Letters from Vietnam

Written and assembled by Church Historian Cindy O’Neill

In July, Eureka will be the host of The Wall That Heals, a 3/4-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Looking back through our church’s Christian Visitor from the period 1966-1972, there are glimpses of the men associated with our church who served in the armed forces during this period and of activities the congregation undertook to support soldiers.

Men who were mentioned in the Visitor as serving in the armed forces during this period include: James Cook, Richard Keith Cable, Stephen J. James, William Taylor, Dan Harrod, Pete Hanner, Steve Stansbury, Dave Riley, Steve Riley, Mike Noe, Tim Wuethrich, Mike Johnson, Terry Bruley, Alan Roemersberger, Warren Blumenshine, Steve Hodel, Steve McDaniel, and James Harrod.

In 1971, PFC Warren Blumenshine, a 1970 EHS graduate and son of Ray and Arlene (Johnson) Blumenshine, wrote three letters to the church which were printed in the Visitor. He describes 15-minute church services held in the active war zones and his continual hope and prayer for world peace. Blumenshine states, “I thought I’d let you know that United States soldiers are true Americans wiling to fight for peace and lay their weapons down for church services anytime.” His letters are included in the display.

The Visitor also on two occasions encouraged the congregation to write letters to North Vietnam and to nations with influence over North Vietnam to press for humane POW treatment. Letters were to be written to the ambassadors of Cambodia, India, Romania, France, Poland, Sweden, and Russia.