Plaque shares patriotic piece of history from McGregor’s Cannon Park
A new plaque erected in McGregor’s Cannon Park shares a piece of history—one of friendship and patriotism—that dates back to World War II. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
A new plaque erected in McGregor’s Cannon Park shares a piece of history—one of friendship and patriotism—that dates back to World War II.
Resident and current McGregor mayor Lyle Troester spearheaded the plaque, which is located not far from McGregor’s veterans memorial. It gives the description of a 1941 game of football between friends who, after hearing of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, all eventually enlisted in the military.
The plaque reads: “Sunday morning December 7, 1941, was an unusually warm day in McGregor. A perfect day for 11 local young men to gather and play some touch football. One of the young men needed a drink of water and went across to the ‘Butterfield’s Station.’ The radio had just announced that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The young man reported to his friends what had happened, but none rally knew where Pearl Harbor was located. The all did understand ‘duty and honor.’ Over the next six months, all 11 of these young men were enlisted in the military service—Army, Navy, Air Force—defending the freedoms we enjoy today. Three of these young men were killed in action. The rest returned to our area and continued to live service-oriented lives that enriched all around them. Eight of the 11 names are listed below. We honor these 11 young men and remember this location as a ‘thank you’ to all veterans.”
Names listed include Richard Staples, Donald Parker, Henry Hendrickson, Harry Knapp and Willis Hultgren. Tommy Huebsch, Tommy Omas and Lloyd Hickman were listed as killed in action.
Three members from the friend group have never been identified, despite continued research.
Troester said he heard the story from Staples, one of the 11 men and later a well-known area historian and active member of the McGregor Historical Society.
“People have always been interested in that story,” Troester said. “[The plaque] has been a long time in the process.”
Troester first presented the idea in 2015, inspired by former McGregor shop owner Mark Russo.
“I’m glad it got done,” he said. “[Wife] Bonnie and I were happy to help with it. We didn’t want the story forgotten. It happened a long time ago, but it’s still relevant today.”
The plaque means Cannon Park, which is located along West Main Street and contains the veterans memorial and a cannon, will be “even more dedicated to our military history,” Troester added.
