The warrior clan of Poplar Bluff and beyond

The Poplar Bluff Museum tells many unknown tales of our community. I want to tell you some of those hidden tales found within the museum walls.

In 1951 the second battle for Seoul, Korea, was raging. The First Cavalry Division was fighting street to street. Their Forward Observers (FO) were calling for artillery fire. Lt. Orville Allen was the Fire Direction Control (FDC) officer. Before the howitzers fired, Lt. Allen had to take the FO’s information and plot the exact location of the enemy. They were firing “danger close.” One mistake and the shells would fall on the American troops. While under fire himself, Lt. Allen would order “Fire for Effect” and on command, the enemy was destroyed. His unit fired a million rounds into the besieged city. Lt. Allen’s battle ended when the enemy bombed his position, wounding him.

Orville Allen was from Neelyville. He was exactly where he wanted to be, fighting for freedom. He was from a family with a legacy of service to the nation. Orville enlisted in the Army in May 1944. He was training as an Army Air Corps pilot when World War II ended. He still completed the ROTC program at the University of Missouri. As soon as he was commissioned, Lt. Allen was called up for the Korean War.

After the battle of Seoul, Lt. Allen’s unit was rushed to the Japanese island of Hokkaido. In 1952, a Soviet invasion of Japan’s northern island was imminent. The First Cavalry Division was fortifying the island during the winter in blizzard conditions. To make matters worse, a local volcano erupted on the island damaging their Army fighting positions. When the Soviets didn’t invade, Lt. Allen’s unit was rotated back to the states. That still didn’t stop him. Orville Allen continued to serve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Orville’s clan of warriors go back before the founding of the nation. They were rebels and patriots. His great-grandfathers wore blue and grey. William Mitchener was a Union patriot and Charles Hutchison was a Confederate rebel. Another great grandfather, Elihu Allen III fought in the Mexican War. Berry Brown, his great-great-grandfather, fought in the Blackhawk War. Elihu Allen Jr. defended the young nation during the War of 1812. The original rebel, Elihu Allen Sr. fought in the American Revolution. He joined his famous cousin Ethan Allen’s Vermont “Green Mountain Boys.” Three other grandfathers were on the frontier during the French and Indian War. It’s not hard to understand why Orville Allen joined the Army at 18 years old. He couldn’t help it. Orville had the DNA of a “Green Mountain Boy.” The “Warrior Clan” of Allen patriots are still on duty. Orville Allen’s children were retired U.S. Air Force Colonels. Hold your head high Poplar Bluff, heroes walk among us!

We are proud to display Lt Orville Allen’s photo in the Hall of Heroes. The museum is handicap accessible and open free of charge Sunday 1-4 at 1010 Main Street. Tell them Mike sent you.

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.