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ABOUT THE COVER
The photo on the front was taken by Monica Krenz, a Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN photographer. It was taken at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 during the Honor Flight trip.
The man featured in the photo is Chuck Evrist of Ashby. He was one of the more than 200 veterans who was on the September 2024 Honor Flight.
Evrist was in the U.S. Navy, serving from 1964 through 1968. He worked in communications, aboard the USS Ft. Marion LSD22 for a bit, attended river patrol boat school and then was assigned to the USS Clarion River LSMR 409 based out of Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. He was a gunner’s mate. After several years, he re-enlisted with the Navy Reserve and served again from 1986 through 2005, spending time in Japan, Florida and other interesting places. After his time in active duty and during his days as a civilian sailor, Evrist worked for the U.S. Postal Service from 1969 through 1992. He also worked for Coleman Powermate for 12 years, but is now fully retired.
Evrist said he would highly recommend any veteran to apply for the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN. He found all the staff and volunteers to be extremely helpful and loving to all the veterans. And he added that it was a very organized and wellplanned trip. He thanks all the sponsors and contributors who made the trip possible.
“My favorite and most emotional part of the trip was the Vietnam wall and finding all the names from my hometown of Venice, California and one from my graduating class. I was also able to visit my nephew’s gravesite at Arlington,” Evrist said.
Veterans photos on pages 17-24 are
Celeste Edenloff, Special projects editor
Lori Mork, Layout/design
www.echopress.com
OUR VETERANS Saluting
It is no secret that I have always had a soft spot for veterans as I have many members in my family who have served in the military. So, when I had the opportunity to tag along on the most recent Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN trip to Washington D.C., I didn’t hesitate.
Out of the more than 200 veterans from North Dakota and Minnesota who also went on the trip, there were 10 from the Douglas County area. Some of their military stories are featured in this year’s magazine, “Salute.”
There is also information about the Veterans Honor Flight organization, including how veterans can apply to go on the trip. I personally didn’t realize the importance of this organization and what it does for our veterans until I went on the Honor Flight. Truly, there are no words. But I will just say it is one organization I will forever support as they provided not only me with this once in a lifetime
experience, but they provide it over and over again for our veterans.
For the veterans, many of whom are from the Vietnam War era, it can be part of the healing process they so desperately need, even though they may not know it. The camaraderie and bonding and sharing of their stories with fellow veterans that takes place during this trip is heartwarming to witness.
My wish for our readers is that you take the time to read each and every story, learn more about our veterans and the sacrifices they made. In addition, maybe you will discover that the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN is something you want to support or maybe, you have a loved one who would be a good candidate for this trip and you sign them up.
Lastly, the staff at the Echo Press wants to thank not only our Douglas County area veterans, but all veterans. Thank you for the sacrifices you made, for your valor and for defending your country and our rights. Thank you also for your courage, your strength and your dedication.
We appreciate you and we honor you.
CELESTE EDENLOFF Special Projects Editor
Alexandria Technical & Community College is proud to be named Military Friendly for our dedication to active duty service members, veterans, and their families.
THANK YOU, VETERANS!
Honor Flight SUCCESSFUL IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO MAKE AN
By Celeste Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press
How many hours do you think it takes to get a Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN trip off the ground? Hundreds? Thousands? If you guessed thousands, you would be right.
A few years ago, the organization’s president, Jane Matejcek, put together a summary for two trips that were taken that year, including fundraising events and everything the members of the board and all the volunteers did to make those trips happen. The number she came up with was about 8,000 hours. That is almost one whole year’s worth.
The organization consists of a nine-member board of directors and many, many passionate volunteers. On the last Honor Flight trip that was taken, which was in September of 2024, it was the first time the Honor Flight organization took two planes. This meant there were eight buses of Veterans and volunteers touring around Washington D.C.
VOLUNTEERS RAISING MONEY IS SO IMPORTANT
According to Diane Moderow, who is on the board of directors for the organization (she is the secretary), there are typically between eight and 10 volunteers per bus. This includes medical staff, members of the media and one or two board members. Most of the volunteers have to earn a seat on the flight, she said.
“What I mean by this is at least 50% of the Veterans bring an escort (they pay for themselves), so we do not need as many volunteers as some other Honor Flights do,” said Moderow.
What the organization needs since they do not have any corporate sponsors for the flights, which cost about $270,00 each, is volunteers who are willing to go out and raise money, Moderow said. She added that there are hundreds of people who want to volunteer to go on the trip just to push a wheelchair, which is what they don’t need.
“It is very difficult to raise the money, so this is where our volunteers come in,” she said. “They are not really buying a seat on the flight, but we reward people who have raised money for us. We feel this is the only fair way.”
She gave an example. The Honor Flight will take two people from American Crystal Sugar on each flight as that company donates to the cost of the Honor Flight jackets each Veteran receives. On the September trip, they took two people per flight because the company donated $25,000 for the jackets.
The organization also took two people from the bank in the Perham because for the last five years, the company has hosted a picnic in their parking lot with proceeds going to the Honor Flight.
“I believe they have raised over $20,000 for us,” said Moderow. “We offered them two seats this year as a way to give back to them for doing this and also, in hopes that they continue
The Board of Directors for the Honor Flight of ND/MN are, back row, from left, Bob Gregor, David Rice, David Brunsvold (treasurer) and Tod Ganje and front row, from left, Susan Schroeder, Jane Matejcek (president), Diane Moderow (secretary), Lori Ishaug (vice president) and LuAnn McDonald.
Contributed photo
THE HISTORY OF THE HONOR FLIGHT
The Honor Flight Network was cofounded by Earl Morse, the son of a Korean and Vietnam War veteran and Jeff Miller, a small business owner and son of a WWII veteran.
Morse, a physician assistant and retired Air Force captain, worked in a Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in Springfield, OH. After the National World War II Memorial was completed in 2004, he realized many of his WWII patients would not be able to travel to D.C. to visit their memorial.
Morse, himself a pilot, offered to fly with two veterans to Washington. In January 2005, he pitched the idea to the private pilots at his local Air Force Aero club. He proposed the pilots would pay for the flights and personally escort veterans around the city. Eleven additional pilots volunteered.
By the end of the month, a board was formed, funds were raised and volunteers had joined. On May 21, 2005, six small planes flew 12 veterans to Washington D.C. for the first Honor Flight. A combination of small planes and commercial flights were used to transport a total of 126 WWII veterans that first year.
In late 2005, Miller, a dry cleaning company owner in Hendersonville, NC, inspired by Morse, had a similar idea but on a larger scale – to
charter entire commercial jets. Miller, the son of a World War II veteran and nephew of a B-24 pilot who died in the war, had been a charter member of the National World War II Memorial Foundation.
Miller was also concerned that local WWII veterans would never visit their new memorial. Miller formed HonorAir and began flying increasing numbers of WWII veterans from the Ashville Regional Airport using larger, chartered jets.
By the end of 2006, HonorAir had flown more than 300 WWII veterans to their memorial. His actions revolutionized the mass movement of these senior heroes to Washington D.C. A national TV station compiled a documentary on Miller’s fundraising efforts and followed veterans on one of the trips to D.C.
In February 2007, Morse and Miller formed the Honor Flight Network. There are now 129 active Honor Flight Network regional hubs across the United States. Since its inception, the network has escorted over 300,000 veterans to their memorials free of cost to them.
WDAY HONOR FLIGHT
In 2007, Tracy Briggs, who works for Forum Communications/WDAY, watched the documentary
from Miller’s flight and was inspired to do the same. A committee led by Briggs was formed, and four flights carried some 700 WWII heroes to D.C. from Fargo Hector International Airport in 2007 and 2008. There would be no further Honor Flights again until 2015 when VA Nurse Jane Matejcek formed a Board of Directors with original 2007 WDAY committee members Dave Rice and Tod Ganje, along with several new board members. Matejcek serves as the president of the board.
VETERANS HONOR FLIGHT OF ND/MN
The Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN – the name was changed in the spring of 2018 – is made up of nine directors and countless volunteers. They have flown more than 2,000 WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War and terminally ill veterans to Washington D.C. to see their memorials at no cost to them. These trips would not be possible without fundraising efforts from the Event Committee and financial support from communities in the area the organization serves.
raising money for us. By rewarding people after they helped raise money and bringing them on the trip, they become reinvigorated and continue raising money for us.”
Moderow and Matejcek said volunteers are important to the organization, but what they need most is people to raise money so that the organization can continue to offer these trips to Veterans. They are looking for people or groups outside of the Fargo/Moorhead area like what they have in the Alexandria area. Kevin Mahoney, who is an ambassador from Alexandria (see related story), raises money for the Honor Flight. This past trip, there were 10 Veterans from the Douglas County area that went on the trip because of the fundraising Mahoney and others in the area have done.
A LOT GOES INTO TO PREPARING FOR A FLIGHT
The board of directors also puts in an enormous amount of hours preparing for the flight. They all have different responsibilities, which includes figuring out which Veterans are going on which buses. During this past trip, they had
to figure out 200 Veterans spread out over eight buses. Moderow said they try to keep Veterans from the same towns together on a bus.
For instance, she said that the Veterans from the Douglas County area were all put together on the purple bus.
Bus captains are assigned to each bus and those captains are the ones who send out letters to the Veterans inviting them on the trip. If a letter gets returned, then it is up to the bus captain to call each of those Veterans. If by chance a Veteran chooses not to go on a flight, then there are two people who start calling other Veterans on the waiting list to see if they want to go on a flight.
Board members and volunteers also take care of figuring out who is going to room with each other, which they try to do by city and county. They also book all the visits to the memorials and they book the buses and all the hotel rooms. Just figuring out the assigned seating for the airplanes can take up to six hours, said Moderow.
Each Veteran on the trip also gets a C-Ration box filled with snacks and treats, so all that food has to be purchased. The lanyards each person on the trip gets also have to be typed out and ready for the day of the flight, which includes the seat assignments.
There are many, many other jobs that have to be done in order for each Honor Flight to be successful. It definitely takes a village full of volunteers who are passionate about helping out on the trip, but who are more passionate about the fundraising efforts. If the funds aren’t there, the trips don’t happen.
Moderow said if people are wanting more information about how to volunteer for fundraising events or hosting fundraisers, she can be contacted at 218-28-HONOR (46667).
Honored to be your Hometown Hospice. To all who have served, we thank you.
THE RETURN OF A VIETNAM combat veteran
Editor’s note: This column is written by Rey Fuglestad of Alexandria. After taking an Honor Flight with his father, he felt compelled to write about the experience and what his dad means to him.
A father’s silent heroism and a son’s deep gratitude
By Rey Fuglestad Son of a Vietnam veteran
Irecently had an opportunity to join my dad, Lloyd Fuglestad, and two uncles, Cary Fuglestad and Alan Gunkel, on the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN to Washington D.C. I had no idea what to expect. We arrived at the airport to the resonant sound of bagpipes. Volunteers greeted us and ushered us through the terminal to our gate where dozens of old warriors waited to board the plane. I wondered how many of them were reminiscing about their time in the armed services when they waited to board flights that would determine their fate. It’s hard to imagine how they felt.
These men didn’t know each other but you wouldn’t have known that. They immediately greeted each other and
started chatting as if they’d been friends for decades. The only word that comes to mind is brotherhood.
After landing in Baltimore, we boarded the buses and made our first stop at Fort McHenry. We wandered the museum and star-shaped fort where Francis Scott Key penned the poem that eventually became our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.” Then it was on to our hotel where we had some social time before enjoying a wonderful meal. I can say with confidence that my favorite part of the trip was listening to the stories and laughter. The banter between the branches of service is still very much alive. Their honor and respect for each other was disguised by playful insults.
The following day, we visited the veterans memorials. The old soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen ambled along the walkways silently paying their respects to the men that came before them. Some paused and saluted while others stared softly into the hearts of the fallen heroes for whom these monuments were erected. There was a heavy sense of reverence.
After a long, emotional day, we arrived at the hotel where an amazing banquet had been prepared. What the veterans didn’t know was that we had secretly been instructed to have our family and friends write a letter to our beloved vet. After finishing the meal, it was announced that there would be a “mail call.” Each veteran was given a large manila envelope filled with letters from loved ones. I imagine that it was a very emotional experience for these men. I wouldn’t know because I couldn’t see
through my own tears.
I can’t say enough about the Veterans Honor Flight program. I would encourage every veteran to have this experience. The healing that I personally witnessed was astounding. There was a moment during the trip when my dad said to me, “I don’t remember the last time that I felt this good.”
We returned home on a Tuesday evening. It was the pinnacle of our trip. There were thousands of people in the airport to greet these veterans. Again I was fighting tears. It was the homecoming that these men and women deserved but never received so many years ago.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have had this opportunity with my dad and uncles. I’ve been a patriot for as long as I can
Lloyd Fuglestad
Rey Fuglestad, left, is pictured with his father, Lloyd Fuglestad at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. Contributed photo / Renee Clasen
remember. One of my favorite songs when I was little was Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA.” I was probably 5 years old when I first heard that song. I felt like being an American was the greatest thing in the world. I still feel that way and I now understand that the greatest country in the world is sustained by the sacrifices of our veterans. Being the son of a Vietnam veteran gave me a direct link to our treasured freedoms.
A SYMBOL OF COURAGE AND RESILIENCE
Like a lot of little boys, my dad was my hero. But I felt like my dad was extra special because he was a soldier and he fought in a war. I’ve asked him a lot of questions over the years. He’s told me about some of his experiences but I still have a lot of questions. His answers have always been guarded and ambiguous. To me, war is a fascinating topic. We all know that there is no glory in war. However, fighting for your country and your beliefs is the most honorable thing that one can do. The bond shared by brothers in arms is incomparable and to be quite honest, is something that I’ve lamented not having in my life.
Knowing the horrors of war, one would think I was crazy. Maybe I am. I feel guilty about the freedoms and lifestyle that I have as a result of the sacrifices that others have made for me. I have no desire to feel the effects of PTSD or know what
it’s like to lose a best friend in the prime of one’s youth. I feel guilty that others experienced such things while I have been granted a pass.
My dad’s return home was like that of FUGLESTAD Page 30
Rey Fuglestad of Alexandria, far left, takes pictures of his dad and two uncles, from left, Lloyd Fuglestad, Al Gunkel and Cary Fuglestad.
Contributed photo / Monica Krenz
REED WAS STATIONED ON USS Intrepid
By Celeste Edenloff
Alexandria Echo Press
Elsworth Reed, 77, grew up in Miltona. He now lives in Alexandria and was one of the veterans from this area who was on the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN trip to Washington D.C. Sept. 22-24.
In 1967, Reed said he would have been drafted, but he ended up signing up to serve in the U.S. Navy.
It was two days after Christmas that he was sent to Great Lakes, Illinois for basic training. He was there until he got to go home on leave in April of 1968.
After that, Reed served in the Atlantic Fleet aboard the USS Intrepid, 1st Div.
He said he was based out of Norfolk, Virginia and that his ship put time in at Yankee Station, North Vietnam,
Philadelphia and Rhode Island.
According to the Intrepid Museum website, the ship was commissioned in 1943. The Aircraft Carrier Intrepid survived five Kamikaze attacks and a torpedo strike during WWII. It later served in the Cold War, Vietnam War and as a NASA recovery vessel.
Reed said the ship was not hit when he and the crew were serving in Vietnam.
While serving in the Navy, Reed has been in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, China and others. His two favorite places he has been to were Sydney, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand.
“I really liked Sydney,” he said.
While working on the ship, Reed served in many different capacities including helping in the kitchen, mopping decks, painting, polishing the anchor wheel and fixing watches.
Memories of being in the Navy that have always stuck with him include passing the Seaman Test, cruising on the Intrepid in the Atlantic Ocean and traveling the globe.
After he was discharged from the Navy, Reed worked in sales, in a factory and at a restaurant. He is now retired and enjoys watching sports, listening to music, reading books and watching movies.
Going on the Veterans Honor Flight is something Reed said he will never forget. He said the trip was awesome and unbelievable.
He was quoted in the Echo Press newspaper as saying, “There was joy and laughter and there was sadness and tears.”
Elsworth shared that the morning after he arrived home, he woke up with tears in his eyes because of how much the trip meant to him. He called a friend of his who had also been on an Honor Flight and he told Elsworth the same thing happened to him.
There were many parts of the trip that were memorable for Elsworth, with one of them being the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He found the names of several friends with one of them being Albert Bast Jr., a friend from high school.
“He would love to draw. He was a good person,” said Elsworth, adding that his friend always wanted to serve in the military and be a veteran.
Elsworth Reed, bottom row, fourth from right, is pictured with the 1st Division.
Contributed photo / Collection of the Intrepid Museum
A volunteer with the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN helps with a pencil rubbing for Elsworth Reed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. Celeste Edenloff / Alexandria Echo Press
ZEHNER IS A thrill seeker
He enjoyed being a paratrooper and skydiving
By Celeste Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press
Jim Zehner, an Army Veteran who celebrated his 80th birthday this summer, will never discourage children when they say they want to do something – no matter if the idea is crazy or not.
When he was little, Zehner, who is still proud to call Alexandria his home, said he remembers his uncle discouraging him and that it made him give up on his dream of becoming a jet pilot.
So instead, as soon as he graduated from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he became a paratrooper.
“I knew I could at least ride in an airplane that way,” he said. “And eventually that got me into flying airplanes.”
Zehner served in the Army from July 1962 through July 1965. After finishing his basic training at Fort Leonard in Missouri, he was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. He worked as a forward observer with the 319th Artillery, 101st Airborne.
Being a paratrooper is what got Zehner interested in skydiving. During his time in the military, he completed 29 paratrooper jumps. And in his lifetime, he has been skydiving more than 1,200 times.
While jumping from an airplane as a paratrooper versus doing it as a skydiver, Zehner said you are typically only 1,000 feet up in the air. The reason, he said, is so that you can get to the ground
quicker so you don’t get shot.
In addition, paratrooper chutes open automatically so that they don’t have to worry about pulling the chord when they are also carrying their machine gun and any other necessary equipment.
“I was so excited about my first time,” said Zehner. “I just couldn’t wait for that moment to be pushed out of the plane.”
After the second time, he said the thrill of it all was just unbelievable.
“I wanted more and more,” he said, confessing he is pretty much a thrill seeker.
Zehner remembers going to an airshow with his dad when he was younger and that his dad paid $2 for him
to ride in an airplane. He remembers taxiing down the runway and how much fun it was. After that, it was very clear to him what he wanted to do.
After Zehner joined the military, he said he never served overseas. However, his best friend did but never came home. He was killed in action.
Zehner was one of the veterans on the September 2024 Honor Flight to Washington D.C. While at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, he made sure to look up his friend’s name and get a pencil rubbing of his name.
He also found his cousin’s name, Carlyle Guenther, which was a pretty neat
Jim Zehner in 1963 while serving in the U.S. Army.
Contributed photo
Jim Zehner with all of his gear while training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Contributed photo
moment during the trip. Guenther’s sister, LaNell Schlosser, who is also Zehner’s cousin, was at the memorial at the same time. The two families grew up together just about a mile apart. However, as adults, Zehner and Schlosser only saw each other a half-dozen or so times.
But, they both were at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial looking up Guenther’s name at the same time. He said that was a pretty neat moment on the trip.
Zehner was discharged from the service in July 1965. Overall, he said it was a good experience. And because of the G.I Bill benefits, Zehner said he got his career out of the military. And indirectly, found his love of skydiving through the military, which he did up until about five years ago.
After the military, Zehner spent about 35 years in Texas where he worked as crop duster, a job he loved. He also worked as a semi-driver.
In 2006, Zehner moved back to Douglas County, living in Evansville and now in Alexandria. He lives on a ranch with his wife, Judy, who he married in 2015. Zehner said he is the proud father of two wonderful children and that he now thoroughly enjoys his retirement. Zehner is a member of the American Legion.
One of Jim Zehner’s hobbies was skydiving. He has been skydiving more than 1,200 times.
Contributed photo
While riding in another airplane, Jim Zehner took a picture of this plane, which is a C-119. Contributed photo
MILITARY PROBABLY saved his life
By Celeste Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press
When Ron Krueger first came back after serving in the Vietnam War he said he “had a real hard time.”
Ron, who lives in Alexandria with his wife, Mary, served in the U.S. Army. He volunteered for the draft and left in November 1967.
After basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he became part of B Co. 2-34 Armored Bn. and was sent to Lai Khe, Vietnam. He was a radio repairman and operator. He also drove armored personnel carriers, which is a broad type of armored military vehicle designed to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones.
He served in Vietnam in 1968 through August 1969. Then, 16 years later, in 1985, he joined the Minnesota National Guard and served through 2009.
“I think by joining the Guards and getting back in the military, it probably saved my life,” Ron said, with his wife, Mary, adding, “You’ve always said the military has been good for you.”
Ron agreed.
He went back into the military
because he was looking for a job and they offered him one. One thing led to another and his part-time gig turned into a full-time job. Because he was in the Guards, which meant he served on the weekends, he was considered a civilian soldier working for the Guard in the maintenance shop.
During his time in the National Guard, though, he ended up serving overseas again when he was deployed to Afghanistan. He wasn’t really expecting to ever serve overseas again, but he did for all of 2005 and part of 2006.
Ron was also deployed to Honduras in 1995 for three weeks, where he built roads.
When asked if he had any fond memories of his time spent in the military, Ron said there weren’t too many when he first went in because he was directly sent to Vietnam. Later, though, when he was in the National Guard, he said there were a lot of good experiences.
Ron shared one of the worst memories from when he went over to Vietnam. He was 18 years old and it was only his second day.
“I just got to my company the night before and the next day, we took a rocket and I ended up in the hospital for 30 days,” he said. “That was not a very good memory.”
Ron said if they would have kept him any longer in the hospital, he would have been sent to Japan or someplace else. He suffered from lots of shrapnel injuries.
“My arm. My back. Well, my whole body was pretty much filled with shrapnel for a while,” he said. “But it’s mostly all worked out now.”
Ron did mostly radio mechanic work and drove an APC.
Ron and Mary were married in 1985 and she remembers numerous times after they were married when she would see something on his body, like something black, and it would turn out to be pieces of shrapnel that were still coming out of his body.
They both said it was just little pieces here and there that would just work themselves out of his body and to the surface and then she would pull them out.
Ron said when the incident happened, it was obviously very painful. But as the pieces of shrapnel came out years later, it would never hurt.
Although he does remember one time when Mary was using a tweezer to try and get a piece and there was some trouble.
“It sounded like a gong was going off in my head,” Ron explained. “She’d hit it with the tweezers and DING!.”
Luckily Ron didn’t have to go to the doctor to have it extricated. Mary said they worked it out and got it done. She also shared about the bigger piece of shrapnel that was on his head. Mary recalled the doctor saying, “Don’t hit your head because it could paralyze you or kill you.”
Ron Krueger in 1968, right before he left for Vietnam. Contributed photo
Ron Krueger, right, is pictured with an Afghanistan Sgt. Major who he worked with on a daily basis. The Sgt. Major was the head of the Afghan unit Krueger helped train. Contributed photo
While in the military, Ron Krueger received many badges, medals, decorations and stars, including a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal. He has them on display at his home in Alexandria.
Contributed photo
It thankfully didn’t, they said.
“I’m alive,” Ron said. “That’s better than a lot of other people.”
Although most of Ron’s memories from serving in the National Guard were good, he did share one that he still thinks about to this day.
In 1997, when there were floods on the Red River, his Guard unit was called up for flood duty. They worked out of the Breckenridge area. His unit was on a search and rescue mission. They were searching for a woman and her child. He said by the time his unit got to them, he found them out in a field. They had both passed away. That was one of the most challenging times for him serving in the National Guard.
When Ron retired, his wife put all of his medals, stars and ribbons in a shadow box that now hangs on their wall.
The three most important are as follows:
Bronze Star – awarded to a member for acts that display heroism, meritorious achievement or service performed in connection with military operations against an armed force.
Purple Heart – awarded to a mem-
ber of the armed forces who has been wounded or killed or who has died or may die after being wounded. It is the oldest U.S. military decoration. It was originally established by Gen. George Washington in 1782.
Meritorious Service Medal –awarded to a member who has distinguished him or herself by outstanding meritorious achievement or service.
He also received the following:
Army Achievement Medal (4 EA); Army Reserve Components Medal; National Defense Service Medal (2 EA); Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device; NCO Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Army Reserve Component
Overseas Training Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge; Minnesota Good Conduct award; Minnesota Service Ribbon; Minnesota Distinguished Recruiting Ribbon; Minnesota Commendation Ribbon with Pendant (2 EA) and the Minnesota Medal for Merit (2 EA).
Ron belongs to the American Legion in Moorhead, the VFW in Alexandria, the Order of Purple Hearts in Perham and the DAV in Fergus Falls. He and Mary share a beautiful combined family with their five children, grandchildren, step grandchildren and great grandchildren.
And at age 75, he still enjoys playing a good game of softball at his seasonal home in Arizona – even after his open heart surgery in 2023.
Ron Krueger sitting in an armored personnel carrier, a type of military vehicle designed to transport personnel in equipment in combat zones. He was in Vietnam in this photo.
Contributed photo
BUT YET
SO CLOSE,so far
Schlosser finds photo after 50 years
By Celeste Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press
While stationed in Long Binh, Vietnam, Richard Schlosser’s unit was tasked with assembling bridges. Schlosser, a lifelong resident of Miltona, wasn’t a part of the building process, but instead worked as a mechanic, fixing trucks for the 100th Engr. Float Bridge Co.
At the time, Schlosser owned a camera and took many photos of his time in Vietnam. But the one thing he never got a picture of was the bridges his unit built. After joining a Vietnam Veterans group, Schlosser asked several of his comrades if they had any pictures of those types of bridges.
“They said they drove across them, but nobody had a picture or they said if they had a picture, they had no idea where it was,” he said.
Fast forward several decades to 2018.
Schlosser’s brotherin-law, Carlyle Guenther, also served in the Army. He was killed in Vietnam on May 5, 1968 and 50 years later, the family held a remembrance service for him at his gravesite. After the ceremony, the family went to his sister-inlaw’s farm in Leaf Valley.
At one point, a box of Guenther’s old slides were taken out so that family could look through them.
“The tears came,” said Schlosser. “I tell you, it was so close, but yet so far.”
The “it” he was referring to was a picture of one of the bridges.
Schlosser said that the slides were shown when Guenther’s service ribbons were dedicated to his family in October of 1968. However, Schlosser wasn’t there as he was still in Vietnam. The slides were never shown again until 50 years later.
“They were in my mother-in-law’s closet until she passed and then they went into my sister-in-law’s closet,” he said.
“And then they were finally shown again during the remembrance. I always say that it was close. It was right there this whole time, but yet, it was so far away.”
Schlosser still has that photo and now when he talks about the bridges, he can show people what they looked like thanks to his brother-in-law.
REMEMBERING THE
NOT-SO-GOOD TIMES IN VIETNAM
One of the things Schlosser remembers most about being in Vietnam is the smell.
“It stunk so bad when we got there, we wondered how we were ever going to survive this mess,” he said. “You had your warfare. You had human death. You had animal death and you had sewage.”
He remembers one time when he got to go to the nearby city of Saigon and being told how beautiful of a city it was.
“I thought I must have gone to the wrong end as it was not so beautiful at that time,” he said.
Schlosser said there were lots of experiences that the soldiers had that they just couldn’t understand why they had to do them. He said one of them was burning human waste.
“That was my detail when I got into the transit, before I got sent to my unit. We had to burn somebody else’s waste,” he said, adding that they would add diesel fuel to it and then keep it burning until it was gone.
He also remembers having to pick up huge ice blocks that were like big popsicles that weighed 25 or more pounds. They didn’t use ice tongs for transporting them. He remembers just bear-hugging the frozen chunks of water and then they would throw them in big canvas bags that would be filled with water. The water would be used for soldiers to drink.
Once he got sent to his unit, Schlosser said he didn’t have to do any more of those “goofy” details.
Another not-so-good memory Schlosser remembered from his time in Vietnam was on Dec. 8, 1968. His unit was attacked by rockets.
“The interesting part about that is we were watching the “Green Beret” movie,” he said, adding that when it got real – the noises outside – they realized it wasn’t a movie and that it was real life.
“We had to kiss the floor and crawl out of there and head to the bunkers,” he said.
Not everyone survived. Schlosser did. He said that for some reason, God must have been with him.
To this day, though, Schlosser has never finished watching the “Green Beret” movie.
One last memory he isn’t so fond of is when they would go to the mess hall for chow. There was bread that would be served to the soldiers. Schlosser said at first they thought it was some kind of whole wheat bread, but then they found out it wasn’t. There were little bugs that were in the flour. At first, they would pick out the specks, but eventually, they would just eat it.
“You figured that it was baked, so hopefully the bugs were dead anyway,” he said.
THERE WERE SOME GOOD MEMORIES, TOO
One kind of fun memory, he said, is being in Vietnam when the American astronauts landed on the moon.
“I remember boy-san saying, ‘American number one on the moon. America number one on the moon,’ ” Schlosser said. “I remember him saying it because he could speak just a little bit of English.”
Boy-san is a term used for young boys in Vietnam, he said.
Schlosser also remembers being on “R&R” or rest and relaxation and getting to go to Sydney, Australia.
He said it was a beautiful city and that he remembers getting to see the famous opera house. It wasn’t open then, but he can still visualize standing on the steps. Schlosser said he shares that memory with his grandkids. He shows them pictures and tells them that their grandpa stood on those steps.
SCHLOSSER Page 25
Richard Schlosser in Vietnam in 1968. Contributed photo
Richard Schlosser’s basic training photo. Contributed photo
HONORING OUR VETERANS
DID YOU KNOW?
There are six branches of service in the U.S. military: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Space Force.
The oldest you can be to enlist for active duty in each branch is: Coast Guard, 31; Marines, 28; Navy, 39; Army, 35; Air Force, 39; Space Force, 39.
Moriah Bartolomeo Marine Corps 2017-2021
Vicki Berberich Marines 4 years
William Bursch Navy 4 years
Gerry Estrem Navy 8 years
Air Force 4 years
Erling Merten Berger Army 8 years Died June 10, 2024
Harvey Chermak Army 1965-1968
Marlyn Fearing Navy 20 years August 20, 2012
4 years
John Raiter Boyd Army Died December 16, 1972
Dane Compton Marine Corp 1959-1962
Adam Tracy Fredrickson Army 1992-1996
6 years
Gaylin V. Croonquist Navy 2 years active 6 years obligation
4 years
Army 2 years
Thomas Wayne Burns Army National Guard 6 years
Ronald H. Essler Army 18 months Died November 23, 1967
22 years-Retired
2 years
Joe Grecula Army
SH1SW Michael Garrett Navy
TMSN Thomas Garrett Navy
A2C Neil Garrett
Robert Geris
Dr. Tim Gehring Army-Major
DC3SW Raylinn Garrett-Newman Navy
Arnie Gunness Air Force 1949-1953
Ronald L. Helgeson Navy/Air Force Reserve 1983-2012
Glen Gust Army 101st Airborne 1969-1971
Grant Haugen Marine Corps - Vietnam 1969-1970 2 years
Malvin Henning Army 4 years Died June 22, 2000 Lt. Merrilee Henderson Navy, Medical Service Corps 2 years
Bennie Hedstrom Army 3 years
Roger Henningsgaard Army-Korean War 2 years Died October 7, 2024
Ryan Heidelberger Army National Guard 10 years
Vernon Christian Hoffbeck Army-Marksman 3 years Died April 1995
Ellsworth Holm Army-Korea 2 years
Ronald D. Johnson Army 1966-1969
James D. Kallstrom Marine Corps 1961-1965 Died August 12, 1991
Kim Ryan Hubred Army, National Guard & Naval Reserve 17 years
Ronald N. Johnson Navy 4 years Died 2015
Margret M. Kallstrom Army/National Guard/ Air National Guard 2001-present
Stephen Huemoller Army National Guard 9 years
Bryan R. Kallstrom Army/National Guard 1999-2008
Raymond E. Kallstrom Army 1971-1973
Milo O. Johnson Army 1945-1946
Died June 16, 1994
Eugene W. Kallstrom Army 1961-1963 Died April 24, 2021
Allen Klimek Army 1975-1978
Olaus M. Johnson Army 1918-1919
Died June 7, 1985
Gerald L. Kallstrom Army 1960-1963 Died August 12, 2020
Melvin J. Klimek Army 2 years
David W. Schulke
Alan D. Tyler Navy 9 years
Died May 30, 2024
Wayne E. Van Cleve Army 1942-1944
Died Dec. 10, 1944 (KIA)
Dayton Williamson Army 2 years
SFC Cal Uhn Army 27 years
Jon Velde Air Force 4 years
Harry Wiswell Army-WWI
Died Aug. 5, 1970
Duane Yager Air Force 4 years
Died Nov. 27, 2012 PAGE 24
Clyde R. Van Cleve Navy 1942-1946
Died Sept. 25, 2015
Steve Velde Navy 4 years
Died Feb. 20, 2017
Harvey Wiswell Army-Korean War 1952-1954
Died May 18, 2011
Dudley O. Van Cleve Army 1917-1918
Died Apr. 15, 1974
Kenneth W. Voigt Navy 1981-2001
Steven Wiswell Marine Corps-Desert Storm, 1989-1993
Died Mar. 29, 2022
Robert D. Van Cleve Navy 1970-1979
Christian C. Watson Navy Died June 3, 1981
Brian Worsech Army 4 years
DOUGLAS COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES IS READY TO ASSIST VETERANS
Staff members at the Douglas County Veterans Services office want to help area veterans find out what benefits might be offered to them, as well as assist them with any other questions they may have.
Jacob Turner, a veteran of the United States Army, is the Douglas County Veteran Service Officer. Rhonda Fuchs, a veteran of the United States Navy, is the Assistant Veterans Service Officer.
Turner and Fuchs are fully accredited with multiple organizations and everyone in the office has been through suicide prevention training.
Below is the contact info for the office, as well as email addresses for each staff member: Veterans Service Office (inside the Douglas County Services Center building) 806 Fillmore St. Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: 320-762-3883
Fax: 320-762-3094
Jacob Turner – jacobt@co.douglas.mn.us
Rhonda Fuchs – rhondaf@co.douglas.mn.us
VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION
The Veterans Crisis Line is 1-800-273-8255.
SCHLOSSER
From page 16
“There were zoos and stuff was beautiful there. It’s a clean city,” he said. “Although it struck me funny that at the zoo they had an American red fox, which was a predator back home.”
Another highlight for Schlosser was when he was tasked with servicing a Jeep for the CIA. The vehicle he worked on was used to escort First Lady Pat Nixon while she was on a humanitarian visit to Long Binh Prison, visiting U.S. prisoners, he said.
But one of the best memories for Schlosser was when he got to go home. He remembers when the plane filled with soldiers took off, it was so quiet because everyone was reflecting on their time and that what was happening – they were going home – was real.
He said it was a long, quiet flight until they started coming into California.
“When we saw the coast, that’s when we got loud,” he said. “It got so loud on the plane and we weren’t even on the ground yet. But, we saw our homeland!”
When he finally arrived back home in Miltona, he said it seemed kind of unreal.
He remembers saying to himself, “I’m home.”
After arriving home, Schlosser said he struggled. He said he had anger management issues and a problem with foul language for about 45 years, he said. And then it all changed after reading an article in a Reader’s Digest magazine.
The person the story was about had said while he was serving in Vietnam, he worked in the clerical department and that he felt guilty because he didn’t have to do what some other people had to do.
“I really felt the same way,” said Schlosser with tears in his eyes. “I felt I had it a lot
better than a lot of my comrades and after reading that article and knowing others felt the same way, I actually bawled. It was the best day of my life.”
Schlosser said after that his faith was strengthened, he quit being angry and using foul language and that he finally was able to appreciate his family and his wife so much more. He realized how important they were to him.
“It really was a moment in my life I won’t forget,”
said Schlosser. “I never felt I had PTSD, but I guess I did. Reading that article popped it loose. And I have felt better ever since.”
Schlosser and his wife, LaNell, will be celebrating 55 years of marriage in February 2025. They have four sons, 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He has been a lifelong resident of Miltona. He is a member of the VVA and he is the Sergeant at Arms for the Funeral Rifle Squad Honor Guard.
StoneBridge Wealth Management,
While in Vietnam, Richard Schlosser’s unit helped to build bridges, like this one.
Contributed photo
FATHER-DAUGHTER DUO PASSIONATE ABOUT
HELPING VETERANS Honor Flight,
By Celeste Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press
Father-daughter duo
Kevin Mahoney of Alexandria and Macaille Mahoney Hafner of Savage (formerly of Alexandria) probably have many things in common besides their DNA, but they both definitely share a passion for the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/ MN organization.
Both of them were on the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. this past September, along with more than 200 veterans and dozens of volunteers. Macaille believes she has been on eight trips, but said she can’t remember for sure. Kevin said he has been on four trips.
Veterans Salute editor Celeste Edenloff reached out to them both to find out a little more about their involvement with the organization.
Here are the questions and each of their answers:
Q: How did you become involved with the Honor Flight organization?
Macaille: Since learning about Honor Flight several years ago, I was very intrigued. I even recall seeing a group of WWII veterans
breaking through temporary barriers that had been put up around the WWII Memorial during a government shutdown years before I became involved with Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN and was so moved by them. When I learned that a friend of my mom’s was involved in the Fargo-Moorhead area with the local hub I was very interested in joining their ranks. My husband and I had recently moved to the area and I was looking for a way to get involved and volunteer in the community. My mom called her friend and got the fundraiser volunteer meeting information for me. Two days later I dove in head-first!
Kevin: My daughter, Macaille, became very involved in Honor Flight, which sparked an interest in me. She invited me and my wife to attend the “Welcome Home” ceremony held at Hector International Airport in Fargo as the 100 veterans exited the plane from their trip to Washington D.C. There were hundreds of people cheering, a 20-piece band playing patriotic songs, small kids cheering and many people holding “Welcome Home” signs. We watched veterans
with happy tears in their eyes and we were overwhelmed with emotion and immediately felt we should not just watch the homecoming, but rather get involved, which is just what we did.
Q: Why did you become involved?
Macaille: Growing up, my dad and I watched all kinds of military movies together. I was also the one reading old battle books when my peers were reading Harry Potter and Twilight. Military history has intrigued me for as long
as I can remember. All three of my grandfathers and the great uncles who played a major role in my parents’ upbringing were involved in WWII and the Korean War, and I wanted to learn as much about the conflicts they lived through – and subsequent military involvements –that I could. It’s maybe unsurprising then that my future husband would also be in the military (he’d been in the U.S. Army for eight years when we met). However, with his Army assignment (USAREC)
Macaille Mahoney Hafner snaps a selfie of her and her dad, Kevin Mahoney, on one of the Honor Flight buses while touring around Washington D.C. Contributed photo
we were never stationed at a military post. As such, I continued to live a mostly civilian-style life and never felt a real strong magnetism to military life, despite wishing that I could do more support-wise with my time. Additionally, I have had a soft-spot for seniors since I was a little girl. Becoming a volunteer for Veterans Honor Flight of ND/ MN seemed to be a perfect marriage of the two.
Kevin: I have always harbored a slight guilt for not serving in the military, despite enlisting in both the Navy and Army, of which I was denied due to health concerns. My father and his four brothers all saw action in WWII, so military participation was always a topic as I grew up.
Q: What is your role with the organization in general and then also when you are on the trips?
Macaille: When I lived in Fargo, I did everything I could – flipped pancakes, made silent auction baskets, cleaned tables at our spaghetti dinners, took photos of events, sold raffle tickets, set up the Hector International Airport in Fargo for the homecoming event – you name it, I did it. When the Army moved us out of the Fargo area and Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN graciously agreed to keep me on the team, my role shifted to more computer-based things – designing flyers, writing/editing/publishing our quarterly newsletters, putting together brochures and helping to proof and edit other printed collateral materials. Nearly the entirety of my time with the group, I put together the info in the biography book. Veterans on each flight are given a yearbook of sorts that contain information
about Honor Flight, our hub, the trip itinerary, maps of Washington D.C, sponsorship and volunteer shout-outs, and most importantly, stories about each of the individual veterans. The booklets are something very unique to our hub. I’m unsure if any of the other 127 hubs do something like this. It’s a true labor of love and something I’m very proud of.
On the trip, I’ve held a few different roles. Most often, I’ve been assigned to stair duty. The coach buses we use are very nice vehicles, but each of them are equipped with a rounded set of stairs. The Mid-Atlantic region is quite humid and sometimes rainy, and when that happens we can expect the stairs on the
Macaille Mahoney Hafner talks with a veteran on the Honor Flight while her dad, Kevin Mahoney, stands by.
Contributed photo / Monica Krenz DU0
buses to be slippery. Additionally, many of our aging veterans are challenged with mobility and stability. Each time we unload and reload the buses, there are people like me in position to make sure everyone gets up and down the stairs safely. When that’s been accomplished, I then grab a wheelchair, full or empty, and head out into the memorials and monuments to provide transportation for those who need it, as well as those who don’t realize they’ll need it on the way back. I’ve been a bathroom sweeper, making sure no one gets left behind along the way; an initial photo taker so we know exactly what everyone looks like and the proper spelling of their name should someone inadvertently wander off or get mixed up with a different tour group; a key hander-outer and floor-wanderer at the hotel making sure everyone gets into their hotel room and showing them how their key cards work; a baggage loader; a foot traffic conductor, a mail-call distributor; and most recently, a Facebook Live narrator when we had two simultaneous planes traveling. In other words, besides medical work and being an actual bus captain, if there’s work needing to be done, I do it and have done it. Kevin: Prior to the trips I hold the title of Community Ambassador. My role is to find qualified veterans and encourage them to fill out an application. I do so by addressing various military organizations such as the VFW and American Legion. In addition, I speak to service clubs, nonprofits, on the local radio station and/or wherever I can get in front of veterans. It’s one thing to find an interested veteran and another to get them to complete and return the application, so I do spend individual time explaining the trip details and
convincing the veteran to complete the process.
My on-flight and trip duties are numerous such as assisting with boarding the older veterans and helping them off the plane, guiding them through the airport, helping them board the coach buses and deal with their luggage. Many use wheelchairs and we help them visit the sites this way. We help distribute boxed lunches and help them locate their deceased friends and family’s names on the Vietnam Wall. Additionally, one of my jobs is Stair Captain as getting on and off the bus steps can be tricky.
As the Alexandria Area Community Ambassador, it is also my job to coordinate and help out at fundraising events. My newest job is to find community ambassadors in other towns to help grow the organization.
Q: What does it mean to each of you personally to be able to go on these trips?
Macaille: When I started volunteering for Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN, I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be asked to go on a flight. There seemed to be such a knowledgeable and well-trained set of folks between the Board of Directors and a few other long-term volunteers. I didn’t think someone like me would be in that mix. I figured my role was to help raise money in whatever capacity I could. When I was asked to go on my first flight back in October 2017, I was floored. When we were actually in the air and traveling around Washington it felt like a dream. I was able to connect with the veterans on such a much deeper level. I adored helping them in any way possible, even if it simply meant reiterating the stories we were learning because they couldn’t hear them the first time. Going on these
Contributed photo / Renee Clasen
trips means seeing with my own two eyes that the work we’re doing is making a difference. Knowing that we’re providing a mechanism that helps heal old wounds, honors someone’s service and makes people feel like they mattered is incredible. Each time I’m invited to attend one of our trips I feel like I’ve hit the lottery. To spend a long weekend with 100 heroes is amazing. We laugh and joke together, share stories, listen to each other’s hearts pouring out, offer shoulders to cry on and carry each other through a real life-changing experience. I may only know these men and women for a few days, but we develop a life-long bond. Running into previous flight veterans is a favorite thing of mine. I relish seeing their faces and catching up on what they’ve been up to the last few months or hearing about which of their military friends are traveling with us next. Going on these trips means truly giving back to the folks who have sacrificed so much for the lifestyle we live today. Pushing someone around in a wheelchair or offering to carry their empty lunch box to the trash so they don’t have to get up or showing the world back home their loved one’s proof of life on Facebook is the
very least I can do to thank them. There are so many different charities that claim to “support our troops” or “honor our veterans,” this is the MOST direct way I’ve found to do just that.
Kevin: To witness the smiles and tears from most veterans makes all our involvement worthwhile. Most veterans have not seen these wonderful monuments built in their honor. I know they feel appreciated once they witness what our country built to thank them for their service, especially the Korean and Vietnam veterans who were abandoned on their arrival back home.
Q: What can people locally do to get involved, to donate or to fundraise in general?
Macaille: People can help us out by attending our fundraisers. Several have popped up over the years – spring hanging baskets, fall mums, cribbage tournaments, bowling tournaments, motorcycle runs. We have new ideas all the time and are hoping to do more fundraiser events in the future. Additionally, we could always use more volunteers at our fundraiser events in the area. If people have ideas for fundraisers of their own, we’d love to help guide or provide expertise or supplies
Kevin Mahoney, in green shirt, gets a selfie photo taken with Jim Zehner, a veteran on the Honor Flight. The veterans in the background, from left, are Richard Schlosser, Louie Seesz and Elsworth Reed.
where we can. Some folks have even started recommending our 501c3 charity for memorials when their loved ones pass away and that’s incredibly moving to me. Alexandria is fortunate to have a Community Ambassadorship. We’re one of two communities within our hub that have a strong presence, raise a good amount of awareness and funding, and have ardent supporters. Our hub’s boundaries are massive, covering almost 50,000 square-miles. The Community Ambassadorships help alleviate some of the challenges for those living in such a large hub present. Certainly, a Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN vehicle won’t be flying out of Chandler Field, however our job is to make sure the veterans who live in our area know about this opportunity and to help make sure costs are covered for as many veterans as possible that want to take our flights. A potential volunteer doesn’t need to have a direct tie to the military or a specific veteran to get involved. All they’d need is an affinity for the work we’re doing. Each of our flights costs about $270,000 (in 2024 money) and with five more flights on the books for 2025, we
have work to do to make sure each of these deserving men and women get their opportunity. If you belong to a group that raises money or awareness for good causes and we might be of interest to your gift-giving, we can also give presentations or speak with your members about what we do and provide personal accounts of our initiatives. Contact Kevin at 320-760-6328 for more information.
Kevin: Of course, the best thing local folks can do is help with fundraising. Simple donations are very important, but finding existing organizations or businesses who are willing to host an annual fundraising event are far and away the best. The local Elks Club has been involved in hosting motorcycle and bowling events that have raised much appreciated funds for our flights. There is another bowling event coming up soon sponsored by Garden Center and the Elks Club. Please contact me if your organization would like to hold a fundraising event for the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN at 320-760-6328.
BENEFITS AVAILABLE
• MEDICAL CARE at Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers to include the Max Beilke Outpatient Clinic in Alexandria.
• COMPENSATION for disabilities incurred in or aggravated during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
• PENSION for wartime veterans who meet income and net worth guidelines.
• DEATH BENEFITS to include burial at the National and State Veterans Cemeteries.
• ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS from the MN Department of Veterans Affairs, which can include dental, optical, living costs on a shortterm basis and assistance with rent, mortgage or utilities from the MN Assistance Council for Veterans.
• TRANSPORTATION We can assist veterans in getting to medical appointments at the St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and Fargo Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. **List is not all inclusive**
Kevin Mahoney and his daughter, Macaille Mahoney Hafner, standing by the Minnesota pillar at the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C.
Contributed photo
FUGLESTAD
From page 9
many other Vietnam vets. There were no parades, no fanfare and no warm welcome from a grateful nation. His homecoming was marked by silence, alienation and hostility. He was spit on, called horrible names and even had his army jacket ripped off of him by an angry dissident. The war in which he fought was not one celebrated and the country to which he returned had grown weary and divided by its controversy. My dad, like many other Vietnam veterans, didn’t talk about his service. He simply blended into the fabric of American life, his service was forgotten by many but it was something he quietly carried with him every day. He got married, had two children and worked hard to move on and support his family.
The war took a toll on him. Not just physically but emotionally. He saw things that no person should ever witness, and he lost friends in ways that are difficult to describe, even to his closest family members. These are things that only a combat veteran can share with his brothers that endured similar experiences. He, like many others, buried these memories and pushed forward, hoping to build a world where his son
and daughter would never have to see the things he’d seen.
Years passed and I grew up in a world that often overlooked the sacrifices of those who had fought in Vietnam. As I matured, I began to understand the weight of my father’s silence. I knew he’d been to war but it wasn’t until I started reading books and watching
7am-4pm
documentaries about the Vietnam War that I began to grasp the enormity of what he had endured.
I felt a deep sense of gratitude for my father, not just for his service, but for the quiet strength which he carried the burden of that experience. My dad never boasted about his time in the war; in fact, he rarely spoke of it at all.
REA Salutes All Veterans.
We thank youfor your sacrificeand service.
Veterans on the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. stand by the North Dakota pillar at the WWII Memorial. The veterans are, from left, Cary Fuglestad, Tim Parkman, Al Gunkel and Lloyd Fuglestad.
Contributed photo / Monica Krenz
He never complained about the dismal homecoming or lack of respect his motherland showed him. Yet I knew that the man standing before me was a hero: someone who had served his country when called upon, even if that service had gone unappreciated for so long. It has become important to me to honor my father’s sacrifice, even if society hadn’t. I take advantage of every chance I have to thank a veteran or support a worthy cause that benefits the men and women that signed the bottom line. I want my dad to know that I’m here for
him whenever he wants to share a story or talk about his experiences. In my eyes, my dad is more than just my father. He’s a symbol of courage and resilience, a man who has given so much without ever asking for recognition. The
529 Broadway St., Alexandria, MN (320) 846-1100
Monday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm Sunday: 11am - 3pm
appreciation I feel is not just personal; it’s a way of reclaiming the respect that has been denied to so many Vietnam veterans. I know that while the nation may have forgotten, I never will. My father’s service and sacrifices will always be cherished and honored. In my heart, my dad will always be the unsung hero who stood tall, even when no one was watching.
If you would like more information about the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN, please visit veteranshonorflightofndmn.org.
Thank you for your Service & Sacrifice Toy for Kids Organization Marine Corps League meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month.
“All of us at Alomere Health salute the veterans that fought for our freedom—many giving their lives We are honored to have veterans that work with us at Alomere, continuing to serve our community Thank you ”
