Honoring the ultimate sacrifice

As the 250th anniversary of the United States occurs in just a few weeks, Creston High School history teacher Clay Arnold asked those in Creston to remember the sacrifices made over the years to get the nation to this point.

Arnold was the guest speaker yesterday for Graceland Cemetery’s annual Memorial Day service. He said rights and freedoms were sacrificed by both civilians and military personnel throughout the years.

“When the Sedition Acts came about in both World Wars and First Amendment rights of speech and press and assembly, those were sacrificed during the wars for the greater good,” Arnold said. “Personal wealth was sacrificed, careers were sacrificed during the world wars. Especially World War II, all the rationing and food and fuel and materials. And of course, the reason we’re standing here today, the ultimate sacrifice made by all of those that we lost in the service.”

Arnold said that, while it’s easy to think of these sacrifices as only part of history, there are still Americans making the ultimate sacrifice today.

“Last December, we lost two Iowa soldiers in Syria,” Arnold said. “Operation Epic Fury in Iran just this year, 13 Americans have given the ultimate sacrifice, including two from Iowa. I hope everyone takes a moment to think about those families of [the soldiers] we lost this year and how this is the first Memorial Day since they lost their family.”

Creston’s VFW Post 1797 Commander Gary O’Daniels read names of various veterans residing in Graceland Cemetery and some highlights of their service. After each name was read, a handbell was rung and the crowd had a moment of silence.

Members of the Creston VFW then performed the 21-gun salute and taps to finish the ceremony.

A service was also held at Calvary Cemetery earlier in the day.

Honored veterans at Graceland:

Harry G. Berrien: Served in the U.S. Army during World War I from September 1918 to June 1919. Served in France from November 1918 to June 1919. Finally payment upon discharge was $177.35 plus a $60 bonus. He received the Victory Medal and one Gold War Service Chevron. It was stated on his discharge papers that his service was honest and faithful.

William D. Bohn: Served in the U.S. Army from September 1960 to September 1966. He achieved the rank of Sergeant E-5 with the 44th Engineer Battalion - Construction Group. He received a Good Conduct Medal, Driver’s Badge, Expert Rifle Badge, Expert Pistol Bade and received the National Defense Service Medal.

Michael Goodrich: Served in the U.S. Navy from November 1967 to October 1971. He was an Electrical Service Technician. During his time in the Navy, he served on several different ships. He received the National Defense Service Medal.

Harold Dean Kissell: Served in the U.S. Army during World War I from June 1918 to July 1919. He served in France from August 1918 to June 1919. Upon his discharge, he received a bonus of $95.70.

Eugene Kirchgressner: Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from May 1943 to April 1945. He served on several ships during his time of service. He received the European Theater Ribbon, the Pacific Theater Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon and the Victory Medal.

William O. Schorr: Served during World War I in the U.S. Navy from November 1917 to February 1919. He was a Machinist Mate 2nd Class, serving on several ships.

Donald I. Tyner: Served in the U.S. Army from January 1952 to December 1953. He served with an artillery unit. Upon his discharge, he received the Occupational Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Honored veterans at Calvary:

George Booth Hicks: Served with Company C-9th West Virginia Infantry. Following the war, Hicks crossed the Atlantic 19 times, the Pacific four times and had been around the world twice. Hicks came to Creston in 1874, where he worked as the city assessor for 10 years and later as a clerk in a clothing business.

Theodore J. Martens: Served with the Company “M” Twentieth Regiment, also known as the Iowa Infantry. Martens enlisted in November 1898 and died on the island of Luzon, Philippines, in September 1899. Martens was the first deceased veteran of foreign wars buried in Union County when he was brought back to Calvary Cemetery in March 1900.

Ambrose Edward Duggan: Duggan was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in World War I. He was inducted in October 1918. He was injured and received an honorable discharge, but later died on March 16, 1919, of his injuries suffered in the service.

Roger Riggs McIntire: McIntire was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, serving as a member of the Armored Infantry with the 51st Armored Battalion 4th Army. McIntire enlisted in March 1042 and was killed in action in Normandy, France, on June 20, 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. His remains were returned to Creston and buried in Calvary Cemetery in May 1948.

Albert Peter Bradley: Bradley was a Tech SCT with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He served with the 85th Airdrome Squadron APO 73. Bradley enlisted in April 1942 and was killed in action on Dec. 1, 1944, near Florence, Italy. His remains were returned and he was buried five years later on Nov. 10, 1949.

Martin King Brennan: Brennan was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He enlisted in April 1942 and was killed in action while serving with the Air Force in England on June 2, 1944. His remains were returned and he was buried at Calvary on Aug. 7, 1948.

John Edward Donahue: Donahue was a 3rd class quartermaster in the U.S. Navy, serving on the U.S.S. Iowa and U.S.S. Juneau. Donahue received the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Occupation Medal and European clasp. He was honorably discharged in October 1954 and died one year later.

Larry Vincent Young: Young was a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and served from 1965 to 1968 as a jet airplane mechanic. Young was an aircraft maintenance specialist and worked on jet aircraft over two engines. He received the Air Force Medal 900-3 and the National Defense Service Medal.

Clinton John (CJ) Miller: Miller was in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A 2001 Nodaway Valley graduate, Miller was killed in action Dec. 11, 2006. Miller was the first serviceman buried in Union County that was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.