Memorial Day: Minonk Paid Dearly

May 28, 2011

Editor: Dave Uphoff

Note: This editorial was first written on May 28, 2001. We think it is worth repeating to remind Minonk residents the sacrifice our soldiers have given over the years.

As we honor the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for their country, few people are aware of the extreme sacrifice made by the Minonk community during World War II. Approximately 350 men from the Minonk area served in World War II. Twenty two of those men lost their lives. That is an astounding high percentage of lives lost for a community of 2500 people. The number killed as a percent of population was 0.88% which is almost four times higher than the national average of 0.255%.

In addition, the number of Minonk men killed as a percentage of the number who served was 6.2% which is almost twice the national average of 3.53%.

Finally, the number of men from Minonk who served in World War II as a percentage of the Minonk population was 14% which is twice the national average of 7.24%.

To summarize, if you were a man from Minonk and between the ages of 18-35 during World War II, you were twice as likely to be serving in the war, and twice as likely to be killed in the war. This all adds up to the fact that a Minonk man was four times more likely to lose his life during World War II than some guy from Brooklyn.

I am not a social scientist who can explain why this was the case. However, I do think it is obvious that rural areas provided a higher percentage of soldiers to the war effort and were also sent to the front lines more often. I think this phenomenom can be partly explained by the fact that men from small rural areas are more likely to want to get away and seek adventure than their city counterparts who already had experienced many amenities. I also think there were more men with advanced education from the cities who were probably given desk jobs or non-combat duty.

We all should know by now that life is not fair nor is war. The traits of a rural midwestern person as being hardworking, honest, patriotic, and fearless is what makes a good soldier and makes a soldier who is likely to be involved in heavy battle. While I am sure that big city men were dedicated to the war effort, I feel that the military leaders knew that the boys from the country made the best fighting soldiers.

Also, a rural midwestern man is not as likely to have a father who can influence his son's draft status or type of service. Whatever the reason, we owe a great deal of gratitude to those boys from Minonk who gave their lives.

I want to extend my extreme gratitude to all those who have served this country in the armed forces. When times are good we often take for granted our freedoms. Traveling in Europe and Eastern Europe has given me even more respect for the freedoms we have.

Those who have experienced the horrors of war or who have lost a loved one in war know the true meaning of freedom. The rest of us often only give it lip service. Try not to forget that our freedom can only be retained through sacrifice and service to our community and our country.

Listed below is a tribute to those Minonk men who gave their lives for our country.

World War I:

Ralph Ioerger
Dean Memmen
George Oncken
William Schmidt

World War II:

Joseph Fitzgerald
Harold G. Grassman
Melvin A. Green
James Greskoviak
Norman Hattan
Frank Jankousky
Emerson W. Kazinski
Thomas F. Ketchmark
Melvin W. Lieder
Martin E. Manley
Otto L. May
James L. McKeon
Melvin H. Meyer
Francis J. Miller
John W. Onnen
Frank J. Roberta
Leonard Schrader
Charles Tarman
Dale R. Thompson
James L. Toler
Jesse A. Underwood
Harrison K. Witte

Korean War

William White

Vietnam War

Robert D. Janssen

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