Florene Jewell Watkins (January 9, 1910 – August 27, 1997)
Service: NAVY Waves: “Women Accepted Volunteer Emergency Service”Rank achieved: LieutenantDates of service: December 16, 1943 – November 1, 1948 Florene Watkins enlisted in the Waves in December 1943 and immediately was assigned to officer candidate school in Northhampton, Mass, at Smithville College. One of her letters from Northhampton while in school said how much she loved it, how strenuous it was, and how great the food was! (perhaps an unusual report regarding the food) She graduated as Lieutenant Junior Grade in February, 1944. She was then assigned to Hollywood, Florida where she was trained (with a class of cadets, both male and female) in navigation. Although she served during World War Il, she was not assigned to combat duty, because, at that time, women were not allowed to participate in active combat. This probably prevented her from being a navigator on the battle front. During her tour in Florida, German submarines were reported to be seen in intercoastal waters off Florida. She questioned her fellow cadets about U2 boat sightings, however they were sworn to secrecy and could not tell what they saw. She too, on occasion flew on naval aircraft, as a navigator, but not as a pilot. After graduation from navigation training (and promotion to full Lieutenant) she was assigned to teaching navigation to navy cadets. At least one class achieved record high scores under her tutelage.(newspaper clipping) While in the service, she was engaged and married (February, 1945). Her cadet class at that time (all young men) threw a bridal shower for her (see photo) wherein she received such gifts as a fish bowl, toilet bowl cleaner and other perceived necessities of marriage! she was released from active duty October 30, 1945. Following her marriage and gent geny Samammamme transfer to inactive service, she had her first child. At that time, she received a eden Gil an I mandatory honorable discharge from inactive duty in the Navy because: YS lle oe I “Since the policy of the Navy Department is that ‘Women with children under 18 years of age are not eligible for Navy Service’, it becomes necessary to take steps to terminate, under the most honorable conditions, the Reserve commissions of women officers who now have children under the age of 18…” Source: Document dated 1 November 1948 to All Women Officers of the Naval Reserve”
Henry Conway Oldham (1895-1929)
Army Air Corps, WWI – pilot Henry was in the Aviation Service in WWI. He fought in Europe and was rumored to have flown through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. After the war he was married to Myrl Walters of Marceline and they had three children, Henry George, Charles, and Jo Anne (Campbell). While they were living in North Platte, Nebraska he worked as a flight instructor and was killed there in a plane crash. Myrl returned to Marceline with the children and moved back to her parents’ farm. From there she drove back and forth to Kirksville until she got her teaching certificate. She eventually became the principal of the elementary school in Marceline, where she served for 18 years.
Roger Walsh (1948- )
US Navy, 1967 – 1971 Roger Walsh was born May 6, 1948, in Brookfield, Missouri. In 1967, he enlisted in the United States Navy, following in the footsteps of his brother Robert Walsh. Roger served from 1967 to 1971. In June 1967, Roger completed boot camp in San Diego, California. After boot camp he was sent to Memphis, Tennessee to attend Aviation Hyraulics school. He spent the next 2 1/2 years working on Naval aircraft in China Lake, California. From China Lake, he was sent to VF124 in Miramar, California for training. After training, Roger was sent to fighter squadron VF51 attached to the Bonhomme Richard for a six month cruise to Vietnam. Upon completion of his tour, he was returned to San Diego, California and was discharged at Miramar Naval Air Station in March of 1967. During his service, he visited the Philippines, Hawaii, Guam and the Mojave Desert. Roger had a career with UPS for 30 years. In 1974, he married Cynthia Templeman and together they have two children and five grandchildren. They currently reside in Brookfield, Missouri.
Warren F. Haley (1925-2008)
US Army, 1945-1946 My dad, Warren Haley, son of Earl and Jessie Riley Haley, was born August 13, 1925 in rural Marceline. He was in the 11th Army Air Force, Cargo Resupply Unit, serving as crew chief of supply drops. His unit was in the South Pacific, island hopping through New Guinea, the Philippines and more, moving supplies to military forces and civilians. After an R&R in Australia, Warren joined his unit in the CBI Theater (China-Burma-India) providing strategic air supply missions in the area. Warren’s plane was shot down somewhere near the China-Burma Hump (his words). Pilot and co-pilot died in the crash, one man was hurt bad but survived. Three days later they were rescued. Dad told the story that one day he saw a soldier walking who had more baggage than he could handle. Warren yelled at the guy to offer to help him, he turned around and it was Delmar Foley, also of Marceline! At home, the families were best of friends and ran around together. Two families, like one through the years. Today there are just two of us left but we are still like one family and still close. Mike Haley Warren Haley’s Medals:
Michael R. Haley (born 1947)
US Army, 1966-1968 My name is Michael Roy Haley, born August 9, 1947 at the old old St. Francis Hospital in Marceline. My parents were Warren F. Haley and Pearl Lourene Cowser Haley. After the death of a cousin the family broke up. Uncle Howard, a WWII veteran of Europe, moved back to Hammond, IN. Dad, a WWII veteran of the South Pacific, became a preacher and moved to Mexico, MO. My grandparents Earl and Jessie Haley stayed on the farm outside of Marceline. I graduated from Mexico High School in May 1965 and was thinking about joining the Marines. But one day when I got home there was a military car at our house. Two Marines were going with Dad to a church member’s home whose son had been killed unloading heavy equipment in Viet Nam. Dad told me the boy’s plane crew had volunteered to fly extra flights, and on the 10th trip were shot. Dad told me “don’t volunteer, but if picked for duty then do your best”. I met Linda Hodge in 1966. We got married and I was drafted. For a farm boy I did not know this world was so big. On R&R, Linda met me in Hawaii and it was different — clean, smelled great. Over the years we’ve gone back a couple of times, but there is no place like home. I volunteered for convoys just to see the country and the people. Montagnards and Vietnamese could not get along with each other, but the Montagnards were strong supporters of US forces. I received Marksman Medals with pistol, M14, M60 and grenade, the National Defense Ribbon, 2 Vietnam Service Medals, and the Missouri Medal of Service. There were many long term friendships but those friendships are getting fewer. Jimmy Folco was a good friend. Our convoy was stopped to let an armored convoy go ahead, and a roadside papasan had his goods to sell. Jimmy wanted something to eat and got what looked like a hamburger. Jimmy said it was good and wanted to know what it was. Papasan pulled out a live monkey, saying “Same! Same!” Poor Jimmy up-chucked his dinner. If I had to go back I would go back with the same guys. We were a team that worked together. When we left out of Vietnam we came out under heavy fire because the Tet Offensive was still going on.
A Veteran’s Family
Carl T. Wright and Freda Wright were married in the 1940’s. From their marriage, eight children were born: seven boys and one girl. Carl was a farmer, Freda a homemaker. Both of their families have a history of service in the United States military. Carl had five brothers who served in World War Il. His youngest brother was killed in action, buried in Italy. Freda had three brothers who served in the military. Through the years of the Vietnam era, five of Carl and Freda’s sons would go to war. They watched each of those five walk out the door, not knowing if they would return. Days of waiting consisted of watching the news, reading the newspapers, and listening to the radio. They watched the news on TV hoping they would catch a glimpse of one of their boys. They read the obituaries in the newspaper praying their sons’ names would not be there. During this time, one of Carl’s nephews was killed in action. His brother’s only son. Carl and a couple of his sons were there when, against the advice of the funeral home, Carl’s brother opened the casket just enough to feel the scar on his son’s foot. He had to know for sure it was him. The trauma of losing their nephew only heightened the anxiety Carl and Freda felt, waiting for word from their sons. By the grace of God, all five of their sons did return home safely. Carl and Freda were proud of their sons’ service in the military. They believed in serving God, family, and country. When we remember our veteran’s sacrifices, let us also remember their families sacrifice. Thank them for their sacrifice of time with their loved ones, either temporary or permanent.
James Flynn
US Army Air Force, (1942 – 1945) – pilot, POW, WWII James Flynn, from Marceline, MO, registered for the draft in 1940, but it was late in 1942 before his number came up. As he had always had a desire to fly, he signed up for the US Army Air Force. He married Betty Othic, also from Marceline, while he was stationed in Sikeston, MO during training. After more training at different bases across the country, he was finally sent to Italy to fly a B-24 bomber on missions to attack “oil refineries, airdromes, rail centers, and other vital German-held targets in southern and central Europe.” On Aug 29th, his plane was on a bombing run to Czechoslovakia to hit a tank factory. When they began to have engine trouble, they dropped out of formation, tried to bring the plane in for a landing, fought to keep the plane aloft, and finally decided to ditch the plane and parachute to the ground. James was soon captured and spent most of the rest of the war in German POW camps, in Yugoslavia, Hungary and finally Germany. His family was first informed that he was missing, and then that he was a POW. He was liberated by American forces in April 29th, 1945. James wrote down his memoirs in a book called “The Big One: World War II” which is available to be checked out from the Brookfield Library. In the foreword he wrote: “I wrote this book for my three children, Kathleen, Kevin, and Mary Felice, and my two grandchildren, Amy and Marissa. I did this so they would have an idea as to what I did and where I was in the service during World War II from June of 1942 through October of 1945.”
Captain Victor Kenneth Olinger
United States Army My father entered the US Army at Fort Logan Colorado on January 7, 1942, later assigned to Ft. Riley. On June 25, 1942 he was promoted to Corporal, and assigned to the 5 Training Squadron at the Calvary Replacement Training Center, Fort Riley Kansas. From Fort Riley he was transferred to Company O 24 Engineer School Regiment, Fort Belvoir, Virginia as an Officer Candidate. I suspect he was transferred to Officers Candidate School due to his mining, railroad and pipeline experience. On September 15,1942 he was, at the convenience of government Honorably Discharged as a Corporal to accept a officer commission and immediate active duty. Following graduation, he was dispatched to Camp Claiborne, a training camp for railroad, artillery and aviation. My father would become the Platoon Leader and subsequent Company Commander in the 390″ Engineer Regiment. : From Camp Claiborne it was over the big pond to England to rebuild rail lines destroyed by the Germans and prepare for the D-Day invasion. Once mission accomplished it was, over the Channel we go! The following are his campaigns: Campaign Normandy, Campaign Northern France, Campaign Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge) and Campaign Rhineland It would appear from records that he returned to the US on or about November 25, 1945 as Captain, Corps of Engineers, with four Bronze Stars and a British wife. What? A British wife? While in New Castle Under Lyme my father was headed to the Castle Hotel for an officer’s function and while in the underground tunnel there was a black out, when the lights came back on, there they met. As it happens my mother was going to the same function. My father when off to Europe but made his way back to the UK and they were married on June 3, 1944. My mother Ivy came to the USA aboard the SS Washington; landed in New York, boarded trains and made her way to Marceline. There you have it, the condensed version of my father’s military experience and how it is that I would wind up being born in Marceline. Sgt. Michael L. OlingerUnited States Army 1st Infantry Division Viet Nam 1966-675th Army Ft. Des Moines AFEES 1967-69
John Wylie Othic (1946 – )
US Army, 1964-1967 – 69th Engineers Battalion After high school graduation I couldn’t find a decent job because of my age (17.) So I joined the Army. The only problem was I didn’t weigh enough. I needed to be 117 pounds. So an Army recruiter took me aside and said, “Hey, wait here. I’ll be back.” He came back with a bunch of bananas. He led me over to the water fountain and told me to eat as many bananas and drink as much water as I could. I did and weighed in at 117 pounds. I thought about that a lot during my stint in the Army. My first duty station was in Germany. I was a heavy equipment mechanic, but I usually drove gasoline trucks. Then from Germany I went to Ft Hood, TX, on my way to Vietnam. My Vietnam experience started in California. We went from Ft Hood, TX to Oakland, CA by troop train. At each railroad crossing there were people protesting the war. At one crossing we stopped right in the crossing with about 50 protestors begging us to jump off and go with them. Of course no one did and as the train pulled out they ran along side screaming “I hope they kill you.” After a couple of months in country my platoon leader and I had a difference of opinion which resulted in me being sent out in the field assigned to the Australian army. Our job was to clear the jungle away from villages and roads with bulldozers. The military knew that the Tet Offensive was coming and they were trying to prepare for it. After I got back to my unit we moved up river to as place called Can Tho. It turned out to be a hot spot after I left. At the end of my duty I went to Saigon and left on a plane with a tired body and a head full of memories.
John B. Krumpelman
This is my Story… I graduated from Marceline high school in 1961 and farmed with my dad until being drafted May 17, 1966. I was inducted in the army at the induction station in Kansas City and got orders to go to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for basic training. While at the reception center I enlisted for 3 years in the Army to become a communication center specialist. I completed basic training in Fort Leonard Wood with Co B, 1st BN, 2nd BCT. We were the first group staying in the new 3 story brick barracks. 1st platoon Sgt. Grenier wanted someone who had legible hand printing capabilities to print names and serial numbers on combat boots, belts and helmet sweat bands for the upcoming : IG inspection. My drafting in high school developed my printing ability and I volunteered to do the printing for our platoon after training hours. | I was awarded the Distinguished Trainee Award for achieving a score of 90 out of 100 points and the 425 Club for achieving 436 points out of 500 in the Physical Combat Proficiency Test. I received orders to report to Fort Gordon, GA for AIT for 11 weeks along with David Teeter from Cape Girardeau who was also from my platoon. We reported July 29, 1966, for training as a Com Center Specialist. I needed a secret clearance to enter the classified section of this school. The military ran background checks and not everybody received a clearance. What you did growing up during high school days with speeding tickets or DUI’s counted against you. We were trained to use crypto equipment. Upon completion of this training in November 1966, we were assigned to the 45th artillery Air Defense Headquarter Brigade in Arlington Heights, IL, part of NORAD. I had a top secret crypto clearance to work in the com center there. Orders were posted that we were assigned to Arlington Hall, VA, but that was changed after 1 day. | I received the rank of E3 on November 30, 1966, and E4 on May 17, 1967. While in Arlington Heights I also worked part time at the Northwest Community Hospital as a custodial engineer. On June 24, 1967, I received orders to serve in Vietnam with the 1st Signal Brigade USASTRATCOM, Nha Trang Signal Battalion. I flew from Kansas City to Oakland, California, Army base then on to Hawai, Phillipines and to Bien Hoa, Vietnam. I took a bus to Lang Bien and then flew up the coast to Nha Trang. I worked in supply the first night in country and there was a constant shaking of the ground. I was told that was from the saturation bombing with B52 bombers along the border of Vietnam and Cambodia. About half of our battalion stayed in ten man tents; the rest stayed in 2 story barracks. My job in Vietnam was in a torn tape relay station, similar to a regional post office, where we sent and received messages from around the world. We were up for 36 hours during the 1968 TET offensive. We worked 12 hours in com center and 12 hours perimeter defense and then another 12 hours in the com center. The Korean White Horse Division kept the VC from over-running our com center. I was awarded the Certificate of achievement for my long and arduous hours to overcome an extremely heavy back log of service messages: When North Korea seized the Navy ship USS Pueblo in 1968, we had to change all the crypto cards because the Pueblo had classified crypto equipment. Nha Trang was a fairly secure area. We still had mortar rounds about once a week, but it wasn’t close to the com center. Nha Trang was aR & R area for the French Army. We could tour around the city and beach as long as there were two of us. I never fired my M14 rifle except during familiarization at the rifle range. I made ES in June 1968, just before being assigned to the Phu Lam Signal Battalion. I was able to go on R & R to Sidney, Australia, my last week in Vietnam. When I got off R & R, my orders to return to the States were posted and I was assigned to 206 Signal Co at Fort Bragg, NC. I received the following medals: National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. I was discharged in February of 1969 and returned home to farm with my Dad. I joined the VFW shortly after and have been active in that veteran’s organization every since. John is a lifetime member of the Marceline VFW Post #1471 and is involved in their activities whenever possible. He presently is serving his tenth term (not simultaneously) as Commander and is Chaplain of VFW District 1 and has served 2 years as commander of District 1. John has been chairman of the local and district Voice of Democracy. and Patriots Pen Essay contests for over 35 years.