Residence: Armiesburg Indiana
Enlisted: 9/20/1861 as a Private
Mustered Into: Company A - 31st Indian a Infantry - 9/20/1861
Mustered Out: 12/8/1865


In March of 1864 the 31st Indiana came home to Terre Haute. Their 3 year enlistment was up. Before they came home they were given the opportunity to re-enlist as veterans. It meant a new enlistment bonus and a raise in pay as veterans. For 30 days there would be parades and celebrations and the adulation of the home folks for their heroism. All that panoply would have its effect on the men's morale and free flowing whiskey would loosen tongues to tell embroidered tales of battles they wished that they had fought. No one bragged of fear that filled their britches and left a smell that lingered in the mind. No one spoke of the stench of hot blood spurting from the neck of a comrade de-capitated by the rebounding round shot from a Rebel Napoleon. No one spun tales of men crying in their sleep like babies or running away from the smells and sounds and vomit of combat. Instead they told tales of derring-do and made the war they wished they had fougt a mighty adventure.

John Lunger lived in Eugene in Vermillion County. Omer's folks were farming just over the county line in Parke County, near Lodi. When Omer's letter came the family made its plans to go down to Terre Haute to fetch him home. John went along to keep his uncle company. He heard the soldiers tales and listened to the recruiter's pitch and signed up to serve with his cousin in Company A. He took the oath, got outfitted and climbed on the train on April 1, when the "veteranized" 31st returned to the war. They got to Cahttanooga in time to join their Division in Sherman's Atlanta campaign. From May First until the end of August Sherman pushed Hood back from strong point to strong point. Tunnel Hill fell to the advancing Union Army. On June 27 the 31st was in the thickest of the fighting at Kenesaw Mountain. Omer fell, killed by a minie ball. John learned the meaning of war. Dennis Hutchinson tells the story of the 31st in combat well in his A Short History of the 31st Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

After the war John moved to Grape Creek in Illinois. He had married. In March of 1886 he was no longer able to earn a living and applied for a pension as an invalid. He lived until February, 1919. His widow, Anna, was granted his pension and he was buried here to rest beneath a government stone marking his grave.

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