CALLAWAY – There was a time in our history, not so long ago, when young men had little choice but to answer the call of the U.S. military. Most did so willingly, out of a sense of loyalty and pride for our nation and the freedoms we enjoy. For many of those young men, it was the last service they would ever give.
The community of Callaway has always had strong ties to the military. Many of the early settlers were veterans of the Civil War. In fact, the greatest number of those volunteering for the war and later living in Custer County were from Callaway.
Callaway men and women have represented America against other nations since its founding. A large honor board listing the men serving in World War II was erected on the north side of Callaway Market by the Callaway community on May 12, 1942. A dedication ceremony for the honor board was held on June 28, 1942.
A number of men with ties to Callaway paid the supreme sacrifice during the war – 13 World War II veterans are buried in local cemeteries. One of the Callaway soldiers now has his name attached to the local Legion Post – Robert D. Booker.
The Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest decoration the nation can bestow to a war hero, was awarded posthumously to Booker by the U.S. Army. The 22-year-old Callaway man died in action in the vicinity of Fondouk, Tunisia on April 9, 1943.
According to Army records in awarding the Medal of Honor, Booker defeated a nest of enemy machine guns with his own machine gun, and though injured, then led his squad as they advanced on Axis forces. His injuries from that fight were fatal.
In December of 1948, Booker’s body was finally returned to Callaway where he has a place of honor at the Legion lot in Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorial Day services are conducted at the site each year. In addition to the local Legion, an armory in Omaha has also been named for him.
Just last month, the U.S. Army hosted a special ceremony at the National Museum of the US Army at Fort Belvoir, in Virginia to announce that Booker’s name will also now be tied to the Army’s latest armored turreted military vehicle. It was announced that the vehicle, originally known as MPF (Mobile Protected Firepower), will now be known as the M10 Booker.
The new name actually honors two men with the Booker name, Robert D. Booker and Stevon A. Booker – soldiers who fought for their country decades apart. Stevon Booker was part of the tank crew that led the assault on Baghdad in April of 2003, in which he was fatally wounded while guiding his unit to defeat anti-tank fire. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.
The two Bookers fought and died nearly six decades apart, both giving their lives while protecting their comrades. There always have been, and undoubtedly always will be, wars. The hope is that military vehicles such as the M10 Booker will at the very least help diminish our casualties.
Now, 80 years after his death, the Callaway community is sharing the story and name of Robert D. Booker with the world.
