Albert Merkley to be honored during annual Dubois County Memorial Day observance

The annual observance of Memorial Day by Dubois County Veterans Council will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on the west side of the Dubois County Courthouse in Jasper at the Veteran’s Memorial Fountain.

All veterans organizations of Dubois County will be represented, and all veterans who passed away this past year will be remembered. The Marine Corps League will lower the United States Flag to half-mast. All are asked to join in patriotic songs and the singing of the National Anthem.

All veterans who have passed away since last Memorial Day will be remembered and saluted by a 21-Gun Salute from the Honor Guard made up of members of the veteran’s organizations of Dubois County, and Taps from Mark Messmer. 

Brian Wigand, President of the DCVC and Member of the American Legion Post #147 will be the master of ceremonies.  Daryl Hensley, Service Officer of DAV #77 and American Legion Member, will remember our Missing in Action with the POW/MIA Ritual. Dan Hollinden from the Navy Club Ship #90 will remember sailors who made the ultimate sacrifice on the sea. 

World War II veteran Albert Merkley will be remembered and honored during this year’s observance.

Albert was born May 17, 1926, in Schnellville to Andrew and Katherine (Heichelbech) Merkley, the third youngest of nine children and the last living member of his brothers and sisters.

Albert attended grade school at Schnellville and two years at Birdseye High School. When World War II broke out in 1941, Albert’s three older brothers joined the Army as Albert was too young to enlist. In April of 1944, with his parent’s signature, Albert enlisted in the US Navy at 17 on May 8, 1944.

Albert completed boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes and training at Treasure Island near San Francisco. Albert received orders from the USS ATTU CVE 102.  While stationed on the USS ATTU, the chaplain had the task of informing Albert his brother Arthur had been killed in Metz, France, close to where their Grandpa Heichelbech was born. Aboard the USS ATTU, his battle station was a twin rapid-fire 40 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft battery, which he manned near sunrise and sunset.  The job of the USS ATTU CVE 102 was to be an escort for big carriers and to supply them with planes and all other supplies for battle.  Besides keeping the big carriers on the main battle lines, the USS ATTU also took part in battles.

Albert was involved in the Battle of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, where he witnessed the carrier Bunker Hill burn out of control for hours from two kamikaze hits. More than 350 sailors and airmen died during this attack. The USS ATTU was caught in a typhoon where two destroyers were lost, and the heavy cruiser USS Pittsburg lost 150 feet of its bow. Albert later learned that Admiral Halsey was admonished for putting his battle group at risk. Albert was also present for the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.

When the war ended, the USS ATTU’s hangar deck was fitted with bunks five high and nicknamed the “Magic Carpet” to ferry over 4000 troops home, logging 38,013 miles and picking up troops from 10 different ports. Albert was later discharged after his time on the USS ATTU on March 12, 1946.

When returning home, Albert married Doris Atkins on October 4, 1947.  Albert was instrumental in getting Dubois County Navy Club Ship#90 commissioned but was not available to sign the charter as he had become employed by Servell at Evansville, making wings for the new F86 Fighter as jobs were very scarce in Dubois County.  Retiring from Mead Johnson in 1986, he returned to Dubois County and built a new home for his wife Doris and his special needs daughter Brenda.  

After Albert’s daughter Brenda passed away in 2006 and his wife Doris in 2012, his children all offered him a home with them in Newburgh, Evansville, or Colorado so he would not be alone. His response was, “I am not living alone; I am living with the greatest people, in the greatest place on earth….Schnellville, Indiana in Dubois County.”

Albert’s medals include the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars and the World War II Victory Medal. 

Albert Merkley was a member of Dubois County Navy Club USA Ship #90, Jasper VFW Post 673, St. Anthony American Legion Post 493, where he was a member of the military funeral detail and participated in Memorial Day and Veterans Day services, Schnellville Community Club, Schnellville Conservation Club and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Schnellville. Albert was on the Freedom Flight in May of 2015.

Albert is the father of daughter, Betty Brewster and husband Daniel of Fort Lupton, Colo., and sons, John and wife, Donna, of Evansville, Bill and wife, Becky, of Boonville and Timothy and wife, Cindy, of Evansville, 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Jasper VFW Post #673 will provide a luncheon for Albert Merkley’s family and friends and those participating in the event. In case of inclement weather, all events will be held at American Legion Post #147, 1220 Newton Street, Jasper.

Indiana State Senator Mark Messmer will be the guest speaker. Mark is the co-owner of Messmer Mechanical, Inc. in Jasper. Their family’s plumbing and heating business has been in operation since 1970. Mark is a licensed professional engineer who graduated from Purdue University in 1985 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

He has been married to my wife Kim for 38 years, and they have four adult children and seven grandchildren.

He has been very active in community activities over the years. He was a Boy Scout leader for over 25 years, spent many years coaching his kids’ sports teams, and was very active in the JHS Band Parents organization. He is a member of the Jasper Kiwanis, Optimists, and the Knights of Columbus as a 4th Degree member. He is an active member of the Evansville Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers, serving as their Government Affairs Coordinator. Mark also serves as a music minister at Holy Family Catholic Church.

Mark was elected in 2014 as State Senator for District 48, which covers all of Dubois, Pike, Gibson, Crawford, Perry and Spender counties. He was State Representative for House District 63 for six years prior to that. Mark recently won the Republican primary race for the US House of Representatives in the Indiana 8th district. 

The Jasper Park and Recreation Department will provide temporary bleachers for the event. Please bring lawn chairs to enjoy the observance. The PA system, along with a melody of patriotic songs, will be provided by Mike and Doris Klem.