The fighting postmen

The Poplar Bluff Museum has tales about us, our family and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

When one talks about the “Greatest Generation” you have to talk about the postal workers of Poplar Bluff. They answered the nation’s call and sacrificed everything to serve. Everyone volunteered.

In 1942 the Postmaster was Dr. Z. Lee Stokely. Lt. Woodrow Stewart was the first postal employee to die in combat. The postal inspector, Maj. C.R. Steele, later died in France in a plane crash.

Lt. Don Ferguson, also a former postal employee, was an infantry company commander. He was leading a small recon patrol in Germany when he tripped a mine. Seconds before it exploded he was able to yell “Hit the ground!” to his men, saving their lives at the expense of his own.

Sgt. William Harwell was the fourth postal worker killed in action, also in Germany. Pvt. Brent Coulter was wounded in Italy and returned home. Neither rain, sleet, snow or Nazis will keep these men from performing their appointed duties. Poplar Bluff is proud.

Lt. Ferguson’s story and photo is on display in the World War II exhibit of the Kanell Hall Veterans Museum located in the Poplar Bluff Museum. The heroic postal employee’s story is also told. The Museum is open every Sunday free of charge from 1-4 p.m. at 1010 Main Street, Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.