Honoring all who serve

The staff at the Daily American Republic has been reporting on the soldiers of World War II since the very beginning.

We continue that tradition today with a special magazine inside this edition, “Honoring All Who Serve.”

It includes a special article on veteran Cloyd Cook, who will celebrate his 100th birthday Feb. 15. John J. Pershing VA Medical Center has invited the public to send cards and well wishes to Cook, who lives on site.

Today’s project also highlights other veterans from our area and ways you can learn more about Southeast Missouri’s contribution to World War II.

One of our earliest articles, published Dec. 9, 1941, shared news of enlistments in the area in the Civilian Pilots Training course. The interest was so high, they expected a school to be established in Poplar Bluff for the training.

But in the same edition, DAR staff reported of the “anxiety and helpless feeling” as families awaited the first casualty list from the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.

“Some have estimated there are thousands and thousands of soldiers and sailors stationed here and there in the Pacific, and the number of casualties is comparatively small when the entire number is considered,” a DAR reporter shared. “However, that brings little peace of mind to those who have relatives in the war area.

“They realize a big price must be paid for our security, for our independence, before an ultimate victory, which must come.”

In the decades since, we have highlighted those who served often.

On the 60th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, we shared the story of James Tipton, a survivor of the attack.

His family was among those on Dec. 9, 1941, waiting for word.

Tipton shared that he was in line for breakfast on the day of the attack.

“Wheeler Field was a quarter of a mile away. The Japs hit it and strafed over the barracks.
“We were getting hit with friendly anti-aircraft shells from Pearl Harbor. One came down through the barracks.”

Tipton, 82 at the time of the 2001 interview, went on to fly 50 missions during the war, with 239 combat hours.

We’re proud to share his story and those of the others collected by our staff.

Donna Farley is the editor of the Daily American Republic. She can be reached at dfarley.dar@gmail.com.