205 South Madison
Macomb, IL 61455

A farm boy named Ken Cole was sent to fight in the Korean War. It was a challenging and life-changing experience. Despite hardships, Ken and the others showed courage and resilience. The Allies kept the South Koreans free from communism. You can learn more about this "forgotten war" by reading our hero Ken’s story. Find printable Pancake Kenny at bottom of page.

1400 Dove Drive
Metamora, IL 61548

Dick was drafted and stationed in the Pacific during WWII. He worked with weather equipment sending important information to the Allies that would determine attacks against the Japanese. It was lonely on that island except for one little friend: a friendly monkey who became his pet. I'm sure this hero would like drawings of Christmas monkeys this year.

5210 Likini Street Apt 904
Honolulu, HI 96818

Young author / artist Dillyn Hammons went to Hawaii with her mother and was able to meet and interview Eugenia. She learned about a woman who was a pioneer for women's rights. Prior to WWII, women had not been allowed in the service. Now this important story is preserved and will be used in classrooms across the nation.

1200 East Grant #31
Macomb, IL 61455

Grace served her time in the military in Washington, DC working as a typist for the Intelligence Division of the Navy. She dealt with captured foreign documents and was told that “Loose lips sink ships.” This meant she should keep her mouth shut and her eyes closed about what she heard and saw!

989 Dayton Court
Galesburg, IL 61401

Seventy years after the war, the Japanese invited POWs back to Japan. All expenses were paid and Leland felt like they wanted to make up for all the horrific things they had done during the war. He decided to let go of his awful thoughts and the grudge he had toward them. He told the students who wrote and illustrated his storybook he was able to forgive.

c/o Edgington Presbyterian Church
3228 140 Street W
Taylor Ridge, IL 61284

Henry was drafted into the army at age 19. After basic training, he was sent to Europe via ship convoy. During battle in Germany, Henry and his unit hid in foxholes to avoid gunfire. Unfortunately, Henry was shot in the arm by a German sniper.

PO Box 3
Leland, IL 60531

Bob Shumway and brothers, Kenny and Dick, all served during WWII. These brothers would go on to make their hometown of Leland, Illinois proud. At first, with Kenny serving in Europe and Dick serving in the Pacific, it remained for Bob to stay behind to help his father maintain the family farm. But, when his chance to serve came, Bob answered the call without hesitation. Bob was stationed in Yokohama, Japan to work at General Headquarters. On Veteran’s Day, Bob speaks in schools to keep alive the memory of veterans who weren’t as lucky as he was.

c/o Mary O’Brien
45863 Grant Court
Macomb, MI 48044

She worked at the Willow Run Plant making B-24 Liberator bombers on the assembly line. It took her an hour by bus to get to Ypsilanti, then another half hour to get the plant. She worked there "for the duration" of the war. Fran said if there was anything she could do to help the people of Ukraine now, she would do it, just as she helped her fellow Americans during the war.

1295 Center Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

Mike and his unit were on a mission to bomb the railroad yards in Munich, Germany. After dropping their bombs, they came under enemy attack and two engines were lost, and the remaining two were surging. The third engine died near neutral Switzerland and the pilot gave the order to jump. They landed on a farm in rural France and within an hour, they were rescued by the French Underground who kept them safe from being prisoners of war.

2944 Greenwood Acres Drive
Dekalb, IL 60115

Eager to make a difference after Pearl Harbor, young Dorothy sought her parents’ permission to enlist in the Women’s Army Corps. She worked at the Wurlitzer factory in DeKalb on a top secret project. Instead of making musical instruments, the factory produced an assault drone that could carry a 2,000-pound bomb to its target while being remotely controlled from a nearby mother plane.