Mount Pulaski honors a former POW with a full military funeral

From Phil Bertoni

[May 02, 2012]  MOUNT PULASKI -- On April 25, one of Mount Pulaski's favorite sons went home to the Lord -- in the words of his pastor, achieving his second freedom, the freedom from earthly bounds.

On Monday, Mike Koehler's funeral afforded him all the love and respect of his brothers in arms, as the day included ceremonies befitting a hero and fallen soldier.

Taken from a 1944 article in the Mount Pulaski Times-News:
(Copy)

Two Logan County men, Pfc. Arnold "Mike" Koehler of Lake Fork and Pfc. Kenneth Zimmerman, Lincoln, who were captured in the battle of the Belgian Bulge last Dec. 21st (1944) are prisoners of war in Germany, according to postal cards received from them on March 29, by their families. Both men wrote from Stalag IV-B, which is located near Muhlberg, south of Berlin and northwest of Dresden. Koehler's card, written Jan. 19 to his parents, stated that he was in good health and asked that cigarettes and chocolate be sent to him.

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Taken from the obituary of Arnold "Mike" Koehler submitted by Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mount Pulaski:(Copy)

Mike was an army veteran who was a prisoner of war during WWII, he became a prisoner of war during the Battle of The Bulge on December 19, 1944 and stayed one until April 25, 1945; Mike had received the Victory Ribbon, American Theatre Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon, Three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, and the Overseas Bar. He was also a member of Mt Pulaski American Legion Post #447 and Mt Pulaski VFW Post #777.

(See obituary from Fricke-Calvert-Schrader.)

Sunday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mount Pulaski

Two veterans from Mount Pulaski VFW Post 777 and Mount Pulaski American Legion Post 447 stood at parade rest at each end of Koehler's casket during the 2 1/2-hour visitation from 2 to 4:30 Sunday afternoon, each pair for 15-minute duties, then relieved smartly by another pair. The VFW Post 777 flag and VFW Post 777 POW flag were at casket side as well as the Mount Pulaski American Legion Post 447 flag and the U.S. colors -- four flags, two at each end of the casket.

Monday (11 a.m.) at Mount Pulaski Zion Lutheran Church

Nine military personnel from different units in Illinois arrived early on Monday to assist Mount Pulaski's two veterans' posts in rendering honors for Lake Fork and Mount Pulaski's World War II GI and POW. American Legion Chaplain Joe Lucas and American Legion/VFW Honor Guard and Rifle Detail Commander Bob McCue led the contingent into the church, each rendering slow salutes to Koehler as he lay in his casket at the altar.

The Rev. Mark Peters was the officiant at the services, both in the church and at graveside. Karen Wernsing was the organist, playing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," "Amazing Grace" and the "The Lord's Prayer," among a few other selections. Her husband, Darrel Wernsing, accompanied her with his renditions of "Amazing Grace" and "The Lord's Prayer."

Pastor Peters remarked that Koehler's death on April 25 coincided with his April 25, 1945, repatriation from the German POW Stalag IV-B camp. The pastor went on to say that Mike was given his freedom from captivity 67 years ago, and then last Wednesday our Lord Jesus Christ once again gave him his freedom -- this time from this earth to his eternal reward.

At the end of the service, the Mount Pulaski veterans and Sons of the American Legion personnel filed out single file, each rendering another slow salute upon passing the casket, and then providing a long line outside as the six active-duty military personnel pallbearers carried the casket in half-steps out of the church to the hearse.

At the Mount Pulaski Cemetery

Veterans from Mount Pulaski VFW Post 777 and American Legion Post 447 along with SAL Squadron 447 personnel came to "parade rest" while the six visiting military personnel retrieved the casket from the hearse and carried it to the gravesite.

Chaplain Lucas provided graveside military prayers following those of the Rev. Peters. The chaplain then gave the order to McCue: "Salute our fallen comrade." McCue called his detail to attention and executed commands for a three-shot volley, followed by taps by Alan Roos, echoed by the two active-duty buglers off to the other side.

The flag was taken off the casket and folded by two of the active-duty personnel and presented to the family with those beautiful but melancholy words:

"On behalf of a grateful nation and our commander in chief of the United States of America, this flag is presented to you for your father's devotion to duty and service in the United States Army during World War II. May God bless you and your family, and may you always cherish this flag and proudly display it."

[Text from file received from Phil Bertoni, member of Mount Pulaski VFW Post 777 and Mount Pulaski American Legion Post 447]