REMEMBERING
ERNEST AUGUST HERNDON

By Joe C. Fling

The fall of 1944 was a deadly time for our servicemen. American forces were in action across France as well as pushing back the Japanese from many directions.

Ernest August Herndon was born April 23, 1922. He was the son of Charles William and Ida Minnie Meyer Herndon of Ramsey. “Buddie” as he was known to his family and friends, attended Eagle Lake schools and the family were members of First Baptist Church of Eagle Lake.

Herndon received his induction notice November 20, 1942, and was trained in armor. Herndon trained at Camp Robinson, Arkansas and at Camp Maxey. He was one of a relatively small number of servicemen to fight both the Japanese and the Germans.

In his first overseas action, Herndon went to the Aleutian Islands for six months in July, 1943. He took part in the recapture of Attu and Kiska from the Japanese.

In August of 1944 Herndon was sent to Luxembourg by way of England. He was killed there, in the fighting leading into Germany on November 5, 1944. Herndon held the rank of Private First Class in a mechanized cavalry unit.

The news of his death in action arrived by telegram from the War Department on November 17. It came as a particularly harsh blow to the family who had lost another son, Oscar to pneumonia, who died October 13 in the Columbus Hospital. Oscar was 27 years old, five years older than Ernest.

Herndon never knew his brother had died three weeks before him. His last letter from the front, dated October 30, was received by his family on the very same day the dread telegram arrived. In his last message to his family Herndon expressed hope in his brother’s recovery, and closed with the words, “God bless you all. The Lord is taking care of me.”

Herndon was survived by a brother William Fred Herndon who was then serving in the Navy and two sisters, Henrietta Hassie Herndon, then living in Illinois; and Elvie Nell Goekler who was his twin. The family still lived in the Ramsey area when Herndon was killed.

After the war Herndon’s remains were brought home in November, 1947 and reburied at the Oddfellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus. The Headlight concluded its November 24, 1944 story that reported his death, with the words which could apply to all who have suffered such loss in any war, “May He who comforts others who are bearing similar burdens speak comfort to the family circle.”