Vietnam War Veterans of Arenzville, Illinois
1955 – 1975
They were called to serve in America’s most divisive conflict. Some were drafted. Some volunteered. All of them went.
This page honours the 75 men and women from Arenzville who served during the Vietnam War era – and insists that their service is remembered with the dignity it has always deserved.
| 75 | 20 | 58.000+ | 2.985 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Arenzville Veterans Documented |
Years of U.S. Military Involvement |
Americans Killed in Vietnam |
Illinois Veterans Killed or MIA |
| 75 | 20 | 58.000+ | 2.985 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Arenzville Veterans Documented |
Years of U.S. Military Involvement |
Americans Killed in Vietnam |
Illinois Veterans Killed or MIA |
Browse the Vietnam War Veterans Directory
75 documented veterans – search and filter by name, lifespan, residence, or service dates. Select any veteran to view their full biography where available.
A Generation Divided – A Community That Served
The Vietnam War was unlike any conflict that had come before it for the men and women of Arenzville. Previous generations had gone to war with the nation behind them – bands playing, flags waving, communities united. Vietnam was different.
American military involvement in Southeast Asia stretched from 1955 to 1975 – a twenty-year commitment that began quietly, escalated dramatically, and ended in a withdrawal that left the nation deeply wounded. More than 58,000 Americans died. Hundreds of thousands more carried home injuries – visible and invisible – that would define the rest of their lives. And when they came back, many found not the welcome of their fathers and grandfathers, but silence, suspicion, or worse.
From Arenzville, 75 men and women served during the Vietnam era. Some served in-country in Southeast Asia. Others served stateside or in other theatres during the same period. All were called. All answered. Their service was real regardless of where they stood, and their names belong in this permanent record.
Among them were family groups that had been sending sons to war for generations – three Dufelmeiers, three Roegges, three Clarks, four Stocks, and two sets of brothers across several families. The community’s fabric of service ran deep and wide, even as the war it asked them to fight grew more controversial with every passing year.
Donetta Logan is among those documented here – one of the women from Arenzville who served in uniform during this era, continuing a tradition of women’s military service that stretches back through this archive to World War II.
“All were called to serve and the overwhelming majority of these veterans served honorably and admirably.” – Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Coming Home
For many Vietnam veterans, the return home was as difficult as the war itself. A generation of men and women who had served honourably came back to a country that did not know how to receive them. The formal recognition that previous veterans had received – parades, ceremonies, community welcome – was largely absent. Many veterans spent decades without acknowledgement.
This archive is, among other things, a correction to that record. The names on this page belong here. Their service was honourable. Their sacrifice was real.
Who Is Included in This Record?
This page documents Arenzville community members who served in the U.S. Armed Forces at any point during the Vietnam War era (November 1, 1955 – May 15, 1975), regardless of whether they served in-country in Vietnam, in the broader Pacific theatre, or in other postings during the same period. A veteran is included if evidence confirms at least one of the following:
- He or she was born in the Arenzville community
- He or she resided in Arenzville at the time of service
- He or she is otherwise documented as connected to the Arenzville community
Their Service Deserves to Be Remembered. Help Us Tell Their Stories.
Many Vietnam veterans spent years – sometimes decades – without formal acknowledgement of their service. This archive is committed to making sure that doesn’t happen here.
If you have a name, a photograph, a letter, a discharge record, or a personal account connected to an Arenzville Vietnam War veteran, please share it. Every contribution strengthens this permanent record.