War makes news at home

During the last 100 years, America has solidified its place as a world power and maintained its position in the global pecking order by using its military might. In 1904, the U.S. Army still relied on horses to transport troops and equipment while in 2004, the modern military machine is a high-tech one, striking with missiles and bombs from miles away.

Media coverage of global conflicts has evolved thanks to technology too. In the first part of the 20th century, most newspapers featured long columns of type with occasional maps or sketches. In 100 years time, newspapers were making use of in-the-field reporting by embedded reporters marching next to the frontline troops. Stories and photographs were beamed worldwide with the click of a button thanks to satellite technology. Readers could now have information about events taking place hours earlier as opposed to days or weeks.

The first major conflict of the 20th century, to be known as World War I or the "Great War," involved the United States, but reluctantly so.

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson struggled to keep America neutral but was unsuccessful. War was declared on Friday, April 6, 1917. The evening edition of the Daily Republican, the paper that became the Southeast Missourian, carried the headline alongside news of funding for Cape Girardeau County roads and the threat to area peach crops by frost.

While war news filed in from London to New York, Rio de Janeiro to Chihuahua, Mexico, patriotic feelings were alive across the nation. The front page made notice of a flag-raising ceremony and a parade to take place in Chaffee. Businesses were to close for three hours, patriotic songs were to be sung and a "mammoth American flag" was to be raised.

"HUNS QUIT!" was how newspaper readers were greeted by the Nov. 7, 1918, edition. The newspaper prepared for the latest bulletins by planning an extra edition for 6 p.m. and having carrier boys ready to cover the entire city.

With the formal signing of the surrender documents, the "war to end all wars" as it was called came to an end on Nov. 11, 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

"Armistice Signed" yelled the six-column headline atop the Southeast Missourian, formerly the Daily Republican.

Readers scanned the front page, reading how President Wilson received the word, how war-weary Europeans celebrated and how Cape Girardeau Mayor H.H. Haas spoke to residents via the newspaper. "Tell the people of Cape Girardeau through your extra to be Americans and celebrate as much as they please, because it is a great victory and even greater to know that peace is to reign again.

"And tell them to celebrate properly. Be sure to observe the traffic ordinance and by all means don't use any fire arms."

Asked whether he would order the city's saloons to close lest celebrations get out of control, Haas responded, "I won't do anything until I see how things get along. If the saloons should fill up with boisterous crowds I will have to act and I will keep a close watch."

The war's end brought peace but it was not lasting peace. The world war would be followed by another just two decades later.

The Southeast Missourian brought the news on Sept. 1, 1939, describing how Germany's leader, Adolf Hitler, launched land and air attacks on neighboring Poland.

Again, the United States tried in vain to stay out of the conflict. The efforts were dashed when the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands was attacked by Imperial Japanese aircraft on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941.

A day later, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced Congress' declaration of war against Japan with the Missourian's front page giving the details. In coming days, the United States would find itself allied with Great Britain, France and Russia against the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy and Japan.

One of the first scenes of fighting for American soldiers was in North Africa when forces landed in November 1942. The Southeast Missourian ran articles and a photograph of the beach landings on Nov. 19. Also listed on the front page was the announcement of the selection of 110 men by the county's Selective Service Board to report to Jefferson Barracks for military duty.

Other headlines included work on a new air field near Cape Girardeau, the shifting of farm labor forces and gasoline rationing.

News of the early-morning invasion of Nazi-occupied France at Normandy reached the United States in time for the evening edition of June 6, 1944.

The Missourian's front page boldly declared "INVASION!" in six-columns across the top, leaving little doubt as to the day's top news. A large map of the Normandy area showed towns whose names would gain fame in coming days and the scene of the paratroop and seaborne landings.

Fighting would rage across Europe for nearly another year.

With Hitler dead, German military officials resigned to the inevitable and discussed surrender with the Allies. The May 7, 1945, edition of the Southeast Missourian gave word of the unconditional surrender of Germany with the headline "VE-DAY NEAR" on the front page.

Business was suspended in Cape Girardeau, and churches were opened for special prayer services. A special community victory program was held at the State College main auditorium.

The good news was tempered with casualty reports. Sgt. Francis G. Lunsford, 24, of Cape Girardeau died of wounds on April 22. He joined the Army in 1942 and served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. Family members said the last letter received form Lunsford was received in February.

With Germany out of the war, that left only Japan. The battle in the Pacific raged causing further casualties and the appearance of gold star flag emblems in windows -- the sign of a household that had lost a loved one.

Willard B. McClard, 22, was killed aboard the USS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship attacked off Okinawa. Serving as ship's cook second class, Willard died of his wounds. A photo of him in uniform was published May 8, 1945.

The Aug. 6 edition announced the use of the new atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima with the secretary of war predicting the end of the conflict. The second atomic bomb was dropped three days later.

Evidence of the horrors of war, especially Nazi concentration camps, was brought to Cape Girardeau with the showing of life-sized photos. The showing, taking place at Houck Field House over two days, was arranged by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Southeast Missourian. An estimated 3,770 people viewed the photographs. Among those taking part were two local soldiers, Pvt. Herbert L. Slinkard and Sgt. Vernie Baltzell, who confirmed with first-hand accounts the atrocities.

On Sept. 4, readers of the Southeast Missourian were treated to a front-page photograph of U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur overseeing the unconditional surrender of Japanese military forces aboard the USS Missouri anchored in Toyko Bay. Next to it was an article on the opening school day enrollment figures for Cape Girardeau and the State College.

Asia would be the scene of continued conflict with the start of the Korean War after communist forces from the north attacked the south.

War-weary nations struggled to send aid as communist forces overwhelmed defenders capturing the capital of Seoul and moving further south.

In support of the United Nations, President Harry Truman OK'd the deployment of U.S. ground forces in June 1950. The front page gave details of the military build-up, which led to the landings at Inchon in September. At the same time the annual SEMO District Fair was taking place, word of the first casualties among area soldiers also reached the Missourian.

U.S. and United Nations troops pushed the North Koreans back to the territory but readers were surprised to read of the firing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur by President Truman. Other front-page news on April 11, 1951, included the death of a Marble Hill soldier, Pfc. Wayman L. Thomas, 24, who died of wounds on April 1. Page one also featured a photo of recent draftees from Cape Girardeau including Bill Nanna, Dewayne Strauser, Laurel Currey, Weldon Eaker and John Montgomery, and Harold Meyr of Jackson.

Fighting in Korea stopped but no formal peace declaration was ever reached.

Americans were introduced to the Cold War and watched with worry the growing Cuba crisis in 1962. "U.S. Quarantines Cuba" read the front page on Oct. 23, raising fears of a nuclear war.

As the situation grew tense, local recruiting stations reported an increase in enlistment inquiries. National Guard troops planned a sham battle with blank ammunition for Veterans Day. The Missourian reported an increase in food buying and the condition of civil defense preparedness in the city.

The blockade of Cuba by the United States was lifted but worldwide tensions would remain and shift back to Southeast Asia.

What became known as the Gulf of Tonkin incident -- the attack on the destroyer USS Maddox by North Vietnamese patrol boats in 1964-- was front-page news with photographs of the destroyer and its commander. The rest of Page One with talk of the weather, county politics and industrial development gave little indication of the growing crisis.

The Vietnam War has sometimes been referred to as the first war brought into the American homes. Casualty lists were daily staples on television.

The Jan. 30, 1968, edition offered information on the Tet offensive -- a series of new communist attacks in South Vietnam. It also showed an Associated Press photo of a U.S Marine being attended to after being wounded in fighting at the Khe Sanh base. This was coverage of the war as it happened.

There was also sad news from a Scott City family as Marine Pfc. Thomas J. Pennington, 19, was reported killed in action against hostile forces. He had been in Vietnam less than five months.

War news continued to compete for space with the local crime reports, property tax figures and interstate construction.

Fighting continued until the United States signaled its plan to pull out of South Vietnam. The capital city of Saigon in the final days was a scene of chaos. The remaining U.S. military forces evacuated the city by air on April 29, 1975.

Local veterans, all students at Southeast Missouri State University, were interviewed on their thoughts of the withdrawal and what was to become of South Vietnam. The next day, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops occupied Saigon and that day's edition featured a photograph of South Vietnamese outside the U.S. Embassy watching U.S. helicopters departing.

America would continue fighting a Cold War with its longtime antagonist the USSR but no large-scale conflicts would erupt until the Gulf War of 1991.

Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein sparked the conflict by sending troops into neighboring Kuwait. President Bush led the charge by assembling an international coalition of nations to come to Kuwait's aid.

The war was unique in regards to its media coverage as TV viewers could watch the conflict as it happened. Newspapers worked to keep pace with the changing events in the Middle East.

U.S. warplanes kicked off Operation Desert Storm on Jan. 16, 1991, and the Missourian's front page carried full details. Reporters gathered local reactions from area veterans and government officials. Americans found themselves glued to their TV sets to watch the events unfold.

Also interviewed were SEMO students with ties to the Middle East including one, Samhi Ayoub, who grew up in Kuwait and still had siblings there. He hadn't heard from them since the Iraqi troops invaded.

The ground war kicked off on Feb. 24, 1991, with the design to liberate Kuwait. As the chances of casualties increased, so did patriotism and demonstrations in favor of, and opposed to, the war. Nearly 500 people took part in a parade and rally at Capaha Park's Freedom Corner.

Detailed coverage

In days, coalition forces entered Kuwait City as Iraqi forces were pushed back into Iraq. The Southeast Missourian devoted large sections of its front page and inside pages to the Gulf War by including Associated Press photos and detailed stories.

President Bush declared the defeat of the Saddam's troops on Feb. 27, 1991, some 100 hours after the ground campaign had started. Area residents like Noretta Blattner of Jackson, mother of Marine Corp. officer Mark Ketcher; Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Lynch of Cape Girardeau, parents of Army 1st Lt. Brian Lynch; Carol Askew of Cape Girardeau, mother of Army Pvt. Rob Askew, all breathed a sigh of relief and looked forward to homecoming ceremonies.

The troops returned home, but Saddam Hussein would stay in power until another U.S.-led coalition, this time under President George W. Bush, formed in 2003 to topple the Iraqi leader as part of a global war on terror.

The stage was set for Operation Iraqi Freedom following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Islamic militants seized four passenger jets in the United States, crashing two of them into the World Trade Center in New York and a third into the Pentagon. A fourth jet crashed in rural Pennsylvania.

America now found itself involved in a war against international terrorism. The hijackers were linked to the terrorist group al-Qaida under the direction of Osama bin Laden, a longtime supporter of anti-U.S. and anti-Israel militants.

President Bush gave orders for military action against bin Laden and his terror network, then seeking refuge in Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Freedom saw U.S. ground and air forces sent into action in October 2001 in Afghanistan, eventually helping to topple the extremist Taliban leadership supporting bin Laden. The Taliban was crushed before the end of the year, but the terror leader apparently escaped and the worldwide dragnet was expanded.

For the first time, many Americans saw armed soldiers at airports. Security measures were tightened. Mail service was scrutinized. Fears spread about the use of chemical and biological weapons. Crop-dusting airplanes were suspected as possible tools of terrorists.

The Missourian reported on concerns about a military draft, an issue from the 1960s and 1970s which would return to the headlines as the global conflict spread to Iraq.

Terror threats worldwide were now under scrutiny. Fueled by reports that Saddam Hussein was in league with terror groups and developing weapons of mass destruction in violation of United Nations directives, Bush rallied allied nations into military action in March 2003.

The return to the Persian Gulf was again a divisive issue. Large-scale marches were organized to protest Bush's war policy, and taking part were members of the Southeast Missourian Coalition for Peace and Justice. This group would continue to hold demonstrations at Freedom Corner but so would supporters of President Bush. Veterans groups and families with loved ones in the military would hold patriotic rallies in support of the troops and the war effort.

The conflict would see large-scale use of Reserve and National Guard troops, including those from Southeast Missouri. Local soldiers of the Army Reserve's 384th Engineering Company were given orders in January 2003.

With members from throughout the area, the Army National Guard's 1221st Transportation Company departed Dexter, Mo., for Kuwait in March amid cheers and teary goodbyes.

U.S. forces unleashed a ferocious assault from the air on March 21, 2003 on Iraqi military installations and the capital of Baghdad.

The Missourian interviewed local veterans from wars decades past for their reaction as the latest generation of American soldiers headed to the front. Most were in support of the war, but knowing firsthand the cost, they hoped for a quick resolution.

Over the next few weeks, quick-moving coalition forces would speed into Iraq's interior, even to Baghdad itself. Readers viewed photographs of U.S. soldiers relaxing in some of Saddam's many opulent palaces. With his forces losing the fight, the Iraqi leader went into hiding and eluded capture until December 2003.

As with previous wars, word came about casualties and among the first was the Scott City family of Marine Lance Corp. Fredrick Evans. The 20-year-old, who enlisted just prior to the Sept. 11 attacks, was injured in fighting in Iraq.

Local residents like Al and Terri Weaver, parents of Sgt. Benjamin Weaver; Brenda Elliott, mother of John Scarbrough II and Casey White; Bob and Glenda Gum, parents of Major Scott Gum, waited with anticipation for the return of their loved ones.

Organized resistance decreased in coming weeks, though Iraq remains a volatile place even today. American troops are still there, fighting and dying, in service to their country.