~ adapted from Chapter 12 of the Shell Rock 150th Anniversary Book, contributed by Linda McCann

“Patriotism calls for all this. Look at that beautiful flag - those stars and stripes! Our Revolutionary fathers chose this for our national banner. They dedicated it to freedom - baptized it in their blood, and dying, bequeathed it as a rich inheritance to us, their children and posterity. Patriotism is a noble virtue. Above all - except your God - love your country.”

It seems as though every generation has had to go to war in support of the United States. From Shell Rock’s founding, the young men have answered the call to service. Men served in the Civil War, and each succeeding war. Six have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country: their lives. Information on those six follows.

Dee Avery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Avery, died October 10, 1918, at Roisel, France. The local American Legion post organized and named itself the Dee Avery post.

 

GOLD STAR BOYS

The World War II "Gold Star Boys" were service men who lost their lives during WWII. The term began during WWII when the families would place a Gold Star in their window after they lost their son.

‘Boys’ of both wars and our late conflict of Korea and Viet-Nam did not die in vain. Their task was to make this a better country for heroes to live in.

Russell M. Slight, son of Mrs. Eva Lebeck and M. A. Slight, entered the service in the Maine Corps at Des Moines, Iowa on September 22, 1942. He attended camps at San Diego, Camp Elliott and Camp Pendleton, California. He served as a U.S. Marine Gunner in the 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division, 2nd Bn. Battery F in the Pacific Islands participating in the Battles of the Marshall Islands and Saipan. He was killed in Action on Saipan June 16, 1944, after serving 21 months. He was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously.

He was the first Shell Rock boy killed in action and was honored by the American Legion as such. The Legion Post hereafter being known as the Averly-Slight post in honor of the first two killed in World Wars I and II.

Willard Van Alst, son of Clint Ogden and Mrs. Guy Scoles, entered service at San Diego, Cal., in the Marines in 1940. He took his training in Dan Diego and served in the Phillipines. He was in service two years and died in a prison camp in the Philippines November 10, 1942.

Raymond Gersema, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Gersema, entered service October 8, 1941, at Des Moines, Iowa. He took his basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas in the 106th Infantry. He was then sent to the Hawaiian Islands for further training. He was sent to the Marshall Islands, back to Hawaii, and then to Saipan, where he lost his life August 17, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

Richard Eggleston, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Eggleston, entered service at Cedar Falls, Iowa February 10, 1941, after serving in the National Guard for six years. He attended Camp Claiborne, LA; Fort Dix, NJ; and then went to Ireland in the First Convoy. He served in communications of the Headquarters Co., of the 133rd Infantry in England, Scotland, and North Africa. He was Chief of Communications with the Eisenhower security Command. S-Sgt. Eggleston arrived at Camp Patrick, Va., December 6, 1943, and Ft. Sheridan, IL, on January 6, 1944. He died at Camp Shelby, MI on January 16, 1944. He received the Good Conduct and Pre-Pearl Harbor medals and European Theater and African Campaign ribbons.

 

THE KOREAN WAR

Laverne N. Smith, son of Mrs. Nellie Smith, received a Silver Star for his actions in Korea. Private Smith was a member of the Second Platoon, Heavy Mortar Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, of the U.S. Army. He died July 16, 1950, when he volunteered to remain in the platoon position and hold off the enemy while the rest of the platoon withdrew. Defying the odds of about thirty to one, these soldiers enabled the main body of the platoon to withdraw and to take their wounded with them. He also received the Purple Heart posthumously.

SINCE THEN

The Shell Rock community was fortunate in that no servicemen died during the Vietnam War, the first Gulf War, or thus far, in the Iraq War. However, one young man from Shell Rock died, not during war time, but on active duty in the military.

Bradley Beem was the son of Carol Heckman and Jack Beem. He was born in 1967, and grew up in the Shell Rock community. He graduated from the Waverly-Shell Rock High School and enlisted in the U.S.Army. He was stationed for a tour in Korea and Panama. He was an aircrew member on the CH-47 Chinook helicopters. While training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Brad was killed in a helicopter crash caused by failure of one of the components of the navigation system, on March 7, 1996.

Brad received the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.

Brad was married to Yvonne Henkle of Waverly, and they had a son, TJ.

The Shell Rock American Legion dedicated a flag and flag pole on October 6, 1996 to Bradley Beem, in Hoyt Elliot Park, north of the Old Mill.

Patriotism can be expressed in many forms. Some may fly the flag every day, rain or shine, and make sure it is lit at night. Others wear their label pins. Still others visit or make things for veterans in the hospital. Young people are learning that the red, white and blue is special> they need to stand in respect for the flag, uncover their heads and cover their hearts. Still others show it by small acts for others: driving people to vote on election days, visiting people or checking on them in their homes, delivering ‘meals on wheels’ without benefit of compensation. Each of these acts occurs in Shell Rock and demonstrates the American spirit; which is helps others and encourages the good of the group.

 

WOMEN IN SERVICE

During World War II, women enlisted and served in large numbers for the first time. Nine young ladies from Shell Rock enlisted and served the war effort in any way they could.

Florence Chambers Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Chambers, entered cadet nurse’s corps on January, 1943, and graduated February, 1946.

Cpl. Luella Arns, daughter of Clint Ogden and Mrs. Elizabeth Scoles entered the Army Air Corp. at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on May 31, 1944. She took her basic training at Fort Des Moines and Bakersfield, California. After serving 19 months she was discharged at Fort Des Moines, December 1, 1945, with the Victory Ribbon, American Theater and Good Conduct Medal.

Dorothy Clouse Brandt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Clouse, entered the Navy on August 3, 1943, at Des Moines, Iowa. She attended Hunter College N. Y. Yeoman School, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Navy Dry Dock, San Francisco, California, and was hospitalized on account of illness at Treasure Island, Long Beach Naval Hospital, and Oakland, California. She was discharged on January 10, 1945, at Oakland.

Joyce Wilma Lahr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Will Lahr, entered Cadet Nurse training at Sibley Memorial Hospital, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Gallenger Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital, all in Washington, D. C. She was a patient in the Gallenger Hospital and later in the Children’s Hospital for a mastoid operation.

Cora Belle Busman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Busma, entered Cadet Nurse training at Clinton, September 1, 1944, and is still in service.

Sgt. Ila Mae Austin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Austin, entered the Army Air Corps on April 24, 1945, at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. She took her training at Fort Des Moines and Orlando, Florida. She received her discharge on October 24, 1946, at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Anna Marcella Kitzmiller, Specialist 3-c M., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Van Hauen, entered the service as a WAVE in the Navy, June 19, 1944, at Cedar Falls, Iowa. She attended Hunter College, New York. She was discharged January 22, 1946, at Miami, Florida, after serving one year and six months.

Nelle Thompson, daughter of Mrs. Rosa Thompson, entered the service February 15, 1945, at Minneapolis, Minnesota, as Medical Dept. Dietitian. She attended Camp Carson, Colorado and Fort Benning, Georgia. She was discharged January 15, 1946.

Cpl. Mildred Scoles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Scoles, entered the Army Air corps at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on March 7, 1944. She took her basic training at Fort Des Moines and was transferred to Waco Army Air Field, later to Midland Army Air Field, serving 21 months. She was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign and Victory Ribbon. She was discharged at Fort Des Moines on December 7, 1945.

VETERANS BURIED AT RIVERSIDE CEMETERY

BLACK HAWK WAR

Capt. John H. Smith

Ebenezer Walter

John Wilcox

CIVIL WAR

George Adair	Sanford G. Lewis	Elias D. Albright
Orlando Loper	Steven Barkelew	William S. Matteson
George G. Blake	1st. Lt. Levi H. Mead	Michael Brannen
Alexander W. Meyers	Anson Blackman	Lucius F. Bristol
Campbell T. Meyers	Elbert W. Blackman	Mordecai B. Brogue
Uriah D. Meyers	John W. Bass	A. H. Bullen
Orlando S. Newcomb	Fred Carter	Isaac Bunn
John R. Niblack	William R. Champlin	Henry Burkholder
Jacob B. Olney	John R. Cummins	John B. Burroughs
Fletcher L. Orvis	Stephen DeWitt	D. C. Chamberlain
Franklin E. Orvis	Willard Leverich	Fernando C. Chittenden
Henry D. Overaker	George Mason	Josiah R. Clawson
Brinkley Pierce	Ashael P. Mcallister	Luther Couch
Conrad Pohl	Lt. Col. Edward H. Mix	H. C. Crandall
Charles Point	John M. Meyers	Levi G. Cunningham
Sanford W. Remington	Robert L. Olmstead	Rueben A. DeWitt
Benjamin J. Robbins	George W. Parks	C. D. Eastwood
Benjamin Roberts	Julius A. Waters	Louis Echart
A. A. Robinson	Ezra S. Wilson	William E. Fague
John F. Root	John H. Wiltse	Francis G. Foster
1st Lt. Joen W. Stewart	J. C. Foster	W. H. Stewart Jr.
Joseph R. Gibson	John Stoddard	Theophilus T. Gibson
Allison G. Stonebreaker	James A. Graham	Washington Tharp
Colonel Huston Green	Harrison Thompson	Robert W. Hannant
Willis A. Tippey	Samuel M. Harding	James A. Trotter
Gustavus C. Hawley	Lemuel J. Trotter	Casper T. Husband
Charles E. Turner	James A. Jerolaman	Daniel Wahl
Capt. John R. Jones	Theodore S. Walter	Nathan B. Jones
William W. West	James B. Kelsey	James T. Wetsel
Sylvester A. Kinney	Jeremiah Whirehead	Charles H. Knapp
William H. Williams	Levi B. Knapp	2nd Lt. Don A. Winchell
Edward Lantz	Lyford H. Winchell	James P. Leverich
Ezera D. Winship	Louis Leverich	William H. Windship
2nd Lt. John F. Wright	Benjamin Young

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

Charles M. Austin	Edwin W. Jewell	John Brannan
Bert C. McCague	James L. Graham

WORLD WAR I: KILLED IN FRANCE

Dee Avery	Leonard C. Fuller	Oliver C. Metzger
Benjamin Ooster (buried in Lowtown)

DIED SINCE WORLD WAR I

Harold E. Brogue	Ruloff Wedeking	Ralph V. Gibson
William D. Olmstead	Glenn C. Poorman	Ernest Avery
Leslie H. Dewey	Earl H. Melendy	Harold L. Reiher
Arthur W. Dale	William M. Adair	Earl V. Johnson
Ned C. Willey	John L. Lewis	John C. Dailey
Herman Spear	John A. Davis	Harry E. Smith
H. Damon Amick	Courtland Daley	James L. Graham
Victor L. Wilson	Noah F. Graham	Harm Jungling
Robert Greenlee	George R. Hughes	Keith F. Stevenson
Harland E. Yarcho	Albert W. Boers	Gilbert Theobald
Harold G. Apfel	Harry Dugan	Harry S. Ward
George H. Cain	James H. Stevenson	Dr. Frank N. Mead
Percy Olmstead	Casper Nieman	George H. Renning
Delbert C. Zickafoose	Gerald W. Deeming	Mark R. Blasford
Harold N. Zeek	Carl L. Stevenson	Everett O. Kivell
Abel A. Nieman	Gordon R. Speers	Frank H. Cmelik
Charley Modderman	Carson Kramer	Manly Secor
Kenneth L. Hall	Woodworth L. Hawn	Charles R. Stouffer
Edward H. Hartwig	Richard Dale Larkin	Ezre V. Olmstead
Archie G. Reynolds	Earl T. Apfel	James Barney Phelps
Isaac (Ike) Sinkey	Edward F. Heise	John F. Dale
Walter G. Best	Lloyd L. Gibson	Dirk Ahlers
Harm Meyer	William S. Bemis	Ruloff D. Wedeking
William L. Cain	James L. Prugh	Wayne C. Martin
Laurence J. Bowen	Rolf J. Ullestad	George R. Blake
Tom Austin	August Ruth	Vernal Juel

WORLD WAR II: KILLED OVERSEAS

Raymond Gersema

Lt. James Rice

Clyde Poe

Russell M. Slight

DIED SINCE WORLD WAR II

Harmon W. Kadous	Eugene R. Luitjens	John S. McGregor
Wayne R. Neal	Howard E. Norton	Harry E. Stoddard
Joseph Donald Verrier	John McGregor	Gerald W. Nathem
Reed Orvis	Leslie F. Cmelik	Robert L. Willison
Clarence L. Bowen	Richard McDowell	John W. Prugh
Francis W. Schneider	Charles Hawn	David E. Wilderbuer
Harold L. Welter	Kenneth B. Keller	Martin Mike
Ruth Lavern	Melvin Thompson	Robert J. Fober
Leighton “Bud” Sommers	Elroy H. McKean	F.C. “Fritz” Thompson
Phyllis M. McKean	James (Big Jim) Stevenson	Baldwin L. Cain
Chris Kluiter	Vernon James	Joe DeWitt
James H. Hickle	Robert W. Stevenson	John Edward Busma
Robert R. Metzger	Richard Carl Stevenson	Floyd C. Johnson
Arnold J. Henley	Edith M. Buckler	Kline C. Shipman
Daniel E. Jerolaman	Harm Lursen	John Allen Wumkes
Odus Bergman	Olliver Nieman	Ted J. Winter
Richard C. Ball	Junior K. Mulder	John Wumkes
Paul B. Jaquis	James H. (Hank) Smith	Harland H. Thompson
Howard W. Theis	Ervin W. Poorman	James N. Avery
Franklin P. Reichert	Mansfield “Doc” Witt	Lawrence Slight
Morgan Willey	Leland C. Willson	Robert McGregor
Travis C. Moffitt	Wilbern E. Thompson	James A. Leemon, Sr.
Don Scrivner	Lloyd E. Sly	Wilford Olmstead
James A. Leemon, Sr.	Don Scrivner	Lloyd E. Sly
Wilford Olmstead	Ralph L. Bandfield	Roger Hall
Lester A. “Mike” Powell	Kenneth Epley	Nellie E. Thompson
Carl Heine	Robert Jurgens	Earl Kellogg
Ben C. Kroma	Raymond R. Ball	Vernal K. Kimball
Donald Jones	John Harms	Patterson Williams
David Wildeboer	Clyde Williams	Casjen Boelman
Robert Eskridge	Minor Schuldt	Ben DeWitt
Ray Lenius	Albert Biekert	Delmar Greenlee
George Cain	Dorlan Wilharm	Joe Schneider
Clarence Schoenbeck	Herman Menzel	Gerald Harken
Leonard Olmstead	James Kammeyer	Sievert “Barney” Holtkamp
Donald Schneider

REGULAR ARMY

Orville Jones

KOREAN WAR

Laverne N. Smith (Killed in Action)	Carl John Dailey	Robert L. Evanson
Ivan Pal Jones	Gerald E. Cain	Gordon C. Peterson
Leslie Johnson	Gerald Seal	Thomas Glanville
Wayne Winkey	Rolland Brekke	Vernon Rindels

REGULAR AIR FORCE

William Olmstead

Everett Berends

James V. Gibson

MARINE CORPS

Wendell Harms

REGULAR ARMY

Charles Conrad

Orville Conrad

Bradley Beem

America continues to owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who respond to the call of duty. Following in the footsteps of those who served in the 20th century, our men and women in uniform are living up to a heritage of service, loyalty, honor, sacrifice and patriotism passed down for generations.

As you drive though Iowa, a state that has sent well more than its fair share of men off into battle from the Civil War up to and including our current action in Iraq, think about patriotism displayed. Our nation was built on a simple but powerful idea -- freedom. Love of that idea and the country it inspired is the patriotism shown in Iowa. It's the love of our flag, but it's also more than our flag. It's a love of our people and our way of life. It's an understanding that we need to both sacrifice for it sometimes and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice at all times.