Vets tab 2013

Page 1

November 13, 2013

ON VETERANS DAY A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

The Leader Kanawha Reporter

Our Veterans Remember:

A Look Back in Time • Local veterans recall their life in the service • Where to get help for PTSD • Understanding the life changes of becoming a veteran

Veterans Day 2013- Page 2

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Ship gunner’s mate Jenniges crisscrossed Asia during Vietnam War

By Molly Angstman Al Jenniges remembers watching news footage recently of US soldiers in Iraq and being shocked at how young they all looked. “I said, gosh, those guys are just kids! But then I guess I was a kid when I went to Vietnam too,� he says. After enlisting in the Navy and finishing basic training in San Diego, Jenniges arrived in Vietnam via Guam in 1967 on the USS Clarke County. He was 19 years old. Jenniges’ rank as a gunner’s mate meant manning the ship’s guns - firing them as well as battling damaging salt water to keep the guns in perfect condition. His three tours in Vietnam took him to Da Nang, Vung Tua, and Cua Biet. Missions often involved the transfer of troops or supplies. “The tour in Da Nang meant we unloaded cargo in Da Nang and loaded up servicemen who had been in the jungle and took them to Okinawa for R&R,� says Jenniges, citing an example mission. Jenniges credits his military service for friendships he still

maintains today, as well as an opportunity to travel. In addition to Vietnam and Guam, he visited Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Those experiences shaped new appreciation for his homeland. “It made you think a lot, and made you appreciate what we have here,� he says. “It did me a lot of good. Made me a lot wiser.� Jenniges turned 21 in San Francisco while he was being “processed out� at the end of his tours. “I had met a lot of great people, and I made it home. A lot of guys didn’t,� he says. “Being over there would either make you or break you. I was very fortunate.� He was relieved to be home, he says, and it was a while before he got used to not having to take orders from anyone. It was much later, when he was living in Garner and working as a truck driver, when his health problems began. Jenniges has ischemia, a condition his doctors say was caused by exposure to Agent Orange, a US-manufactured chemical weapon used in Southeast Asia during the

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Vietnam War. Ischemia inhibits proper blood flow, causing oxygen deficiencies in body tissues and organs. His legs were amputated in a surgery in 2002. Doctors mentioned a wheelchair after his surgery, but Jenniges worked hard at physical therapy and found a way of mobility more his style. He gets around these days on prosthetic legs decorated with colorful patriotic symbols. His health is good shape now after kidney transplant surgery in April. “My oldest son, Cory, gave me a kidney,� Jenniges said. “I was really proud of him.� Although he can’t drive trucks any longer, he says he stays active supporting events and organizations in the community (like working at one time as the Directors of Veterans Affairs for Hancock County), and keeping track of his big family with wife Teri. “The grandkids keep us busy but we really enjoy it. We have nine grandkids now. There are lots of concerts and football games, etc. That’s our life now, and we are very grateful.�

Jenniges plays with his pet Yorkie, Duke, in his Garner home. Al Jenniges served in the US Navy from 1967 to 1969.

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 4

Popowski sees both blizzards and palm trees while in the US Navy By Molly Angstman During his almost four years as a construction mechanic in the US Navy Construction Battalion, Dennis Popowski crisscrossed the globe working to keep US forces machinery running smoothly. Members of his battalion, called “seabees” from the initials “CB,” were in many ways the logistical support system for US forces overseas, digging wells, building roads, and maintaining the vast amount of machinery needed for war. Popowski, a farm boy from Ivanhoe, Minnesota, had just completed his education in farm equipment and diesel mechanics before he enlisted. He already had two draft deferments and decided to enlist in the Navy as a way of helping to control what kind of military experience he was going to have. A job wasn’t exactly waiting for him when finished school, anyway. “Implement dealers at that time wouldn’t take you with two deferments,” says Popowski. “When you were finished with school, you had to go [into the military]. And if you got drafted, it was likely that you went into the Army.” The Seabees were the perfect group for Popowski. “It was a very positive experience for me because

I was working in my own trade,” he says. “We worked with engines, transmissions, hydraulics, and some heavy construction equipment, light automotive, and even for a while I was working on Wisconsin engines.” The Seabees were a great fit, except for the whole ocean part. “The only thing that was wrong with me going into the Navy was that I didn’t know how to swim,” he says. “I drank a lot of water learning how to swim on my back.” After boot camp in San Diego, Popowski spent “a day short of a year” in Adak, Alaska, which was home to a weather station on a remote 24-square-mile island. He remembers that it was in Alaska he made the most expensive phone call of his life - a happy birthday phone call to girlfriend Char (now Mrs. Popowski) that cost him most of that week’s pay. Soon after that phone call, Popowski traded snow for palm trees and arrived in Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam. A typical day involved inspecting and re-inspecting vehicles for problems and assigning duties to the team of mechanics he managed. The biggest challenge was waiting for parts. In addition to his mechanical duties, Popowski also was training two Vietnamese men in mechanics. He says it was

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Dennis Popowski in his dress uniform. Popowski was in the US Navy from 1969 to 1973. often a scary situation for Vietnamese who opted to try and learn skills from the Americans. “The sad part is that they wanted to have a job and learn a trade like this and have their kids with them, but the communist regime there would take kids away and brainwash them into ratting on their parents,” he says. “A lot of people don’t realize what life under communism is like when it’s a very strict dictatorship.” After a short training stint back in the US in Rhode Island, Popowski was shipped to Guam, where he got to experience some offbase food adventures while running errands. “They wanted someone dependable to go out to the civilian stores and get parts. That was OK by me because occasionally if I didn’t like breakfast I would pull into a joint that had polish sausage

Dennis Popowski and wife Char look through a photo album from his military days. and sauerkraut. And I got to see some real life of the locals in Guam, not just life on the base.” From Guam, Popowski returned to the US and civilian life. He found a mechanic job almost immediately in Hartley, Iowa. He and Char were married within a few months of his return. The couple have raised seven children together and now live in Garner. Popowski works at Winnebago Industries as a chassis technician. It’s been decades since his time in the service, but Popowski sometimes thinks of Vietnam, often in terms of his strong Christian faith. He is now a deacon with the

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Archdiocese of Dubuque and serves many parishes in north Iowa doing everything from assisting at mass to leading marriage retreats to visiting shut-ins. “Above all,” he says, “being a deacon means being an example of the love, mercy, and compassion of Jesus Christ.” He prayed a lot while overseas, and spent a lot of time thinking about things he had taken for granted before. “I learned to appreciate the religious and social freedoms we have here while training those two young Vietnamese in mechanics,” he says. “I appreciated having discussions with them and

being able to help them. I still wonder how they turned out.” Popowski felt called to be a deacon so he could be of service to others and deepen his own faith. He says he always thought church was his “home away from home” and even while in Vietnam would go to Catholic mass at a nearby Air force base and then return to his own base and go to the Protestant service too. “There’s a great saying that I like. It goes “God is outside of us, Jesus is beside us, and the Holy Spirit is within us,” he says. “Over there, I counted on the Holy Spirit a lot, and I still do now.”

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 5

Across the pond and back: Prohaska recalls service as Air Force mechanic Bombers, and Prohaska witnessed a massive wave of construction that included new buildings, maintenance wings, and other support operations to accommodate the B-2. “The last year I was there they were pumping millions and millions of dollars into that base to get it ready. It was pretty amazing seeing all that going up,� Prohaska said. While the B-2 preparation was noteworthy, Prohaska’s most memorable moment came when he got to visit an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silo located at one of the Strategic Air Command’s launch sites at Whiteman. Prohaska underwent a series of security checks before he got the OK to visit the warhead with an Air Force official. “It was kind of like a James Bond movie,� he said. “We took this elevator down and once we stuck our heads out, there was this ICBM with USAF painted on the side of it.� Prohaska’s service came to an end when he was honorably discharged in November of 1989. He eventu-

ally moved back to Garner with his wife, Cheri, and raised two children, Brad and Sara. Brad has since followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Air Force. He’s currently in his second four-year enlistment and works as an F-15 fighter

Mark Prohaska Air Force, 1982-1989 jet crew chief at Seymour as no surprise to his father. Johnson Air Force Base in “Since he was 7, he was North Carolina. He does always dressing up in my pre- and post-flight inspec- Air Force stuff for Hallowtions, buckles in the pilot een,� said Prohaska. “He and talks with him or her has a patriotic streak like prior to takeoff, and also me, too. It’s kind of like does maintenance work on what they say – God, famthe aircraft. ily, and country.� Brad’s enlistment came His time with the Air

Force came to an end nearly 25 years ago, but Prohaska said he still looks back at his eight years with appreciation. “I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t miss it. I was good at what I did, and I enjoyed it.�

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By Nick Pedley Long-time Garner resident Mark Prohaska always figured he’d end up in the military some day, he just didn’t know where. “It’s something I knew I’d always do,� he explained. “I’m a pretty patriotic guy, I liked traveling, and I didn’t have any plans after high school. It just seemed like a nice fit.� Prohaska eventually found his way to the Air Force in 1982 when he enlisted at the age of 20. While the flashy, powerful jets impressed him, Prohaska knew he’d never find himself in the cockpit. A red/green color deficiency in his eyes strictly excluded him from flying. Prohaska wasn’t deterred, however. He set his sights on more realistic Air Force jobs and wound up as a heavy equipment mechanic. After all, he had grown up around his father’s Allis-Chalmers dealership in Duncan and certainly knew his way around a large engine. “I knew I wasn’t going to fly, but I thought it’d be nice to work on jets,� he said. “It sounded a lot more glamorous than working on trucks. But, I said what the heck. I’ll do that. Most of the vehicles were typical of what you’d see at a construction site.� His job as a heavy equipment mechanic eventually led him across the Atlantic Ocean to the Royal Air Force Station Bentwaters about 80 miles north of London. The station was used by allied forces during the Cold War to defend against a potential Soviet Union attack in Germany. Prohaska returned stateside after serving two years in England. He was sent to Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field in Nevada before heading to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Mo., to finish out his military career. His time spent at Whiteman was a unique period in the base’s history, he said. The Air Force was preparing the base for the very first fleet of legendary B-2

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Garner man leaves Vietnam with Purple Heart

By Nick Pedley Fresh out of high school and with no immediate plans, Gary Heinen knew exactly what was coming his way in 1967. A draft letter. “I knew it was coming because I didn’t go to college,� said the 1966 graduate of Sheffield-Chapin High School. “I was gone 60 days after I got it.� Heinen’s draft letter proved to be just a small chapter in an otherwise eventful two-year stint with the U.S. Army. After leaving home in Sept. 1967 and completing basic training, he was shipped overseas to Vietnam in 1968 and joined America’s fight against the North Vietnamese. Heinen was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division upon his arrival, but there was little opportunity for a learning curve. “I never took any airborne training, but that’s where I ended up,� he explained. “When I got there they just assigned me to that unit because they needed somebody.� Heinen’s unit was made up of 10 to 20 men and undertook numerous search and destroy missions. He and his fellow soldiers marched for hours on end throughout the North Vietnamese rice paddies in sweltering heat. Nighttime provided little relief, and the men were also exposed to leeches, mosquitoes and other pests during their marches. However, blood-sucking parasites were the least of their concerns. “It’d be just like here,� Heinen said while describing the terrain. “There’d be a little hill with some trees and a little village, and we’d move through the villages. Hopefully, they didn’t shoot at you.� The unit would march anywhere from four to 10 miles each day, stopping only to eat and sleep. “You were moving constantly. At nights, you’d dig a foxhole and just camp out,� he said. All that marching eventually led the unit to their intended targets. Heinen was involved in a handful of skirmishes with North

Vietnamese troops, but one in particular stood out. The unit was engaged with the enemy during one mission when a grenade thrown by a Vietcong exploded within yards of where Heinen was situated. The blast blew some of his equipment off his body, but he remained unscathed. “I didn’t get hurt, but it was right over top of me – I seen him throw it,� he said, “It landed not too far away, but far enough away.� Heinen’s luck seemingly ran out on May 1, 1968. Yet again, he and his unit found themselves in an engagement with enemy forces during one of their missions. The group called in artillery reinforcement to quell the hostile Vietcong forces, but one round fell short and exploded near the unit. The blast left Heinen severely wounded after shrapnel tore into his hip. Soon, he was transported to Okinawa where he received treatment for his wounds. “I don’t know how severe it really was. It tore up a bunch of meat and left a big hole,� he said. “For two weeks I was getting probably 15-20 shots a day of antibiotics. They’d just load you up.�

Gary Heinen U.S. Army, 1967-1969 Heinen’s injuries kept him in the hospital for nearly two months and left him incapable of returning to the battlefield. He was reassigned to Okinawa and joined the transportation unit as a mechanic, where he fulfilled the remainder of his two years before being honorably discharged in Sept. of 1969.

Heinen’s sacrifice on the battlefield landed him the Purple Heart – an award bestowed to soldiers injured or killed while fighting for the United States. The honor was noteworthy, but Heinen was grateful to escape Vietnam with his life. “I guess I lived through it,� he said. Heinen returned to north

central Iowa after his stint in the U.S. Army ended. He worked as a mechanic at John Deere in Garner for many years before moving to his current job at Brakke Implement in Mason City. He’s remained active in the local V.F.W. chapter, where he serves as the quartermaster. His time in the military

has passed, but Heinen’s two years of service left a lasting impression that remains more than four decades later. “Every once in a while memories will pop up out of nowhere,� he said. “I wouldn’t want to do it again, but I was glad I did. It’s an experience you’ll live with the rest of your life.�

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 7

Navy offers Korsa chance to see the world

By Rebecca Peter “Join the Navy and see the world� is one of the recruiting lines used by the United States Navy. In 1958, 17-year-old Bernie Korsa, Garner, took Uncle Sam’s advice and enlisted. “I wanted to see what I could see,� said Korsa, who grew up on a farm near Crystal Lake. Korsa underwent basic training at San Diego. He then went to Norman, Okla. for training as an aviation electronics technician. He goal was to attend the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. But when he was 12, Korsa had polio. “I didn’t have any reflexes in my left leg. So they wouldn’t let me into the Naval Academy because you had to be in perfect physical condition.� “When I couldn’t make the Naval Academy they said, ‘Well, where would you like to go?’ I said I would like to go overseas.� How about an aircraft carrier? “I said, ‘I’ll take it!’ � Korsa spent the last two years in the Navy aboard the USS Essex. He was assigned to the flight deck. Korsa lined up the planes in the order they were to take off. “They had what you call catapults. They’d hook the plane to it, and build up pressure and shoot the plane off,� he said. “When you talk to the pilots they’d say, ‘When you see that ship down there it’s like landing on a postage stamp.’ They’re coming in at over 100 miles per hour and they’d have to

stop within less than 100 feet.� “The same with take-off. They would go from zero to 100 miles per hour in less than 200-300 feet.� Ports of Call Korsa enjoys talking about the different ports of call he visited. “I made two cruises to the Mediterranean,� he said. “I was able to see France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Lebanon.� He and a shipmate spent a couple days in Rome. The ship went on a tour of duty to the Middle East, including Pakistan and India. “We were the only aircraft carrier and the biggest ship that ever went through the Suez Canal,� he said. “What really makes you appreciate what we have here is when you go to some of those poor countries,� he said. Bay of Pigs Invasion There were some very tense times, too, aboard the Essex. In April of 1961, the Essex had a role in the Bay of Pigs Invasion - the ill-fated attempt by the CIA and Cuban nationals to overthrow Fidel Castro’s regime. The Essex’s crew was tasked to provide air support to CIA-sponsored bombers. However, Bernie and the crew were told very little of their mission at the time. “All we were doing were launching these planes,� he said. “We were told not to say anything.� He recalled that all his mail was censored. “We were only told what

we needed to know,� he said. In July of 1961, Korsa left active duty and was in the Navy Reserves for six years. He married his wife, Sandy, in 1964 and the couple raised a family. He returned home and farmed near Crystal Lake until 1973. The family moved to Garner and Bernie worked for IMT four years before working as a contractor for Nordaas Homes of Minnesota Lakes until 1983. He then worked for the Eaton Corp. at Belmond for 15 years. In 1980, a fire destroyed family’s home. Also lost in the blaze were photos and home movies of Bernie’s time the Navy. Korsa bought Wildridge trailer park in 1994. He and Sandy built another home there. He points with pride to the paneling, flooring and woodwork that he cut and sanded, and Sandy stained. Community Service Today, Korsa is semiretired. He served a term

on the Garner City Council. He enjoys helping with community projects. Most recently, his carpentry skills and knowledge were put to use helping to restore the Avery Theatre. “It was very enjoyable,� he said, “Rather than give cash, if I can give time and save some money, I figure I was doing as good of job as the people who were giving cash.� “I don’t mind helping people,� he continued, “because in 1980 when our house burned down, the community was very generous and helped us with food, clothing and the like. With [the community] helping me, and me going to work and helping with the Avery, I feel like I’m giving back, too.� “I had two great people to work with,� he continued. “That was Lloyd Bier and Mark Ricke. They were wonderful to work with and we had a great time.� Of his service in the Navy, Bernie says, “I would not want to change that

Bernie Korsa U.S. Navy - 1958-1961 part of my life no matter “I think I grew up and what, because I saw a lot of matured. I wouldn’t change things.� very many things.

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 8

Veterans at Westview Care Center

Westview Care Center, Britt, a member of the ABCM Corp., is proud to recognize these veterans: Arnold Lodin (WWII, Army), Rodney Hanson, Robert Schisel (Army), Merrill Olson (Korean War, Army), James Meurer (Korean War, Air Force), Paul Hartwell, Walbert Mayland (WWII), Marvin Sandry (Army). Not pictured: Robert Larson (Army). Photo by Sarah Freesemann

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 9

Thank You Veterans!

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Cardinal Grove and Concord Care Center Veterans

Concord Care Center and Cardinal Grove, Garner, a member of the ABCM Corporation, is proud to recognize these veterans: (left-right) front row: Wayne Rasmus (Korean Conflict), Edward Marson (Vietnam War), Art Baumgartner (WW II) and Raymond Cooper (WW II), Back row (l to r): Bob Young (Korean Conflict) and Harold Hejlik (Korean Conflict). Not pictured: Merle Klinge (Korean Conflict). Photo by Rebecca Peter

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 10

Smith worked in radio communications in Korea

By Rebecca Peter In January of 1951, Wayne David Smith was 22 years old, and helping his dad farm and driving truck for the Co-op Elevator in Kanawha. Then he was drafted into the Army. The Korean War (19501953) was going on at the time. Smith received basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas, before being sent overseas. Smith normally goes by his middle name “David.� The first thing he had to get used to in the Army was being called “Wayne D.� “I got over [to Korea] just after U.S. Forces came back from the Yalu River,� he said. “The fighting had come to standstill.� When Dave first arrived in Seoul he had about a month of training in radio communications. He was assigned to the Third Division, 87th Artillery Battalion where he initially worked in the motor pool and drove several different officers. “Then they transferred me to the radio section,�

he recalled. “I sat in the battalion headquarters tent and we had radio contact with four firing batteries.� Messages were relayed to the liaison planes that observed the artillery fire. “There was one time when the battalion headquarters was far enough away, they had to have a relay in between.� Dave spent about six weeks at a relay station working a radio in the back of a truck. His job was to relay messages from battery headquarters to the front line. “I always laugh about that because I slept in a pup tent and sat real close to the firing batteries. All I had for light was a candle. Every time those firing batteries would shoot, my candle would go out,� he chuckled. “There was that much force.� “It was an experience you would never get any other way. You learn there’s a right way, the wrong way, and the Army way. You did it the Army way.�

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Dave was discharged in October of 1952. He was stationed for a time at Ft. Carson, Colo., before returning to Kanawha. He was in the Army Reserves for several years, “but I never had to go to meetings.� “I could have had [the elevator job] back when I came home, but my dad said, ‘You can farm.’� He married his sweetheart, Celine, the following November. After his parents retired and moved to Britt, Dave and Celine moved to the family farm 1967. The couple raised two daughters: Linda Carter and Janet Christians. Both reside in the Des Moines area. He used to keep in touch with some of his Army buddies. “I became very good friends with a guy from Waverly. When we came home I stood up for him at his wedding. I haven’t heard from him for

W. David Smith Army 1951-1952 a number of years.� He still is good friends with Carroll Carlson, formerly of Kanawha, now of Owatonna, Minn. The two went through basic training together. Dave fully retired from farming two years ago. He and Celine still reside on the farm where he likes to restore tractors. He still raises a few sheep. The Korean Conflict is sometimes referred to as “the forgotten war.�

Dave and Celine Smith at home in rural Kanawha “People in this country never give us any credit,� he remarked. “But when I was in Seoul, South Korea, it was totally bombed out. Everything. You go back today, and they say it’s one of the most beautiful cities there is because it’s totally rebuilt.� South Korea is flourishing by comparison to North Korea. Today, South Korea is an important U.S. trading partner in Asia.

Dave is a 56-year member of the American Legion at Kanawha. He served for many years on the honor guard. He is also a former Hancock County Supervisor. He is appreciative of the medical benefits he has received through the Veterans Administration. “Just the fact that I was a veteran is a big part of my life,� he said.

We thank our Veterans for their service and Ć?Ä‚Ä?ĆŒĹ?ÄŽÄ?Äž Ć?Ĺ˝ Ç Äž Ä?Ä‚Ĺś ĹŻĹ?ǀĞ ĨĆŒÄžÄžÍ˜ tÄž Ä‚ĆŒÄž ÄžĆšÄžĆŒĹśÄ‚ĹŻĹŻÇ‡ Ĺ?ĆŒÄ‚ĆšÄžĨƾů ĨŽĆŒ Ä‚ĹŻĹŻ LJŽƾ ŚĂǀĞ ÄšŽŜÄž ĨŽĆŒ ŽƾĆŒ Ä?ŽƾŜĆšĆŒÇ‡Í˜

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 11

Dempsey was a computer programmer for the Air Force

By Rebecca Peter If you ask Ron Dempsey, Garner, why he joined the Air Force in 1954, his response is likely to be, “Is there any other?â€? But he’ll also tell you - with a grin - that he signed up for the Air Force basically because the Army recruiter was out for coffee. In 1954, Dempsey was 18 and working for a Chevrolet dealership. A native of Kanawha, Dempsey and high school friend decided join the Army. The two went to the Army recruiting office in Mason City, but the recruiting officer happened to be out for coffee. The Air Force recruiter across the hall, however, was in. “He said, ‘Can I help you boys?’ Five minutes later we were taking the test.â€? Dempsey received basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas He was assigned with a supply squadron at El Paso, Texas, and stayed there until January or February of 1959. In was in 1959 Ron decided to have a career with the Air Force. He was married at the time and raising a family. Jobs were tight. His former father-inlaw advised he stay with the Air Force. Ron’s next assignment was Morocco (formerly known as French Morocco) in North Africa. In North Africa, the temperature could reach as high as 120 degrees during the day. “But in the evening when the wind would come off the ocean‌we’d put on two or three blankets.â€? The first thing he did in the morning was to shake the scorpions out of his

boots. “The bugs [scorpions] didn’t like cold either,� he said. “If they can get in bed with you, they will.� After returning to the States he was assigned to Whiteman AFB base in Missouri. Ron remembers the U2 spy incident of 1960 as well as the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. “We had things packed. We were ready to leave,� he said. “Thank God it got resolved.� His next assignment was Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, where he became a computer programmer. Offutt was also SAC (Strategic Air Command) headquarters. “We kept track of all the inventory.� Computer programming was in its infancy and computers literally took up whole rooms. “The supply people were the first to get a RAMAK machine from IBM. Everything was on punch cards. Operators put data on magnetic tape,� he said. Ron’s next assignment was to Thailand in 1966. He was there for a year. “I found out on the plane, the base I was going to was a secret base. All of a sudden they dumped me in the middle of the jungle. I get over there and they’re still building. The Army guys were living in tents.� “I ended up working for the base commander’s office. One day we ran out of computer paper. My boss asked, ‘do you know anybody?’ Dempsey had a buddy at Cam Hanh Bay, Vietnam. “So I called my buddy and he said, come on over. So I spent two days in Vietnam.� “Those were shaky days,�

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he recalled. “Cam Hanh Bay was the depot where all the supplies came. I tell you what - I would never want to be stationed there. It was horrible but we got through it.� Another base (Nha Trang, Vietnam) was supposedly an R & R base. “We stopped to drop off some supplies there. Our plane was shot at by gunfire by the guerrillas surrounding the base.� The experience gave Ron a lot of respect for the fellas who were stationed there. “A lot of those were Marines who were in the front lines.� His next move was to McCord AFB in Washington, where he did more computer programming. He returned to Omaha and was assigned to work for the Air Force Global Weather Central. “I had no idea what I was going to do there,� he said. “By that time, I was a tech sergeant and in charge of two other programmers. Thank goodness they knew what they were doing. I just signed the papers.� In 1973, Dempsey applied for courier duty. “It’s a volunteer thing where you’re carrying top secret material,� he explained. Ron was never that curious to know what he was delivering - mostly codes which were changed daily. “You didn’t want to lose any, because they’d take you straight to Leavenworth prison in Kansas.� When he retired from the Air Force in 1976, Dempsey had attained the rank of Master Sergeant. “It was a very interesting 22 years. That’s for sure,� he concluded. “I got to

Ron Dempsey U.S. Air Force, 1954-1976 work with a bunch of pretty good guys. You make acquaintances, but you try not to get too ‘buddybuddy’ because you know darn well, they’re going to go one direction and you’re going to go another.� He went to Bellevue University in Nebraska and graduated in the 1981 with a degree in business administration. Ron returned to Kanawha where he met his wife, Janice. He held various jobs including at the fertilizer plant and helped to lay cable for the Norway Rural Telephone at Kanawha (today, Communications 1). When the couple eventually moved to Garner, Ron worked for Opportunity Village, Mercy Hospital and most recently with NIACOG before permanently retiring in September of 2012. “I’ve retired four times now,� he says with a chuckle. Dempsey has no regrets about his 22 years in military service. The Air Force provides good training, he said, and teaches young people to accept responsibility.

Dempsey setting up a base in Thailand in 1966

Ron Dempsey

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 12

Guenther flew missions over Vietnam, Cambodia By Sarah Freesemann Eugene (Gene) Guenther was not sure what he wanted to do after graduating from Britt High School in 1963. “I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” said Guenther. “I wasn’t getting along all that well with my dad at the time so I went to college.” Gene was enrolled at Iowa State University when his draft number was called in August of 1965. “I had never even heard of Vietnam so I had no idea where that was,” he recalled. Gene headed to the U.S. Army Base at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. “We called it Fort Lost in the Woods,” he recalled with a smile. “Because that is exactly where you were, somewhere in the woods.” Guenther spent 9-11 weeks in basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood. He remembered there were not many supplies there. After basic, Gene was sent to Ft. Holabird in Baltimore where he attended the U.S. Army Intelligence School and was a part of the Class 66-T-7 Image Interpretation Enlisted Course. He spent 19 weeks training before graduating on March 4, 1966. Upon graduation Eugene went to Fort Brag where he qualified as a military intelligence secret clearance-imaging interpreter (reading aerial photos) and prepped for

deployment. Gene left for Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam, where he served for one year and eight days until his return to the States on April 11, 1967. “I was apart of the 219 MI detachment, Second Field Forces. Our camp was a newly cleared spot just on the edge of the jungle in Bien Hoa,” recalled Gene. “We never had to go into the jungle, but it was right there.” Guenther recalled having to set up all of their tents and office. “We just started building our Adam Huts and it was very hot, I never realized someone could sweat that much and survive.” Gene worked on camp and in the office for the first nine months in Vietnam. Guenther later volunteered to be an observer in L-19 planes as they flew over hostile grounds, especially over Cambodia. “It was a lot more dangerous than I had thought,” he said. “You would get lost often and we would have snipers shooting at us.” Guenther’s job as an observer was to do just that, observe the ground and look for any movement or change. He spent his last three and half months in Vietnam in the air flying 25 missions until they were sent home. Gene returned to San

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Francisco, Calif. on April 11, 1967. “They fed us a steak dinner and sent us home,” he laughed. On May 6, 1967 Specialist Five Eugene W. Guenther, US 55 800 165 of the United States Army received the Air Medal First through Fifth Oak Leaf Clusters by the direction of President Lyndon B. Johnson for “Meritorious Achievement participating in Arial Flight in the Republic of Vietnam during the period of December 22, 1966 to April 11,1967.” Guenther’s award also stated, “during this time he actively participated in more than 25 aerial missions over hostile territory in support of counterinsurgency operations. During all of these missions he displayed the highest order of air discipline and acted in accordance with the best traditions of the service. “By his determination to accomplish his mission in spite of the hazards inherent in repeated aerial flights over hostile territory and by his outstanding degree of professionalism and devotion to duty, he has brought credit upon himself, his organization, and the military service.” Upon returning to Britt, Gene began farming. “I really found myself during my time in the service. I knew a big town was not for me and I had gotten a lot closer with my dad by writing him while deployed. So when I came home he offered me a place to farm just south of Britt.” He retired from farming and moved to town in 2011. Gene and his wife, Julie have two children, Paul of Goodell and Ashley of Des Moines. Gene has three children from a previous marriage: Andy of North Carolina, Kate of Minnesota

Eugene Guenther U.S. Army, 1965-1967

and Chris of Texas. Two of his children are currently involved with the U.S. Army. Andy is a helicopter technician in the active U.S Army Reserves. Ashley currently is a nurse in Des Moines and in the U.S. Army Reserves. Since retiring, Gene and Julie enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.

Thank You for Your Service!

Gene is active member of the Britt Legion and VFW, Britt United Methodist Church and Mason City River City Chorus. He is especially proud of the new Veterans Park in Britt and of the hard work

Jerry Christensens and all involved have done to help make it part of the community.

We Honor and Respect Our Nation’s Veterans Thank you for your service and dedication!

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 13

Kronemann served as peace keeper in Kosovo

By Sarah Freesemann Wayne Kronemann, Britt, did not wait until after high school to enlist with the Army National Guard. “It was January 8, 1982 when I was officially enlisted,” he said. “It was my junior year.” Kronemann cannot quite recall exactly why he chose to enlist then. “The next thing I knew I was talking to a recruiter at my house with my parents. I took the entrance exam and was enlisted.” Kronemann became a member of the 194th Field Artillery in Algona. He graduated from Britt High School in the spring of 1983. He went through basic training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. “Basic training was tough, very tough,” he recalled. “I was a 17-yearold kid and away from home for the first time.” Once his training was complete, Kronemann worked as a cannoneer and truck driver in Algona for four years before taking an NCO course (noncommissioned officer). Shortly after that he was about to get a Section Chief job when someone talked him into attending officers school. “I spent a year and a half at Camp Dodge once a month, plus two separate two week periods one summer becoming an officer. I was also in college during this time.” He graduated from Iowa State on August 1, 1987 and left the day after Labor Day to complete his officers training at Fort Sill for six months. Once completing officer training, he remained a part of the 194th Field Artillery Unit, but now out of Estherville Battery C (Charlie Battery). He was a Fight Direction Officer for a short while until being promoted to Executive Officer of the unit. “I was there for about a year before I took my first teaching job in North Dakota where I would be a part of the Engineers from 1988-1990. There was not

an artillery unit in Williston so I retrained to become a Combat Engineer Officer.” While assigned to Williston Wayne spent three weeks in training at Ft. Irwin in Calif. during the summer in the Mojave Desert. “I had never experienced heat like that before. It was 125 degrees on the sand and it took me a few days to get acclimated. It was the toughest three weeks physically that I did in the Guards.” Wayne accepted a teaching position at Truman, Minn. where was from 1990-2007. He became an artillery officer once again. He was a part of the 125th Field Artillery and the 151st Field Artillery. As well as time with Division Artillery and the 34th Division. Over course of the next 17 years, he held a variety of positions with Guard Units at St. James, Minn. (Executive Officer); Jackson, Minn. as an XO, and at New Ulm (Commander). He returned to Jackson, Minn. as Commander of an Artillery unit. A highlight of his time at Jackson was going to Norway for three weeks in March of 2001 to be a part of an international training exercise. “Norway was Minnesota’s partner country and getting to go there was a great and fun experience,” he said. Kosovo Peacekeeper In 2003 Kronemann began preparing to go to Kosovo. He spent three months at Ft. Stewart in Hinesville, Ga. before heading to Camp Hohenfels in Germany for one month and then into the hostile zone of Kosovo as a part of the peace keeping operations of that time. He was a part of a 12man section and was second in charge during the nine months he spent at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo (January-September 2004). “I was a part of the Joint Visitors Bureau or JVB. We were in charge of schedules, housing, security, itineraries

Wayne Kronemann Army National Guard, 1982-2008 and anything else the visitors may need. We also worked with the units back in the United States that were a part of the 18 states represented in this contingency. As well as the Pentagon and the United States Europe Command.” “We would set up their itineraries, coordinate their schedules with security etc. Pretty much anything they wanted to do we made happen if we could provide the security for it.” While in Kosovo, 124 different groups of people over the nine months came and visited Camp Bondsteel. The largest included 40 from Tennessee who brought along the Charlie Daniels Band. “I also often would fly with the helicopter crews to pick up visitors. We had a lot of ‘big wigs’ come through the camp which was an experience,” he said. He noted what an opportunity it was just to be able to travel overseas and experience a different part of the world. “I got to see different cultures which was a positive, but a negative was being away from my family.” “Besides Kosovo, it was a busy time regardless

because from 2000-2007 I was working on my masters and specialist degree, I was continuing to move up in ranks, remodeling a house, teaching, coaching, and raising a family.” Over the years Kronemann served in two state deployments. The first in New Ulm with the flood 1997 and the second with the tornado clean up in St. Peter in 1998. Kronemann was promoted to Captain, then Major, and eventually achieved the rank of 05 Colonel. Each time he moved up a rank it required more schooling. “All of the training really has helped me in my job as Superintendent today. With officer training you really start learning how to be a leader,” he stated. In 2007, the Kronemann family returned to Britt after Wayne accepted the Middle School Principal position. Due to family considerations, Wayne decided to retire from the National Guard in 2008. He had served for 26.5 years. He currently is the Superintendent of the West Hancock School District. Wayne and his wife, Michelle, (married in 1988) have four children and two

grandchildren with one on the way. Adam of Bode, Iowa, Tyler of Ruthven,

Iowa, Ethan of Britt, and Kamille a student at Minnesota State University in Mankato.

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 14

VA Continues PTSD Outreach with AboutFace Campaign

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has begun a new online initiative, AboutFace, focused on helping Veterans recognize PTSD symptoms and motivating them to seek treatment. “We must do all we can to help Veterans identify possible indicators that they may be suffering from PTSD,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “It requires a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to be effective. We hope that this initiative, while just one aspect of our program, will play an important role in that effort.” The AboutFace campaign introduces viewers to Veterans from all eras who have experienced PTSD and turned their lives around with treatment. Through personal videos, viewers will meet Veterans and hear how PTSD has affected them and their loved ones. Visitors will also learn the steps to take to gain control of their lives. AboutFace, which is PTSD specific, was designed as a complementary campaign to VA’s current Make the Connection (www.MakeTheConnection.net) campaign. Make the Connection uses personal testimonials to illustrate true stories of Veterans who faced life events, experiences, physical ailments, or psychological symptoms; reached out for support; and found ways to overcome their challenges. “VA is committed to ensuring the men and women who bravely served our Nation can access the resources and services tailored for them that can lead to a more fulfilling life,” said Dr. Robert Petzel, VA’s under secretary for health. “We want Veterans to recognize themselves in these stories and to feel optimistic that they can overcome their challenges with proper treatment.

AboutFace launched in June in time to help bring attention to PTSD Awareness Month. It is located on the National Center for PTSD website, www. ptsd.va.gov. There viewers will watch as Veterans candidly describe how they knew they had PTSD; how PTSD affected the people they love; why they didn’t get help right away; what finally caused them to seek treatment; what treatment is like and how treatment helps. VA provides effective PTSD treatment and conducts extensive research on PTSD, including prevention. Those interested in further information can go to www.ptsd.va.gov to find educational materials including courses for providers on the best practices in PTSD treatment and the award-winning VA/DoD PTSD Coach Mobile App for electronic devices, which provides symptom management strategies. These campaigns are part of VA’s overall mental health program. Last year, VA provided quality, specialty mental health services to 1.3 million Veterans. Since 2009, VA has increased the mental health care budget by 39 percent. Since 2007, VA has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of Veterans receiving mental health services, and a 41 percent increase in mental health staff. In April, as part of an ongoing review of mental health operations, Secretary Shinseki announced VA would add approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians as well as nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce of 20,590 to help meet the increased demand for mental health services. The additional staff would include nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. For more information on AboutFace, visit www. ptsd.va.gov/aboutface/ or contact the National Center for PTSD at (802) 296-5132.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem that can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event like war, assault, or disaster. All Signs and Symptoms Alcohol or Drug Problems Using drugs or alcohol might be harming your health and relationships and could be a sign of substance misuse or dependence. Support and services are available to help Veterans deal with problems with alcohol or drugs and get their lives on a better track. Anger and Irritability Anger and irritability can affect your health and relationships. There are effective tools and resources to help Veterans manage the issues they face and get their lives on a better track. Chronic Pain Chronic pain can prevent you from being able to complete everyday tasks and affect your mood and outlook. Resources are available to help manage your chronic pain and improve your quality of life. Confusion Confusion can be related to a variety of causes, including sleeping problems and aging . There are resources and support to help Veterans overcome or deal with confusion and get their lives on a better track. Difficulty Concentrating Difficulty concentrating can be frustrating for you and those around you, but there are steps you can take to address concentration issues and improve your quality of life. Dizziness Dizziness can make it difficult to participate in common daily activities, but there are things you can do prevent it from interfering with your daily life. Eating Problems Eating problems may be a response to a challenging time in your life, and they can affect your health and self-esteem. There are resources to help Veterans address eating problems and get their lives on a better track. Feeling on Edge Hypervigilance—feeling like you’re constantly on guard—is a common response to a frightening, traumatic, or life-threatening experience, but it doesn’t have to interfere with your relationships, work, physical health, or ability to get through the day. Feelings of Hopelessness You may feel hopeless when facing tough times in your life, but there other ways to overcome your problems. There are resources and support to help Veterans and their families and friends deal with the causes of suicidal thoughts and get their lives on a better track. Flashbacks Flashbacks—the feeling of reliving a traumatic experience—can be disturbing, but you don’t have to let them interfere with your life. There are resources for helping Veterans overcome flashbacks and get their lives on a better track. Gambling Gambling doesn’t have to interfere with your ability to

live your life. There are effective resources available to help you overcome it. Guilt Guilt can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to interfere with your relationships, work, or ability to get through the day. There are steps you can take to get your life on a better track. Headaches Headaches might be a result of stress, tension, injury, or illness but you don’t have to let them interfere with your relationships, work, physical health, or ability to get through the day. Loss of Interest or Pleasure Loss of interest or pleasure in things can affect your relationships, work, and activities and make it hard to go about your day. There are resources available to help Veterans get back to enjoying things that are important to them. Nightmares Nightmares can prevent Veterans from getting enough sleep, which can make it hard to go about your day and can affect your relationships, work, and other activities.. There are effective strategies for managing nightmares and getting a better night’s sleep. Noise or Light Irritation Noise or light irritation can make it difficult to do everyday activities and may affect your work and relationships. There are effective treatments and skilled professionals available to help Veterans overcome or cope with noise or light sensitivity and get their lives on a better track. Reckless Behavior Reckless Behavior—acting dangerously or in a manner that may hurt yourself or others—may be affecting your day-to-day activities. There are resources for helping Veterans address their reckless behavior and get their lives on a better track. Relationship Problems Relationship problems can make it difficult to enjoy life – for you and for those you care about. There are effective resources available to help Veterans improve and strengthen their relationships. Social Withdrawal / Isolation Social withdrawal and isolation can make it hard to enjoy life or relate to other people. There are steps you can take to get your life on a better track. Stress and Anxiety Stress and anxiety are normal responses to difficult situations that can interfere with your life if they never go away. There are ways that Veterans can deal with stress and anxiety so that you can enjoy life. Trouble Sleeping Sleep problems can interfere with relationships, work, physical health, and the ability to get through the day. Support is available to help Veterans sleep better and improve their quality of life. Source: maketheconnection.net

Where to Get Help for PTSD

Are you are in crisis? You have options: • Call 911 • Go to the nearest Emergency Room • Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 • Contact the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, press 1 (text 838255)

Veterans Day 2013 - Page 15

Becoming a Veteran: Understanding This Life Change Moving from active duty or a battlefield half a world away to civilian life can feel like just a different kind of battle. Many service members feel like they are in a “fog” upon leaving active duty. They are surprised when the transition is not as smooth as they assumed it would be. “Service members’ experiences of reintegration will vary greatly, depending on the types of trauma they experienced and how they internalized those experiences,” says John Sippola, author of Welcome Them Home, Help Them Heal. Understanding some common issues that veterans face and steps they can take for self-care during this time will make that transition smoother. Common issues Several issues seem to be common among many new veterans, and most center on feeling disconnected. Here are some, but not all, of those issues. Often a veteran may get overwhelmed by large department or warehouse stores. The sheer number of people crowding around and the

Thank You Veterans for Your Service!

availability of products are in stark contrast to the limited choices he has had for a long while. The veteran may have trouble making decisions. On active duty or in the warzone, everything from what to wear, when and what to eat and the details of a mission were clear. The enormity of choices and new issues to deal with as a civilian can leave the person feeling overwhelmed, and decision making can be difficult.

Anger and isolation are common. Many new veterans feel they have rejoined a world that has moved on and has little or no understanding of them. This often results in anger and the desire to isolate rather than to reach out and to search for connection. Any time there is stress and change, it m a k e s it difficult to maintain

physical health. With all of the other choices and decisions to be made, taking care of oneself does not always make the priority list. This is no different. While a veteran may have confidence on the battlefield, that confidence and selfesteem can take a beating as she searches for where she fits back in the “real” world. What the veteran can do: • Get educated on the topic of reintegration and transition. Read positive accounts of others who have faced the same issues and found ways to overcome them. • Ta k e advantage of the m i l i t a r y’s transition assistance programs. •Take things slowly and start learning what your “triggers” are, if you have them. These could be sights, sounds, feelings, etc. Common ones are trash on the side of the road, people on bridge overpasses, large crowds, sudden loud noises, or the heat of a summer day. • Learn your unique triggers. • Communicate honestly

and calmly with family and friends. This may not always be easy. But to be understood, veterans need to communicate what their needs are. Family members are often lost as to what they can do (or should not do) that would be helpful. • Practice good self-care by eating healthily, exercising, getting enough sleep and spending time outdoors in the sunshine. It sounds like simple advice, and easy to skip over, but these self-care steps are critical to stress management and good health. • Remember that each day is new. Mistakes from the previous day do not determine the success of the current day. Keep a sense of hu-

mor if possible. Laughter is good medicine. The most important thing to remember in regard to reintegration and transitions is that everyone is different. Even with all of the suggestions for reintegration, it is important to know when to seek help. When isolation, thoughts of self-harm, thoughts of harming others, or day-to-day activities are too overwhelming to manage, you may need additional help to work through these feelings. Getting help may seem scary at first, but programs (including your employee assistance program) and professionals are available to help. Source: www.militaryonesource. mil - Military Life Topics

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Veterans Day 2013 - Page 16

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