SALUTE TO VETERANS

The Lima News Friday, November 11, 2022 • Section C

WORLD WAR II VIETNAM

A gold star for Uncle George

Don Stratton, Lima

During World War

II, I was living with my
grandparents in south-
ern Ohio. Hanging in
the front window of the
house, much like many
others at the time, was
a small rectangular flag
with a red border and
a white field. This one
had four blue stars in
Photo courtesy of Marilyn Montgomery
the white field, each
After his discharge from the Marines in February 1969,
star representing a son Steve Montgomery became active at the Lima Veterans
serving in the military. Administration clinic. He enjoyed helping other veterans with
All four of my grand- veterans services and benefits answers.
mother’s sons served
overseas.
Those small flags
were displayed in a
A life spent
helping others
significant number of
front windows in our
area, and a large bill-
board erected in town
bore at least a couple of Marilyn Montgomery, Lima
hundred names of those
from the township who My husband, Steve Montgomery, was a proud
were serving. Many area Marine! He enlisted in the service in December
farm boys never finished 1965 and completed aviation electronics school in
school, and few graduat- Jacksonville, Florida, followed by more electrical
ing students attended training on aircraft while at New River Air Facility
college, so deferments Photos courtesy of Don Stratton at Camp Lejune, N.C. This training on mainte-
from military service George Albert Stratton, dressed in his military uniform, poses for a photo with his baby daughter, nance on helicopters would soon be put to use, as
were rare. Poor rural Barbara. The military instructor serving in Texas was sent off to Europe to fight and later died from his he received orders to be sent overseas and arrived
areas like Adams Coun- wounds in December 1944. in Vietnam on July 5, 1967.
ty were a living example In his words: “The atmosphere in the country
of the Jean-Paul Sartre at the time was very much conflicted. We had one
quote, “When rich peo- side that thought we should not be in Vietnam, and
ple fight wars with one we also had the faction that we needed to defend
another, poor people are freedom anywhere in the world we could help.”
the ones to die.” My husband was all about serving his country.
My dad, known as He was based at Marble Mountain in Vietnam.
Vern, was the oldest of This base had been pretty well protected and had
the four, and he served not been attacked for approximately one full year.
as a signal corpsman But that changed on Jan. 3, 1968. The enemy
in Burma. His brother, bombed their base and missed hitting the Huey
Bob, was a paratrooper Cobras they were aiming at, but they made a direct
in the Philippines; Paul hit in the enlisted living quarters instead. This left
was an infantryman Bob Kirker was one of four eight dead and 72 wounded. One of those killed
William “Vern” Stratton was one brothers serving during World Paul Kirker was one of four
in New Guinea; and of four brothers serving during War II. He was a paratrooper in brothers serving during was very close to his bunk.
George spent most of World War II. He served as a the Philippines. World War II. He served as an After doing his regular daily job of helicopter
the war as an instructor, signal corpsman in Burma. infantryman in New Guinea. maintenance — it took 10 hours of maintenance
stationed in Texas. for every hour the helicopter was in the air — as
Grandma worried he was a career soldier usual position in front caused her the least well as testing radios and directional equipment,
about her sons constant- serving as an instructor of the stove, where she worry was the only one this young Marine volunteered in his off time as a
ly and listened religious- in Texas, and the family spent a lot of her time who became a casualty, door gunner on re-supply missions!
ly to radio broadcasts felt that the need for him preparing three full just six months before This was during the Tet Offensive in the
about the war, with there would keep him meals every day. She the war ended. demilitarized zone! In a period of just about three
particular interest in from going overseas. But was crying, and when I George’s body was months, this young Marine flew as a door gunner
the locations where her that was not to be. asked her why, she did returned home, and on a CH530 helicopter over 70 missions! This is
sons were serving, She Late in 1944, Uncle not respond. A while he was buried at Fort almost unheard of.
received regular letters George was deployed later, she told me that Sam Houston National God was not done with him yet. He had other
from each of them — to Europe. He and his she had gotten a letter Cemetery. To add to the plans ahead for this Marine.
heavily censored, crude wife, Faye, whom he from Aunt Faye, telling tragedy she had already Steve was discharged from the Marines in Febru-
V-Mail photocopies with had met and married her that Uncle George suffered, my grandmoth- ary 1969. He worked in various types of sales, was
large areas blacked out in Texas, drove to the had been wounded. er was unable to attend active in his church and community and worked as
because some censors Port of Baltimore where A couple of weeks his service and inter- a clerk at the Lima Veterans Administration clinic.
believed that it might he was to embark, stop- later, I saw Grandma ment simply because While there, he made connections with other vet-
contain some sensitive ping by to visit us on crying in the kitchen she could not afford to erans who had served during combat, and he found
information. The boys the way. It was the last again. She had received make the trip. it very fulfilling to be able to share experiences. He
were not allowed to tell time we would see him. another letter inform- Another flag, with filled himself with knowledge regarding veterans
where they were, but by I was very young, but I ing her that George a single gold star, was services and benefits and was always willing to
some means they had remember the visit with had died of his wounds. hung in the front win- help someone get an answer if at all possible.
developed a code with my uncle in great detail. Adding to the tragedy, dow of our house, and As most of us have never experienced serving in
Grandma, and she knew I remember him saying we learned later that the a gold star was added combat, it is impossible to fully understand what a
at least the theater of that he wouldn’t be gone wound was only to his to George’s name on veteran lives with every day. As Steve found out in
operations where each long, because the war arm, but the cold weath- the town’s roll of honor recent years and was able to share with others, it is
son was serving. would soon be over. er and lack of adequate billboard. good to talk to someone about those experiences,
My grandmother In December of 1944, medical care in the field RIP: Tech Sgt. and the VA offers that service.
worried the least about I remember my grand- had aggravated the situ- George Albert Stratton, Steve was a true Marine. He loved the Lord and
Uncle George, since mother standing at her ation. The son who had 10/12/1915-12/09/1944. his country, and he lived his life to serve others.

About this section Properly handling ‘Old Glory’

The Lima serving our
News feels country. LEFT: Larry Core,
a member of
strongly that Stories from
American Legion
the service of veterans, told in Post 382 in Bluffton,
veterans living in their own words, shows a student
this area should are published how to properly fold
be recognized. here, along with a flag. American
This is why the photos that Legion members
this Salute to they shared. provide Veteran’s
Day presentations
Veterans section For this year’s at Maple Crest and
was created and publication, The Mennonite Memorial
it continues yet Lima News asked Home in Bluffton
today. veterans to share what they missed to honor veteran
This special section honors the many most about civilian life while they were residents.
men and women who have served our away, and what they did first once they
country in the past or who are currently returned to the United States.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Morrison, Bluffton
2C Friday, November 11, 2022 SALUTE TO VETERANS The Lima News

SALUTE TO VETERANS
VIETNAM

Those Ohio midwest farmer’s daughters

Roger Schroeder, Bluffton Sometime later I received Life was great, but best
a used state flag that hung of all were those Midwest
I was born on tax day in over the state capitol in farmer’s daughters from
1950. We lived on a small Columbus. That flag was Ohio, mom’s home cook-
farm in Columbus Grove, huge, about the size of a ing and cold beer.
I had a great childhood. queen-sized blanket. I was Jobs were hard to find
At age 18, all men had to very proud, and I really in 1971, and the Army pay
register for the draft, I didn’t know what to do was very poor. I had only
missed the draft lottery by with it after I got home, earned about $3,000 in
about six months. I always so I kept it in a box. my two years of service.
heard the stories about Photos courtesy of Roger Schroeder My time in Vietnam I met the love of my life,
boys going to their mail- Roger Schroeder served in the went quickly, and after 11 Sharon, several months
boxes and finding their U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971. months I received another after returning home. We
draft notices. My heart He served in Erlangen, Germany, paper order to go home to were wed in December of
and Duc Pho, South Vietnam.
just fell the day I received Ohio. In about 17 hours I 1973, and are still married
Now he’s 72 years old and
mine. I was also learning retired, living in Bluffton. was back in Seattle, Wash- today.
that there were many ways ington, and the good ole I worked locally for
to avoid the draft, includ- order for Vietnam came USA. It was another cul- years on semi-trucks until
ing wealth, politics, fam- in July of 1970. Vietnam tural shock because things 1996. I took the postal
ily, etc. was definitely no tropical had changed a lot. maintenance test. With
I was inducted on Aug. vacation, and it was very For example, there my veteran status and
5, 1969, and did training serious business. I prob- were hippies and flower honorable discharge, I
in Georgia and Alabama ably never missed home children, free love, differ- got an excellent job at the
for about 5 months. My and Ohio as much as I did ent models of cars and the post office. The postal
military occupation would then. economy. For the Army’s service was very friendly
be light weapons infantry. Everything was differ- welcome home dinner, to veterans.
I was sent to Erlanger, ent: language, climate, my choices were steak Through the years I
Germany, for about five people, etc. I learned to Roger Schroeder met his wife, Sharon, after returning home from and mashed potatoes or have forgotten some of
months, which was more make new friends quickly. Vietnam. They married in December 1973 and are still married cheeseburger and fries. I my army friends, but not
or less a holding pen for We would talk for hours today. chose the steak and pota- their faces. There are two
Vietnam back in 1970. about our homes, food, toes, and then it was back names I will never forget,
Germany was like a Euro- our hate for Nixon but was letters from home. were kept from us. At one to Ohio. Jack Wagner and James
pean vacation. We ate most importantly women. The military and Vietnam point people were flying There was some cool- Markland. Both were from
good, drank good and par- Lots of my Army friends controlled our news. their state flags above ness towards military my platoon and friends
tied hard. By the way, did went by their state nick- There was a daily military their bunkers. people in the airports in also, and they were unfor-
I mention the women? names, such as Jersey, newspaper and an AM I don’t know how I larger cities, but the closer tunately killed in action.
There was always a lot Alabama or Texas. I was radio station (Good Morn- was able to contact my I got to Ohio, the people It feels good to see their
of drama in the military, referred to as one of those ing Vietnam). Things like Congress person in Ohio, seemed friendlier again. I names in print on Veter-
and one was the receiving northern boys. Kent State, Woodstock, but I put the guilt trip was lean, healthy, young, ans Day. May you rest in
of paper orders. My paper Our only true news peace rallies and riots on them through a letter. tanned and back in Ohio. peace, Jack and James.

A LOVING TRIBUTE VIETNAM

Serving with pride

Leslie J. Kubinski, to rest at the end of their as he to make all of our
Wapakoneta trial on earth. Those who freedoms possible.
had given part of their life At the end of this march
There he marched to the land which we love he rested, tired from a
ALL GRANITE proudly, step after step, were honored by this man long trek and the accom-
rifle at shoulder along and others of the Wapako- plishment which he had
· Monuments · Markers the parade route, a man neta VFW honor guard. achieved. He was proud, as
· Mausoleums · Bronze Memorials who showed his age but As the darkness of the we all were after his gruel-
marched with the confi- night crept over the town ing accomplishment, and
dence and heart of youth. and sweat appeared on the yet this man, this outstand-
WOODLAWN He stepped in when
those of half his age
brow with pain setting into
the body, he continued to
ing veteran, did not seek
praise or attention.
MONUMENT WORKS declined after signing up
for that same position. He
lead the way.
The crowds cheered
I need not mention his
name, for he does not seek
Where Quality, Price & Service are served his country proudly and saluted this man, recognition, although it is
Unequaled Anywhere since 1920 so many years before with an octogenarian, as he rightly and justly deserved.
the same dignity and passed and held his rifle However, Kenny resides
honor that was on display in proper position. They as a man among men. We
DONNA AND ANDY MILLER this day. were humbled by the salute you for your, dignity,
That white shirt and tie sight and grateful for hav- honor and courage while
806 S. Woodlawn, Lima • 419-224-7956 signified his admiration ing him as part of their leading the way and walk-
OH-70307750L for those who were laid community and so proud ing with the best.

The Wyngate salutes

and thanks all Veterans.

Call Andrea at
(419) 979-8403.
OH-70307740L

1070 Gloria Avenue  Lima, Ohio 45805  www.wyngatelima.com

3 Friday, November 11, 2022 SALUTE TO VETERANS The Lima News
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The Lima News SALUTE TO VETERANS Friday, November 11, 2022 4C
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The Lima News SALUTE TO VETERANS Friday, November 11, 2022 5C

SALUTE TO VETERANS
WORLD WAR II

Called to serve here

Robert “Bobby” P. May, enlisted.
Bluffton Her reply was, “You
know your father had two
Growing up in the small cousins at Pearl Harbor?”
city of Lima in the 1950s I said, “Yes, I know.”
and ‘60s, the May boys — She informed me that
Rusty, Bobby and David the very day after the
— were inspired by the Pearl Harbor attack, my
explosive and sometimes father went to the recruit-
gruesome war movies ment center to enlist. It
they watched on TV. was his greatest desire to Photo courtesy of Robert May
Using all their allow- serve his country. Homer May, whose chauffeur’s license is shown here, focused on keeping his section of the
Pennsylvania Railroad clear of any delays for military personnel or supply trucks during World War II.
ance and lawn-mowing However, his enlistment
money, they and their Homer May tried to enlist in was deferred because it recognized by the same My father didn’t show heroic for the benefit of
neighborhood friends the military several times but was determined that his recruiter who had turned extraordinary courage others, no matter how
outfitted themselves for kept getting rejected because civilian job on the railroad him down the first time and strength to drag a terrified they are of the
of the importance of his role was more crucial to the in 1941. The recruiter wounded soldier away consequences. My father
“battle” at The Edco Sup-
as a section foreman on the
ply Store on East Market Pennsylvania Railroad. During security of the nation. said, ‘Homer, I’m going from danger in combat or fought his own battle to
Street. There, they found World War II, there was never a My mother continued, to enlist 100 young men rescue a civilian from a keep material rolling for
an abundance of Army- delay of a military train on his ”During the entire war, today, but you, sir, will catastrophic and life-alter- our great nation, never
Navy surplus to make section of tracks. there was never a delay not be one of them.” ing event. He didn’t talk once questioning or
themselves feel like well- of a military train on his Hearing this, I realized a would-be suicide victim regretting his role.
oiled fighting machines. May, was a section fore- section of tracks on the how foolish it had been down or be called upon to The American humor-
Our friends all had man on the Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Railroad.” for me to be so blind- sacrifice his own life and ist, Will Rogers, once
fathers who served at Railroad. That fact embar- As I sat quietly absorb- sided by the glamor of limb, such as police do on made an important obser-
one time or another in rassed me. I often won- ing this new information soldiering. A real “hero” any given day. vation. He said, “We can-
the military. Larry Flip- dered why my own father about my father, Mom is always found among Yet, my mother proudly not all be heroes because
pin’s father, Dean, was a was never in the military. continued with her story. average people. Heroes do spoke of a gentleman who somebody has to sit on
Marine. Danny Marshall’s My father had signed up “Your father tried a not need super costumes never, not once, had a the curb and clap as they
father, Charles, was in for the draft in October second time to enlist (or fatigues), nor do they delay of military person- go by.”
the Army. Steve Snyder’s 1940 but was never called later in the war, when have superpowers. They nel or supplies, if it was in I clap for you, Dad! I
father, Russell “Bud”, was up. Many years later, I the government sent out just try to do the right his power to prevent it. salute you and your ser-
in the Navy. asked my mother, Mar- a plea for more men, thing at the right time, no A true hero is someone vice to the great nation of
My own father, Homer gie May, why Dad never but he was immediately matter what. who does something America.

WEBB INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. Proud to have Served

Thank You for Your Service to our Country

Special Discounts
for all Veterans

[email protected]

1305 Allentown Road

next to Dairy Queen
LIMA OFFICE:
212 W. HIGH ST. 419-228-4796
419-228-3211
BLUFFTON OFFICE:
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419-358-4015
OH-70307739L

OWNERS

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 6C Friday, November 11, 2022 SALUTE TO VETERANS The Lima News

SALUTE TO
VETERANS
KOREA

thank you
FOR YOUR SERVICE
Photo courtesy of Bill Moore
Bill Moore, right, served in the 7th Communications Squadron, 5th Air Force Communications Group
in Taegu, Korea, in 1952.


A small but mighty group


Bill Moore, Lima veterans make up only 1% history. You are helping
to 3% of our population. to preserve and promote
Thanks to all of our mil- We are a small but mighty these freedoms. Former
itary veterans who have group! Editor Jim Krumel was
served and preserved our Thanks to The Lima always very supportive of
freedoms for this country News for acting on their us, and I know we have
for over 246 years. freedom to publicize the yours too. Thank you, and
I have read where we role of veterans in our let freedom ring!
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November 11
Veteran’s Day
is a Very Special Day!
We get the opportunity to Thank Our Veterans,
our brothers & sisters who served our country and made
great sacrifices for our freedom.

To our Lima Eagles #370 Veteran Members…

On Fri., Nov. 11 - Enjoy Half Off any
Sandwich or Dinner! (excludes drink)

OPEN INVITATION
To All Veterans & First Responders
to Join our Lodge:
Receive your first full year membership free.
Open to all Veterans and First Responders.

Become a Lima Eagles #370 Member and Join the Fun

Full Kitchen and Bar, Entertainment, Charity & Social
OH-70209199T

Volunteerism & more!

Visit us at 800 W. Robb Ave., Lima.

Pick up an application Mon-Sat. 11-4 p.m.
OH-70209199T

Or call 419-224-3851 for details.

All men & women are welcome!

The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international non-profit organization

uniting in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human
life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace,
prosperity, gladness and hope.
The F.O.E. donates more than $10 million a year to local communities,
fundraisers, charities and more. As part of its philosophy, the F.O.E. gives
back 100 percent of monies raised in the form of grants.

www.limaeagles370.org
OH-70307751L

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