Hershel Wayne Gober, 87, passed away October 15, 2024, in Palm Coast, Fla., surrounded by his wife Mary Lou and his family. Hershel was born on December 21, 1936, in Monticello. He grew up in Monticello and graduated from Drew Central High School in 1954. Hershel was an accomplished guitar player, singer, recording artist, Vietnam Veteran, government official, business executive and a loving father to his six children. Hershel graduated from Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska in 1974.
Hershel served in the U.S. Marines from 1955-1959. After returning to Arkansas, he worked for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad though after a while, he decided to join the U.S. Army because “working on the railroad was too dangerous.”
Hershel joined the U.S. Army in 1961, and completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. As a First Lieutenant, Hershel and Family were assigned to a tour of duty in Germany. Hershel was stationed in various places including Alaska. He served in Vietnam in 1965-1966 as a Military Advisor, and Company Commander, when he was wounded. During his distinguished military career, Hershel received numerous medals and awards most notably, Soldiers Medal for Heroism, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Notorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, USMC and Army Good Conduct Medals, National Service Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 battle stars, Republic of Vietnam Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medal with Palm, Vietnam Honor Medal, Vietnam Civic Action Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Expert Rifle and Pistol Badge. Hershel retired as a Major from the U.S. Army in 1978 and in 1993, he was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.
During his first tour in Vietnam, his singing and songwriting ability caught the ear of Gen. William Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, who asked Gober to put a band together and perform for troops in the field. Hershel formed the “Black Patches,” which was part of the Touring Shows. The Black Patches performed in active combat areas in Vietnam which were locations considered too dangerous for civilian tour groups. Black Patches performed for President Johnson during his trip to Vietnam.
Upon returning to the states from 1966-1969, he appeared on many variety television shows including the Today Shows, The Tonight Show, and The Mike Douglas Show. He also performed for President Nixon at the White House. In 1966 he was featured in an ABC Television chapter of "ABC Scope" narrated by Howard K. Smith entitled "The Singing Soldier". At one time, Hershel had two weekly variety TV shows, “The Hershel Gober Show,” in Columbus, Ga. and El Dorado, and has over thirty songs registered in the Library of Congress. In 1970 Hershel recorded and released his vinyl record album “Proud American” which featured songs he had written about Vietnam.
Retiring from military service in 1978, Gober joined Northwest Pipeline Corporation headquartered in Fairbanks, Alaska.
In 1983, Hershel returned to Arkansas, as the ROTC instructor in Warren. From 1985- 1988, he served as the State Adjutant of the American Legion. In 1988 Governor Bill Clinton appointed him Director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs. He held that post until 1993, when President Clinton appointed him Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. During his eight years with the VA, Hershel actively pressed for the expansion of benefits for veterans who were prisoners of war, for those who were exposed to Agent Orange, radiation, or mustard gas, and for Persian Gulf veterans suffering from unexplained illnesses.
In 1993, President Clinton appointed Hershel to lead a special delegation to Vietnam, seeking resolution to POW and MIA issues and to begin the process of normalizing relations between the two countries. Hershel made two other trips to Vietnam while serving under President Clinton.
Hershel left government service in 2000 and he and his wife, Mary Lou Keener, founded Gober & Associates, which specialized in lobbying for Veterans issues across the country. In 2002, he became the national legislative director for the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), and in 2016, was elected National Commander of the MOPH. After leaving his post as National Commander of MOPH, Hershel was elected as a member of the Purple Heart Foundation Board of Directors. Of all his titles throughout his life, Hershel’s proudest title was Papa Hershel.
Hershel and Mary Lou continued to advocate for Veteran issues and retired in 2022. Hershel enjoyed playing golf with Mary Lou, and spending time with his children and large family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wade and Jimmie Gober; brothers, Wade, Curt, James, and Bill; and sisters, Ruby Gober and Helen Castleman; and the mother of his children, Olivia DeArmond.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Keener; sister, Peggy Savage of Monticello; children, Curtis (Lori) of Moss Bluff, La., Mark (Whitney), Chris (Pam), and Elizabeth Gober all of Ozment Bluff, Jeff (Jamie) of Baton Rouge, La., Laura (Greg) Whitaker of Monticello; 14 grandkids; 24 great grandchildren; and “Bella” his loving dog of 18 years. Hershel was proud of his Drew County roots and never forgot where he came from.
Hershel will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Purple Heart Foundation, PO Box 49, Annandale, VA, 22003, in Hershel’s memory. A Memorial service will be held at Stephenson Dearman Funeral Home, November 16, with visitation at 2 p.m. and services at 3 p.m.
