Served in Vietnam
KIA: 08/02/1966

The Purple Heart, The National Defense Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal w/ a Bronze Star and The Vietnam Campaign Medal

Edward Michael Sieben was born on July 9th, 1946, and served in the United States Army as an Infantryman. Prior to joining the Army, Ed was a basketball and track star at Naperville Central High School. He was the captain and leading scorer for the 1963 and 1964 conference and regional championship basketball teams. He also took third place at state in the high jumping event. Ed was inducted into the Naperville Central Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. He will forever be missed. A heartfelt thank you to all veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice and to all those who have returned.

Pearl Harbor Attack on the Battleship USS Oklahoma
KIA: 12/07/1941

Michael was born October 25, 1916 in Joliet, IL. He served his country honorably and unselfishly on the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) during the Pearl Harbor attack. After 75 years, Michael’s remains have been identified through DNA and dental records. He served in the United States Navy from April 1940 until his death on December 7, 1941. He also served in the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1935-1940.

KIA October 9, 1944

3 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, Combat Infantrymen’s Badge, 2 Distinguished Unit Citations, Bronze Service Arrowhead and EAME Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, French Fourragere, Belgium Fourragere

Jimmy served with the 1st Infantry Division, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, H Company from March 1941 to his death. He was killed-in-action (KIA) at the battle of Aachen Germany on October 9th, 1944. He served as platoon leader for an 81mm mortar platoon attached to H Company, which was a heavy-weapons company. He was also the forward observer for his platoon. His full life story is told in the upcoming book, To the Last Man, which tells the story of the men of “H” Company of the 1st Infantry Division, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion.

Jimmy participated in the following military campaigns: Operation Torch (North Africa) – 1st Silver Star, Operation Husky (Sicily), Operation Overlord (Normandy) – 2nd Silver Star, Operation Cobra (Northern France) – 3rd Silver Star and 2 Bronze Stars, and the Battle of Aachen, Germany – Purple Heart.

Vietnam
KIA 1967
Bronze Star, Purple Heart

Thomas F. Smith, Jr. (1945 – 1968) entered the US Navy and served off the coast of Vietnam during the 1960s. When his Navy enlistment was up he enlisted in the US Army and was sent back to Vietnam as a rifleman. It was during his third month in-country in Vietnam he was killed in action. His father, Thomas F. Smith, Sr. saw service with the US Army Air Force as a radio operator and was captured as a prisoner of war for over 18 months by the Germans when his plane was shot down during a raid against the Ploesti oil fields in Romania.

WWII European Area
KIA March 13, 1945
Purple Heart

John was the youngest of 4 siblings who cared very much about his family and loved his mother. John grew up on the west side of Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood where he would attend daily mass as Blessed Sacrament Church every day. He was on a path to become a priest when he was called to duty. He responded to his country’s call to fight for justice, freedom and democracy. John succumbed to wounds received from fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. His family was never the same without him and he was sorely missed as he was young and had his whole life ahead of him. His family tried to take comfort in knowing that John made the ultimate sacrifice for us all and was now in the company of his savior Jesus Christ watching over them.

Vietnam
KIA 07/21/1967
Bronze Star Purple Heart

John was a close friend’s brother when I was 18. Still remember today when I first heard from my friend about his brother John’s death, the impact it had on their family, the community and everyone who knew John.

WWII
KIA February 01, 1945
Purple Heart

Lawrence J. Conley was born October 26, 1911 in Moscow, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Before being drafted into the service, he worked for the Delaware-Lackawanna & Western Railroad. He entered the Army on December 7, 1942; less than 2 months after I was born.

He served with the Infantry and was killed in action in Belgium, leading his men in combat on February 01, 1945; in the Battle of the Bulge. After burial in US Military Cemetery at Henri Chapelle, Belgium, Grave 75, Row 4, Plott MMM, for several years, he was returned from Cemetery 1240 to Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, (13 Nov 1947, Sec.3, Grave 208, WW II). The grave site is located in the first row behind the Gettysburg Address Memorial. He was survived by a wife and 2 children; I was two and my brother was three.

Submarine – World War II

Bill Hoffman was a close friend of my father’s. They graduated together from Chicago’s Leo High Schol in 1933. All I know if that Bill’s submarine was in the Pacific when it failed to surface during World War II.

Served in World War II

One Bronze Star for each Battle Campaign, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Prisoner of War Decoration

Pvt. Wellington Chaon was a Prisoner of War in Germany during World War II. He was from Sublette where he owned the local grocery store after returning home. He was liberated by Russian forces after spending many months being detailed in a German prison camp near Brandenburg (about 80 miles from Berlin, Germany).

He was the father of Donna Chaon who married Donald Dinges (former President of Farmers State Bank of Sublette).

Served in World War II
KIA: November 4, 1944 (Germany)
Bronze Star/Purple Heart

Was killed in Germany and his body was just located in a cemetery in Belgium. His family is in the process of getting him home.