AFTER 51 YEARS, CHAFFEE SAILOR POSTHUMOUSLY GETS SILVER STAR

Mel Wondel heard the stories about his father's courage and bravery when he died on board a U.S. Navy ship during World War II, but he never knew for many years if the stories weren't embellished for his benefit since he was only six months old when his father died.

Wondel's father, Petty Officer Muri Melvern Wondel, was a .50 caliber gun loader on board the U.S.S. Halloran when he was killed June 21, 1945, off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, in the Sea of Japan.

The stories said that Muri Wondel, a native of Chaffee, died while saving the lives of many other crew members during a fierce battle.

For Wondel, now 51, the stories about his father's death received the ultimate confirmation Saturday when his father was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for valor.

According to the Halloran's log, which the Wondel family saw about six months ago, Muri Wondel was wounded but refused to leave his post while under attack from Japanese suicide planes. One of the planes was heading for the destroyer at 300 knots or more when Wondel noticed his gun operator was dead. Wondel took control of the gun, aimed and fired, destroying the plane. A bomb on board the plane exploded when it was hit and sprayed shrapnel on the ship. The shrapnel from the aircraft Wondel destroyed claimed his life 18 hours later.

"The crew had put in for the Silver Star when this happened," Wondel said, "because they said they would've taken a direct hit had the plane not been destroyed. They couldn't believe it hadn't been awarded yet."

Wondel met the crew a few months ago at the 50th reunion of U.S. Navy veterans who were on board the U.S.S. Halloran. They showed him the documentation detailing his father's death, and the crew's recommendation for the Wondel family to receive the award.

Thanks to the help of the crew and U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, the award was finally presented Saturday to 25 members of the Wondel family in a formal U.S. Navy ceremony at the Naval Reserve Center in Cape Girardeau. About 60 Naval personnel were in formal dress for the ceremony.

"For conspicuous gallantry," said Commander Larry Hamel during the presentation, "the Silver Star is awarded to Muri Melvern Wondel."

In addition to Wondel, his mother, Eileen Varble, also was attended the ceremony.

"I was three months pregnant with Mel when I watched his father sail off under the Golden Gate Bridge," she said. "He never got to meet his father."

Varble said she had only been married to Wondel's father for five years when he was killed. She later remarried but her husband of 45 years, Paul Varble, died three years ago.

"I got to have two great marriages," she said. "Not many people can say that.

"This ceremony today brought back some great memories."

Also attending the ceremony was Muri Melvern Wondel's grandson, Michael Melvern Wondel, 21, of St. Louis. "It's good to find out the stories I had heard about my grandfather are true," he said.