THE WORLD GOES TO WAR ONCE AGAIN!

Military life can be described and understood best by those who have served, and to a much lesser degree by those who have never participated. I having never served in the military even in peacetime and can offer little in way of description of the life of a serviceman. Military life during wartime, under fire, can only be comprehended by those who have lived it. It is unfortunate indeed that some of our local servicemen were not encouraged to write of their experiences. 

Most who fought, only desired to get on with life and forget (if they could) the terrible aspects of war. 

Many who served never spoke of their experiences, but often walked back through their own secluded memories. For those who did speak we are grateful. 

The events that they endured shaped their future emotions. They, from war time forward, acted and reacted in great part due to their experiences. Whether good or bad, some of their character, personality, traits, and yes even emotions were shaped by war. 

World War II came just twenty-three years after the first. This devastating war began when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This, said President Franklin D. Roosevelt when asking Congress for a declaration of war, is “a day that will live in infamy.” Once again our fathers, sons, and brothers took up arms, this time in a struggle with Germany, Italy and Japan (all under military dictatorships) united forces against many of the free nations of the world. This time more than 275,000 Iowans served in the armed forces in the worldwide struggle. Although about nine per cent of the population of the United States was under arms, Iowa sent about 14 and a half per cent of her population against the enemy. Inevitably, out of the quarter of a million Iowa men in arms, a high price was paid in dead and wounded. The number of Iowa men who died or were killed in World War II was 7,798. 

Some of those who served in that war from Steamboat Rock paid a great price. All served with dignity. Some have shared their stories at least in part. 

Roger Gast was working for the Potgeter Grain Company in Wellsburg when the war began. On October 3, 1942, Roger married Merriem Olthoff, and in November, he entered the Army and served until September of 1945. 

Roger was injured in January of 1945, and again in February of that same year. This happened during the Battle of the Bulge, and he was awarded the Purple Heart. Roger spent time in the hospital in France, England, and Franklin, Indiana. The experience greatly influenced the rest of his life. He was discharged on 70% disability which was later reduced to 40%.