U.S. Army Veterans

J.P. Barricklow

Arcola High School
Graduated 1885
Service
Spanish-American War 1898
Rank
Captain

Charles Davis

Arcola High School
Graduated 1887
Service
Spanish-American War 1898
Rank
1st Lieutenant

Elgie Skinner

Arcola High School
Graduated 1896
Service
Spanish-American War 1898
Rank
Musician

Wilbur Cheney

Arcola High School
Graduated 1897
Service
Spanish-American War 1898
Rank
Private

Ralph Gray

Arcola High School
Graduated 1912
Service
World War I
Engineer

William F. Haley
1895 - 1962

Arcola High School
Graduated 1913
Service
World War I
Optical Unit

Glenn F. Smith
1 Aug 1894 - 11 Mar 1971

Arcola High School
Graduated 1913
Service
World War I
Rank
Corporal

Clifford H. Stewart
23 Jun 1894 - 4 Mar 1995

Arcola High School
1908-1912
Service
World War I
Rank
Private

Otto R. Twiford

Arcola High School
Graduated 1913
Service
World War I
38th Aero Squadron
Trained in San Antonio, TX
Rank
Corporal

Leslie P. Jeffers

Arcola High School
Graduated 1915
Service
World War I
Instructor

Alice C. Goggin
1905 - 1996

Arcola High School
Graduated 1923
Service
World War II - Nurse Corps serving in England and France
Rank
2nd Lieutenant

Pauline (Pfeifer) Allen

Arcola High School
Graduated 1924
Service
Women’s Army Corp

Glenn R. Black

Arcola High School
Graduated 1924

John Wilson Ghere

Arcola High School
1921-1922
Service
Inducted 30 December 1943
1943-1945
806th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Ft. Hood, TX
Rank
Private First Class
Medals
WW II Victory, Good Conduct, American Theater, Asia-Pacific Theater, Philippine Liberation

Glen Spelman Winterringer
1906 - 1974

Arcola High School
Graduated 1925
Rank
Technical Sergeant

Virgil Roberts

Arcola High School
Graduated 1926
Service
Inducted 21 May 1942
Camp Knox, KY
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Clifford E. Walker
14 Nov 1903 - 16 March 1973

Arcola High School
Graduated 1926
Service
World War II
Rank
Technician 5th Class

Dr. E. S. Allen
2 Sep 1908 - 31 Aug 1980

Arcola High School
Graduated 1927
Service
World War II
Medical Corps, Ft. Sam Houston, TX
Rank
Captain

George Lins

Arcola High School
Graduated 1927
Service
Army Air corps

Myrtle Laurene (Pullen) Lindstrom
4 April 1910 - 9 Feb 1993

Arcola High School
Graduated 1928
Service
World War II - 1943-1945
Joined Women’s Army Corps in February 1943
Camp Abbott, OR
Served in Philippines, Australia, Luzon, New Guinea under General MacArthur
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Medals
Asia-Pacific, Philippine Liberation with Bronze Star, WAAC Service, Overseas Service, Good Conduct, Bronze Battle Stars (3)

John O. Marsh
3 Jan 1910 - 4 Aug 1954

Arcola High School
Graduated 1928
Service
World War II - Europe
Rank
Sergeant
Medals
Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Oak Leaf Cluster

Taken prisoner during the "Battle of the Bulge". Was already a hero before he left the states when he saved the lives of several soldiers after "springing a mine" in a foxhole at Camp Blanding, Florida. He was hospitalized several months with a concussion and a temporary paralysis.

Captured by the Germans on 5 December 1944 and remained a Prisoner of War until 13 April 1945. He reported, "suffering mental and physical torture with his buddies, marching 800 miles in 45 days, living on a piece of bread and cup of coffee each 24 hours, and waiting for Red Cross packages - some of which they never received."

Harold John "Pete" Forner
28 Aug 1912 - 18 Feb 1983

Arcola High School
Graduated 1930
Service
World War II
Rank
Technician 5th Grade

Michael Gordon

Arcola High School
Graduated 1930
Service
Army Air Force
Pilot in a Fighter Squadron in Tunisia, North Africa
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
Medals
Distinguished Flying Cross

Fred D. Knaus
10 Nov 1911 - 3 Aug 1993

Arcola High School
1926-1929
Service
World War II - Enlisted March, 1941
Ft. Lewis, WA
Rank
Technician 4th Grade

Edward Earl Bryant

Arcola High School
1928-1930
Service
Infantry
Rank
Corporal

Lowell Munson Cox
11 Aug 1913 - 18 Dec 1999

Arcola High School
1927-1930
Service
World War II
Rank
Private 1st Class

Merle Kearns
1 Oct 1912 - 20 Jun 2001

Arcola High School
Graduated 1931
Service
World War II
Engineering company; South Pacific
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Frederick William Shrader
4 Oct 1912 - 24 Aug 2001

Arcola High School
Graduated 1931
Service
1943-1945
Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C.; Camp McCoy, WI; Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; France; Belgium; Battle of the Bulge
Rank
Private First Class - Surgical Technician
(He was demoted from Tech-5 to Private for his failure to stand at attention during taps for the deceased President Franklin Roosevelt.)
Medals
American Theater Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Ribbon

Clarence D. Ervin

Arcola High School
Graduated 1932
Service
Army Air Force
Scott Field, Belleville, IL; Miami, FL; Chinese-American Composite Wing, Bombay Bombardment Group in China
Communications Chief
Rank
Master Sergeant

Kenneth E. Harshbarger

Arcola High School
Graduated 1932
Service
Governor's Island, NY
Nutrition Officer
Rank
Lieutenant

John D. Kibler
27 Dec 1915 – 8 Jul 1944

Arcola High School
Graduated 1932
Service
2 May 1941 - 8 Jul 1944
Army Air corps
Pilot of B-24 bomber
Killed in action on 8 Jul 1944
Rank
Captain
Medals
Purple Heart, Silver Star

Mrs. Jeannette Kibler learned of her husband, Captain John D. Kibler's, death from the wife of the co-pilot of the plane on which he had been flying. She had talked to members of the ship crew and they had seen "all ten members of the crew bail out as the B-24 bomber fell." All parachutes were observed opening before the plane crashed, thus the family was unprepared for the fatal news. He had graduated from the University of Illinois and had been a member of the R.O.T.C. reserves, coast guard. After graduation he'd become associated with his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Cook in their grocery and meat market business.

He was an early inductee into the service at Lowry Field, CO, which at the time was a sub-division of Chanute Air Corp Technical School in Rantoul, Illinois.

Philip Berkley Ray

Arcola High School
Graduated 1932
Service
Ninth Army in Europe
Rank
1st Lieutenant
Medals
Bronze Star, Oak Leaf Cluster

Donald M. Roberts

Arcola High School
Graduated 1932
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Lowell Ray Thompson
4 March 1914 - 16 July 1975

Arcola High School
Graduated 1932
Service
12 Feb 1941 - 31 Dec 1945
69th Quartermaster Battalion, Ft. Lewis, WA
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Robert C. Coombe
2 May 1916 - 24 June 2014)

Arcola High School
Graduated 1933
Service
1943-1945
Flight Engineer
Rank
Corporal

Kenneth Garver

Arcola High School
Graduated 1933
Service
Army Air Corp
Bombed Berlin
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Leslie Gilbert

Arcola High School
Graduated 1933
Service
Civil Air Patrol

Harry W. King

Arcola High School
Graduated 1933
Service
Ft. Brady, MI

Kenneth Ramsey
23 Aug 1914 - 12 Oct 1992

Arcola High School
Graduated 1933
Service
World War II
Rank
Private 1st Class

Leona K. Sudkamp

Arcola High School
Graduated 1933
Service
Inducted 15 May 1943
Army Nurses’ Corps
Rank
2nd Lieutenant

George Rae Ghere
8 Nov 1916 - 16 Apr 1998

Arcola High School
1930-1933
Service
Inducted 2 July 1942
World War II - 1942-1945
95th Quartermaster Company, 95th Division
Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe
Wounded while serving in the Rhineland
Truck Driver
Rank
Private First Class
Medals
Bronze Star (3), Good Conduct, European, African, Middle Eastern Ribbon, One Service Bar, One Overseas Bar

Armer "Dolly" Kearns

Arcola High School

Robert Andres
11 Sep 1914 - 12 Mar 1993

Arcola High School
Graduated 1934
Rank
Technician 5th Class

Robert W. Breedlove
16 Jul 1917 - 29 Oct 2000

Arcola High School
Graduated 1934
Service
World War II
Rank
Technician 3rd Class

Eugene E. Dilliner
2 July 1917 - 19 May 1987

Arcola High School
Graduated 1934
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Rank
1st Lieutenant

Harold Harris

Arcola High School
Graduated 1934
Service
1943-1945
7th Infantry Division Artillery
St. Petersburg, FL; Weatherford, OK; Tinker Field, OK; Amarillo, TX; Patrick Henry, VA; Khargpur, India; Ryukyu Islands campaign; Okinawa; Guam; Honolulu, HA; Mather Field, CA
Rank
Corporal
Medals
Bronze Star, Good Conduct, World War II Victory, Meritorious Unit Award

Paul C. Kutz
1916 - 1976

Arcola High School
Graduated 1934
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Jefferson Barracks, MO
Rank
Private First Class

John W. McLane
12 Aug 1916 - 27 Dec 1963

Arcola High School
Graduated 1934
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
460 Base Unit
Ft. Dix, NJ
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Tom McLane
10 Dec 1921 - 11 Aug 2017

Arcola High School
Graduated 1934
Service
World War II - Europe

Harry William Poynter

Arcola High School
Graduated 1934
SErvice
Signal Corp in European Theatre

John L. Seih

Arcola High School
Graduated 1934

Vide Sherman Monfort
4 Apr 1917 - 25 Jan 2004

He was in Oran, Africa when Rommel invaded; later in Marseilles, France. He returned to the United States on the Queen Mary.

Was commander of Arcola VFW Post 7862 several times and served other offices there as well as was commander and in other offices in the Arcola American Legion.

Forest E. Sisk
6 Mar 1917 - 7 Jul 1997

Arcola High School
1931-1934
Service
World War II
12 Nov. 1943 - 22 Aug. 1945
Rifleman 745
Normandy landing
Rank
Private 1st Class
Medals
Purple Heart at St. Lo (France); European-African-Middle Eastern Theater ribbon with 1 Bronze Battle Star; Good Conduct

Kathleen Frazier

Arcola High School
Graduated 1935
Service
Saipan
Nurse
Rank
Lieutenant

Spent five months on Saipan among the group of ten American nurses to arrive on that island after the Allies had invaded

Harold Garber Ghere
20 July 1917 - 2 April 2001

Allan R. Gray
1917 - 2009

Arcola High School
Graduated 1935
Service
World War II
April 25, 1941 - January 3, 1946
392nd General Services Regiment (Engineer)
Ft. Belvoir, VA; England; Northern France-Normandy; Rhineland-Ardennes-Central Europe
Railroad reconstruction, repairs of trestles and bridges, and building of camps and temporary roads
Rank
1st Lieutenant

William A. Kearns

Arcola High School
Graduated 1935

Joe Lozier

Arcola High School
Graduated 1935
Rank
Private First Class

Frank E. McLane
23 Dec 1917 - 26 Sep 1989

Arcola High School
Graduated 1935
Service
World War II
Europe-Infantry
Rank
Sergeant

William Earl Miller, Sr.
11 Jan 1918 - 16 Nov 1997

Arcola High School
Graduated 1935
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Flew over the "Burma Hump"
Rank
Sergeant

Arcola High School
Graduated 1936
Service
Camp Clairborne, LA

William E. Greenwood
27 Dec 1917 - 15 Nov 1986

Arcola High School
Graduated 1936
Service
World War II
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Alton R. Honn

Arcola High School
Graduated 1936
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
India, China and Tinian
Rank
Lieutenant

S. Francis Maier
27 Jan 1919 - 6 Jan 1993

Arcola High School
Graduated 1936
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Camp Elliott, CA
Rank
Private

Don Stump
9 May 1918 - 8 Nov 2000

Arcola High School
Graduated 1936
Service
1942-1945
Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO; Omaha, NE; San Antonio, TX; Vernon, TX; El Paso, TX; Laredo, TX; Selman Field, LA; Midland, TX; Monroe, LA; Alexandria, LA; Kearney, NE; Polebrook Air Base, England
8th Air Force, 351st Bombardment Group - B-17 Bombardier
30 missions over Germany (23 as lead aircraft)
Rank
1st Lieutenant
Medals
Distinguished Flying Cross, 6 Air Medals, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, 2 Commendations

Asa Thomas

Arcola High School
Graduated 1936
Service
First U.S. Army, Third Auxiliary Surgeons Group, Medical Corps
Rank
Corporal
Medals
Bronze Star

Glen Harshbarger

Arcola High School
Graduated 1937
Service
Nutrition Officer, Ft. Lewis, WA
Rank
Lieutenant

Roy Howey

Arcola High School
Graduated 1937
Service
Weather Forecaster
Montgomery, AL
Rank
Sergeant

Paul Albert McAvene
16 Jul 1919 - 25 Feb 1980

Arcola High School
Graduated 1937
Service
World War II - North Africa
Rank
Technician 5th Grade

Sent the following letter:

Some place in Africa
February 1, 1943

Dear Folks:
It seems strange as this is the first letter I have written in a month.

We had a nice trip over here. I wasn't sick at any time. Our meals are o.k., better than I expected. In fact, I've gained 10 pounds on the trip. We have been here a week. I feel all right.

We are camped along the coast in Africa. This country is a lot different than the United States. There isn't much to say besides our mail is censored, too.

How is dad and Joe. I bet sis isn't in Ohio by the time you get this. Keep Joe around home as much as possible.

We have a new address so be sure to write soon. How is grandma and the rest. O.K. I guess. Tell dad to take care of himself, also the rest of you. So long and good luck.

Love,
Paul

Richard Rice Smith
10 Dec 1919 - 26 Jun 1971

Arcola High School
Graduated 1937
Service
World War II
Rank
Technical Sergeant

Ralph Hamman

Arcola High School
Graduated 1936
Service
World War II
Entered Service June 1942

Joe Honn

Arcola High School
Graduated 1936
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Rank
Technical Sergeant

James Woolford

Arcola High School
Service
Royal Canadian Air Force
1941-1943
Attached to Royal Air Force (England) Bomber Command
Killed in Action January 17, 1943 on mission to Berlin, Germany
Buried at KIEL WAR CEMETERY, Germany
Rank
Sergeant

Jack Brandenburg
3 Aug 1920 - 24 July 1997

Robert Henry Ernst
4 Jan 1919 - 26 Mar 1991

Arcola High School
Graduated 1938
Service
World War II
Camp Roberts, CA; New Georgia, South Pacific
Rank
Private First Class

Dale Lindsey Gardner
24 Feb 1921 - 11 Nov 2006

Arcola High School
Graduated 1938
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Rank
Sergeant

Robert Pfeifer

Arcola High School
Graduated 1938
Service
Fort Jackson, NC; Cavalry Replacement Center, Ft. Riley, KS
Rank
1st Lieutenant

Horace L. Sisk
1 Oct 1919 - 28 Mar 1999

Arcola High School
Graduated 1938
Service
World War II
19 Nov. 1941 - 8 Sept. 1945
Clerk Typist 405
Infantry - Southern France; Ardennes; Rhineland; Central Europe Campaign
Rank
Private 1st Class
Medals
American Defense Service Ribbon; African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with Silver Battle Star (1); Bronze Service Arrowhead; Overseas Service Bar (3); Service Stripe (1); Bronze Star; Good Conduct Medal

Harry Russell Smith
3 March 1920 - 28 Aug 1994

Arcola High School
Graduated 1938
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Guam
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Richard Wilkerson

Arcola High School
Graduated 1938
Service
Army Air Force - Engineers Division
Southwest Pacific
Rank
Corporal

Carl E. Ghere

Arcola High School
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Aerial gunner

Lloyd Dearnberger

Arcola High School
Graduated 1939

Dewey Allen Dutton, Jr.

Arcola High School
Graduated 1939
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Killed in Action 13 Jul 1943 - crash of Douglas Dauntless A-24 dive-bomber
Rank
2nd Lieutenant

First Arcola WW-II soldier whose remains were returned for burial in Arcola. By proclamation of Dr. J.V. Fishel, mayor of Arcola, all places of businesses were closed and all flags in the community were flown at half-mast.

Eugene Foreman

Arcola High School
Graduated 1939
Service
World War II - South Pacific
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Fredrick Garver

Arcola High School
Graduated 1939
Service
Army Air Corp
Medals
Bronze Star "for heroic action while in the European theatre. Under adverse conditions he laid vital communication lines between important posts while under fire."

George L. Gibson, Jr.
9 Dec 1921 - 19 Aug 1990

Arcola High School
Graduated 1939
Service
Army Air Corp
Chanute, Rantoul, IL; Panama
Teletype Technician

Lynn Green

Arcola High School
Graduated 1939
Service
National Guard

Billy Harold Murphy
24 Dec 1921 - 7 Apr 1991

Arcola High School
Graduated 1939
Service
World War II - Italy
Rank
Private 1st Class

The end of the war was punctuated with an article in a Miami, Florida paper for Billy Murphy who had been sent there after an accident in Italy. He was flown to Miami to have a leg amputated. "Bill was on the first Allied train to go into Rome after its evacuation by the Nazis. He visited the Vatican and met the Pope who gave him a crucifix with his blessing." He had collected several souvenirs and two of his buddies gathered them together and sent them to his parents. He is smiling in the picture that appeared in the Daily News. The caption titled "Courage" reads as follows: "The right leg of PFC. Bill Murphy of Arcola, Ill. is missing but not his smile. He is shown above being lifted into an ambulance for transportation to a plane which took him to Atlanta. He will get an artificial leg at Lawson General Hospital."

Russell Sollars

Arcola High School
Graduated 1939
Service
Army Air Force
Killed in Action 6 May 1942 in the Philippines

First reported missing in July 1942. He was stationed in the Philippines and his family, Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Sollars had not heard from him since December 1, 1941. His friend, Mack Sweeny, who had enlisted at the same time, had been reported "lost in action" to his parents in Charleston in January. With this information Sollars' parents tried to locate Russell through the Red Cross and the War Department. All they were able to tell them was that they were "unable to locate him."

James E. Sullivan

Arcola High School
1936-1939
Service
Enlisted 22 Oct 1939
Rank
Corporal

Dean Daugherty
29 Sep 1922 - 10 Sep 1991

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
Army Air Force
Rank
Technical Sergeant

Peter Joseph Harrington

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
Army Air Force
Chico Field, CA

Henry E. Howey

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
Army Air Force
Sheppard Field, TX; Enid Flying School, Enid, OK; Burma
Pilot of a C-47 transport plane
Killed in action somewhere in India or China
Rank
Lieutenant

Howey, like Dewey Dutton had "buzzed Arcola" while not able to land, letting homefolk know he was in the area just the same. Howey was also the second to die of a trio who had joined together and had received training at Sheppard Field, Texas and Enid Flying School, Enid, Oklahoma. The others being Dewey Dutton and Donald Pullen (who survived the war). Howey had written of having made a couple of missions "over the hump" between India and China. His mother received a letter from him just an hour or so before news of his having been killed arrived. He left a wife and 11 month old child.

Raymond McDowell

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
Combat Engineer

Don Pullen

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
Army Air Force - 1942-1946
B-24 Pilot - 407th Bomb Group, 726th Squadron
Flew missions in Italy, Austria & Germany
Pilot Instructor in Colorado, Texas, Maine & Chanute AAB, IL
Rank
Captain
Medals
Air Medal

"Buzzed" Arcola (with Robert C. Coombe as bombardier). Dropped a birthday package for Carol Pullen

Bessie Rippey

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
Women's Army Corp (WAC)
Administrative Specialists School
Rank
Sergeant

James Richard Sabens

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
Africa; Sicily; Italy
Rank
Private 1st Class

Leonard Schultz

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
National Guard

Donald R. Thompson
23 Jan 1922 - 15 Oct 1982

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
11 Mar. 1942 - 19 Jan. 1946
Airplane Main Technician 750
Air Offensive - China; Air Offensive - Japan; Air Offensive - Ryukus
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Medals
Bronze Star (3); Good Conduct Medal

Charles Richard Vogel
23 Jan 1923 - 7 Feb 1985

Arcola High School
Graduated 1940
Service
Inducted December 1943
Army Air Force
Rank
1st Lieutenant
Medals
Air Medal

Dale Bolton

Arcola High School
1939-1941
Service
Inducted July 1941
Europe
Rank
Sergeant

James R. Billingsley

Arcola High School
Graduated 1941
Service
Inducted October 1942
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Donald Ray Black
13 Feb 1922 - 16 April 1994

Arcola High School
Graduated 1941
Service
Inducted September 1942
1942-1945
Rank
Corporal

During the Battle of the Bulge, averted capture by the Nazi Army but was trapped behind enemy lines for six days. His unit debated whether to surrender or to try to get back to allied lines. Half of the unit decided to surrender. His group did not. The other group went over a snow covered hill to surrender and not too long afterwards Don's group heard several shots. The other group had all been killed.

He got back to allied lines on Christmas Day 1944 and was sent to a hospital in Paris, France to recuperate from frozen feet, then to England. In a letter home he felt, "I am lucky to be alive," and admonished his parents and family not to worry about him.

Gerald S. Bright
29 July 1923 - 17 Sept 2001

Millard Hunter Fortney
4 Nov 1922 - 23 Jun 1996

Arcola High School
Graduated 1941
Service
World War II - 1943-1946
Camp Grant; Philippine Islands (Leyte, Ryukyus, Palauis)
Army Engineer Corps
Rank
Master Sergeant
Medals
3 Overseas Service Bars, American Campaign Medal, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATRE RIBBON with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON with 2 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal

Started VFW post in Arcola after returning

Albert Harrison "Harry" Ghere
31 Oct 1921 - 10 Oct 2013

Arcola High School
Graduated 1941
Service
1942-1945
Company B, 88th Signal Battalion
Luzon, North Solomans, Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Bougainville, Japan
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Medals
Bronze Star (2), Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign, Philippine Liberation, Victory, Good Conduct

Bob L. Ghere
26 Dec 1922 - 10 May 2002

Arcola High School
Graduated 1941
Service
World War II
Rank
Corporal

Robert Paul McLane
31 Aug 1923 - 30 Jun 1970

Arcola High School
Graduated 1941
Service
World War II
South Pacific
168th Ordnance Depot Company
Rank
Staff Sergeant

John Samuel Anderson

Arcola High School
1940-1942
Service
Inducted November 22, 1943
353rd Infantry, member Patton's Third Army
Killed in Action - March 26, 1945 in Germany
Rank
Private
Medals
Silver Star (Posthumously)

Huxley Barnes

Arcola High School
1940-1942
Service
Inducted October 1942
Wounded in Action in France - lost leg
Rank
Private 1st Class
Medals
Purple Heart

Harmon V. Blevins

Arcola High School
1940-1942
Service
Inducted March 1942
Rank
Private 1st Class

Roy Donald Bright

Arcola High School
1939-1942
Service
Inducted - 9 April 1942
Killed in Action in the Pacific theatre of war
Rank
Aviation Radioman Third Class

Oscar Paul Sylvester

Arcola High School
1938-1941
Service
Enlisted 15 Oct 1941
Killed in Action 4 June 1944
Rank
Corporal

James David Foster
1924 - 1986

Arcola High School
Graduated 1942
Service
World War II
Rank
Private First Class

Thomas F. Janes

Arcola High School
Graduated 1942
Service
San Francisco, CA
Rank
Private First Class

John Robert "Bob" Peak, Jr.

Arcola High School
Graduated 1942
Service
Inducted 26 Apr 1943
World War II - Army Air Force

Herman Slutzkey

Arcola High School
Graduated 1942
Service
Inducted 3 Feb 1943
World War II
European Theater
Rank
Corporal

Leonard Anderson

Arcola High School
1941-1943
Service
Inducted January 4, 1944
90th Division, France
Rank
Private 1st Class

Kenneth Barnes

Arcola High School
1941-1943
Service
Inducted June 3, 1943
Army Air Force Pilot

Donald J. Bartholomew
13 Feb 1924 - 17 Sep 2001

Arcola High School
1941-1943
Service
World War II - Inducted August 4, 1943
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Medals
Bronze Star for heroic action in Germany April 5, 1945

Russell Earl Williams
3 Mar 1923 - 21 Jan 2000

Arcola High School
1941-1943
Service
14 Jan 1943 - 6 Jan 1946
Army Air Force
Rank
Sergeant
Medals
Overseas, Good Conduct, Rifle Marksmanship Medals

Stationed on Iwo Jima for twenty-three months working in airplane maintenance. While there he fueled the B-29 Enola Gay, which dropped the 1st atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.

H. Milton Butler
26 Jan 1925 - 18 May 2000

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
Korean War - 1950-1952
Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Fort Bliss, TX
Rank
Corporal

George E. Dilliner
8 Feb 1925 - 20 Nov 1999

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
1943-1946
Miami Beach, FL; Laredo Army Air Force Base, TX; Gowen Field, ID; Topeka Army Air Force Base, KS; Savannah Army Air Base, GA; Bryan Air Force Base, TX; Ellington Field, Houston, TX
15th Air Force, 450th Bomb Group, 721 Squadron
Flew 54 missions over enemy territory as B-24 tail gunner in Africa, Sicily, Italy, Po Valley, Rhineland, Central Europe
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Medals
Gunnery Badge, Pistol Sharp Shooter, Rifle Expert, Overseas Good Conduct, Air Medals with 3 Clusters, European Theatre With 3 Stars, Presidential Citation With 2 Clusters

James P. Fortney
19 Feb 1924 - 2 Sep 2007

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
World War II
Rank
Private 1st Class
Medals
Gunnery Badge, Pistol Sharp Shooter, Rifle Expert, Overseas Good Conduct, Air Medals with 3 Clusters, European Theatre With 3 Stars, Presidential Citation With 2 Clusters

Bobby Gene Ghere
4 May 1923 - 3 Mar 1945

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
1943-1945
Company M, 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division
Killed in Action March 3, 1945 - near Kapellen, Antwerp, Belgium
Buried at Netherlands American Cemetery near Margraten
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Medals
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster (2)

Ghere/Pullen/Reinheimer VFW Post #7862 named in his memory

Russell Smith Ghere
9 Mar 1925 - 27 Jan 1999

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Inducted 8 July 1943
1943-1946
Camp Hulen, TX; Southwest Pacific
Rank
Sergeant

Thomas Gray

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
World War II
1943-1946
France
Rank
Private

Robert Holaday
25 May 1925 - 12 June 2017

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
1944-1946
Army Air Force
Sheppard Field, Wichita Falls, TX; Frederick Army Air Base, Frederick, OK; San Bernardino, CA; “North America” Air Craft School, Englewood, CA; Morrison Field Air Force Base, West Palm Beach, FL
Mechanic
Rank
Corporal
Medals
Good Conduct, American Service, World War II Victory

Karlton W. Keeney

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
Army Air Force
San Angelo Army Air Field, TX

Robert Estal Lutz
31 Jan 1926 - 13 Apr 1999

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
World War II - Army Air Force
Aerial Gunner
Rank
Corporal

James McLane

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
World War II
Europe Infantry

Ted Sage

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
Inducted 8 Dec 1943
Army Air Force
Armored Overseas Company in New Guinea

James Marvin Sanders

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
Inducted 1 Mar 1943
Infantry
Rank
Private

William H. Wallace

Arcola High School
Graduated 1943
Service
Inducted 16 Jun 1943
Radio Operator
62nd Troop Carrier Group, 4th Troop Carrier Squadron
Rank
Sergeant

Willard Applegate

Arcola High School
1942-1944
Service
Inducted May 24, 1944
Missing in Action & Prisoner of War
Rank
Private 1st Class

Clarence Fitzgerald

Arcola High School
1941-1943
Service
Army Air Force - Entered service 25 Mar 1943
Camp Robertson, AR,
Medals
Air Medal, 2 Oak Leaf clusters; Bronze Star

John P. "Pat" Harrington

Arcola High School
Graduated 1944
Service
Army Air Force
Medals
Air Medal for distinction in completion of numerous missions against the Japanese Empire

Raymond M. Sullivan

Arcola High School
Graduated 1944
Rank
Private

Charles Sanders, Jr.
22 May 1926 - 3 May 2003

Arcola High School
Graduated 1944
Service
World War II
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Harold Jones Butler

Arcola High School
Graduated 1945
Service
World War II - 1945-1946
Army Engineers
Inchon, South Korea

Passing under the Golden Gate Bridge enroute to Korea when World War II ended.

Herman Chumbley
27 Aug 1927 - 4 Mar 2003

Arcola High School
Graduated 1945
Service
World War II
Rank
Corporal

Jimmie L. Ghere
13 Nov 1926 - 22 Aug 1990

Arcola High School
Graduated 1945
Service
World War II - 1945-1946
Japan
Rank
Corporal

Francis Moore

Arcola High School
Graduated 1945
Service
Korean War
Rank
Private

Robert Owen Titus
9 Mar 1928 - 12 Aug 1953

Arcola High School
1943 - 1945
Service
1950 - 1953
Korean War
2nd Infantry Division
Rank
Private

MIA - Battle of the Soyang River on May 18, 1951. Declared dead on August 12, 1953

William E. Bickel
6 July 1928 - 7 Feb 2004

Joseph Hugh Fortney
24 Nov 1924 - 16 Aug 2007

Russell Lowell Gamble
1929 - 1979

Arcola High School
Graduated 1947
Service
Korean War
Rank
Corporal

Kenneth Joseph Maier
3 April 1929 - 1 May 2014

Arcola High School
Graduated 1947
Service
11 December 1950 - 8 November 1956
Korean War
Rank
Corporal
Medals
Korean Service, Bronze Service Star, UN Service, Overseas Bar

Thomas N. (Tom) Nay
16 October 1929 - 4 April 2024

Arcola High School
Graduated 1947
Service
Signal Corps

John Philip "Phil" Wesch
30 Jun 1929 - 12 May 2011

Arcola High School
Graduated 1947
Service
Korean War
Military Intelligence
Rank
Private 1st Class

James M. “Max” Lytle
22 Aug 1929 - 27 Apr 2011

Arcola High School
Graduated 1948
Service
Korean War
Rank
Corporal
Medals
Purple Heart

William H. Meyers
8 Feb 1930 - 25 Jul 2009

Arcola High School
Graduated 1948
Service
Koreand War - 1951-1953
Camp Breckenridge, KY; Augsburg and Bamberg, Germany
Driver and radio operator
Rank
Corporal
Medals
Overseas Medal

Richard E. "Bud" Moore

Arcola High School
Graduated 1948
Service
Korean War
B Battery, 38th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division

Jack H. "Pete" Murphy
25 Mar 1930 - 16 Aug 2015

Arcola High School
Graduated 1948
Service
Korean War

Kent Coy

Arcola High School
Graduated 1949
Service
Korean War
Rank
1st Lieutenant

Leslie J. Grant
1930 - 1995

Arcola High School
Graduated 1949
Service
Korean War
Rank
Private

James O. Gray

Arcola High School
Graduated 1949
Service
Korean War
10 1/2 months in Korea
Rank
Corporal - assistant to Chaplain

Carol P. Pullen
17 August 1931 - 20 June 2019

Arcola High School
Graduated 1949
Service
1954 - 1956
Panama Canal Zone
Rank
Specialist 3rd Class

James Hunter Patridge
16 Aug 1933 - 22 Dec 2001

Arcola High School
Graduated 1950
Service
Korean War
Rank
Sergeant

James Edgar Case
22 Dec 1932 - 8 Jul 1995

Arcola High School
Graduated 1951
Service
Korean War
Rank
Corporal

Curtis Atteberry

Arcola High School
Graduated 1952
Service
1954-1956
Camp Chaffee, AR; Yokohama Engineer Depot, Yokohama, Japan
Rank
Specialist 3rd Class

Oscar Jacob

Arcola High School
Graduated 1952

Duane Strader

Arcola High School
Graduated 1952

Lowell East

Arcola High School
Graduated 1953

Lloyd Johns
8 Aug 1933 - 26 Apr 2022

Arcola High School
Graduated 1953
Service
1953-1955

Don W. Wingler
11 April 1934 - 16 Jan 2008

Terry Clark
24 Apr 1934 - 17 Mar 2022

Arcola High School
Graduated 1955
Service
1955-1959
Camp Chaffee, AK, Ft. Lee, VA, Fontenbleu France, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

John Guyot

Arcola High School
Graduated 1955

Donald Leroy Moler
13 Aug 1937 - 11 Apr 2018

Arcola High School
Graduated 1955
Service
1961-1982
Ft. Leonard Wood MO; Ft. Sam Houston, TX; Ft. Benning, GA; Valley Forge Hospital, Phoenixville, PA; Paris, France; Korea; San Francisco, CA; San Antonio, TX; Viet Nam; Ft. Campbell, KY
Medals
Bronze Star - Viet Nam; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with 5 campaign stars; Combat Medical Badge; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Presidential Unit Citation; Good Conduct medal ( 6 times awarded); 2 overseas service medals; Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 device

Michael "Mickey" Strader
17 Aug 1937 - 24 Mar 2018

Arcola High School
Graduated 1955
Service
1960-1968
Fort Dix, NJ; Illinois National Guard - Sullivan, IL; Mattoon, IL; Decatur, IL
Rank
1st Lieutenant

Jack B. Barnes
15 May 1938 - 31 Dec 2020

Arcola High School
Graduated 1956
Service
Army National Guard

Ronald L. Gibson
12 March 1938 - 20 Dec 2002

Denny Johnson

Arcola High School
Graduated 1956
Service
1957-1963
34th Armor, 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Lewis, WA - Tank Driver
69th Armor, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HA - S-2 Intelligence Analyst/Trainee
Hq USARHAW 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HA - G-2 Intelligence Analyst/Area of Responsibility Viet Nam
Rank
Specialist 4th Class
Medals
Good Conduct Medal, Sharpshooter (Pistol), Expert (Rifle)

William L. "Bill" Young
16 Oct 1938 – 4 Nov 2007

Arcola High School
Graduated 1956
Service
1957-1958 - U.S. Army
Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Fort Chaffee, AR
1958-1965 - Army Reserves
Rank
Sergeant E5

Charles Raymond Moler
1939 Oct 7 - 2011 Aug 6

Arcola High School
Graduated 1957
Service
1957-1960

Larry Rex Shafer
19 Aug 1939 - 23 April 2009

Donald Criss Wilson
20 Mar 1940 - 18 Oct 1993

Arcola High School
Graduated 1958
Rank
Specialist 4th Class

John C. "Jack" Phillips

Arcola High School
Graduated 1959

Michael Ashley
30 Nov 1941 - 1 Sep 2020

Arcola High School
Graduated 1960
Service
1961-1967
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Ft. Sill, OK; Fulda, Germany; Ft. Knox, KY
Rank
Staff Sergeant

Robert E. Coombe
16 May 1942 - 24 December 2023

Arcola High School
Graduated 1960
Service
1966-1969

Anson Proffitt

Arcola High School
Graduated 1961
Service
Dominican Republic - Military Police
Rank
Private 1st Class

Gerald Dale Shoemake
13 Dec 1943 - 8 May 2021

Arcola High School
Graduated 1961
Service
1965-1971 Illinois National Guard
Fort Jackson, SC; Fort Carson, CO
Gunner in the use of 105 recoilless rifles and as squad leader
Rank
Sergeant

Dean Shoemake

Arcola High School
Graduated 1961

Samuel M. Blackwell, Jr.
3 May 1944 - 3 Dec 2020

Arcola High School
Graduated 1962
Service
Army National Guard
1967-1973

Jack McCoskey
31 Oct 1944 - 19 June 2020

Arcola High School
Graduated 1962
Service
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO

Bill Miller

Arcola High School
Graduated 1962
Service
1966-1967
Ft. Polk, LA; Ft. Hood, TX; Germany
Ground-to-Ground radar operator
Rank
SP/4

Thomas Moler
1944 - 21 July 2019

Arcola High School
Graduated 1962
Service
Medic-ambulance driver in South France

Orson Baker
19 August 1945 - 20 August 2019

Arcola High School
Graduated 1963
Service
December 1966-September 1970
Rank
Specialist 5
Medals
Bronze Star, National Defense Service, Vietnam Campaign, Good Conduct (1st Awd), Vietnam Service, Army Commendation

Duan Bartholomew
29 May 1945 - 16 March 2015

Arcola High School
Graduated 1963
Service
1968-1970
Rank
Sergeant

Gary Gardner
6 July 1945 - 5 December 2020

Arcola High School
Graduated 1963
Rank
Private

Jim Nacke

Arcola High School
Graduated 1963
Rank
Private

Norman Baker

Arcola High School
Graduated 1964
Service
1966-1967
Viet Nam
Rank
E-4 Specialist

Lawrence Miliam Jinkins
28 Nov 1945 - 20 Jan 2022

Arcola High School
1960-1963
Service
17 Feb 1964 - 16 Feb 1967
Etain, France; Cahm Rahn Bay, Vietnam; Ft. Knox, KY; Ft Leonard Wood, MO
Rank
E-5 Specialist

Gary Simpson
16 Dec 1944 - 23 Jun 2022

Arcola High School
Graduated 1964
Service
Ft. Knox, KY
Rank
Private

Roger Bright

Arcola High School
Graduated 1965
Service
Viet Nam

Ronald Gardner

Arcola High School
Graduated 1965
Service
1966-1973
Fort Ord, CA; Mattoon, Sullivan, and Urbana, IL
Rank
1st Lieutenant

Charles Goad
22 Sep 1947 - 1 Dec 2021

Arcola High School
Graduated 1965
Service
Vietnam

Michael James McLane

Arcola High School
Graduated 1965
Service
9th Infantry Division
Infantry Rifleman
Republic of Vietnam (Nov 1967-Nov 1968)
Medals
2 Bronze Stars for Valor
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)

Paul Richard McLane
13 Jun 1947 - 6 Nov 1999

Arcola High School
Graduated 1965
Service
4th Infantry Division
Infantry Rifleman
Republic of Vietnam (Dec 1967-Dec 1968)
Medals
Army Commendation Medal
Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)

Dennis Simpson
21 June 1947 - 1 August 2014

Arcola High School
Graduated 1965
Service
1966-1972
Fort Knox, KY; Camp Cu Chi, Vietnam
Rank
Sergeant
Medals
National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Sharpshooter Badge (Rifle)

Steve Shrader

Arcola High School
Graduated 1966

Steven K. Boyer

Arcola High School
Graduated 1967
Service
1971-1972
Rank
Specialist 5th Class

Robert G. Chumbley

Arcola High School
Graduated 1967
Service
1968-1971
Paratrooper in the 3rd battalion, 503rd Airborne Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Fort Bragg, NC; Vietnam
Rank
Sergeant
Medals
Purple Hearts (2)

Robert "Butch" Clark

Arcola High School
Graduated 1967
Service
June 1970 - March 1972
Rank
Specialist E-5

Robert Cline

Arcola High School
Graduated 1967
Service
June 17, 1968 - June 17, 1974
Rank
Sergeant E-5

Anthony William "Tony" Finn

Arcola High School
Graduated 1967
Service
May 1968 - August 1991
South Vietnam; Sembach, Germany; Ft. Campbell, KY; Nelligen, Germany; Ft. Polk, LA; South Korea
Rank
Sergeant First Class
Medals
33 Air Medals
3 Army Commendation Medals
4 Army Good Conduct Medals
National Defense Service Medals
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnamese Cross of Galantry with Palm

Monte L. Ghere

Arcola High School
Graduated 1967
Service
1970-1971
Fort Campbell, KY; Fort Knox, KY; Mannheim, Germany
8th Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade, 68th Armor
M60 A1 tank
Rank
Specialist 5th Class
Medals
National Defense Service Medal

Kenneth Haught

Arcola High School
Graduated 1967
Service
Viet Nam

Kenneth James McLane
23 September 1949 - 12 July 2014

Arcola High School
Graduated 1967
Service
1969-1971
25th Infantry Division
Fort Polk, LA; Fort Knox, KY; Viet Nam (Dec 1969-Dec 1970); Germany
Infantry Rifleman
Weapons, K.P., Guard Duty, advanced training for tanks
Rank
Specialist 4th Class
Medals
2 Bronze Stars for Valor, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, Overseas Medal, Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)

Dale Chumbley

Arcola High School
1964 - 1968
Service
20 March 1969 - 25 Oct 1970
Viet Nam - 17th Group, 1st Aviation, 10th Battalion, 92nd Combat Assault, Helicopter Company
Rank
Specialist 4th Class

John Robert Daugherty
22 April 1951 - 9 August 1983

Arcola High School
1965 - 1968
Service
Viet Nam
Rank
Private 1st Class

Richard Ray Carson
25 Dec 1950 - 28 Mar 1971

Arcola High School
Graduated 1968
Service
Viet Nam
2ND PLT, C CO, 1ST BN, 46TH Infantry, 198TH Infantry BDE, Americal Div.
Killed in Action - March 28, 1971 Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam
Rank
Sergeant

David Ghere
18 July 1950 - 17 Jan 2010

Arcola High School
Graduated 1968
Rank
Captain

John Gary Knaus
1 Jan 1950 - 22 Apr 2009

Arcola High School
Graduated 1968
Service
Viet Nam
Rank
Sergeant

Phillip Ray Sisk

Arcola High School
Graduated 1968
Service
Rifleman
Rank
Specialist 4th Class

Dennis Ray Thompson

Arcola High School
Graduated 1968
Service
1971 - 1977
IL National Guard - Sullivan, Macomb, Carbondale
Rank
Specialist 4th Class

Patrick M. Murphy
13 Dec 1950 - 10 Jun 2010

Arcola High School
1965-1968
Service
Viet Nam
Rank
Specialist 4th Class

Timothy Allen Murphy
18 Aug 1951 - 28 Feb 2006

Arcola High School
Graduated 1970
Service
Viet Nam
Rank
Specialist 4th Class

Richard Daugherty
12 July 1955 - 13 April 2006

Arcola High School
Graduated 1973
Rank
Private 1st Class

Karl Reynolds

Arcola High School
Graduated 1974
Service
U.S. Marine Corps
1975-1980
Rank
Corporal
Service
U.S. Army
1980-2016
Rank
Chief Warrant Officer - 4

Glenn Antle

Arcola High School
Graduated 1977
Service
1977-1980
Ft. Jackson, SC; Redstone Arsenal, AL; Ft. Bliss, TX; Wurtzburg, Germany
TOW missile system repairman
Rank
Private 1st Class

Keith Huckstep

Arcola High School
Graduated 1983
Service
18 March 1985 - 24 February 1993
Fort Sill, OK
13B20 Cannon Crewmember
Rank
Sergeant E/5
Medals
Army Service, Army Achievement (2), Rifle M16 (Marksman), Hand Grenade (Sharpshooter), Good Conduct, Army Lapel Button

Dr. Marc Young

Arcola High School
Graduated 1985
Service
1997-2000
Fort Knox, KY
Anesthesiologist
Rank
Major
Medals
Meritorious Service, National Defense Service

Troy Dean Stanton
23 March 1969 - 8 December 2020

Arcola High School
Graduated 1987
Service
U.S. Army

Mike Nelson

Arcola High School
Graduated 1988
Service
Military Police

Kendra (Eskridge) Chriss

Arcola High School
Graduated 1989
Service
1989-1991
Desert Storm
Linguist - English/Farsi
Rank
E-4

Matt Henson

Arcola High School
Graduated 1989
Service
Military Police

K. D. Henson

Arcola High School
Graduated 1990
Service
M1A1 Tanker

William Richard "Bill" Mathias

Arcola High School
Graduated 1991
Service
1991-1997
Mannheim Germany; Fort Knox KY; Friedberg/Giessen Germany; Bosnia
Rank
Sergeant E/5
Medals
Army Commendation Medal, Four Army Achievement Medals, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Two Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Driver and Mechanic Badge

Elisha Capili

Arcola High School
Graduated 2002

Alexandra Leal

Arcola High School
Graduated 2002
Service
Jan 2002 to Jan 2012
Rank
Sergeant E5

Jared Sykes

Arcola High School
Graduated 2009
Service
Infantry

Kristopher Kersey

Arcola High School
2008-2011
Service
Army National Guard
Nov 2011 - Present
Rank
E-4 Specialist