Herman J. Ploen

1972-73 American Legion Commander

1907 - 1988
TEC4 US ARMY

Herman Ploen entered the Army May 13, 1942 as a draftee. He first went to the European theater as far as Bonn and the Remagen Bridge in Germany. As soon as it was over in Europe, he was drawn to the staging area, processed all the equipment, and started for the Pacific area.
He spent 38 days on water to get to the staging area for the invasion. The day he got there peace was declared with Japan. He went back to the Philippines and from there he came home after several months. He was discharged from the Army November 29, 1945.

Manning Men Join Branches Of U.S. Forces
Chester Kuhl, Herman Ploen and Clarence Hunter left Tuesday for Fort Des Moines where they were inducted into the Army.
ENLISTS IN ARMY Austin Navin of Manning enlisted in the Army Saturday morning, at Des Moines.
JOINS COAST GUARD Harold Rutz left Tuesday morning for service in the Coast Guard.
May 14, 1942, Manning Monitor

Herman Ploen is buried in the Manning Cemetery.
Section A Row #30 south - north.

IN MEMORY OF HERMAN PLOEN

SERVICES THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1988, 2:00 PM ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH MANNING, IOWA
OFFICIATING PASTOR ROBERT RIGGERT
MUSIC "THE LORD'S PRAYER" "AMAZING GRACE" "MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE"
HELEN OHDE, VOCALIST
STEVE LINN, VOCALIST
PAULA WEISS, ORGANIST
INTERMENT MANNING CITY CEMETERY
CASKETBEARERS: LOYD BORKOWSKI, ALVAN HANSEN, HAROLD SCHMIDT, RAY IRLBECK, HENRY WILLENBORG, ROBERT WEGNER
MILITARY HONORS MANNING, IOWA
EMIL EWOLDT POST 22 OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 3517

THE FAMILY WISHES TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR KINDNESS EVIDENCED IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED, AND INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR LUNCH AND FELLOWSHIP AT THE CHURCH FOLLOWING THE COMMITTAL SERVICE

Funeral services for Herman Ploen were held Thursday, May 12, 1988 at 2:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, Iowa. Pastor Robert Riggert officiated the service with Helen Ohde and Steve Linn as vocalists and Paula Weiss as organist.

Interment was in Manning City Cemetery with Loyd Borkowski, Harold Schmidt, Henry Willenborg, Alvan Hansen, Ray Irlbeck and Robert Wegner as casketbearers.
Military honors were provided by Emil Ewoldt Post 22 of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517, both of Manning. Ohde Funeral Home in Manning was in charge of arrangements.

Herman, son of Peter and Lena Moeller Ploen, was born January 27, 1907 on a farm near Manning.
As a young boy he moved with his family into Manning where he attended schools, graduating in 1927. After graduation he worked with his father in his cream buying station on Main Street. He also worked with Herman Frahm.

During World War II Herman was drafted and entered the United States Army on May 13, 1942. He served his country in Europe and later in the Philippines until he was honorably discharged on November 29, 1945.
After his discharge he returned to Manning where he worked at the Manning Light Plant until his retirement. He lived at home and after his parents' deaths he and his brother, Harry, continued to live in their family home on First Street. Herman was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church and had a lifetime membership in the Hayes Township Schuetzen Verein, Emil Ewoldt Post 22 of the American Legion where he served as adjutant for many, many years and as Commander in 1972, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517.
Herman had been in failing health for nearly a year before his death Tuesday, May 10, 1988 at his home in Manning. He was 81 years, 3 months, and 13 days of age.

Herman is survived by his brother, Harry, of Manning, and by cousins, other relatives and friends.

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1943

Herman Ploen Promoted
Herman Ploen, son of Peter Ploen writes from a desert training center near Yuma, Arizona, stating that he has been promoted from Private to Private First Class.
He says that he notices through the Manning Monitor that we have been having lots of cold weather which is quite different from the weather at his location.