James Munke commissioned to Post Everlasting

Members of the Gordon Mattison American Legion Post 422 honored the memory of retired U.S. Navy Corpsman James Munke, 51, who died Nov. 30, 2018, with a Post Everlasting ceremony in late January. The annual ceremony recognizes post members who have died and symbolically transfers their membership to what is known as the Post Everlasting. The post held the solemn ceremony Jan. 28 which involved burning his service record. Post Commander Frank Harrison narrated the ceremony: “We come to honor the memory of those who offered their lives in the service of country and who have now enrolled in that Great Spirit Army, whose footfalls cause no sound, but in the memory of mankind, their souls go marching on, sustained by the pride of service in time of war. “Because of them our lives are free; because of them our nation lives; because of them, the world is blessed. “May this service deepen our reverence for our departed comrades,” Harrison said. Post-Adjutant Michael Littlefield placed Munke’s American Legion cap on the table in remembrance of their fellow veteran while Chaplain Bill Guy offered a prayer. “Adjutant enter the name of our comrade James Joe Munke, Sr. into the records of membership of Gordon Mattison American Legion Post 422 who has transferred to the Post Everlasting,” Harrison continued. Harrison then read Munke’s service record and American Legion records. Munke served as a corpsman at the Navy hospital at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was medically discharged from active duty in 1992 due to a heart condition and then served in the Naval Reserves. He earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Basic Marine Corps Hospital Corps Certificate. Chaplain Guy then handed Munke’s service and legion records to Littlefield, who served as the adjutant of the Post Everlasting. He lit the papers on fire and placed them into the brazier, closing the lid on the flames and ashes a few moments later. A bugler played Taps from the back of the darkened room in memory of Munke and all the post’s members who had died. Harrison then presented his family with a plaque commemorating the event. Munke’s father, Herbert Joe “Chip” Munke Jr., said his son was working as an armored car courier for Wells Fargo in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1994 when thieves robbed the car, and he was shot twice, which caused paralysis in both his arms and legs. “They didn’t give him a chance to drop the money. The FBI has been investigating it, but it has been a cold case for 25 years,” Herbert Munke said. “He still had one bullet in his right shoulder, and after he died, they did an autopsy and took the bullet out and sent it to the FBI for comparison to the other bullets. I’m hoping that with this bullet they will be able to find enough proof to get the guy in court and get him where he belongs.” Munke moved to Pittsburg from Arlington with his parents seven years ago. “He was a quadriplegic, and we had a large building built so he could get around in it without any trouble, and he and his wife lived in the front end, and me and my wife lived at the back end,” he said. He died from complications after contracting double pneumonia following surgery at a Plano hospital. “His internal trachea collapsed, and they kept him alive until we could get back to the hospital. We had left earlier and come home, and they called us and said he had arrested,” Herbert Munke said. The ceremony honoring their son’s service sparked emotions for parents and his widow. Herbert Munke, who is also a veteran and a member of Post 422, said he and his son would attend the post meetings and activities together. “I was in the Navy, and that’s the reason he went to the Navy. He was in the Navy Sea Cadets when he was a teenager,” he said. “I thought the ceremony was great. I didn’t know what the commander had in mind, but they did an excellent job of presenting it, and I know Jim well enough to know that he would have greatly appreciated what was said and done for him. He loved the military. He loved the Navy.” James Munke’s mother, Teri Ann Munke, said it was a beautiful ceremony and a great tribute to her son. “He was all about God and country and to have them recognize him was just fantastic,” she said. “He would have been so proud of this. I would rather have him here, though.” Tinker Munke, James Munke’s wife, said it was wonderful. “Jim would be so proud. He loved the American Legion. We were married 10 years, not long enough. He was strong, and he fought hard, and I hope he is happy in Heaven,” Tinker Munke said.