Woodford County Journal from Eureka, Illinois • A1

1 CLASSIFIEDS B8 GOVERNMENT A2 OBITUARIES A9 PERSPECTIVES A4 SPORTS B1 FESTIVAL B10 $1.25 Volume 151, Issue 21 A Lee Enterprises Newspaper Copyright 2016 CONTACT US P.O. Box 36, 1926 S. Main Eureka, IL 61530 Phone (309) 467-3314 Email WOODFORD COUNTY OURNAL THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016 Eureka Roanoke Minonk An edition of The Pantagraph woodcojo.com MIKE TRACY Special to the Journal note: Tracy credits most of the historical detail in this article to Ranger personal accounts in a 1999 book written by two of his nieces, Marcia Moen and Margo Heinen, called ections of Courage on D-Day and the Days that Parker was company commander, Company 5th Ranger Battalion. Credit is also given to the Way Rangers. History of the 5th Ranger written by T4 Henry S.

Glassman, 1945, a fellow member of company. E. Mooberry was a life-long resident of Eureka, Illinois. He was known to some of us as just, He was content to live a quiet, private life in small-town America. Like many of his generation who were born and raised in Eureka, he earned his living working at Caterpillar Tractor Company, where he retired after 35 years of dependable, loyal employment.

He had a dry sense of humor and a warm friendly personality that kept us entertained whenever we visited with him. He especially loved to sh and was a member of the Eureka Club for many years. My dad and Uncle Mick and I enjoyed occasional shing trips together, to Wiscon- sin. I can still picture him arranging and reorganizing his shing tackle box every evening when we sat around the kitchen table in the cabin, joking and laughing and reliving the adventures. Every item in his tackle box had an assigned location, and it seemed that he could not rest easy until he had checked and re-checked all of his shing gear.

I realize now that his approach to life was also conducted in very much the same fashion. He organized, regimented and divided his life into compartments. Everything had a place and everything must be kept in its place. If he told you he would meet you at a certain time, you could set your watch by his arrival. Some of those who knew him believed that compulsion for order and planning was due to his training in the Army Rangers.

However, his time of service in the Rangers was one of compartments that Mick seldom opened up for anyone. In December 1942, only 16 months after marrying Opal Boyer, also from Eureka, Mick was inducted into the U.S. Army. This was at the height of World War II and thousands of other young men were answering the call of their country to defend and protect our freedom and the American way of life. Mick was assigned to Company 396th Infantry, 98th Infantry Division.

After approximately nine months, he volunteered for the newly created Army Rangers and was sent to Camp Forest, in Tennessee, for Ranger combat training. It was there that the 5th Ranger Battalion was formed. The Rangers were special mission troops. They were never to be used where ordinary infantry troops could do the job. They were all volunteers and received training that was said to be 10 times more intense than the regular infantry.

They were physically and mentally stretched to their limits and not all men passed. Of the 3,000 volunteers who attended Camp Forest training, at that time, only slightly over 700 made the cut. They were a very elite type of soldier, modeled after the British Commandos. The Army Rangers exemplify the highest standards of courage, initiative, determination, ruggedness, ghting ability and achievement. Mick Mooberry earned his place in WWII history books CHERYL WOLFE Miller understands the ces members of the military make to serve their country.

As a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and the father of two Navy SEALS, Miller also knows the ces the families of those who serve have to make. I was drafted, my mother and my sisters Miller said. my boys were in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was hard on my As the guest speaker at the Memorial Day service in Olio Cemetery on Monday, Miller will talk about the kinds of ces veterans and their families make and why they should be honored. Miller also realizes that some soldiers and their families face many more ces when they come home, noting that PTSD, thoughts of suicide and latent effects of substances like Agent Orange, a chemical used in Vietnam, continue to haunt some veterans.

should be more funds to help Miller said. VA is getting better, but still got a long way to Despite the risks of being in the military, Miller said he accepted his own service when he was young, and later learned to live with not knowing where his sons were or if they were in danger. However, the di erence between service and that of his sons, is that Miller was drafted into the Army at age 19. He really have a choice about making the initial ce, but he accepted it. 19 years old and all of a sudden, with Uncle Miller said.

the time, I was fresh out of high school. You just want to see what the world is all about. When I got drafted, I afraid. At 19 you feel like invincible. The number of deaths we heard about were just Miller was assigned to the military police in Vietnam where he often served as part of convoy security.

As an MP, Miller directly involved in ghts, but he was always exposed to danger. It became more real to him as he lost friends. know who the enemy was; they wear uniforms. I had friends that make it Miller said. Miller also said he was fortunate to escape post-war trauma, both physical and mental, but he can empathize with those who did.

When his sons volunteered to serve, he accepted their decisions. sons, Michael and Nick volunteered to be in the Navy SEAL program and both made it through. Nick is still serving, now in his 18th year, and Michael served six years. know what motivated Miller said. always wanted to be a Navy Seal.

He joined the early entry program when he was But whether a soldier is drafted or volunteers, Miller said they soon come to understand the camaraderie involved while serving in the military. from all over the nation with di erent backgrounds come together and work together. We were doing what we were asked to Miller said. Many things have changed between the time Miller served in the military and even since his sons volunteered. But, what changed, Miller said, is that Americans should honor and respect all veterans.

is not a better ghter than the American Miller said. need to honor and respect them and take care of them for all they did for us. Being a soldier helps you realize what you have at home. You learn to appreciate life in this country and all the freedoms we have Roger Miller to speak at holiday services Vietnam vet to talk about FIGHTING FAMILY two sons, Michael and Nick, volunteered to serve in the Navy and trained to become Navy Seals. Roger, who will be the guest speaker at the Memorial Day service in Eureka, served in the Military Police in Vietnam.

Roger Miller Several Memorial Day celebrations are planned throughout the area this weekend. American Legion Post 466 will hold its annual Memorial Day Parade and Service on Monday, May 30. Among those riding in the parade will be nine of the 11 living veterans of World War II who are members of the Eureka Legion, who range in age from 88 to 99 years old. They are: Cecil Nohl, Glen Garey, Mike Sager, Carl Hirsch, Leo Traister, Blaine Milt Ste en, Joe Foster and Jim Klaus. The two other WWII vets are Fred Bechtel and Guilford Zook.

Participants are needed for the 84th annual Memorial Day Parade. Antique cars, trucks, tractors, semi trucks, muscle cars, motorcycles, vehicles with company advertising, horses and anything else that moves are welcome. Be at the Eureka High School parking lot by 10 a.m. Line-up will be at 10:20 a.m. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m.

Flags and a small bag of candy will be provided by the Eureka American Legion. The parade will go from the high school to Olio Cemetery, where the service will be held at 11 a.m. Guest speaker will be Roger Miller, former U.S. Army SP4 Military Police. The Master of Ceremonies will be Dan Harrod, and the welcome will be given by Mayor Scott Punke.

Eureka High School senior Christian Engel will read the Gettysburg Address and Master Sergeant Nathan Wertz of the Illinois Army Guard will lay the wreath. The Rev. Tom Swanson, pastor of Eureka Bible Church will give the invocation and benediction. Music will be provided by the Eureka High School Band, with Taps and Echo played by Jaron Maddox and David Polley. The Eureka Post 466 firing squad will perform a 21-gun salute.

In case of rain, the service will be held in the Eureka High School auditorium at 11 a.m. The Eureka American Legion will also be selling pulled pork sandwiches with chips and drink for $5 at the Legion, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Memorial Day. Drive through service will be available. Roanoke Roanoke American Legion Post 463 will conduct the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Roanoke Township Cemetery on Monday, May 30, with services starting at 11 a.m.

Following the service, the public is invited to the Trinity Lutheran Church for co ee and doughnuts. If weather is a factor, the ceremony will be held in the high school gym. The Legion will also open the doors to its new building on N. Main Street that day for a short period of time after the services for the public to walk through. Benson A Memorial Day Service will be held at Clayton Cemetery Monday, May 30, at 9:30 a.m.

In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at the Benson Legion. Minonk The Minonk American Legion will hold its annual Memorial Day service on Monday, May 30, beginning at 10 a.m., in the Fieldcrest High School gym. Secor A Memorial Day service will be held at the Secor Cemetery on Route 24, outside of Secor, on Monday, May 30, at 10:30 a.m. Memorial Day celebrations, parade set for area towns Quiet American hero remembered Morris Mooberry Please see MOOBERRY, Page A2.