In honor of Veteran's Day 2018, we're showcasing a few of our recent articles featuring veterans' stories. Thank you to those who have served!
Published April 26, 2018 (Issue 17)
by Marty Luebke
First Featured Legionnaire
Monday, April 23rd.
Today I had the privilege of being part of Post 23 Honor Color Guard as we laid our fellow Comrade Merle to rest.
It is perhaps fitting and timely that I share a brief story about my friend Merle. Several years ago (although it seems like yesterday) I recall seeing Merle going into the dugout. He often arrived at Legion Meetings early and on this particular Thursday I was also in town early so I joined him before others arrived. We finished a short discussion about hunting and got on the topic of WW II. As some may recall, Merle was not bashful about sharing stories of his WW II experiences. They were interesting, colorful and not always politically correct in today’s world. When our discussion was over, I said to myself— Wow, someone should write this stuff down and share it before it is lost for all time. So Merle became the 1st person from our post that I had the privilege of featuring. Some of what I recorded is included in his obituary so I will not repeat it here. However, some of it is not, so I’d like to share some of that. Thanks again Merle for your friendship and for helping us better understand the lessons and pain of war. I pray that we learn from those hard lessons and become better citizens for them.
-Respectfully, Marty Luebke
Featured Legionaire: Merle Lamp
Every individual’s life is different and every person’s military experience is unique. Merle Lamp’s is no exception. As the oldest son in a family of 9, he helped out on the farm. “When my dad stepped on a rusty nail and developed blood poisoning, I dropped out of high school to help out.”
As Merle came closer to the draft age he had the idea that by voluntarily enlisting in the service his next three younger brothers might be spared the draft. I learned today that none of the three were, however, his next oldest brother Bob, had the same idea and enlisted also.
So after Merle’s 18th birthday in 1942, he at- tempted to enlist in the Air Force. However, because of his limited education he was not accepted. This did not stop Merle, instead, he joined the Army.
“I was sent to Basic Training at Ft. Snelling in Minneapolis and then to Camp White in Medford, OR. This was a new camp and part of my Infantry training included helping build the camp. After AIT I was sent to San Diego for additional Amphibious Training:” (Merle described training that sounded similar to a Navy Seal - as a frogman in scuba gear diving in underwater tactical capacity for military missions). “I was first sent to Hawaii and also received Jungle Training before going to Saipan. We spent time at a number of small islands in the Philippines where we took 3 beaches. The outfit I was with was also responsible for taking two beaches in Okinawa. I also went through some tough battles in Iwo Jima. I remember one scouting mission where we came under fire. My dive for cover was too late. I was shot in the knee and after 30 days recovery was back in action. Later in Okinawa, I was shot a 2nd time—this time in the back."
Merle was awarded two Purple Hearts along with other Bronze Stars and service combat badges. Merle said, “battles were tough; you had to carry everything on your back and had to live in trenches.”
Their next assignment was to take Japan where they were sure to encounter the most difficult battles yet. Merle recalls being on board this ship and seeing all his fellow infantrymen giving their buddies personal information and telling each other, if I don’t come back alive, will you tell my-----.”
“So when we learned that the Americans had dropped the A Bomb and our ship turned back to the Philippine Islands, we all breathed a BIG sigh of relief.”
During his 4 year tour of duty, Merle only returned home a short time after basic training. They seldom received mail and when it did come it might be 6 months of backlogged mail at a time.
When asked what the hardest emotional part was, Merle said, “none of it was easy. But losing a cousin, the same age, was really difficult. We enlisted together and separated right after that and never saw each other again”.
Merle did not learn that his cousin was killed until a year after his death.
After my visit with Merle, I thought of a MASH episode where Hawkeye says, “war is war and hell is hell and of the two, war is much worse”—I have the feeling Merle would probably agree.
Merle ended our interview by saying life goes on and you must go on too. He has been very active in the VFW, DAV and American Legion holding most offices. He has the unique distinc- tion of serving for over 20 years as the Commander of the Color Guard in Post 23’s history. Merle said “I’m ready to retire and turn that over to someone else.”
Thanks Merle, for your dedicated service and personal sacrifices for our nation and service to our American Legion Post and community.
Post Script note for those who could serve in Color Guard: Post 23 of the Garretson American Legion en- joys a fantastic partnership with our community. Although it provides many values, for me one of the most rewarding and important is being a part of honoring our comrades as we lay them to rest. Obviously, that was important to Merle as he refused to retire until he finally was just no longer able to perform his duties. Merle recruited many including Randy Megard, our current Color Guard Commander.
We need new members to help replace those who have paid their dues and can no longer serve. Please consider this as a way to give back and honor your fellow comrades.
The sound of Taps seems to have even more meaning when standing at attention next to a fellow comrade’s grave.
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