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A monument to Sugar hero
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By: JOSEPH LAW
jlaw@uvsj.com
SUGAR CITY - Family members of a Sugar City man who received the Medal of Honor for heroism in World War I have teamed with the city to make sure he is not forgotten.
A granite monument commemorating Thomas C. Neibaur will be unveiled Saturday at the park that the city named in his honor during its centennial in 2003.
In addition to showing the city's respect for Neibaur, the monument will also include the names of veterans who have served from the Sugar City area.
"There's no doubt that Thomas Neibaur was a true hero and a Medal of Honor winner," said Mayor Glenn Dalling. "We also want to pay tribute to the veterans who have served from the Sugar City area."
The monument was set in place Monday, and the city will be adding lights and landscaping to the monument through the week. Because city officials continue to learn of additional veterans, two more monuments will be added later this year at the site.
Neibaur's descendants have donated more than $10,000 for the monument.
Thomas C. Neibaur Veteran Park is on Center Street in Sugar City east of the gray LDS church.
According to historical information provided by Sugar City officials, including research by historian Paul H. Kelly, Neibaur joined the Idaho National Guard in March 1917 just before the United States entered World War I, or the Great War as it was then known.
Shortly afterward the Army inducted him into federal service, and in October 1917 he became an automatic rifleman in the 41st Division composed of the National Guard from the Western United States who were stationed at Camp Mills, in Long Island, New York.
By February 1918 he was serving at the front in France with the 42nd Division, which received the name the "Rainbow Division" from then-Maj. Douglas MacArthur because its members came from all across the United States.
After being involved in combat rotations from March 1918 on, Neibaur's unit was part of the Meuse-Argonne campaign that autumn, and he and the men he served with were tasked with capturing a hill known as Cote de Chatillon.
It was during that fight that the events occurred that resulted in the award of the Medal of Honor for Neibaur.
He and two other soldiers had volunteered to make a flanking attack on a network of German machinegun positions.
Although his two team members were soon killed and he was severely wounded in the right leg, he fought back when attacked by about 50 of the enemy and killed or wounded most of them.
As he struggled back to his own lines he passed out, and when he came to, he found himself surrounded by about 15 Germans who were pinned down by fire from Neibaur's company.
As he recovered his pistol that had been dropped by the enemy, several of the Germans attacked him with bayonets. He killed four of them and the other eleven surrendered.
"He was 18 years old when this happened," said City Councilman Harold Harris. "We're honoring a soldier who put his life on the line."
On Saturday the ceremony will include a free breakfast for the community from 7 to 10 a.m.
There will be a program beginning at 10:30 at the Sugar-Salem High School and the monument will be unveiled at 1 p.m
The event will be attended by Neibaur's only surviving daughter, Marion Hunkerford, as well as other descendants.
A nephew, Anthony Gardner, of St. Anthony said, "I'm just very proud that the city named its park for him and wanted to put in the monument to enlarge on it."
A granite monument commemorating Thomas C. Neibaur will be unveiled Saturday at the park that the city named in his honor during its centennial in 2003.
In addition to showing the city's respect for Neibaur, the monument will also include the names of veterans who have served from the Sugar City area.
"There's no doubt that Thomas Neibaur was a true hero and a Medal of Honor winner," said Mayor Glenn Dalling. "We also want to pay tribute to the veterans who have served from the Sugar City area."
The monument was set in place Monday, and the city will be adding lights and landscaping to the monument through the week. Because city officials continue to learn of additional veterans, two more monuments will be added later this year at the site.
Neibaur's descendants have donated more than $10,000 for the monument.
Thomas C. Neibaur Veteran Park is on Center Street in Sugar City east of the gray LDS church.
According to historical information provided by Sugar City officials, including research by historian Paul H. Kelly, Neibaur joined the Idaho National Guard in March 1917 just before the United States entered World War I, or the Great War as it was then known.
Shortly afterward the Army inducted him into federal service, and in October 1917 he became an automatic rifleman in the 41st Division composed of the National Guard from the Western United States who were stationed at Camp Mills, in Long Island, New York.
By February 1918 he was serving at the front in France with the 42nd Division, which received the name the "Rainbow Division" from then-Maj. Douglas MacArthur because its members came from all across the United States.
After being involved in combat rotations from March 1918 on, Neibaur's unit was part of the Meuse-Argonne campaign that autumn, and he and the men he served with were tasked with capturing a hill known as Cote de Chatillon.
It was during that fight that the events occurred that resulted in the award of the Medal of Honor for Neibaur.
He and two other soldiers had volunteered to make a flanking attack on a network of German machinegun positions.
Although his two team members were soon killed and he was severely wounded in the right leg, he fought back when attacked by about 50 of the enemy and killed or wounded most of them.
As he struggled back to his own lines he passed out, and when he came to, he found himself surrounded by about 15 Germans who were pinned down by fire from Neibaur's company.
As he recovered his pistol that had been dropped by the enemy, several of the Germans attacked him with bayonets. He killed four of them and the other eleven surrendered.
"He was 18 years old when this happened," said City Councilman Harold Harris. "We're honoring a soldier who put his life on the line."
On Saturday the ceremony will include a free breakfast for the community from 7 to 10 a.m.
There will be a program beginning at 10:30 at the Sugar-Salem High School and the monument will be unveiled at 1 p.m
The event will be attended by Neibaur's only surviving daughter, Marion Hunkerford, as well as other descendants.
A nephew, Anthony Gardner, of St. Anthony said, "I'm just very proud that the city named its park for him and wanted to put in the monument to enlarge on it."
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