U.S. Army Korean War Naperville, IL Flight date: 07/11/18
By Christina Nichols, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interviews Volunteer
On April 21, 1953, Herbert (Herb) Nadelhoffer, at the age of 24, left his family’s beautiful dairy farm south of Lisle, IL, to report for the draft. Herb’s dad had instilled in him the love of farm life and he truly enjoyed the idyllic work on his family’s farm, raising chickens and hogs, as well as 24 dairy cows. These cows averaged 13,000 pounds of milk per year, which was transported daily to a local dairy in Hinsdale, IL.
Herb had intended to follow in his father’s footsteps as a farmer. His dad took so much pride in his work that their cows were fed custom-made feed that Herb’s father not only made but also taste-tested. Herb took this inherited love of farm life to the next level when he earned his B.A. in Zoology at Carleton College. He utilized his college degree to help life on the farm improve. For instance, he personally built a 40’ x 75’ pole barn that created a more spacious home for his dairy cows, where they could more continuously be fed and stay throughout the day.
Life on the farm came to an abrupt halt when Herb’s dad drove him to Wheaton, IL in their 1950 Pontiac to board the olive-colored Army bus that was waiting to take Herb to Fort Sheridan, north of Chicago, to begin life in the military. He joined about 25 other young men, none of whom Herb knew. As Herb reluctantly boarded the bus, he could not help but worry about his dad, who would now have a much-increased workload on the farm without him there to help. Herb’s sister, Caroline as well as two neighbor friends helped to fill the void. His older brother, Carleton, was unable to help since he entered law school following his return from the Army after serving in the 83rd Airborne as part of the Japanese Occupation. Herb’s mom, who had worked as a chemist at a munitions plant in Joliet during WWII, was now busy teaching 5th grade at Avery Coonley School, where Herb graduated many years earlier.
Herb recounts how life in the military immediately seemed a world away from his life on the farm, despite the fact that it was not that many miles between Wheaton and this suburb north of Chicago. The men, who had arrived at Fort Sheridan for processing into the 101st Airborne Infantry Division, knew very little about their new infantry training. Herb recounts how one of the trainees called a Sergeant, “sir,” only to be admonished for doing so. He was immediately informed that, in the military, it is important to appropriately address one another by the correct rank. On that note, this young, new recruit was told that Sergeants are called “Sergeant” and officers are called “sir.” Continuing their introduction to military life, Herb and his fellow soldiers were informed that their upcoming meal, of meat with vegetables like potatoes and carrots, should be called “chow.” They were instructed to get used to no frills as they would now be served on stainless steel tables in the “mess hall,” not on fine china like their food back home. Before they could begin eating, however, they needed to be inducted into the Army, so the process of being sworn in began.
Captain Caruso, wearing his dress uniform, did the honors of swearing Herb and the other men into the Army. He said they were now all new trainees in the best Army in the world, the United States Army. Following this, it was time to get their new dog tags, which as Herb explains, was not too different from the tags they used on the cows! These were better, as they were on a necklace. Herb was now a recruit, in his own words, number “US55396651.” Getting their living arrangements in order was next on the agenda and Herb recounts that whereas officers received two pillows, trainees received one. Roll call would be at 9:30 pm with reveille at 6:00 am sharp. Getting to sleep was not so easy, however, the familiar sounds of the farm were now replaced by the sounds of his fellow trainees snoring, grunting and praying, as well as the screeching noise of trucks going by.
Promptly the next morning, it was time for physical exams where the men were told to, “tuck your butts and suck your guts.” Upon passing their physical exams, the commanding officer said, “Look alive, you’re not in the Navy!” He then ordered, “Let’s get you some clothes so you don’t look like vagabonds… but like General Eisenhower without all the stars!”
Once everyone received their new uniforms, it was time to receive their duffel bags on which each trainee stenciled their new military number. It was official, Herb’s life in the military had begun. From Fort Sheridan, Herb was sent to Camp Breckinridge in Kentucky for Basic Infantry Training. There, he befriended Jack Folley, from nearby La Grange, IL, and the two would remain friends during Herb’s time in the Army.
After Herb completed his infantry training, he and around 18 other soldiers who were also college graduates reported for counter-intelligence training at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, MD. They were welcomed by Sergeant Murray, a portly man who stood around 5’6’’ with a chest full of ribbons, and had a very commanding presence. The training that Herb received at Ft. Holabird was crucial in order to prepare him for his work with the Counter Intelligence Corps Department of the Army (CIC). Herb’s work included reading through police and bank records, as well as information from other sources, in order to determine who should be granted the security clearance that they were seeking.
When Herb completed this training, he left for the West Coast for the first time in his life, as he was assigned to his next duty station at the Presidio of Monterey. Shortly thereafter, Herb was informed he could be assigned to San Francisco, Los Angeles or Seattle. Herb selected Los Angeles, and there he lived with three civilian buddies in an apartment near the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theater. It was near the Hollywood Market, which was the first market Herb had ever seen that was open 24 hours. Herb earned $67 per month for his work at the CIC, attaining the rank of Corporal. His military career came to a close when he was discharged in April of 1955. At that point, Herb’s brother came out west and they drove back home together to the farm.
With the help of the GI Bill, Herb attended North Central College in Naperville, where he earned his teaching certificate. Herb became a junior high school science teacher and then later taught 5th grade. Later in his life, Herb attended Northwestern University, where he earned a Masters degree in Creative Dramatics. By the late 1970’s, Herb decided to put his love of building, which he had his whole life, to good use and he became president of his own construction company, Nadelhoffer Energy Works. He specialized in building timber frame homes until his retirement in 2006. In the early 1980s, Herb and his wife of almost 40 years, Mary Lou Wehrli, personally built their home that they reside in to this day, in Naperville, IL.
Thank you, Herb, for your dedicated service to your country! Enjoy your well-deserved Honor Flight!