Herscher High School Alumni
Herscher, Illinois (IL)
Recent Members
| Becky Plass | 1982 |
| Betty Cook Betty Cook | 1975 |
| Edward Diefenbach | 1974 |
| Jacqueline Plante | 1987 |
| Mike Mccullough | 1974 |
| Monica Barber Monica Barber | 1994 |
| Richard Webber | 1964 |
| Susie Susie Evans | 1973 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Herscher High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Tigers lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Bettina Pawelkop
Class of 2003
National Guard, 7 Years
Military Police. Deployed to Iraq in 2006-2007.
Class of 2003
National Guard, 7 Years
Military Police. Deployed to Iraq in 2006-2007.
Bettina Pawelkop
Class of 2003
National Guard, 8 Years
Army National Guard MP out of Bloomington, IL. Deployed to Iraq 06-07.
Class of 2003
National Guard, 8 Years
Army National Guard MP out of Bloomington, IL. Deployed to Iraq 06-07.
Cynthia Stewart Graham
Class of 1982
Army, 20+ Years
Served 22 years with the US Army, traveled all around the world on various assignments including combat assignments. I have retired and now with as a contractor with the Army and Marines and just returned from Afghanistan.
Class of 1982
Army, 20+ Years
Served 22 years with the US Army, traveled all around the world on various assignments including combat assignments. I have retired and now with as a contractor with the Army and Marines and just returned from Afghanistan.
Gary L. Smith
Class of 1977
Army, 20+ Years
Retired Army Lieutenant Coloonel, served my entire career as a Military Intelligence Officer
Class of 1977
Army, 20+ Years
Retired Army Lieutenant Coloonel, served my entire career as a Military Intelligence Officer
James K Bowers
Class of 1974
Marine Corps, 10 Years
Staff Sergeant (1975-1986)
1976-1976, 2651, Marine Cryptologic Support Bn - MarSptBn/Co K Pensacola, FL
1976-1977, 2651, Marine Cryptologic Support Bn - MarSptBn/Co L, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
1977-1980, 2651, Radio Units/2nd Radio Bn
1980-1983, 2651, MWHS-3/4th SSCT
1983-1985, 2651, Marine Cryptologic Support Bn - MarSptBn/Co L, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
1985-1986, Marine Cryptologic Support Bn - MarSptBn/Co A, Ft Meade, MD
For more info, see TogetherWeServed Shadowbox at: http://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=49037
Class of 1974
Marine Corps, 10 Years
Staff Sergeant (1975-1986)
1976-1976, 2651, Marine Cryptologic Support Bn - MarSptBn/Co K Pensacola, FL
1976-1977, 2651, Marine Cryptologic Support Bn - MarSptBn/Co L, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
1977-1980, 2651, Radio Units/2nd Radio Bn
1980-1983, 2651, MWHS-3/4th SSCT
1983-1985, 2651, Marine Cryptologic Support Bn - MarSptBn/Co L, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
1985-1986, Marine Cryptologic Support Bn - MarSptBn/Co A, Ft Meade, MD
For more info, see TogetherWeServed Shadowbox at: http://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=49037
Jeff L. Lade
Class of 1978
Marine Corps, 3 Years
Joined to get into best military music program in world, but as typical with recruiters ended up in 1st Recon Bn instead.
Class of 1978
Marine Corps, 3 Years
Joined to get into best military music program in world, but as typical with recruiters ended up in 1st Recon Bn instead.
Kenneth Naese
Class of 1964
Navy, 4 Years
Served on the Carrier Ranger and at NAS Alameda
Class of 1964
Navy, 4 Years
Served on the Carrier Ranger and at NAS Alameda
Laurel Heimer (Finn)
Class of 1999
Air Force, 10 Years
For 8 years i was an Aerospace Ground Equipment Mechanic. Working on the flight line and supporting multiple aircraft. Then i retrained into Education and Training, (human resourses on the civilian side). Its alot cleaner from my first job and more stable for me and my family. My assignments have been Grand Forks AFB, ND; Naval Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland, and currently Holloman AFB, NM. I have also been to Germany, England, and Bahrain.
Class of 1999
Air Force, 10 Years
For 8 years i was an Aerospace Ground Equipment Mechanic. Working on the flight line and supporting multiple aircraft. Then i retrained into Education and Training, (human resourses on the civilian side). Its alot cleaner from my first job and more stable for me and my family. My assignments have been Grand Forks AFB, ND; Naval Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland, and currently Holloman AFB, NM. I have also been to Germany, England, and Bahrain.
Robert Ponton
Class of 1979
Navy, 20+ Years
worked in Communications as a Radioman and then went on to computers and networks as a IT. Was stationed in Japan for 3 years, Hawaii for 4 years and San Diego for 13 years.Loved San Diego so much decided to stay here.
Class of 1979
Navy, 20+ Years
worked in Communications as a Radioman and then went on to computers and networks as a IT. Was stationed in Japan for 3 years, Hawaii for 4 years and San Diego for 13 years.Loved San Diego so much decided to stay here.
Ryan M Hove
Class of 1999
Army, 7 Years
Served with the Illinois Army National Guard.
Saudi Arabia 2000
Germany 2002
Louisiana 2004-2005
Two Army Commendation medals
Class of 1999
Army, 7 Years
Served with the Illinois Army National Guard.
Saudi Arabia 2000
Germany 2002
Louisiana 2004-2005
Two Army Commendation medals
Stephanie Delmore
Class of 1996
Air Force, 11 Years
Active Duty for 10.5 years and now a reservist.
Class of 1996
Air Force, 11 Years
Active Duty for 10.5 years and now a reservist.
Timothy Reardanz
Class of 1989
Army, 20+ Years
Has servered as a Abrams Tank Crewman and Commander from the Gulf War through the Iraq War and now is serving as Cadre in a Wounded Warrior Transition Unit.
Class of 1989
Army, 20+ Years
Has servered as a Abrams Tank Crewman and Commander from the Gulf War through the Iraq War and now is serving as Cadre in a Wounded Warrior Transition Unit.
Virginia (Moody) Meisinger
Class of 1969
Navy, 3 Years
Viet Nam veteran - data processing technician 2nd class
Class of 1969
Navy, 3 Years
Viet Nam veteran - data processing technician 2nd class
Wanda Janssen
Class of 1974
Navy, 14 Years
I was the 1st female in Illinois to sign up when the law was changed to allow women at age 17 to swear in under the Delayed Entry Program. The Daily Journal even had a front page cover story on my and 2 other recruits.
I joined the Navy Aug 16 '74 active duty and went to Boot Camp, Orlando, FL. I graduated Boot Camp and received orders to Naval Air Station (NAS) VT-5 Saufly Field, Pensacola, FL as an undesignated Seaman Recruit. Because I had clerical/secretarial training in H.S. I was fortunate to get the job as the Master Chief of the Command and Career Counselor's "Yeoman" (YN), even though I was officially a YN. After 7 months I received a courtesy seat at YN "A" School, Meridian, MS, paid for it myself and upon graduating I was advanced from a Seaman Apprentice (E-2) to YN 3rd Class Petty Officer. Totally skipped the E-3 paygrade. I got married and soon afterwards became pregnant. It was time for my husband to transfer so I had the option of getting released from active duty pregnancy, or staying at the present command and hopefully when it came to to transfer I "might" be stationed at the same command as my husband. I took the early out pregnancy. We moved to NAS Moffett Field, Mountain View, CA, P3 Squadron and I joined the Reserves while there. Then we transferred once orders were received for NAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL. At that time I rejoined the Navy and was able to be stationed with my husband. I received orders to NAMTRAGRUDET (Naval Maintenance Training Group Detachment). I advanced to YN2 (E5)From there I received orders to downtown Tokyo, Japan to work in the Administrative Office of Pacific Stars & Stripes, the military's paper in the Pacific. After that tour completed I received orders to Naval Recruiting District Little Rock, AR. As soon as I arrived there, I found out I had made YN1 (E6). Not bad with just 6 years total active service. I LOVED MY JOB, CAREER and FAMILY. Finally it was time to receive a new set of orders and I went to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico where I started in the Security Department and ended up in the Station's Administrative Office. Great Job until Hurricane Hugo came through, then I wanted to come home. So I did, I received my last set of orders to Naval Training Center Great Lakes, IL to the Combat Systems Command, FCs & GMs. Then President Clinton offered early outs. I chance in a lifetime to jump on. I had just remarried and my children and husband lived in Limestone and Herscher. I wanted us to be all together and we were. No regrets. For the time served I receive a paycheck once a year for 28 years since 1992 and once I have completed that I will officially be retired. Pretty Great I must say.
Class of 1974
Navy, 14 Years
I was the 1st female in Illinois to sign up when the law was changed to allow women at age 17 to swear in under the Delayed Entry Program. The Daily Journal even had a front page cover story on my and 2 other recruits.
I joined the Navy Aug 16 '74 active duty and went to Boot Camp, Orlando, FL. I graduated Boot Camp and received orders to Naval Air Station (NAS) VT-5 Saufly Field, Pensacola, FL as an undesignated Seaman Recruit. Because I had clerical/secretarial training in H.S. I was fortunate to get the job as the Master Chief of the Command and Career Counselor's "Yeoman" (YN), even though I was officially a YN. After 7 months I received a courtesy seat at YN "A" School, Meridian, MS, paid for it myself and upon graduating I was advanced from a Seaman Apprentice (E-2) to YN 3rd Class Petty Officer. Totally skipped the E-3 paygrade. I got married and soon afterwards became pregnant. It was time for my husband to transfer so I had the option of getting released from active duty pregnancy, or staying at the present command and hopefully when it came to to transfer I "might" be stationed at the same command as my husband. I took the early out pregnancy. We moved to NAS Moffett Field, Mountain View, CA, P3 Squadron and I joined the Reserves while there. Then we transferred once orders were received for NAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL. At that time I rejoined the Navy and was able to be stationed with my husband. I received orders to NAMTRAGRUDET (Naval Maintenance Training Group Detachment). I advanced to YN2 (E5)From there I received orders to downtown Tokyo, Japan to work in the Administrative Office of Pacific Stars & Stripes, the military's paper in the Pacific. After that tour completed I received orders to Naval Recruiting District Little Rock, AR. As soon as I arrived there, I found out I had made YN1 (E6). Not bad with just 6 years total active service. I LOVED MY JOB, CAREER and FAMILY. Finally it was time to receive a new set of orders and I went to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico where I started in the Security Department and ended up in the Station's Administrative Office. Great Job until Hurricane Hugo came through, then I wanted to come home. So I did, I received my last set of orders to Naval Training Center Great Lakes, IL to the Combat Systems Command, FCs & GMs. Then President Clinton offered early outs. I chance in a lifetime to jump on. I had just remarried and my children and husband lived in Limestone and Herscher. I wanted us to be all together and we were. No regrets. For the time served I receive a paycheck once a year for 28 years since 1992 and once I have completed that I will officially be retired. Pretty Great I must say.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Herscher High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Tigers.
School News
Herscher Grad for Governor
Just in case there is someone who hasn't hear yet, Adam Andrzejewski (Herscher class of '87, I think) is running for gov...
Read More »
Our Herscher High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Herscher High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Herscher are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!