“He will not have died in vain. He will be remembered.”

Those are the words of Dr. Warren Hagan, M.D., who recently expressed his disappointment in the lack of funding for an Audrain County military veteran’s tribute. 

A Mexico native, Hagan had requested to have the South Fork Salt River bridge on the U.S. Business 54 Highway in Mexico named in honor of his friend and fallen veteran, James W. Cahall who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1967. Cahall’s tribute was just one of many such Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) efforts left on the chopping block, compliments of political gridlock.

Hagan has spoken with Rep. Kent Haden, who has indicated he will reintroduce the measure in the next legislative session, with hopes of making it happen in 2025. Haden initially introduced the resolution for the signs, which read, “The bridge on Business 54 crossing over South Fork Salt River in Audrain County shall be designated as ‘US Army SPC4 James W Cahall Memorial Bridge’. The department of transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs designating such bridge, with the costs to be paid by the department of transportation.”

MoDOT will honor any veteran with signs for free. The initial efforts for Cahall ran into some issues because of prior designations. U.S. Highway 54 from Kingdom City to Mexico is named in honor of the Tiger Exercise Veterans and U.S. 54 Business Route in Mexico is named after native and former Gov. Kit Bond. On routes that are already designated, bridges can be used to honor veterans. MoDOT first suggested using the bridge on the South Fork that goes over the by-pass portion of the highway but that didn’t sit right with Hagan and others. They want people from Mexico to see the signs.

Hagan is a fan of the proposed location on Bus. Rte. 54, noting its proximity to Missouri Military Academy (MMA) as well as the site that once harbored the A&W restaurant when Cahall and his friends were in their youth.

“That was the happening spot,” Hagan said.

SP4 Cahall was the first of eight Audrain County residents who were killed in Vietnam while fighting the war. A member of Mexico High School’s class of 1964, he was a member of the Key Club and was a track star at MHS.

“He was a friend,” Hagan, a 1966 MHS grad, said.

As the story goes, Cahall had volunteered to walk the point for a sick friend during the fatal battle. Additionally, there are accounts that he had been promoted to sergeant two hours before his death.

“He stepped up to the plate and said ‘I’ll do it’,” Hagan says.

Hagan will move forward with an alternative plan not beholden to political squabbling: A petition. With 100 signatures, the Cahall signage could happen quicker than next year. He encourages anyone interested to contact him via email, Drwarrenhagan@gmail.com, or by phone, 573-565-2400. He’ll also be working with area organizations and Cahall’s contemporaries to help drive the effort. The Mexico Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis Clubs all passed resolutions supporting the initial effort.