DUNCAN — World War 2 began for the United States with an aerial attack on a naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 61 years ago today.
The early morning attack sunk multiple warships and killed and wounded thousands of American citizens. The next day, the United States Congress declared war on Japan. Congress declared war on Germany three days later.
While the beginnings of this war had long lasting effects on America and the world as a whole, for one young couple, who have lived in Duncan since the 1950s, the declaration of war completely changed their life.
Montie Boerstler was on leave from the Army and arrived home on Dec. 6, 1941. He and Reba Godsey, who had been high school sweethearts, were planning on being married around Christmas time. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the government announced over the radio that all off-duty military personnel need to report back to their post or station.
For Boerstler, that meant returning to Ft. Devens in Mass. It also meant that his wedding plans needed to be altered.
On Dec. 8, 1941, Boerstler and Godsey were wed and two days later, he reported to his post.
It wasn’t for six more months that he would see his wife. And she was worried.
“Geesh, I was standing on my head three-fourths of the time I was so scared about him,” she said. “It was difficult in the beginning because I couldn’t follow him.”
Boerstler estimated that for the first seven years of their marriage, they lived together for only two of the years.
“But I think it brought us closer together I think,” she said. “Now, we don’t want to get away from each other at all.”
When all was said and done, Boerstler served for 25 years in the Army in the infantry. He enlisted in 1940 because “we were just out of a depression and I had no job, so I quit high school and enlisted in the military.”
Boerstler said he and his family were dirt poor at the time and military offered a way to support himself.
He served in both World War 2 and the Korean War. During his service, he was decorated with the Purple Heart and the Silver Star.
The Purple Heart was for being wounded in action.
“I was blown out of a building,” he said. I was in the hospital for 15 days and then went back to the lines to fight.”
The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the military.
“They gave that to me because I killed a bunch of people,” he said.
When the Vietnam War was about to start, he submitted his retirement papers.
“When you are in the infantry, you don’t fight three wars without coming out dead,” he said.
Returning to home life was good for Boerstler. He and his wife raised two children and now have four grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
“The war experience taught me to be obedient,” he said. “To her. It also makes you think of where you will serve for eternity too.”
Although Boerstler was not active religiously at this time in his life, he did find the saying about “there are no atheists in foxholes” to be a true statement for himself.
“If you’re ever in a combat zone, you’ll think about your Maker,” he said. “When I was a little frightened, I would call on the Lord to help me out a little and I usually got it.”
But it wasn’t until Boerstler overcame an alcohol addiction in the 1960s that he focused heavily on religion in his own life. He started drinking in the military and it was hard on his family life.
“The kids suffered through it along with me,” she said. “It was very difficult.”
Finally, a friend of the family prayed Boerstler sober in 1969, he said.
“I haven’t had a drink or a cigarette since,” he said. “When you’re drunk no one likes you and you don’t like anyone, including yourself. When people don’t obey the Bible, they start to lose their reason for living. I mean, we all go somewhere after we leave here.”
For his wife, she was grateful that he pulled through, as were their children.
“It was a big relief,” she said. “The children are happy now, but of course they never drink either.”
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John Walker/The Duncan Banner
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