Warren Stanley Jungerheld

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

Warren Stanley Jungerheld, "Jug" to his friends, was born on 4 May 1924, in Cleveland, OH, and grew up in Saginaw, MI. He attended high school at Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, VA. His love was baseball and he developed an excellent "knuckle ball" while pitching at Staunton. After a year at Michigan State College, Warren entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, in 1943. His years as a Cadet were filled with baseball and close friendships. Upon graduation with the Class of 1946, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army.

On his first assignment in Korea with the 20th Infantry Division, Warren met an Army Nurse named Marilyn Goeltz. He would later write that he knew that Marilyn would be the love of his life the first moment they met. He proposed to her in Korea on a hill near Kwang-ju and they spent the next 53 years together.

From Korea, Warren and Marilyn moved to Ft. Jackson, SC, where their first child, James, was born. Next, Warren received orders for Germany and they spent the next three years in Karlsruhe. During this tour, their second child, Mary, was born. The next stop was Ft. Benning, GA, for the Infantry Officers Advanced Course; then they were off to San Antonio, TX, where Warren would be a USAR Advisor.

In the spring of 1957, Warren left Marilyn and the kids in San Antonio for a second tour in Korea as Commander of H Company, 17th Infantry Regiment. After a successful command, Warren became Senior Aide-de-Camp to Major General T.J. Sands. Upon his return from Korea, he was assigned to the University of Arizona ROTC Instructor Group. Their third child, Hal, was born in Tucson, AZ. In 1961, they were off to Ft. Leavenworth, KS, for Command and General Staff College. Warren next received orders to Japan. While there, Marilyn and Warren would add to their family again but this time by adopting a 2-year-old Japanese girl who they named Ann. In 1964, Warren would move on to Ft. Polk, LA, where he would take Battalion Command in the 5th Basic Combat Training Brigade.

In 1967, after a quick course in the Vietnamese language at the Presidio in Monterey, CA, Warren went to Vietnam as Deputy Senior Advisor, 25th Infantry Division, Army Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). This was his most difficult assignment. He met this challenge with professionalism and a unique ability to positively influence his Vietnamese counterparts. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his contributions. Particularly difficult for Warren and Marilyn was that as Warren's tour was ending, their oldest son Jim was beginning his tour in Vietnam as a Fire Team Leader in the Americal Division. Soon after Warren returned he was notified that Jim was wounded in a firefight. Jim was later awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "Valor" Device and was able to finish his tour and return home safely.

Warren retired from the Army in 1968 and moved Marilyn and the family to Lake Nebagamon, WI. He became the Assistant Director of Catholic Charities in Superior, where he earned respect for his honesty, compassion, and leadership as he administered the many programs and facilities within the Diocese. Warren retired from Catholic Charities in 1981. He and Marilyn moved north to Duluth, MN, in 1984. In their full retirement, Warren and Marilyn enjoyed traveling, reading, and seeing their children and grandchildren.

In 1984, Warren was diagnosed with nasal pharyngeal cancer with a very low prognosis for recovery. He chose the most aggressive treatment available and endured surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. With excellent care, strong faith and will, he went into remission. He went on to live cancer free for 15 years. These years were special for Warren and Marilyn. Although they loved the "Great North Woods," the winters were long. To avoid "cabin fever" they would travel often. Their favorite spots were Grand Cayman, AZ, and Las Vegas, NV. They loved spending time with their children and seeing their grandchildren grow.

In the early summer of 1999, Warren was diagnosed with Stage III lung cancer. Again, he chose to treat it with aggressive radiation. Despite early signs of success, he was unable to overcome the effects of the treatment.

Lieutenant Colonel Warren Stanley Jungerheld died on 20 December 1999. Marilyn, the love of his life for 53 years, survived him by three months when she too, succumbed to cancer. Warren and Marilyn are survived by their four children and seven grandchildren.

Comments from USMA Classmates

"Warren Jungerheld was a very private person who did not seek fame and recognition in his life. For him, life served a much larger purpose. Like so many others of his generation, he was a man of unwavering character grounded in strong beliefs in Duty, Honor, and Country. Surrounding these beliefs was great faith in God and family. His legacy is rich with the positive impact that he had as an officer, administrator, husband, father and friend.

Classmate Bill Grisham remembered: "It would be impossible not to like Jug. I cannot think of an instance where he harmed anyone, either directly or indirectly. You know the drill - where someone uses some clever positioning strategy to advance his own career at another's expense. Well - not Jug; never! He was a gentleman, through and through. God has a warm place in his heart for him."

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