Decorum delayed for Todd's Mill soldier; special Tamaroa service
<pre class="aLF-aPX-K0-aPE aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR">It started with a flag in a cemetery in Tamaroa and a woman who believed her family's lost member deserved to have one. In her quest to establish a remembrance, she also, unwittingly, fulfilled her grandfather's dying wish: To have his son remembered and honored in death.
Private First Class Charles Joseph Nehrkorn, Serial # 36 381 447, was inducted into the United States Army on October 3, 1942. His mother, Frances Nehrkorn, received the bleak tidings her oldest son, born April 11, 1921, in Todd's Mill, was dead via telegram: killed in action on Luzon Island, in the Philippines on March 27, 1945, his body was never recovered. He served in Company B with the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division of the United States Army.
He was 23 when he died - 16 days before his birthday. He was 5'8", 138 lbs., wore a size 7 ½ boot, had a scar on his right knee; was loved deeply and mourned greatly by his parents, especially his father, Leland Nehrkorn, who wrote letters to anyone who would listen trying to retrieve his son's belongings. Pointing out that as a combat veteran himself during WWI, Leland declared he had witnessed soldiers and officers robbing the dead. His fear? That his son's body had been desecrated in death, a thought his letters deemed repugnant, haunted Leland's letters.
He demanded dignity and respect, for not only the dead he had seen plundered, but for his son and all soldiers serving their country with honor.
As a combat infantryman, Charles had earned battle stars for campaigns in New Britain, New Guines, Letye and Luzon. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his honorable service.
With no body, Charles' parents had no real closure. No plot to visit or monument to attest their son's life and sacrifice to serve this country with honor. Leland demanded the Army look into where his son's belongings landed. He was a squeaky wheel until a court martial was convened by the Quartermaster in Kansas City in October, 1945, to recover any scrap or remnant belonging to Charles. A final tally to Leland's letters produced a sad, meager result: a sweater, books, brushes, belt, letters, souvenirs, a rusty flashlight and a watch with a broken crystal and damaged wrist band were found and returned but the Army could never produce a body for Leland to bury.
Eventually Charles was declared Missing in Action and his name was memorialized on the Tablet of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. Again, cold comfort for grieving parents in Southern Illinois with little means, or desire, to travel to the South Pacific to visit the site.
Which brings this story back to that woman looking at those flags one Memorial Day in Tamaroa Cemetery. There is a flag placed for Leland, his son, James Paul, and many other sons and daughters who served but nothing for Charles until now.
The woman, Donna Nehrkorn Vancil, of Scheller, the unofficial historian of her family and ancestry hobbyist, provided one last squeak to that long rusted wheel thus re-opening the files for her uncle, Charles J. Nehrkorn, wading through the red tape, the triplicate forms of the United States Army, uncovering her grandfather's quest to honor his eldest son and in the process? Breathing new life into the legacy of a young man who died long before she was born but who had become very real to her. Her Uncle Charles deserved the dignity denied until now.
The public, especially all military personnel past and present, is invited to commemorate the life of Charles J. Nehrkorn at 11 a.m., on April 9, 2016, a mass will celebrate his life at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tamaroa. Members of the Du Quoin VFW Post 4753 will present the flag donated by Searby's Funeral Home at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery where a tombstone was provided by the Veteran's Administration. The United States Army will be sending an honor guard of nine for NCOIC-Military Funeral Honors as the military salute for a fallen soldier and the flag presentation to the next of kin. An honor guard from the 128th, 32nd Division of the Greater Great Lakes WWII Reenactor's Club will also be honoring the event as per custom of the fallen.
Sharon Chapman, Donna's cousin, of Tamaroa organized the mass. Music will be provided by Chelsea and Tyler Porritt of West Frankfort. Great-Nephew Sean Tolley will be performing Taps at the cemetery.
Charles is survived by his younger sister Jenny Harris, his nieces: Donna Vancil of Scheller, Karen Lamke, of Mt Vernon, Rosie Cosens, of Scheller, daughters of his younger brother, James Paul and Florence (Gajewski) Nehrkorn, and Diane Kravec of St Louis and Barbara Waligorski of Belleville, daughters of Jenny (Nehrkorn) Harris and Pete Waligorski.
A luncheon at the church after the cemetery military honors has been arranged and donated to finally give closure and dignity to a local young soldier, killed so very long ago, who is finally, if not bodily, but spiritually, home.</pre>