05/26/2026
Please join us in welcoming our Hero Haven “Hero of the Night,” Sergeant Edward James Munce.
Ed graduated from Humboldt High School in 1967 and was drafted into the United States Army on April 8, 1968, at just 19 years old. He completed both Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Lewis, Washington, during the summer of 1968.
In August of that same year, Ed was deployed to Vietnam, where he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division, better known as the “Triple Deuce.”
In early February 1969, while his unit was patrolling near the HOBO Woods and an area known as the Iron Triangle, the armored personnel carrier Ed was riding in struck a land mine. The explosion completely destroyed the APC and threw Ed from the vehicle. He recalls seeing the M60 machine gun fly over his head while his helmet landed in a nearby rice paddy.
When he reached the medic, he was informed that his eardrum had been blown out, as blood was running from his left ear, and he was advised to seek further medical attention. However, because of his leadership role within the squad, Ed chose to remain with his team rather than leave them behind.
After returning to the United States in the summer of 1969, Ed was assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he served as the primary instructor for the .50 caliber machine gun.
Sergeant Munce was honorably discharged on April 7, 1970.
Outside of his military service, Ed built a life centered around hard work and family. He and his wife, Darlene, have been married for 53 years. Together they raised four children—Jody, Jason, Matt, and Angie—and are proud grandparents to eight grandchildren.
Ed worked at John Morrell from 1967 to 1997, followed by 10 years as a butcher at Hy-Vee from 1997 to 2007. In 2001, he and his son Matt started their own business, Uncle Ed’s Specialty Meats, which continues today.
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Sergeant Edward James Munce and in thanking him for his service, sacrifice, and dedication to his family and community.
I have included the link of his youtube interview he did a couple of years ago. It is definitely worth listening to/watching. His story is amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXretQ63Dtg&t=6078s
