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In the previous column, I wrote about First Lutheran Church in Greensboro and how the Rev. Samuel L. Sox and his congregation supported the World War II war effort.

Here is a closer look at some of the World War II veterans who joined the church after the war.

Army S/Sgt. Charles Spencer, who served with 77th Infantry Division in Pacific Theater, was on the Japanese Island of Ie Shima, just off the coast of Okinawa.

"Spencer was about one mile from the spot at which noted war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed by a Japanese sniper," according to news reports.

"Charles was chosen to print a marker and place it on the spot where Ernie Pyle was killed," the report said. "The marker read: 'At this spot the 77th Infantry Division lost a buddy Ernie Pyle 12 April 1945.'"

Though Spencer's painted sign has been replaced by a permanent granite marker, the inscription is the same.

Perry Walker served in the Army in the European Theater as a paratrooper, completing two combat jumps. He also served in the Korean War, later in the Army Reserves for a total of 34 years of military service.

Sam Mitchem, Navy, was "a staff driver for high-ranking officers and visiting celebrities among whom was Bob Hope. ... in a USO show," according to Al Lochra, a First Lutheran member and WWII vet.

Others who joined the church after the war include: Joseph Reynolds; George Schlobohm, Army Air Force, Accra, Ghana, Africa; James Simpson, Army, aboard ship headed for Okinawa when war ended, discharged in 1946; Al Vaeth, Army Air Force; Herbert Voelkert, Army, European Theater with the 94th Infantry Division, participated in Battle of the Bulge, Army of Occupation, Czechoslovakia; Richard Wagner, Army; and Robert Wilhelm, Coast Guard.

Navy Gunners Mate first class Mack Miller - on the battleship USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941 - was among those WW II veterans who joined the church after the war but have since died.

Miller "was above deck at the time of the (Japanese) attack, but when (general quarters) sounded, Mack went to his battle station three decks below," Lochra said. "After torpedo and bomb explosions, electric power failed and water began flooding the compartment. With much difficulty, the hatch was opened, Mack and two others made it to the main deck. Suddenly the USS Arizona exploded, sending Mack and others tumbling.

"Upon recovering, he made his way starboard. 'Abandon ship' was ordered," Lochra reports. "The water was covered with flames; nevertheless, Mack jumped into those waters and swam underwater toward Ford Island, finally making it while Japanese bombing continued. ... Later that afternoon, Mack's cuts and scratches were dressed and (he was) given a pair of khaki pants.

"Still later, volunteers were asked to go to sea immediately. Mack did so and was taken to the USS Phelps, DD 360 and assigned to a gun mount. The Phelps (crew) brought him dungarees, shoes and other personal gear plus two blankets which he used to sleep on and under until he lost his fear of sleeping in crew quarters below deck. Mack was reported 'Missing in Action' until the Phelps returned from sea duty to be resupplied. Hasty post-Pearl Harbor records were being corrected to reflect accuracy."

Army Air Force 1st Lt. Jack M. Peterson had wanted to join the Navy, where his brother was serving as a pilot. "The Navy turned him down due to a deviated septum," according to Lochra. "But the Army (Air Corps) accepted him shortly after Pearl Harbor."

Peterson flew P-51 fighter planes out of Foggia, Italy. "The group initially flew escort to bombers (of the 15th) but switched to strafing trains and ground positions, mainly in Yugoslavia and several other Balkan countries, Austria and southern Germany," Lochra said.

"He once escorted Lancaster bombers and later was told that the bombers were escorting (Prime Minister) Winston Churchill on his way to Yalta. ... Once, upon strafing a train, the ammunition it carried exploded. The debris shredded Jack's landing gear, forcing Jack to make a belly landing. Jack was unhurt."

Army T/Sgt. Herb Mortimer, served in the Pacific Theater and was in on the invasion of Okinawa. "After its capture, and while waiting to be shipped back to U.S., Herb was among the many who were hit hard by a devastating typhoon and lost most of his belongings," Lochra wrote in a record of church members' service.

John Jack "JJ" Lente, a Navy lieutenant commander, was assigned to command landing craft and "sailed to England from where he made 20 round trips during the initial invasion (at Normandy) carrying troops and supplies to France and returning (to England) with wounded and ... prisoners of war."

Army Signal Corps Sgt. Gerald Selders served in New Guinea and in the Philippines, Lochra recorded. "He received word that a brother, Keith, had been killed in Belgium from a bomb explosion. Gerald then had the duty of informing another brother, also in the Philippines, about their brother's death."

Other WWII veterans who joined after the war and are now deceased: Wesley Barta, Navy, South Pacific aboard ammunition ship USS Pyro; Harry Bahrs, Army Air Force, worked on B-29 Enola Gay in Hawaii when plane stopped there on way to Tinian Island; Daniel A. Bomba, Army, 4th Infantry Division, European Theater; Charles Frank Clendenin, U.S. Marines, Pacific Theater, wounded at Saipan, almost lost a leg during invasion of Iwo Jima, received Bronze Star for heroic actions, Iwo Jima; Blare Daily, Army Engineers, North Africa and European Theater for 37 months, in second wave in D-Day invasion of Normandy; Robert F. "Bud" Heise, Army, Germany with 68th AAA Battalion; Ernest Wells, Army, trained as a gunner; and Al Wrightson, Army.

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Correction: The Nov. 16 column about First Lutheran Church and its veterans incorrectly listed the status of Jay Shepherd. Shepherd "is still living and resides at Twin Lakes Retirement Village in Burlington," wrote his cousin Jacob Shepherd, also a WWII vet. 

"Jay was the commander of an infantry landing craft which he took into the teeth of the action on D-Day, making two landings on Omaha Beach to put American soldiers ashore." 

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Those who have served their country deserve to be remembered. Send me the names of any veterans who have died in 2008, and I will remember them in the last column of the year.

Include the veteran's full name; which war they were part of; branch of service and your name and telephone number. Deadline is Monday .