AT WAR H AT HOME
THE COLD WAR KOREA
H
VIETNAM
H
STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND
from the pages o f the
AT WAR H AT HOME
THE COLD WAR from the pages of the Omaha world -herald
AT WAR H AT HOME
THE COLD WAR EDITOR
“We look upon this shaken earth, and we declare our firm and fixed purpose — the building of a peace with justice in a world where moral law prevails. The building of such a peace is a bold and solemn purpose. To proclaim it is easy. To serve it will be hard. And to attain it, we must be aware of its full meaning — and ready to pay its full price.”
Dan Sullivan
— President dwight eisenhower, jan. 21, 1957
DESIGNER Christine Zueck-WATKINS
PHOTO EDITOR JOLENE MCHUGH
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Mike Reilly
Welcome to the second installment in The World-Herald’s series of “At War, At Home” books, this one devoted to the Cold War. Much like its predecessor on World War II, this book is chock-full of stories from ordinary Nebraskans and Iowans who helped win a global fight in the cause of freedom. It might be understandable that the Cold War takes a back seat to World War II in popular culture. The Cold War did not begin with horrific attacks or end with ticker-tape parades. The concepts of containment
PUBLISHER
and détente lack the emotional grab of total victory and unconditional surrender.
Terry Kroeger
But the Cold War deserves its place of honor in history. For 46 years, U.S. soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen devoted their lives to preventing a nuclear nightmare and nurturing freedom throughout the world. They spilled blood in the bone-cold Korean winters and hellish Vietnam heat. They flew day and night in SAC airborne command posts. They stood sentinel at home, across Europe and in nearly every corner of the world. Since 1946, The World-Herald has chronicled all aspects of the Cold War, from the establishment
ON THE COVER: Airman Robert Briseno of Port Lavaca, Texas, stands guard as a SAC B-52 returns to Guam after a mission over Vietnam in 1966.
ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE: Top row, from left: John W. Quinn in Korea, John Bender at a communications center in Labrador, Leon Mulanax in Vietnam.
Mike Reilly Executive Editor of the Omaha World-Herald
of the Strategic Air Command headquarters in Nebraska to the dismantling of the Soviet Union. The very best of our coverage follows in these pages, including the writing and photography of longtime military affairs editor Howard Silber, whose frequent travels abroad in the 1960s and 1970s included two trips to Vietnam.
This book also contains more than 200 newly told stories from Nebraska and Iowa veterans and others, World-Herald readers who answered the newspaper’s call to assist with this project. We dedicate this book to them and to all veterans who served honorably during the Cold War era. It is our hope that this book helps ensure that their service and sacrifices are never forgotten.
Lower row, from left: Veterans Al Kelley, Don Muhs, Andre Busse and Martin Burrell at the Cold War Victory Salute in downtown Omaha in 2012.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior consent of the publisher, Omaha World-Herald Co. Copyright 2012 Omaha World-Herald Co. 1314 Douglas St. Omaha, NE 68102-1811 First paperback edition ISBN: 978-0-615-70853-9 Printed by Walsworth Publishing Co. Marceline, MO
ii
Gen. Lee Butler, Strategic Air Command chief, signs a banner proclaiming victory in the Cold War and completion of SAC’s mission in 1992.
An Atlas missile is removed from its base near Arlington, Neb., after being retired from the Strategic Air Command arsenal in 1964.
Table of contents iv 3 19 127 149 161 177 191 275 291 301 309 324
Foreword midlanders’ sense of duty runs silent, runs deep A new challenge the joy of victory is short-lived A new battlefield a brutal war on the korean peninsula Armed and on the brink nuclear threat magnifies conflicts A world on edge the public braces for the worst Defining a mission sac meets a global challenge ‘Maximum peril’ offutt reveals missiles in cuba ‘Brothers forever’ the unbreakable bonds forged in vietnam Keeping a constant vigil the sharp eyes and ears of the cold war Playing to strengths U.S. BUILDUP EXPLOITS SOVIET WEAKNESSES ‘A special debt’ its mission accomplished, sac stands down Cold War Victory Salute a long-overdue welcome home Acknowledgements remembering howard silber, credits, index iii
H POSTWAR H
A new challenge “Ladies and gentlemen, the United States stands at this time at the pinnacle of world power. It is a solemn moment for the American democracy. For with primacy in power is also joined an awe-inspiring accountability to the future. . . . H A world organization has already been erected for the prime purpose of preventing war. . . . We must make sure that its work is fruitful, that it is a reality and not a sham. . . . H From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe.” — Winston Churchill, March 5, 1946
President Harry Truman and Gen. Curtis LeMay, commander of the Strategic Air Command, are flanked by airmen during the national anthem at Offutt Air Force Base in 1952.
3
H korean war H
A new battlefield George Fowler of Omaha was one of the first of nearly a million American troops to land at Pusan, South Korea. H The North Koreans had invaded and pushed the poorly armed South Koreans back to the port city by August 1950. There was no room left to retreat. H “We were going to have to hold this place or swim to Japan,” Fowler said.
U.S. Marines take a break during fighting on Hill 148 in Korea in June 1952. Former Nebraskan Mary Wiedeman said letters from her husband, Harry, spoke of frustration. “They’d take a hill one day and lose it the next,’’ she said. “Then they’d go over and take it back, then lose it again.”
19
KOREA H MISSING IN ACTION
Unforgettable sacrifice They hailed from farms and ranches, villages and cities across the Midlands. Some were combat veterans of World War II. Some dropped out of high school to serve their country. Some were postwar enlistees who were swept into the “police action” that became the Korean War. These men are among the more than 7,500 Americans still missing in action, according to the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office. A few died in isolation along trails and in aircraft crashes. Most, however, disappeared on battlefields or died in distant prison camps. The muster on these pages lists the men with known Nebraska and western Iowa roots who were declared missing during the 1950-53 fighting. The Korean Service Medal shown at left represents those whose photos were not available. Also listed are rank; branch of service; age when they went missing; home or hometown of record; date they were missing in action and where; and other information when available. Nearly six decades later, the search continues for their remains. Their families and their nation have not forgotten.
JIMMIE H. ALKIRE 1st Lt., Air Force 22, Plattsmouth Sept. 9, 1952, N. Korea
LOUIS J. DUPLESSIS Cpl., Army 18, Omaha Nov. 2, 1950, N. Korea
The fighter plane Alkire was piloting was hit by an enemy MiG-15 and crashed. Previously completed 34 missions as a jet fighter pilot and earned the Air Medal.
Listed as missing in action after the Unsan Engagement, one of the Chinese army’s first major operations of the war.
DUANE W. ANDERSON Cpl., Army 20, Pottawattamie County Nov. 6, 1951, N. Korea Anderson was wounded in action in October 1951. He returned to duty only nine days before being listed as missing in action.
WALTER L. BIRT Cpl., Marine Corps 21, Council Bluffs Dec. 2, 1950, N. Korea
ERNESTO J. CORDERO Sgt., Army Grand Island Sept. 1, 1950, Korea
A member of the 5th Marines, presumably died during heavy fighting at Yudam-ni during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
A one-time Golden Gloves boxer, he fought in both World War II and Korea. Before going into combat, he made a record on which he tells his family he will sing them a song to remember him by.
DAVID P. BARNES 1st Lt., Air Force Crawford April 22, 1951, Korea Barnes bailed out of his F-84 Thunderjet fighter after it was hit by enemy anti-aircraft near Kumwha. He was reportedly taken prisoner and died two months after being captured.
RONALD G. BRADLEY Cpl., Army 21, Cass County, Neb. June 11, 1953, Korea Bradley, who attended Omaha South High School, was drafted and went missing just two months after reaching Korea.
Cory reportedly was killed while driving a supply truck two miles north of Hagaru in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. JAMES L. DORRANCE Sgt. 1st Class, Army 19, Omaha Dec. 1, 1950, N. Korea Served in an anti-aircraft unit and reportedly died of pneumonia in a prison camp in 1951. He left behind a wife and an infant son born a week after Dorrance left for the war.
MELVIN F. BYDALEK Seaman, Navy St. Paul Nov. 5, 1950, Korean Strait A fireman on the USS Samuel Moore, Bydalek reportedly died after being swept overboard during a battle. GERALD V. COOK Cpl., Army 38, Otoe County Dec. 6, 1950, N. Korea Cook was listed as missing after a firefight near Hagaru in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
116
Listed as missing in action six days before his 26th birthday. Went missing after fighting on Hills 682 and 717.
LEONARD H. DORSCH Pfc., Army Tecumseh April 25, 1951, S. Korea Dorsch wrote to family friend Lyman Gottula just before being captured or killed: “I’m ready to go home now, but I guess I can’t. Maybe I can soon, though. I sure hope so.”
JAMES E. GREENLEAF Pfc., Army 18, Dakota City July 18, 1952, Korea
THOMAS L. HELTON Capt., Air Force 37, Kearney April 16, 1951, S. Korea
A member of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, he went missing after fighting on Old Baldy.
Helton piloted an F-84E Thunderjet fighter that crashed into a hill near Keasong-ni, South Korea.
BOYD B. GWIN 1st Lt., Air Force 30, Crete Jan. 6, 1953, Korea Piloted an F-84 Thunderjet fighter that reportedly exploded.
ROBERT R. CORY Sgt., Army 20, Sioux City Dec. 6, 1950, N. Korea
ALLEN BAKER Sgt., Army 33, Omaha Dec. 2, 1950, N. Korea Baker, a medic, was reportedly captured while tending to wounded soldiers near Pyongyang. He died of malnutrition in a prison camp in February 1951.
CECIL W. FRENCH Sgt., Army 25, Buffalo County Sept. 8, 1951, N. Korea
DAN H. HANSEN Pfc., Army 25, Correctionville July 11, 1950, S. Korea ROBERT M. GENEREUX Sgt., Army 19, Campbell Nov. 28, 1950, N. Korea Joined the Army at 17 and disappeared near the Manchurian border as about 300,000 Chinese troops poured into North Korea. FRANCIS G. GERGEN Lt. j.g., Navy 25, Geneva Feb. 21, 1952, N. Korea The fighter pilot was escorting a damaged aircraft to an airfield when his airplane suddenly swerved and crashed into the sea.
Died while a prisoner after being captured in South Korea and marched to North Korea on the infamous Tiger Death March. LEONARD H. HANSEN Petty Officer 1st Class, Navy 26, Omaha June 12, 1951, Sea of Japan Presumably killed in action when the USS Walke struck a floating mine off the coast of North Korea. The explosion killed 26 men and wounded 40 others.
LYLE E. HERRICK Pfc., Army 26, Furnas County Nov. 30, 1950, Korea
He served as a radar observer on a plane that reportedly was hit, crashed and exploded during a combat mission near Sinmak.
ERWIN A. HAVRANEK Cpl., Army About 24, Douglas County May 18, 1951, S. Korea Reportedly died as a prisoner a month after being captured.
Houston’s name and the date Feb. 23, 1951, were found written on the wall of a Chunchon jail cell. He was one of 10 brothers to serve in the U.S. military.
Herrick, a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, went missing after fighting at the Kunu-ri Gauntlet. WENDELL D. HINES Sgt., Army About 20, Douglas County Nov. 28, 1950, N. Korea A member of the 35th Infantry Regiment, he was seriously wounded in South Korea on Sept. 14, 1950, and returned to duty Nov. 1.
RAMON L. HUBER Sgt. 1st Class, Army 20, York Nov. 2, 1950, N. Korea Member of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, taken prisoner at Unsan. Died May 11, 1951. FORREST LEE HUNTER Pfc., Army 23, Harlan County Sept. 10, 1951, N. Korea
CHARLES T. HOPPER 1st Lt., Army 23, Sioux City July 14, 1953, N. Korea This battery commander was reportedly killed in action while fighting near Kumson.
WILLIAM R. GOODALL III Sgt. Maj., Marine Corps 31, Omaha June 12, 1952, N. Korea
JAMES L. HOUSTON Cpl., Army 18, Dow City Feb. 14, 1951, Chunchon, S. Korea
A member of the 35th Infantry Regiment, he was seriously wounded July 27, 1951. He returned to duty Aug. 3. He was killed near Hills 717 and 682. PAUL T. JENSEN Cpl., Army 20, Woodbury County July 27, 1950, S. Korea A member of the 29th Infantry Regiment, Jensen was listed as missing in action after heavy fighting near Hadong.
KOREA H MISSING IN ACTION
NORMAN D. JOHNSEN Pfc., Marine Corps 19, Goehner Dec. 2, 1950, N. Korea Member of the 5th Marines, he was killed while covering the withdrawal of friendly forces at Yudam-ni in Battle of Chosin Reservoir. JAMES L. JONES Airman 1st Class, Air Force 21, Blair April 7, 1951, N. Korea While on a bombing mission, his aircraft was attacked and crashed four miles off the coastline. He was taken prisoner. BILLY E. KELSO Pfc., Marine Corps 19, Omaha March 26, 1953
ROBERT H. LAIER Capt., Air Force 24, Cozad June 19, 1951, near the N. Korea/China border Laier’s only child was born two days before he was reported missing. JAMES M. LARSEN Pfc., Army 19, Anita Nov. 29, 1950, Chongchon River Member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, Larsen was killed near Kunu-ri. He was the youngest of three brothers.
JACK A. LIGHTNER 1st Lt., Air Force 24, St. Edward Sept. 7, 1950, at sea
MILTON E. NICKS Cpl., Army 20, Morrill County Nov. 19, 1950, N. Korea
Lightner flew F-51 Mustangs on ground support missions, surviving several hits by enemy fire until his 47th mission.
Member of 5th Cavalry Regiment. Known as “Gene.’’ Listed his home as Guernsey, Wyo.
LLOYD A. LOGUE Cpl., Army 20, Atlantic Feb. 13, 1951, Hoengsong Member of the 15th Field Artillery Battalion. DONALD D. NOEHREN Sgt., Army Harlan Nov. 30, 1950, Kunu-ri
WILLIE N. LEE JR. Cpl., Army 22, Woodbury County Aug. 4, 1951 Member of the 24th Infantry Regiment.
Attended South High School before enlisting. A member of the 5th Marines, he was defending Outpost Reno when the Chinese overran his position.
OTTIS P. MARK Master Sgt., Army 27, Long Pine Dec. 1, 1950, Chosin Reservoir, N. Korea
Lenon, who also served during World War II, spent his 23rd birthday on a ship bound for Korea. Killed at Yudam-ni in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
Served as a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment.
JAMES R. McGREW Master Sgt., Army 34, Omaha Nov. 30, 1950, N. Korea
CHARLES H. KUNSCH JR. Petty Officer 1st Class, Navy 23, Omaha Aug. 27, 1952, off coast of N. Korea
The North High School graduate joined the Army at age 20, serving in Germany in World War II. Family was told he died in prison.
Was aboard the USS Sarsi when it struck a mine and sank. Two were killed instantly, 92 were rescued, and Kunsch and two others were declared missing.
JOHN R. SCHMID Petty Officer 2nd Class, Navy 21, Schuyler Jan. 29, 1953
Rudat’s plane was shot down on what was scheduled to be his last mission, while he filled in for another airman.
Radar operator on AD-4N Skyraider, night dive bomber aboard carrier USS Kearsarge. Lost on night heckler mission.
JULE C. RYBOLT 1st Lt., Army 34, Beatrice Dec. 1, 1950, Chosin Reservoir
DUANE C. SCHMIDT Cpl., Army About 30, Woodbury County Dec. 1, 1950, N. Korea
Communications platoon leader with the 31st Infantry Regiment.
Medic with 32nd Infantry.
NARCISSE D. ST. ONGE Sgt. 1st Class, Army About 30, Woodbury County Sept. 2, 1950, S. Korea Member of 38th Infantry Regiment. Missing at Naktong Bridge.
GUY LEWIS JR. Cpl., Army 18, Meadow Grove Nov. 25, 1950, Chongchon River, N. Korea
ERVIN A. MILLER Pfc., Army Lincoln County Nov. 28, 1950
Member of the 38th Infantry Regiment.
FRANCIS K. SMITH Cpl., Army 20, Cass County, Neb. Dec. 2, 1950, N. Korea Member of 7th Infantry Division. Killed in action, Battle of Chosin Reservoir. JAMES D. SMITH JR. 1st Lt., Air Force 24, Cherokee Nov. 25, 1951, N. Korea Navigator of B-26B Invader with 730th Bomber Squadron. Crew bailed out on night mission northwest of Chorwon.
ROBERT H. SCHOEL Pfc., Army About 23, Hall County Nov. 26, 1951, N. Korea Seriously wounded in North Korea on Sept. 3, 1951, and returned to duty 10 days later. MYRON J. SMITH Cpl., Marine Corps 21, Omaha Nov. 30, 1950, N. Korea
Medic, seriously wounded while tending comrades and taken prisoner. Died Dec. 7, 1950. GUSS R. LENON Pfc., Marine Corps 23, Omaha Nov. 27, 1950, N. Korea
JACK H. KOCH Pfc., Army 18, Campbell July 25, 1950, S. Korea
Noehren served in the Navy for two years before joining the Army. He died in captivity after being captured during battle.
FRED “FRITZ” RUDAT Capt., Air Force 27, Columbus April 12, 1951, Sea of Japan
Nicknamed “Bud.” Missing at Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
JIMMIE L. O’DELL Pfc., Marine Corps 20, Shenandoah Oct. 6, 1952
HANS R. SAND Cpl., Army 25, Guthrie Center Dec. 1, 1950, Kunu-ri
Member of the 7th Marines, he was killed in action in Western Outposts.
Sand worked on farms in Guthrie County before he was recalled from the Army Reserve. Member of the 82nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion.
DONALD A. SCHWARTZ 2nd Lt., Air Force 23, Potter July 7, 1950, S. Korea Bailed out of his F-80C fighter jet returning to Japanese base from seventh bombing mission. RICHARD J. SEADORE Cpl., Army About 21, Brown County Dec. 14, 1950, S. Korea Seriously wounded Aug. 11, 1950. Later returned to duty. Taken prisoner and died while prisoner April 18, 1951.
JOHN “JACK” RAMAEKERS Cpl., Army 21, Nance County March 25, 1953, Old Baldy Killed on a mapping mission, Ramaekers served at the same time as his twin brother. MARLIN L. RICHARDSON 1st Lt., Army Mills County Nov. 28, 1950, N. Korea Member of the 35th Infantry Regiment.
PAUL L. SANDOVAL Pfc., Marine Corps 20, Omaha Dec. 10, 1950, N. Korea Sandoval had been a Marine for one year. Member of the 1st Marines. .
GEORGE K. STAIRS Cpl., Army About 26, Carleton Nov. 6, 1950, N. Korea Member of Headquarters Company, X Corps.
LYLE L. SHAUL Sgt. 1st Class, Army 23, Long Pine Nov. 26, 1950, N. Korea Member of the 38th Infantry Regiment. Missing near Kunu-ri.
VERNON I. STANLEY Master Sgt., Marine Corps 33, Lincoln Dec. 7, 1950, N. Korea Member of 1st Service Battalion. Killed fighting at Koto-ri near Chosin Reservoir.
EDWARD W. MINIKUS Cpl., Army Omaha Dec. 3, 1950 Minikus graduated in Central High School’s class of 1945.
117
KOREA H MISSING IN ACTION
Memorabilia of Cheryl Thomas-Miller, whose father, Fred “Fritz” Rudat, was reported missing in Korea.
‘A terribly mobile war’ By David Hendee
Fighting stopped in the Korean War nearly 60 years ago, but unhealed wounds remain for thousands of American families. These are the sons, daughters, brothers and sisters of more than 7,500 U.S. servicemen still officially missing in action during the 1950-53 war — and some are battling to keep their loved ones from slipping into the shadows of history. America’s Korean War MIAs total more than four times the number unaccounted for in the Vietnam War. That’s partly because of the differences in fighting and partly because, for decades after the conflict, North Korea refused to let Americans in to find remains. The Korean War raged up and down the peninsula of rice paddies and rocky, barren mountains before ending in a stalemate about where it began. “It was a terribly mobile war. We retreated as much as we advanced,’’ said Paul M. Edwards, a Korean War artilleryman and the founder of the Center for the Study of the Korean War in Independence, Mo.
118
“We retreated as much as we advanced. When you retreat and give ground, you lose a lot of slightly wounded or disoriented people who would have been fine if the line had held. Many were picked up as prisoners.’’ — Paul M. Edwards, founder of the Center for the Study of the Korean War in Independence, Mo.
KOREA H MISSING IN ACTION
“When you retreat and give ground, you lose a lot of slightly wounded or disoriented people who would have been fine if the line had held. Many were picked up as prisoners.’’ Edwards said the system of replacing troops in Korean combat zones one by one created less unit cohesion. Part of the armistice negotiations during the last half of the war included a restriction that the United States could only replace, and not increase, the number of troops or equipment. “So when someone was killed or rotated back home, the new guy would practically walk into the old guy’s boots, rifle and sleeping bag,’’ Edwards said in 2009. “That explains why not everyone was watching out for each other better. If the new guy was missing, who knew?” Thousands of American troops were wounded or killed during massive human wave attacks by Chinese soldiers, who entered the war in late 1950. “We suffered large casualties, and the wounded or dead were often left behind,’’ said Bruce Cabana of Glens Falls, N.Y., who coordinates the Korean War Veterans Association’s MIA program. “Veterans talk about the Chinese overrunning them and never seeing a buddy again.’’ Some wounded or weakened troops fell on lonely mountain roads and froze to death under a blanket of snow. Airmen disappeared after bailing out of stricken aircraft or crashing into enemy territory. Others were taken to North Korean prison camps, taken over by the Chinese. American search teams haven’t been allowed into some of these sites, said John Zimmerlee of Marietta, Ga., who maintains the Korean War POW/MIA Network. U.S. military officials estimate that more than 3,900 American remains are concentrated in four areas of North Korea: POW camp burial sites near the China border; the Unsan/ Chongchon area; the Chosin Reservoir area; and in the Demilitarized Zone. Zimmerlee and Edwards said there’s evidence that hundreds or thousands of U.S. and allied troops were shipped north to prison or slave camps in China and the Soviet Union. U.S. officials say there’s no evidence that American Korean War prisoners remain in Chinese or Russian prisons. The Defense Department says that Korean War MIA accounting remains important and that finding live Americans is the highest priority.
Still searching for a loved one? Medical and technological advances are helping identify remains of U.S. military personnel retrieved from battlefields or exhumed from unmarked graves.
Unforgettable sacrifice DALE D. THOMPSON Pfc., Army About 18, Cherry County Dec. 2, 1950
CHARLES A. VOREL Pfc., Army About 21, Sioux City July 16, 1950, S. Korea
Member of 32nd Infantry Regiment. Missing at Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
Member of the 19th Infantry Regiment. Missing at Kum River.
JOSEPH L. TURNER Pfc., Army About 29, Nemaha County Dec. 1, 1950, N. Korea
JOHN T. STERNAD Cpl., Army 20, Omaha Feb. 14, 1951, Korea This popular South Omaha boy was taken prisoner on Valentine’s Day.
Medic with 9th Infantry Regiment. Taken prisoner while tending wounded comrades at Kunu-ri. Died in prison camp Feb. 3, 1951. WILLIAM F. UMBARGER 2nd Lt., Air Force 21, Sioux City Feb. 28, 1952 Pilot of an F-84E Thunderjet fighter with the 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. His aircraft received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire. Bailout was unsuccessful.
Member of 20th Signal Air-Ground Liaison Company. Died while prisoner Aug. 31, 1951. LEIGH W. WIDEL Cpl., Army Woodbury County Nov. 30, 1950, near Kunu-ri Member of 38th Field Artillery Battalion. Died while prisoner Feb. 11, 1951. MERLYN K. WILLIAMS Airman 1st Class, Air Force 22, Verdon Jan. 31, 1952 B-29A Superfortress crew member based at Okinawa, lost at sea during routine combat mission.
EARL C. STILES Sgt., Army 25, Council Bluffs Dec. 1, 1950, North Korea Died in North Korean prison camp of dysentery and malnutrition no later than May 15, 1951.
ROBERT B. WATSON Sgt., Army About 23, Douglas County May 20, 1951, S. Korea
CHARLES E. VAN OSDAL Sgt., Army 20, Beatrice Nov. 22, 1950, N. Korea Member of 19th Infantry Regiment. MILTON L. WISEMAN 1st Lt., Air Force 23, Ogallala June 10, 1951, N. Korea
DONALD L. SYBRANT Sgt. 1st Class, Army About 21, Rock County Nov. 30, 1950, N. Korea Member of 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion. Missing near Kunu-ri.
Defense Department officials encourage families of MIAs to submit mitochondrial DNA samples to help identify remains. Samples must come from siblings, the mother or others from her side of the family.
CALVIN A. VAN WINKLE Pfc., Army About 18, Fort Calhoun July 5, 1950, Osan, S. Korea
Fighter pilot with 95 combat missions, he was shot down while flying an unarmed reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft fell into the Yalu River.
Member of 21st Infantry Regiment. Taken prisoner, forced trek to North Korea on Tiger Death March. Died while prisoner at Hanjang-ni, North Korea, Feb. 16, 1951.
Some remains at U.S. labs are awaiting DNA samples to confirm identification. For more information, contact the casualty office of any military installation or the POW/Missing Personnel Office:
LYLE K. THALLER Sgt., Army 21, Malvern Sept. 18, 1952, N. Korea
DPMO Attn: External Affairs 2900 Defense Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20301-2900
Forward observer at Outpost Kelly when Chinese attacked.
PAUL B. VIDOCK Cpl., Army About 18, Douglas County Oct. 15, 1952, N. Korea Member of 31st Infantry Regiment. Missing at Triangle Hill.
119
KOREA H killed IN ACTION
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN A PLAQUE AT THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL reads, “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.” The muster on these pages comes from the National Archives’ lists of service members with known Nebraska and western Iowa roots. Ranks and hometowns are as they appear on government records. The Korean War Service Medal is shown at left.
Blackburn, Roger Army Sgt. 1c Fillmore County
Chesley, Darrol C. Army Pfc. Custer County
Dorrance, James Lee Army Sgt. Douglas County
Garris, Gerald D. Army Pfc. Johnson County
Hansen, Lawrence Dale Marines Pfc. South Sioux City
Jacobsen, Robert L. Army Cpl. Douglas County
Blain, William C. Army Pvt. Garden County
Chmelka, Edward J. Army Sgt. Butler County
Dorsch, Leonard Herman Army Pvt. Johnson County
Genereux, Robert M. Army Cpl. Franklin County
Hansen, Leonard Harold Navy PO1 Omaha
Jeppson, Harlan R. Army Pvt. Cuming County
Boll, Duane Lee Marines Sgt. Scribner
Clark, Bob Edward Marines Pfc. Norfolk
Gergen, Francis Gene Navy Lt. j.g. Geneva
Harrington, Jon G. Army Sgt. Dawson County
Jetter, Karl R. Army Pvt. Dodge County
Bolton, James J. Army WO1 Antelope County
Clark, Robert M. Army Sgt. Douglas County
Dougherty, Vincent Paul Jr. Marines Pfc. Omaha
Glica, Leonard G. Army Pvt. Douglas County
Harwood, Chester L. Army Sgt. Clay County
Johnsen, Norman Dale Marines Pfc. Goehner
Boring, William R. Army Pvt. Dodge County
Clegg, Edward L. Army Cpl. Douglas County
Goc, Julius R. Army Sgt. Sherman County
Haveika, Arnold Army Pfc. Saunders County
Johnson, Charles L. Army Pfc. Box Butte County
Boyer, Gerald F. Army Pfc. Madison County
Click, Wayne K. Army Pvt. Cheyenne County
Goeken, John F. Army Cpl. Dodge County
Havranek, Erwin Alfred Army Pfc. Douglas County
Johnson, Irlo Jr. Army Pfc. Otoe County
Bradley, Ronald G. Army Pfc. Cass County
Collins, Sidney L. Army Pfc. Brown County
Goll, William Robert Marines Pfc. Omaha
Hayes, Richard W. Army Pfc. Douglas County
Jonas, Bernard Charles Marines Pfc. Clarkson
Branting, Marvin E. Army Pfc. Lincoln County
Colsden, Allen W. Marines Cpl. Stanton
Golter, Arlyn R. Army Cpl. Harlan County
Hayes, Robert David Marines Maj. Hastings
Jones, James Lewis Air Force A1c Blair
Bricker, Joe F. Army Pfc. Keith County
Combs, Ferrice G. Army Sgt. Dixon County
Gomez, Edward Marines Pfc. Omaha
Helton, Thomas Luke Air Force Capt. Kearney
Kalin, Eugene M. Army Pvt. Cedar County
Brooks, Bruce E. Army Sgt. 1c Stanton County
Connelly, Louis B. Army Cpl. Greeley County
Erickson, Donald M. Army Pvt. Hamilton County
Goodall, William Roberts III Marines M. Sgt. Omaha
Hemmingsen, Milton F. Army Pfc. Hamilton County
Kampschneider, John W. Army Pfc. Cuming County
Brousek, Victor E. Army Pfc. Butler County
Connolly, David W. Army 2nd Lt. Douglas County
Evans, Donald E. Army Pfc. Douglas County
Gowin, George E. Army Pfc. Dawes County
Herrick, Lyle Eugene Army Pvt. Furnas County
Kaul, Lloyd Dawson Marines Pfc. Omaha
Bruveleit, Robert W. Army Pfc. Brown County
Cook, Gerald Vaughn Army Pfc. Otoe County
Graf, Robert E. Army Pfc. Douglas County
Hines, Wendell D. Army Cpl. Douglas County
Keller, Rodney V. Army Pfc. Lincoln
Anderson, Morris Allen Navy Lt. Funk
Fernau, Calvin D. Army Pvt. Brown County
Buchanan, Edgar Leroy Marines Cpl. Alliance
Cordero, Ernesto Jose Army Cpl. Hall County
Gray, Roy R Jr. Army Pfc. Douglas County
Hirschbach, Darrell Blaine Marines Pfc. South Sioux City
Kelso, Billy E. Marines Pfc. Omaha
Arthur, Patrick James Army Sgt. Custer County
Fields, John H. Army Capt. Douglas County
Burbach, Gerard R. Army Pvt. Cedar County
Cosh, Richard Army Pfc. Hall County
Baker, Allen Army Cpl. Douglas County
Fike, James A. Army Cpl. Gage County
Greenleaf, James E. Army Pvt. Dakota County
Holland, Gerald L. Army Sgt. Custer County
Kennel, Joseph Raymond Jr. Marines Pfc. Strang
Burger, Lawrence Edward Air Force Capt. Grand Island
Coufal, Ralph L. Army Sgt. Howard County
Baker, George Lorin Jr. Marines Sgt. Omaha
Flood, Richard Augustine Marines Pfc. Hastings
Guzman, Salbador Army Pfc. Scotts Bluff County
Houser, Wayne E. Army Pvt. Jefferson County
Kenny, Kenneth E. Army Pvt. Pierce County
Burroughs, William Army Pvt. Douglas County
Crook, John B. Army Sgt. Lancaster County
Folkner, Dallas Lee Marines Pvt. Fairbury
Gwin, Boyd Bernard Air Force 1st Lt. Crete
Houston, Raymond Burl Air Force 1st Lt. Imperial
Kimle, Willard A. Army Pfc. Adams County
Baker, Stanley L. Army Pvt. Nuckolls County
Buxton, Edwin R. Army Pfc. Rock County
Daniels, Donald Ray Marines Cpl. Valentine
Fotinos, Chris Army Pfc. Scotts Bluff County
Hall, Raymon F. Army Cpl. Nuckolls County
Hovda, Sanford Marines Sgt. Butte
Kirchhefer, Kenneth R. Army Sgt. Adams County
Barnes, David Porter Air Force 1st Lt. Crawford
Bydalek, Melvin Floyd Navy FN St. Paul
Daubert, Wayne R. Army Pfc. Oakland
Freeman, James W. Army Pfc. Douglas County
Halm, Kenneth L. Army Pvt. Greeley County
Hoyle, Duane A. Army Pfc. Otoe County
Koch, Jack H. Army Pvt. Franklin County
Barratt, Robert F. Army Cpl. Lancaster County
Carfield, Joseph C. Army Pvt. Red Willow County
Davey, Gerald James Army Cpl. Douglas County
French, Cecil Ward Army Cpl. Buffalo County
Hamilton, Robert E. Army Pfc. Douglas County
Huber, Ramon L. Army Cpl. York County
Koehler, Leonard C. Army Pvt. Johnson County
Bayne, Bob L. Army Cpl. Hamilton County
Carr, Duane Evan Army Pvt. Dixon County
Desmul, Gerald G. Army Pvt. Valley County
Fugate, Dale L. Army Pfc. Dundy County
Hansen, Eugene Ralph Air Force Capt. Fremont
Huey, Carl Jr. Army Pvt. Douglas County
Kohout, Edward L. Army Pfc. Seward County
Becher, Lavern Harold Marines Pfc. Columbus
Chadek, John G. Army Pvt. Saunders County
Dolezal, Ernest L. Army Pfc. Butler County
Galloway, Harold J. Army Pvt. Adams County
Hansen, Floyd M. Army Sgt. Pierce County
Huff, Kenneth L. Army Pfc. Harlan County
Kovar, Leo F. Army Pfc. Seward County
Bentley, Jerry D. Army Pvt. Douglas County
Chapman, Melvin C. Army Cpl. Madison County
Doran, Thomas Peter Marines Cpl. Peru
Garner, Patrick J. Army Pfc. Nuckolls County
Hansen, Kenneth R. Army Cpl. Perkins County
Hunter, Forrest L. Army Pfc. Harlan County
Kriha, Lester E. Army M. Sgt. Deuel County
NEBRASKANS Adams, James O. Army Cpl. Stanton County Adlesic, Joseph L. Army Pfc. Douglas County Albers, Billie D. Army Pfc. Douglas County Alderman, Ellsworth L. Army Pvt. Garfield County Aldridge, Robert Lewis Marines Pfc. Lincoln Alkire, Jimmie Harold Air Force 1st Lt. Plattsmouth Alley, John C. Army Cpl. Lancaster County Alspaugh, Clarence E. Army Sgt. 1c Lincoln County Anderson, Gerald Phillips Marines 1st Lt. Omaha Anderson, Lloyd P. Army Pfc. Lincoln County
122
Drakulich, Donald Milan Marines Pfc. Omaha Dreith, John Navy PO3 Lincoln Duplessis, Louis J. Army Pfc. Douglas County Dutcher, Lee Edward Marines Pfc. Hastings Eckert, Harry Army Sgt. 1c Lancaster County Effenbeck, Kenneth A. Army Pfc. Lincoln County
KOREA H killed IN ACTION
Krueger, Fredie Charles Navy SA Beemer
McDonald, Donald D. Army Pfc. Lancaster County
Overback, Walter Howard Air Force A2c Seward
Salzbrenner, John D. Army Cpl. Douglas County
Smotts, Richard T. Army Pfc. Lincoln County
Vance, Charles E. Army Pvt. Boyd County
Yates, Ben J. Army Pfc. Lincoln County
Krupicka, Adolph A. Jr. Army Cpl. Fillmore County
McGrew, James Richard Army M. Sgt. Douglas County
Pape, Thomas O. Army M. Sgt. Dixon County
Sandoval, Paul Leo Marines Pfc. Omaha
Sohler, Charles R. Army Sgt. 1c Cedar County
Vanosdol, Charles Army Cpl. Otoe County
Yetter, Walter Lee Army Pvt. Garden County
Pedersen, Richard L. Army Pfc. Cedar County
Schaffert, Marion F. Army Cpl. Red Willow County
Soukup, William Jr. Army Pfc. Fillmore County
Vanwinkle, Calvin Army Pvt. Douglas County
Young, Gerald E. Army Cpl. Washington
Peterson, Jerry H. Army Pfc. Perkins County
Scheibe, Ray W. Army Cpl. Greeley County
Sowers, Kenneth C. Army Pvt. Adams County
Yount, Amodore Jr. Marines Pfc. Irvington
Pickett, James Truman Marines Pfc. Omaha
Schlueter, Henry F. Marines Capt. Abie
Sperl, Donald G. Army Pvt. Douglas County
Velasquez, Angelo Margarito Marines Pfc. Omaha
Pinneo, Arlin J. Army Pfc. York County
Schmid, John Robert Navy PO2 Schuyler
Spitzer, Samuel Edward Army Lt. Col. Hometown not listed
Portschi, Eldon G. Army Cpl. Red Willow County
Schneider, Myron Lee Marines Pfc. Omaha
Srb, Rodney L. Army Cpl. Dodge County
Prather, Lawrence H. Army Sgt. 1c Buffalo County
Schoel, Robert Harry Army Pfc. Hall County
Stairs, George K. Army Pfc. Thayer County
Prescott, Delbert F. Army Pfc. Custer County
Schraeder, Rueben Army Pfc. Scotts Bluff County
Stanley, Vernon Ivan Marines M. Sgt. Lincoln
Quillen, Marion A. Army Sgt. 1c Adams County
Schwartz, Donald A. Air Force 2nd Lt. Potter
Steffen, Daniel F. Army Pvt. Cedar County
Ramaekers, John Henry Army Pfc. Nance County
Schweitz, Raymond K. Army Pfc. Nance County
Steffen, Donald E. Army Pvt. Lancaster County
Kubes, Edward Jr. Army Cpl. Thayer County Kula, Robert M. Army Cpl. Nance County
McKim, Lyle C. Army Cpl. O’Neill Meick, Nick A. Army Sgt. Scotts Bluff County
Kunsch, Charles Henry Jr. Navy PO1 Omaha
Merritt, Max H. Army Cpl. Douglas County
Laier, Robert Holmes Air Force Capt. Cozad
Meyers, Allen Dean Marines Cpl. Wilcox
Laing, Carroll F. Army Pfc. Arthur
Michel, Richard Thomas Air Force A1c Doniphan
Lammers, John Eugene Marines Pfc. Hartington
Miller, Ervin A. Army Pvt. Lincoln County
Lemaster, Lester E. Air Force M. Sgt. Hebron
Miller, Harlan H. Army Pfc. Cuming County
Lenon, Guss Ronald Marines Pfc. Omaha
Miller, Robert G. Army Pfc. Antelope County
Leonard, Jearold D. Army Cpl. Lancaster County
Miner, Donald Dale Marines Cpl. Ravenna
Lewis, Guy Army Pfc. Buffalo County
Minikus, Edward W. Army Pfc. Douglas County
Lightner, Jack A. Air Force 1st Lt. St. Edward
Mitchell, Franklin Army 2nd Lt. Douglas County
Linder, William C. Jr. Army Pvt. Dawson County
Moore, John T. Army Cpl. Custer County
Linton, Robert S. Army Pvt. Cheyenne County
Moore, Leroy L. Army Cpl. Thurston County
Logan, Edward N. Army Sgt. Douglas County
Moriarty, Henry I. Army Pfc. Scotts Bluff County
Longbrake, Duane Eugene Marines Cpl. York
Muhle, Lester J. Army Cpt Cuming County
Loury, James Herbert Army Pfc. Douglas County
Munkres, John N. Air Force 1st Lt. Weeping Water
Lozoya, Fermin P. Army Cpl. Scotts Bluff County
Munster, Donald L. Army Pfc. Thayer County
Ludwick, Richard W. Army Cpl. Douglas County
Nash, W.E. III Marines Pfc. Lincoln
Mace, William B. Army Pfc. Adams County
Neilson, Paul H. Army Pvt. Dodge County
Marchese, John A. Navy PO2 Omaha
Newton, James A. Army Sgt. Cedar County
Rosenblatt, Norman Meyer Marines Pfc. Omaha
Marcuzzo, Salvatore R. Army Pvt. Douglas County
Nicks, Milton Eugene Army Pfc. Morrill County
Marsh, Douglas R. Army Cpl. Scotts Bluff County
Ramsier, Richard C. Army Pvt. Madison County Rasmussen, Ray L. Army Pfc. Cedar County Reon, Archie J. Army Pvt. Douglas County RIce, John R. Army Sgt. 1c Thurston County Richardson, Ardys Lee Marines Pfc. Rosalie Riedmann, Lawrence J. Army Pvt. Douglas County Ripley, Julian Raymond Army Cpl. Hall County Robertson, Herbert E. Army Sgt. 1c Richardson County Robinson, Walter G. Army Sgt. Washington County
Seadore, Richard John Army Pfc. Brown County Seery, William L. Army Pvt. Lincoln County Seidel, Raymond Gerald Marines Pfc. Columbus Selzer, James M. Army 1st Lt. Scotts Bluff County Shane, Larry R. Army Pfc. Lancaster County Shaul, Lyle Leonard Army Sgt. Brown County Shipps, Charles C. Army Cpl. Lancaster County Shramek, Jack Howard Marines Pfc. Omaha Simmons, William D. Army Pvt. Gage County
Sternard, John T. Army Pfc. Douglas County Steuart, Percy Lee Air Force A2c Auburn Stevens, Richard C. Army Pvt. Dawson County Stoll, James W. Army 1st Lt. Lancaster County Strauser, Lloyd F. Army Pfc. Dawson County Sullivan, David C. Army Cpl. Mullen Swanson, William Marines 1st Lt. Omaha Swope, Gayle L. Army Pvt. Custer County Sybrant, Donald L. Army Sgt. Rock County
Vidock, Paul B. Army Pfc. Douglas County Vinkenberg, John P. Army Pfc. Thayer County Vorel, Charles A. Jr. Army Pvt. Douglas County
Zimbelman, Edward E. Army Cpl. Howard County Zorn, Darrell W. Army Pfc. Garden County
western iowans
Wagner, Paul Amrine Marines Pfc. Omaha
Anderson, Duane Ward Army Pfc. Pottawattamie County
Walker, Teddy J. Army Pfc. Keith County
Archer, Ronald Royce Marines Pfc. Council Bluffs
Walling, Howard Keith Marines Cpl. Omaha
Auen, Monte M. Army Pfc. Sac County
Warning, Donald A. Army Pfc. Dundy County
Bailey, Henry M. Army Pfc. Montgomery County
Watson, Robert Bruce Army Cpl. Douglas County
Ballou, Howard L. Army Cpl. Audubon County
Waymire, Eldon D. Army Pvt. Boone County
Beavers, Harold R. Army Capt. Taylor County
Webb, Stanley S. Army Pfc. Stanton County
Birt, Walter Lester Marines Pfc. Council Bluffs
White, John Edward Marines Cpl. Douglas
Botts, Sidney J. Army Sgt. Montgomery County
Wichman, Robert James Army Sgt. Douglas County
Brodie, John William Marines Pfc. Le Mars
Wiebelhaus, Marvin E. Army Pvt. Madison
Butler, Paul Leigh Army Pvt. Taylor County
Wilcox, Lawrence A. Marines Pfc. Steinauer
Calvin, Harvey Earl Army Pvt. Union County
Williams, Merlyn Keith Air Force A1c Verdon
Capron, Donald Vincent Air Force S. Sgt. Manilla
Wilson, Charles H. Army Pvt. Douglas County
Carman, Royal G. Army Cpl. Woodbury County
Wilson, Ray Army M. Sgt. Scotts Bluff County
Carson, Vernon C. Army Pvt. Harrison County
Simpson, Robert L. Air Force 1st Lt. Fairbury
Tangeman, Eugene Duane Marines Pfc. Omaha
Slagle, Earnest Newton Navy HN Morrill
Taylor, Clark E. Army Sgt. Douglas County
Wilson, Rodney H. Army Cpl. Kearney
Clapper, Francis I. Army Pfc. Fremont County
Rosenboom, Valdean G. Army Pfc. Sarpy County
Slote, Ivan Brust Marines Pfc. Lincoln
Taylor, Lawrence Ivan Marines 1st Lt. Wymore
Wiseman, Milton Lane Air Force 1st Lt. Ogallala
Clark, Robert Leroy Marines Pfc. Logan
Nolda, Wilbur W. Army Pfc. Ravenna
Roth, Robert E. Army Pfc. Red Willow County
Smith, August O. Army Pvt. Hamilton County
Thompson, Dale D. Army Pvt. Cherry County
Wray, John G. Army Sgt. Gosper County
Connolly, Gerald John Marines Cpl. Council Bluffs
Maurer, Robert C. Army Cpl. Madison County
Norman, Carl R. Army Cpl. Valley County
Rowley, Don E. Army Sgt. 1c Lincoln County
Smith, Francis Keith Army Cpl. Cass County
Trausch, Donald Chris Marines Pfc. Roseland
Wright, Donald D. Army Cpl. Dakota County
Cook, Charles J. Army Pvt. Crawford County
Max, George A. Army Cpl. Douglas County
Norton, Elmer R. Army Sgt. Johnson County
Rutt, Robert L. Army Pfc. Lincoln County
Smith, Myron James Marines Cpl. Omaha
Trutna, Kenneth T. Army Pvt. Saunders County
Wright, Roy E. Army Pfc. Johnson County
Cooper, Billy Gene Navy PO1 Corning
McCray, Clinton H. Army Pvt. Sheridan County
O’Brien, Edward James Army Cpl. Douglas County
Rybolt, Jule Carl Army 1st Lt. Gage County
Smith, Theodore G. Army Cpl. Cass County
Turner, Joseph L. Army Pvt. Nemaha County
Wylie, George R. Army Pfc. Morrill County
Cory, Robert R. Army Cpl. Woodbury County
Root, Jack F. Army M. Sgt. Douglas County
123
KOREA H killed IN ACTION
A vow to take care of a buddy ‘until the day I die’ By Matthew Hansen
George Russell continued to visit with Don about once a month. Sometimes, in the spring, he brought fresh peonies. If it was rainy or cold, he switched to silk flowers. He set them atop the gravestone of Marine Pfc. Donald Milan Drakulich. And then George bent over — even when it got harder to bend over — and he yanked any weed with the nerve to crowd his best friend’s final resting place. “I’ll do it until the day I die,” George said.
George “Russ” Russell Omaha Corporal, U.S. Marines Served from September 1950 to September 1953 with 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Division, in Korea from March 1951 to November 1951. Memory: “Reported to San Diego in September 1950 as a recruit and one of 38 members of the all-Nebraska ‘Cornhusker Platoon’ to all go through eight weeks of boot camp together. My childhood and best friend, Don Drakulich, was also a member of this platoon. Because of a medical issue, Don was later dropped from our platoon but would later go on to graduate with another platoon. “In March 1951, I was sent to Korea as a 30-caliber light machine gun operator. Shortly thereafter, much to my surprise, Don was assigned to our unit as a radio operator. Once again we were together. On Sept. 22, 1951, we were assigned to hold a hill from the enemy, and Don was just to my rear with another weapons unit. The enemy began to drop mortars on our position and wounded several Marines and South Korean soldiers assigned to us. “I was to find out shortly after this attack that my best friend Don had been killed from shrapnel during this period. Up to this date, this was the saddest day in my life. I myself became a casualty in November 1951 and was evacuated for a threemonth hospital stay. I have never forgotten the Marines I served with, and I still grieve for my best friend, Pfc. Donald ‘Don’ M. Drakulich.”
124
Marine Pfc. Donald Milan Drakulich
KOREA H killed IN ACTION
They met at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Omaha and became fast friends before they were old enough to learn their multiplication tables. They walked to each other’s houses and then, when they got older, they walked the halls of Omaha South High together. When Don was sick, George did his World-Herald paper route. George recalled that there was only one time when Don was furious with him — George and a pack of fellow 1949 South graduates had gone down to the Marine recruiting station and signed up. He didn’t tell Don. Don yelled at him. The next day, Don went to the Marines office and signed up, too. They stuck close together when they landed in Korea in the spring of 1951. George was in Item Company, an infantry company in the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Marine Regiment. Don was in Weapons Company of the same battalion. “Any Marine will When they took a hill, Item Company usually positioned tell you that the itself about 100 yards ahead of biggest fear is Weapons Company, which had letting his buddy heavier artillery. So they fought near each down. Even more other in the Punchbowl, the infamous site of some of the so than dying.” war’s fiercest battles. One day, they both marched — George Russell to Hill 1051. They both saw the same thing: dozens of American soldiers with their hands tied behind their backs and bullet holes in the backs of their heads. Scores of American soldiers and Marines returned home and reported similar atrocities, leading the American government and the United Nations to condemn a North Korean army that “flagrantly violated virtually every provision of the Geneva Convention of 1929,” according to a U.S. Senate report. When they weren’t fighting, George and Don would find each other and talk about home. Sometimes Don would volunteer to be a forward observer, just so he could be close to George’s company during battle. On Sept. 22, 1951, Chinese attacked from the hilltop. George, out in front, heard the mortars go over. He knew about Don before anyone even told him. “My memory is jumbled after that,” George said. “Everything goes fuzzy.” George barely got out of Korea himself. He was wounded early that November and ended up in a Japanese hospital with a perforated intestine and worms. He lost 60 pounds. The only reason he lived, George says, was that he was young. He returned to Omaha and drank pretty much every day for his first year back. Then he cleaned up, got married and served for 32 years in the Omaha Fire Department, the last two decades as a captain. People called him a hero. What most people didn’t know was that for years, he returned to Graceland Park Cemetery. He put a rose on Don’s grave. And he talked to his old friend. “Any Marine will tell you that the biggest fear is letting his buddy down,” George said. “Even more so than dying. I know that’s how I felt.”
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN Hollingsworth, Dale G. Army 1st Lt. Guthrie County
McMahon, Dwight D. Army Pfc. Fremont County
Slight, Wallace Army Sgt. 1c Stuart
Holly, Ralph R. Army Cpl. Pottawattamie County
Milburn, Gilbert D. Army Pfc. Pottawattamie County
Smith, David R. Army Pvt. Harrison County
Holmes, Richard D. Army Pfc. Page County
Navin, Robert Stanley Navy FA Woodbury County
Smith, James Dela Jr. Air Force 1st Lt. Cherokee
Hopper, Charles Thomas Army 1st Lt. Woodbury County
Noehren, Donald Dean Army Cpl. Shelby County
Houston, James Leslie Army Pfc. Crawford County
Odell, Jimmie Leon Marines Pfc. Shenandoah
Huff, Grange W. Army Pfc. Woodbury County
Offerdahl, Edward G. Army Pvt. Plymouth County
Imber, John P. Army 1st Lt. Mills County
Peach, Earl Francis Marines Sgt. Hamburg
Ingrim, Lloyd Wendell Air Force A2c Shenandoah
Peres, Ernest H. Army Pvt. Mills County
Jensen, Paul T. Army Pfc. Woodbury County
Person, Alfred M. Jr. Army Sgt. 1c Woodbury County
Jessen, Marvin D. Army Pfc. Audubon County
Reeves, Daryl D. Army Pvt. Guthrie County
Johnson, Mearl E. Army Cpl. Woodbury County
Reid, Lyle E. Army Pfc. Pottawattamie County
Johnson, Merlyn Marines Pfc. Cherokee
Renander, Lloyd D. Army Pfc. Montgomery County
Jones, Donald John Army Sgt. Crawford County
Richardson, Marlin L. Army 1st Lt. Mills County
Jorgensen, Dale E. Army Pfc. Woodbury County
Richardson, Wayne L. Army Pvt. Page County
Kahl, Leonard J. Army Pfc. Mills County
Rochester, Duane F.W. Army Cpl. Woodbury County
Kamm, Oliver W. Marines Pfc. Ute
Sand, Hans R. Army Pfc. Carroll County
Kueny, Robert Albert Marines Pfc. Danbury
Satterlee, Freeman D. Army Pfc. Crawford County
Larsen, James Theodore Army Pfc. Cass County
Saunders, John E. Army Pvt. Pottawattamie County
Halverson, Donald E. Army 1st Lt. Woodbury County
Lee, Donald Dean Army Pfc. Page County
Savery, Paul Lloyd Marines Pfc. Missouri Valley
Hane, Lloyd L. Army Cpl. Greene County
Lee, Willie Jr. Army Pfc. Woodbury County
Schaffer, Clark Dean Army Pfc. Adams County
Hansen, Dan Harley Army Pvt. Woodbury County
Leinen, Matt P. Army Pfc. Shelby County
Scherdin, Hubert C. Army Pvt. Cass County
Hanson, Leroy E. Army Sgt. Adair County
Logue, Lloyd A. Army Pfc. Cass County
Schmidt, Duane C. Army Cpl. Woodbury County
Williams, Ronald R. Army Pvt. Mills County
Harman, Richard C. Army Pfc. Fremont County
Marshall, Jack Eugene Army Pfc. Ringgold County
Schulze, Paul Eugene Army Pfc. Guthrie County
Wilson, Donald J. Army Pfc. Greene County
Hepler, Raymond L. Marines Pfc. Prescott
McClure, Virginia May Air Force 1st Lt. Woodbury County
Shuck, Howard Russell Army Sgt. Woodbury County
Winchell, Charles L. Army Pfc. Sioux City
Coulter, Phillip W. Army Pfc. Carroll County Crane, Robert L. Army Pvt. Pottawattamie County Cunningham, William T. Army Pvt. Greene County Davenport, Kenneth E. Army Pvt. Ringgold County Devilbiss, Leroy L. Army Pfc. Guthrie County Edgar, Kenneth R. Army Pvt. Woodbury County Fountain, Robert Steven Marines Pfc. Logan Frame, Donald Paul Marines Lt. Col. Council Bluffs Freeman, John H. Army Cpl. Buena Vista County Freeman, Robert A. Army Pfc. Union County Garman, George D. Army Cpl. Woodbury County Goforth, Dean R. Army Cpl. Taylor County Gries, Ralph Henry Marines Cpl. Onawa Gustafson, Dale R. Army Sgt. 1c Monona County
Spitzer, Everett W. Army Pfc. Buena Vista County Spooner, Philip A. Army Cpl. Harrison County Stedman, Daniel A. Army Pfc. Adair County Stiles, Earl C. Army Cpl. Pottawattamie County Stonge, Narcisse David Army Sgt. 1c Woodbury County Sullivan, Louis Gene Marines Cpl. Malvern Syndergaard, Robert Army Pfc. Buena Vista County Thompson, Harmon A. Army Cpl. Monona County Tibben, Darrell J. Army Pvt. Audubon County Umbaugh, Ernest Jr. Marines S. Sgt. Coon Rapids Umburger, William F. Air Force 2nd Lt. Woodbury County Wahlert, Richard L. Marines Pfc. Exira Wanned, Harold N. Army Pfc. Woodbury County Wenck, Glenn D. Army Pvt. Carroll County White, Dean Walker Marines Pfc. Kingsley Widel, Leigh W. Army Pfc. Woodbury County Wilkey, Franklin H. Army Pvt. Ringgold County
125
H cold war tensions H
Armed and on the brink thousands of Americans in military and civilian scientific teams participated in nuclear bomb testing in the 1950s that sent radioactive clouds shooting high into the sky. H Most of those who took part believed that the information gathered was so important that they would have volunteered, even if they had known more about the risks, said Don Adams Sr., a retired Air Force test pilot. H “We just knew we were going to go to war with Russia,” Adams said. “That was a big motivator.”
A 67-foot Snark missile was on display in downtown Omaha for SAC Appreciation Week in 1958. The early cruise missile was out of service by 1961, rendered obsolete by the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
127
H cold war tensions H
A world on edge “survival under atomic attack” was the title of a government pamphlet distributed in 1951. The World-Herald reprinted the material and provided an account of an imagined nuclear attack on Omaha, with 16th and Farnam Streets as “Point Zero.” H The fictional account estimated 20,000 deaths in the city. Omaha’s Civil Defense director, Sam Reynolds, thought that was too optimistic. H “To keep casualties that low, we’ll have to have many more civil defense volunteers,” he said. “Without a defense program, 120,000 Omahans — not 20,000 — could easily die.”
Students at Walnut Grove School in Council Bluffs huddle on the floor and cover their heads during a civil defense drill in 1962.
149
H SAC GROWS UP H
Defining a mission The 1950s were building years for the Strategic Air Command. It opened
a sprawling new headquarters at Offutt, complete with an underground command center from which to wage nuclear war. H SAC launched the B-52 bomber and KC-135 tanker, aircraft that remained Air Force staples for decades, and assumed responsibility for developing long-range ballistic missiles. The growth continued into the early 1960s, and other Air Force commands and other branches were taking notice. H “SAC had all the money,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Jerry Miller of Falls Church, Va. “The best you could do was get assigned to a SAC base. They had everything.”
Airmen guard the entrance to the Strategic Air Command’s underground command post in 1959.
161
H cUBAN MISSILE CRISIS H
‘Maximum peril’ “We no longer live in a world where only the actual firing of weapons represents a sufficient challenge to a nation’s security to constitute maximum peril,” President John F. Kennedy said in an Oct. 22, 1962, national address demanding that the Soviets end their plans to deploy nuclear missiles on Cuba. H A little more than a month later, Kennedy presented a plaque to the Strategic Air Command for its continual airborne alert during the Cuban missile crisis. “Such an airborne alert is a unique accomplishment in the history of airpower,” Kennedy said during a visit to Offutt Air Force Base. H What was not acknowledged publicly until 1999, when secret documents were declassified, was the role SAC had played in uncovering the evidence of the Soviet military buildup that led to the crisis.
President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon Johnson watch as SAC chief Gen. Thomas Power demonstrates the communications at the underground command post in December 1962. A gold phone on the console linked SAC to the White House and the Joint Chiefs of Staff war room, while a red phone was connected to every command post around the globe.
177
H vietnam war H
‘Brothers forever’ Roddy Moore went to the wall — a scaled-down version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington — at a 2011 Memorial Day ceremony at Omaha’s Memorial Park. H He pulled out the photo he had sealed in a plastic bag and tucked it into a crack in the wall. On the back of the photo, he had written names and a date: January 1967. They were his friends, guys from Iowa and Minnesota, California and Montana, most of them about 20 years old at the time. H Like Moore, then a farm boy from Tekamah, they all were drafted to serve in Vietnam. In the picture, they’re in uniform, sitting around a table, playing Monopoly. Not long after it was taken, they were gone. “We had six guys that were killed in one day,” Moore said. “To see their names on the wall is extremely emotional.” H As the crowd began to thin out, he was back in front of the wall, looking at the picture. A couple of times, he began to walk away. But he kept coming back, standing guard in a black Vietnam Veteran baseball cap and a denim vest with a patch on the back. “Brothers forever,” it read.
191
vietnam war H missing in action
Unforgettable sacrifice They range from a 19-year-old Marine lance corporal from Omaha to a 56-year-old Air Force major from Lincoln. They include Army Special Forces troops and Navy pilots. These men from Nebraska and western Iowa didn’t come home from the Vietnam War. They are among the more than 1,600 Americans still unaccounted for from the conflict, according to the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office. The Vietnam Service Medal represents those whose photos were not available. Listed are rank at time of disappearance; branch of service; age when the servicemen went missing; home or hometown of record; date they were missing in action and location; and other information when available. The search continues for their remains. Their families and their nation have not forgotten.
STEPHEN H. ADAMS Master Sgt., Air Force 22, Spencer Oct. 18, 1966. Gulf of Tonkin Aboard an HU-16 Albatross aircraft sent out to recover a downed pilot. Reportedly was downed during bad weather.
GERALD M. BIBER Sgt., Army Special Forces 25, Benkelman April 22, 1961, Laos Served as an American adviser in Laos. A radio operator, he was reportedly killed during a grenade attack. DELMAR G. BOOZE 2nd Lt., Marine Corps 29, Papillion Jan. 24, 1966, South Vietnam near Hue Navigator on an F-4 Phantom fighter jet. Disappeared when the aircraft he flew with fellow Nebraskan Doyle Sprick went down.
RICHARD D. BRENNING Lt., Navy 25, Lincoln July 26, 1969, Gulf of Tonkin Brenning, a pilot, crashed in what the Navy termed an “accidental aircraft loss” just after taking off from the USS Ticonderoga. A search effort was unable to find him.
WILLIS HALL Staff Sgt., Air Force 36, Omaha March 11, 1968 Laos Hall, last stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, took off his Air Force uniform to join a secret, CIA-backed mission in Laos. He disappeared when North Vietnamese commandos overran his location.
MICHAEL S. CONFER Lt. j.g., Navy 24, McCook Oct. 10, 1966 North Vietnam
HAROLD KAHLER Maj., Air Force 56, Lincoln June 14, 1969, Laos
Cook, an instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, volunteered to fly in Vietnam. His plane went down during a bombing mission. MICHAEL L. KLINGNER Capt., Air Force 24, McCook April 6, 1970, Laos
HERBERT O. BRENNAN Col., Air Force 41, O’Neill Nov. 26, 1967 North Vietnam Pilot’s plane exploded. The incident report says plane was shot down, but various pilots contend a faulty fuse was connected to its bombs.
264
ROBERT J. CORDOVA Seaman Apprentice, Navy 20, Boys Town Jan. 27, 1968 Vietnam Cordova graduated from Boys Town in 1965 after being sent there from Colorado. He went overboard on the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge.
Listed as missing in action after the jet he piloted disappeared during a reconnaissance mission. JEFFREY M. KROMMENHOEK Lt. Cmdr., Navy 28, Sioux City Oct. 25, 1967 11 miles north of Hanoi
MANUEL R. PUENTES Staff Sgt., Army 21, Omaha March 25, 1971 South Vietnam
THOMAS E. SCHEURICH Capt., Navy 34, Hoskins March 1, 1968, at sea
DOYLE R. SPRICK Maj., Marine Corps 34, Fort Calhoun Jan. 24, 1966, near Hue
A fellow soldier reported that Puentes had been wounded at the base of a hill. He was gone when rescuers returned. A linden tree is planted in his honor outside Pawnee Elementary School.
Scheurich, a pilot, flew a Grumman A6A Intruder aircraft that did not return from a mission. He and his plane were not found.
Piloted a plane that was shot down on a flight with fellow Nebraskan Delmar Booze.
Pilot of a plane shot down during an attack. No parachute was seen.
Plane shot down during night reconnaissance mission and rocket attack. KELLY F. COOK Lt. Col., Air Force 45, Sioux City Nov. 10, 1967 North Vietnam
LARRY D. KNIGHT Maj., Air Force 27, Danbury Oct. 7, 1966, Vietnam
Played drums in combo at University of Nebraska. Entered Air Force after graduation in 1967. Sent to Vietnam in 1969. Plane shot down.
PAUL G. MAGERS 1st Lt., Army 25, Sidney June 1, 1971 South Vietnam HOWARD ODGEN JR. Lance Cpl. Marine Corps 19, Omaha Oct. 18, 1967 South Vietnam ALAN D. PIITTMANN Airman 1st Class, Air Force 21, Shelby County, Iowa Nov. 16, 1966, Laos Piittmann was a passenger on an aircraft that was hit by ground fire and crashed. The pilot and co-pilot were rescued, but Piittmann was not.
ROBERT F. REX Capt., Air Force 27, Odebolt, Iowa March 9, 1969, Laos Rex, the first Odebolt native to be appointed to the Air Force Academy, was the pilot of an aircraft that crashed in enemy territory.
LARRY W. ROBINSON Maj., Marine Corps 33, Randolph Jan. 5, 1970, Laos Shot down flying for ailing comrade during second Vietnam tour.
GARY B. SCULL 2nd Lt., Army 38, Harlan, Iowa March 12, 1970 South Vietnam
RONALD STAFFORD Capt., Air Force 29, Oxford Nov. 21, 1972, at sea between Hue and Da Nang
STANLEY K. SMILEY Lt., Navy 30, Sidney July 20, 1969, Laos
Parts of Stafford’s F-111 bomber washed up on shore after it was shot down, but he and his crewman weren’t found.
DONALD L. SPARKS Pfc., Army 22, Carroll June 17, 1969 South Vietnam
ROBERT L. STANDERWICK SR. Col., Air Force 40, Bellevue Feb. 3, 1971, Laos
Ambushed and wounded on patrol during first days in combat. Known to be a POW.
Standerwick and his crewman survived after their fighter plane was shot down. They were declared MIA.
WILLIE E. STARK Sgt. Maj., Army 34, Wakefield Dec. 2, 1966, Laos Wounded on reconnaissance mission. A rescue attempt failed to recover Stark and a fellow Green Beret, last seen being led away by the enemy.
DANIEL W. THOMAS Capt., Air Force 24, Danbury July 6, 1971, near the shared Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam border Last radio communication from his plane indicated that he was flying through unfavorable weather conditions.
LARRY A. ZICH Chief Warrant Officer, Army 24, Lincoln April 3, 1972, on mission to Quang Tri City His helicopter crashed on his birthday. Later, a freed POW identified Zich as a survivor he saw in the Hanoi Hilton prison camp. Zich, however, has not been found.
vietnam war H missing in action
Frustration for Vietnam War MIA families For years, some families of Vietnam MIAs insisted that some U.S. forces remained alive in Vietnam and protested that the government wasn’t doing enough to demand their return. Col. Robert Standerwick’s family was one. Standerwick was born in Cedar Rapids, Neb., grew up in Kansas and lived in Bellevue while stationed at Offutt Air Force Base. The Air Force colonel, 40, and his crewman survived after their plane was shot down in Laos in 1971. Rescuers lost contact with them. When peace agreements were reached in 1973, the Vietnamese provided a list of American POWs they would release. Standerwick and his crewman didn’t make the list. The U.S. government did not give Standerwick’s family a full account of what happened to him — which they say is what they want, whether it points to his survival or his death. His wife, Carolyn Standerwick, along with Nebraskans Kay Bosiljevac and Carol Cushman, were known locally as the “MIA wives,” outspoken women who lobbied for the government to share what it knew about their husbands’ whereabouts. They and other families of Vietnam War MIA and POW servicemen, furious that they could get no information — or in some cases got false information — forced congressional hearings in the 1980s on the matter. They publicized evidence that the military had threatened families to keep quiet after American soldiers went missing in Laos, which was then officially listed as a neutral country. They uncovered numerous examples of Vietnam War families who had been told their loved ones were dead when, in fact, they were missing or a prisoner. “We lied to some of these families,” said Larry Greer, spokesman for the government’s Defense Prisoner of War/ Missing Personnel Office in Washington, D.C. “There’s still some resentment about that, and there should be, quite frankly,” he said. The U.S. government now works with the Vietnamese to search for remains but denies that live POWs were left behind at the war’s end. Patricia Hopper of Task Force Omega, a POW/MIA family support group based in Arizona, said many people still don’t trust the government to provide truthful information. Remains belonging to Bosiljevac’s husband, Air Force Maj. Michael Bosiljevac, were returned in 1987. Kay Bosiljevac is the daughter of former Omaha Mayor Al Veys. Standerwick and Maj. Cliff Cushman, who was from Grand Forks, N.D., remain listed as missing. “Hope isn’t even involved,” Standerwick’s daughter, Lynn Lidie, said in 2009. “It’s a matter of knowing that there’s an answer. It’s knowing that someone knows, and they’re withholding that information.” In the 1980s, Lidie was active in Washington, D.C., protests and trips to Thailand to help with civilian rescue missions. Although her activity has dwindled in recent years, she said, “my brain is constantly working on it.”
Photo and memorabilia of Larry W. Robinson, who was shot down over Laos in 1970.
“Hope isn’t even involved. It’s a matter of knowing that there’s an answer. It’s knowing that someone knows, and they’re withholding that information.” — Lynn Lidie, Robert Standerwick’s daughter
From left, Kay Bosiljevac, Carol Cushman and Carolyn Standerwick held a press conference in 1971 to draw attention to Americans missing in action.
265
vietnam war H killed in action
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN Visitors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington often react with surprise when they see their images reflected in the black granite wall. The wall, bearing the names of the more than 58,000 Americans killed in Southeast Asia fighting, was not designed to be a massive mirror, said John P. Wheeler, who headed the fund drive that led to the memorial’s opening in 1982. “That was the greatest surprise to us, after the wall was finished,’’ Wheeler said. Faces reflected from the crowd, as they walk along the wall, “evoke in me, and in many people, a feeling that there are those looking back at them," he said. “It’s a reminder that death may not be the last word.’’ The muster on these pages comes from the National Archives’ lists of service members with known Nebraska and western Iowa roots. Ranks and hometowns are as they appear on those records.
NEBRASKANS Adkins, Ronald Eugene Marines Pfc. Plattsmouth Adler, Henry Army M. Sgt. Lincoln Adolf, Larry Eugene Marines L. Cpl. Omaha Allen, Jerry L Army Sp4 Norfolk Altschaffl, Stephen Allen Army Sp5 Plattsmouth Andersen, Buel Edward Army Sgt. Superior Anderson, Dennis William Army S. Sgt. Norfolk Anderson, John Louis Marines 2nd Lt. Alliance Anderson, Lee David Army S. Sgt. Lincoln Anderson, Warren Charles Army Pfc. Omaha Anthony, Raymond F Jr. Air Force Lt. Col. Sidney Auman, Ervin Lewis Army Sgt. Firth Baade, Clifford Keith Army Capt. Lincoln Backhaus, Steven Eugene Marines 2nd Lt. Omaha Bahnsen, Kent Eugene Army Sgt. Grant Bahr, Dennis Keith Army Pfc. Columbus Bailey, Allen Charles Marines L. Cpl. Omaha Bailey, Byrle Bennett Marines Pfc. Omaha Bales, Ronald Eugene Army S. Sgt. Scottsbluff Ballantine, Richard Reed Marines Pfc. Millard
Barnett, Carl Eugene Army Cpl. Grant
Bragg, Paul Joseph Marines L. Cpl. Omaha
Cole, Muril Steven Marines Pfc. Omaha
Eaton, Robert Leroy Army Sp4 Inman
Gage, John Thomas Marines S. Sgt. McCook
Hamilton, Gerald Louis Army Sgt. Spencer
Barney, Terence Edward Marines Pfc. Omaha
Branstrom, David Joseph Navy HN Lincoln
Condon, Robert Eugene Navy Lt. Cmdr. Lexington
Edmond, Coil Jr. Army Cpl. Scottsbluff
Garamillo, Eldon Army Sp4 Overton
Confer, Michael Steele Navy Lt. j.g. McCook
Eisenhour, Dwight David Marines L. Cpl. North Platte
Garcia, Jerry Frank Marines L. Cpl. Omaha
Hancock, William Howard II Marines Pfc. Yutan
Cordova, Robert James Navy FA Boys Town
Engel, Harvey Leroy Navy PO.1c Lincoln
Gathman, Gordon Kaye Army Pfc. Bellevue
Covey, Lawrence Lavern Army S. Sgt. Benedict
Engel, Rodney Louis Army Pfc. Doniphan
Gehrke, Darrell Dean Army Sp5 Big Springs
Cowles, Gary Twyman Marines Pfc. Hastings
Enquist, Arthur John Army Sgt. Columbus
Gerry, Ronald Lee Army Pfc. Omaha
Cozad, Jerry Lee Army Sp4 Lincoln
Estrada, Richard Allen Army 1st Lt. Bridgeport
Gevara, Ray Jr. Army Pfc. Scottsbluff
Crayne, Kenneth Eugene Army CW2 Omaha
Farley, Michael Marion Army Sp4 Lincoln
Gillham, Jan Royce Army Pfc. Grand Island
Crumley, Eldon Gene Army Pfc. Lincoln
Farrell, Timothy Charles Army Pfc. Omaha
Gillham, Richard Gerald Army Cpl. Grand Island
Culbertson, Gary Morten Army Sgt. Lincoln
Fielder, Paul Wesley Marines L. Cpl. Harvard
Cunningham, Richard Ira Army Pfc. Omaha
Fisher, Carl Nelson Jr. Army Cpl. Tilden
Gittinger, Richard Frederick Air Force T. Sgt. Talmage
Dagley, Gary Gene Army Sp4 Lincoln
Flanagan, David Dale Marines Cpl. Lincoln
Dangberg, Robert Lee Army Sgt. Winside
Florang, Larry Dean Marines Pfc. Lincoln
Davis, James Dean Army Cpl. Overton
Flournoy, James Kaiser Marines Pfc. Omaha
Davis, John Clinton Army Sp4 Omaha
Foley, James Williams Army Sp4 Omaha
Davis, John Edward Army Pfc. North Platte
Fontaine, Larry Lee Marines Pfc. Lincoln
Deford, Dale Darrel Army Maj. Elwood
Ford, Omar Ray Navy Lt. Cmdr. Cambridge
Chandler, Jerome Dee Army Sgt. Norfolk
Dewolf, Dale Lee Air Force Sgt. Nebraska City
Fork, Norman Kermit Army Cpl. Laurel
Church, Ralph Lee Army 1st Lt. Hickman
Doak, Stanley Wayne Army Pfc. McCook
Fous, James William Army Pfc. Omaha
Clark, Charles Chapman Army P. Sgt. Howe
Doeden, Nicolaus August Marines 1st Lt. Walton
Fowler, Thomas Lee Army Sgt. Geneva
Clark, Kendall Hanson Army Sp4 Elwood
Doolittle, Jon Hiliare Army S. Sgt. Omaha
Fruhling, Dale Ervin Army Cpl. Kearney
Clements, Milo Dean Army Sp4 Blair
Draper, Clifford Arvin Army Pfc. Hastings
Fryc, David Charles Marines L. Cpl. Garland
Haegele, Wolfgang Albrecht Air Force A1c Cambridge
Coen, Roger Lee Army Sgt. Holdrege
Dugan, Edward Michael Army Sp5 St Paul
Fuss, Robert Edward Marines Cpl. Lincoln
Hagood, John Robert Army 1st Lt. Arcadia
Hoyt, Ervin James Army WO1 Kearney
Coker, Ronald Leroy Marines Pfc. Alliance
Dunn, Gary Wayne Army Sp5 Falls City
Gaeth, John Cephas Army Sgt. Schuyler
Hall, Richard Le Roy Marines L. Cpl. Hastings
Hudson, Danny Charles Army Sgt. Chadron
Barnhill, Robert Eugene Army Sp4 North Platte Barron, Florentino Ciprian Army Cpl. Lexington Bartz, Roger Charles Army Sgt. Crofton Baumann, Lanny Ross Army Sp5 Bloomington Bazar, Paul Thomas Marines L. Cpl. Omaha Beams, James Woodson Marines WO Arcadia Becker, Michael Paul Marines Pfc. Omaha Beeson, Robert Bruce Army Sgt. Elgin Benze, Patrick Henry Army Sp4 O’Neill Berlett, Theodore James Army Sgt. Plattsmouth Bermingham, James Charles Army Pfc. Gordon
Brennan, Herbert Owen Air Force Col. O’Neill Brenning, Richard David Navy Lt. Lincoln Bring, John Dale Marines L. Cpl. Bancroft Bruhn, James William Army WO1 Alma Brunckhorst, Robert L. Jr. Army Sgt. 1c Osmond Buckles, Donald Ray Army Cpl. Omaha Buis, Dale Richard Army Maj. Pender Bull, Kenneth R. Army Sgt. Omaha Busselman, Duane Lorenz Army Cpl. Rosalie Caldwell, Larry Gail Army Cpl. Omaha
Bernal, Vincent Army Pfc. Mitchell
Campbell, James Robert Army Sp4 Trenton
Berney, Terry Lynn Army S. Sgt. Palmer
Carpenter, Donald Eugene Marines L. Cpl. Scottsbluff
Biber, Gerald Mack Army Sgt. Benkelman Bierma, Lynn Seaton Army Pfc. Cozad Bigley, Richard Ray Marines L. Cpl. Omaha Biscamp, Marvin Lynn Army Sgt. Omaha Bischoff, John William Air Force Capt. Tecumseh Booze, Delmar George Marines Capt. Papillion
Ballinger, William Joseph Army Maj. Bingham
Bosiljevac, Michael Joseph Air Force Maj. Omaha
Barnes, Harold Duane Army Sp4 Thedford
Boyle, Robert Ray Marines Pfc. Ogallala
268
Bredenkamp, David Joe Army Pfc. York
Carr, Daniel Lee Army Pfc. North Platte
Goc, Paul Stephen Jr. Army Sp4 Omaha Golden, Jack Duane Army Pfc. Ponca Graham, Harlan Lee Marines Sgt. Maj. Lincoln Green, Norman Duane Army Sgt. Albion Grella, Donald Carroll Army Sp5 Laurel Griffin, Gerald Charles Navy Lt. Omaha Gronborg, Martin Wayne Jr. Army Capt. Omaha
Hansen, Robert Greg Army S. Sgt. Omaha Hargens, David Allen Army Pfc. Nickerson Harig, Dean Allen Army WO1 Superior Harris, John Henry Jr. Marines Cpl. Greeley Harvey, Lawrence Daniel Army Pfc. Greeley Hatfield, Gary Clark Army Sp4 Lexington Hayes, John Cook Army Pfc. Hartington Heesacker, Victor Roman Army Sp5 Humphrey Heinz, John Dietrich Army Sgt. Lincoln Hempel, Thomas Eugene Army Sp4 Lincoln Henk, James Lynn Army Pfc. Swanton Hiley, Thomas Charles Army Pfc. Omaha Hilfiker, Herbert Allen Navy PO3 Bloomfield Hobson, John King Navy HN Lincoln Holland, Johnny Robert Army Sgt. 1c Hebron
Grueber, Randall Roman Marines Pfc. Nelson
Holtz, Larry William Army Sp5 Fremont
Gubbels, Stanley Donald Army Sgt. Randolph
Holtz, Paul August Navy SN Falls City
Haakenson, Robert W. Jr. Navy AN Omaha
Hornelas, Ismael Fernando Army Cpl. North Platte Hovenden, Darrel Leroy Marines Cpl. North Bend
vietnam war H killed in action
John C. Owens Omaha Master sergeant, U.S. Army Served for 30 years, active and reserve, in Vietnam from 1966 to ’67 and 1969 to ’70, in Panama from 1989 to ’90. Memory: “Losing a close friend in combat is a traumatic experience that can haunt you forever. For myself, the loss of my friend, Sgt. 1st Class Donald M. Shue, was an experience that became a double haunting. “Don and I met in 1968 while we were attending U.S. Army Special Forces training in Fort Bragg, N.C. Upon completion of our training in 1969, we went separate ways, me to Vietnam and he to Okinawa. In October of 1969, our paths crossed again in Vietnam when Don and some fellow Green Berets from the 1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa volunteered to serve in our special reconnaissance unit because of the losses we were taking. It was great to be together again. I had already been on a couple missions with my recon team, and he was to be going on his first mission with his team. Later I learned that I was the last person to talk with Don before he went into isolation in preparation for this fateful mission. “The recon team Don was in, Recon Team Maryland, had two other Special Forces soldiers and six Vietnamese Montagnards (villagers from mountain region). On Nov. 3, 1969, Recon Team Maryland was inserted by helicopter into Laos for a mission. The team was dropped off and moved into the jungle and made radio contact that all was well. That was the last time anything was heard from them. Some days later, three of the Montagnard soldiers walked into the U.S. base at Khe Sahn and were sent to Da Nang for interrogation. “We were told that after the recon team was inserted on the ground and made radio contact, the team started conducting their recon mission. For some unknown reason, the team's Americans were together in the middle of the patrol when the team was ambushed. After the initial volley of fire, the Americans were lying motionless and didn't respond to the calls from the three survivors, who escaped and evaded capture. “Some days later, a recovery team went to the ambush site and found only parts of field equipment. Don and the two other Special Forces soldiers were classified as missing in action. When Don and I had last spoken, it was just days before his fateful last mission. I took his loss really hard but realized I had to get it behind me and survive the war. Months later, I completed my tour and was reassigned to Fort Bragg, N.C. In six months I finished my enlistment and started college in Charlotte, N.C. “One day during my first semester I was reading the morning copy of the Charlotte Observer newspaper and saw an article about two women and the grief they had concerning their loved ones in Vietnam. One story was about the mother of a soldier in Vietnam who was missing in action and the trouble she had in getting information from the Defense Department. Her son was my friend Don Shue. “I was devastated after reading the article. I wanted to call Don's mother and tell her everything I knew about his tragic mission. I wanted to comfort her and tell her about our last conversation before we parted, never to see each other again, but I couldn’t do any of this. It was 1971, the war was winding down, many of our military units were returning home but the Special Operations Group teams were still operating over there. They made sure you understood the consequences if you talked about those top-secret missions. You could be risking the lives of those men in the ongoing operations. Contacting her could do more harm than good. I swallowed my heart and decided to accept the burden of silence along with the loss of my friend. Some years later I learned that Don’s mother had passed away. “In March 2011, a message came that Don Shue’s remains had been found in Laos after 42 years. I and several close friends from our recon unit were personally invited by his family to his hometown of Kannapolis, N.C. On May 1, 2011, Don's flag-draped casket was escorted to his family’s plot for burial. People all along the route lined the way to show their respect and honor for Don and all MIAs. My buddy, Don Shue, is finally resting in peace with his mother and father in his hometown, and now I am also at peace about Don. Amen.”
269
vietnam war H killed in action
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN
Hultquist, Leonard Ashby Marines S. Sgt. Ogallala Hundt, Roger Lee Army Sgt. Norfolk Hunter, Henry David Army Cpl. Omaha Hurt, William C. Army Sp4 Craig Iler, Kenneth Marvin Marines Pfc. Omaha Jackson, Eddie Lee Jr. Army Pfc. Omaha James, Daniel Raymond Marines Pfc. Loup City Jessen, Robert Duane Army Sp4 Bloomfield Johnson, Floyd Dean Army Pfc. Marsland Johnson, Gary Lee Army Sp4 Omaha Johnson, John Ernest Army Sp4 Lincoln Johnson, John Paul Army Sgt. Bellevue Johnson, Kenneth Lee Air Force A1c West Point Johnson, Lane Carston Army Sp4 Omaha Jones, Theodore R. Jr. Army Sgt. Auburn Kahler, Harold Air Force Col. Lincoln Kaminski, Raymond Donald Army Pfc. Loup City
Kier, Larry Gene Army S. Sgt. Omaha
Lange, Dean Richard Army CW3 Nebraska City
McAdams, Gerold Jerome Marines Pfc. Lincoln
Newman, Larry Jerome Air Force T. Sgt. North Platte
Radil, Ronald Ludwig Army Sp4 Omaha
Scott, Michael Monroe Army Sgt. Ashland
Kildare, William James Marines Pfc. Ogallala
Langston, Melvin Doyle Marines Pfc. Valentine
McAllister, Cameron Trent Army S. Sgt. Omaha
Newman, Michael Carl Army Sp4 Lincoln
Raubach, William Pierce Army 2nd Lt. Valentine
Seadore, Larry Lewis Army Pfc. Bassett
Kimm, Clarence Alfred Marines Pfc. Lincoln
Larson, David Neil Navy SN Wausa
McCurdy, John A Air Force Capt. Lincoln
Niebur, Edward Leroy Navy PO2 Bellevue
Reiser, Steve Ronald Army Sgt. Thedford
Sheldon, Leroy Ellsworth Army Sp4 Sargent
Kingman, Dan Christie Jr. Army Maj. Lincoln
Larson, David Wayne Army Pfc. Funk
McFadden, Paul Ray Army Sgt. Anselmo
Novak, Clarence Joseph Army Sp4 Dwight
Rieken, Larry Riek Army Sgt. Sterling
Shelton, Craig Stephen Marines Pfc. Omaha
Kinkaid, Frank W. Jr. Army Sp4 Kearney
Leach, Dean Kent Army WO1 Arnold
McKnight, Thomas Edwin Marines L. Cpl. Lincoln
Novak, Larry Dean Army Sp4 Platte Center
Ristine, Douglas Cecil Army Sp4 Gothenburg
Shrader, Harold William Army S. Sgt. Omaha
Kinsman, Allen Eugene Army Sp4 Arthur
Leichleiter, Thomas Allen Marines Pfc. Harvard
Nowak, Robert Virgil Army Sgt. Ogallala
Roark, William Marshall Navy Lt. Bellevue
Shuey, Glenn Colin Marines Cpl. Omaha
Klabunde, Arthur John Jr. Marines Cpl. Omaha
Leighton, Earl Laroy Navy SA Omaha
McLeese, Kenneth Richard Marines L. Cpl. Exeter
Roberts, William Army S. Sgt. Lincoln
Skavaril, Thomas Joseph Army Pfc. Omaha
Klabunde, John Paul Marines L. Cpl. Omaha
Lemaster, Larry D. Army Sgt. Hebron
Slater, James Allen Army Sp4 Indianola
Klingner, Michael Lee Air Force Capt. McCook
Lentz, Jerry Francis Army Sgt. Hartington
Robertson, John Craig Army Pfc. Fremont
Smiley, Stanley Kutz Navy Lt. Sidney
Knippel, Larry Don Army S. Sgt. Lincoln
Lewis, Donald Gene Army Sp4 Stanton
Robinson, Larry Warren Marines Maj. Randolph
Kocanda, Jerry Joseph III Army Pfc. Omaha
Liles, Larry Joe Army Pfc. Hershey
Koch, Dale Roy Marines Pfc. Johnstown
Limbach, Henry Lee Army Cpl. North Bend
Konwinski, Ronald Eugene Marines Pfc. Omaha Korinek, John Charles Army Pfc. Friend Kot, Myron Marines Cpl. Lincoln Kotrc, James Carl Army Maj. Omaha Kotrous, Eudell Leo Army Cpl. Verdigre Krous, Kenneth Wayne Marines L. Cpl. Hastings Kudlacek, Edwin Allen Army Sgt. Omaha Kuhlman, Melvin Ernest Marines L. Cpl. Falls City Kurz, Dennis Lee Navy PO3 Palmer Lackas, Monty Gilbert Army Sgt. Columbus
Kavulak, John Henry Marines L. Cpl. Omaha
Laird, James Alan Army Capt. Omaha
Keith, Miguel Marines L. Cpl. Omaha
Lambooy, John Patrick Army Pfc. Omaha
Keller, Kenneth Lavern Army Sgt. Omaha
Lamere, Anthony John Army Sp4 Omaha
Kelley, Harvey Paul Army Capt. Omaha
Lane, Roger Leroy Army P. Sgt. Fremont
Kempkes, Robert Louis Marines Cpl. Palmyra
Langan, Larry Milton Marines Pfc. Columbus
270
Lindell, Larry Albert Navy PO3 Arcadia Loecker, Marlow Martin Army Sp4 Crofton Looby, Lawrence Clarence Marines L. Cpl. Lincoln Luedke, William Army Sgt. Omaha Maddox, Philip Neil Army Sgt. Lincoln Magers, Paul Gerald Army 1st Lt. Sidney Malone, Wallace James Army Sp4 Oxford Marchand, Wayne Ellsworth Army S. Sgt. Omaha Marez, Frederick Army Sp4 Gering Marrs, Carl Robert Marines Pvt. Falls City Marsh, Alan Richard Army Sgt. Omaha Martin, Marvin Henry Army Pfc. Scottsbluff Martin, Michael Terry Army Sp4 Lincoln Matson, Willmer Arden Army Cpl. Loomis Maxwell, Samuel Chapman Air Force Col. Omaha
McQuay, Roger Dillon Army Cpl. Ogallala Meirose, David Allen Army Cpl. Bloomfield
Ogden, Howard Jr. Marines L. Cpl. Omaha Ohm, Eric George Army S. Sgt. Ashland
Meisinger, Jerold Werner Army Sp4 Norfolk
Ohnesorge, Thomas Herman Navy PO3 Strang
Mickna, John Ronald Army S. Sgt. Omaha
Oonk, Lester Eugene Air Force Lt. Col. Omaha
Rooth, Charles William Army S. Sgt. Oakland
Smith, Larry Eugene Army Pfc. Lincoln
Mohr, Roy John Air Force Sr. M. Sgt. Ogallala
Orr, Merlin George Army 1st Lt. Lexington
Ross, Milton Alan Army Pfc. Omaha
Smith, Michael Francis Army Pfc. Omaha
Moorberg, Monte Larue Air Force Capt. Grand Island
Ostrander, Morris Edward Army Sp4 Gordon
Ruhter, Michael Allen Army Sp4 Minden
Smith, Paul Richard Army 1st Lt. Omaha
Otte, Kenneth Michael Army Pfc. Valley
Salyards, Patrick John Marines Pfc. Omaha
Smith, Thomas Leroy Army Cpl. Omaha
Parson, Doyle Hall Navy CPO Weeping Water
Samuelson, Ronald Earl Marines Pfc. Wymore
Smock, Daryl Eugene Navy SA Scottsbluff
Pearson, Mickey Don Army Sp4 Wausa
Sanders, Mack Royal Army Pfc. Omaha
Sobolik, Karl David Air Force Capt. Omaha
Peetzke, Ronald Eugene Army Sgt. Hampton
Sanders, Robert Neil Army S. Sgt. Orleans
Solomon, Wilfred L. Sr. Army Sgt. 1c Omaha
Perrin, Richard Thomas Army Capt. Omaha
Sandstedt, Daniel Joseph Army Sgt. Omaha
Soto, Thomas Gabriel Army S. Sgt North Platte
Peters, Charles Henry Navy Cmdr. West Point
Sawicki, Richard P. Army Sp4 Grand Island
Spencer, Frank III Army Cpl. Omaha
Petty, Ernest Floyd Marines L. Cpl. Uehling
Sayer, Terry Lynn Army Sgt. Holbrook
Sperling, Wesley William Army Sgt. Arlington
Scheurich, Thomas Edwin Navy Cmdr. Norfolk
Sprick, Doyle Robert Marines Maj. Fort Calhoun
Schmidt, Gary Russell Army Pfc. Omaha
Stafford, Ronald Dean Air Force Capt. Oxford
Schmidt, Kenneth Wayne Army Pfc. Cairo
Stark, Larry Allen Army 1st Lt. Atlanta
Schneider, Roger Lloyd Army WO1 Louisville
Stark, Willie Ernest Army Sgt. Maj. Omaha
Schroder, Jack Wayne Army Pfc. Clay Center
Steel, Kenneth Lee Army Pfc. Fremont
Schultz, James Ronald Army Sp4 Lincoln
Stewart, Francis Ernest Air Force Maj. Sterling
Moore, Daniel Eugene Jr. Navy SN Omaha Moore, James Eldon Army 1st Lt. Weeping Water Moore, Ronnie Gene Army Sp4 Nebraska City Moreno, Dennis Ralph Army Cpl. Hay Springs Morrison, James Anton Army Sp4 Omaha Moser, James Myron Army Sp4 Randolph Mueller, Steven Wayne Marines L. Cpl. Omaha Murphy, John Patrick Army Sp4 Omaha Murphy, Robert Dennis Army Pfc. Falls City Nachtigall, David Joseph Army Sp5 Omaha Napier, Lee Allan Army Pfc. Orchard Needham, Russell Dean Army Pfc. North Platte
Philson, Willard Arlin Army Sp4 Gering Pina, Louie Pete Army Pfc. Mitchell Pinegar, William Dennis Army Pfc. Omaha Plahn, Jack Charles Army Pfc. Fremont Poese, Nigel Frederick Army Sp4 Omaha
Nelson, Billy Dean Marines Pfc. Loomis
Poggemeyer, James Robert Army 1st Lt. Nebraska City
Nelson, Robert Warren Marines Pfc. Randolph
Polt, Erwin Andrew Marines L. Cpl. Pierce
Schwartz, Allan Edward Army Cpl. Lushton
Stoehr, David Loren Army Pfc. Lincoln
Neubauer, Fred Allen Army Pfc. Alma
Pospisil, Marvin Leroy Marines Cpl. Osmond
Scott, Ira Edward Air Force S. Sgt. North Bend
Stolinski, James Francis Army Sgt. Omaha
vietnam war H killed in action
Separating ‘the war from the warrior’ The Vietnam War has been difficult to fit into the narrative of America’s victory in the Cold War. To many Americans, the images of the fall of Saigon in 1975 spelled failure and left them asking hard questions. The World-Herald’s Howard Silber, who earlier had reported from Vietnam, wrote in 1975: “Few words in the English language can connote frustration as strongly as ‘if.’ When that tiny word is employed by many Americans to introduce a supposition regarding the Indochina War, it combines that connotation with one of sadness. It is an especially important Howard Silber word among military people these days — both the brass in high-level command positions and the young man in the Veterans Hospital whose body was broken in Vietnam and never will mend. ... What if the United States had not committed its youth, its energy, its industrial resources and its standing in the world community to an internecine dispute half a world away? Once committed, what if the United States — the leaders of this country, at least — had implemented with deed and determination the lip-service they gave to winning the war?” The opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982 changed the way the nation viewed the war.
“The Wall,” as it became known, was remarkable for separating “the war from the warrior,” former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel said in 2007. Hagel, who had served as a combat soldier in Vietnam, was a key player in the creation of the memorial and spoke at its 1982 groundbreaking. Soldiers who fight and die have no say in the decisions that put them in harm’s way, but they still sacrifice and do what their country asks of them, Hagel said. “There’s a nobility in that like no other nobility that I know of in life.”
Edwin Kudlacek of Valparaiso, Neb., flew to Washington in 2008 as part of the Honor Flight program, which brought veterans to see the National World War II Memorial. He also got his first look at the memorial to the Vietnam War, which claimed the life of his son. Honor Flight volunteer Judy Lemmons of Salt Lake City comforted him after he found the name of his son, also Edwin Kudlacek, etched in the black granite memorial.
Brothers Tom, left, and Chuck Hagel served side by side in the same Army squadron in Vietnam. Each was severely wounded, and each saved the other’s life.
271
vietnam war H killed in action
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN Walters, Gerald Leroy Army Pfc. Culbertson
Ziehe, Gerald Dean Air Force Maj. Omaha
Brown, Dennis Edward Army Pfc. Sioux City
Delehant, Thomas Francis Army Sgt. 1c Dunlap
Harger, Don R. Army WO1 Truro
Kaiser, Ronald Harry Army Pfc. Sioux City
Ward, Carl Ray Marines Sgt. Kearney
Zuehlsdorf, John William Marines 1st Lt. Hubbell
Brown, Warren Keith Air Force 1st Lt. Sioux City
Despard, Jerold Virgil Navy PO3 Manson
Harrell, Don Clair Army Pfc. Winterset
Killian, Melvin Joseph Air Force Col. Council Bluffs
Warnick, Leonard Charles Navy PO3 Polk
WESTERN IOWANS
Bruce, Denny Lowell Army Pfc. Aurelia
Dickerson, Bernard W. Jr. Marines Cpl. Clarinda
Harris, Robert Duane Army Sp4 Percival
Kirchoff, Wilbur Glen Marines Sgt. Marcus
Buchanan, Ronald Ivan Army 1st Lt. Sioux City
Dowling, John Robert Marines Pfc. Akron
Harris, Robert Ernest Marines Lt. Col. Sioux City
Kleffman, William Walter Army Pfc. Portsmouth
Buckley, Jimmy Lee Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sac City
Downs, William George Jr. Marines L. Cpl. Sioux City
Haskins, Donald Dean Navy PO2 Aububon
Knight, Raymond Henry Army Sp5 Council Bluffs
Buddi, Thomas Louis Army 1st Lt. Sioux City
Driskell, Larry Ray Army Pfc. Riverton
Heerman, Dennis Ray Army Sgt. Coin
Bull, Billy Bruce Army Cpl. Lake City
Duneman, Allen Eugene Army WO1 Magnolia
Hein, Charles John Jr. Army S. Sgt. Sidney
Kock, Eugene John George Army Sgt. Breda
Welding, Clifford Kay Army 1st Lt. Roca
Stoner, Larry Lee Army WO1 Unadilla Straus, Allen Arthur Army Sp4 Omaha Strube, Steven Drew Army Sp4 Norfolk Struebing, Dewey Irvin Army Sp4 Grand Island Stubbe, William Leroy Army Pfc. Central City Sutton, Terry James Navy HN Red Cloud Swaim, James Lee Army Sgt. 1c Superior Taylor, Lester Keith Jr. Army Sgt. North Platte Tegtmeier, Lavern William Army S. Sgt. Odell Thiem, William Raymond Army Sgt. Loretto Thomas, Daniel Wayne Air Force Capt. Danbury Thompson, John Clyde Jr. Army 1st Lt. Lincoln Thompson, Robert Charles Army Sp4 Lincoln Tippery, Terry Lee Army Sp4 Lincoln
Wemhoff, Michael Lynn Army Pfc. Norfolk Widick, Maurice Gene Army Sgt. Moorefield Wiese, Thomas Arthur Army Cpl. Mullen Wieser, Lynn Jay Army Pfc. Gothenburg Wiesneth, Robert Paul Air Force 1st Lt. Louisville
Abler, James Lynn Army Sp4 Royal Adams, Steven Harold Air Force M. Sgt. Spencer Anderson, David Bruce Marines Pfc. Avoca Anderson, Larry Michael Army Pfc. Spencer Arnold, Allen Ray Army Sp4 Denison Baker, Philip Lou Army Sp4 Correctionville
Wigton, Philip Gregory Marines L. Cpl. Omaha
Bartholomew, Charles Ricky Navy PO3 Truro
Wilken, Bryan Lee Army Sp4 Garland
Bass, Charles William Army M. Sgt. Winterset
Wilkerson, Steven Douglas Marines L. Cpl. Wakefield
Baxter, Kenneth Carl Marines L. Cpl. Council Bluffs
Wilkinson, Harland Lyle Army Pvt. Omaha Williams, Robert Floyd Army Sp4 West Point Wilson, Galen Lloyd Army Sp4 Scottsbluff Wilson, Michael Joseph Marines L. Cpl. Omaha Winchell, Douglas James Jr. Army Pfc. Ithaca Witt, Mark Steven Army Pfc. Winside
Beall, Roger Cloyce Army Sgt. Moorhead Bennett, Martin Lee Air Force Sgt. Hamburg
Bunting, Ronald Dell Army Pfc. Corning Burke, Kevin Gail Army 1st Lt. Anita Buttz, Harold Warren Marines Pvt. Council Bluffs Cain, Dennis Reed Marines Pfc. Council Bluffs Cain, Douglas Michael Army Cpl. Sioux City Camp, James Dale Army S. Sgt. Winterset Campbell, David Lavern Marines Pfc. Clarinda
Earlywine, Gary James Army Sgt. Mondamin
Heller, Michael Leo Army Pfc. Dunlap
Edwards, Steven Frank Army Sgt. De Soto
Hendricks, Steven Wayne Army Sp4 Hawarden
Eischeid, Thomas John Navy PO3 Halbur
Henrich, Myllin Gerald Army S. Sgt. Akron
Embree, Ronald Eugene Army Sp4 Thurman
Herrick, James Wayne Jr. Air Force Capt. Panora
Farlow, Randall Lee Army Pfc. Booneville
Hieber, Jack Jean Army Sgt. Battle Creek
Feltner, Gerald Lee Navy HN Carroll
Hoffman, Douglas Elmer Army Sgt. Sioux City
Ferris, Delmer Lee Army Pfc. Mapleton
Holland, Douglas C. Army Sp4 Anita
Fisch, David Alan Marines L. Cpl. Remsen
Holst, Frederick August Army Pfc. Knierim
Benson, Albert Duward Marines 2nd Lt. Sidney
Carrington, Thomas William Army Sgt. Storm Lake
Bergantzel, Albion Joe Army Cpl. Henderson
Carroll, Roger Eugene Army Sp4 Avoca
Follon, William Ellyn Air Force Sgt. Everly
Holtorf, Dennis Wayne Army Pfc. Denison
Bergquist, Vernon Gail Army Sp4 Spencer
Cason, William Arnold Army Pfc. Ida Grove
Frank, Thomas Paul Navy Cmdr. Remsen
Houston, J.H. Army S. Sgt. Shenandoah
Bills, Lyle Preston Marines Pfc. Council Bluffs
Chase, Vernon Glenn Army Pfc. Sioux City
Franken, Arlin Dale Army Cpl. Sioux Center
Binder, Calvin William II Army Capt. Rembrandt
Ivener, Terry Lee Army Pfc. Sioux City
Conner, Eugene Joseph Army Maj. Cumberland
Freeman, Randall Gaylord Army WO1 Sac City
Blackman, Larry Paul Army Sp4 Denison
Ives, William Allen Marines Pfc. Council Bluffs
Cook, Kelly Francis Air Force Col. Sioux City
Fries, Danny Joe Army Cpl. Council Bluffs
Boeshart, Richard Joseph Army Sgt. Sioux City
Cooley, Louis Newton Jr. Marines L. Cpl. Council Bluffs
Garrison, Larry Allen Marines Pvt. Council Bluffs
Coons, Gregory Mac Army Sgt. Sioux City
Gourley, Laurent Lee Air Force Maj. Villisca
Cox, Howard Max Marines L. Cpl. Bedford
Gray, Paul Houston Marines Pfc. Sergeant Bluff
Crum, Steven Vincent Army Sgt. Ida Grove
Grego, Phillip Harry Marines Pfc. Council Bluffs
Davis, Rollin Duane Army Sp4 Grand Junction
Gross, Wayne William Marines 2nd Lt. Carroll
Twehous, Gene Leander Navy HN Fremont
Wojtkiewicz, Ronald Joseph Army 1st Lt. Omaha
Utts, William Warner Army Cpl. Omaha
Wolf, Jack Morse Army Sgt. Omaha
Vanandel, Claude Richard Army Sgt. Norfolk
Wolfe, Mathew Army Pfc. Macy
Bonestroo, Kenneth Wayne Army Cpl. Hull
Wagner, Robert Alfred Army Sgt. Winside
Wright, Delbert Pat Marines L. Cpl. Hastings
Borchard, Leonard E. Jr. Army Pfc. Langdon
Waite, Donald Steven Army Sp4 Omaha
Young, Robert Lee Army Sp4 North Platte
Boyer, William Kline Army Pfc. Sioux City
Walker, Elbert Berton Army Pfc. North Platte
Zabrowski, Louis Army Cpl. Omaha
Brandts, Harlan Ray Army Pfc. Sheldon
Walker, Michael Allen Army Sgt. Scottsbluff
Zich, Larry Alfred Army CW3 Lincoln
Briese, Stephen Craig Army Cpl. Correctionville
Defenbaugh, Kenneth Leroy Army Cpl. Woodward
Hagedorn, Lawrence Raymond Marines L. Cpl. Carroll
Walters, Donovan Keith Air Force Capt. Lebanon
Zichek, Richard Lansing Marines L. Cpl. Lincoln
Brinkman, Robert Jay Army Sp4 Sheldon
Dehner, George Edward Marines Pfc. Alton
Haines, Dennis Allen Army Sp4 Sioux City
272
Koepp, Dennis Edward Army Sp5 Webb Koerner, Rodney Lee Army Cpl. Le Mars Krommenhoek, Jeffrey Marti Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sioux City Krukow, Arden Lee Navy PO2 Spencer Kruse, Kendal Robert Army Sgt. Glenwood Lake, Ronald Roy Navy PO3 Sioux City Larson, Mark Allan Army Pfc. Council Bluffs Lefler, David Allen Army Sp5 Sioux City Lennon, Frederick William Army Sp4 Sioux City Lewis, Michael Keith Army S. Sgt. Lake City Limbacher, Durward Allan Army Pfc. Farragut Logan, William Leon Navy CPO Council Bluffs
Jacobsen, Donald Leroy Air Force Capt. Ida Grove
Lohse, Arnold Edwin Henry Navy PO3 Everly
Jedlicka, Donald William Navy PO3 Silver City
Lonsdale, John David Army Pfc. Stuart
Jensen, Dennis Ray Army Pfc. Council Bluffs
Lovitt, David Glen Army Sp4 Bedford
Jensen, Harold Norgaard Army Capt. Council Bluffs
McClain, Kenneth Allen Marines L. Cpl. Exira
Jewell, Steven Thurlow Army Sp4 Coon Rapids
McClurg, John Lloyd Army Cpl. Earlham
Johnson, Ben Jr. Army Sgt. 1c Pacific Junction
McConkey, Wayne Allen Army Capt. Shenandoah
Johnson, Charles Everett Army Pfc. Mapleton
McCord, Roger Clair Army Cpl. Dunlap
Johnson, Ronald John Army Sgt. Quimby
McGuire, Wayne Thomas Army Sp4 Peterson
vietnam war H killed in action
Rolling Thunder riders greet Ross “Pops” Grego, whose son Pfc. Phillip H. Grego died in Vietnam in 1966 and was memorialized in the statue in the background at Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs. The 2010 Rolling Thunder ride was bound for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. McKeen, Gerald Claude Navy HN Sac City
Nelson, Clifford Dale Army Maj. Council Bluffs
Petersen, Mark Carson Marines Cpl. Pierson
Roggow, Norman Lee Navy Lt. j.g. Aurelia
Siegel, David Douglas Army Cpl. Cherokee
Stinn, John Richard Army Sp4 Panama
Walters, Jim James Marines Pfc. Sioux City
McQuinn, Byron Dean Army Cpl. Council Bluffs
Nelson, Duane Michael Army Pfc. Sioux City
Pickering, Donald William Army Pfc. Hastings
Roth, Laroy Frederich Army Sp4 Wall Lake
Sisley, Russell Jay Air Force Sr. M. Sgt. Carter Lake
Stokes, David Alan Marines Cpl. Council Bluffs
Waterman, Craig Thomas Army Cpl. Rockwell City
McQuinn, Leonard Lloyd Jr. Marines Pfc. Council Bluffs
Newendorp, James Vernon Air Force Capt. Alton
Piittmann, Alan Dale Air Force Ch. M. Sgt. Shelby
Sampers, James William Navy PO1 Storm Lake
Sissel, Charles Edward Army Pfc. Kellerton
Striepe, Paul Raymond Army Pfc. Holstein
Waterman, Dennis Walter Army Sp5 Logan
Means, Ronald Leroy Army Sp4 Cherokee
Nihsen, Dallas Lee Army Sp5 Charter Oak
Platt, John Herbert Army Pfc. Early
Sanderson, Gail Gene Marines Pvt. Anthon
Small, Vernard Jay Marines CWO2 Akron
Struble, Stanley Dean Army WO1 Castana
Westergard, Terry Michael Marines L. Cpl. Ireton
Meier, Carroll Rodney Army Cpl. Logan
Northup, Edwin Gilbert Army Capt. Lenox
Pollard, Thomas Leroy Army Maj. Red Oak
Schmidt, Dale Howard Army Pfc. Harrison
Smith, Charles Wendle Army Pfc. Tabor
Swaney, Rickey Eugene Army Pfc. Grand Junction
Widtfeldt, Paul Frank Jr. Army Sp4 Council Bluffs
Poppema, Leroy Warren Navy HN Hospers
Schultz, Michael Douglas Army Pfc. Sanborn
Smith, Gregory Allan Army WO1 Sioux City
Timmer, Akke Jans Jr. Army Sp4 Sheldon
Williams, Gary Lynn Marines Pfc. Glenwood
Powles, Donald Eugene Marines Sgt. Red Oak
Schutt, Randall Karl Army Cpl. Sioux Center
Smith, Robert Carl Army Sp4 Earlham
Tindall, Corbin Clark Army 1st Lt. Le Mars
Williams, Waldo Alva Army S. Sgt. Rockwell City
Olson, Duane Elmer Army Sp4 Irwin
Reece, Howard Wayne Marines L. Cpl. Shannon City
Schwarz, Roger Lee Marines Pfc. Le Mars
Smits, Herman Jr. Air Force Maj. Scranton
Vanatta, Randall Allen Marines Pfc. Thurman
Wilson, Keith Leslie Army Sgt. Marathon
O’Neill, Carroll Paul Army Sp4 Sioux City
Reed, Wayne Francis Marines Pfc. Crescent
Scott, Donald Eugene Army Pfc. Spencer
Sparks, Donald Lee Army Sgt. 1c Carroll
Vanballegooyen, Robert A. Army Pfc. Ireton
Wood, Donald Fred Army 1st Lt. Smithland
Monfore, William David Marines Pfc. Remsen
Osborn, Earl Douglas Army Sp4 Council Bluffs
Rindone, Michael Gustave Marines Pfc. Council Bluffs
Scott, Kennett Keith Marines L. Cpl. Sioux City
Spotswood, Michael Carr Army Pfc. Denison
Vanriesen, Alvin Chris Army Sgt. Sheldon
Woods, Clayton Leon Army Sp4 Sergeant Bluff
Munch, Michael Raymond Army Cpl. Council Bluffs
Oshea, James Charles Army Pfc. Council Bluffs
Roche, Kenneth Wayne Army Sgt. Nemaha
Scott, Larry Robert Army Sgt. Hawarden
Sterling, Robert Allen Navy PO3 Creston
Vergamini, Douglas Silvio Army CW2 Council Bluffs
Yashack, Ronald Allen Army Pfc. Diagonal
Mycka, Toney Francis Jr. Army Cpl. Sioux City
Park, Marvin Edward Army Sp4 Bedford
Rogers, Cordell Bruce Army Capt. Remsen
Scull, Gary Bernard Army Maj. Harlan
Stickels, Mark Galen Army Sgt. Afton
Villarreal, Michael Army Sp4 Sioux City
Zimmerman, Gordon F. Army Sgt. 1c Sioux City
Miller, Joel Le Roy Army Sgt. Primghar Miller, Melvin Dale Army Sp4 Newell Milner, Michael Wayne Army Cpl. Council Bluffs Mohrhauser, William Richard Army Sp4 Danbury
Oakes, Paul Laverne Jr. Army 1st Lt. Atlantic Olson, Dennis Gale Marines Pfc. Yale
273
H cold war tensions H
Keeping a constant vigil servicemen stood watch far from combat zones as a deterrent to Cold War aggression. H Said Lt. Gen. Julius W. Becton Jr., commander of the Army’s 7th Corps, which was deployed opposite Soviet forces in Europe: “I’m satisfied that if we become engaged in a shooting war, the folks who cross the border will pay one hell of a price for it.” H Looking Glass, the airborne command post, spent all but about 40 hours of its first 10 years in the air. “In the next 10 years, we’ll be up to 100 percent of the time,” Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Dacey Jr., the Strategic Air Command’s chief of staff, vowed in 1971.
Brig. Gen. Melvin Bowling, at left on the phone, and the crew of Looking Glass in 1975, the command post’s 15th year in the air.
275
H cold war tensions H
Playing to strengths Gen. Larry Welch, then commander of the Strategic Air Command, in 1986 reviewed what he described as the rebuilding of U.S. strategic forces designed to deter the Soviet Union. H Welch said the Strategic Defense Initiative, the space-based defense system commonly called “Star Wars,” took advantage of the Soviets’ weaknesses and America’s strengths, mainly U.S. technological superiority. “It just worries them (the Soviets) to death, and I think that’s great,” Welch said.
The prototype B-1A arrived at Offutt Air Force Base in 1982. “This airplane is a worthy successor to the B-52,” said the bomber’s pilot, Lt. Col. Leroy Schroeder.
291
H THE END OF SAC H
‘A special debt’ Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided the obituary at the 1992 ceremony that marked the end of the Strategic Air Command. “The long, bitter years of the Cold War are over, and America and her allies have won — totally, decisively, overwhelmingly,” he said. H “The debt we owe to the airmen of the Strategic Air Command, and to the men and women of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, is a special debt. . . . The horror of World War III never came. You kept the peace, and the nation and the free world will be forever grateful.”
Gen. Colin Powell presided over the ceremony replacing the Strategic Air Command with a new organization, the U.S. Strategic Command.
301
H cold war victory salute H
Walking tall “While some lessons from Vietnam and Korea are subject to debate, history has shown both to be critical chapters in the Cold War — a war ultimately won by the forces of freedom. H We honor all World War II veterans regardless of whether they were part of the defeat at Pearl Harbor or the victory in Paris. We honor all troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, regardless of our views of policies that sent them there. H It’s time we properly honor and thank those who devoted years of their lives to preventing nuclear war and lifting the Iron Curtain.” — World-Herald Executive Editor Mike Reilly’S COLUMN, JULY 1, 2012
Veterans marching in the Cold War Victory Salute on July 3, 2012, received thanks from people lining the parade route on 10th Street in downtown Omaha.
309
H July 3, 2012 H
Cold War Victory Salute
314
Frank Eller of David City brought his dog tags to the parade.
H The parade formed inside the CenturyLink Center.
H The Offutt Honor Guard led the parade down 10th Street, followed by the 43rd Army Band.
AT WAR H AT HOME credits & index of photographers Editor
photographers
Dan Sullivan
Allan, Tom: 221
Designer Christine Zueck-Watkins
The Associated Press: 33, 56 Batson, Bill: 65, 239, 291, 303 Beiermann, Jeff: 59, 111, 191
Photo editor
Billotte, Bill: 62, 63, 71
Jolene McHugh
Bundy, Jeff: 96
Assistant Editors
Burnett, James R.: 53, 244, 267, 271, 276, 292, 293, 295, 301
Jim Anderson Bob Glissmann Rich Mills Pam Richter Pam Thomas
Cruse, Kiley: 34, 64
World-Herald staff writers
Janda, Richard: 70, 238, 302
Roger Buddenberg Henry J. Cordes Joe Dejka Erin Golden Paul Hammel Matthew Hansen David Hendee Michael Kelly Andrew J. Nelson Mike O’Connor Rick Ruggles Susan Szalewski
Johnson, Phil: 110, 295, 304, 305, 307
vietnam war correspondent Howard Silber
Gratz, Rebecca: Back cover, i, 266, 309, 312-314, 316-323 Hansen, Matthew: 66, 82, 184 Hendee, David: 50, 64, 96, 111
Inns, Laura: 27, 36 Keeler, Kurt: 307 Koterba, Jeff: 294 Livingston, Gene: 102 Machian, Chris: iv, 312, 313, 315, 316, 320, 321 Melangagio, Yano: 8, 136, 276 Miller, Matt: 21, 98, 122 Paskach, Robert: ii, 153, 156, 177, 178, 186, 187, 224 Rath, Ed: 131 Ruggles, Rick: 124
Graphics
Savage, John: 3, 7, 150, 182
Dave Croy Matt Haney
Schukar, Alyssa: 118, 125, 265, 273
from the archives Elizabeth Ahlin Daniel Garfield Jason Gertzen T.L. Henion James Ivey Julia McCord Kirby Moss Lynn Safranek Howard Silber Researchers Michelle Gullett Jeanne Hauser Joe Janowski Sheritha Jones
Selzle, Jim: 295 Sievers, Kent: 58, 192, 293 Silber, Howard: Front cover, i, 196, 197, 199, 201, 202, 204, 206-215, 217-220, 225-227, 258 Smith, Rudy: 265, 279 Taylor, Robert: 228 U.S. Air Force: 25, 30, 31, 274 U.S. Department of Defense: 31 U.S. Marine Corps: 19, 20, 23-25, 39, 43-46, 49, 51, 55, 61, 75, 77, 79, 81, 85, 92, 103, 104, 109 U.S. Navy: 60, 278 Zimmerman, Ken: 127
Editorial assistant Kevin Brabec Print and Production Coordinators Pat “Murphy” Benoit Wayne Harty Director of Photography
Reprints of all Omaha World-Herald photos are available from the OWHstore. Call 402-444-1014 to place an order or go to OWHstore.com.
Jeff Bundy Director of Marketing Rich Warren
service memory photos were submitted by veterans and their families
The World-Herald in 1961 provided the first published photo of a Strategic Air Command B-52H armed with Skybolt missiles. The nuclear-armed missiles were canceled a year later, already outmoded because of the development of the submarine-based Polaris missile.
327
AT WAR H AT HOME index of individuals featured in stories and photos Adams, Don 259 Adams, Don Sr. 127, 137 Alba, Frank 74 Allen, Victor C. 219 Allyson, June 168 Alva, Jose “Joe” 74 Andersen, Dale J. 223 Anderson, Andrew B. Jr. 256, 259 Anderson, Ike 158 Anderson, Merrill 95 Anderson, Rudolf Jr. 179, 180, 181, 183, 185 Antisdel, Tom 316 Aubrey, Howard 296 Austin, Hal 133 Bakehouse, Bach 250 Baker, Bob 319 Baker, George Lorin Jr. 47 Baker, Treasure 155 Balmer, Harold 162 Barnes, Jerry D. 253 Barrientos, John “Duke” Jr. 138 Baustian, Harlan 67 Beave, William 321 Beckers, Lyle L. 220 Beckwith, Jerry 316 Becton, Julius W. Jr. 275 Beller, Don 60, 111 Benak, Bob 245 Benak, James Robert 100 Benak, John 100 Bender, John Henry i, 134 Berdahl, Edgar 162 Bernotas, Ralph 33 Berryman, Elzondo 33 Berryman, James L. 142 Bird, Alvin 226, 227 Birkes, Donald R. 140 Bisbee, Jack 240, 310, 311 Bodenhamer, Lee Jr. 169 Boffa, Wally 162 Bogard, Paul A. 48 Bohn, John 170 Boldt, Douglas 321 Borowiec, Fred 48 Bosiljevac, Kay 265 Bosiljevac, Michael 265 Bowling, Melvin 275 Bradley, David 260 Bradley, Lawrence W. 298 Bradley, Omar 57 Bradley, Ronald 96, 97 Brandt, Willy 143 Bray, Clyde A. 219 Breckenridge, Adam 132 Bridger, Earl C. 59 Brink, Ed 243 Briseno, Robert cover, 202 Bristow, Jess 12 Broaddus, Edward J. 79 Brodbeck, William 199 Brofft, Robert 226 Brown, Alice 98 Brown, Harold 286 Brown, Jesse 98 Bruha, Dale F. 59 Bruner, Tom 246 Brzezinski, Zbigniew 286 Bucher, Lloyd “Pete” 278, 279, 280, 281 Budway, George 206, 207 Buffett, Howard 57 Buffett, Warren 57 Buis, Dale 194 Buis, Eddith 194 Buland, Gene L. 101 Burbach, Jerard Raymond 94 Burdick, Charles 169 Burke, Rollie 47 Burr, Robert Sr. 91 Burrell, Martin i, 320 Bush, George H.W. 293, 294 Bush, George W. 230 Busse, Andre H. i, 140, 320 Butler, Hugh 57 Butler, Lee 302, 303, 305 Cabana, Bruce 119 Cafferata, Hector 46 Caldwell, Larry 192, 193, 235 Callaghan, Glen 110 Callahan, Harry L. Sr. 171 Callahan, James T. 75 Calley, William 232 Camp, Richard 162 Cargill, Bob 229 Carlentine, Louie 245 Carlson, Basil B. “Bud” 80, 238 Carlson, Harry Jr. 80 Carlson, Jack 80 Carlson, LeMonte 80, 238 Carlson, Neal 80 Carlson, Randy 80
328
Carlson, Stan 80, 238 Carr, Harley 188, 189 Carter, Jimmy 286, 292 Casady, Gregory W. 289 Case, Gene 251 Case, Larry 251 Cashell, Bill 319 Ceausescu, Nicolae 299 Cerreras, Carl 51 Chafee, John 279 Chain, John 293, 297, 303, 305 Chapelle, Dickey 203 Chappelle, Thomas 162 Charron, Marion 316 Chittim, Harry 162 Christensen, Rick 133 Christensen, Virgil 26 Christensen, W.L. 26 Christian, Mike 323 Churchill, Winston 3, 5 Clair, Al B. 33 Clark, Terry 292, 293 Clay, Lucius 6, 143 Clegg, Edward L. 27 Cleveland, John 240 Cochran, Clarence 216 Cockson, Harold 237 Coker, Ronald 232 Cole, Bob 319 Collins, Edward 91 Confer, Michael 216 Confer, Rod 216 Conrad, Joseph Sr. 94 Conradson, Douglas G. 282 Conradson, Gerald 282 Conradson, John 282 Conradson, Ralph J. 282 Conradson, Wayne 282 Contreras, Narcisco R. 76 Cookus, Gene 50, 51 Covert, Norman 157 Cox, Marvin 200 Crandell, Walter 209 Craren, James J. 17 Craren, Robert J. Jr. 17 Creager, Edward R. 208 CreMeens, Kim 90 Crosby, Bing 88 Croshaw, Leroy 29 Crumm, William J. 204 Cunningham, Glenn 6, 7 Cunningham, Robert 16 Curtis, Carl T. 57 Cushman, Carol 265 Cushman, Cliff 265 Dacey, Timothy J. Jr. 275 Damon, Walt 22, 23 Dangberg, Robert 231 Darmody, Mary 163 Darmody, Robert Edward 163 Darmody-Brisch, Peggy 163 Daubert, Wayne R. 83 Davis, Bennie 296, 297, 303, 305 Davis, David 169 Davis, Michael 184, 185 Day, George E. 224, 323 Deacon, Douglas A. 239 DeFrain, Dennis 158, 159 Delisi, Gus 93 Delisi, Sam 93 DeLoach, Jessie 289 Dickinson, John 29 Diem, Ngo Dinh 194, 198 Dillon, Leo L. 135 Dobias, Raymond 54 Doorly, Henry 4 Dougherty, Russell 303 Dowling, John iv Down, Donald 33 Doyle, Charles 52 Doyle, William 187 Drakulich, Don 124, 125 Dress, Charlie 66 Dubcek, Alexander 294 Duganne, John 35 Duggan, Tom 277 Dunlap, Becky 174 Dworak, James 156 Dwyer, Wen 162 Edwards, Emma 120 Edwards, Paul M. 20, 40, 118, 119 Eells, Alan 174 Eells, Glenn 169 Egan, Paul 144 Eggebraaten, Orville 170 Eich, Bernice 66 Eisenhower, Dwight 22, 84, 85, 94, 128, 131, 138, 166, 179 Ekwall, Ralph 87 Eller, Frank 68, 314 Ellis, Richard 286
Ellsworth, Richard 11 Enewold, Helen 151 Erickson, Morris 107 Evon, Dan 245, 319 Evon, Sharon 245 Fair, Wayne 132 Faltin, Richard 59 Farrell, Gail 163 Felici, Lou 68 Fennema, Fred 162 Finfrock, Kathy 163 Fishback, James L. “Jim” 99 Fisher, Clifford Bruce 78 Fisher, Paul 214 Flanagan, Rev. Edward J. 278 Flaschenriem, James 169 Flores, Rachel 69 Flynn, Dick 244 Forbes, Ralph 192, 193, 235 Ford, Gerald 230, 292 Fosberg, Carl J. Sr. 223 Foster, Eric 299 Fous, Jim 192, 193, 232, 235 Fowler, George 19, 35 Franco, Oscar “Challo” 69, 70 Friend, Kenneth 96, 97 Gabriel, Charles A. 288 Gass, John 244, 245, 246, 319 Gaul, John M. 141 Gausman, Gene 130, 139 Gehrman, Robert C. “Bob” 136 George, Leonard E. 207 Geyza, Leo “Lee” 228 Gianutos, Peter 206 Gibbons, Arman 319 Gibson, Robert E. 92 Gigliotti, Diane 221 Gilmore, William “Bill” 237 Girmus, Adolph 51 Glesinger, Jerome 100 Glynn, Jo Anne 221 Goc, Paul Stephen Jr. 243 Goeken, John F. 83 Goeltz, James D. 289 Golba, Gerhardt 219 Gomez, Edward “Babe” 69, 70, 317 Gomez, Frank 70 Gomez, Matiana 69, 71 Gomez, Modesto 69, 71 Gomez, Modesto Jr. 69 Gomez, Robert 70 Goodwin, Pamela 62, 65 Gorbachev, Mikhail 293, 294 Gorman, Charles 252 Gotto, Gilbert N. 34 Gould, Samuel 86 Graham, Richard 169 Grasso, John F. 84 Greene, Gordon 49 Greer, Larry 115, 265 Grego, Phillip H. 273 Grego, Ross “Pops” 273 Grella, Don 266, 267 Griffiths, Ann Mills 266 Griswold, Francis 164, 169 Gross, Robert S. 93 Guenther, Raymond A. 95 Gugas, Chris 156 Guzman, Frank 230 Haase, Shirley 266 Hafsaas, Don J. 97 Hagel, Chuck 271 Hagel, Tom 271 Hagemeister, Alvina 224 Hagemeister, Charles 224 Hall, Cargill 131 Hallgrimson, Hal 42 Hansen, Gene H. 145 Hansen, Lloyd Jr. 251 Hanson, Larry D. 27 Hanzlik, John 254 Harris, Leonard 209 Hart, Carl K. Sr. 84 Hartgenbush, Burdette 169 Harvey, John E. Jr. 248 Havens, Ralph E. 220 Hawkins, Harold 58 Haycock, Robert 169 Heikes, Harold 249 Heineman, Dave 313, 323 Hendee, Darold 44, 52 Henley, Bob 50, 51 Henning, Ardene 88, 89, 90 Henning, Bertha 90 Hermanek, Anne 151 Heyser, Richard 179, 180, 181, 185 Hibbs, Robert 194 Higgins, Marguerite 194, 203 Hildreth, Kent L. 210 Hill, Howard 242
Hinson, Robert 111 Hirschbach, Darrell Blaine 89 Hlavacek, John 248 Ho Chi Minh 194 Hoff, Richard 165 Holbert, Doug 86 Holgin, Richard 44 Holloway, Bruce 303 Holt, Stan 240 Honeycutt, Ramsey 209 Hoover, Robb 130 Hope, Bob 42 Hord, Frank 169 Horton, Jim 284 Hopper, Patricia 265 Houchin, Mitch “Hooch” 299 Hower, Paul 162 Hoy, Jacqueline 312, 313 Hoy, James Jr. 312, 313 Hoy, James Sr. 312, 313 Hruska, John 159 Hughes, William 31 Humphrey, Duke 251 Huyser, Robert E. 287 Hyndman, Brad 298 Inclan, Ginni 316 Jackson, Eugene 162 Jacobs, Morris 10 Jacobsen, Kenneth 214, 216 Jacobson, Keith M. 255 Jameson, Arlen D. 302 Janicek, Gerald E. 38 Jarrell, John 4 Jensen, Earl 107 Johnson, David Lee 219 Johnson, Jess K. 73 Johnson, Lyndon 176, 180, 232, 244, 279 Johnson, Margaret 153 Johnson, Ralph 84 Johnson, U. Alexis 198 Jordon, Brian 175 Jordon, Harold K. “Ken” 174, 175 Jordon, Jane 175 Jordon, Steve 175 Judge, Darwin 263 Jueckstock, Harry E. 199 Kampschneider, John 72, 73 Kampschneider, Theresia 72 Kane, Henry 169 Kastrick, Bob 244 Kastrick, Gary 245 Kaufman, David L. 60 Kavanaugh, John L. “Jack” 91 Kays, Reed 277 Kazor, Louie 229 Kazor, Tom 234 Keating, Kenneth 179 Keenan, Conway 134 Keenan, John 232 Keil, Jim 145 Keith, Bob 232 Keith, Miguel 232 Kelley, Al i, 318 Kellogg, Sam 110 Kelly, James H. 30 Kelly, James R. 207 Kennedy, John F. 144, 146, 158, 169, 176, 177, 178, 180, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 189, 200 Kenney, George 8 Kerle, Janie 174 Kerrey, Bob 232, 233, 313, 319 Kerrey, Elinor 233 Kerrey, James 233 Khrushchev, Nikita 136, 158, 183, 186, 188 Kim Il Sung 17, 26 Kinney, Ormond B. 68 Kissinger, Henry 256, 257, 259 Klann, Gerhard 233 Kleiber, Dick 142 Klindt, David L. 99 Knaak, Melvin 95 Knittel, Garry 244, 245, 246, 319 Knotts, Noel D. 255 Kohl, Helmut 294 Kopf, Roger L. 261 Korte, Ronald 226, 227 Kosmacek, Rudy 201 Kottman, Richard 57 Kougias, Robert E. 31 Kouma, Ernest 33 Krabbenhoft, Glenn J. 100, 311 Kroeger, Terry 313, 323 Kros, Dorothy 151 Kubat, Daniel Joseph 235 Kudlacek, Edwin 271 Kulus, Greg 260 Kutzman, Nathaniel 276
Laier, Richard 66 Laier, Robert 66 LaMere, Jean 65 Lancaster, David 213, 221 Landkamer, Jerry 321 Lane, Bert 57 Lane, Jean 57 Lane, Stefani 245 Lang, Dan 40, 41 Langan, Gerald 26 Lange, Tom 252 Langenberg, Gene H. 231 Lanoha, Tom 252 Lapygin, Vladimir 293 Laubenthal, Sanders A. 178, 180, 181, 184 Lawwill, Stan 136 Leahy, Gene A. 67, 222 Lee, Chuck 319 LeMay, Curtis 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 136, 162, 164, 168, 181, 187, 188 Lemmons, Judy 271 Lenin, Vladimir 294 Lerum, Keith E. 59 Lewis, Lloyd W. 17 Lidie, Lynn 265 Lim, Sun-Ha 21 Lincoln, Abraham 238 Lindbergh, Charles 57 Lindly, Roger E. 146 Lisagor, Peter 194 Little, Michael V. 284 Livingston, Gene 22, 23, 104 Lloyd, Richard 42 Long, Joel 310 Luebke, Heinrich 143 Luedtke, Donald 27 Maaske, Ben 91 MacArthur, Douglas 32, 38, 40, 42, 43, 54, 56, 57, 84, 209 Machian, John 106 Malloy, Warren 244, 319 Mangimeli, James W. 277 Mann, Carl 279 Mannino, Ben 95 Mapes, Delmar F. 211 Marchand, Wayne 194 Marion, Freeman Jr. 316 Marten, Monte F. 242 Martin, Glen 94 Martin, Jack D. 99 Martin, Wayne 316 Matray, James 21 Mauer, Gary 241 McAuliffe, Rhonda 96, 97 McCain, John 216, 230 McCarthy, James R. “Russ” 258, 259 McCaul, Verne J. 71 McCone, John 198 McCormick, Kenneth A. 99 McCreery, Foster 288 McGrath, Jim 244, 245, 246 McGrath, Pat 245 McGuire, Arthur Bradford 65 McKim, Keith L. 60 McKim, Kenneth 60 McKim, Leslie 60 McKim, Lyle C. 60 McLean, John 111 McMahon, Charles Jr. 263 McManis, Paul C. 54 McNamara, Robert 169, 179, 181, 198 McNichols, Henry J. Jr. 48 McNichols, Larry 159 McPeak, Merrill 304, 305 Meier, Jim 281 Melcher, Paul 218 Meyer, Edward C. 288 Meyer, J.C. 259 Millard, W.B. 14 Miller, Arthur L. 57 Miller, Bob 37 Miller, Jerry 161 Miller, Jim 299 Miller, John M. 254 Miller, Lorenie A. 203 Millett, Allan 20, 70 Mills, Ted M. 141 Miltonberger, Butler B. 4 Minard, Beverly 36 Minard, Claudia 36 Minard, Ted 36 Miner, Donald Dale 76 Minok, Jimmy L. 248 Mischo, Gerald 317 Mitchell, Dick 174 Mitchell, Vance 131 Mitilier, Lawrence 80 Moffatt, John 206, 207 Mohn, Alfred 82, 83 Moles, James G. 208 Montana, Johnny 66
An Air Force honor guard at Offutt Air Force Base fires a salute after a memorial service in 1990 for former Strategic Air Command chief Gen. Curtis LeMay.
Tebo, Sam 62 Thaller, Lyle K. 87 Thaller, Ralph 87 Thaller, Robert 87 Thatcher, Margaret 294 Theodore, Sister Mary 221 Thode, Fred 16, 17 Thomas, John 217 Thomas, Robert J. 205 Thomas, Rolland 108, 311 Thomas-Miller, Cheryl 118, 121 Thompson, Sir Robert 256 Tiemann, Norbert 224, 238 Timperly, Kenneth L. 22 Torres, Frank 44 Tourek, Frank 95 Tovar, Guillermo 48, 111 Trepanier, Frank 46 Truax, Samuel J. 147 Trudeau, Gerald L. 206 Truesdell, Karl 4 Truman, Harry 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 21, 22, 26, 33, 42, 54, 56, 57, 63, 84, 131, 135, 194 Turbak, Chester 31 Turner, Nelson George 67 Tvrdy, Ronald 101 Tydings, Millard 10 Moody, Randall 241 Moore, David 293 Moore, Roddy 191 Moravec, Moe 78 Moreno, Robert S. 240 Morgan, Dwight L. 219 Morgan, Russel J. 141 Moser, Maurice F. 91 Mossina, Mike 244 Mowry, James Daniel 93 Muhs, Don i, 317 Mulanax, Leon i, 214, 215, 216 Nachtigall, David 192, 193, 235 Nazzaro, Joseph J. 228 Nelson, Ann 153 Nelson, Howard 154 Nelson, Mollie 154 Nelson, Roger L. 253 Nielsen, Edward A. 285 Nichols, Donald L. Jr. 236 Nixon, Richard 232, 233, 238, 257, 259, 292 Nolda, Wilbur W. 80 Nore, Robert Jr. 313 Nore, Robert Sr. 313 Nosal, Barbara iv Nosal, Bob v Nosal, Con vi Nosal, Len vii Nosal, Mel v, 186, 187, 188 Nosal, Michael iv Nosal, Rich iv, v Noyes, William D. 153, 156 Oatman, Patty 41 Obama, Barack 111 O'Brien, Caroline 114 O'Brien, Gregory 114, 115 O'Brien, Jim 114. 115 O'Brient, Lex E. 156 O'Connor, Rev. Patrick 218 O'Dell, Jimmie 120 Ogden, Howard “Butch” Jr. 230 Ogden, Mike 230 Oldham, Max 162 O'Leary, Thomas D. Jr. 93 Olsen, Calvin B. 185 Olson, Bob 170 Olson, Ronald 41 O'Meara, Patrick 288 O'Neil, Lester 44 Orr, Verne 297 Owens, John C. 269
Pace, Earl M. 32 Painter, Oliver 205 Paulsen, Merle E. 101 Pavkov, Bill 95 Pavlik, Dennis L. 105 Pease, Arthur J. “Art” 280 Pennell, Jim 210 Perales, Ruben 74 Perley, James C. 283 Perry, Anthony J. “Tony” 248 Pershing, John J. 65 Peterson, Gordon E. 199 Peterson, Val 6, 7, 65 Pettis, E.F. 10 Pixley, John 313 Pixley, Rebecca 313 Poese, Gilbert L. 42 Policky, Chuck 283 Pollard, Homer 59 Pollock, Edwin 25, 103 Porter, Dean 120 Pouliceck, J.F. 156 Powell, Chuck 6 Powell, Colin 301, 304, 305 Power, Thomas 162, 163, 164, 173, 176, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 187, 302 Powers, Francis Gary 135, 136, 179, 323 Pratt, William 209, 218 Prideaux, Raymond C. 76, 77 Prieb, Ben 214, 216 Priest, Orin Keith 144 Pritchard, Gerard E. 100 Purnell, William E. 67 Queen Elizabeth II 11, 141 Quinlan, Maurice F. 144 Quinn, John W. i, 78 Ramsey, Bill 112, 312, 313 Reagan, Ronald 266, 267, 292, 293, 294 Reed, Hal 156 Reed, Lloyd M. 128, 129 Reilly, John 227 Reilly, Mike 309 Reisser, Craig 287 Renz, Fritz M. 107 Reynolds, Garth L. “Gabby” 197 Reynolds, Johnnie Richard 249 Reynolds, Sam 149 Reynoldson, Lester Dean 32 Rice, Donald 305 Rice, Evelyn 62, 63, 64, 65 Rice, Fannie 63 Rice, Henry 63
Rice, John Raymond 62, 63, 65 Rice, Tim 65 Ridder, Robert E. “Bob” 129, 130 Ridgway, Matthew B. 28, 54 Ripley, John W. 228 Ritzo, Eugene 44 Roberts, David T. 200 Roberts, J. Gordon 158, 159 Robinson, Eldon 114, 115 Robinson, Larry 115 Robinson, Larry W. 265 Roche, John 132 Rogers, George E. 256 Rohde, Robert 76 Romig, Ronald 210 Rosenblatt, Norman Meyer 40 Rudat, Fred “Fritz” 118, 121 Ruetz, Robert G. 108 Rusk, Dean 181 Russell, George 124, 125 Russell, Stu 278 Ryder, Dennis 258 Sage, Douglas 238 Sage, Ernest 238 Sage, Eunice 238 Sage, Gary 238 Sage, Gregory 238 Sage, Kelly 238 Sakaris, Peter 261 Sanford, Jack 37 Sass, Stan A. 38 Scherle, Bill 279 Schlattmann, Henry 142 Schlichting, Don 261 Schmidt, Owen 217 Schmitz, La Vern 94 Schnieder, Rollie 40, 41 Schriner, Irene 132 Schroeder, Leroy 291 Schuessler, Norman 11 Schuetrumpf, Dieter 289 Schwartz, Don 35 Schwartz, Jean 35 Schwartz, Jim 35 Schwetz, Walter 26 Scott, David 181 Sena, Jeff 257 Seymour, Ambia 151 Shabanov, Vitaliy 293 Shannahan, John K. 91 Sharp, Ulysses S. Grant 225 Sheldon, Harry 169 Shimerdla, Albert 229
Shimerdla, Thomas J. 229 Shue, Donald M. 269 Shultz, George 297 Siciunas, Al J. “Jeff” 286 Sieborg, Robert W. 147 Siegel, Irving 276 Silber, Howard 194, 195, 201, 202, 203, 225, 271, 286, 324, 325 Slight, Wallace “Bob” 120 Smith, Austin Jr. 169 Smith, Bob 92 Smith, Oliver 28, 43 Smith, P.K. 205 Smith, Robert H. 31 Smith, Rod 162 Smith, Shirley 53 Snodgrass, Norma 120 Sondag, Richard 66 Sowell, Randy 56, 57 Sowers, Kenneth Carl 32 Spangrud, Don M. 42 Speier, Millard R. 154 Spelts, William 144 Sprick, Doyle 216 Sprick, Duane 216 Squires, Clark A. 146 Stafford, Bruce 162 Staley, W.L. 156 Stalin, Josef 6, 21, 26, 141, 294 Stambaugh, William B. “Bill” 135 Standerwick, Carolyn 265 Standerwick, Robert 265 Stanley, Neil 157 Stefan, Karl 57 Steinbrook, Gordon L. 231 Stevens, Raymond Wesley 23 Stevenson, Adlai 183 Stewart, James 168 Stiles, Earl 53, 114 Stokes, Earl W. “Bill” 135 Storz, Arthur C. Sr. 10 Strand, Loell 94 Streitz, John 54 Sullivan, Alleta 238 Sullivan, James A. 67 Suttle, Jim 323 Swedberg, Dennis L. 243 Sweeny, Pat 47 Sylvester, Arthur 195 Symington, Stuart 5, 11 Szarad, John E. 128, 129, 130 Tatreau, Nicki 199 Taylor, Maxwell 99, 198
Urschler, Regis F.A. 306, 307 Vail, Nathan C. 288 Vater, Fred 217 Verbsky, Mildred 151 Vickers, Jim 235 Vielbig, James 111 Vosicky, George 38 Wacker, Marvin 48 Wagner, Chuck 192, 193, 256 Wagner, John 131 Walesa, Lech 294 Walker, Walton 32, 65 Walkley, Kris 317 Walt, Lewis W. 218 Weakland, Leonard 67 Weintraub, Stanley 57 Welch, Larry 291, 303, 305 West, John “Adam” N. 262 Westmoreland, William 198, 228, 232, 324 Wherry, Kenneth 5, 10, 57 Wiedeman, Harry 19, 22, 23 Wiedeman, Mary 19, 22, 23 Wiedhahn, Warren 43, 44 Williams, Donald K. 108 Williams, Minor 156 Wilscam, Charles 100 Wilson, Charles 168 Wing, Randall R. “Randy” 276 Wirges, Bill 108 Witkovski, Dale K. 41 Wittry, Dale 99 Wong, Fang 313, 317, 322, 323 Wood, Robert J. 170 Woodward, William 250 Woodworth, Bob 183 Worden, Robert 169 Workman, Dale 245 Yambor, Tim 284 Young, Bruce 227 Youngman, Lawrence 14 Zahn, Harold L. 107 Zimmerlee, John 119 Zimmerman, Carroll L. 136, 162 Zimmerman, Kenneth 216 Zinn, Bill 106 Zobel, Jim 56 Zorin, Valerian 183 Zorinsky, Edward 297 Zwiebel, Chester 153
329
Cold War-era veterans head into TD Ameritrade Park at the end of the 2012 Cold War Victory Salute parade in downtown Omaha.
330
AT WAR H AT HOME
THE COLD WAR
KOREA H VIETNAM H STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND
H 2012 cold War Victory Salute in downtown Omaha H
$29.95 Š 2012 all rights reserved. omaha world-herald co. | omaha.com
Within a year after the end of world war II, the United States would be engaged in a new conflict that would become known as the Cold War. The struggle unfolded over the frigid mountains of Korea and the steaming jungles of Vietnam. It stretched along European borders where NATO and Warsaw Pact tanks squared off and reached high into the sky with the Strategic Air Command. The Omaha World-Herald takes a special look back at Nebraskans and Iowans who served and sacrificed to prevent nuclear war and to lift the Iron Curtain.