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.

Served in Poland in 2019, Germany in 2022, and Lithuania in 2025
KIA/MIA Date: March 31, 2025
Two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, one Certificate of Achievement, two Army Good Conduct Medals, and a National Defense Service Medal.

Jose Dueñez, Jr. of Joliet, age 25, lost his life tragically during a tactical training exercise, while in the service of the United States Army, in Lithuania on March 31, 2025. He was born to his parents Jose and Leticia (nee Quintero) Dueñez on April 8, 1999.

Jose Jr. was raised in Joliet along with his five sisters. He spent much of his youth exploring the outdoors. He loved to ride his bike and catch snakes as he built strong bonds with the other children in the neighborhood. Jose was always very careful not to harm any of the snakes he caught, as he always showed great kindness to all living things. His favorite Superhero as a child was Spider-Man. Jose would spend all day running around the neighborhood in his Spider-Man costume, dreaming of protecting the vulnerable from danger without causing any significant harm to his foes. This was likely the foundation of his protective nature, which led to his future roles protecting his family and his country from the threat of harm. Jose developed a strong relationship with God after participating on a missionary trip, and he maintained that faith throughout the rest of his life. After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Army in 2017. During his seven-year military career, he was often recognized by his peers and superior officers as a trustworthy and dedicated soldier. He used his God-given talents to excel in his role as an M1 Abrams Tank system maintainer. He was promoted five times over the course of his service, ultimately reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant in November of 2020. He served in three overseas deployments, Poland in 2019, Germany in 2022, and Lithuania in 2025. He was scheduled to attend the Advanced Leaders Course at the time of his passing. Despite being assigned to a position that is typically held by a Sergeant First Class, Staff Sergeant Dueñez excelled by showing exceptional leadership and expertise far beyond that of his peers. He was recognized with two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, one Certificate of Achievement, two Army Good Conduct Medals, and a National Defense Service Medal. While enlisted in the Army, he met and married the love of his life, Karen. Together, they welcomed their son Jose Dueñez III into the world. The three of them, along with Jose’s mother, were recently blessed to cross an item off of Jose’s bucket list by traveling throughout Alaska together. He also started his own fishing YouTube channel and purchased a home and a boat. He enjoyed Anime, collecting Mangas (a specific style of Japanese graphic novels) as well as Kitanas (Japanese swords). The family has fond memories of Jose playing video games with friends and family, visiting China town with his wife and parents, and watching Jose devour sushi (one of his favorite meals). He shared a special bond with his father, as the two were known to refer to each other as “Partner.” Even in adulthood, the two would often say goodbye to each other with the words, “Partners, forever and ever.” Jose accomplished so many things in such a short period of time, but his greatest source of pride was undoubtedly his beautiful baby boy who would carry on his name. The circumstances of Jose’s passing are incredibly challenging for his family, as they would be to any family, and currently are for three other American families. However, there is some measure of peace that can be taken in the knowledge that Jose was not alone in his final moments. He was surrounded by his brothers-in-arms, who he had committed to protecting as they had committed to protecting him. But that’s not all. He was also with God in that moment, as he always kept God in his heart and his deeds, and he was surrounded by the love of his family. He carried the love for his parents, sisters, wife, and child with him always, and we know that they were first and foremost on his mind.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, paternal grandparents, and his niece Sophia.

Jose is survived by his devoted wife Karen Dueñez (nee Diaz), his beloved son Jose III, his dear mother Leticia, his “partner forever and ever” and father Jose, five heartbroken sisters Lydia, Jessica, Eva, Rebecca, Beatriz and eighteen nieces and nephews. Many other loved ones, far too numerous to list, also survive.

Served in World War II
KIA/MIA Date: Unknown
Combat Infantry Badge, Distinguished

In 1941 Walter was just 16 years old and in 10th grade. He wanted to help his family by joining the army. In 1943 he was inducted at Camp Grant in Illinois. In February 1945 his unit was sent to France. While there he received the Combat Infantry Badge and the Distinguished Unit Citation. He didn’t speak much about his time in the service, but he did tell us two stories. One day his unit came upon a German motorcycle in the road. While the rider was in the woods, Walter took the bike for a spin! When he was asked by his children if he STOLE the bike, his response (to make sure they didn’t go through life thinking their father was a thief) was “No, I took it before he could lose it!” Another story took place at the end of the war. When Hitler surrendered, Walter himself took the first message and delivered it to his CO. His unit then delivered the news to a French village, “liberating” them. After his time in the Army, Walter worked for Motorola and American Safety for many years and was instrumental in developing seatbelt restraint technology. He could fix anything, was a devout St. Louis Cardinals fan, a woodworker extraordinaire, and the best father and grandpa around.

Served in Vietnam
KIA/MIA Date: August 23, 1968
Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, Marksmanship Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross

John was a handyman for my parents. He was a very honest, respectful individual with a kind soul. He is missed by everyone whose life he touched.