UNDATED – Local veterans will be displayed on the Wall of Honor in Springfield. State Senator Sue Rezin encouraged constituents to submit names, stories and pictures of veterans to be displayed at the Capitol through November 15th. Scroll through to read the bios of our local heroes!
In March of 1944, Eloise was ordered to join the war effort in the Pacific Theater.
On May 18, 1944, Eloise was on board a USMC plane loaded with 23 passengers including wounded soldiers and crew. They left Bougainville Island at 10:08 AM in threatening weather bound for Guadalcanal. That was the last anyone ever saw of her plane, crew or passengers. A massive search from air and sea continued for two days. No evidence of its demise was ever found.
On May 19, 1945, one year and a day later, a “Review and Determination of Status” was issued. It mainly reiterated what the Missing Air Crew Report had already reported then recommended a “Finding of Death”. That is exactly what happened. Eloise, and all those aboard had officially been written off as dead.
Eloise, her crew and passengers are memorialized with over 36,000 other MIA on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manilla American Cemetery in the Philippines.
WWI Medical Detachment, 360th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division
Entered the Army 15 August 1917.
Being the youngest doctor in the detachment, he volunteered to go help the frontline trench hospital that was full of gassed and wounded men from fighting on the 13th and 14th of September. He arrived on the 15th, and immediately realized more doctors were needed. As all the orderlies were busy tending to the wounded, he volunteered to go call for help. The Germans were shelling the regiment’s position, and 1st Lt. Finkelberg was instantly killed by a German shell that exploded in the trench nearby as he stepped out of the bunker.He was from Spring Valley, Illinois.
He was the only Bureau County officer killed in action.
He was part of B Company, Second Battalion, 47th Infantry, of the 9th Infantry Division.
Since leaving the service in 1968, he enrolled in college to become a teacher and principal in the Streator area. He has also in the past done Veteran’s Programs for elementary school children. He has been also involved with Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day Services for the City of Streator.
He has been involved with the local VFW Post 1492 serving as Commander for 3 terms. He is now adjutant and chaplain.
He was honored as the Veteran of the Year Award in 2014 in Streator.
Currently he and a group of other veterans perform military rituals at funerals for the deceased veterans in the Streatorland area.
