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Remarkable Stories, Volume 1
by Robert Bike

Remarkable events have happened in Freeport and Stephenson County, Illinois, and remarkable people have lived there. These are stories gathered about people and events from 1835 through World War II.

By no means complete, these are overviews of lives and events which shaped our country and our world. From events in the lives of Tutty Baker, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Guiteau, Leonard Colby, Jane Addams and Bob Wienand come stories that will amaze you. Welcome to Volume 1 of our living history.

The author lives in Eugene, Oregon, and works as a Licensed Massage Therapist and Life Coach. An amateur historian, parts of these stories and many more appear on his website, www.robertbike.com.

Buy now! Only 99 cents to download in .pdf format!

Want a paperback? List price $14.99, now only $11.99!

1st Lt. Louis C. Butler, Co. K, enlisted as Sgt. November 7, 1861; veteran promoted 1st Lt. December 23, 1864; died at Salubrity Springs, La., October 5, 1865.

Also spelled Louis C. Buttler.

Enlisted from Ridott.

Orderly Sergeant.

Participated in the marches and battles of the regiment.

Died of disease while encamped; was about 25 at time of death.

Colonel John A. Davis, died of wounds at Bolivar, Tenn., October 10, 1862, of wounds received at battle of Hatchie.

Commissioned September 12, 1861.

Davis was born in New York State in 1824, & moved to Rock Run Township with his parents at age 14. In 1849 he married Amy Springer of Rock Run.

He was severely wounded at Shiloh, through the right shoulder, losing the use of his right arm.

He returned to duty, and was the first to fall at the battle of Hatchie. He was carried to Bolivar, Tennessee. Chaplain Teed and 1st Lt. Joseph M. McKibben accompanied his body back to Freeport.

He left his widow and two children; two children preceded him in death.

His funeral was at First Presbyterian Church in Freeport.

Sgt. Maj. John E. Hershey, discharged September 1, 1864, disabled.

Moved with his parents to Stephenson County in 1851.

His occupation was tinner.

While carrying the regimental flag at the battle of Hatchie on October 5, 1862, he was severely wounded.

He recovered, then was captured at Holly Springs by General Van Dorn's forces.

He died in February 1865 from his wounds.

Andrew Hess, Co. B, died of wounds at New Orleans, April 24, 1865.

He was mortally wounded while on picket while advancing with the line and died a few days later.

1st Lt. Thomas M. Hood, commissioned October 15, 1861; killed at Shiloh.

Enlisted from Rock Run Township at about age 30.

Helped recruit Company G.

Participated in battles at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, where he was killed while assisting in the command of the company.

He was married.

Eugene V. Kellogg, Co. B, killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862, the only soldier from Company B to die in battle in the war.

Six died from wounds. Eleven died from disease.

Charles Bowers, apparently not from Stephenson County, was mortally wounded while carrying the flag.

Captain John Musser, Co. A,

He was born in Center County, Pennsylvania March 18, 1833, the second son of Jonas Musser.

In 1856 he moved to Orangeville, Illinois, where he farmed and ran a mercantile business.

At the battle of Shiloh, he was mortally wounded in the first engagement on April 6.

After being wounded with a broken thigh, he sheathed his sword, continued at his post, seized a gun, fired several shots and fell from sheer exhaustion.

He was carried off the field of battle by Robert Ritzman and, with others, was placed on board the hospital boat for home.

At Quincy, Capt. Musser was met by his old friend, Dr. W. P. Naramore. His wound was of such a serious nature that amputation of the leg was found necessary, but he died of his wound.

He was married to Emmaline Evans. They had two children, Thomas and Neava Jennie.

Henry Roush, Co. B, commissioned Sept. 14, 1861; resigned April 18, 1862; died at Freeport, May 10, 1864.

Born in Center County, Penn. Maker of boots & shoes. Moved to Rock Grove, Illinois at age 20, where he opened a successful store.

Was appointed Postmaster by President Buchanan.

Fought in battle at Donelson.

Fell gravely ill and could not fight at Shiloh.

Returned home; recovered; re-enlisted.

Fell gravely ill.

Was transported back and died at Freeport, just a few miles short of home.

He had married Miss McCauley; they had one daughter.

1st Lt. Moses R. Thompson, commissioned 2nd Lt. October 15, 1861; promoted 1st Lt. April 7, 1862; killed at Battle at Hatchie.

Mortally wounded while acting as adjutant. Died October 1862.

Born Draumfargus, parish Donnaughmore, County Donegal, Ireland, Oct. 9, 1816.

Came to America as a young man and located at Pittsburg, Penn., where he was in the mercantile business.

In 1859 he moved to Freeport, where he initially farmed, but then went into the mercantile business with Mr. Frank.

Upon the death of Lt. Hood, who was killed at Shiloh, he was commissioned 1st Lt.

He participated in the battles at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Matamora, and the Hatchie River, where he was mortally wounded.

He was taken by ambulance to Bolivar, Tenn., where he died Oct. 10, 1862.

He was a Mason, and had attained a high degree.

He is buried in the cemetery at Freeport.

Company C was primarily made up of men who were from Stephenson County.

Records show that Heinrich Giloni died at Shiloh on April 6, 1862.

Conrad Riechemeier died at Savanna, Tenn., of wounds, on Jan. 1, 1862.

Gottlieb Greszly died of wounds at Louisville, Ky., on April 26, 1862.

I have no record, so far, of what county they were from.

John Buisman, private, Co. G, enlisted May 14, 1864. Died at White Station, Tenn., September 9, 1864.

From Ridott. Last name may be spelled Bulsman.

Remarkable Stories, Volume 1 by Robert Bike

From events in the lives of Tutty Baker, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Guiteau, Leonard Colby, Jane Addams and Bob Wienand come stories that will amaze you. Welcome to Volume 1 of our living history.

Only $11.99 paperback; only $0.99 ebook.

Captain Edgar F. Koehler, Army 9th Infantry, killed at Barrio Tinubia, The Philippines, by Filipino deserters on March 4, 1900.

Koehler was shot in the abdomen and killed at a village six miles north of Tarlac, where he went in search of some hidden rifles. A Filipino promising to produce the rifles led him into an ambush away from his command. Lt. Hammond and Lt. Wallace accompanied Koehler.

Outside of the village the native pointed out a spot where he said some arms might be found. When he was part way up the path, the native gave a shrill whistle and leaped aside in the brush. At the same instant a volley of bullets poured upon the officers.

Koehler received a mortal wound.

His troops heard the shooting, ran up, burned the village, and killed 24 enemy soldiers.

In the Spanish-American War Koehler served on the staffs of Gens. Liscum, Wyckoff, and Worth. He distinguished himself at El Caney, remaining on horseback through the engagement against the remonstrances of his comrades.

Born July 9, 1868, in Galena, he was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and fearless intrepidity in the battle of San Juan Hill.

He was the only officer who ascended the hill mounted.

He served with his regiment in the Philippines from June 1899 until his death.

His brothers, Capt. Louis M. Koehler of the Fourth Calvary and Capt. Benjamin M. Koehler of the Thirty-seventh Infantry, were West Point graduates.

Lt. Koehler was married to a daughter of Col. William H. Powell. She was preparing to join him in the Philippines from their home in New York City when news of his death arrived.

Koehler is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Seacoast Battery Koehler is named after him.

Remarkable Stories, Volume 1 by Robert Bike

From events in the lives of Tutty Baker, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Guiteau, Leonard Colby, Jane Addams and Bob Wienand come stories that will amaze you. Welcome to Volume 1 of our living history.

Only $11.99 paperback; only $0.99 ebook.

Benjamin Elmer Altenbern of Lena was wounded on October 17, 1918 by friendly fire when he was accidentally shot by a comrade.

Enemy gas infected the wound, resulting in his left leg being amputated.

After effects from the gas, the amputation, and pneumonia resulted in his death.

Altenbern died October 20, 1918, in the Evacuation Hospital at Toul, France.

PFC Leo Barnds died of typhoid and scarlet fever February 27, 1919 at Paris.

He is buried at Suresnes American Cemetery, Suresnes, Ile-de-France, France.

John S. Bennehoff of Rock Grove became ill in the Army, was discharged, went home, and died.

Clarence Milford Best of Davis died of influenza and pneumonia on October 20, 1918 at Camp Sevier, S. C.

Herbert Frederick Biersach, a popular FHS athlete died October 10, 1918 of influenza and pneumonia at Beloit, where he was a member of the Student Army Corps.

Charles Edward Borgmeier died October 4, 1918 at Camp Hancock, Georgia, of influenza and pneumonia.

Edward A. Carbiener of Florence Township, a member of Company A., 132nd infantry, was Killed In Action on August 5, 1918.

Luther "Bing" Cazel died October 6, 1918 at Camp Grant, of pneumonia, following an attack of the Spanish influenza.

He was a renowned semi-pro baseball pitcher.

Pvt Theodore Frederick Demeter, a 1916 FHS graduate, of the 75th Co., 6th Reg., U. S. Marines, was wounded at Chateau Thierry July 2, 1918.

He rejoined his regiment on July 22, and was Killed In Action on September 16, 1918.

He is buried at Saint Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, Lorraine, France.

Sgt Eugene Francis Egan, Army, died March 23, 1919 at Arennach, Germany.

He had served for 10 years in Light Artillery.

He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 18, Plot 584.

Elmo K. Eson died of pneumonia, December 6, 1918.

Pvt Joseph C. Farrow, Bat. E, 123rd Heavy Field Artillery, died May 28, 1918, and is buried at Somme American Cemetery, Somme, Picardie, France.

Elmer Edward Fischer died May 23, 1918 at Camp Fremont.

Kryle Fuller, a member of a machine gun company with the famous 86th division, died October 2, 1918 at Portsmouth, England of pneumonia.

Walter Enoch Furen, who served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, died March 14, 1918 at Dijon, France, Base Hospital No. 17 of bronchitis.

Dr. Orlando M. Gochnaur was Killed In Action on November 6, 1917, as a member of the British Expeditionary Forces.

William Mathew Grant, Army, was Killed In Action on August 2, 1918.

He had worked at Swan's Organ Factory.

He is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Freeport.

Corp Lewis Donald Gray was killed July 23, 1918 at Belleau, France, and is buried in the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, Lorraine, France.

Edward Griffin of Dakota died at sea on October 3, 1918, on board a transport heading to France.

Edward Hogan died of pneumonia in Scotland on October 1, 1918.

William Lloyd Horstmeier died in France on November 24, 1918.

Edward Arthur Hughes died of wounds received in action on October 12, 1918 at Meuse, Argonne.

Hughes had served in St. Mihiel, the Somme offensives and on the Mexican border in 1916.

Charles Edward Inman died October 6, 1918, of pneumonia and influenza.

Elso Sikko Johnson was Killed in Action on July 11, 1918 at Suippe, France on the Meuse Argonne front.

Louis Edwin Johnson, brother of Elso Sikko Johnson, above, died October 16, 1918 at Camp Dodge, Iowa of Spanish influenza.

A third brother, John Johnson, served with General Pershing.

Grover H. Koeller died of pneumonia at LeHavre, France, October 15, 1918.

He is buried in St. Marlo's cemetery.

Ewart Kline of Orangeville died September 19, 1918 at Ft. Hamilton, New York.

Raymond Julius Kuhlemeier of Dakota died September 29, 1918.

He is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.

Pvt Glen Howard Kuntz died October 13, 1918 in France.

He is buried at Suresnes American Cemetery, Suresnes, Ile-de-France, France.

Robert R. Langenstein, FHS Class of 1913, was Killed In Action on July 18, 1918 in the Battle of the Marne.

Philip Link was Killed In Action between September 26-30, 1918, in France.

Donald Lynch

Robert Roland McKibben was Killed In Action on July 4, 1918 at Hamel, France.

John Messang went down with Submarine F. 1, on December 17, 1917.

John Lester Miller

Harry E. Meysembourg was Killed In Action at Chateau Thierry, France, on August 2, 1918.

Pvt Carl E. Mishler was wounded at St. Mihiel, and was Killed In Action on September 12, 1918.

He is buried at Saint Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, Lorraine, France.

Rev Capt Arthur Francis Moseley was Killed In Action on July 5, 1918 at Cantigny, France.

He was in charge of Company G, 16th Regiment, infantry and had been in the trenches for several weeks prior to his death.

Captain Moseley also served during the Spanish-American war as a sergeant.

During the Boer war he served with the British army as a dispatch rider and was rewarded for his gallantry by receiving the Queen's medal.

He served as pastor of the United Brethren church in Freeport.

He is buried at Somme American Cemetery, Somme, Picardie, France.

Corp August A. Odermatt was wounded twice, at Chateau Thierry and Argonne, and died of his wounds on October 13, 1918.

Born in Switzerland, he worked with sheet metal in Freeport.

He is buried at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.

Lynn Peters, FHS Class of 1916, died October 7, 1918, of influenza and pneumonia at Camp Grant.

During his career at Freeport High School he was a star athlete. He was never beaten in the mile run while in high school competition and he was awarded first place medals and cups at the University of Chicago and Cornelle College meets in 1916.

He was also a good musician as a member of the high school band.

Wilbur Thomas Rawleigh, the only son of Freeport industrialist W.T. Rawleigh, died September 27, 1918 of Spanish Influenza and pneumonia in Chicago, after suffering for 10 days.

PFC Oscar Andrew Rippberger, Army, Co. B., 125th Inf., 2nd Div., was Killed In Action at Chateau Thierry on July 21, 1918.

He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Site 3170.

Oscar Sandrock was gassed on October 30, 1918 in Meuse-Argonne, and died December 6, 1918 of mustard gas and bronchial pneumonia at Base Hospital No. 83, Revigny, France.

William Frederick Seyfarth, wounded overseas August 4, 1918, died August 6, 1919.

PFC A. Vernon Sheetz of Florence Township, a 1910 FHS graduate, died August 17, 1918, when he accidently drowned in the River Marne.

He had been bathing in the River Marne, when he dove off a high spring board and suffered injuries which resulted in his drowning.

Sheetz, a member of the 149th field artillery, was buried at a cemetery in Luzancy, near LeFerte. He is now buried at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, Lorraine Region, France.

James Marsh Sprague was Killed In Action on October 24th, 1918.

Carl Ralph Stewart of Winslow was Killed In Action on July 19, 1918 at Chateau Thierry, from shell shock.

Another source gave his date of death as July 27, 1918.

He was a member of the signal corps as a lineman, on the western front where fighting was at its height. His duties were to repair the communications telephone wire from the various trenches to the main stations. His work took him into the thickest of the battle where he was exposed to enemy shells.

John G. Ulrich of Cedarville died October 10, 1918, at Camp Dodge of Spanish influenza.

William VanDeest

Russell J. Wheeland, a Corporal with Hdq. Co., 108th Ammunition Train, 33rd Div., Motor Btn., died May 28, 1919, of pneumonia upon his return to U. S. before being discharged.

Frederick C. Yde, a Corporal with the 23rd Field Artillery, 33rd Div., was killed August 25, 1918 at Nancy, by a train.

Remarkable Stories, Volume 1 by Robert Bike

From events in the lives of Tutty Baker, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Guiteau, Leonard Colby, Jane Addams and Bob Wienand come stories that will amaze you. Welcome to Volume 1 of our living history.

Only $11.99 paperback; only $0.99 ebook.

Robert Albert, Army, was Killed In Action.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Paul Albrecht, Army, was Killed In Action on November 12, 1944 at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines.

He is buried at Manila American Cemetery, Plot D, Row 9, Grave 225.

Pvt Merril Althafer, Army, Died of Non-Combat wounds.

PFC William Barker was the first Cedarville resident killed in WWII.

He fought on the front lines in Germany with the American First army, where he died on April 16, 1945.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Lt Dwight B. Belknap, of Ridott was killed in an airplane accident in Utah on August 29, 1943.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Sgt Kenneth O. Belknap, Army, Died of Non-Battle wounds.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Clarence Bergeman, Army, was Killed In Action on August 24, 1944.

He is buried at the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan, France, Plot B, Row 10, Grave 4.

William Bessert, Army, was Killed In Action.

PFC LaVerle E. Bicker, Army, Killed In Action on November 19, 1944.

He is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Plot F, Row 4, Grave 22.

2 Lt Eugene Biesemeier, Army Air Force, a 1938 graduate of FHS, was the pilot of a P-51 Mustang flying over Germany when he was shot down on December 21, 1944.

He was Killed In Action.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Sgt Leslie O. Brandenburg, Army, was killed in a non-combat situation.

PFC Edward Branthaver, Army, was Killed In Action.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Capt Robert V. Breyman, Army, Died Of Wounds on October 26, 1944.

He is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, Lorraine, France.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Arnold P. Buckland, Army, died October 3, 1944 at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines.

He is buried at Manila American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 6, Grave 30.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

T/Sgt. Ted J. Bunnell Died Of Wounds in a German Hospital on or after February 21, 1945.

Bunnell had served as a gunner aboard a B-17 bomber that had been shot down. Some of his crewmates had been captured, and when T/Sgt. Gillecee was taken to a prison camp around April 1, 1945, he reported that Bunnell had died in the hospital.

Just after bombing Vienna, Bunnell's aircraft received two direct hits which cut rudder controls, the vertical stabilizer and the left elevator, and they lost both engines. They had released the bombs at 25,000 feet, and regained control at 9500 feet. They headed toward Russian territory, dumped all extra weight, but more German planes intercepted them, and the pilot told everyone to bail out.

Bunnell was seriously wounded, either from enemy fire or upon landing after parachuting.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Melvin L. Burington, Army, was Killed In Action on March 15, 1944, and is buried at Bethel-Hawthorne Cemetery, Clarno, Wisconsin.

S/Sgt Merle E. Canfield, R/W, Killed In Action on November 10, 1943.

Flying a B-17 Flying Fortress, Canfield flew as a crew member on a bomber that held 12 500-lb bombs. The target was the Marshalling Yards at Bolzano, Italy. Twenty-four aircraft took off, but only eight got over the target and dropped their bombs. Photos showed extensive damage to locomotive sheds, rolling stock, buildings and an approach to a railroad bridge. Flak was intense and fairly accurate, resulting in the loss of one aircraft. Five to ten enemy aircraft attacked the formation, resulting in the loss of a second plane.

Canfield was aboard the second aircraft. Several crew members bailed out. The pilot was captured by Germans; the bombardier and the Captain met on the ground and escaped to Switzerland. Several others bailed out, and some were unable to bail out. Canfield did not bail out.

He is buried at Florence American Cemetery in Via Cassia, Italy, Plot F, Row 9, Grave 29.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Sgt William H. Campbell, Army, was Killed In Action on September 12, 1944, and is buried at Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois, Plot D, Grave 339.

Pvt Christian Frederick Carstedt, Jr. Died of Non Battle wounds in California, on duty, on March 22, 1942.

He is buried at Cedarville Cemetery, Cedarville, Illinois.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

S Sgt Laurence A. Clark, Army, was Killed In Action.

Robert Collati was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Corp Robert Crowell was a pilot in the navy. He was shot down over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1944, and was lost at sea.

He is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Flight Sgt James R. Dillon, M.D., was awarded the Silver Star, the Bownze Star with Cluster and the Purple Heart.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Laverne E. Ditsworth, Army, was Killed In Action.

Pvt Herbert M. Doe, Army, died of non-combat wounds.

Pvt Robert E. Duffield, Army, was Killed In Action on February 9, 1944. His body was not recovered.

Awarded the Bronze Star, he is memorialized at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery at Nettuno, Lazio, Italy.

2 Lt Norman Engle, Army, was Killed in Action April 5, 1945.

He is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery at St. Avold (Moselle), France, Plot F, Row 8, Grave 24. Another report had him dying at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Erwin H. Espenschied, Army, Killed In Action.

1 Lt Vernon H. Evans, Army, Killed In Action on August 11, 1943, during Patton's invasion at Messina, Sicily.

Awarded the Silver Star, he is buried at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery at Nettuno, Lazio, Italy, Plot I, Row 6, Grave 67.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Lt William E. Evans, Army, Died of Non-Battle wounds.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Cpl Ronald D. Fickert, Army, Died of Non-Battle wounds.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Pvt Wilbur Finkboner, Army, Died of Non-Battle wounds July 2, 1942.

He is memorialized at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, in the Manila American Cemetery.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Pvt Clarence Fishburn, Army, Died of Non-Battle wounds.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Donald Gallagher died December 10, 1944.

He is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, Lorraine, France.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Pvt Wilbert H. Galway, Army, Killed In Action at Rapido River Crossing, Monte Casino, Italy, on January 23 or 24, 1944.

Awarded the Bronze Star, his body was not recovered. He is memorialized at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery at Nettuno, Italy.

2/Lt Emanuel Georgalas was reported Missing In Action while piloting a B-17 Fortress over Yugoslavia on June 6, 1944. Georgalas, co-pilot of B-17G, 463rd Bomb Group, 772th Bomb Squadron crashed near Belgrade.

Georgalas was a Prisoner of War and either died in a POW Camp or was shot by the Germans.

(Info courtesy of Jaap Vermeer, RAF & USAAF researcher, The Netherlands and Europe.)

Sgt Jake P. Gerber died November 19, 1942.

His name was listed in the July 5, 1943, issue of Life Magazine.

He is buried at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.

PFC Robert Gilman was born in Freeport, though his parents moved him to Detroit, Michigan when he was 3.

He was Killed in Action in northern Luzon on March 30, 1945. He fought on Leyte, Luzon, Baatan and Corregidor.

He is buried at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, in the Manila American Cemetery, Plot N, Row 7, Grave 198.

S SG Robert F. Glaman, Army Air Force, 569th Bomber Squadron, was Killed In Action on February 14, 1945.

Awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, he is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands, Plot A, Row 8, Grave 23.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Cpl David Charles Goldy, a graduate of Durand High School, was Killed In Action on January 5, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge, in the vicinity of Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Belgium. This location is about four miles south of Bastogne, Belgium.

He lived in Freeport at the time of his enlistment on Aug. 9, 1943. He worked for the Stephenson Service Company.

He was trained in Anti-Aircraft Artillery. He was a Technician 5th Class, US Army, 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Military.

He had a brother, Kenneth who served in the Italian campaign, and a sister, Betty Bloyer, who was in the WAVES.

Awarded the Purple Heart, he is buried at Luxembourg American Cemetery, Hamm, Luxembourg, Plot E, Row 1, Grave 21.

David Goldy was 28.

Sgt Matthew A. Grant, Army, Killed In Action November 23, 1944.

He is buried at St. Joseph Cemetery, Freeport, Illinois.

Pvt Frank F. Guiffre was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Lt Col Ferris F. Hamilton, Army, died of Non-Battle causes on April 13, 1944, and is buried at Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.

Pvt Floyd B. Hanson, Army Air Force, 577th Bomber Squadron, Finding Of Death (missing in action, presumed killed).

He died April 9, 1944.

Awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, he is memorialized at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Clarence J. Harnish, Army, Killed In Action on December 18, 1944.

He is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Plot D, Row 10, Grave 33.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

2 Lt John F. Healy, Army Air Force, died of Non-Battle wounds on March 1, 1944.

He is memorialized at East Coast Memorial, New York, NY, USA.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Pvt Theodore R. Herbig, Marine Corps, Killed In Action on November 21, 1943. His body was not recovered.

He is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Cpl Victor L. Heimbuch, Army, was Killed In Action on Guadalcanal.

His name was listed in the July 5, 1943, issue of Life Magazine.

He was a popular athlete, playing baseball during his four-year residence in Freeport.

He tried out for the major leagues, but did not catch on with any team.

He was employed at the Kraft Cheese factory. He played with the Kraft baseball and softball teams, and with the Stover baseball team.

Cpl Robert C. Hopke, Army, Died of Non-Battle causes on May 20, 1945, and is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, Coton, Cambridgeshire, England.

Sgt Wiley J. Huddle, Army, Died of Non-Battle causes on June 16, 1944 and is buried at the Honolulu Memorial in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Pvt. Arthur S. Hutmacher, Army, Killed In Action.

Pvt. Wilbur Keil, killed in the African campaign.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Seaman 2C Warren Russell Keister, Navy, Fire Controlman 2/C was Killed In Action April 16, 1945, while serving aboard the USS destroyer Pringel, which participated in the campaign between the mainland of Japan and Okinawa.

Buried at Sea, he is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Aviation Machinist's Mate 3C Paul Bookman Kempert, Navy, was Killed In Action on March 11, 1945.

He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, Plot F, Grave 52.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Pvt. Homer L. Kingston, Army, Died of Non-Battle causes.

Sgt. Roy E. Kinzer died on January 19, 1943, in the South Pacific theater as the result of a throat infection.

He is memorialized at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, in the Manila American Cemetery.

S Sgt. William A. Koch, Army Air Force, 735th Bomber Squadron, was Killed In Action on March 6, 1944. His body was not recovered.

An Air Medal recipient, he is memorialized at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.

Pvt. Elmer J. Lamm, Army, Died of Non-Battle causes.

1 Lt. Russell J. Lamm, Army, Died of Non-Battle causes.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Pvt. Galen H. Lawler, Army, Died Of Wounds.

2 Lt. Lawrence S. Lawver, Army Air Force, died in Newark, Ohio, on September 8, 1942, when an army medium bomber crashed.

Lawver attempted to bail out, but the plane was too low, and he was found tangled in his snarled parachute on a railroad loading platform. Six people in the plane and two on the ground died.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

T Sgt. Homer Leverton, Jr., Army, was Killed In Action on April 20, 1945, on Okinawa

1 Lt. Orville H. Lutz, Army, of Cedarville, was Killed In Action on June 19, 1944, off Omaha Beach during the second wave of the 300th Engineer Combat Battalion. His body was never found.

Lutz was aboard LST (Landing Ship Tank) 523 with 200 other men when it struck a magnetic mine, blowing it completely in two. The stern sunk within 15 minutes into the English Channel about a mile offshore, but the bow remained afloat, allowing some survivors to scramble into the lone life raft that survived the explosion. Many small military craft picked up survivors, but Lutz was not among them.

The rescue continued for two hours as injured men were plucked out of the 55 degree water. 134 men were killed.

Lutz was remembered for his drumming skills, using pots & pans to keep the beat going.

He is memorialized at Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

T Sgt. Andrew L. McBride, Army, died of Non-Battle wounds.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Fred McCool, Army, Killed In Action.

Pvt. Leroy Darrel Mellen, Army, died of Non-Battle wounds.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Cpl Gustave Edward Midthun, Marine, Killed In Action March 15, 1945.

He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, Plot C, Grave 14.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Pvt Roy A. Mikkelsen, Army, died of Non-Battle wounds.

2 Lt Elmer R. Mitchell, Jr., Army, died of Non-Battle wounds.

S Sgt Roy E. Morris, Army, Killed In Action February 10, 1944.

He is buried at Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois, Plot E, 66 67 6.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Thomas Morris was a graduate of Freeport High School.

T Sgt Leo J. Nash, Army, died Of Wounds October 16, 1944.

Awarded the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, he is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, Plot D, Row 6, Grave 24.

Ship's Cook 3C Glen C. Nelson, Navy, lost at sea September 13, 1944.

Memorialized at East Coast Memorial, New York, NY, USA.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

S Sgt Gregg Nesemeier was Killed In Action on February 26, 1943, while serving with the US Army Air Force, the 401st Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, Heavy. His body was never found.

Awarded the Air Medal, he is memorialized at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Paul H. Nott, Army, died of Non-Battle wounds on December 17, 1942, and is buried at North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage Tunisia, Plot H, Row 1, Grave 7.

S Sgt Thomas J. O'Moore, Army Air Force, died of Non-Battle wounds on April 24, 1943, and is memorialized at East Coast Memorial, New York, NY, USA.

Pvt Donald W. Orth, Army, Killed In Action July 13, 1944.

He is buried at Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Toscana, Italy.

Sgt Everette Osgood, Jr., Army, Killed In Action July 25, 1944.

He is buried at Normandy American Cemetery, Colle-sur-Mer, France, Plot D, Row 3, Grave 43.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

2 Lt Robert Osterholdt, Marine Corps, died August 8, 1943, and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Plot B, 191-A.

PFC Adolph F. Rampenthal, Marine Corps, was Killed in Action on Iwo Jima.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Russell E. Rayhorn, Army, died of Non-Battle wounds on the Italian front.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

S Sgt Ray W. Reed, Army Air Corps, died in a plane crash on August 24, 1943, and is buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky, Plot E, 137-138.

PFC Rodney D. Rinderman, Army, Died Of Wounds.

Richard Rogers was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Dale R. Runte, Army, Died Of Wounds.

Pvt Anthony Ryan, died in 1941 and is buried at St. Marys Cemetery, Freeport, Illinois.

Sgt Charles M. Schlamp, Army Air Force, 331st Bomber Squadron, Died of Non-Battle wounds September 24, 1943.

He is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, Plot E, Row 2, Grave 21.

Cpl LaVerne A. Schleich, Army, died of wounds received in action on Guadalcanal.

T Sgt Delvin A. Schneider, Army, Died Of Wounds.

PFC Robert Kenneth Schunk, Army, Killed In Action.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

1 Lt Herbert C. Schwarz, Army, Killed In Action on the Burma Road January 28, 1945.

Jack Selke was a graduate of Freeport High School.

TEC4 Clifford R. Shafer, Army, Killed In Action.

Pvt. Kenneth Shamway.

His name was listed in the July 5, 1943, issue of Life Magazine.

Lt. Eugene Russell Shannon, Navy, former rector of Grace Episcopal church, was Killed In Action off Iwo Jima when the carrier Bismarck Sea, on which he was chaplain, was sunk.

A member of the Naval Reserve, awarded the Navy-Marine Corps medal, he died February 21, 1945, and is memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

PFC Robert L. Speer, Marine Corps, Killed In Action.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Lt. William Erwin Stevens was a graduate of Freeport High School.

S Sgt Russell W. Ter Hark, Army, Killed In Action in Germany.

Pvt Arthur J. Van Vleck, Army, died August 29, 1944.

Awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, he is buried at Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal (Vosges), France, Plot B, Row 31, Grave 55.

PFC Elmer R. Veach, Army, Killed In Action.

Seaman 1C Alvin Leo Voss, Navy, Killed In Action March 19, 1945.

He is memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Pvt George W. Wardle, Army, Killed In Action August 2, 1944.

Awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, he is buried at Brittany American Cemetery, St. James (Manche), France, Plot J, Row 1, Grave 18.

PFC Donald L. Weber, Army, Killed In Action.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Henry Robert Wienand, Army, Killed In Action.

Follow the link to his tribute page, with more photos and videos of the bridge he was defending from Hitler's attempts to blow it up.

My Uncle Bob was Killed In Action at the Remagen Bridge on March 9, 1945.

He is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Freeport, Illinois.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

Sgt William C. Young, Jr., Army, was aboard a plane shot down over the ocean near the British Isles on December 9, 1944, and did not survive.

He is memorialized at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Lorraine, France.

He was a graduate of Freeport High School.

PFC Herman F. Woolsey, Army, Killed In Action on March 3, 1945.

He is buried at Grandview Cemetery, north of Freeport, Illinois.

S Sgt John N. Yakovich, Army, Died of Non-Battle wounds.

S Sgt Julian N. Zahary, Army, Died Of Wounds at Ormoc, Leyte, February 24, 1945.

He is buried at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, in the Manila American Cemetery, Plot A, Row 11, Grave 167.

Sgt. John Zastrow died in the Mediterranean on April 20, 1944.

He is buried at North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.

Sgt. William F. Zimmerman, Army, Killed In Action.

For the following, I could only find that he was missing in action, and I haven't found any resolution yet:

Sgt. Thomas Moore, an Army flier in Europe, was reported Missing In Action on May 15, 1943. He graduated from Aquin in 1935.

Remarkable Stories, Volume 1 by Robert Bike

From events in the lives of Tutty Baker, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Guiteau, Leonard Colby, Jane Addams and Bob Wienand come stories that will amaze you. Welcome to Volume 1 of our living history.

Only $11.99 paperback; only $0.99 ebook.

Leo R. Ault of Orangeville, was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regimental Combat Team.

He was Killed in Action in South Korea on August 19, 1950.

PFC Ault was just 20 years old.

PFC Jack E. Baxter, a veteran of World War II, in Korea was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.

On August 14, 1952, he personally attacked a fortified enemy position near Chorwon, North Korea to relieve his company from enemy fire. He was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor for his actions.

His remains were not recovered.

His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. He was 27 years old.

Edward A. Cardinal was a member of the 52nd Field Artillery Battalion (105 MM), 24th Infantry Division.

He was Killed in Action in Osan, South Korea on July 5, 1950.

PFC Cardinal was 20 years old.

Pvt William D. Clark, Army, Killed In Action on September 1, 1951.

PFC James L. Green was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.

He was listed as Missing in Action in Korea on August 9, 1952, and was presumed dead on February 10, 1954.

His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

He is also listed as being buried at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Freeport.

Green was 22 years old.

1st Lt. Richard W. Haas of the Air Corps was Killed in Action on December 20, 1950.

He was pilot of a P-51 and flew many missions over North Korea.

In a letter to his parents on Nov. 3, 1950, “these boys from NK know how to fight a war and are showing it. We’ve lost a lot of people and will lose a lot more.”

“I was hit in the engine over their capital city of Pyongyang. Was lucky and it kept running long enough to clear enemy territory.”

“I broke my right arm. Am just getting so I can use it.”

Six weeks later he was shot down and killed.

John L. Heilman was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

He was Killed in Action in the Western Outposts of Korea on July 20, 1953.

Private Heilman was 20 years old.

One website spelled his last name Hellman.

Arthur L. A. Hodapp was listed as Missing in Action in April of 1951.

Hodapp fought with the 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, nicknamed "The Bobcats", which on April 23, 1951, was defending part of a 75-mile line northeast of Seoul, Korea, when a major Chinese assault by 250,000 soldiers, known as the Spring Offensive (April 22-29), overwhelmed the position.

Hodapp was taken prisoner and was later taken to a prison camp in North Korea.

After the war, on July 7, 1953, the family was notified that Hodapp had died two years earlier on July 3, 1951, of dysentery.

In 1993, many remains were turned over to the United Nations and were held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, pending identification.

Using DNA, the Army confirmed that some of the remains were Hodapp.

A full military funeral service was held for Art Hodapp at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Freeport, on May 25, 2011.

He was just 22 years old.

PFC Sammie Locash was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

He was Killed in Action in the Western Outposts in Korea on February 3, 1953.

Locash was 21 years old.

Cpl Paul Ray Reynolds of Lena, a veteran of World War II, in Korea was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

He was Killed in Action at the Chosin Reservoir, Battle of Changjin, North Korea on December 3, 1950.

His remains were not recovered. He was awarded a Silver Star for his actions.

Reynolds was 25 years old.

James F. Stephens was a member of Battery C, 196th Field Artillery Battalion (155 MM), X Corps.

On September 22, 1952, Stephens was a member of a three man outpost, directing artillery fire north of Kajon-ni, North Korea when it was overrun by the enemy.

He was Killed in Action.

PFC Stephens was 21 years old.

PFC Frank H. Vincent was a machine gunner from Company M, 3rd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team.

On September 18, 1950, near Waegwan, South Korea, he was protecting his retreating comrades with machine gun fire.

When his machine gun failed, he used a rifle to protect the withdrawal.

Vincent was awarded a Silver Star for his actions.

He was 21 years old.

Sgt 1C Burton A. Wagner was an engineer with Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in Korea.

On December 2, 1950, his unit was constructing a bridge across the Taedong River near Yopa, North Korea, when it was attacked. He held off the enemy charge singlehandedly until his position was overrun.

His remains were not recovered.

Sergeant First Class Wagner, a veteran of World War II, was just 23 years old.

Edward H. West of Baileyville was a member of Army Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.

He was Killed in Action on Heartbreak Ridge in North Korea on September 17, 1951.

PFC West was 18 years old.

Remarkable Stories, Volume 1 by Robert Bike

From events in the lives of Tutty Baker, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Guiteau, Leonard Colby, Jane Addams and Bob Wienand come stories that will amaze you. Welcome to Volume 1 of our living history.

Only $11.99 paperback; only $0.99 ebook.

Richard Otte

Dick Otte portrait in his mother's home in Freeport.

My mother, Anna Otte, with Dick's mother, Ida Otte, at Ida's home.

Richard Otte's name on the Vietnam War Memorial wall
in Washington, D.C.,
and link to etching from the wall.
Photos above and below and etching courtesy of Jeff Chlupsa.

Richard Otte's name on the Vietnam War Memorial wall
in Springfield

PFC Richard Lee Otte was a PFC - E2 in the Marine Corps.

Richard Otte was killed by "friendly fire" on December 15, 1966 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam. He was only 23.

His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 13E, Line 48.

Barry Armstrong

CPL Barry Lee Armstrong died on February 2, 1970 in Binh Thuan, South Vietnam. He was killed in action while serving with the First Cavalry Division (Air Mobile). He was mortally wounded while pursuing fleeing enemy troops. An army corporal, he was only 19.

Click on photo to enlarge the clipping. Thanks to Jim Mertins for the clipping that appeared in the February 5, 1970 issue of the Freeport Journal-Standard, and the Life Magazine photos, below.

The November 1992 issue of Life Magazine ran a feature article on the Vietnam Memorial, and in the main photo in the center of the magazine is the section of the wall that has Barry's name on it. His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 14W, Line 92.

Click on photos to enlarge. Barry Armstrong is listed at the center of the photo, next to the woman's hand.

"I got goosebumps when I looked at your memorial page. I used to babysit for Barry Armstrong, and I have the rubbing from his panel when I went to DC. I have a great appreciation for this memorial you've created. Thank you so much."—Sherry Maves

Robert Bonebright

Robert Allen Bonebright was a Marine Corps Sergeant. He died from non-hostile fire at age 25 on May 18, 1969 over Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

A Marine KC-130 with Bob aboard was refueling two F-4B jets just south of the DMZ. As the three aircraft flew in formation, with the Phantoms plugged in and taking fuel, a third F-4B collided with the C-130's right wing near the #3 engine. The collision destroyed the F-4B, sheared the wing from the C-130, and damaged one F-4B refueling from the right side. The F-4B on the left escaped without damage. The F-4B on the right crashed, but the two crewmen were rescued.

All six men aboard the C-130, including Bob, and the two crewmen aboard the F-4B that crashed into them were killed in the accident.

A 1962 graduate of FHS, his name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 24W, Line 37.

Ronald Boyer

Ronald Ernest Boyer was a PFC in the army from Lena. Ronald Boyer was killed in action on February 9, 1969, in Quang Nam Province. He was awarded the Bronze Star. He was stationed with the 196th Infantry Brigade.

He died from hostile fire at age 21, and is buried in Chapel Hill Cemetery.

His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 33W, Line 091.

Douglas Gillette

Doug Gillette, at left, with Carl Scheffler,
Gary Glenn, John Pfeiffer & friends, at USAF Hahn AFB Germany in 1967.
Photo courtesy of Carl Scheffler.

Douglas Gillette died in a drowning accident June 30, 1968, in the Mosel River near Zell, Germany. He was trying to swim across the river on a bet. He was stationed with the United States Air Force at Hahn Air Force Base in Frankfurt.

Doug Hagen

Loren "Festus" Douglas Hagen was killed in action in Vietnam on August 7, 1971. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the firefight that killed him.

Doug Hagen in Vietnam

The citation given to his parents by President Ford reads, "1st Lt. Hagen distinguished himself in action while serving as the team leader of a small reconnaissance team operating deep within enemy-held territory.

"At approximately 0630 hours on the morning of 7 August 1971 the small team came under a fierce assault by a superior-sized enemy force using heavy small arms, automatic weapons, mortar, and rocket fire.

"1st Lt. Hagen immediately began returning small-arms fire upon the attackers and successfully led this team in repelling the first enemy onslaught. He then quickly deployed his men into more strategic defense locations before the enemy struck again in an attempt to overrun and annihilate the beleaguered team's members. 1st Lt. Hagen repeatedly exposed himself to the enemy fire directed at him as he constantly moved about the team's perimeter, directing fire, rallying the members, and resupplying the team with ammunition, while courageously returning small arms and hand grenade fire in a valorous attempt to repel the advancing enemy force.

"The courageous actions and expert leadership abilities of 1st Lt. Hagen were a great source of inspiration and instilled confidence in the team members.

"After observing an enemy rocket make a direct hit on and destroy one of the team's bunkers, 1st Lt. Hagen moved toward the wrecked bunker in search of team members despite the fact that the enemy force now controlled the bunker area.

"With total disregard for his own personal safety, he crawled through the enemy fire while returning small-arms fire upon the enemy force. Undaunted by the enemy rockets and grenades impacting all around him, 1st Lt. Hagen desperately advanced upon the destroyed bunker until he was fatally wounded by enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire.

"With complete disregard for his personal safety, 1st Lt. Hagen's courageous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him and the U.S. Army."

The Medal of Honor

Doug attended Freeport High School as a sophomore. Doug, along with his parents and brothers, attended St. John Church in Freeport. Before Freeport, Doug attended South Junior High School in Moorhead, Minnesota. After Freeport, his parents moved the family to Decatur where Doug graduated in 1964 from McArthur High School. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 1968.

Here is a link to Doug's page on Wikipedia.

Doug served in the Special Forces of the Army with a Studies & Observations Group (SOG). The SOG was a top-secret organization assigned to conduct covert missions behind enemy lines in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam. By 1971, the SOG was used to cover the U.S. withdrawal.

In July of 1971, intelligence reported that a large enemy force was moving south. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) used the narrow 25-mile long A Shau Valley to move troops and supplies south toward Hue, Danang and Phu Bai, home of large American ground units. The 304th NVA Division had about 1500 soldiers at a staging area in the northern part of the A Shau Valley, known as Base Area 611.

Doug was a Recon Team leader of a 14-man special reconnaissance unit, RT Kansas, manned by six Green Berets and eight highly trained Montagnard commandos from Task Force One Advisory Element. His team had landed in the A Shau Valley of western Thua Thien Province and secured their position for the overnight mission almost within sight of the six-inch fuel pipeline the Hanoi High Command had laid across the Vietnamese De-Militarized Zone.

The team had taken up a position on a small hill and spent the night, receiving probing activities during the night. As dawn approached, trucks began to arrive filled with NVA. RT Kansas was equipped with only what they had on their backs, CAR 15's, grenade launchers and one M-60 machine gun. All 1500 enemy soldiers attacked their position at dawn on August 7, 1971. At a mismatch seven times greater than the Alamo, it was the most one-sided battle of the Vietnam War.

Doug led his recon team's defense, and when USASF Sgt. Bruce Allen Berg, 21, of Olympia, Washington, was hit by a rocket in one of the team's bunkers, Doug crawled towards Berg's position through heavy fire in an attempt to assist Berg, returning fire as he proceeded. Doug was killed searching for Berg.

Air support arrived, and the dead and wounded were evacuated. Three Americans and three Montagnard's were killed, along with 185 confirmed NVA. SSG Oran L. Bingham of Salt Lake City, Utah, was the third American killed that morning. Berg's body was never found. The combat action in which Doug was killed is described in the last chapter of John L. Plaster's book SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam (1997 Simon & Schuster).

Doug was only 25 at his death. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 28, Grave 1204. Fargo, North Dakota, has a Veteran's Memorial dedicated to Doug.

Doug, Berg and Bingam are memorialized together on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall on Panel 03W, Line 125.

Emil Handel

Staff Sgt. Emil Handel was killed August 25, 1970, in Bangkok, Thailand. He was a passenger in a bus which was struck by a passenger train.

He entered the Air Force in 1967 and had been serving with the Strategic Air Command in Michigan before going to Thailand.

He was a graduate of Aquin High School and Midstate College of Commerce in Rockford.

He is buried in Chapel Hill Cemetery. He was just 26 years old. His widow and a son survived him.

Paul Hudson

Paul Hudson was a fireman serving aboard the U.S.S. Essex, a US Navy Aircraft Carrier, when he was electrocuted while working on April 16, 1964.

Jerry Jenner

Jerry was killed in a car accident while home on leave before being sent to Vietnam. He died October 7, 1968. He had been stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas.

I graduated from Freeport High School in 1966 with Jerry. I knew him since grade school.

Donald Keep

Don in combat gear.


Don, center, in sweltering Vietnam.
(Photos courtesy Don's nephew, Clifford Keep, Jr.)

Dale Koertner

Dale Koertner, a Navy Seabee, died March 27, 1968. He was killed while at work at Virginia Beach, VA. He apparently fell from a boat into a barge-like section of an amphibious landing construction. Dale graduated from FHS in 1965.

Dave Krueger

David Russel Krueger was a corporal in the army. He was killed in action March 17, 1970, while on a combat mission in Vietnam. He died of wounds received when an enemy booby trap exploded. Dave graduated from FHS in 1965. He was 22.

His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 12W, Line 013.

Larry Mack

SP5 Larry Wesley Mack of Pearl City was a Crew Chief / Helicopter Mechanic killed in action while trying to aid a downed aircraft on April 20, 1968, at Binh Dinh, South Vietnam.

He was a Snake Doctor. Some of the helicopter assault teams used the call sign, "Rattler." The maintenance area for these helicopters became known as the Snake Pit, and the mechanics as Snake Doctors. They often flew into combat areas to repair helicopters as needed.

His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 51E, Line 9. He was only 23.

Stephen Osran

Stephen Osran died March 16, 1969, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He was assigned to Eglin AFB in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. He became seriously ill and died at the hospital. Steve graduated from FHS in 1965.

Franklin Picking

Franklin William Picking was an Air Force Major. Originally listed as missing, he died on July 23, 1969 at age 38. He was piloting a plane in support of an army division when he was shot down over An Khe, Vietnam. Another source says his plane went down in Binh, Dinh, South Vietnam. He was an A-1G Skyraider pilot -- a propeller-driven, single-seat aircraft -- with the 6th Special Operations Squadron assigned to Pleiku Air Base. He was credited with flying 35 missions in the month of May, 1969. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 8, Site 5506-E.

Franklin was the older brother of one of my Class of 1966 classmates, Darius Picking. Darius was serving in the Navy off the coast of Vietnam when his brother died.

Franklin's name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 20W, Line 036.

Jerry Pool

Jerry Lynn Pool was a Green Beret Special Forces captain. He led a military team sent to Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia, as a U.S. long range reconnaissance patrol to check on enemy activity. Within an hour, his eight-man squad found the enemy, who aggressively chased them for three days. He called in a helicopter to evacuate his team when they came under heavy enemy fire.

The four-man helicopter team picked him up along with his two men and five Montagnard tribesmen. Moments after lifting off, the helicopter was hit by a rocket, exploded, crashed and burned. Because of heavy enemy fire, other helicopters nearby were not able to land and search for survivors. The crash site was about 23 miles southwest of the tri-border junction of Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam at the bottom of a valley with steep walls.

He was officially listed as missing and probably died on March 24, 1970, at age 23, in Cambodia. The crash site was found on April 12, 1995. He was declared dead on June 20, 2001, although his remains were never individually identified. On August 16, 2001, a group burial was conducted at Arlington National Cemetery for the seven Americans and the five Montagnards.

His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 12W, Line 040.

Richard Reed

Sgt. Richard Leon Reed of Rock City was killed in action December 7, 1970, when a booby trap detonated at a Da Nang area base near the DMZ in Quang Ngai Province. Richard took basic training at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

Richard was sent to Non-Commissioned Officers School, where he earned the highest marks ever achieved at that time. He then went to Jump School. He was an army sergeant, assigned to Company B, First Battalion, 20th Infantry, 23rd Division (American Division).

Richard Reed was the last Stephenson County soldier to lose his life in the Vietnam War. He was only 21.

His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 06W, Line 113.

Ronald Schurch

Ronald Lee Schurch of Orangeville was a Lance Corporal in the Marines. He was killed in action in Thua Thien Province when a land mine exploded. He joined the Marines shortly after graduation. He died from hostile fire on June 26, 1967 at age 20.

His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 22E, Line 066.

Louie Shianna

The photos for this memorial to Louie Shianna were sent in by his nephew, Dr. Shawn Shianna of Freeport,"Thank you for putting my uncle on your website. I'm touched."

Louie Shianna	Click on this photo to enlarge it.

Louie John Shianna grew up in Red Oak and graduated from Orangeville High School. He & his wife were residents of Freeport at the time of his service. Louie was an SP4 in the army. He died from hostile fire on April 18, 1969 at age 25.

His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 26W, Line 004.

Fred Welker

Fred Carl Welker, Sp4 Army, of rural Lena was killed on December 13, 1970, in an auto accident while on his way home from Texas for a 30-day leave. He is buried at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Freeport.

Willie Wright

CPL Willie Alfred Wright was killed in action November 6, 1967. He was the recipient of the Silver Star, our third highest award for gallantry, for repeatedly putting himself in danger while pulling wounded comrades from heavy enemy fire. Wright was leading a search and destroy mission when he and his men came under heavy fire.

He was on his second tour of duty and had been wounded five times previously. His family had just moved to Stephenson County from Chicago in 1966. He was 29 years old.

His name is on the Vietnam War Memorial, Panel 29E Line 037.

Remarkable Stories, Volume 1 by Robert Bike

From events in the lives of Tutty Baker, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Guiteau, Leonard Colby, Jane Addams and Bob Wienand come stories that will amaze you. Welcome to Volume 1 of our living history.

Only $11.99 paperback; only $0.99 ebook.

Andrew Lancaster

Sergeant Andrew Wayne Lancaster of Stockton was killed in action in Iraq on August 11, 2007. Lancaster was with the 1st Battalion 30th Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Georgia.

A sniper in Arab Jabour, Iraq (southeast of Baghdad), killed U.S. soldier PFC William L. Edwards, 23. Lancaster and seven other soldiers rushed the house where the gunman was holed up. One of the soldiers stepped on a buried pressure-triggered bomb at the house. Lancaster and three other soldiers died; four more were wounded in the blast. Killed alongside Lancaster were Army Specialist Justin O. Penrod, 24, of Mahomet, Illinois, Sergeant Scott L. Kirkpatrick, 26, of Reston, Virginia and Staff Sergeant William D. Scates, 31, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Andy Lancaster attended Stockton High School before graduating from Freeport High School in 2002.

He was previously deployed to Afghanistan with the U.S. Army's Elite Squadron, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, posthumously. House Resolution 704 was read on the Illinois House of Representatives floor honoring Lancaster.

Ft. Stewart honors soldiers from that base who are killed in action. A red bud tree was planted for Lancaster at Warriors Walk among the nearly 400 planted there. He is buried at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church Cemetery, Thompson Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois.

Andrew Lancaster was only 23 years old.

Neil Petsche

Marine Lance Corporal Neil D. Petsche of Lena died while serving in Iraq on December 21, 2004, from injuries received in a non-hostile vehicle incident in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

Petsche was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. He is buried in Lena Burial Park, Lena, Illinois.

Neil Petsche was only 21 years old.

Norman Cain III

Spc. Norman Cain III, a 2006 graduate of Freeport High School, was killed in action on Sunday, March 15, 2009, in Kot, Nangarhar Province, in eastern Afghanistan. An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near his vehicle. He was killed instantly.

Cain enlisted in the Illinois National Guard in July 2007 and served in Company D, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry. This was his first deployment. He arrived in Afghanistan in late October 2008. He was a part of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), providing security for Provincial Reconstruction Teams that are helping the Afghan government build roads, hospitals, government buildings and other infrastructure.

Also killed were two other soldiers from his unit, Sgt. Christopher Abeyta, 23, of Midlothian, and Spc. Robert Weinger, 24, of Round Lake Beach, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Timothy L. Bowles, 24, from Tucson, Arizona. Cain, Abeyta and Weinger were the 9th, 10th and 11th deaths from the Illinois Army National Guard’s 33rd IBCT since their deployment to Afghanistan. Eight of the deaths occured in 2009. Cain died at the scene, while Abeyta and Weinger were taken to a hospital in Jalabad, Afghanistan, where they died.

Cain was a resident of Mount Morris. He attended Highland Community College Auto Mechanics School. He was survived by his wife Brigette and his two children, a step-daughter, Fallon Spielman, and a son, Toryn Cain. His grandmother was my classmate in 1966, Pamela Harnish Wise.

Norman Cain was just 22 years old. He is buried in North Grove Christian Cemetery, Egan, Illinois.

Here is a video tribute to Norman Cain from Memorial Day 2012. Selma Blair recites Gold Star Widow Brigette Cain's story on this PBS concert:

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Remarkable Stories, Volume 1
by Robert Bike

Remarkable events have happened in Freeport and Stephenson County, Illinois, and remarkable people have lived there. These are stories gathered about people and events from 1835 through World War II.

By no means complete, these are overviews of lives and events which shaped our country and our world. From events in the lives of Tutty Baker, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Guiteau, Leonard Colby, Jane Addams and Bob Wienand come stories that will amaze you. Welcome to Volume 1 of our living history.

The author lives in Eugene, Oregon, and works as a Licensed Massage Therapist and Life Coach. An amateur historian, parts of these stories and many more appear on his website, www.robertbike.com.

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