BEACON - Salute to Veterans (November 2012)

Veterans Veteran’s vision enhanced by blindness

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Some gave all, but all gave some: the price of freedom remains high page 6

Many veterans such as Harvey Haats relinquished the pleasures of home to protect our freedom.

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November 2012

Blind veteran finds hobby in woodwork after war

By Brenda Evers

H

arvey Haats, 90, doesn’t know where the light switch is located in his new apartment at The Fountains of Hilltop, but he can recall meticulous details of his service in two wars, and about how he lost his eyesight in the Korean War. Most soldiers returning home don’t want to talk about their war experience. But Haats is more than a World War II hero and Korean conflict survivor. Harvey is a courageous man who overcame the limitations of his wounds.

After 62 years of sightlessness, he remembers it all clearly, and he tells his story to anyone who asks.

“I’m a native Minnesotan,” he said.

“I was born 75 miles south of the Canadian border on Highway 159 in 1922… at a little town named Bejou.”

By the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Haats was 19, married and had three children. He felt it was his duty to stay and support his family, but he was drafted in 1943.

“I got the call in March for examination, and in July, I was inducted into the Army Infantry,” Haats said.

“After basic training I joined the 77th Infantry Division, also known as the Empire State Division. After two weeks furlough, I was shipped off directly overseas. I had no time at home except those two weeks with family before I had to go.”

The 77th Infantry fought some of

the bloodiest battles in the Pacific. They took the Philippines, then Okinawa and were preparing for a beach landing at Tokyo when the atomic bomb was dropped.

“I was one of the ones fortunate enough to get sent back to the states,” Haats said. “I made it home by December 19 to Willmar, Minnesota, where my family was.”

But Haats said the economy was bad and he couldn’t find any work.

“You couldn’t even buy a job,” Haats said. “That’s when I re-entered the service in April 1948.”

For two years, Harvey was a staff sergeant and considered making the Army his career. He cherishes the album that his daughter made for him about his life’s achievements. The album’s only military photo depicts a handsome young soldier leaning against a new car.

“I only got to drive my 1949 Pontiac Chieftain 1,200 miles before I left for Korea,” Haats said.

Haats was ordered to Korea in June 1950, but wasn’t there for very long.

“By July 31, this experienced soldier had been hit by shrapnel from a mortar shell that sent him home a wounded warrior,” Haats said.

Haats was assigned to first cavalry and was given orders to overtake the enemy. As they moved up the mountain where the enemy was, two young soldiers traveling with Haats lost contact with one another and called for help.

“I rushed up there to straighten things out,” Haats said. “I thought I took shelter between a big boulder about the size of a boxcar on my right, and a mountain straight up on my left. A couple of arm signals, and the mortar shells came in and hit me at the big boulder with a lot of shrapnel. That’s when I was taken out, and of course, lost my sight immediately.”

The young soldiers started down the mountain with Haats on a stretcher.

We salute all those who have served and sacrificed in defense of our nation.

“Part-way down, we happened to cross a swarm of bees,” Haats said.

“We were attacked severely. The fellas laid me down and started fighting the bees with their field jackets.”

But the young soldiers soon retreated.

“They thought the best thing was to get out of there,” Haats said. “All I could hear was running footsteps back to where we came from. I was left lying there. They never did come back.”

An hour or so later, Haats heard voices in the distance, but they weren’t speaking English.

“They were Korean,” Haats said. “I thought, ‘Oh my, this could be my end.’ Low and behold, it was a medic with a South Korean stretcher team, going up to the battle.”

They carried him down to a Jeep.

He was aware of each moment, but his strongest memory was when they took him off the ambulance.

“As my face came out from under the canopy, a lovely, beautiful, wonderful, warm sea mist fell on my face,” Haats said. “I heard a voice saying, ‘Everything will be alright.’”

Haats was never bitter about his injuries. He spent 9-1/2 months going through hospitalization, rehabilitation, and adaptation of life without sight.

“I have an awful lot of shrapnel, not only in my hand,” Haats said. “The rest of it is in the muscle tissues and

November 2012

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inside my body.”

His new wife led him into a new In October 1951, he went home to career. She drove their RV across the Willmar. The comU.S. entermunity built his taining at family a new house churches, because their old nursing one had burned homes, and down. Haats now other venhad four children. ues. Haats To support them, played his his attitude was guitar while simple: “Go when she played you can. Do what the Autoyou can.” harp.

“I wanted “We met something to do so many and all I could do people,” was woodwork,” Haats said.

Haats said. “After “It was all three years I built volunteering. my own double We didn’t car garage. make a dime, People wouldn’t but entertainbelieve that I ing was more was going to do At one time, Haats had a seeing-ey rewarding e dog named Wolf. it. I said, ‘I am than any going to do it with help money.

We had 27 happy years tofrom above.’” gether.”

Everyone was amazed at a blind Haats moved into his current apartman sawing, hammering, measuring ment in May and celebrated his 90th and building, with only a little help birthday in June. from his wife, Virginia.

Visitors can tell Haats has a military “I did everything possible as a background by his stance, attire, sightless person just to prove it can and the organized sparseness of his be done if you have the ability, powapartment, but they don’t look for a er and determination,” Haats said. disabled veteran who has lost hope.

Haats also upholstered furniture Even through 62 years of blindand replaced automobile interiors.

He moved to Grand Junction in 1977. ness, Haats has done his duty with After 35 happy years, Virginia died in determination in everything he has 1981, but Haats remarried in 1983. attempted.

C O L O R A D O

S T A T E

A salute to veterans

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Woman continues legacy of service

By Cheryl Currier

“W

ar changes you completely.

You never again think the same way. You don’t even look at a box of strawberries the same. [After war] a box of strawberries is a treasure, a treasure.”

Jane Dean Fightlin, 89, of Rifle, was hesitant to talk about the painful memories she has of World War II. Fightlin was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, but most of her childhood was spent in Europe.

When the war started she joined the U.S. Navy because “there was a hell of a war going on and people were dying.”

Although she had an education that would have qualified her to enlist as an officer, Fightlin decided to enlist as a seaman.

“I didn’t think I knew anything about America and I wanted to learn what America was about,” she said. “I had a very strong British accent and it took me a while to get rid of it.”

Her initial service was in the Supply Corps, but she was soon promoted to the rank of ensign. Eventu-

V E T E R A N S

ally, she was assigned to a military hospital outside of San Francisco on Mare Island, where the most severely wounded Marines and seamen were sent. It was the carnage she witnessed at the hospital, where the cost of war is paid in human suffering, that makes it difficult for Fightlin to share her story.

Both of her parents and sister served as well. Her mother was the assistant to the head of the American Red Cross during World War I. Her mother met her father in Paris during his Army service. Her sister served in World War II as an Army officer.

Fightlin remembered a harrowing escape out of Paris in the middle of the night when it was occupied by the Germans. She, her mother and sister “escaped with the clothes on our backs. We left through the seaport of Bordeaux and then on to Lisbon.”

Fightlin’s husband was a skilled surgeon and they had four children.

Two sons live in western Colorado.

Fightlin lives at the Colorado State Veterans Home at Rifle.

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November 2012

Fighting against the Siege of Malta

By Patricia Scholes

A

llan Scott, 92, was too young to fight during the Battle of Britain during World War II. However, by the time he was ready, the Siege of Malta had begun, and the young pilot learned firsthand how to fight for his country and the free world through luck and prayer.

Scott eventually earned the title of squadron leader. Malta, in the center of the Mediterranean strategically located just a few miles south of Italy, had to be kept from the Italian Air Force. Benito Mussolini needed Malta as a base to support Erwin Rommel, who wanted to take the Suez Canal in Africa.

An aircraft carrier brought the long-nosed Spitfires as far as Gibraltar. Scott and the other young pilots flew their planes from the carrier to the island of Malta. Although radar was not yet used, they still needed to fly low to avoid enemy aircraft.

Docked off Gibraltar, the aircraft carrier tried to hold steady while one by one the Spitfires taxied to the white guideline painted on its surface. Because the Spitfire’s nose was so long, the pilot needed to keep the line in view with his left eye while he gathered enough speed to leave the carrier.

The flight from Gibraltar to Malta gave them a taste of what they would experience for the next six months: flying low, constantly afraid, yet

pushing on toward their goal to keep Malta out of Italian hands. There they began the most harrowing adventure of their lives.

Their job was to defend the small island from the bombers intent on eradicating every trace of British influence. They were outnumbered five to one. All day, they flew their small Spitfires to shoot down as many bombers as they could to keep the enemy from dropping their payload.

The Spitfires landed on the three airfields in Malta. The ground crew’s job was to keep as many of the small aircrafts flying as possible, but often only four flew at a time while the ground crew worked feverishly to get the damaged planes back into service.

One strategy they used was to pretend that each one of the four crafts was a whole squadron. They would signal to each other, “Blue One to Green One…” as if Blue One and Green One were the leaders of a squadron. Then they would try to

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shoot down the gruppenfuhrer (group leader). Each group leader was responsible for accomplishing his combat mission and directing the dropping of bombs and the firing of machine guns.

With the group leader gone, no one else was responsible for accomplishing the mission and directing the attack. Because subordinates were expected to follow their leader’s instructions without question, once the leaders were shot down, the remaining crafts were left in confusion.

The other advantage of the Spitfire was its high maneuverability.

Although no good in a dogfight, they could twist and turn far better than any bomber or Messerschmitt.

But they were still outnumbered.

Never had Scott felt such fear. He shot down six of the enemy in Malta plus four “probables,” making his total a probable 10.

He said the scariest part was during the October “blitz,” when Ger-

many tried to completely wipe out Malta.

The local people ran for the caves, while the pilots scrambled to shoot down the bombers. Scott believes that his father, who was deceased, watched over him like a guardian angel.

There were also incidents of sabotage, such as when people replaced the silk in the parachute packs with blankets, or those who placed barbed wire on the runway. Finally the base commander put up a gibbet with a sign, warning that those who were caught would be hung.

To make matters worse, there was little food. Each month a submarine would arrive with lots of fuel and ammunition, but not nearly enough food. The local people had it even worse, as there was no place to buy food on the island. Scott lost 120 pounds during his six-month tour.

When he returned home, he was so starved that bread with butter was too rich for him.

Scott is far more than a World War II pilot. He is a man who loves life and lives every moment of that life.

“Live today,” he advised, “because you don’t know what’s coming around the corner tomorrow.”

Scott lives by his own motto.

Besides being a commercial pilot, testing aircraft and stunt piloting after the war, he also pursues his joy of life through art.

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A salute to veterans

5

Travel with Navy opened her eyes Vietnam vet finds peace with art

By Cheryl Currier

B

etty Clifford, 66, of Rifle joined the Navy for purely economic reasons.

“They paid for my schooling at the University of Colorado and I went in as a nurse,” Clifford said. “I ended up getting my master’s degree in community health at the University of Maryland.”

Clifford joined the Navy during the Vietnam War when there was a tremendous shortage of nurses.

“When I was a kid, girls only had the choice of nursing, teaching or being a secretary and I thought nursing was the least intolerable,” she said.

Her Navy career spanned 23 years and she was stationed all over the U.S. and in Taiwan. She had responsibilities in patient education and initiated a program called Healing Hearts at Camp Pendleton for women who had experienced miscarriages.

“It was a hard job, but it was one of the most rewarding I have ever done,” Clifford said.

Just before retiring, Clifford became the head of a mobilization team that did field training.

“I learned how to rappel and set up field hospitals,” Clifford said.

She trained a number of troops who were sent to Desert Storm. But she couldn’t go because it was time for her to retire.

“I felt so guilty because I wasn’t there when my troops had to go,” she said.

For Clifford, travel was definitely a highlight of her service in the Navy.

She was born in Rifle and graduated from Rifle High School. “[Travel] opened my eyes,” Clifford said. “I was really a small town kid. I had never been on a city bus or an elevator when I left Rifle.”

When she was stationed in Taiwan, her landlady was Lillian Dixon, a Presbyterian missionary supported by her home church in Rifle. “[Dixon] was about as Chinese as the Chinese,” Clifford said. “She took me to an island to see one of the schools she had established. That was really neat.”

Dixon’s husband was a doctor and he built a leprosarium in Taiwan.

After her Navy career, Clifford worked in public health, volunteered as a camp nurse at a church camp on Grand Mesa, and also taught medical terminology at Colorado Mountain College. She is the chaplain of the Kelly/Hanson Post of the American Legion in Rifle.

“I was really lucky to serve,” Clifford said. “I met a lot of wonderful people and I had a lot of experiences I never would have had if I had stayed in Colorado.”

By Barbara Ward

H

ave you seen painted murals in Montrose or Delta and wondered who the artist was? Have you seen the painted pandas on the side of Panda Palace or the mural at AATCO Transmission? No need to wonder any longer. Local artist and Vietnam vet Boyd Bruce painted these murals, along with several others in Delta and Grand Junction.

Bruce, 68, and his wife of 44 years, Anne, are both artists. However, she no longer paints due to poor health.

Bruce loves sharing the story of how they began their painting career together. In the early 1960s, Bruce and three other Vietnam soldiers were hitchhiking in front of a truck stop in California. Bruce was on his way to collect his discharge papers, as he was in the Marine Infantry and had just served one tour of duty in Vietnam. Anne saw the vets pulling into a truck stop and offered to buy them a beer.

While visiting, Bruce found out that Anne was also an artist.

“We’ve been together ever since,” Anne said.

The Bruces traveled the country in an old school bus doing odd jobs to provide for their needs. Today, they reside in that same school bus.

Bruce also likes telling the story of

how he decided to become an artist.

At age 8, he was under his house watching sunrays beam through the boards. He thought to himself, “I can paint that.”

And he did.

Since then, painting has become his passion. When his hobby turned into an opportunity to make money, he mainly painted portraits. As his skills advanced, he began to paint horses, nature scenes and wildlife.

He said the idea for a painting usually hits suddenly.

“It usually comes out of the Twilight Zone and I have this intense desire to paint something I’ve seen, usually an animal,” Bruce said. “The rest of the painting falls into place.”

He takes great pride in a mural he and Anne painted together in the California desert near Edwards Air Force Base and a Borax mine. She painted the space shuttle landing and he painted the 20-mule Borax team.

Bruce said it is one of his favorites because, “[Anne] was my partner and friend then, and still is.”

Bruce enjoys losing himself in his hobby and career as an artist.

“Painting carries me to a place no one can enter,” Bruce said. “I just sit and paint with the Lord on my shoulder. When I paint, I am at peace.”

To contact Bruce, call 765-6550.

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November 2012

Veterans of Western Colorado: let freedom reign “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” - Ronald Reagan

By Sandi Cameron

L

ocal historian and filmmaker Larry Cappetto’s statement, “An act of remembrance is an act of honor” rings true when honoring our local veterans. Since the birth of the U.S., no single generation of Americans has been spared the responsibility of defending freedom by force of arms.

In fact, more than a million have lost their lives due to war. Those who have served deserve a heartfelt salute of thanks from each and every citizen of this “land of the free, home of the brave.” The greatness and goodness of our country is in large part because of the sacrificial service of so many. We can do no less than give honor where honor is due.

Made prior to 1900, this gubernatorial statement to troops still has validity: “Your state of Colorado honors you, and it is with pride that your friends speak of you. The price of your good name is shown in the records of your comrades who have been wounded, and who have laid down their lives as a sacrifice to their country’s honor and integrity, to the perpetuity of her institutions and of the Union. To those of the company who are to continue in the service, I would say, stand by the principles you first enlisted upon, stand by your country, and when the contest comes between you and the enemy of the Union, strike and battle with will and determination until the last foe has fled who would sever and destroy this glorious Union, and the true and wise will sustain you, and the patriotic will honor you.”

As some may know, over 53,000 American deaths from battle wounds resulted for World War I, including 1,091 Coloradans who never returned home.

World War II Americans dying in combat numbered 292,000 with 2,697 from Colorado, including 73 Army and Air Force troops from Mesa County. Statistics show 34,000

Sailor and girl at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Washington, D.C., May 1943.

Photo by John Collier.

beginning of the war. deaths during the Korean Daniel Romero, 30, a conflict (305 Coloradans) Green Beret from Lafayand 47,000 in Vietnam (623 ette was the first of this Coloradans). Casualties group, dying in Afghanifrom Vietnam included stan while disposing of Western Slopers RusRussian rockets in 2002. sell Welch, Gary Trujillo, Ninety-four U.S. service Michael Sower, Richard members from Colorado have Smith, Robert Sievers, Raymond Shafer, Allen Scoggin, The Gold Star Pin died in Operation Iraqi Freewas created for dom and Operation Enduring Danny Schwartz, Ronnie Schultz, Dennis Miller, Larry widows, widowers Freedom. Mike Shackelford, Kennann, Harry Jones, David and family members Chance Phelps, Nicklas Palmer, Wade Oglesby, Chad Johnson, Raymond Hopkins, of men who lost Maynard, Evenor Herrera, David Hollingworth, Thomas their lives while George Geer, and Mark Griffee, Mike Gonzales, Jerry defending the United States.

Engel were notably from the Gobbo, Bruce Franz, Robert Western Slope. Families and Fitzhugh, George Ficklin, friends alike grieve for those who Amie Duran, Thomas Doody, LeRoy have given their lives and/or limbs Donovan, Richard Donathan, John Doby, Robert Dickson, James DeWitt, for the cause of freedom.

The traveling photo exhibit “ColoLeRoy Delgado, Mark Danielson, rado Freedom Memorial” honors George Clark, Billy Clark, Sam Burthe 90+ Coloradans who have been nell, John Barry, Adam Ballard and Charles Adkins. (Visit www.archives. killed in action during the War on Terror. gov/aad for more information.) The “It’s about giving people the opPersian Gulf War claimed 147 combat portunity to honor and remember deaths. these brave men and women who At least 1,638 Americans have volunteered to serve on our behalf,” died in Afghanistan since the

a Gold Star Mother said. “Hopefully, their families will be lifted up when they see their loved ones being remembered.”

Colorado’s House Joint Resolution 12-1007 was passed to recognize “military personnel from Colorado who died during specific military conflicts, including those killed after September 11, 2001, during the war on terrorism, including but not limited to those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.” The Fallen Heroes Memorial Commission was established by statute in 2007 to erect memorials to commemorate the lives of Coloradans who died.

Tom Kennedy, recently residing in Crested Butte, was a highly decorated soldier who died at the hands of a suicide bomber. Even civilians have been affected by the war in the Middle East. Durango dentist Tom Grams made a last-minute decision to join a medical mission to an isolated Afghan valley that ended in tragedy in August of 2010 when he and nine other volunteers were gunned down while returning to Kabul.

A number of war memorials exist in Colorado. On the grounds of the state capitol, Capt. John D. Howland’s bronze figure of a Union Soldier facing South with gun in hand was built to honor Colorado’s Civil War heroes and to promote civic pride.

The stone base of this monument is adorned with four tablets that list the battles and names of the soldiers who died. Also chiseled into the base of this memorial is the statement that Colorado had the highest average of volunteers in the Civil War of any state or territory in the Union.

In 1946, a group of Littleton citizens donated money for a War Memorial Park to honor the veterans of World War I and World War II. In 1964, this money was used to acquire Knob Hill, a two-acre plot east of the YMCA (now the School for the Blind).

November 2012

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In 1947, Gov. Lee rean War veterans.

Knous proclaimed The monument is the planned CU 8-1/2 feet tall and student union as a carved from black memorial to “those granite. Under who served in the monument is these great wars” a time capsule, and named it the which includes University Memophotographs, insigrial Center in tribnia, and personal ute to all Colorado artifacts. veterans, men and The dedication women, who have of Fruita’s Vietnam served or are curMemorial was on rently serving our July 4, 2003 and country. Many origiwas attended by nal artifacts from more then 6,500 the U.S.S. Colorado, patriots from all the third ship of the over the U.S. The United States Navy Phoenix Squadron named in honor of Capt. John D. Howland’s bronze figure of a was also presthe 38th state, are Union Soldier was built to honor Colorado’s ent, with a Huey located in the UMC. Civil War heroes. flyover starting Members of the ceremony. In World War II’s 10th 2007, three bronze Mountain Division were trained at statues of a mother and father welCamp Hale near Leadville and at an coming home their son from Vietaltitude of 9,300 feet. Camp Hale nam were added. The basic design was as large as 247,243 acres at its of the memorial is a static display of peak. Approximately 70 ski instruca UH-1H Huey helicopter, the most tors were recruited to teach ski recognizable symbol of the war. The techniques to the 16,000 troops. The memorial also has a granite wall most notorious incident at Camp with the names of Vietnam veterans Hale occurred in February of 1944 surrounding the helicopter pad. A when Private Dale Maple helped two Library of Congress History Project Nazi war prisoners escape to Mexico. website honors Vietnam veterans and Maple was caught and eventually sen- presents “Vietnam War: tenced to life in prison for his crimes. Looking Back,” highlightThe camp’s war memorial can be ing the wartime stories found at the entrance to Ski Cooper. of those who served.

During World War II, 2,697 miliCappetto, a local tary personnel from Colorado died. filmmaker and military According to Navy/Marine Corps/ historian, has produced Coast Guard records, released from a series of documentaprison camps after World War II were ries, titled “Lest They 56 men from Colorado, including the Be Forgotten,” honoring following from western Colorado: Eu- the sacrifices made by gene Wilkinson, John Stivers, Donald World War II, Korean, Scott, Barton Pinson, Clifford Marand Vietnam veterans. He row, Robert Gray and Emit Logan. has made it his life’s misFrank Ward of Cedaredge was among sion to interview aging the group of 24 Coloradans who died veterans, including those in such a camp. from World War II (over Dedicated in 1996, the Korean 1,000), and document War Veterans Association Colorado their personal stories.

Springs Chapter began a planning The films capture the and fundraising campaign to dedicate memories of the brave the first Colorado monument to KoAmerican veterans in

A salute to veterans

7

their own words.

Colorado Division of Veterans Af“What has been missing is to hear fairs Director Bill Conroy is a Vietthe story of their patriotism, sacrinam combat veteran. After leaving fice, and love of country in their own the military due to injuries received, words,” Cappetto said. he began working with Disabled He sells a nine-count DVD set as American Veterans. Conroy agreed part of his filming project. See that veterans of all areas and eras www.veteranshistory.org/Veterans_ of service need to know and utilize History_Project.html for more their benefits. information.

At Pearl Harbor on December 7, Statistics are not 1941, through the pall easy numbers to “The cost of freedom of smoke from the verify when it comes Arizona, which filled is always high, but to local veterans. Local the morning sky and VA Hospital Chief of Americans have always bore testimony to Customer Relations the massive destrucand Public Affairs Paul paid it. And one path we wrought by the Sweeney said we have shall never choose, and tion enemy, one symbol approximately 42,000 that is the path of surrenof hope remained: veterans in this region. the flag of the United der, or submission.”

Over 10,000 actively States of America. use the facilities in John F. Kennedy Freedom would surGrand Junction periodvive and would ultiically or, for some, full time. Sweeney said some veterans are mately triumph. Just as the American flag that survived came to represent unaware of all of their benefits and need to seek information on the new- our nation’s resolve to “rise from the ashes” and fight to defend all it held est laws or talk to VA personnel to determine what is available for them. dear, this flag also became a flag of peace. May we continue to vigilantly Benefits may include compensation seek peace as a nation, while mainfor injuries and illnesses incurred or aggravated while in service, pension, taining wisdom of present dangers to the security of our blessed land. housebound allowance, counseling The price of freedom is unquestionservices, education, life insurance, home loans, and vocational rehabilita- ably high, but the loss of it would be tion, as well as others. unbearable.

8 A salute to veterans

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Korean vet is cool on trike

By Brenda Evers

H

eads turn when a beautiful motorcycle goes by, but people smile when Ike Berry idles at the stoplight or drives his “trike” into a bank drive-through.

This 80-year-old disabled Korean Veteran and his companion, Gail Brawley, are often seen motoring around the Grand Valley on Berry’s unlabeled, Army-green, threewheeled motorcycle.

His bike is a homemade, streetlegal, custom creation “made by my friend, another disabled Korean vet, a few years ago,” Berry said proudly. “We got a new 1,600 cc Volkswagen engine in it this summer. Now we are enjoying the cool autumn weather.”

Berry is always the driver while Brawley enjoys sitting comfortably behind him on an elevated back seat or “rocking chair” as she calls it. Few people notice the common black and white ice cooler behind the seat until they realize that the hose trailing up the length of the bike to Berry is for his oxygen.

He doesn’t comment on the dangers. Instead, he mentions that this

is one of his main forms of transportation, and he has to have oxygen “since I got a blood clot in my lungs.”

Even as a retired Colorado Highway Department worker and a disabled Army veteran that served in Korea, Berry does not rest on his laurels.

“This is one of my play toys,” Berry said. “I have another big engine bike just for me. Gail has her own 800 Suzuki for when we want to go biking long distances, like up on the Mesa.”

Berry likes using his trike to make people happy.

“Nothing would be better than to take a senior citizen for a ride on my trike,” Berry said, referring to any fellow veteran or disabled friend wishing to get on the road and to feel young again, if only for a moment.

“I managed to get a neighbor lady out of her wheelchair to go for a ride,” he said. “To see her smile was enough thanks.”

Berry cared enough to serve his country and now cares enough to stay busy helping people in his own way—whether it be by continuing to volunteer at the local organizations he cares about, or by giving a vet or disabled person a ride on his trike.

November 2012

Going to war, you grow up in a hurry

By Barbara Ward

F

resh out of high school, Jack Backlund and his twin brother enlisted in the Navy. They were sent to Redlands University in Redlands, California as flight candidates. However, after the Battle of Midway, where the Navy sank four of five Japanese submarines, they did away with the pilot program. Backlund and his brother were reassigned to ACORN 48, a Navy program that took over Japanese-captured airfields.

Their duty was to work alongside the Navy Seabees, operating the control towers. From Mactan Island in the Philippines, Backlund went to Saipan, then to Guam to prepare for the invasion of Japan.

In Guam, he was assigned to a PC 113, which was used to escort convoys, launch landing craft, do mine sweeps, and pick up downed fliers.

It was in Guam that Backlund saw something that he will always remember.

The Navy arrived before the Ma-

rines. When the enemy saw them offshore, they dug a large hole, filled it with oil, and set it afire. Backlund said the Japanese soldiers bowed to Japan and the emperor, and jumped into the fire, rather than be taken prisoner.

“Going to war, you grew up in a hurry,” Montrose resident Backlund, now 86, said.

“But you knew you were doing it for our country.”

With the upcoming presidential election, it bothers Backlund to hear people say they won’t or don’t vote.

“It’s un-American not to vote,” Backlund said. “A lot of people don’t realize what this country means. It’s a shame, too.”

Last year, Backlund traveled to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II Memorial.

“We must realize that all those who are mentally or physically damaged, or those who have lost their lives, did it to give this country freedom,” Backlund said.

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November 2012

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Artillery man assigned to Saipan

By Linda Lovendahl

J

ohn “Jack” Kier said of his tour with the 48th coast artillery in the South Pacific, “I got to see the world.”

He promptly added that World War II changed his life.

“I was told that when you got to go home, you would want to kiss the ground,” Kier said. “It’s that important to return to American soil.”

Kier’s grandson, John, served in Iraq for three years and they compare experiences.

“The technology and sophistication of the equipment is very different now,” Kier said. “Nothing is the same.

My grandson had furloughs whereas I didn’t. Not one. Plus, we knew where he was and what he was doing the whole time he was on duty. My folks didn’t know anything about me.

What hasn’t changed is the chain of command and sense of duty.”

Kier was drafted June 25, 1943, at age 20. He took the usual series of tests in Watsonville, California and was assigned to the Army artillery.

He attended boot camp at Camp McQuade, spent three months shooting shells out into the waters off Ventura beach, and then headed to San Francisco. There, they loaded up a ship for Oahu, Hawaii.

Practice in these waters was preparation for the Saipan invasion of Peleliu. After the island was secured,

Kier spent a year six degrees north of the equator guarding the island from enemy ships, unloading U.S. ships, clearing highways and building the camp.

“I wouldn’t have missed the opportunity for the world. But to be truthful, I wouldn’t do it again.”

“Two guns from our battery were used to support our Marines at the battle of Iwo Jima for two months,” Kier said.

He loaded a ship destined for Japan, serving as a three-striped sergeant when the war ended.

His highest emotional point of the 2 1/2-year experience was turning 21 in Waikiki, Hawaii. The lowest point was when everyone but him and one other soldier were deactivated.

“We were assigned to take equip-

ment to Saipan while the rest of the battery got to go home when the war ended,” Kier said.

“It took us quite awhile to get the job done. We got home two months later. It was always tough getting ready for an invasion.

You never knew what was going to happen next.”

Kier became very adept at handling a long tom 155 mm 6-inch shell gun that was 172 inches long (about 14 feet).

Once out of the service, he returned home to a small town 30 miles south of Steamboat Springs.

He helped on his father’s ranch and then started his own. He married and raised a family of three boys and one girl. He finished his career working for the state highway department and lives today in Grand Junction.

A couple of years ago, Kier’s son and daughter-in-law planned a tour of the East Coast and invited Kier and his wife, Irene, to join them.

“We stopped at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.,” Kier said. “I was in awe. It is a beautiful monument.”

Kier was proud to have served his country.

“I wouldn’t have missed the opportunity for the world,” Kier said. “But to be truthful, I wouldn’t do it again.”

A salute to veterans

Adopt-a-Box to support troops Operation Interdependence’s Adopt-a-Box is a great gift idea this holiday season. For $30, OI will ship a box of 50 Civilian Rations (C-rats) in your name or the name of a loved one to a deployed U.S. troop.

C-rats contain personal notes from a caring civilian at home along with everyday items the troops miss such as snacks, games and toiletries. For many, it’s the only communication they receive from home. OI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible. Volunteers support up to 25,000 troops each month.

To adopt a box, call Karon Carley at 5234217, email carley@oidelivers.org, visit www.oidelivers.org, or mail donations to: Operation Interdependence 2695 Patterson Road #2-147 Grand Junction, CO 81506

Honoring vets with wreaths across America As part of the Wreaths Across America project, the local Patriot Guard Riders are asking for wreath sponsorships. Wreaths are needed for 1,300 gravesites at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Grand Junction. Wreaths will be placed on the graves on December 15. One wreath is only $15.

All donations are tax deductible. If you’d like to donate or volunteer, call 250-1174 or mail your donations to: Patriot Guard Riders 616 Lodgepole St. Grand Junction, CO 81504

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November 2012

Blue magic: father/son relationship augments local history

By Linda Lovendahl

W

hether 93-year-old Al Taddeo is a legend, celebrity or simply a pilot from World War II is irrelevant to Grand Junction resident and son, Ed Parker Taddeo.

“It’s a fact he is the last living member of the original Blue Angels,” Ed, 63, said. “I only need to know he is my father and I am proud of him. The recent Grand Junction Air Show was magic for me.”

Ed said there were several factors that came together to make this air show special for him. The apparent serendipity engaged Ed as a participant in the passage of local history.

“It was really neat,” he said. “It had nothing to do with any effort on my part. It was all about my father.”

Al retired from the U.S. Navy as a commander in 1963 after a 21-year career. He made 350 landings as a fighter pilot on aircraft carriers and downed three enemy planes in World

“It was significant to him that I didn’t join the Army or the Air Force,” Ed said.

“He was proud of me and told me so.”

It wasn’t until this last decade, however, that Ed cognitively registered the full scope of what his dad accomplished. With each show that passed, as well as the number of surviving original pilots who passed away, his dad received more publicity. By 2012, Ed was much more acquainted with the Blue Angels’ history than ever before, but he discovered there was an even larger effect his dad’s experience had on present-day pilots.

“We sat together in the stands,” he said. “Dad Pilots have been flying the F/A-18 Hornet for 26 years. The 2012 team poses with the Taddeo family (left to critiqued the pilots as they right) Kaycee and Dillon Wells, Diane and Ed Taddeo, Justen Taddeo, Al and Joan Taddeo. At left, Al Taddeo flew overhead. At first I jumps into his cockpit. He is the only original Blue Angel pilot still living. The first demonstration team thought this strange, but performed in 1946. then realized—that was what he had learned after all. He told national ambassadors of goodwill.

War II. He was twice awarded the me he had kept in contact with many One result of the recent air show’s Distinguished Flying Cross and was of the pilots because he talked with magic was the progression of Ed’s the first to break the bachelorhood them every year at the home base Napersonal awareness of what a Blue tradition when the Blue Angels first Angel pilot is all about. It didn’t really val Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida formed by requesting to be married where the Blues just celebrated their impact him until he joined the Navy and still fly with the team.

63rd anniversary. The pilots sought Reserves in 1970. His father swore The purpose of the team is to enhim out and wanted to spend time him into service. His father could hance naval recruiting and represent with him. These pilots didn’t want have drawn a lot of attention to himNavy and Marine Corps aviation to to talk about Blues’ history. They America and other countries as inter- self, but that day was about Ed.

Wreaths Across

America

The Western Slope Patriot Guard Riders and Wreaths Across America need sponsors for our annual sponsorship drive for wreaths at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery located in Grand Junction. If you have a loved one buried there or would like to sponsor a wreath(s) they are $15.00 each this coming Christmas. For information contact:

Art Edwards 970-250-1174 or harleyroadk@yahoo.com

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

November 2012

wanted to know what it is like to fly known of each other, but had maneuvers in combat. That concept never met. hadn’t entered my mind before. My “It was exciting,” Ed said. “They dad was passing down first-hand exmet for the first time at this year’s perience to these pilots who couldn’t show in Grand Junction after knowget the knowledge ing about each anywhere else. other for 68 years.

It’s the passing of This made the an era. Everyone whole event much has an opinion more meaningful about our military for me. It really and whether it is brought home how changing for better real everyday hisor worse. But it is tory can be. You a fact that convennever know what tional air defense chance meetings has changed as radyou’ll have and ically as airplane what amazing design since World connections can War II. Times are become of it.” changing. The era The final element of the Blues is goof magic happened ing away fast.” for Ed when he Another imporpicked up his son, tant facet of this 13-year-old Justen, Ed Taddeo was sworn into the Navy year’s show was Reserves by retired Navy Commander Al early from school the attendance on the Friday of the Taddeo, his father, in 1970. of former Navy air show weekend. fighter pilot Bob Brunson.

As they drove toward Walker Field, Ed was standing in line for his the Blues flew overhead in diamond photo to be taken next to one of the formation. planes. He was wearing a Navy hat “Hey son, look at that,” he said. with “USS Enterprise” embroidered “You know, you could do that on it. From behind him, Brunson some day.” asked if he knew anyone who had “I can’t. I don’t know how to fly.” served on the carrier and they began “You could. They train you.” sharing information. Brunson flew “I didn’t say any more after that,” with VF Nancy 101, the first carrierEd said. “You never know what a son based squadron to fly at night. Prior will do and it’s ultimately up to him to becoming a Blue Angel, Ed’s dad what he does with his life. But it sure had flown by day. The two pilots had would be awesome.”

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A salute to veterans

11

AARP Driver Safety salutes veterans

I

n honor of Veterans Day and in recognition of their dedication and commitment to service, AARP Driver Safety is offering a free classroom course or 50 percent off its online course to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces from November 1 through November 30.

This offer is available to individuals who serve or have served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard/Reserves or Coast Guard. Spouses, including domestic partners, widows and widowers, dependents and children are also eligible to take advantage of this promotion.

AARP Driver Safety offered this promotion for the first time last November, and nearly 40,000 veterans took advantage of the opportunity to refresh their driving skills. The AARP Driver Safety course teaches valuable defensive driving skills and provides a refresher of the rules of the road.

Since 1979, the course has helped over 14 million drivers learn proven safety strategies and tips for how to adapt one’s driving to compensate for physical and cognitive changes that may come with aging. Plus, participants may qualify for an automobile insurance discount by completing the classroom course (participants should check with their auto insurance agent for details).

To redeem the free classroom course offer, veterans and their fam-

ily members must present a completed coupon to the host organization or the volunteer instructor at the time of registration or payment. No additional identification is required.

Course coupons are available at www.aarp.org/veterans.

With courses offered in communities throughout the country, veterans should have little difficulty finding a class that’s conveniently located.

Classes are limited in size and fill up quickly, however, so those interested should call early to find a class that fits their needs. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visit www.aarp.org/findacourse or call 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-2277669) to find a course.

As an alternative to the classroom course, veterans and their families are invited to take the AARP Driver Safety online course at 50 percent off the normal course price. In the online course, participants will learn the same valuable tips and information as they would in the classroom course, but they can take it at their own pace from their home.

To receive 50 percent off of the online course, visit www.aarpdriv ersafety.org and enter the promotion code “Veterans” when prompted during registration and checkout. Upon registration, participants will have 60 days to complete the online course.

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