1930 Census : Gillespie, Macoupin Co., IL.
July 8, 1941 : 409 Green Street, Gillespie, Macoupin Co., IL.

Entered Service : July 8, 1941
Branch of Service : Army
Trained : Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas
      (1 year, 8 months)
Overseas : March 5, 1943
Returned : November 31, 1945
Serverd in European Theatre
Engagements :
      Tunisian; Sicilian; Naples-Foggia;
      Rome-Arno; Southern France;
      Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns
Awarded :
      American Defense Medal,
      American Theatre Ribbon,
      Purple Heart,
      1 Silver and 2 Bronze Battle Stars, and an Arrowhead.
      E. A. M. E. Theatre Ribbon
Discharged : Camp Grant, Illinois; November 18, 1945
Rank : Private First Class
Served : 4 years, 4 months, 26 days
Present Occupation (1948) : Coal Mining Industry
Died : April 7, 1991

Burial : Gillespie City Cemetery
      Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois

Neal HICKEN
PFC     US Army
World War II
May 16, 1916     †     Apr. 7, 1991

1930 Census : Wilsonville, Macoupin Co., IL.
April 24, 1944 : 607 Olive Street, Gillespie, Macoupin Co., IL.

Served during World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the U S Army
Entered Service : April 24, 1944
Branch of Service : Army
Overseas : October 12, 1944
Served in European Theatre.
Awarded : Purple Heart
Rank : Staff Sergeant
Wounded in Action, December 25, 1944
Killed in Action in Germany, on February 12, 1945

Burial : Mayfield Memorial Park
      Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois

Served during World War II as a Sergeant in the U S Marines

He stood 5' 8" and had black hair and a dark complexion.
Before the war he worked as a stockboy for
Smith's Red and White Grocery Store.

He married Eleanore Joy Kulenkamp in March of 1947.
They had four children together and three of whom still reside in Gillespie, with the fourth residing in Staunton.

He later worked as a coal miner and continued working in area mines until his retirement from Monterey Coal Mine.

Died : April 17, 1997

Burial : Holy Cross Cemetery
      Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois

Joseph G. REINIESCH
Sgt     US Marine Corps
World War II
Nov. 21, 1920     †     Apr. 17, 1997

She graduated from the Eighth Grade at Gillespie Public Grade School on May 14, 1926

She graduated from Gillespie Community High School on May 29, 1930

From 1944 to 1946 she was a second Lieutenant in the 101st General Army Hospital as a Red Cross Nurse.
As an army nurse she was stationed in England.

She was married in 1949

She died in 1976 after a extended illness.

See : Biography