Military Life Profiles

Vietnam, Greg Davis

By Latisha Koetting

In his darkest hour, Greg Davis, of Cole Camp, made his most difficult decision. He chose life.Davis volunteered to join the service in 1968, when he was 18. He wanted to join the Navy to serve on a submarine. However, the Navy wouldn’t take... Full story

World War II, Clarence Roe

By Latisha Koetting

Clarence Roe, of Salisbury, was surprised to receive draft papers in the mail. He had spoken with the man who ran the draft in Sedalia. He thought Roe wouldn’t be called to serve for at least a year. Roe was working at Safeway on Fifth and... Full story

World War II and beyond, Howard Warren

By Latisha Koetting

The Green Ridge class of 1940 searched for classmate Howard Warren for 50 years. When they finally found him, they were blown away by where he had been and what he had been doing. Warren was drafted on Jan. 9, 1943. He went to the Pettis County... Full story

World War II, W.T. Morris

By Latisha Koetting

Wilbert T. Morris, of Knob Noster, left his mark on countries he visited while in the military.Morris, one of 10 children, decided to do something crazy when he was 16. He took off with four friends in the middle of the night. They were on a mission... Full story

World War II, James "Al" Mentges

By Latisha Koetting

James “Al” Mentges Sr., of Sedalia, was shocked to be called to serve in World War II. He was 37 years old, married and a public housing accountant for the federal government in Washington, D.C. He had a daughter and two sons between the... Full story

World War II, H.P. Barber

By Latisha Koetting

A random act of kindness from an enemy soldier saved the life of H.P. Barber, of Windsor.Barber is an Air Force veteran of World War II. He was a gunner and armament man on a B-24, serving with the 448th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force. During... Full story

World War II, John Heimsoth

By John Heimsoth

Each Memorial Day I think about the 12 Marines I helped bury at sea. There were no flowers and the cross on their grave is where a latitude line crosses a longitude line.On June 15, 1944, at the Battle of Saipan, I was a quartermaster second class... Full story

Vietnam and later, James L. Burson

By James L. Burson

After 12 attempts, my crew and I feared the worst. We were at Dye-3 site in Greenland. Our mission was to pick up ice core samples and scientists and return them to Sonderstrom Air Force Base, also in Greenland.I was a technical sergeant; my crew... Full story

World War II, Homer "Mutt" Embree

By Latisha Koetting

Homer “Mutt” Embree, of Sedalia, was surprised to learn soldiers weren’t at the top of the totem pole — mules were. Embree, along with his twin brother, Omer, were among the first group of 18-year olds from Pettis County to... Full story

World War II, Russell K. Drenon

By Russell K. Drenon

In the summer of 1937, I was working at the ice plant in Warsaw. I wanted to go to college, but only had $80 saved up. I was making $1 a day. The Baptist minister heard that I wanted to go to college and asked if I would like to go to William Jewell... Full story

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