Earling in Shelby County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Shelby County Freedom Rock
Honoring Shelby County Veterans
| | Ray Bubba Sorensen II | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
1. Shelby County Freedom Rock (north side)
[interpretation from adjacent kiosk]
Our military side features Lieutenant Col. Paul Finken, as well as seven other soldiers from Shelby County who have paid the supreme sacrifice since WWII.
January 22, 1951 Sgt Donald Noehren from Shelby, died while a POW in Korea. Remains were never recovered.
September 1, 1951 PFC Mathias Leinen from Portsmouth, killed in action while fighting the enemy in North Korea.
June 11, 1969 SP4 Duane Olson from Irwin, killed in action in Vietnam.
April 7, 1970 PFC William Kleffman from Portsmouth, died in the line of duty in Vietnam.
May 15, 1970 CPL John Stinn from Panama, died of wounds while serving in Cambodia.
April 4, 1978 Master Sergeant Allan Pittman from Shelby, MIA while serving in Vietnam. Body was never recovered.
October 6, 1978 Major Gary Scull from Harlan, MIA while serving in Vietnam. Body was never recovered.
November 2, 2006 Lieutenant Col. Paul Finken from Earling, killed in action in Baghdad.
Freedom is not free. Gone but not forgotten. We also have Shelby County etched above the image to show how proud we are of these soldiers. What is Freedom - The ability to act freely.
It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us the freedom of religion. It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of press.
It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom of assembly.
It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
Our military side features Lieutenant Col. Paul Finken, as well as seven other soldiers from Shelby County who have paid the supreme sacrifice since WWII.
January 22, 1951 Sgt Donald Noehren from Shelby, died while a POW in Korea. Remains were never recovered.
September 1, 1951 PFC Mathias Leinen from Portsmouth, killed in action while fighting the enemy in North Korea.
June 11, 1969 SP4 Duane Olson from Irwin, killed in action in Vietnam.
April 7, 1970 PFC William Kleffman from Portsmouth, died in the line of duty in Vietnam.
May 15, 1970 CPL John Stinn from Panama, died of wounds while serving in Cambodia.
April 4, 1978 Master Sergeant Allan Pittman from Shelby, MIA while serving in Vietnam. Body was never recovered.
October 6, 1978 Major Gary Scull from Harlan, MIA while serving in Vietnam. Body was never recovered.
November 2, 2006 Lieutenant Col. Paul Finken from Earling, killed in action in Baghdad.
Freedom is not free. Gone but not forgotten. We also have Shelby County etched above the image to show how proud we are of these soldiers. What is Freedom - The ability to act freely.
It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us the freedom of religion. It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of press.
It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom of assembly.
It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
[north side]
[Lt. Col. Paul J. Finken pictured]
Freedom is Not Free
KIA POW MIA
after WWII as of 6/13
Donald D. Noehren Korean 1951
Mathias P. Leinen Korean 1951
Duane E. Olson Vietnam 1969
Roger Carroll Vietnam 1969
William W. Kleffman Vietnam 1970
John R. Stinn Vietnam 1970
Allen Pitman Vietnam 1978
Gary B. Scull Vietnam 1978
Paul J. Finken Iraq 2006
[east side]
[Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Earling, IA]
[south side]
[1st Responders: Fireman, Policeman & E.M.T.]
Collins
Henrich
[west side]
[United States Flag & American Legion Seal]
Erected 2013.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • War, 2nd Iraq • War, Korean • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Freedom Rock Memorials series list.
Location. 41° 46.433′ N, 95° 25.102′ W. Marker is in Earling, Iowa, in Shelby County. It is on Railway Street (State Highway 37) just west of Main Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 257 Railway Street,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Western Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Long's Block (approx. 9½ miles away); a different marker also named Long's Block (approx. 9½ miles away); Lamm Building (approx. 9½ miles away); Wheeler Block (approx. 9½ miles away); a different marker also named Wheeler Block (approx. 9½ miles away); Lamb Building (approx. 9½ miles away); Tinsley Building (approx. 9½ miles away); Harlan Bank Building (approx. 9½ miles away).
Also see . . .
1. The Shelby County Freedom Rock (facebook).
Excerpt: The Shelby County Freedom Rock is complete. The front (highway facing) side features one of Earling's sons, Lt. Col. Paul Finken who was KIA in Iraq in November 2006. Shelby County(Submitted on February 6, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)also recently lost a fireman along the interstate, so I featured him along with a policeman and EMS. The church is a prominent landmark in Earling and it, like the rest of Iowa, is a large farming community so that is where the combine fits in. Old Glory is self explanatory but I did put a small American Legion logo leaned up against it.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 20252. Shelby County Freedom Rock (east side)[interpretation from adjacent kiosk]
You can see an image of our church, the same as when you drive into town. Each and every community has their own personal religious preference, and for that we thank God. We also have a combine and corn field. Our Country is a tremendous producer of corn, beans, beef, port and other products that feed the world. Some days, as we all know, the sun sets on that farmer with work continuing into the night.
Ray Bubba Sorensen II
2. The Freedom Rock (facebook).
Thanking our Veterans, one painting at a time.(Submitted on February 6, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
3. Shelby County Freedom Rock (south side)
[interpretation from adjacent kiosk]
This side shows our everyday heroes. Members from Shelby County Fire and Rescue departments number 200+. These are the people that 24 hours a day, 365 days a year respond to your call for help. These are the people that when others run from danger, go to the danger to help others. Their reward is a job well done. Our firefighters are constantly training to better serve you and still things can go wrong. Shown here is Firefighter Mike Collins who lost his life in the line of duty in 2011, leaving behind a wife and four children. We have EMS in our County. Most calls are for our friends or relation. We see people in their most stressed situations. EMS does not have the luxury of losing composure but have to work through it. They have all had tears after a call when things didn't have a favorable outcome. Law Enforcement is also our unsung hero. They constantly are vigilant to our safety and wellbeing. Just put yourself in their job for one day and we will have a new sense of respect for what they do. We can lay our heads down at night knowing others are ready to protect us.
This side shows our everyday heroes. Members from Shelby County Fire and Rescue departments number 200+. These are the people that 24 hours a day, 365 days a year respond to your call for help. These are the people that when others run from danger, go to the danger to help others. Their reward is a job well done. Our firefighters are constantly training to better serve you and still things can go wrong. Shown here is Firefighter Mike Collins who lost his life in the line of duty in 2011, leaving behind a wife and four children. We have EMS in our County. Most calls are for our friends or relation. We see people in their most stressed situations. EMS does not have the luxury of losing composure but have to work through it. They have all had tears after a call when things didn't have a favorable outcome. Law Enforcement is also our unsung hero. They constantly are vigilant to our safety and wellbeing. Just put yourself in their job for one day and we will have a new sense of respect for what they do. We can lay our heads down at night knowing others are ready to protect us.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
4. Shelby County Freedom Rock (west side)
[interpretation from adjacent kiosk]
Our American flag. The emblem that we all respect and honor. The symbol that draws us all together. As we say One nation under God. We also have the Legion emblem. The American Legion in Shelby County has 300+ members. Every one a veteran who has served their Country to allow us to say Land of the Free Home of the Brave. We have sand from Iwo Jima painted into the flag, another symbol for us all to never forget the bravery of our troops. There are heroes among us. Heroes who have served and come back, sometimes to no welcome home, but to protests instead. Today these veterans have pledged to never let that happen again. Every soldier, man or woman, signed a blank check when they joined the service. They promised to serve and defend our Country by the training they received. Many of us came home, some did not. Some heroes among us have scars from those battles some physical, some mental. Just sometime thank that vet for his or her service!
Our American flag. The emblem that we all respect and honor. The symbol that draws us all together. As we say One nation under God. We also have the Legion emblem. The American Legion in Shelby County has 300+ members. Every one a veteran who has served their Country to allow us to say Land of the Free Home of the Brave. We have sand from Iwo Jima painted into the flag, another symbol for us all to never forget the bravery of our troops. There are heroes among us. Heroes who have served and come back, sometimes to no welcome home, but to protests instead. Today these veterans have pledged to never let that happen again. Every soldier, man or woman, signed a blank check when they joined the service. They promised to serve and defend our Country by the training they received. Many of us came home, some did not. Some heroes among us have scars from those battles some physical, some mental. Just sometime thank that vet for his or her service!
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
5. Shelby County Freedom Rock Artist
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
6. Shelby County Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
Looking south from Railway Street (State Highway 37). An interpretive kiosk is in the right background.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
7. Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Earling, Iowa
Located 2 blocks north of the Freedom Rock and featured on the west side of the rock.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 62 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on February 6, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
