John B. Ross
John Roth, Jr.
John Roth, Sr.
Morris, IL Seabees H 1966-1968
Coal City, IL Army Air Force H 1943-45
Coal City, IL Army H 1969-1971
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
Louis Ruffatti
Luverne Runestad
Marty Runestad
Orliss L. Runestad
Shawn P. Runge
Davis A. Runion
Clinton Ryder
Robert J. Ryder
William Richard Ryder
John R. Sanders, Jr.
Coal City, IL Army H 1954-1956
Morris, IL Army H 1944-1946 Died Jan. 13, 2013
Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945
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
Joseph T. Sajnaj
Mark J. Sajnaj
Michael G. Sajnaj, Jr.
Michael G. Sajnaj
Gordon Sampson
Orville L. “Bud” Sampson
Ronald Sampson
David Sandeno
LaSalle/Morris, IL Coast Guard H 1948-52
Morris, IL Air Force H 1985-1989
Morris, IL Navy H 2006-present
Morris, IL Navy Seabees H 1980-89
Morris, IL Navy H 1945-1947
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 Navy H 1971-1974
Morris, IL Army H 1967-1970
25
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
The first time I met him... even the first few times I worked with him...I didn’t say much. I was the new guy and he was just about the furthest thing from a new guy I could imagine. He wasn’t all that big, but he was tougher than a $2 steak and didn’t come with any dessert. He was a Spec 4 that made everybody blink. The duty officer, the executive officer and all the gun sergeants. Even the ones who had been around since the big war. Ken had given me orders and told me what to do for about three weeks, but he talked at me, not to me. I could see why. We were about as different as two draftees could be. He was Texas tough, maybe 21 years old, and knew everything about fixing and repairing stuff. Plus, he ran one of the Fire Direction sections in our battery of four huge artillery pieces. Chief data computer for calculating the instructions to fire 200 pound shells through the jungle skies. I was a pampered college kid. Couldn’t screw in a light bulb without calling the help line. And, I still had the tags in my new jungle boots. He was bright, told good stories and had a world class smile. But I hadn’t seen that smile pointed my way yet. About a hundred of us in a little fire base. It was a quiet afternoon in April. We all worked eight hours on, eight off, eight on, blah, blah, blah. I was off duty, getting some sleep in the underground bunker and keeping one eye open for rats. I’d been in country for a month and only been shot at once. Splat. “What’s that?” Splat. Splat. That would be the last time I’d ever ask anybody what that sound was. My first mortar attack. What should I do? Is this the end? Where should I go? I talked two other guys into believing we should head for the fire command bunker. We grabbed flak jackets, steel pots and rifles and ran through the mortar shower the 70 meters to Fire Direction Control. Along the way, I tripped and slid a few feet on my forearms and face. So, when I dove into the bunker, I was bleeding from about a dozen superficial (make that very superficial) wounds. Ken was the first to notice. “You hit? You hurt?” Nope. Just fell down in the gravel. “Oh, you just fell down in the gravel, huh? And what were you doing running through the gravel?” I ... errr ... I ... uhhh ... thought we should come over here. “Well, let me tell you something, Private. That would make you the dumbest jackass in the battery. Nope. The
Then, most left Sunday. The rest left early Monday. But, I couldn’t get back to Chicago until Tuesday and planned to spend the day in the hotel. Ken said that wouldn’t work. He was picking me up and putting me on his payroll for a day. We had breakfast, hauled a trailer load of stuff to his shop and checked out a couple things at the local print shop. He took me to the newspaper to grab copies of the story they had done about our group. We toured the three local colleges, and then broke for lunch. After chowing down a couple of huge cheeseburgers, the waitress asked us if we’d saved room for dessert. “Ooooh, I’m afraid we have. Better give us a couple dishes of your ice cream.” Ken is the guy who has kept Abilene running for 45 years. When the Air Force base needs something fixed or built, they don’t have time to write the Pentagon. They call Ken. The newspaper can’t wait for a technician from Germany to repair the Heidelberg press, so they text Ken. The colleges, the print shops, probably the city of Abilene. They all rely on him and have for a long time. He says he can fix anything but a broken heart. And through it all, he’s made an interesting life. He and Faye built a beautiful home on a mountaintop. They built it themselves. And they have enjoyed lengthy trips to the South Pacific to scuba dive and explore the world. I would suspect he didn’t forget to laugh along the way. After lunch, we went to his house to put away the tables and chairs from the reunion, haul a couple of antique motorbikes back to town, and meet a few more of his friends. It was 103 degrees, but we kept going. Ken knows billionaires (billion with a “b”), both colonels at the Air Base, guys on the time clock, and a great percentage of cooks and waitresses in that town. He respects everyone, and I can promise that he is respected. The next morning, he took me to the airport. Earlier, he had told me not to arrive too early. Twenty minutes would get me thru check-in and security. He pulled up to the departure door, jumped out, grabbed my luggage, and shook my hand. Then he did something I wasn’t expecting. He said, “Jon, when y’all get back to Chicago, send me a text. I want to know you’re home safe.” Then Ken gave me a hug. I might have been the dumbest jackass in the Army, but Ken was still my friend. I’ll take that. I don’t want to go through a day without my family. I love them dearly. I have childhood friends who see me once a year, but still call me by my nickname. College fraternity brothers with whom I’ve kept close since Kennedy was shot. Golf buddies who remember the hickory shaft and the gutta percha, old work colleagues who can talk about hot lead and pica poles, and friends around town who pre-date dirt. But, if you have military friends, you know how special they are. And, if you shared combat, you know the bond I’m talking about. I told them all how much they mean to me, how I think about one or more of them everyday. And I told them that my proudest accomplishment in life has been to be accepted by them as one of their own. Terry has said it’s like a secret we all share. I’m glad I’m in on that secret.
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Daily Herald / morrisdailyherald.com
By JON RINGER Special to the Morris Herald-News
dumbest jackass in the Army. Nobody with a brain would go outside and run through a mortar attack. And, now that you’re here, we don’t need you. So ... when it stops raining 82-millimeter mortars, go back to the sleeping bunker. Rest up. You might be busy tonight.” Strangely enough, everything changed after that. We became comrades and friends. They called him “Kunya” because he liked to talk about a little Mexican town he visited often when he lived in Texas, Cuidad Acuna. He was from Abilene and couldn’t wait to get back. Figured he knew enough about building, fixing and inventing stuff that he’d find plenty of work. And other guys told me stuff about him too. The story was that an officer once told him to forget about protocol and take a swing if he was so tough. He was. Decked the officer in one punch. No charges were pressed and the war went on. Ken went home in July. Back to Abilene with that work ethic and no more military worries. In the months to follow, we all missed him. He taught me some common sense and showed me none of us were too good for the Army or too big for that war. Forty-eight years later, I woke up on a puddle jumper from Dallas as we were landing in Abilene, a nice little airport with about four flights a day and a lot less rules than O’Hare. Hot and windy, but it was the place I most wanted to be on earth that day. Ken and his wife, Faye, were hosting a reunion for 14 of us plus a few wives and girlfriends. It’s like a family reunion ... except I like everyone. I worked a lot with Chuck. He’s a Damon Runyon character. He could have played Bennie Southstreet in “Guys and Dolls”. I still quote him often and remember the night he sat with a pistol to shoot the rats so I could sleep. Fortunately, no lives were lost that evening. One of my regrets in life is that I lost Carl for 40 years. He’s a guy who could have been (should have been) a lifetime friend. Glad I found him, and Patti, who was his girlfriend back home when he and I were living in the jungle. Terry was there. He taught me how to manage a small group of people. I did that pretty well later in life, and I owe it to him. He was a newspaperman, authored a couple of books and loves his Big Ten football and golf. If his hair was a different color, we might be the same guy. Mike could have been the straightest shooter I ever met. He had no agenda but to do his job, worked constantly and always remained calm. Plus, he did the bravest thing I ever saw, without even blinking. Dennie had arrived in battery just as we went under siege for 43 days. His first six weeks were 300 mortar attacks, 20-hour days, 33 casualties, and very little food. He fit in from day one and did his job. And Mel is a story. I worked within 50 feet of him every day in 1968 but didn’t know him until a few years ago. He was on a gun crew and I was figuring the firing data. It is accurate to say Mel was a good soldier, a fine comrade and a trusted friend to many. I wish Tom and Tony could have been there. They are a huge part of the story. But they had conflicts and personal challenges. There were more good soldiers and wives I’ve come to know. They served the battery just before or just after me. Ken and Faye were sensational. It was a fabulous reunion.
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
26
John R. Sanders
Kevin Sanders
Dario E. Sarti
Erica Sarti
Hannibal J. “Nibs” Sarti
Jared Sarti
James E. Satorius
Dean L. Savage
Dennis Scaman
Chicago, IL Navy H 1942-1945
Morris, IL Army H 1981-present
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
Ken Scaman
William Scerine
John F. Schimandle
John J. Schimandle
Wayne Schlappi
Douglas Schmidt
Bradley Schmitt
Don Schmitz
Joe Schmitz
Morris, IL Army H 1951-1953 Died Feb. 5, 2016
Coal City, IL Marines H 1957-1960
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
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
Jeremy Schou
Chris Schreiner
Robert E. Schwiesow
Robert G. Schwiesow
Richard N. Scorby
Paul F. Scott
Dale Scubic
Aaron Seabert
Kenneth W. Seidler
Dwight, IL Nat’l Guard H 2004-2011
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
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
Donald Shewmake
Jim Shewmake
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
Pasadena, CA Navy H 1941-1944 Died 1988
Chicago, IL Army H 1941-1944 Died 1995
Joliet, IL Army H 1942-1944 Died 1996
27
Walter Shewmake
Jerry Shirtino, Jr.
Mark Allen Simons
M. J. (Peg) Sjostrom
Bennie Sklut
Alan Skwarczynski
Sheila Skwira
Frank Smith, Jr.
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
Henry A. Smith
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 1974-2014
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
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Dwight, IL Nat’l Guard H active
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Daily Herald / morrisdailyherald.com
Rich Shewmake
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
28
Michael Stuckey
Simon Sulaica, Jr.
Hezzie Summitt
Kristopher Surber
James A. Susan
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
Joshua A. Terando
Donald E. Terry
Justin Terry
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
Daniel Swiggett
Jeff L. Swiggett
Barney A. Taylor
Joseph L. Taylor
Jeremy Teague
Ladd Tedford
Morris, IL Army H 1982-1985
Morris, IL Navy H 1964-1967 Died Nov. 1, 1988
Morris, IL Navy H 1996-2000
Braidwood, IL Marines H 2000-2004
Josiah Swanson
Charles “Chuck” Suydam
Morris, IL Navy H 1968-1977
Morris, IL Army H 2002-2007
Ernest W. Swanson
James Sutton
Morris, IL Air Force H 1946-1948 Died 1983
Morris, IL Army H 1998-01, 2005 KIA Nov. 10, 2005
Morris, IL Marines H 1944-1945 Died 1945
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
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
Byron A. Thorson
Morris, IL Army Reserves H 1960-1966
29
David Tinsley
Joey Todd
David M. Togliatti
Morris, IL H Army H Died 1947
Robert Thorson
Dwight, IL Army H 1965-1967
“Georgie Glenn” Threewitt
Michael J. Togliatti
Alvin J. Torkelson
Brian Trainor
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
Chris Travis
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
Donald C. Valiente
William B. Vallow
Clay C. Van Tassel
Ralph Vanden
Conrad Vandervort
Gene Vandervort
Willard E. Vaughn
Morris, IL Army H 1946-1948
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
Rushville, IL Air Force H WWII, Korean War Died March 20, 2000
Barton W. Vest
Robert J. Viano
James Vick
Edwin P. Viglia, Sr.
Sigurd S. Viland
James Vilt
Joseph Vilt
Kenneth W. Vilt
Kenneth J. Vlk
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
Coal City, IL Army H 1963-1965 Died April 9, 2013
Thomas Vodacek
George Voelcker
Russell F. Vogen
John Vota
D. Duane Waisath
George C. Walczak
Daniel M. Walker
James Walsh
James E. Walsh
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 19, 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
Coal City, IL Navy H 1945-1946 Died June 5, 2008
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Joliet IL Army H 1963-1966
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com
Otto Thorson
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
30
Thomas E. “Ed” Walsh Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945
William “Bill” Walsh Verona, IL Navy H 1942-1946 Died July 14, 1979
William Wando
William T. Warren
Robert W. Warrick
Edward Washburn
Eric Washburn
Paul E. Washburn
Richard A. Washburn
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
Morris, IL Air Force H 1959-1966
Clay Webb
Conrad Weitz
Frank W. Welch
Herman F. Welch
Dave Welsh
Douglas Welsh
Theodore L. Wendell
Harry S. Watters
Ritchie, IL Army H 1941-1945
Robert Washburn
Morris, IL Army H 1943-1945 Died Jan. 2, 1999
Terry Wenger
Melvin P. Werden
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
Channahon, IL Army H 1944-1945 Died Jan. 26, 1986
Charles Whitaker
Eric White
James White
Harry L. Wickman
Lawrence W. Wickman
Nicholas R. Wickman
Steven P. Wickman
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
Morris, IL Navy H 1974-1980 Died June 4, 1993
Jerry Howard Wicks
Matthew Wilkey
Robert D. Wilkinson
Leslie Willis
“Pete” Willis
Robert Willis
Rudy Willis, II
Rudolph Willis
Donald Lloyd Wills
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
Morris, IL Army H 1966-1968
Lloyd Wills
Stephen D. Wills
Ronald Wilson
Richard Winsor
Edwin D. Witt
Leonard J. Wozniak
Francis E. Wren, Jr.
Jason Wren
Ronald Wren
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
Coal City, IL Army H 1997-2001
Coal City, IL Army H 1969-1971
Memorial squad on duty
31
By ALLISON SELK Shaw Media Correspondent
The Morris Color Guard, Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery memorial squad, Illinois Patriot Guard and veterans surrounded shelter C as members of the Patriot Guard were chosen to accept the American flag for a veteran they had never met. Not one person had a dry eye as taps played and veterans passed the casket for one last salute to a veteran who served our country, but died alone. As of 2011, 107 veterans without family or loved ones have been buried with honors at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Seventy-seven of them were homeless. To be buried with honors, family or loved ones must make a request to the cemetery, but when a veteran dies homeless, that piece to the puzzle does not exist. In the past, the veterans would come to the cemetery for a direct burial, which consists of being buried without honors. Then, four times per year, a memorial ceremony would be held and the names of the soldiers buried during that time would be read aloud. In 2010 Army artillery veteran Jack Picciolo learned during the course of the Chicago Homeless Sandwich Run that
one of their 18-year clients had committed suicide and was in fact a veteran. Veterans Jim Proffitt and Paul Bezzazian had given this man food and clothing for 18 years, so Proffitt called the Cook County Coroner to request the body be released to him if family or loved ones were not found, according to Picciolo. A month later, the body was released to the veterans. Picciolo said The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs provided opening and closing of the gravesite, liner, headstone marker, ceremony and burial in a national cemetery. “The preparation of the body, transportation, clothing, casket and coordination of the funeral service was not provided by the government,” Picciolo said. Through a friend, Picciolo found Dignity Memorial Network funeral homes, which paid for all of the costs not covered by the government. On January 18, 2011, this veteran was buried with full honors, which began the desire of Picciolo and other veterans and groups to provide these honors and act as family for these men and women who served our country, yet died alone. “When you sign up for the service, you are given the guarantee that you will be taken care of by the government because it’s something you’ve earned. It’s not right to dump these homeless veterans in a pauper grave in Chicago-it’s
not right,” Picciolo said. Picciolo said he now receives calls from Diane Nowak from Dignity Memorial Network funeral homes, and sometimes only has a 24-hour notice to email and call volunteers to come represent family and loved ones for the deceased homeless veteran. “There is nothing as bad as dying alone. There is nothing as bad as being buried without loved ones, so by proxy we take those places. We take it very seriously because all of us could have been homeless, because when you come back from the service, you are lost,” Army veteran and volunteer Jim Singler said. The funeral procession begins at the visitor’s center near the cemetery entrance. The Illinois Patriot Guard riders lead the processional down the narrow curved roads to a shelter where the casket lays under the shelter. Volunteers are pallbearers and Picciolo assigns a group of volunteers to represent family, as a Dignity funeral director leads the ceremony. The memorial honor squad performs its duties of the presentation of the flag, rifle volley and taps. “I wouldn’t think very much of myself if I didn’t come without a valid excuse. It’s a sense of duty-the guys who participate have never lost their sense of duty,” Singler said.
Ojibwa, WI Navy H 1943-1945
Jason G. Wright
Morris, IL Marines H 2004-2009
Peotone, IL Army H 1969-1971
John Robert Zelko III
Harley D. Zhe
Morris, IL Army H 2006-2008
James Zumbahlen
Morris, IL Air Force H 1943-1947 Died Sept. 30, 2011
Archie Wynen
Fred Wurst, Jr.
Morris, IL Army H 1952-1953
Norman E. Ziegler
Morris, IL Army H 1941-1945 Died May 9, 2003
Allan Yarmer
Mello Yarmer
Michelle L. Yarmer
Edward Zelinko, Sr.
James Zelinko, Sr.
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
Coal City, IL Army H 1942-1945
Coal City, IL Army H 1968-1970
Ronald Ziegler
Chris Zierman
Clarence R. Zingre
Harry Zitzka
G. G. Zullo
Nicholas Zullo
Morris, IL Army H 1969-1971
Morris, IL Marines H 2001-2004
Morris, IL Army H 1942-1945 Died March 13, 2011
Morris, IL Army H 1951-1952
Morris, IL Army H 1964-1966 Died March 27, 1996
Morris, IL Air Force H 1960-1964
• Thursday, November 10, 2016
Fred Wurst, Sr.
Veterans Day Special Section | Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com
Area veterans work to give homeless veterans honorable burial
Morris Herald-News / morrisherald-news.com • Thursday, November 10, 2016
| Veterans Day Special Section
32
20% OFF MSRP ON NEW 2016 & 2017 CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE & RAM MODELS
Receive 20% off MSRP cash allowance on oldest 20-25% in stock vehicles. See dealer for details. While dealer stock lasts. Not compatible with lease offers or any other consumer incentive offers. Final purchase price is plus tax, tag, license, title and $164.30 dealer processing fee. Take retail delivery by 11/30/16.