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THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2022
HERMISTON HISTORY
Local woman hears of deceased
husband’s WW II heroism 25 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
March 25, 1997
KITTY LAMB
Stanﬁ eld
Can you tell me about some of the interesting
jobs you have had?
I’ve been a volleyball oﬃ cial for many years, and I
was on a team with a bunch of my friends. I really
miss them. Back in my 20s, we traveled, and we went
all over. I was a commissioner of volleyball. When I
became postmaster, I didn’t have time to do that.
Where were you postmaster?
Stanﬁ eld and Echo. I inherited Echo.
When did you serve?
From 1990 to 2017. I enjoyed it. I loved the people,
but it got tougher.
What made it tough?
Basically, it was that we didn’t have the people to do
the job. I needed people to help me out. Working for
two oﬃ ces, it just got to be too much. I started think-
ing, I’m 63 and too old. I thought I should let some-
one else, someone younger, to take over. So that’s
what I did.
Did you keep in touch with people there?
Yes. You bet I did. The route driver and I were
always really good friends.
Now that you’re retired, what do you do with
your days?
I take care of my granddaughter. I help my son out.
I go places, do things. I spend a lot of time with
family.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever
gone?
I’ve been to Universal multiple times. I’ve been to
Florida, Hawaii, the Bahamas and stuﬀ like that. I
love to travel.
What do you enjoy about traveling?
I like seeing new places and experiencing new
things. Some people might think I like going to Uni-
versal because I’m a big movie fan, but it’s really
because I’m a Harry Potter fan. But I do like mov-
ies, like everyone in my family. Our family thing to
do is going to the ﬁ rst night of really big movies.
We’ve been doing that for years.
But you’re a Harry Potter fan. Which Harry
Potter House do you identify with?
Huﬄ epuﬀ . That means I am loyal and strong. I’m
also the ﬁ rst woman to be your best friend, basically.
“I knew he was my hero, but I
didn’t know I was living with a real
live hero.”
That is what Marjorie Munsell-For-
sythe said about her deceased ﬁ rst hus-
band, First Lt. Steve C. Munsell of the
U.S. Air Force, when he received the
coveted Bronze Star Medal for heroic
actions during World War II.
On Mar. 19, 1945, Steve and his
co-pilot conducted a rescue mission
behind enemy lines. U.S. Air Force
pilots that had been shot down dis-
guised themselves in German military
clothing and Russian hats.
The men were understandably anx-
ious when they climbed aboard the air-
craft, but Steve assured them he would
make as many trips as needed until
every last one of them had been ﬂ own
to safety, which he did.
After his military career, of which
that mission was the highlight, Steve
continued ﬂ ying at Hermiston’s air-
port for another 20 years. He died
in 1990 from a heart attack, and on
Jan. 23, 1997, Marjorie’s birthday, she
received a phone call informing her
Steve had been honored with a medal
and the medal itself.
“That was the best birthday present
I’ve ever received,” she said. To honor
the bravery and memory of her hus-
band, she proudly has his medal and
letters of accommodations on display
at her home.
Hermiston Herald, File
In 1997, Marjorie Munsell-Forsythe displays the Bronze Star Medal her husband
was honored with after his death.
Hermiston Herald, File
50 YEARS AGO
March 23, 1972
The second annual Hermiston Fire
Department Banquet was the ﬁ rst
time length-of-service awards were
presented to members — of which
there were many.
Mayor L.P. Gray presented the
awards, assisted by Ralph Richards,
chairman of the Hermiston Rural Fire
Protection District. Pins were pre-
sented for each ﬁ ve-year increment of
service, up to 30 years.
John Dryer, Rodney Sollars, Ralph
Tassie, Dusty Harris and Pius Horn-
ing all completed their ﬁ rst ﬁ ve years
and received pins to prove it. Those
with 10 years of service under their
belts include Harold Snyder, John
Shull, Ben Newman, Truman Mes-
senger, Dave Mull, Julian Woodward,
Bob Knight, Otis Wilcox, Ralph
Moon and Dave Knerr. The two hon-
ored for 15 years were Lou Badoux
and Russ Piersol.
There were only three increments,
20, 25 and 30, with just one recipient
each. Assistant Chief Ed Lynch was
awarded the 20-year pin, Chief Bob
Union Paciﬁ c Railroad personnel visit the railroad crossing at Hinkle 50 years
ago for its semi-annual inspection. Second from right is Union Paciﬁ c President
John C. Keneﬁ c. Behind him is George C. Fisher, assistant train master at Hinkle.
M.S. Barkdull, Spokane train master, is on the far right. The others are Union
Paciﬁ c executives from company headquarters.
Russell received the 25-year pin and
L.J. Michieli earned the 30-year pin.
Moon also received a special
plaque for saving fellow ﬁ reman
Harris.
75 YEARS AGO
March 27, 1947
Winter and spring in 1947 were
quite dry. And while this may seem
good because it eliminates the threat
of ﬂ ooding, irrigation on the other
side of the spectrum suﬀ ers.
In fact, Roy W. McNeal, man-
ager of the Hermiston Irrigation
District, told members of the Rotary
Club the current water storage in the
Blue Mountains was about 50% of
the normal amount. He identiﬁ ed
the cause as a very short water sea-
son, and he said he was worried that
such a shortage could cause serious
issues if the next couple of weeks
How important is loyalty in the world?
Loyalty is a double-edged sword. You can be loyal
to people so that you are generous and loving, but
there has to be a point when you start asking ques-
tions. You have to know when you have to pull back
and just do what’s right. Morals and your sense of
what’s right is most important. I’m a Christian, and I
have my beliefs.
What church do you attend?
The Baptist church in Stanﬁ eld. They’re wonder-
ful people, really good people. They have people
who are always there for you and doing good for the
community and the world.
Hermiston Herald, File
Students from Umatilla High School’s consumer studies class pose with the
quilts and teddy bears they made for at-risk children 25 years ago.
are without cool temperatures and
rainy, cloudy weather.
To stress the signiﬁ cance of this
scenario, McNeal pointed out that
everyone depended upon this irri-
gation system for their livelihoods.
90 YEARS AGO
March 24, 1932
Though not unusual for the Uma-
tilla County area, a 45-mile per hour
gale caught some trees, buildings
and chickens oﬀ -guard.
The wind arrived early in the
morning and caused quite a bit of
destruction.
A barn on the southwest portion
of Stanﬁ eld was torn from its base
and turned several somersaults in
the air before returning once again
to the ground. Even a newly-built
shed found itself as a victim; having
not been suﬃ ciently anchored yet,
it was lifted up and then collapsed.
Many telephone poles and trees
were also damaged by the wind but
did not cause further damage.
The Flannigan’s chickens were
quite possibly the most unlucky of
all entities during the storm. Mrs.
Flannigan went to enter her chicken
house and when she opened the
door, the wind entered with her. It
lifted the roof and dropped White
Leghorn chickens all over the place.
Though not necessarily cats and
dogs, that is probably the closest we
will get to actually having animals
rain from the sky.
———
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore
at Echo High School, searched
Hermiston Herald archives to
compile these article summaries.
BY THE WAY
Boardman Chamber plans a hiring event for March 24
Got cheese? If you have ever wanted to work in the
cheese industry, the Boardman Chamber of Com-
merce might have an event to churn your interest.
The chamber is promoting a hiring event Thurs-
day, March 24, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be at
WorkSource Hermiston, 950 S.E. Columbia Drive,
Suite B.
Tillamook managers will be onsite conduct-
ing interviews for full-time cheese manufacturing
opportunities.
• • •
Several candidate forums have been scheduled in
Umatilla County to provide voters with an opportu-
nity to learn more about those running for oﬃ ce. All are
scheduled at 6 p.m.:
• Thursday, March 24, at the Vert Auditorium, 480
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton: Republican Gubernatorial
candidates.
The following forums feature Umatilla County com-
missioner candidates:
• March 31, at the Pendleton Convention Center,
1601 Westgate.
• April 7, at the Oregon National Guard Armory,
900 S.E. Columbia Drive., Hermiston.
• April 8, at the Milton-Freewater Community
Building, 109 N.E. Fifth St.
For questions about the April 7 forum, contact val-
erie.bradley@gmail.com or josiahbarron.pcp@proton-
mail.com. For the other three, contact ucrp@gmail.com
or Suni Danforth, Central Committee chair, at 541-215-
9389 or ucrpchair@gmail.com.
• • •
City Auto Sales is gearing up for its grand opening
celebration. The Hermiston Chamber of Commerce
will rev things up with a ribbon-cutting Friday, March
25, 12 noon at 80857 N. Highway 395, Hermiston.
People are encouraged to stick around throughout the
afternoon with all kinds of fun planned, including food,
raﬄ es and local vendors. For questions, call 541-561-
8314 or search Facebook.
• • •
Mark your calendar for “Time to Shine,” the annual
Irrigon Citizen Recognition Banquet. It is April 16,
5-8 p.m. at Stokes Landing Senior Center, 195 Opal
Place. Dinner will be served.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Call
541-626-2045 or visit www.irrigonchamber.com for
more information.
• • •
The Hermiston Public Library honored a special
young person, as it named her its artist of the month.
March’s artist is EllaMae Looney. Looney is an enrolled
member of the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the
Yakama Nation. She is currently residing on the Uma-
tilla Indian Reservation.
Looney has been recognized as a leader by her tribal
peers and elders in her community and also is an art-
ist who expresses herself through painting, beading and
poetry.
• • •
The Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave.,
is about more than books, as it has scheduled Fam-
ily Movie Night on Thursday, March 24. Start time is
6 p.m. Popcorn and drinks are provided.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, March 24, is baked ﬁ sh, vegetables, coleslaw
and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, March 29, is ham
and beans, cornbread, fruit and dessert.
In-house meals will be served from noon to 12:30 p.m.
People planning to dine in are asked to call by 11 a.m.
For a Meals on Wheels delivery in Hermiston, call
541-567-3582 before 10 a.m. to place an order. To pick
up a meal from the center at 255 N.E. Second St., call
before 11 a.m. Meals are $5 and can be picked up between
11:30 a.m. and noon.
• • •
The Boardman Senior Center is open for dine-in
lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon at 100 Tatone
St. Meals are $4 for seniors and $5 for others. Take-out
lunches are available by calling 541-481-3257.