Dear Heartland

Sally Modde was just 9-years-old in 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor during World War II. Many young men from her tight-knit community in Perryville were sent over to fight, some of which were her own neighbors. Like her next door neighbor with four sons who all went in at the same time. Sally tells Dear Heartland about the moment one of the brothers who was a pilot flew a B-29 bomber over her Perryville home with a special message.

KRCU's community project Dear Heartland shares your stories about life in southeast Missouri.

Our next Dear Heartland comes from Judy Carron Collins in Perryville. Her father Dr. Oscar Carron was responsible for delivering about 6,000 babies in Perry County and other surrounding areas. To most people he was just “Doc” or “Uncle Doc,” but to Judy he was just dad. She tells Dear Heartland about her dad’s legacy in the community.

KRCU's community project Dear Heartland shares your stories about life in southeast Missouri.

Today we’re bringing you more from our community project Dear Heartland with a story from a woman named “Challie.” She grew up in Claryville, Mo. during a time when millions of American soldiers were sent overseas to fight during World War II. Challie tells Dear Heartland how her family was affected by it.

KRCU's community project Dear Heartland shares your stories about life in southeast Missouri.

Today’s Dear Heartland comes from Kate Howard and her dad Gary. When they’re together they’re like a well seasoned comedy duo that feeds off of each other's energy. But behind the laughs and jokes is a bond that got stronger with an unexpected change.

KRCU's community project Dear Heartland shares your stories about life in southeast Missouri.

For the past couple of weeks we’ve been sharing your stories about life in southeast Missouri from our new community project Dear Heartland. Some of them have made us laugh, while others made us take a step back and think about the people who have had an influence in our lives. It goes to show that sometimes the person that influences us the most often shapes the way we live our everyday lives. This next Dear Heartland from Alex Jackson and his niece Breanna in Cape Girardeau does just that.