Missing: : Dar’Yea Emery (OH)

: Dar’Yea Emery (OH)

Dar’Yea Emery, Age Now: 16, Missing: 02/13/2026. Missing From Toledo, OH. ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT: Toledo Police Department
(Ohio)
1-419-255-8443
.

http://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/2078807/1

Originally published here.

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2026 Charles Mill Lake Fireworks Video/Photo Gallery

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Savannah Fire Fundraiser Serves Up Chicken, Classic Cars and Community Support

SAVANNAH, Ohio — The smell of barbecue chicken, the shine of classic cars and the spirit of community support filled Savannah on Saturday as the Savannah Volunteer Fire Company held its 22nd annual Chicken Barbecue and Car Show.

The event was held Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Savannah Fire Station, located at 6 Haney Street in Savannah. The car show ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the barbecue began serving at noon.

Savannah Volunteer Fire Company Chief Steve Dinsmore said firefighters and volunteers started working long before guests arrived.

“This morning, we started at 5 getting everything warmed up and getting the chicken on about a quarter till 6,” Dinsmore said.

Between 650 and 700 chicken halves were prepared for this year’s fundraiser. Approximately 325 people had already been served by the halfway point, with another two-and-a-half hours remaining.

The accompanying car show attracted just under 100 vehicles, despite occasional sprinkles throughout the day.

“We had a great turnout for the weather we had,” Dinsmore said. “We had a few sprinkles, but it didn’t deter them. They got out, buffed up their cars again and went on with the show.”

Car owners paid a $10 registration fee to participate, providing another way to support the volunteer fire company.

Held annually on the first Saturday in August, the barbecue and car show is the department’s only yearly fundraiser. Last year’s event generated approximately $10,000.

While that may sound like a substantial amount, Dinsmore explained that the rapidly rising cost of emergency equipment means every dollar matters.

“With the current pricing and how much things have increased in cost, that will get you one set of turnout gear,” he said. “We really have to rely heavily on grants and those types of things to help supplement, but every little bit helps.”

The department recently received a grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to update its self-contained breathing apparatus, commonly known as SCBAs, to systems equipped with 45-minute air bottles. Money raised Saturday will help the department purchase the additional accessories needed to bring the equipment up to current standards.

Community support began well before the grills were lit. The department sought donations of potatoes, macaroni, baked beans, green beans, condiments, cooking supplies, beverages and other necessities needed to prepare and serve hundreds of meals. Residents were also encouraged to contribute pies, cakes, brownies and other baked goods, along with monetary donations.

Dinsmore thanked the many businesses and individuals who helped make the event possible, including Case Farms, which donated all of the chicken for approximately the third consecutive year.

“That’s a huge amount of support because our biggest expense is getting the chicken,” Dinsmore said. “We really appreciate them.”

A special shoutout also went to Ervin Yoder and Dean Weaver for lending a hand Saturday morning and, for the record, the chicken was officially declared “Yoder Approved.”

For Dinsmore, who has participated in the event for approximately 35 years, the fundraiser represents far more than chicken dinners and polished classic cars. It gives residents an opportunity to visit the station, examine the department’s equipment and see how their support directly strengthens emergency services.

“They get to come up and see the equipment, see the money that we’re spending and what we’re doing,” Dinsmore said. “They can see the service that we’re able to provide when they need it. I think it’s important that they get to see what their money is going toward.”

Dinsmore said the Savannah community has consistently supported its volunteer firefighters throughout the years, regardless of the weather.

“We’ve never had any bad years,” he said. “They’ll come out no matter what. It’s just about community.”

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Ashland Remembers Detective Sergeant Glenn Sturgill 44 Years After Line-of-Duty Death

ASHLAND, Ohio — Forty-four years ago today, the Ashland community lost a devoted law enforcement officer, husband and father when Ashland County Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Glenn Sturgill was killed in the line of duty.

Sturgill died on Aug. 2, 1982, his 30th birthday, while attempting to apprehend three suspects following an armed robbery attempt in Ashland.

He had served with the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office for six years.

During the evening hours, Sturgill was conducting surveillance in an unmarked vehicle when he noticed three suspicious men near the former Fisher Big Wheel store in the 1600 block of Claremont Avenue.

The suspects, David Mullins, 21; Carl Dean Davis, 25; and a juvenile, had reportedly planned for two days to rob someone, steal a vehicle and return to Kentucky.

Armed with a sawed-off shotgun loaded with deer slugs, the suspects approached a woman in the store’s parking lot and demanded her car. The woman dropped a large glass jug she was carrying and fainted.

After witnessing the attempted robbery, Sturgill left his vehicle and pursued the fleeing suspects across Claremont Avenue and into a cornfield behind the McDonald’s restaurant.

Investigators determined that Sturgill apprehended one of the suspects. Unknown to him, another was hiding near a trash dumpster with the shotgun.

A single shot struck Sturgill in his lower right side. The rifled slug traveled upward and struck his heart, killing him instantly. He fell backward into the cornfield.

Within eight hours, all three suspects had been located and taken into custody.

Mullins, identified as the shooter, was convicted of murder and robbery and sentenced to life in prison. Davis was sentenced in January 1983 to between 14 and 50 years for involuntary manslaughter and complicity to aggravated robbery. The juvenile was charged in connection with the robbery.

Mullins and Davis later received additional prison sentences after attempting to escape in 1984.

Sturgill left behind his wife, Becky, and their two children.

“My husband, Detective Sgt. Glenn Sturgill, was doing what was right,” Becky Sturgill previously said. “He was doing his job protecting and serving.”

For his son, Timothy Sturgill, the loss meant a lifetime of milestones without his father.

“On my dad’s birthday, which happens to be his End of Watch as well, I have to see my father at his grave,” Timothy previously said. “I talk to a stone and get no response.”

“I missed out on hunting and fishing trips, countless birthdays, holidays and memories,” he continued. “He wasn’t at my graduation or my wedding.”

The Sturgill family and supporters have previously organized petition drives opposing the release of those convicted in connection with Sergeant Glenn Sturgill death.

More than four decades later, Sturgill’s name and sacrifice remain permanently woven into the Ashland community.

The Command Center at the Ashland County Fairgrounds was dedicated in part to his memory, while the main driveway at the Ashland County Justice Complex was named Sturgill Drive in his honor.

Those memorials serve as lasting reminders of a young officer who placed himself in danger to protect an innocent woman and the community he had sworn to serve.

Today, Ashland County remembers Detective Sergeant Glenn Sturgill, not only for how he died, but for how he lived: as a husband, father and public servant who gave everything in the performance of his duty.

End of Watch: Aug. 2, 1982

Age: 30

Years of service: Six

Survived by: His wife, Becky, and two children

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

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95 Years Young: Ashland Special Forces Veteran Takes Birthday Adventure to New Heights

ASHLAND, Ohio — A few clouds may have delayed the flight, but they could not stop Robert “Bob” Schneider from making history on his 95th birthday.

The high-flying birthday adventure took place July 31 at Ashland’s own Aerohio Skydiving, located at 701G Township Road 1102 in Ashland.

Schneider, a longtime Ashland resident, Army Special Forces veteran and lifelong adventurer, climbed aboard an Aerohio airplane and once again did what few people of any age would dare to attempt: He jumped out.

This year’s skydive carried even more meaning because Schneider was joined aboard the plane by two of his grandchildren, making the milestone birthday a breathtaking family celebration thousands of feet above Ashland County.

His granddaughter, 22-year-old Amber Schneider of Columbus, completed her second jump, while his 19-year-old grandson, David Baltaxe of Fairfield, California, made his first.

David flew across the country for the opportunity.

“I’ve been telling people for the last couple of weeks, ‘I’m about to go skydiving with my grandpa,’” David said. “They said, ‘No way.’ I said, ‘He’s going to be 95.’”

For David, the jump was more than an adrenaline-filled birthday adventure. It was a way to honor his grandfather’s remarkable military legacy.

“He’s been jumping for a long time in the Army, so I kind of wanted to pay homage to that,” David said. “It’s going to be something that I will be telling people my entire life.”

Schneider’s connection to parachuting stretches back more than six decades.

He enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from high school in 1949. Originally signing up for two years, his enlistment was extended after the Korean War began. Schneider served in Okinawa before returning to the United States.

After leaving active duty, he joined the Army Reserve, initially serving with an engineering unit in Plymouth before transferring to Mansfield. Around 1960 or 1961, he learned that a Special Forces unit was being formed in Mansfield and decided to join.

There was only one obstacle: He was not yet qualified to jump from an airplane.

Schneider attended Army jump school in November 1963, during the week President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. After earning his airborne qualification, he returned to Mansfield and helped build the Special Forces team.

“I wanted to jump all my life,” Schneider said.

He remained in the military for a total of 37 years and completed an estimated 200 or more jumps. His final military jump came when he was 59.

Schneider also spent approximately 30 years working for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Father and Son Follow the Same Path

Schneider’s passion for service and parachuting did not end with him.

His son, Andy Schneider, entered the Army Reserve at age 17 through a split-option training program. Andy completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, the same installation where his father had trained decades earlier and later attended airborne school.

Bob traveled to jump school and completed the first three jumps alongside his son.

“Because of him, I got to jump first out of my class,” Andy recalled.

The father and son later served together in the same Special Forces unit from approximately 1982 to 1991 and completed numerous jumps together.

“He was known for being a ‘jump hog’ when he was with the Army,” Andy said. “He just absolutely loves it.”

Thirty years after their military jumping days, Andy returned to the sky with his father for Bob’s 90th birthday.

“He was ready to go. I was ready to go,” Andy said. “We both smiled when we got down.”

When asked whether he could see himself jumping at 95, Andy quickly answered, “No. Not going to happen.”

His father, however, has never been one to accept ordinary limits.

Carrying the Tradition Forward

Amber Schneider previously jumped with her grandfather five years ago and returned to Aerohio Skydiving for another flight in honor of his 95th birthday.

“I remember my first jump with him, and it was very special,” Amber said. “I’m very glad that I can do it again.”

That earlier jump also produced a treasured family photograph that included Bob’s wife, who died about a year and a half ago.

“It was really nice to get that last family photo with her,” Amber said. “It’s been a little sad going without her, but I’ll always have a part of her in my heart.”

Bob has endured the loss of his wife and the physical challenges that come with age, but he has refused to stop living.

A resident of Brethren Care Village, Schneider can frequently be seen walking along Center Street. Even at 95, he tries to walk at least one mile each day.

‘This Will Be My Last One’

Schneider said the most enjoyable part of skydiving comes after the parachute opens and the world below becomes quiet.

“The fact that I can steer the parachute pretty much where I want to, I just like it,” he said. “When you’re under canopy, to me, it’s enjoyable.”

Modern tandem parachutes also provide a much softer landing than the military parachutes he used during his Special Forces career.

Military jumps, Schneider explained, always came with concerns about where, and how hard, a soldier might land. He recalled one jump at Fort Bragg when he landed with the wind and bounced what felt like 15 feet back into the air.

The 95-year-old veteran insists this birthday jump at Aerohio Skydiving will be his final one.

“This will be my last one,” Schneider said, before recalling what someone once told him after hearing that same declaration: “Do you want to rephrase that?”

Schneider did.

“I’m going to retire,” he said.

Whether he truly retires from the sky remains to be seen. After all, those who know Bob have heard that promise before.

For one extraordinary afternoon at Aerohio Skydiving, three generations of one adventurous family shared the same airplane, the same open sky and a memory that will live long after their parachutes touched the ground.

At 95 years young, Bob Schneider once again proved that courage does not have an expiration date, and that an adventurous spirit can be one of the greatest family traditions of all.

A family that jumps together makes memories together, and that is Ashland pride at its highest.

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20-Year-Old Woman Seriously Injured in Rollover Crash Near Shiloh

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A 20-year-old Plymouth woman suffered serious injuries after being ejected from a vehicle during a single-vehicle rollover crash Saturday afternoon in Richland County.

The crash was reported at approximately 12:12 p.m. to 7146 Guthrie Rd Shiloh, Ohio, about two-tenths of a mile north of Caster Road.

According to preliminary information from the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the woman was driving a 2009 Ford Escape southbound on Guthrie Road when the vehicle went off the roadway, sliding Sideways, coming back on the road and rolled over.

The driver was ejected during the crash. She was transported to Ohio-Health Mansfield Hospital with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol, Shiloh Fire Department and Shiloh EMS responded to the scene.

The circumstances that caused the driver to lose control remain under investigation. The patrol had not released the woman’s name Saturday afternoon, and no citations or charges had been filed at the time information was provided.

The crash remains under investigation by the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol

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Greentown’s Removal and the Copus Massacre: Fear and Violence During the War of 1812

Part Two of a local history series

By Kenneth Hammontree

ASHLAND COUNTY, Ohio — The first installment of this series examined the Indigenous peoples who inhabited Ashland and Richland counties, concluding with Greentown, one of the region’s largest remaining Indigenous settlements at the time.

With the United States’ declaration of war against Great Britain on June 18, 1812, relations between settlers and Indigenous communities at Greentown and Jeromesville rapidly deteriorated.

Rumors of raiding parties connected to Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa, commonly known as the Prophet, spread fear throughout the frontier. Settlers began constructing blockhouses and gathering inside the fortified structures for protection.

Following Gen. William Hull’s surrender to the British at Detroit on Aug. 16, 1812, suspicion of the Indigenous residents grew even stronger. Although the people of Greentown had lived in the area for decades, military authorities decided the villages at Greentown and Jeromesville posed a potential threat to the surrounding settlements.

The consequences of that decision would be devastating.

Military Orders Force Greentown Residents From Their Homes

Authorities ordered the Indigenous residents removed and sent under guard to Piqua, approximately 100 miles west. Capt. Douglas of Mount Vernon and a company of soldiers were assigned to enforce the order.

The people of Greentown and Jeromesville did not want to leave. Like many Indigenous communities, they had already been repeatedly pushed westward as white settlements expanded.

A delegation led by Chief Armstrong visited Peter Kinney at his Green Township cabin and asked him to intervene with the military. Kinney, the Rev. James Copus and possibly John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, reportedly met Douglas and his soldiers outside Greentown.

Chief Armstrong offered to surrender the villagers’ weapons and submit to roll calls twice each day if they could remain in their homes.

The discussion became heated. Historical accounts claim Douglas drew his sword and threatened Kinney, but the presence of armed Indigenous warriors prevented the confrontation from escalating. Copus, a Methodist minister respected by Greentown’s residents, reportedly stepped forward and urged everyone to remain calm.

Douglas then demanded that Copus persuade the residents to obey the removal order. Copus attempted to reason with them, but they continued to resist leaving their homes. Eventually, he refused to pressure them further.

Douglas reportedly threatened to arrest Copus as a traitor. The minister left the meeting fearing that bloodshed would follow.

Greentown Burned After Removal

Sometime between Aug. 27 and Sept. 3, 1812, Col. Kratzer, commander of the troops at the Mansfield blockhouse, received final orders to remove the Indigenous residents of both villages.

Peter Kinney and Capt. Cunningham inventoried the residents’ property before the people of Greentown were placed into a guarded line and marched away from the community that had been their home for approximately 30 years.

Only a few miles into the journey, the displaced residents reportedly looked back and saw black smoke rising from Greentown.

Historical accounts state that six soldiers or stragglers had remained behind and burned the village without authorization. The men later reportedly claimed they acted in revenge for past grievances against Indigenous people.

To Greentown’s residents, however, the destruction appeared to confirm that promises to protect their homes and property had been broken. Many blamed Copus, believing the minister they once trusted had helped deceive them.

That belief may have played a role in the violence that followed, although historians have never conclusively established who carried out the attack on the Copus cabin or precisely why.

Settlers Seek Shelter Following Killings

Fear intensified after members of the Zimmer family and settler Martin Ruffner were killed on Sept. 10, 1812.

The Rev. Copus moved his wife and seven children to the Mansfield blockhouse. Other frightened families sought protection at fortified settlements throughout the region. Eight families reportedly gathered at the Jerome blockhouse, while Peter Kinney, James Cunningham, John Wilson and others traveled to Samuel Lewis’ blockhouse near the Clear Fork.

Conditions inside the Mansfield blockhouse were crowded, and Copus eventually insisted on returning his family to their cabin above the Black Fork.

Capt. Martin objected but ultimately permitted the family to leave, assigning soldiers to accompany them.

The group departed early on Sept. 14 and reached the Copus property late that afternoon. They found the cabin and livestock undisturbed.

“All felt quiet in the surrounding forest and peaceful,” Copus reportedly told his 12-year-old daughter, Sarah.

The soldiers declined an invitation to sleep inside the cabin, choosing instead to stay in the barn about 80 feet away.

According to an account later attributed to Sarah, she slipped into the cornfield that evening and saw a warrior with his face painted black and red standing near the field’s edge. Frightened that she would cause panic, she did not tell her father.

The family’s dogs barked repeatedly during the night, but no immediate alarm was raised.

A September morning: The Rev. Copus massacre

Before daylight on Tuesday, Sept. 15, Copus again invited the soldiers into the cabin. Instead, they walked toward a spring across the lane to wash.

Copus reportedly warned them to carry their guns and gunpowder. Although the soldiers brought their weapons out of the barn, historical accounts say they stacked the guns against the barn before approaching the spring.

At dawn, a large war party emerged from the cornfield, cutting the soldiers off from their weapons.

Copus awakened to the commotion, grabbed his rifle and rushed to the cabin’s front door. As he opened it, he and an attacker reportedly fired almost simultaneously. A musket ball struck Copus in the chest, severing the strap of his powder horn and knocking him backward into the cabin.

Mortally wounded, Copus reportedly survived for approximately another hour, urging the soldiers to protect his wife and children.

Several soldiers ran toward the woods. George Shipley and John Tedrick were reportedly overtaken and killed. John Warnock reached the forest despite being shot but later died from his wound. His body was discovered approximately two weeks later.

The remaining soldiers reached the cabin, although George Dye suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh as he entered.

Family Trapped During Five-Hour Battle

The attackers used a steep, wooded ridge east of the cabin for cover, firing down at the structure from behind trees and large rocks.

Gunfire tore through the cabin’s front door. Soldiers ripped boards from the floor and used them to reinforce it against the incoming musket balls.

The battle reportedly continued for approximately five hours.

Copus’ 15-year-old daughter, Nancy, was struck in the knee by a ball that passed through the door. Soldier George Launtz suffered a broken arm while removing clay chinking from between the cabin’s logs to create a firing position.

Unable to take the cabin, the attackers eventually withdrew. Historical accounts say they carried their dead and wounded away while killing sheep gathered near the barn.

After the gunfire stopped, one soldier cautiously removed wooden shakes from the cabin’s roof, slid down the back wall and ran toward Beam’s blockhouse for help.

Along the way, he encountered Capt. Martin, who had promised to check on the family and was scouting along the Black Fork River.

When Martin and his soldiers arrived, they found the cabin yard marked by the aftermath of the battle. Scouts followed the attackers’ path along the bluff and down a ravine toward the south, but the group had gained an estimated three-hour lead. The soldiers decided against pursuing them.

Investigators reportedly found approximately 45 fire pits in the cornfield where members of the war party had roasted corn during the night. That discovery led to estimates that about 45 people participated in the attack.

Family Eventually Returns to Ashland County

Copus and two of the slain soldiers were buried together near an apple tree a short distance from the cabin. Capt. Martin then escorted the family and wounded soldiers approximately 13 miles to Beam’s blockhouse.

Several weeks later, Henry Copus and six soldiers returned and found Warnock’s body in the woods. They also reportedly discovered the remains of two wounded attackers devoured by wolves.

On the evening following the Copus attack, the nearby Newell, Cuppy and Fry cabins were burned. The families survived because they had already sought protection at a blockhouse.

Mrs. Copus and her children remained at Beam’s blockhouse for several months before traveling to Guernsey County to stay with relatives. The family returned to Ashland County in 1815.

The forced removal and destruction of Greentown, followed by the killings of settlers and the attack on the Copus family, illustrate how wartime rumors, racial distrust, displacement and retaliation engulfed the Ohio frontier.

More than two centuries later, details of the Copus Massacre remain disputed. What is clear is that fear and violence brought suffering to Indigenous residents and settler families alike during one of the darkest periods in the region’s early history.

Next in the series: The Zimmer Massacre in Ashland County.

Sources cited by the author:

History of Ashland County* by A.J. Baughman, published in 1909

History of Ashland County* by George William Hill

Philip Seymour; or, Pioneer Life in Richland County* by the Rev. James F. McGaw, published in 1858

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Rep. Melanie Miller and Ashland County 4-H Member Join Inaugural Buckeye Baa-ttle

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – State Representative Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) joined fellow legislators on Wednesday for the opening day of the Ohio State Fair and the inaugural Buckeye Baa-ttle, an event showcasing the skills and dedication of Ohio’s talented 4-H and FFA sheep exhibitors in the show ring.

Representative Miller had the special opportunity to be paired with Ashland County 4-H member, Parker White, to show Apollo, a 6-month-old sheep.  Guided by White’s expertise, the pair earned the award: “Ewe Stood Out from the Flock.”

“Participating in the first-ever Buckeye Baa-ttle alongside Parker was such a fun and memorable experience,” said Rep. Miller. “Parker did an incredible job teaching me the ropes and showing me the preparation, patience, and care that go into raising and exhibiting livestock. I am so proud of Parker and all of Ohio’s 4-H and FFA youth who work hard to build these skills and represent their families, communities, and our state’s proud agricultural heritage. It was an honor to step into the show ring with one of Ashland County’s finest!”

The Buckeye Baa-ttle paired legislators, cabinet members, and media representatives with an experienced 4-H or FFA sheep exhibitor who served as their coach and mentor throughout the competition. Together, they demonstrated the teamwork, communication, and animal care skills required to successfully exhibit livestock. The event highlighted Ohio’s sheep industry while giving participants a firsthand look at the preparation and commitment behind every show ring appearance.

The Buckeye Baa-ttle joins Battle for the Bacon as part of ODA’s efforts to highlight Ohio livestock, youth exhibitors, and the importance of agriculture through hands-on experiences at the Ohio State Fair.

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Loudonville Man Charged After Ashland County Sheriff’s Office Pursuit

ASHLAND — A Loudonville man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he fled from an Ashland County sheriff’s deputy attempting to arrest him on an active warrant.

Derek Wayne Spreng, 45, has been charged in Ashland County Common Pleas Court with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a fourth-degree felony.

According to court records, an Ashland County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Spreng at approximately 9:33 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, on North Mount Vernon Avenue in front of Loudonville High School.

The Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office said Spreng initially turned off his truck but refused deputies’ commands to exit the vehicle. After being informed that he had an active warrant, Spreng allegedly restarted the truck and fled toward Loudonville.

Sheriff’s Office dispatch records show the vehicle traveled south on North Mount Vernon Avenue before turning east onto East Main Street. The pursuit reportedly continued at relatively low speeds, with dispatchers noting the truck passed Wally Road at approximately 23 mph.

Authorities said Spreng eventually stopped near Mickey Mart. Deputies and Loudonville police officers again attempted to convince him to exit the vehicle, but he allegedly continued refusing commands. Court records state officers deployed pepper spray before taking him into custody.

The complaint alleges Spreng willfully fled from a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal to stop. Prosecutors are also seeking the forfeiture of the 1991 Dodge Ram 350 allegedly used during the incident.

Spreng was transported to a hospital following the arrest and was later booked into the Ashland County Jail.

During a video bond hearing Thursday morning, Magistrate Paul T. Lange set Spreng’s bond at $20,000 with a 10% option. Prosecutors had recommended a $25,000 bond.

If released, Spreng must wear a GPS monitor, observe a curfew from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m., remain in Ohio, submit to random drug and alcohol testing and refrain from operating a motor vehicle.

Spreng told the court he intended to hire an attorney. His next court appearance was scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Friday, July 31.

The charge is an allegation. Spreng is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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This Day in History: One Day and a Wake-Up Doug Miller Prepares to Leave Vietnam

ASHLAND, OHIO — On July 30, 1970, Vietnam War veteran Doug Miller began the process of leaving a country where he had spent nearly a year surrounded by danger, loss and uncertainty.

After 360 days in Vietnam, Miller started out-processing in his company area. The following day, he would travel to Cam Ranh Bay and board the next “Freedom Bird” home.

In a personal reflection shared as part of his “This Day in History” series, Miller recalled the conflicting emotions he experienced as his tour approached its end.

He wanted to return home, but he also knew he was leaving friends behind, men who remained in the field and in harm’s way.

“As I had time to reflect on the past year, it seemed surreal,” Miller said.

As he prepared for his final night in Vietnam, the opening words of The Doors’ song “The End” repeatedly came to mind. The song captured the finality of the moment, but leaving Vietnam would not mean leaving the war entirely behind.

Miller said he tried to sleep while memories from the previous year replayed in his mind. He felt detached from the scenes, almost as though he were watching the events happen to someone else from a distance.

“I found out over the years that it would not be the last time I would experience those events,” Miller said.

Within days, the physical part of Miller’s war would be over. The psychological aftermath, however, would take much longer to heal.

For American service members in Vietnam, the term “Freedom Bird” commonly referred to the aircraft that carried them home at the end of their tours. “The World” was the name many troops used for the United States, the distant home they hoped to see again.

The expression “one day and a wake-up” meant Miller had only one more night remaining before his departure. “Short” was another word used by troops nearing the end of their tours.

After 360 days in-country, Miller could finally say it:

“One day and a wake-up, and we will be on the ‘Freedom Bird’ back to ‘The World.’ I guess I can finally say it, ‘Short!’”

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