Military Life Profiles
Korea, Bill Martensen
William “Bill” Martensen, 74, of Florence, had no idea what he was getting into when he received a letter from Uncle Sam informing him that he was being drafted into the Army. In August 1953, at 19, he left the train station in Sedalia for...
World War II, Ralph V. Reuter
It was Nov. 11, 1942, and I was sitting at the Holt’s Café in Boonville. My uncle, Joe Bauer, had said the day before, “Ralph, tomorrow is Armistice Day, and you’re going in the Army!” On this day, my brother, Paul, his...
World War II, Arno Mehrens
Arno Mehrens, of Lincoln, learned military service could be both a picnic and hell. The picnic part started when he was drafted at 24. He was inducted at Jefferson Barracks in 1942. Because he had a “fluttery” heart, he thought he would get...
Vietnam, Wayne Maxwell
Wayne Maxwell’s father told him if he ever got a chance to run through a rainbow he should do it. Maxwell got his opportunity while he was serving in the Army during the Vietnam War. He was drafted in July 1966, when he was working at Howard’s...
Vietnam, George Shepherd
While serving in Vietnam, there were several times when things got pretty tense and my palms would get sweaty. I was drafted into the Army on June 6, 1968. After basic training, I was sent to Fort Gordon, Ga., where I learned to use a Teletype. During...
World War II, Richard Kasak
Richard Kasak, 85, of Sedalia, had no idea when he was drafted into the Air Force that he eventually would be working for the birds. He was in his 20s and was supposed to be trained to be a radio operator in World War II. Instead he spent some time as...
World War II, Walter McBride
Walter McBride thought he would be spared from the draft.“I was sitting there on the farm and thought I was safe. After Dec. 7, orders came in and put me in the 1A,” said McBride. He was 28 years old working on his own farm in Nebraska. The...
Korea, Gene Scotten
In an album with a brightly colored Japanese design are pictures and documents of Gene Scotten’s years in the Army. Scotten purchased that album in Kokura, Japan, during the only five days of leave he received during his war-time duty in Korea. He served...
World War II, William Merryfield
Getting off on the wrong side of the train helped save the life of William Merryfield, of Windsor. On Christmas Eve, 1944, in Southampton, England, the 66th Army Infantry Division received orders to move quickly. The men had to leave their turkeys...
Korea, Jack Bloess
The time was the summer of 1951. The place was the Hwachon Valley, in North Korea. I was a member of the 17th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division. I was assigned to service company and my rank was corporal. I worked in division rear, which...
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