Mercer 500 honorees

Each year, the 500 honors Mercer County military veterans chosen by the Mercer County Veterans Affairs office. This year’s honorees, all of whom serve in the Army, are:

S/Sgt. Don “Ike” Eichelberger: Trained as a water-cooled 30-caliber machine gunner, Eichelberger served in Bougainville in Northern Solomons, with the 164th Regiment of the Americal Division during World War II. His specialty was intelligence reconnaissance combat behind enemy lines. He was decorated with two Bronze Stars.

Cpl. Clair “Sam” Houston: Served with the 317th Engineer Battalion, H&S Co., in Korea during the Cold War from 1953 to 1955. He has served the community, mainly through VFW Post 6345 to develop and support numerous youth programs.

Cpl. Gordon Zimmerman: Spent 22 months in combat during WWII, including 59 days in a foxhole at Anzio, Italy, throwing rocks at the Germans when he ran out of ammo and getting shot in the leg.

Sgt. Tom Gabig (deceased): Served as an infantryman in Tan Tru Village and the Mekong Delta region of Long An Province, South Vietnam. He was a gunner, squad leader and acting platoon sergeant with the 3rd Platoon, Delta Co., 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. Wounded while trying to blow up a booby trap, he limped back to his unit. Instead of going home, he chose to return to his unit.

Source: Mercer Memorial Day 500