Kay Schneider, Henry Langrehr’s daughter and Clinton, Iowa, resident, receives a folded American flag to honor her late father as a “Hometown Hero” during a ceremony Friday, June 20, in Clinton. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
CLINTON, Iowa – Henry Langrehr was remembered as a successful businessman, dedicated family man and community leader. The Clinton community came out Friday, June 20, to also honor the late area resident as a World War II hero who parachuted into Sainte-Mère-Église, France, on D-Day (June 6, 1944) when he was 19 years old. After […]
Already a subscriber? Log in
Want to Read More?
Get immediate, unlimited access to all subscriber content and much more. Learn more in our subscriber FAQ.
CLINTON, Iowa – Henry Langrehr was remembered as a successful businessman, dedicated family man and community leader.The Clinton community came out Friday, June 20, to also honor the late area resident as a World War II hero who parachuted into Sainte-Mère-Église, France, on D-Day (June 6, 1944) when he was 19 years old. After being captured and imprisoned in a Nazi war camp, he orchestrated a daring escape. His wartime experiences are detailed in the book “Whatever It Took,” which he co-authored with Jim DeFelice, best known for “American Sniper.”Mr. Langrehr, a longtime Clinton resident, died on Wednesday, April 23, at the age of 100.“He was not just a witness to history; he helped shape it,” Clinton Mayor Scott Maddasion said during the ceremony recognizing Mr. Langrehr as a “Hometown Hero” in Clinton.
1 of 10
An honor guard member from Amvets Post 28 in Clinton gives a salute on Friday, June 20, during a ceremony to honor the late Henry Langrehr, a World War II veteran. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
About 100 people attend a ceremony to honor the late Henry Langrehr, a World War II veteran. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Bharati Manion sings the national anthem Friday, June 20, during a ceremony honoring the late Henry Langrehr. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
A flag-folding ceremony is held Friday, June 20, during a gathering to honor the late Henry Langrehr, who was a World War II veteran. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Kay Schneider, Henry Langrehr’s daughter and Clinton resident, holds a certificate designating her late father as a “Hometown Hero.” CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
An image of Henry Langrehr is painted on Clinton County Freedom Rock.
A flag waves near the Clinton County Freedom Rock during Friday's ceremony.
Andy Sokolovich, president and CEO of Grow Clinton, the local business advocate, welcomes people to the ceremony.
A flag waves near the Clinton County Freedom Rock during Friday's ceremony.
Henry Langrehr of Clinton, Iowa, tells about some of his experiences during World War II on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the John Deere Classic. The late Henry O. Langrehr — a World War II veteran, author and longtime resident of this community – will be honored as a “Hometown Hero” during a ceremony this week. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
About 100 people attended the brief ceremony at the Clinton County Freedom Rock, located along the Mississippi Riverfront next to the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre. In his honor, an image of Mr. Langrehr rendering a salute to his fellow servicemen and women has been painted on the west-facing side of the Freedom Rock. This tribute is part of a statewide initiative by artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, who created hand-painted Freedom Rocks in each of Iowa’s 99 counties to recognize local veterans.In addition to revealing the updated Clinton County Freedom Rock, Friday’s ceremony featured Mr. Langrehr’s daughter, Clinton resident Kay Schneider, being presented with a folded American flag by members of Amvets Post 28, and a “Hometown Hero” certificate in honor of the late World War II veteran. In part, that certificate read: “In honor of your bravery and unwavering commitment to defending the freedoms of the United States of America as a member of the Armed Forces.”Mr. Langrehr’s bravery and commitment to defending the U.S. were the subject of several speeches Friday.“He is truly a hometown hero. … We need to recognize those who put their lives on the line,” said Andy Sokolovich, president and CEO of Grow Clinton, the local business advocate organization that helped present Friday’s ceremony.Others that helped present the ceremony included: Amvets Post 28 (Clinton), American Legion June Van Meter Post 190 (Clinton), the City of Clinton, and community volunteers.Jim Manion, commander of Amvets Post 28, praised Mr. Langrehr and other World War II vets for coming home and telling people about their experiences from the war year. Those stories aren’t told out of a need for personal glory, but to help educate people on the sacrifices that it took to keep the nation free, he added.“Henry and other veterans came home from the war and they built Clinton,” said Mr. Manion.In addition to honoring Mr. Langrehr and other veterans, several people in the crowd commented on the dwindling number of World War II vets left in the region. Some added that Friday’s event might be one of the last ceremonies to honor the aging veterans.Nationally, there are about 66,000 World War II vets still living in the U.S. with about 131 vets passing away every day, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.As of last year, there were 429 WWII vets left in Iowa and 2,531 left in Illinois, according to The National WWII Museum. (The Department of Veterans Affairs put those surviving veterans numbers at 1,227 for Iowa, and 4,307 in Illinois in a fiscal year 2023 report.) Friday’s ceremony also was threatened by rainy weather. Just an hour or so before the ceremony’s start, organizers were considering postponing it because of the bad weather. However, just in time, the rains stopped and skies cleared just enough for the ceremony to be held.“No doubt that Henry had something to do with that,” joked Mr. Sokolovich.Mr. Langrehr would be happy the ceremony was held on Friday, but might be a bit embarrassed by all the attention, his daughter said. “He would be so honored today. He was an unassuming man and didn’t want the accolades, but he would be honored by all of this today,” said Ms. Schneider.
