All Out for Victory - The Mieure Family, Nine Men Served in WW2
Nearly 987,000 men and women from Illinois served in World War II. It was not entirely uncommon for multiple members of the same family to be serving our country at the same time. The following story about a family from a small community in southeastern Illinois is an incredible example of going “All Out for Victory”.
Nine men from the Mieure family of Sumner, Illinois served in World War II. Five of the men (Hubert, Harold, Gerald, John, Eugene) were sons of Mr. and Mrs. Garl Mieure and four (Raymond, Delbert, Leslie, George) were sons of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Mieure. The men’s fathers, Gus and Garl, were brothers.
Hubert enlisted in the Air Corps at Chanute Field and was sent to training until August of 1941. He was then transferred to Biloxi, Mississippi and served as a technical sergeant at Keesler Field. Harold and Gerald (identical twins) were first cooks with Co. L National Guards at Lawrenceville and were transferred to Camp Forrest, Tennessee in March of 1941. Harold and Gerald actually followed each other when their unit was sent to Europe and were never more than 10-15 miles apart. John enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Chanute Field in 1939. He was transferred to Hamilton Field, California, then to Fort Douglas, Utah. From there he was sent to Honolulu and ultimately served in Australia. Eugene enlisted at Chanute Field in August of 1940 and was transferred to Glendale California and served as a clerk in the Army Services head quarters.
Raymond enlisted in the Marines in Chicago approximately seven years before the war began and served as a sergeant in the First Parachute Battalion. He was in China and the Philippines. Delbert enlisted in the Air Corps at Chanute Field in April of 1941. Leslie was in the Army with the Co. L Reserves and then was assigned to the 130th Infantry at Camp Forrest where his cousins, Harold and Gerald were assigned. George was in the Air Corps and was assigned to Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, where his cousin, Hubert was assigned.
All nine men returned safely to their families when the war was over.
September 27th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Hello,
21e7Just ran across your website thru Google. I wanted to add a correction to your helpful and welcomed memorial comments. Raymond Mieure, mentioned above (my uncle, brother of Leslie my father)…was killed on Iwo Jima during that assult near the end of the war.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
From a guy who served in a military family, though perhaps not nearly as illustrious, this story is truly inspiring.
www.vareficenter.com
December 31st, 2007 at 9:19 pm
My dad was Roy E , Godbey of Cherryville Mo. He was In the Army WW2 1944 he was stationed in Germany , & Philiphines ,also Australia .1945. He was a M.P. He was in 3 yrs, before he got a Honerable discharge from Sheridan IL., He passed away 2000;
I wanted to no were do i go to try and find a list of names of Men who served with him?
January 19th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I am a grandson of Gus Mieure, nephew to Raymond, Delbert, Leslie, and George. My uncle Martin Mieure also served in WWII. He joined during his senior year of high school (the school presented his diploma to my grandparents) and he served in the Pacific. My father Jack was not old enough for WWII, but he did serve in Korea in the early 50’s.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Does anyone know Chester J. Guminak? He served on the USS Baltimore. He was my uncle, and I wanted to know if anyone would be willing to share any memories about him.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I’m researching the story of my parents’ lives. Helen Daley was an army nurse in the 199th General Hospital in Rennes 1944 and 45. Frank Daley, MD was in France, Alsace-Lorraine, Heidelberg, etc. in 11th General Dispensary. I’d love to hear from anyone experiencing life in those locations or in Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek, where they met and served before going overseas.
Thanks-Dandi dandi@dandibooks.com
November 9th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I am trying to find any army buddies of my father (Paul Evans) who served with him in the 161st Infantry 25th Division Company K 4th Platoon. My dad is 83 and would love to hear news of men he fought with in the Pacific. Some of the men he remembers only by last names such as Chesire, and Delaghatti, He also remembers one man by the name of Leonard Henkey from California. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Pam Shaffer
December 16th, 2008 at 2:35 am
i am the daughter of Leslie Mieure (son of Gus Mieure). Leslie passed away on January 4, 2008 at the age of 90. I just found your web site and was happy to find this article.
Where could I find a list of men that served with my dad? Also, do you know of a web site where I can find copies of the patches and medals he earned.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I am grandson of Leslie Mieure Sr. His father was Gus Mieure. My aunt Cindy Mieure Ford passed along this web site. My father Leslie Mieure Jr. told me about some of the family and their service in the war. But reading about this really hits home for me
January 25th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I am the son of Ronald mieure. His father is Eugene Mieure. I have a picture of my grandfather and his wife Earline Mieure with his service uniform on I am truly inspired by this commitmit to service and am proud of my family heritage.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I am a granddaughter of Leslie Mieure Sr. My mom Cindy Mieure Ford showed me this website and it really hits home for me to see how my grandfather and uncles served our country so willingly. It makes me proud.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Gus and Garl—best in the world. All but Raymond returned from WWII.
FYI, I was able to purchase a brick at the WWII memorial in memory of Harold Dale Mieure my father and twin to Gerald, sons of Garl at the cemetery in Springfield, IL. This is an impressive memorial as walking up to it, the dates of the battles and where they occurred are listed. This became an interest to us and although we do not have a lot of info, I can tell you that Harold and Gerald were together during the war (think about twins!!!!). What little info I could give anyone, contact me at carolek@hotmail.com. I have attended several Veterans’s Day ceremonies, and am more proud each time I do. The veterans were honored at the U of I football game this past weekend.
December 27th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I am looking for any one who knew Jack (Jasper) Oddo. He was stationed in Alaska. I know he was there in 1945. I don’t know when he arrived or when he left. contact me at goode2u@verizon.net
August 29th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
I am still looking for any one who knew my father Roy E, Godbey of ww2.
For any of you looking for medals; I got hold of the Nara in St.Louis Mo. and got a duplecate of my dads. It toke a while but i did recieve them.. I had to have copy of discharge papers. PLEASE if there any one who ever heard of my dad or any storys I would love to hear from some one……………….b.houston86@yahoo.com
November 1st, 2012 at 4:31 pm
William Meloy, my dad, was on Iwo Jima, at Bougainville and on Guam. His brother, Bob was in the Pacific also. One sent a letter to the other and when it arrived “INTRA-ISLAND MAIL” they had a happy unplanned reunion!
Bill Meloy has moved just last month to Vancouver, Washington, from 40 years in Tinley Park, Illinois. Send correspondence to his son, Mike Meloy, Principal, Mountain View High School, 1500 SE Blairmont Drive, Vancouver, WA 98683. He will see that Bill receives it. A “Hello!” from you would be a nice surprise.
Sincerely,
1437Patty