Spring 2016 - Vol. 14, No. 1
Honoring one of their own BY JERRY MCDONALD COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR
College of the Ozarks built the official Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the entrance to campus last spring and dedicated it with an audience of more than 4,000 people on April 22, 2015. The Memorial has served as a reminder, a chance to educate, and a way for thousands to find healing and closure. Although many have come hundreds of miles to see it, the Memorial has a special place in the hearts of the College’s own. Especially employee Lynn Behrends. A fitting tribute Behrends and his wife of 50 years, Marilyn, are looking forward to the 1-year anniversary of The
Lynn Behrends is pictured next to the forward missile launcher aboard the USS Chicago while on an R & R visit to Juneau, Alaska.
Veterans Homecoming November 5-11 ExploreBranson.com/veterans
Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the campus. Last year, the dedication of the Memorial was very special for both of them. “It was such a wonderful event for the Vietnam Veterans who had not received much recognition for so long,” Marilyn said. Behrends face showed much emotion when he was asked what it is like to drive past The Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial every day on his way into work. In a slight whisper, he said “Beyond words … so appreciated. The College did such a great job on the Memorial for those who did not come home.” Weathering the storm of Vietnam Behrends, radarman and petty officer third class, is a photos courtesy of College of the Ozarks Navy Veteran and a 12-year After his second tour of duty on the USS Chicago, Lynn employee of C of O. He Behrends reunites with his wife in San Diego, California, after served his country from being apart for seven months. 1965 to 1969, followed with service in the reserves from 1969-1972. Korean military forces in 1968 and 1969. Behrends spent time during Vietnam aboard Since the USS Chicago was a guided missile the USS Chicago in the Gulf of Tonkin, a body of cruiser ship, she was self-sufficient and could water located off the coast of northern Vietnam remain on station for long periods of time with and southern China. His ship sailed in an area minimum extra requirements for supplies and referred to as a PIRAZ, a United States Navy fuel. The ship’s radars obtained contacts and acronym for Positive Identification Radar information from all aircraft that flew into the Advisor Zone. The zone is defined by the air PIRAZ zone and helped maintain MiG suppressearch radar coverage of a ship patrolling a des- sion in the north. The ship crew also dealt with ignated PIRAZ station. search and rescue of downed pilots in the area. The USS Chicago served in a PIRAZ during the Pueblo incident which involved the seizure and hijacking of the USS Pueblo by North BEHRENDS — cont. on 20