Earl M. Pomeroy

HELENA - Earl M. Pomeroy passed away March 2, 2008 of heart failure at the age of 84. Due to poor health, he had been residing at the Rocky Mountain Care Center in Helena for the past year. Earl Merideth Pomeroy was born Sept. 8, 1923, in Sidney. He was the eldest child of Earle B. and Brownie Blue Pomeroy. The family later settled in Havre, where Earl received his schooling.

After a short stint in the Civil Conservation Corps, Earl joined the United States Marine Corps in December of 1941. He served as an antiaircraft gunner and field cook in the South Pacific Theater of Operations, being assigned to the campaigns at Vella La Vella, and the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands. After his discharge from the Marines in 1946, Earl returned to Havre, and was joined in marriage to Elsa Olson in 1947. To this union, three children were born. Earl and Elsa were later divorced.

Earl returned to military service in 1948, this time choosing the U.S. Army, entering at the grade of Sergeant. He served in both Germany and Japan in the armies of occupation and was later transferred to Korea where in 1950, he was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division on the front lines near the Chosin Reservoir. Their position was totally overrun by the Red Chinese counter offensive, and on Nov. 29, 1950, Earl received a severe head wound. After being completely surrounded and outnumbered 10 to 1, the original 3,200 force was reduced to 385 walking wounded, and the remnants of the 7th Infantry and 1st Marine Divisions fought their way back south to the retreating friendly forces.

Earl recovered from his wounds and was discharged from the Army in 1954. He spent his life working in various occupations throughout the West, finally settling back at his old home on the Highline before health concerns necessitated his move to Helena to be nearer the Fort Harrison Veterans Hospital.

He was among the Montana Veterans honored in Missoula at a ceremony at the Montana Korean War Memorial in 2002, and received a special medal of thanks from Byung-rok Moon, the consul general of the Republic of Korea.

Earl is survived by brothers, Lyndon (Lenore) of Billings and Laverne (Betty) of Carmichael, Calif.; and a sister Tivola (Al) Liedle, also of Billings; as well as daughters Dawn (Ken) Overcast and Darlene Pomeroy (Jack Harrington) of Chinook; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Denys M. Pomeroy; a grandson, Shea Pomeroy; and great-granddaughter Praise Halingstad.

Viewing for Earl will be held at Retz Funeral Home in Helena, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, March 10, and graveside services with military honors will follow at 2 p.m. at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison, Helena.

Memorials in Earl's name are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. To offer condolences or to share a memory of Earl, please visit www.mem.com.