Finding peace in the memories of war

May 09, 2008 01:00 am

— Eleven Decatur County men died while in the Korean War. Last week we got to know a bit about the first five. Today we’ll get to know the rest - only a bit though. We’ll never know their dreams for the future, what made them laugh or their thoughts when they knew death was imminent.
Cpl. Eugene McGee, sixth man to die in Korea, was killed Oct. 1, 1952 at the front lines in Korea in a vehicle accident. His family, Mr. and Mrs. Earl McGee lived near Clarksburg. His two brothers were Frank, north of Clarksburg and Richard, Route 7, Greensburg. His three sisters, all married, lived in other states. The 23-year old is buried in Canaan, Ind.
The seventh man to die Lt. Ernest Eugene Gabbard, 25, killed Oct. 6, 1952, enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17, served more than a year in World War II, re-enlisted and served for two years. In 1949 he enlisted in the Army Air Force. He was promoted to first lieutenant in Sept. 1951. He’d flown 100 missions in Korea, 35 bombing missions and 65 missions over enemy territory in an F-86 Sabrejet with the 4th Fighter Squadron. He died in a plane crash in Arizona. His parents were Taylor P. and Necia B. Gabbard. Before moving to Greensburg he had lived in Westport for 10 years and attended Rock Creek Baptist Church. He is buried at South Park Cemetery.
Airman 2nd Class Neil O’Brien, 21, was the eighth man to die. With the 4th Fighter Squadron as a mechanic in Okinawa, he was killed in an accident Dec. 14, 1952. A 1950 Greensburg High graduate, he was an outstanding lineman on the football team. He was called "Irish’ because he was widely known for his remarkable voice and rendition of Irish songs. A member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, his parents were James and Jesse O’Brien. He had two sisters, Monica and Linda and a brother, Curtis. He is buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.
Airman First Class John W. Nienaber was 26 years old when he became the ninth man to die in the Korean War. He was flight engineer on a B-29 bomber and met death in a plane crash in Texas. Ten died in the crash, five airmen parachuted to safety. John had gone to school at St.Mary’s and Greensburg High School. He worked in his family’s Nienaber Dairy business before enlisting in the Air Force. His parents were Anthony and Mary Nienaber. He is buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
The next two men died after Congress extended the period of benefit eligibility because peace was so uncertain.
Major Anthony Wendolin AmRhein was the 10th man to die. A 1938 graduate of Greensburg High, he was a career officer and also in World War II. His death at 34 came when his C-47 plane crashed in Alaska while attempting an emergency landing. He was married and had three children. His parents were John and Anna AmRhein of Greensburg. He is buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Master Sgt. James L.McCullough was 37 when he became the 11th victim of the war. He died in an unexplained crash of a B-50 Superfort in Ohio. He was married and had two children. His parents were Simon and Mabel McCullough, Westport. Wendolin, a 1938 graduate of Westport High, is buried at Westport. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with several stars during WW II.
We do a pretty good job here remembering those who died fighting for freedom and those who were in any war. That’s thanks to the veterans organizations here and especially to Bill Ford. I hope to talk with some Korean War veterans soon. In these weeks before Memorial Day I hope to talk with some World War II veterans.
A site sent by Jim Marlin plays the song "BeforeYouGo." On the Internet go to: (http://www.managedmusic.com/Music/PlayBeforeYouGo.php) Music by John Melnick, lyrics by Sam Bierstock. Written for World War II and Korean War veterans. He’s since written one for Vietnam War veterans. Some of the words are: "Quietly you’ve all turned gray, You did your job you saved our way, Our life and freedom you preserved, We thanked you less than you’ve deserved, You’ve never boasted, bragged or asked for adulation for your past, You did the job you knew was right and quietly you cry at night, for bodies maimed and comrades lost, for sights beyond our furthest thoughts, For what you’ve lived and felt and seen, For what the cost of Freedom means, Before you go we need to show, That in your silence we still know, what you accomplished and what you did, Thank you for your wondrous feats, Thank you, thank you, Go in peace.

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