Honoring Our Family Heroes:

Pvt Nathan P. Chastain, Missouri 29 August 1862 – 3 July 1863 (Leta G. Hensley Tree)

Nathan P. Chastain was a 32 year old farmer from Eagleville, Mo when he joined the Union Army’s 2nd Missouri Cavalry know as Merrill’s Horse. In his short career of less than 11 months, he fought Confederate Guerrillas across Missouri. Click this link to read more…

Tad Lucas, Rodo Champion 1902 – 1990 (Martfeld-Eyl Tree)

Barbara Inez ‘Tad’ Barnes Lucas was a champion rodeo cowgirl of worldwide acclaim. Born in the Sandhills of Nebraska near Cody, she began her rodeo career at the age of 14 and rode her last bronc at the age of 62. In between she won nearly every award available to her and remained active promoting the rodeo and cowgirls until her death in 1990. Click this link to read more…

PVT William Henry Martfeld, France, 14 October 1918 (Martfeld-Eyl Tree)

William Henry Martfeld is a World War I hero who served as a wagoner in the 338th Field Artillery Regiment, 88th Division in the south of France. William never saw combat but died in France on 14 October 1918 most likely from the influenza that was sweeping the entire world at the time. Click this link to read more…

TM1c John Robert Green, Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942 (Martfeld-Eyl Tree)

John Robert Green is a World War II hero who served in USS Laffy (DD 459) and gave his life at the battle of Guadalcanal. Click this link to read more…

MM2 Wilfred Melvin Martfeld, Pacific Theater, 1943-1945 (Martfeld-Eyl Tree)

Wilfred Melvin Martfeld (Bill), served with the 60th US Navy Construction Battalion (60th Seabees) in the South Pacific and with the 19th Seabees on Okinawa. Bill deployed to the South Pacific in April 1943 serving in Australia, Woodlark (Muyua) Island, Finschhaven, New Guinea and Owi Island. He deployed to Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands on June 12 1945 and was there until the end of the war. Click this link to read more…

PVT Calvin Dale Crandall, Cassino, Italy, 07 January 1944 (Martfeld-Eyl Tree)

Calvin Dale Crandall, a young 18 year old man and newlywed went into the Army in April 1943. By January 1944 he was killed in action in the campaign to clear the Gustav line south of Rome, Italy. Click this link to read more…

SGT Theodore Eyl, Ghisonaccia, Corsica, France 23 September 1944 (Martfeld-Eyl Tree)

Theodore Eyl, who joined the Army from Fort Meade, South Dakota was a turret gunner flying the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber when he and his crew were shot down over northern Italy by anti-aircraft fire. Click this link to read more…

PFC Herbert Norman Eyl, Iwo Jima, April – August 1945 (Martfeld-Eyl Tree)

Herbert Norman Eyl (Herb), served in company C of US Army’s 568th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion. Company C Arrive on Iwo Jima just 45 days after it was declared secure and played a significant role in support of ongoing air operations at Iwo Jima Air Base. Click this link to read more…