In the winter of 1944, a letter bearing an Army censor stamp arrived at a quiet home on South McCann Street. It was written by Lt. Ethel Kerlin—a 1938 Kokomo High School graduate serving as an Army nurse in the grim aftermath of D-Day—and addressed to her former KHS English teacher, Miss Helen Ross. Ethel was one of the few women from Kokomo to enlist, and the only female student to write to Miss Ross from the front lines.
Over four grueling years of global conflict, 40 of Miss Ross’s former students sent 158 letters back to room 210. To young people thrust into the chaos of European foxholes and Pacific battlefields, writing to Ms. Ross was more than catching up—it was a lifeline, anchoring them to home when everything else hung in the balance.
Real education has never ended at the classroom door. The trust forged over chalkboard lessons in KHS followed these young students directly into wartime bunkers, field hospitals, and front line trenches.
Miss Helen Ross preserved every piece of V-mail and correspondence sent by her former students serving on the front lines, creating a priceless repository of service, sacrifice, and enduring connection.
As we approach Veterans Day this month, these real-life letters reveal a profound truth: the lessons of courage, compassion, and resilience learned in high school are often tested far beyond graduation day.
Classroom Lessons Tested on the Frontlines
The 1945 Sargasso yearbook stands as a silent witness to a student body transformed overnight from teenagers into soldiers and nurses. Two stories in particular capture the extraordinary weight carried by that KHS generation:
Lt. Ethel Kerlin (KHS Class of '38): Stepping onto French soil just four days after D-Day, Ethel treated severely wounded paratroopers under relentless, grueling conditions. On her 24th birthday near the front lines, she wrote to Miss Ross that she felt as though she had lived 150 years. Yet amidst the mud and trauma, she noted that she still held onto the poetry and sunsets they had studied back in Kokomo. Ethel earned the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service across North Africa, Sicily, and France—becoming the first Kokomo woman to receive this high military honor.
Sergt. Howard E. Brohman, Jr. (KHS Class of '43): Highlighted in the 1945 Sargasso for astounding bravery under fire, Sergeant Brohman became the second enlisted man in Howard County to earn the Distinguished Service Cross. While facing continuous enemy shelling, he personally disarmed 25 anti-personnel landmines to clear a path for his unit. Tragically, Sergeant Brohman gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country in Germany on April 17, 1945.
Bringing Words to Life: A Living Memorial Built Downtown
When peace finally arrived in 1945, Howard County grieved the loss of more than 160 sons and daughters while welcoming thousands of changed veterans back home.
The raw emotion of these letters—a young nurse writing by candlelight near the front, a teacher carefully archiving every scrap of paper from her students—reminds us that history is made of real human lives. Local reenactors brought the quiet, powerful moments of Lt. Kerlin writing to Miss Ross back to life, capturing the solemn dignity of those who served.
On October 20, 1949, Memorial Gymnasium was officially dedicated on Apperson Way in Downtown Kokomo. Designed to seat over 7,000 spectators, the arena was envisioned as a permanent "living memorial" filled with he very life, energy, and hope our young service members fought to protect—a vibrant space where future generations could gather, learn, compete, and contribute to the legacy.
The John E. Turner Room: From Basketball Court to Country’s Call
Inside the gym, located at the west end of the main lobby, sits a dedicated space: The John E. Turner Room.
Known to fans as "Guard him Turner" and a standout on Alfred "Peedad" Campbell's legendary KHS Sectional Squad, John E. "Jack" Turner, was an All-American basketball star with a bright future ahead of him. Yet, before reaching the age of 19, Jack answered a higher calling, enlisting in the United States Army Air Forces on February 24, 1943. He entered pilot training, but before he could deploy, he died in a tragic airplane crash on March 2, 1944
To honor their son and his fellow service members, Earl and Ellen Turner funded the creation of the memorial room. Preserved behind velvet ropes, the space remains untouched, its quiet solemnity intact for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who have passed through as they pay their respects. Today, light filters through stained glass windows onto a portrait of John in uniform alongside portraits of his fellow servicemen, while another wall displays the roll of honor listing every Howard County resident who sacrificed their life during World War II.
True education extends beyond the walls of a classroom. It lives in the character, kindness, and strength of our students wherever life takes them, sustained by teachers whose belief in them lasts a lifetime and a community that vows never to forget.
To all of our KHS alumni, dedicated staff members, and local family members who have served in the United States Armed Forces: thank you for your service, your courage, and your commitment to our nation.