EARLY HISTORY OF CHERRY COUNTY, NEBRASKA

     (167) Since Cherry County was organized, the United States has engaged in three wars. The Spanish-American War in 1898 was won by the United States Army and Navy, which were made up of volunteer enlistments. There was no selective service draft during that war. The number of men required was so small that only a few Cherry County men took part in that war. There was no air force at that time.

     In World War I, 1917-1918, the selective service draft, as well as enlistments, provided the men for the service. Cherry County furnished its quota for that war. 579 men were called into the service from our county, of which 23 lost their lives. There is a monument to the honor of those serving from Cherry County, on the lawn of the Court House in Valentine. This monument lists the names of those serving in the armed forces, and before the name of each one who lost his life is a star.

     The Valentine Chapter of the American Legion is named in honor of Leo Brinda, who lost his life Oct. 16, 1918, in the battle of the Marne, in France. His brother, Sergeant John Brinda won a citation for bravery in taking a German machine gun nest near Mt. Sac, France, Sept. 12, 1918.

     The Wood Lake Chapter of the American Legion is named in honor of Ralph Piper, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lucian Piper, Cherry County pioneers. Ralph Piper was killed in action Sept. 12, 1918, near Benay, France.

      In World War II, 1941-1945, volunteer and selective service draft also provided the men for the service. Cherry County furnished 942 men for the armed service in this war. When this history is being written, the number who lost their lives has not been determined. A number of young women enlisted in the service from Cherry County in this war; they were: Ruth Shelbourn, Irene Kehr, Elizabeth Tetherow, Eleanor Bowman, Delila Shearer, Betty Steadman, all of whom served as Army Nurses.

     There were other young women from Cherry County who entered the service of the country during the war. Having enlisted from places where they were living at the time, we were unable to secure their names. Miss Gladys Jordan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Jordan of Valentine, is one of these. She had the rank of lieutenant and served as a dietitian at various places overseas.

     (168) Bernadine Dennis, Winona Neiman, Vera Carver, Wilma Hook, Lois McCormick, Dorthy Micheel, Josephine Scripter served as WAVES.

     Mary McKee, Normalee McMurtrey, Helen White and Naomi Kidder served as WACs.

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