Military Salute A Special Publication of the Vilas County News-Review and The Three Lakes News
freedom is not free Active-Duty Military Profiles • Soldiers’ Stories Memorial Day Preview • Veterans Services
2012
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MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
Memorial Day programs scheduled across North Men and women who died in military action for their country will be remembered during Memorial Day services Monday, May 28, in communities across the North Woods. Veterans, area residents, government officials and North Woods visitors are welcome to attend all the ceremonies. Veterans organizations in Eagle River, Three Lakes, Land O’ Lakes, St. Germain and Rhinelander have provided the following details of Memorial Day weekend programs. St. Germain’s program will be Sunday, May 27. Eagle River The Eagle River Memorial Day ceremony is scheduled for Monday, May 28, at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park (front grounds of the Vilas County Courthouse) in Eagle River. Ceremony participants are asked to assemble at 10:45 a.m. at the park. The program will be held rain or shine. The program will open with the Northland Pines High School band performing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Following a cannon salute from the 8th Wisconsin Artillery, The Rev. William Trosien will lead the opening prayer. The master of ceremonies will be retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Scott Jensen. Retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John M. Erpenbach will be the guest speaker. Other highlights will include bagpipe music by Tom McKale of the Emerald Society of Wisconsin and the Greater Milwaukee Fire/Police Pipes and Drums; area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts offering poppies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a fallen soldier memorial delivered by Jensen; and a performance by the Northland Pines High School choir. The ceremony will close with a cannon salute, the benediction from Trosien, a rifle salute by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8637 and the playing of taps. The choir will conclude the program with “God Bless America.” Three Lakes Memorial Day in Three Lakes will be observed Monday, May 28, with a program at the Three Lakes Cemetery preceded by a solemn procession down Superior Street, beginning at 10 a.m. The procession will include the American Legion Color Guard and Firing Squad, the Three Lakes High School band and the traditional riderless horse provided by Ginny
Sidlowski. Three Lakes American Legion Post 431 Commander Mike Silber will be the main speaker. Other speakers will be Three Lakes High School seniors Kierston Neihous and Trenton Stefonek. The program will conclude with the playing of taps and “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national flag at the cemetery is raised to full staff. The public is urged to attend. In the event of bad weather, the program will be held in the Three Lakes School auditorium at 10 a.m. For information about where the program will be held, contact the American Legion at (715) 546-3431. Land O’ Lakes There will be a Memorial Day service at the Land O’ Lakes cemetery Monday, May 28, at 11 a.m. St. Germain St. Germain will have its Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, May 27, at 3 p.m. at the War Memorial near the intersection of highways 70 and 55. State Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) will be the guest speaker. The St. Germain Lions Club, which donates new flags each year for the memorial, will replace the U.S. flag, five service flags and the Missing In Action flag. Two Lions Club members from each branch of the military will raise the flag for their service. An invocation and benediction also are planned. Rhinelander The Oneida County Veterans Council will host a Memorial Day service Monday, May 28. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., a river ceremony will be held at the Davenport Street bridge, where a wreath will be lowered into the water in honor of those who were lost or buried at sea. Guests can view the ceremony from Trig’s parking lot. Upon completion, participants and guests will march and walk to the Oneida County Courthouse, where the final Memorial Day ceremony will begin at approximately 11 a.m. Guests can take a lawn chair. For more information about the ceremonies, contact the Oneida County Veterans Service office at (715) 369-6127.
MILITARY SALUTE
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Keeping the faith with our nation’s heroes ___________ BY U.S. SEN. HERB KOHL
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Since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, we have been a nation at war. For more than a decade, our troops have served above and beyond the call of duty in the most challenging of environments. As a nation, we must stand with our troops when they return home and honor those who make the ultimate sacrifice. On July 15, 2008, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Vrooman, whose family resides in Wisconsin, was leading a mission in Diyala Province, Iraq, to secure a complex of buildings suspected of housing al-Qaeda terrorists. He was killed when a building he was inspecting suddenly exploded. Jeremy is a true American hero. By taking it upon himself to check out the complex — before ordering in his entire team — he saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers. It was an honor to work with his family and the U.S. Army to secure documentation of Jeremy’s sacrifice that day. It is a further honor to report that Staff Sgt. Vrooman will be posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. As we honor Jeremy and other fallen heroes, we must also remember our living heroes. Keeping faith with our nation’s service members and veterans is one of my top priorities. When I learned that hundreds of soldiers across the country were being denied benefits they had earned, including dozens of Wisconsin National Guardsmen, I introduced the Fair Military Leave Act to make things right. These soldiers were supposed to receive accrued days of paid leave when they returned home from their deployments, but mistakes by the Army prevented them from using this leave. The soldiers’ records have since been corrected, but they are now only allowed to use their leave after a future deployment, not retroactively. All soldiers who earned this benefit should be allowed to use it, including those who will not deploy again. My legislation would provide these soldiers with the option of receiving a cash payment for the paid leave they were incorrectly denied when they came home. For many of these soldiers, this is the only way they would be able to use their benefit. All of these soldiers did their part to serve our country, and they all should receive the benefits they were promised.
SEN. HERB KOHL
Our troops make so many sacrifices for our country and, because of this, they sometimes face unique challenges with our legal system. For a service member stationed far from home or deployed overseas, finding a good lawyer to represent them can be daunting. But when I hear from attorneys who want to do their part by representing service members free of charge, I think we can make the situation better for our troops. I introduced the Justice for Troops Act to connect troops who need legal assistance with volunteer attorneys. My bill would only support programs that help troops find free legal representation, and would not pay legal fees. The Justice for Troops Act has bipartisan support and endorsements from a wide range of military and veterans groups, and it was passed by the Senate as part of a larger defense bill last year. Though it was not included in the final defense bill negotiated with the House of Representatives, we will not stop fighting to get this done. On May 28, our nation will honor and remember its fallen heroes on Memorial Day. We must never forget those troops who made the ultimate sacrifice, and we must always remember our living heroes who serve our country with distinction each and every day.
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MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
Major Michael Weber, USMC
Shawn Michael Klingforth
Maj. Michael Weber, USMC, Intelligence Officer, Joint Special Operations Command. Family: Kathleen, wife; Olivia, daughter; Bruce, father; Mary, mother; David, brother; Jenny, sister-in-law; Grace, niece; Emma, niece; Ruth Camp, grandmother. Deployments: 2001 Western Pacific, Second Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment (Battalion Landing Team 2/5); 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom, Regimental Combat Team 5 (Fifth Marines); 2007-2008 Operation Iraqi Freedom, al-Anbar Province, Iraq, Second Reconnaissance Battalion; 2009-2010 Operation Enduring Freedom, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
LCPL Shawn Michael Klingforth is a 2002 Northland Pines graduate. He is married to Natalie (Yoder) and has two children, Lillian Jade and Parker James.
Kimberly A. (Rine) Decker
CE3 Austin T. Croker (SCW) (SW)
PO1 Kimberly A. (Rine) Decker, U.S. Navy
Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin T. Croker is a 2010 graduate of Northland Pines High School. His parents are Dave and Michelle Kubsch. He has two brothers, Andrew and Nicholas, and one sister, Hailey. Austin is always up for adventure and is not one to sit still for too long. Adventure, for the most part, is what led him to join the U.S. Navy soon after graduation. With his goal being Special Warfare, he is currently a construction electrician in the Seabees and is training for Seabee Combat Warfare and Surface Warfare. He has also been trained in diving and is an Expert Marksman. He has most recently been stationed in Sigonella, Italy, however, he has been deployed to several countries throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. He is strong and courageous, and we salute his service to our country.
From Land O’ Lakes, Wis. Enlisted 2003 into the DEP program. Graduated from Northland Pines High School in 2004. Attended boot camp at Great Lakes Training Center, graduating in August 2004. Graduated from cryptologic collections “A” school in Pensacola, Fla., in spring 2005. Assigned to NIOC Misawa, Japan, spring 2005-spring 2008. Earned Joint Service Achievement Medal while in Misawa. Assigned to the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) spring 2008-summer 2011, homeport of Norfolk, Va. The USS Kearsarge is an amphibious ship used to transport Marines and their equipment. Earned Navy Achievement Medal. While assigned to the USS Kearsarge, served during two deployments (4 months to South America and 9 months to the Middle East). Currently assigned as an instructor at CIDLS PACNORWEST, Everett, Wash., summer 2011-present. Kim and her husband, Jim, are living in Marysville, Wash.
Michael E. Anderson Maj. Michael E. Anderson is currently serving as a Civil Affairs Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve with the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion. He has completed combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge and both the German and U.S. Parachutist Badges. Maj. Anderson just returned from a combat tour in Afghanistan, where he served as a government advisor to the Shah Joy District Governor of Zabul Province. He worked with the district governor and the village elders of the district to help build a selfsustaining and efficient district. In his career he has also served as a Logistics Officer for V Corps in Germany, and as an Infantry soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division. Michael is a lifelong resident of Eagle River, Wis. He lives here with his wife, Kathy, and their two children. He helps run Anderson Insurance Agency with his father and brother. Their family business is entering its 80th year of service to the community.
LCPL Klingforth and his family are now stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He is a canine handler for the USMC. Son of Bob and Mary Hansen of Three Lakes and Jim and Brenda Klingforth of Ironwood, Mich.
Ronnie and Michael Busha Master Sgt. (Ret.) Ronnie Busha served in the U.S. Air Force from 1991 to 2012. Her military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two devices, Air Force Achievement Medal with two devices, National Defense Service Medal with one device, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Master Sgt. Michael Busha enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Dec. 29,1999, and is currently serving in Louisiana. His military decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with four devices, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Medal and the NATO medal.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
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Local Support Our Troops organization recognizes active servicemen, -women ___________ BY SHARON BENDA SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-REVIEW
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In April of 2003, people of all ages gathered at the intersection of highways 45, 70 and 17 in Eagle River on a Friday afternoon to support the U.S. troops in Iraq. A few mothers met on the CornerStone Builders intersection a week or two later to continue showing support for these active military men and women. Within a couple of weeks, several other residents jumped in to add their showing of support and it grew into a regular activity every Friday afternoon. The supporters are most appreciative to Glenn Schiffmann who has been welcoming and generous in letting them meet on the site of his property over the years. One of the memories that stands out was a gentleman, in the early years of our participation, stumbling up to our group with tears in his eyes and asking where we were when he came home from Vietnam. Just as quickly as he appeared, he left us and we never did get to talk with him. Another mother of a soldier stopped to thank us and was disappointed she had just used up her film at the Honey Bear Inn where she’d taken a picture in front of their carved bear and was going to send it to her son. As we often did, we had a camera with us and told her we’d be happy to have her take a picture with our group and send it on to her son. And then there was the driver in the USO-decorated van, from the Chicago area who stopped to thank us and admit that it was the first time he’d seen anything like we were doing. Though the Friday appearances of the Support Our Troops group generally occurred during April/May through early October, a couple of the hearty fathers did show up on a few blustery winter weeks. Supporters continue to show their gratitude and again met Friday, April 13, of this year to begin their 10th year of dedication in recognizing our military. While the original intent of being on the corner was supporting active servicemen and -women overseas, passersby began to add their support by handing/sending money to the group to utilize for our troops. We then began to request/collect addresses of the current active servicemen and -women and started sending needed supplies overseas. Additional monies, help and supplies continued to come in from the local businesses, organizations, schools, scouts, churches and individuals. Only through the dedicated efforts of Eagle River and surrounding communities were we able to accomplish what we did. In 2004, volunteers assembled at Horant’s Garden Center to make yellow ribbon bows as a part of the Until the Troops Come Home project. The ribbons were
The local Support Our Troops group is well known for honoring the troops at the corner of highways 45, 70 and 17 in Eagle River. The group also completes other patriotic deeds. —NEWS-REVEIW PHOTO
placed, by the support group, on lampposts throughout the downtown and bypass area in honor of troops serving overseas. Prior to Christmas of the same year, we had several names and addresses of active servicemen and -women on our list and the support group launched a “Stockings for Soldiers” activity. People paid $10 per stocking to have their name tagged on each stocking and 462 filled stockings were shipped out to our military for Christmas. So many items were donated by residents and businesses in and around Eagle River that the group was able to do another shipment on Valentine’s Day. There were a couple of years when the group displayed a patriotic Christmas tree at Vilas Village Mall. People were invited to place the names of active military and veterans names on a star and attach it to the tree. We were able to secure new and updated addresses at the same time. In March of 2005, Scott Jensen, the Vilas County veterans service officer, issued a release for needed items to be sent to our wounded troops from Iraq, who were arriving almost on a daily basis at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. We contributed to that. We also sent gifts and phone cards to those at Walter Reed Hospital. Over the years, we have and still continue to receive addresses, gifts, help and personal items to ship out from teachers and area elementary and high school students. During Christmas 2010, Karen Palmquist of Manitowish Waters worked with the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Elementary School children to collect several boxes of items and assisted the support group in packaging the items and getting them shipped out in time for the holidays. The
group has participated in parades, not only in Eagle River, but at Sayner, St. Germain, Minocqua and Three Lakes. We also have shown our support with attendance at several of the memorial programs on the Vilas County Courthouse grounds. The troop support group decorated a boat and participated in the Eagle River boat parade held July 2005. The Eagle River Rotary Club purchased 30 copies of local author Kim Simac’s “American Soldier Proud and Free” books. They were turned over to Bill Reynolds of the troop support group to be distributed to families of area children having a parent in the service.
The troop support group hosted a wild game feed fundraiser at Eagle Waters in November 2007. The event, which included live music and a more than generous buffet, received overwhelming support from within and outside the community. Through the generosity of many businesses, a raffle was held to assist in raising monies toward troop support. Through the efforts of the Abundant Life Church members, a special performance was held in support of the troops with national recording artist Jim Whitaker from Nashville, Tenn. The benefit concert was held at Riverview Park in August 2007 to help raise needed items for our troops in Iraq. While he was in town, Whitaker dropped by our troop support group and chatted and played a couple of tunes at the CornerStone site. The “Knit Wits” women of Franksville Methodist Church have donated prayer cloths to us for distribution to our soldiers. Supporters and activities over these past 10 years are far too numerous to mention them all. Anyone having a family member or friend who is presently serving in the military and would like to add them to the troop support address list, or would like to make a donation, can e-mail msinfo@newnorth.net, mail to Eagle River Area Troop Support, 1210 Perch Lake Road, Eagle River, WI 54521, or drop the information off at Jim Squiller’s Hair Designers across from old railroad depot in downtown Eagle River. Files of letters of thanks and appreciation to our community from these active servicemen and -women make any and all the time spent supporting our troops worthwhile.
Tyler J. Kritz Sgt. Tyler J. Kritz served in the U.S. Army 1st Battalion 37th field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Washington. Tyler graduated from Northland Pines High School in 2003, and joined the Army after graduation. He served two tours in Iraq. Tyler received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He is survived by his parents, Joseph and Doreen Kritz; one sister, Marcia Cira; niece, nephews and other relatives.
MEMORIAM ~ Born June 29, 1985; KIA June 3, 2007
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MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
Thomas A. Hurtado
Matthew Giebudowski
Lt. Thomas A. Hurtado, age 26, U.S. Navy, in the medical field. Tour of duty in Afghanistan from July 2011 through March 2012. Attached to the Marines as medical personnel.
Matthew Giebudowski is currently serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. His rank is private first class. His military job is an infantry mortar man, serving with the 5th Marine 1st Battalion Bravo Company Weapons Platoon, in Camp Pendleton, Calif. He was awarded the War on Terrorism Medal and Rifle Expert Badge.
Decorated with the Navy Achievement Medal. Graduated from Marquette University with a Master’s Degree-PA Studies. Married to Jenny Hurtado (nee Sobecke). His parents are José Hurtado and Christina Thiele of Milwaukee, Wis. His in-laws are Bob and Patti Sobecke of West Allis and Eagle River, Wis.
Matthew is part of a three-man crew served weapon. Matthew is interested in motocross, swimming and physical fitness. Matthew is carrying on a family tradition of being a Marine, along with his father, Mark Giebudowski; grandfather, John Giebudowski; and great-uncle, Walter Figura.
Matthew Tidmarsh
Blake E. Setzer
Lance Cpl. Matthew Tidmarsh, U.S. Marine, graduated from Notre Dame Prep, Scottsdale, Ariz., June 2008, and attended NAU in Flagstaff, Ariz., and ASU in Tempe, Ariz.
Blake is a 2003 graduate of Northland Pines High School. Graduated Boot Camp at Great Lakes in January of 2004. First stationed in Japan, then Texas and is now currently stationed in Hawaii. He is currently serving in Afghanistan and also has served a tour in Iraq. His rank is Petty Officer 2nd Class, U.S. Navy.
He joined the Marines in January 2011, and is stationed at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, Calif. He will be deployed to Afghanistan in June 2012, for seven months, and is in Communications.
Mother, Alison Setzer of Eagle River; father, Rich Setzer of Sugar Camp; sister, Katelyn Setzer of Rhinelander and fiancée, Monica Trigo of McAllen, Texas.
Matthew is engaged to Jessica Snyder of Utah, and is the son of Jan and Dave Tidmarsh of Eagle River.
Blake has an uncle serving in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Guam. Also a cousin, Nate Haugen, serving in the U.S. Army, stationed in Miami.
Joe Levine
Matthew Allen Justice
Staff Sgt. Joe Levine is a 2006 graduate of Northland Pines High School. He graduated 327 Infantry from Fort Benning, Ga., and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Matthew Allen Justice served in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Afghanistan for 10 months in 2009.
He completed a tour to Iraq for 14 months, where he was a squad leader. He then went on to Afghanistan for one year. 8 Once stateside, he was stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., where he had a training position. He recently was selected to Special Forces; 400 tried out and 140 made it to the end. They took 114, and Joe placed 30th!
He was part of the 951st “Sapper” Engineer Company.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
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Three Lakes American Legion Post 431 going strong since inception in Feb. 1945 ___________ BY ELMER GOETSCH PAST COMMANDER
OF
POST 431
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In mid-1944, the invasion of Normandy had been successful, the tide was clearly turned in World War II and Americans were confident that total victory finally was in sight. Some military personnel had already returned to Three Lakes from their stint in uniform. Along with a group of World War I veterans, some of these men met at the Three Lakes Town Hall Aug. 28, 1944, to form an American Legion Post for Three Lakes. Prior to that time, Three Lakes veterans were members of the Eagle River Legion Post. The new Three Lakes Post 431 of the American Legion was incorporated and received its charter Feb. 16, 1945. There were 44 charter members. Of those initial members, only John Anderson survives today. The first post commander was Harry Olkowski and the first adjutant was Oscar Lawonn. An early member included sailor Paul Harr, a survivor on battleship USS Nevada during the attack at Pearl Harbor. The current commander and adjutant are respectively Mike Silber and Michael Berndt, both Vietnam War veterans. World War II veteran George Kveck has been the Post’s club manager since 1980. The Three Lakes American Legion Auxiliary Unit 431 was chartered in April of 1945 with 31 members, none of whom survive today. The current president is JoAnn Hennessey, while the current secretary is Mary Greene. At the first meeting in 1944, a committee was appointed to look for a suitable permanent home for the new post. A building on Superior Street in downtown Three Lakes, known as the John and Gladys Olkowski Store and Barroom, was eventually bought from the owner, Alex Olkowski Sr. That building was home for the Post for 20 years. Construction of a new American Legion building began in 1964 on the lot next door. It includes a public bar on the main floor and a large meeting room in the basement, which also features a fully equipped commercial kitchen. The first meeting in the partly finished new building was held Nov. 5, 1964. The old building was then razed. Since 1945, the Three Lakes Ameri-
Three Lakes American Legion Post 431 members displayed the front of their building, located on Superior Street. The facility includes a
can Legion building has been the venue for meetings, dinners and social events for the Post and Auxiliary, along with other local organizations, and for private and public social gatherings. It has hosted wedding receptions and card, pool and dart board tournaments. Since 1948, the Post and Auxiliary has held a Christmas party and a Legion birthday party in March. For more than three decades, the Post has sponsored a public dinner followed by live music for dancing on the last Saturday of each month. The Post and Auxiliary have been active in local patriotic and Legion affairs since their founding 68 years ago. The Post has provided a firing squad and color guard for numerous veterans’ funerals and patriotic events, including the Independence Day parade. Starting May 30, 1945, the Post has annually organized the Three Lakes Memorial Day program in the Three
public bar on the main floor, along with a large meeting room and commercial kitchen in the basement. —Photo By Jan Hintz
Lakes Cemetery. It is preceded by a procession down Superior Street starting at 10 a.m., which in recent years has included a riderless horse. The speaker the first year was Don O’Melia. Since 1955, the Post has conducted a Veterans Day program at the Three Lakes High School which includes the solemn reading of the names of the 11 Three Lakes soldiers killed in action in World War I through the Vietnam War. The Three Lakes High School band has provided music for both these events. Since 1947, the Post has sponsored boys to attend Badger Boys State, while the Auxiliary has sponsored girls to Badger Girls State. Together, they have so far sent 112 boys and 87 girls to these weeklong State Legion youth assemblies. In 1988, the Post began awarding annual college scholarships to Three Lakes High School graduates. A total of
36 have been granted through 2011. Currently, two are awarded annually, each for $1,000 paid for each of two semesters. Early on, the Post and Auxiliary have donated to Camp American Legion, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Mich., the King Wisconsin Veterans Home and other veterans facilities. Holiday gift boxes including personal greetings from Three Lakes Elementary School students have been sent to local military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Three Lakes Post 431 of the American Legion, ably supported by its Auxiliary, continues to fulfill its important functions in the Three Lakes community in support of veterans and their families. All those eligible are welcome to join. For more information, call the Post at (715) 546-3431 or visit the Legion Bar.
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MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
Eagle River VFW post dates back to 1946 Post 8637 members active in community The Trinka-Weber-Rogers Post 8637 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) was organized in Eagle River Dec. 1, 1946. The VFW Post was named in memory of fallen World War II servicemen Joe Trinka Jr., who died in France in 1943; Edward Weber, who died in New Guinea in 1944; and Chancy Rodgers, who died in Germany in 1944. The group first met in a room at the Northwoods Bar on Main Street until they were able to hold their meetings and activities at the Veteran’s Lounge on Railroad Street next to the Eagle River bridge. They jointly shared these facilities with the American Legion. In 1979, a piece of property on Highway 70 West was donated to the VFW post with a provision they construct a building to memorialize the veterans from the Eagle River area. Irene Deer, Louise Edwards and Mary Palmer donated the land in memory of their parents, Pete and Josephine Peters. Plans for the building were drawn up and a building committee of Carl Kalous, Bud Rodgers, Virgil Daily, Jerry Block, Nick Vugrinec, Bob Verstoppen, Howard Dehn Sr. and Chuck Arndt was formed. Their job was to construct a building of a specific size without involving the VFW Post in a mortgage. This was a huge challenge for they had no funds for such a project. By accepting the members’ donations and loans, selling bonds and volunteer labor, they were able to complete the building in 18 months. They were proud to move into the new facility in 1981 and had everything paid off within five years. In 1949, this VFW Post was pleased to have women of the community organize an auxiliary to work with them on their many
projects and activities. This local VFW Post follows the national guidelines in promoting comradeship among its members, assisting the needy and disabled veterans including their widows and children, in organizing memorial services for deceased veterans and promoting patriotism and community activity programs. The Post sponsors an annual essay contest in the schools known as the “Voice of Democracy” in the high schools and “Patriot Pens” in the grade schools. They also have worked with the school in presenting patriotic programs. Memorial Day weekend they decorate each veteran’s grave with a flag and donate flags for display at local businesses and present the Memorial Day program at the courthouse. In July, the Post sells poppies made by disabled veterans with the proceeds going to those veterans. Through the years, they have always been visible as they furnish the color guard in the local parades. They sponsor a number of moneymaking events through the year, including bingo nights and many dinners and, as a result, they are able to be generous with their donations to the community’s needs. This group built and helped fund the memorial monument to fallen servicemen which stands in front of the Vilas County Courthouse. The names of the local men who have lost their lives in the wars dating from the Civil War to the present time are inscribed on this monument. The color guard also is present upon request at most veterans’ funerals with rifle shots, taps and flag presentations to the next of kin. The Trinka-Weber-Rogers Post 8637 has a current membership of approximately 300.
VFW Post 8637 Commander Tom Unti and Auxiliary President Elaine Peter stand in front of the Post building on Highway 70 West in Eagle River. —NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO
Legion Auxiliary keeps patriotism alive in America For nearly every man in World War I who endured the dangers and hardships of camp, shore and battlefront, there was a woman serving at home to help make possible America’s victory — his wife, mother, sister, daughter, or granddaughter. The war was won, and the men and women of the armed forces banded together in the American Legion to carry forward their services to the country in peacetime. It was only natural that the women of their families should desire to continue to serve with them. The result was the American Legion Auxiliary, the largest and most influential women’s organization of its kind in the world today. Started in 1919 The establishment of an Auxiliary to
the American Legion was provided for by the first National Convention of the American Legion in 1919. By the time of the 1920 National Convention, 1,342 local units of this auxiliary had been formed; intensive organizational efforts were authorized. The first National Convention of the Auxiliary was held in Kansas City, Mo., in 1921. At that time, the name “American Legion Auxiliary” was adopted and the first national officers elected. The Auxiliary National Headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Ind. Its purpose The American Legion Auxiliary has one great purpose — “to contribute to the accomplishment of the aims and purposes of the American Legion.” Except for the addi-
tion of those words, the preamble to its national constitution is nearly the same as that of the American Legion. Its activities are designed to enhance the American Legion’s programs. It is in every sense an auxiliary to the American Legion, and its members serve side by side with the members of the American Legion in a spirit of unselfish devotion to the well-being of the American republic. Ideals and principles The Auxiliary believes that the principles and ideals upon which the American republic was founded, and for which American blood has been shed, are still the cornerstones of our democracy and, as such, should be safeguarded for the welfare of future generation. The Auxiliary is working to keep patri-
otism a part of the education of every child, a patriotism which teaches love of America through a knowledge of the people who made it great, and an understanding of the principles which have guided its course. The American Legion Auxiliary’s program is one of Americanism. It includes the concern for veterans of all wars and conflicts; the education and welfare of the children of veterans who have given of their lives for our country; the securement of adequate national security against all possible enemies; the betterment and beautification of the communities in which we live; and service through a true spirit of fellowship and cooperation with all people for world development. Source: Unit Handbook of the American Legion Auxiliary (Revised 2000)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
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Frederic J. Walsh Legion Post 114 maintains goal of serving America On Feb. 16, 1919, three months after the Armistice and shortly before the Peace Conference ended World War I, 20 officers, among who was Col. Theodore Roosevelt, were in Paris discussing the return of the Army to civilian life. All agreed that it would be a very fine idea to organize a civilian body from the mass of soldiers who would carry on the work of the Army and preserve to posterity the beginnings of the American Legion. They sent notices to every military organization in France asking them to send delegates to a conference in Paris March 15-17, 1919. One thousand representatives attended. The Legion as an organization was the concrete result of the Paris conference. On April 7, 1919, 15 members of this overseas Legion left for America to organize the home portion of the Army. On May 8-10, 1919, a caucus was held in St. Louis and the first convention was called for in Minneapolis, Minn. As the soldiers were rapidly being discharged, and the Army was swiftly approaching peace standings, the needs for an organization like the Legion became felt in all parts of the country where there were ex-fighting men. Early in this stage of organization, Wisconsin fell into line for a society based on the model given at the St. Louis caucus. A meeting was called at the auditorium in Milwaukee in September of 1919 and plans were laid for the Wisconsin Department of the American Legion. This first secession was one of the stormiest ones in history. There was an argument on every point and every attainment was chewed over at great length before it was finally adopted. However, the national constitution was eventually adopted for Wisconsin. A second meeting was called for in Green Bay June 29-30, 1920. Soon after the launching of the Legion in Milwaukee, the agitation was started for a Post in Vilas County. The principal founders of this Post were Charles Smith of Manitowish and August LeRenzie of
Eagle River. On Nov. 11, 1919, after much propaganda, a meeting was called at the courthouse in Eagle River and a Post was incorporated. The name given was the Eagle Post and its number in the state organization was 114 and included 31 charter members. In February 1924, the Woman’s Auxiliary was formed as Unit 114. On Feb. 25, 1924, at a regular meeting, the name of the Post was changed from Eagle Post 114 to Frederic J. Walsh Post 114. Frederic J. Walsh was the first casualty from Eagle River in World War I. His mother and three sisters were members of Unit 114. Over the years, Post 114 held its meetings at various locations which included the Vilas County Courthouse, a rented room turned into a club room in the Gaffney block and a joint occupancy with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8637 in the building that is now owned and operated as a Restaurant and Tavern at 219 N. Railroad Street. The Post’s present location is at 520 Highway 45 South. Membership has fluctuated over the years from the original 31 to more than 110 paid members today. Although the membership changed, the mission has not. “Still Serving America” is the motto of the American Legion. American Legion veterans continue their service to America by serving their communities. Veterans involved in the community create and support the feeling of camaraderie, which makes the American Legion the nation’s largest and most respected organization of wartime veterans, according to Legion officials. All members of the American Legion must have been an active-duty member of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard anytime during April 6, 1917Nov. 11, 1918; Dec. 7, 1941-Dec. 31, 1946; June 25, 1950-Jan. 31, 1955; Feb. 28, 1961May 7, 1975; Aug. 24, 1982-July 31, 1984; Dec. 20, 1989-Jan. 31, 1990; and Aug. 2, 1990-Cessation of hostilities as determined by U.S. government.
Giving credit where it’s due, we salute our veterans and active-duty military.
American Legion Post 114 is easily recognized because of the the Vietnam-era helicopter along Highway 45 just south of Eagle River. —NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO
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PAGE 10
MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
Land O’ Lakes VFW Post 8400 continues to support community through fundraising ___________ BY MICHAEL KEINTZ LAND O’ LAKES VFW ADJUTANT
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The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) charter was issued to Stateline VFW Post 8400 of Land O’ Lakes, June 7, 1976, with 27 charter members listed. Sadly, only John Caruso, Harry La Friske and Richard Manor are still living. On May 6, 1997, VFW Post 9821 of Boulder Junction relinquished its charter and merged with VFW Post 8400. Current Post strength is 128 and new members are encouraged to come and share the camaraderie of the Post. In the early days, the Post held its meetings in various local establishments such as Black Oak Inn, Stateline Restaurant, Gateway Lodge and Rusty Nail. However, it did not have a place members could call home until September of 1996, when the current Post building at 4493 Highway B in Land O’ Lakes opened. The Post building is a log structure set back from Highway B with a split-rail fence surrounding it and a large manicured yard containing a veterans memorial. The VFW flies the American flag and the missing-in-action flags, making a notable presence in the community. The display is particularly striking on military holidays and memorials when every fence post is decked out with American flags. The Ladies Auxiliary was chartered Dec. 4, 1994, and is an integral part of the Post and its fundraising activities. In 2009, the Post sponsored American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 8400, and it received its charter June 5. AMVETS Post 8400 also has become an important part of VFW Post 8400 activities. One important function that the Post conducts is military funeral ceremonies, complete with a rifle salute and flag presentation for fallen veterans families. Several years ago, the Post organized an honor guard. Under the expert guidance of Dave
The VFW Post 8400 of Land O’ Lakes, located at 4493 Highway B, flies American flags on its split-rail fence. The Post and its Ladies Auxiliary support many local charities, veterans organizations and veterans with
Johnson, the guard conducts funerals and performs ceremonies on the main military holidays, including Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Fourth of July and Veterans Day. Currently there are 17 dedicated volunteers in the honor guard and all wear a special uniform and practice their routines on a regular basis. VFW Post 8400 supports many local charities, veterans organizations and veterans with special needs, including the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Mich., the Wounded Warriors Project, Fisher House, Daughters of the American Revolution, Blue Star Mothers, the Land O’ Lakes Fireworks July 3, the parade July 4, Land O’ Lakes Kids Fishing
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special needs. It is open to members and guests Wednesdays through Saturdays and is available for members of the community to rent for family events. —Contributed Photo
Jamboree, Land O’ Lakes Airport Day, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, school projects, Northwoods Quilters and many others. Funding for the charities and donations made by the Post comes from an active fundraising program. Together with the Ladies Auxiliary and the AMVETS, VFW Post 8400 conducts poppy sales, fish frys, pancake breakfasts, a rummage sale and a turkey shoot. The Post is open to members and guests, Wednesdays through Saturdays and for other special events. It also has an outdoor pavilion, which is used for picnics, fish fry overflow and is available to rent for family events such as wedding anniver-
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To our men & women in uniform, THANK YOU!
saries, birthdays, graduation parties and funerals. Current VFW Post 8400 officers include Commander Bob Wuytack, Senior Vice Commander Lee Forassiepi, Junior Vice Commander Joe Justice, Quartermaster Dennis “Mac” McCarthy, Sergeant at Arms Jim Whyte, Service Officer Bob Kriehn, Adjutant Mike Keintz and Canteen Manager Joe Justice. Monthly meetings for VFW Post 8400 are held the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. and all VFW members are welcome to attend. Prospective members can visit the Post Wednesday through Saturday evenings; call Keintz at (715) 547-8307 or email vettetime1@yahoo.com.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
PAGE 11
Hyslop recounts Korean War experience ___________ BY ANTHONY DREW NEWS-REVIEW ASST. EDITOR
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Out of the original 406 men in “Task Force Smith” during the Korean War, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Harvey Hyslop of Eagle River was one of only 16 survivors and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his bravery. Hyslop, a native of St. Clair, Mich., was drafted into the U.S. Army at the age of 19 in 1944. He had basic training at Camp Gordon in Georgia. After the conclusion of World War II, he found himself serving as second cook in his company’s mess hall. The work was ideal for Hyslop, but he and his comrades had little idea what was in store for them just across the Sea of Japan. “I was a corporal at the time, and the mess hall sounded like a pretty good duty,” he said. “Of course, that was the thing that encouraged me to sign an 18month extension. After completing that 18 months, I had come to the point where I started liking the service and I re-enlisted for three years.” Hyslop worked as a cook in Kumamoto, Japan, as a part of the 21st Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division from 1946 until 1950, eventually attaining the rank of sergeant first class. It was then that the United States joined the conflict between the recently divided Korea. “At about 22:00 hours on July 1, 1950, we were called out to ranks and informed that we had to prepare to leave our base within four hours,” said Hyslop. “We didn’t even take razors, shaving cream or anything. We left everything behind with the idea that when the Koreans saw us they were going to turn around and go back to North Korea.” Instead, the 406 men and officers in Task Force Smith found themselves in Osan fighting at least 5,000 infantry and 33 ex-Soviet T-34 tanks amidst pouring rain. The task force, which was the first U.S. Army ground maneuver unit to enter combat in Korea, lacked any effective anti-tank weapons during the battle and were overwhelmed as the enemy continued south. Hyslop, who was ranked assistant platoon sergeant at this point, said a couple of brave privates disabled two of the tanks using only hand grenades. “They jumped on the top of the tanks, dropped the grenades down the hatch and jumped back down,” he said. “Of course, they were killed by infantry troops. We lost about 80% of our force in that battle, including three platoon leaders and the company commander. I knew many of the individuals like brothers.” Hyslop was among those who escaped by crawling through rice paddies and irrigation ditches. It took three days for the remaining survivors to check in with battalion headquarters for reassignment. Because of his rank, Hyslop moved up
Harvey Hyslop is one of only 16 servicemen from Task Force Smith who made it out of the Korean War alive. The task force was the very first group of soldiers to fight in Korea, and was ill-equipped to combat the Soviet T-34 tanks they encountered in the battle. —Staff Photo By ANTHONY DREW
to platoon sergeant and was promoted to master sergeant within a week. By the middle of summer, he had received a field commission to the rank of second lieutenant and was in charge of an entire platoon. Within another 90 days, he had attained the rank of first lieutenant. “We couldn’t keep lieutenants as platoon leaders,” said Hyslop. “They would last maybe one battle. Some of them didn’t even make it through one. They would
be wounded or killed. Not only did I end up running my own platoon, but on a number of occasions I got caught having to direct field artillery, which I had never done before.” Hyslop fought in many subsequent encounters as a part of the larger Battle of Pusan Perimeter, where United Nations forces held back the advancing North Korean People’s Army at a 140-mile defensive line that included the port of Pusan.
He was knocked unconscious from artillery rounds on two occasions and broke a finger during an interrogation of a captured prisoner. “I never even went back to the aid station,” said Hyslop of one injury. “It was a piece of shrapnel that just grazed my flesh below the eye. I also have a couple of scars on my arm from pieces that were lodged in, but I pulled those out by hand. I didn’t get a Purple Heart out of the deal, because I never went to the aid station.” After securing the Pusan perimeter that September and pushing north during the Battle of Inchon, Hyslop and his company fought additional offensive and defensive battles near the 38th Parallel, a line of latitude just south of Seoul, South Korea, which served as a dividing line between the two sides. As Hyslop’s platoon moved north out of the Pusan perimeter, they came near the area where Task Force Smith’s original battle was fought on July 5. “The civilians in the area showed our grave-registration people the area where 49 of our captured men were speared to death,” said Hyslop. They made a game of it where they’d take a bamboo pole fiveor six-feet long, sharpen it, and line the prisoners up in front of the hamlets there and spear them to death. At least that’s the way the civilians told us they had been killed.” Although the full-scale Korean War ended in a stalemate, U.S. troops played a pivotal role in keeping South Korea and Japan free of Chinese and Soviet forces. Some of the most memorable experiences of the war for Hyslop were being able to hold the Pusan Perimeter, learning of Gen. William Dean’s capture, receiving the Bronze Star Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, getting a battlefield commission to the rank of first lieutenant and appearing as a guest on the “Bob Hope Show” in October of 1950. Perhaps the memory that stands out most for Hyslop, aside from his battles in Korea, is his viewing of the Hiroshima bomb site shortly after the end of World War II. “I have never really been able to find the words to appropriately describe the devastation we witnessed there,” he said. “As we got back on the train to proceed to Korkuro, Japan, several of the young men with me commented to me that they couldn’t understand how it took a second bomb to get them to surrender.” While these and other memories will stay personally with Hyslop, any reader interested in the Korean War will be hard-pressed to find a book on the subject that doesn’t include a chapter on Task Force Smith, the very first group of soldiers to fight in Korea. After his time in the Army, Hyslop relocated to Libertyville, Ill., where he started a successful heating, air-conditioning and plumbing business. He eventually retired to the Eagle River area.
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VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
Soldier’s dog tag comes home to Phelps
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
State Rep. Dan Meyer says ‘thanks’ to veterans
___________ BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR
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Walter Sivola was born in Finland and came to the United States with his parents and elder brother in 1912. The family settled in Phelps. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1936. From Dec. 8, 1941 to May 7, 1942, he served on the Island of Corregidor in Manila Bay, Philippines. While Pfc. Sivola never returned to Phelp, his U.S. military dog tag recently found its way back to Phelps, according to Pauleyn Nystrom of the Phelps Historical Museum. Nystrom was contacted by Fred Baldassarre, a researcher for the Battling Bastards of Bataan, that a dog tag from a U.S. soldier with the name Sivola had been found in the Philippines. He called her because of her association with the Phelps Historical Museum since “Phelps Wisconsin” was inscribed on the dog tag. After learning that Sivola had died June 29, 1988, Nystrom began her search for Sivola’s family to find out his life background in Phelps. She contacted Ralph Sivola, Walter’s nephew (whose name was on the death certificate), who lived in Roseburg, Ore. “Ralph was very excited about the discovery and asked that the dog tag remain in the Phelps museum, but said he would like a picture of the dog tag and any information we learned on his uncle,” said Nystrom. “All the calls I made doing this research was a lot of fun. Everyone involved was very willing to share. All of this would not of been possible without the assistance of Baldassarre though. It's just amazing the research his organization does.” It was on May 7, 1942, that Sivola’s life took a dramatic change. The following accounts of Sivola’s next three years of military life were found by Baldassarre, who did research for the Battling Bastards of Bataan. May 17, 1942 — Ordered to surrender to the Japanese of Island of Corregidor by his commanding officer, Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright, Sivola was moved to the 92nd Garage, a hangar area at Kindley airfield on the Island of Corregidor and kept there for a week and a half. May 23, 1942 — The men were put on barges and boats and sent to Manila, dropping them off on the shoreline of Manila Bay on Dewey Boulevard, where they had to wade ashore. From Dewey Boulevard, they were marched through the streets of Manila for propaganda purposes until
they reached Bilibid, the old Manila prison. May 28, 1942 — The men were marched to the Manila Train Station. From there they were taken by rail to Cabanatuan City in the province of Nueva Ecija. From the city, they were marched another four miles to a former Filipino Army Base. This became Cabanatuan POW (Prisoner of War) Camp. December 1942 — Sivola was moved from Cabanatuan to Las Pinas south of Manila. In Las Pinas, he and several hundred other POWs were put to work building an airfield for the Japanese Air Force. July 17, 1944 — Sivola was put on a prison ship (hell ship), the Nissyo Maru, and sent to Japan after a stop in Takao, Formosa (Taiwan). He arrived in Moji, Japan, Aug. 3, 1944. August 1944 to May 21, 1945 — Sivola was in Osaka 2-B in the town of Umeda, Japan. There he worked as a stevedore on the docks for Nippon Tsuun as a slave laborer. The town of Umeda was bombed and burnt down by a U.S. B-29 air raid. The POWs were transferred to another camp. May 1945 — Sivola was transferred to Osaka 5-B in the town of Tsuruga, Japan. There he worked as a slave laborer on the docks and the warehouses for Tsuruga Transportation Co. September 1945— Sivola was liberated by U.S. Forces. He was sent back to Manila where he stayed in a hospital camp south of Manila. There he was treated for any diseases or ailments, rehabilitated and sent back home by ship. According to family members, Sivola re-enlisted in the service and saw action during the Korean War. Upon his return from Korea, Sivola retired from the military and settled in Los Angeles. At the time of his death, he was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Mary Sivola, his brother, Arvo; and his wife, Della. About military dog tags In the U.S. military today, two identical tags are issued to the solider. One dog tag is worn on a long chain around the neck. The second dog tag is on a much smaller chain attached to the first chain. In the event the wearer is killed, the second tag is collected and the first remains with the body.
Dear veterans, As your state representative, I would like to personally thank you for your service to our country. We owe a great deal to you who have served and those servicemen and -women still on active duty. On your behalf, Gov. Scott Walker designated 2012 “The Year of the Veteran.” In the 2011-’13 state budget, Assembly Republicans infused $5 million into the Veterans Trust Fund. That fund would have had a $3.7 million shortfall within two years. As you may know, the Veterans Trust Fund helps provide health care, transportation, housing, employment and educational opportunities for Wisconsin veterans. Throughout my time in the Wisconsin state Legislature, I have been committed to helping our veterans. I was honored to be recognized for my work in support of Wisconsin Veterans, receiving the “Iron Mike Award” from Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs John Scocos for the 2005-’07 Wisconsin budget. Recently, the Legislature passed and Gov. Walker signed into law several bills to assist the 400,000 veterans living in Wisconsin. I wanted to update you on these new laws that were recently passed for veterans and their families. Act 116: HEART Act. It brings equity to families of veterans who were participants of the Wisconsin Retirement System and died or became disabled on or after January 1, 2007. Act 119: Converts Wisconsin Veterans Home in Union Grove into a skilled nursing facility and provides additional care for veterans currently on a waiting list. Act 120: Allows military training, education or experience to be used for certain professional credentials. Act 209: Waives fees for certain professional and occupational licenses is-
STATE REP. DAN MEYER
sued to veterans. Act 211: Establishes a noncompetitive appointment for certain disabled veterans to classified positions in the state civil service system. Act 212: Offers income and franchise tax credits to businesses for hiring an unemployed disabled veteran. Again, thank you for your service and the sacrifices you made for our country. It has been an honor and my pleasure to work on behalf of those who have given so much for the state of Wisconsin and the United States of America. Sincerely, Dan Meyer State Representative 34th Assembly District
WE SALUTE: THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THE SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR VETERANS THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE The American Legion Riders Mission is “to participate in parades and other ceremonies that are in keeping with the aims and purposes of the American Legion.”
The American Legion Auxiliary has one great purpose “to contribute to the accomplishments of the aims and purposes of the American Legion.”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
PAGE 13
Eagle River veteran Lester Twigg survived Iwo Jima battle at age 19 ___________
BY SONIA DIONNE FEATURE WRITER
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Iwo Jima is a volcanic Japanese island about 5 miles long and 2½ miles wide. The importance of this island was especially felt when the United States was at war with Japan and other members of the Axis Powers. U.S. forces hoped to take the island in early 1945 in order to be closer to targets on the Japanese mainland and to prevent their pilots from using the air strips to attack our bombers. Originally, U. S. strategists calculated a weeklong campaign to take the island. Instead, a ferocious five-week battle ensued. Eventually, Iwo Jima was taken by United States forces in World War II. It is amazing how soldiers who have seen combat tend to remember details. Eighty-six-year-old Lester Twigg of Eagle River rattled off dates and events buried deep in his memory from his experiences as a child and his time as a Marine in World War II. Life’s perspective was different during the Depression than it is now. Twigg, born to a poor, hardworking family in northwestern Illinois, didn't take things for granted. Back then, farms were small, gas was $1 a gallon and a loaf of bread cost a nickel. “I mowed a farmer’s huge yard with an old push, nonelectrical mower and was paid $1. I wanted a new bike and Dad said that when I made enough, he’d take me to Sears to buy one. Eventually he drove me there with the $31 I’d earned. But to get the bike I wanted, I needed $32. Dad said he’d bring me back to Sears when I made another dollar. I had more money than he did!” Twigg revealed. “Dad died in March of 1943, I finished high school in June, worked where I could, turned 18 in August and was in the Marine Corp by November,” he said. Twigg was inducted in Great Lakes, Ill., which was the farthest from home he’d ever been. He admitted that as a young man, he saw lots of the world . . . from a foxhole. He received basic training in San Diego and advanced training as a demolition specialist at Camp Pendleton in California. He was so accurate that he was rated “expert” and earned $5 more per month, which was quite a sum back then. His life soon changed. “We were supposed to have a 72-hour pass, but we got to the gate and they cancelled all leaves. The next morning, we were preparing to go overseas,” Twigg said. Twigg’s 5th Marine Division was sent to Hilo, Hawaii, where they practiced military maneuvers on top of volcanic Mauna
World War II veteran Lester Twigg displays two jackets which represent the two Marine Divisions in which he served — the 5th Division to the left and 2nd Division to the right. —Photo By Sonia Dionne
Loa. Little did they realize they were preparing for an Iwo Jima landing. When his division was shipped out, they practiced maneuvers off of Saipan, Tinian and Guam, and invaded Iwo Jima Feb. 19, 1945. Twigg was 19 when he went to Iwo. “The ocean was rough; we climbed down the cargo nets from the ship, boarding the LCVPs (a small flat-bottomed boat which held about 21 soldiers with a ramp for unloading). Then we rendezvoused for hours until the first wave landed. I was so sea sick and scared! About every six minutes, another wave of soldiers would land on the beach. Many boats were hit by artillery. If they were lucky, the two-man crew driving the LCVPs would unload, back out, then get another group of men. Many capsized or were hit by artillery.” Twigg remembers there was no fresh water on Iwo. “We had two canteens of water when we landed, so we kept good track of those until they got the filtration system going. Our steel helmets kept us alive, so we wore them continuously. Though we had a cook and baker in boot camp, we ate only K rations and C rations on Iwo,” he recalled. “The sand on the beach was coarse;
when we’d try to move, we’d sink to our knees. The north side of the island was all sulfur springs. It was smelly but warm; we landed in February which was the latter part of winter, so it was cold and miserable.” The Japanese built bunkers and tunnels from one end of the island to the other, so they never had to come up topside. “We came out of our shell holes about 8 a.m. to advance on the island. There was no place to escape the Japanese line of fire. They had us zeroed in on the beach even before we got there,” said Twigg. “I was shot down the back on March 19. The bullets went over my head and right down my back when I flipped over. It missed the shoulder blade, but created an open wound; it made a groove,” he said. “Medics packed compresses of Vaseline into the wound and later a solution of silver nitrate was used to burn the ‘proud flesh’ out. Eventually, the wound was sewn up and I healed.” Twigg was sent to Pearl Harbor for recovery. He admitted that once in awhile, after all these years, his wound still itches. Almost 7,000 soldiers died in the fierce
battle for Iwo. More than 19,000 were wounded. After Twigg recovered, he was shipped back to his old unit. As the war began winding down, the military started breaking up the 5th Marine Division so Twigg joined the Marine's 2nd Division which was headed for combat when Japan surrendered. He landed in Nagasaki and Hiroshima in September . . . right where the atomic bombs had been dropped weeks earlier. “No one thought anything about the radiation at that time. There was nothing there but concrete and twisted steel,” he recalled. In September, Twigg was sent south of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, working as an MP (Military Police) until April. He did not see action while part of the 2nd Division. “I lost lots of good friends. They say you will heal and outlive the pain of memories, but I don’t really think so,” Twigg sighed. He kept detailed records in a small diary. All the soldiers with him in boot camp are recorded there, including those who did not make it home. Twigg was discharged in May of 1946. Within days of returning home, he found work and a year later moved on to positions he enjoyed for the next 42 years building high lines and substations cross country and doing distribution work with Wisconsin Electric. Retirement found him in 1990 and he moved to Eagle River. Twigg’s great sense of humor gives him the appearance of being much younger than his actual years. He admits that when he joined the Marines, he felt indestructible but feels the aches and pains a bit more since then. Staying busy, working hard and spending so much time outdoors has made him stronger, he attests. Enjoying the company of comrades, he is a VFW honor guard member in Eagle River. His military awards include the Purple Heart (awarded when a soldier is wounded), the Presidential Unit Citation, a Pacific and an American Theatre Award, and the Victory Medal. He took part in the Veteran's Honor Flight Network last October, visiting many memorable sites in Washington, D.C. The weather was foul while visiting; though he enjoyed the entire trip, he was disappointed to have missed the World War II Memorial. His 90-year-old brother, who also survived Iwo Jima, may invite him to go again sometime. Twigg offers a life lesson to all. “Be active and do something productive with your life. I see no reason why some people just sit around and do nothing if they are able,” he said. “The military taught important things to me. It made me stronger. The war made me think better. Because I made it through the war, if I put my mind to it, I can do anything.”
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MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
‘It’s a blessing being home’ Anderson served two tours of duty in Vietnam ___________ BY SONIA DIONNE FEATURE WRITER
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A few days before he returned to the states, a rocket hit a departing plane — killing soldiers who had just completed their tour of duty in Vietnam. When it was his turn to leave and Freedom Bird lifted off the ground, the entire plane of departing soldiers, including David Keith Anderson, held their breath until reaching an altitude too high for ground-to-air missiles. Hours later, the plane finally touched the tarmac on U.S. soil and rolled to a stop. Anderson exited, fell to his knees and kissed the ground, thankful to be safely back in his own country — the good old United States of America! Anderson, 62, from Eagle River, served two tours of duty in Vietnam, each tour divided by his return home for the birth of his son. He was discharged in 1970. He hasn’t talked much about the war since then. Anderson was born and raised near Chicago. “Lots of my buddies had been drafted and I thought I’d be smart and join the Navy in 1968 so I wouldn’t have to go to Vietnam. I ended up doing two tours there on the riverboats,” he recalled. Anderson was 19 years old, fighting in a war on the far side of the globe. He was trained at the Great Lakes Naval Center near Chicago. After boot camp he received training in weapon systems and was stationed on the USS Hancock aircraft carrier in Vietnam. “It was culture shock going from hanging around with your buddies in the states and then days later going into a combat zone. I was stationed in Da Nang for awhile. Hospital and supply ships came into the harbor and it was my job to use patrol boats to ensure the ships and waters weren’t mined,” Anderson explained. While aboard the aircraft carrier, Anderson enjoyed USO entertainment when Bob Hope and the Gold Diggers, Rosie Greer and Ann Margaret performed on the ship. Anderson stated that he and the vets really appreciated their efforts and showmanship. Then he received new orders transferring him to riverboats which patrolled the CuaViet River in the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam. “I was extensively trained by Navy Seals in southern California, though part of our training was at Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps facility in San Diego,” he said. He and his Clearwater Taskforce loaded water, C rations and ammunition onto the riverboats before going out on patrol. Their crew was responsible for keeping
Vietnam veteran David Anderson served two duties in Vietnam. His service included patrolling the CuaViet River on riverboats. —Photo By Sonia Dionne
the river between Dong Ha and CuaViet open and free of mines for supply ships. Sometimes they took Navy Seals on patrols, dropping them off at night and picking them up in the morning. Four crewmen were aboard the Landing Craft Personnel-Large riverboats powered with supercharged diesel engines. A power screw on the out-drive was used to dig the boat off of sandbars which interlaced the river. “We learned to read the river by night to stay clear of the sandbars. If we were in a firefight, we wouldn’t want to be stuck,” Anderson explained. “I had good night vision back then and when I wasn’t on watch, the crew would wake me up because they were lost. I knew that river like the back of my hand. We had to stay
alert and keep our eyes open.” Seven to nine boats were responsible to patrol nine miles of river. “Sometimes we felt like sitting ducks,” Anderson recalled. “We couldn’t use lights as that would give us away. We’d shut the motors off at times and drift. We had starlight scopes and night observation devices which amplified any light source, including cigarettes being lit up.” Riverboats were equipped with infrared overhead lights, bow, stern, port and starboard machine guns and 5,000 pounds of ammunition on each side of a gun tub where hot empty shells were discharged after firing. Monsoons kept soldiers wet for months at a time. The rain and humidity created a favorable breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. To this day, Anderson
admitted that he hates both and if a mosquito is in the room as he is falling asleep, he must find it! Eventually, Anderson and other patrol squads in the demilitarized zone were called back to Da Nang and sent home. When he returned to the states, he worked for his father in construction. “I was pretty wild when I came back from Vietnam. Soldiers came back from combat zones and were supposed to act like normal people. Things just didn’t jive. I went down the rough road of life for awhile, and eventually, with help from my faith, I straightened out,” he confessed. Anderson tries to bury thinking about the war. Vietnam affected him in ways he wasn’t even aware until years after returning home. “Even today, I still sit in restaurants with my back to the wall,” he said. “They call that hyper vigilance. I never realized why I did that.” He was also saturated a number of times with the exfoliate Agent Orange and is still dealing with health issues. Thousands of veterans have been affected by the chemical dioxin which is found in Agent Orange. Americans were bitterly divided over the Vietnam War. They asked why the United States was there. Why were our soldiers fighting? Huge anti-war demonstrations were staged throughout the country. So when soldiers returned home, many were greeted by critical, accusing crowds rather than grateful Americans. Such a return to the states multiplied soldiers’ posttraumatic stress. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated in 1982 in Washington, D.C., honors all U.S. soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. The memorial is engraved with names of service members who died in Vietnam/Southeast Asia as well as those missing in action. It consists of two black granite walls listing more than 58,000 American names. “I love this country. It is such a blessing being home. You see things in war that are mind-boggling. I’ve been to the wall in Washington, D.C., four times,” said Anderson. “My son is named after a buddy killed in the war. His name is on that wall. The first three times I stood in front of the wall, I couldn’t talk. It was like being in the holy of holies. They say it’s the wall that heals. “The fourth time I went, I was able to talk — some kind of inner healing had taken place. The Vietnam War shaped a lot of my life for many years. I have a tremendous amount of respect for anyone who puts on the uniform. My heart goes out to these guys. There’s a brotherhood among military people,” Anderson affirmed.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
PAGE 15
Beseler survived Battle of the Bulge ___________ BY MARGE BAERENWALD SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-REVIEW
___________
There were many heroes in World War II, but Bill Beseler would say he wasn’t one of them. However, his family and friends would certainly disagree. At the tender age of 22, he commanded a company of men at the infamous Battle of the Bulge and was awarded a Bronze Star. Donald William Beseler, better known as Bill, was only 19 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese on that terrible day in December 1941. He was attending Ripon College and was enrolled in the Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC), which was mandatory for all freshmen and sophomore men enrolled at the school. And he was dating a young woman named Marcia Russell. In March of 1943, in his junior year, all advanced ROTC students were called into active duty and he was formally inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Sheridan, Ill., then sent on to Fort McClellan, Ala., for 13 weeks of basic training. Since there was no room at officer training school in Fort Benning, Ga., the Ripon contingent was sent back to continue their course studies as well as continue military training. He received his commission as second lieutenant in 1944 at Fort Benning and was assigned to the 106th Division, 424th Regiment as weapons platoon leader. On Oct. 21, 1944, 2,500 men of the First and Third Battalions of the 424th, along with the entire 422nd, plus several hundred air force officers and about 100 nurses and Red Cross girls, boarded the British ship Aquatania and headed for England. There were a total of 10,000 men and women aboard the ship. Before his deployment, Bill proposed marriage to Marcia Russell, who also attended Ripon. They wouldn’t see each other again for two years. While awaiting orders, he was stationed in Banbury, England. During a weekend pass, some of the group went into London. While there, the Germans launched V-2 rockets, doing a great deal of damage. “Explosions could be heard all over the city. This was my first experience with ‘war’ and, I must confess, it was rather unnerving,” Beseler said. In December 1944, the men were loaded onto a train and taken to South Hampton, where they boarded small ships for the crossing to LeHavre, France. However, when they arrived, the channel was too rough to disembark so they were kept on board and endured the rough sea for two days, causing many cases of sea sickness. When they arrived in France, they boarded trucks which took them across France into Belgium where they stopped near the German border. During this twoday trek across two countries, it rained continually. Some of the trucks were open
World War II veteran Bill Beseler displays his military certificate from the Battle of the Bulge. Behind him is a framed display of his medals. —Photo By Marge Baerenwald
and the men were exposed to the elements. “In my case, rank definitely had its privileges. I got to ride in the cab with the driver,” Beseler said. They were ill-equipped to handle the severe cold and wet conditions. Each man had been issued wool pants, shirts, sweaters and long underwear, but no overshoes. “I was one of the very lucky ones who also had a pair of buckle overshoes. Military supply had just brought us some overshoes, but our allotment all came in small sizes. Because I wore a size 9 shoe, I was able to obtain a pair that fit, but my foot size was at the upper limit of shoes that would actually fit into any of the boots we were provided.” Beseler has recently compiled his recollections of the battle that ensued, called “The War Through My Eyes.” He recalls details of the battle which included his company’s first encounter with the enemy near Winterspelt, Germany. “Our first casualty was the machine gun section leader,” Beseler said. His helmet was hit by a piece of shrapnel which turned out not to be life threatening, but produced a lot of blood. “It most certainly woke us up as to the seriousness of our situation,” he said. The battle raged for 63 days, during which his company was under heavy fire. Of the original 197 members, only 21 sur-
vived. Many of the casualties were from “friendly fire” because artillery shells fell short of their mark. They held off the Germans using only rifles until Dec. 20, then they were ordered to withdraw. They had no anti-tank guns, no bazookas, not even any rifle grenades. “Had we stayed just one more day we most likely would have suffered the same consequences as the 422nd and 423rd Regiments. Those units had been north of St. Vith Dec. 17 and had all been killed or captured.” As history books relate, the Germans were finally driven back into Germany. It was only later that the battle became known as the Battle of the Bulge. Two incidents stood out for Beseler during this time. The first was Christmas 1944 on a ridge overlooking Mannheim, Germany. The men learned that a priest was arriving to conduct Christmas Mass and give them communion right there on the battlefield. “The priest used the hood of his jeep as an altar,” said Beseler. The second incident was the preparation for a battle on Jan. 13. “It would be hard to choose which incident had the greatest impact on me — the Christmas Mass or the preparation for battle. It was damn cold — 13 degrees below zero. There were lots of frozen feet — more casualties due to the weather than combat,” said Beseler.
Replacements arrived for the men who had been killed or injured in the previous battle. When they returned from a patrol, they found that Christmas mail had just arrived. Beseler and his lieutenant had to sort it and label the letters addressed to those who had been killed or captured “MIA.” “After mail call, the men were ordered to write letters home,” Beseler recalled. “For some, it was the last letter they ever wrote.” In February 1945, Beseler was promoted to first lieutenant, then a year later, captain. As the war came to an end, his unit was put in charge of 75,000 prisoners of war. He served out his military career in Frankfurt, Germany, as headquarters company commander at General Eisenhower’s headquarters. It was quite a change from the battlefield as it afforded Beseler the opportunity to “wind down” from the intensity of combat and trying to stay alive. “I feel fortunate to have survived, when so many men that I knew, loved and respected did not. I also count my blessings that my mind was not warped by the torments of battle. I feel that my postwar assignment in Frankfurt helped tremendously to bring back that sense of normalcy. Unlike many of my comrades, I had the chance to gradually ease back into society,” he said. In May 1946, he received orders to report to the Port of Embarkation at Bremen, Germany, where he awaited transportation home. The first priority upon arriving home was to arrange a wedding. He and Marcia were married July 22, 1946. They celebrated their 65th anniversary in 2011. After completing his degree at Ripon, both taught school in Bonduel for a year, then moved to Chelan, Wash., where all three of their children were born. The couple now live in Arbor Vitae where they enjoy retirement by bird watching, playing bridge with friends and entertaining their children and grandchildren. Beseler’s son-in-law, Terry Van Straten, was instrumental in publishing many of Beseler’s recollections after the veteran did a presentation at a granddaughter’s school. “It was the first time in 65 years that I had remembered some of the details of my experiences during the war,” said Beseler. “It was also the first time that I had told them to anyone. “I came to the realization that the military and the Allied Command were not infallible. Mistakes were made that took a high toll on human life. I also realized that they, like everyone else involved, did the best they could with the knowledge, tools and technology available at the time,” said Beseler. “War often involves flying by the seat of one’s pants, and sometimes just plain dumb luck,” he said. “I am proud of what we did to conquer evil in the world, and I am proud to have been part of that endeavor.”
PAGE 16
MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
Vietnam Memorial Wall coming to Eagle River Traveling wall to visit from June 30 to July 4 The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, a three-fifths scale of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will make a stop in Eagle River this summer. The traveling memorial will be open to the public June 30 through July 4 at the Eagle River Derby Track from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Opening ceremonies will be daily at 9 a.m., except for June 30 when they will be held at 6 p.m. and July 4 when they will be held at 1:30 p.m. following the Fourth of July Parade. The Eagle River Fourth of July Parade theme this year will honor Vietnam veterans and the parade marshal will be Gold Star Mother June Marheine. The closing ceremony at the traveling memorial will be after the fireworks display on the Fourth of July. The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall stands 6 feet tall at the center and covers almost 300 feet from end to end. This traveling memorial stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It was made for the purpose of helping heal and rekindle friendships and to allow people the opportunity to visit loved ones in their hometown who otherwise may not be able to make the trip to Washington, D.C.
Additional information about the hours of display and ceremonies will appear on posters and in advertising around the North Woods leading up to the showing. Donations to offset the cost of bringing this display to Eagle River are appreciated. Donations may be sent directly to or made in person at Peoples State Bank in Eagle River or at the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center; or mail to P.O. Box 1629, Eagle River, WI 54521. Make checks payable to ERTWF. Excess donations from sponsors and visitors will be forwarded to the Wounded Warrior Project benefiting all veterans who need assistance from their service for our country. For a list of sponsors and updated wall information, visit eaglerivertravelingwall.us. Donations will be recognized in the following categories: Congressional Medal of Honor, $1,250; Silver Star, $750; Bronze Star, $500; and Purple Heart, $250. Sponsors will be discreetly recognized at the Derby Track location during the display dates, on the website, as well as in print. Visit eaglerivertravelingwall.us for more information.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
PAGE 17
Vietnam War experiences help Silber make present-day decisions ___________ BY JOAN MEEDER FEATURE WRITER
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Mike Silber, a lifetime resident of Three Lakes resident, recently reminisced about his year of service in the Vietnam War in 1969 and how it affected his life and the way he relates to fellow human beings. “God was good to me over there. Things happened to me that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Other guys had hell. Some guys never got off their base and had it the easiest. I was in between. I survived and did what I was supposed to.” While training at a hospital corps school in Great Lakes, Ill., and later at a duty station hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., he helped many wounded veterans and some retired personnel recover from the war. When an urgent notice for recruits for Vietnam came up, Silber volunteered for duty — making a deal with God that he would return. Arriving in Vietnam in 1969 as a Navy corpsman/medic, patrolling with Marines was a big adjustment for Silber coming after one of the worst years of the Vietnam War. At that time, a truce was to be honored during the Vietnamese New Year, but the North Vietnamese staged the surprise Tet Offensive, which Silber thinks was a turning point of the war. As far back as 1953, there had been military strife in Vietnam, which escalated in 1963. As a result, President John F.
MIKE SILBER
Kennedy decided to send war advisors and the Green Berets to the region. Most of Silber’s time was spent in the northern part of South Vietnam, below the demilitarized zone, on a fire support base near mountainous villages and in the jungle — basically wherever he was needed. His work was considered grunt work. He took care of soldiers’ injuries and gave medications, such as malaria pills and antibiotics for cuts and bruises. The most common disease that he treated the soldiers for was jungle rot. But Silber also took care of battle injuries, sometimes being gone from the base for days or weeks on end. Being in the jungle was frightening because of not knowing when or where the enemy would attack. He also went on reconnaissance missions. “Groups of five to seven soldiers went out beyond the barbed wire, not to make contact with the enemy, but to see what they were up to. One of the soldiers was a radioman who could contact a large support base in the area if needed. The base included helicopters. The Vietnam War was a helicopter war, like in ‘MASH.’ The helicopters would transport units, supplies and the wounded. Something positive that came out of this war was the development of Flight for Life programs at hospitals,” said Silber. Groups of doctors, medics and soldiers also would visit local villages to protect and treat their residents who were grateful for such common items as bandages and aspirin. Silber witnessed villagers adapting to their war circumstances and he learned a bit of Vietnamese. Soldiers also developed a type of slang among themselves that was a combination of Vietnamese, French and English. Sometimes, Silber’s unit was surprised by attacks. “There were many boring days and then there were minutes that were hell, when everything broke loose,” he said. Another hazard that terrorized the soldiers at their bases, constructed of rocks and sandbags, were the rats that lived inside the walls. Meals were unappealing, consisting oftentimes of C-rations, which were canned foods such as bacon and eggs. At that time, the food kits also would contain small packages of gum and cigarettes. Silber recalls the soldiers’ best food came from home in care packages, which were delivered by helicopter along with mail and supplies. One of his special packages arrived when he was celebrating his
Mike Silber, the soldier, is shown here at one of his base camps in Vietnam in 1969. The makeshift shelter was built of wood, rocks and sandbags. —Contributed Photo
20th birthday in Vietnam. Being from Three Lakes, Silber knew that if he needed anything, the American Legion back home would send it for him. Upon returning to Three Lakes, it took a while for Silber to re-adjust to the culture and incorporate his war experiences into a life direction. Returning Vietnam veterans were looked down upon as the country was experiencing anti-draft demonstrations. A short time after returning to the States, Silber went for nursing training which he uses today in his job as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Four years later, the United States involvement in the Vietnam War ended and he got married on that date, Jan. 27, 1973. In 1975, South Vietnam fell to North Vietnam. But the Vietnam War still impacts some, as some returning Vietnam veterans deal with the effects from Agent Orange, the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Today, Silber visits area schools to
speak about various aspects of life in the service, including the classic rock ’n’ roll music of that time. These days, he also can be found volunteering as the commander at the Three Lakes American Legion Post. This involves presiding over meetings, directing the functioning of the organization and post, as well as serving as part of the decision-making process. Silber notes that Legion posts throughout the state support nearby Camp American Legion in Lake Tomahawk, established during the 1920s on the site of a former girls camp. It’s one of the few places in the country where any Wisconsin veteran can stay free for one week. While the Vietnam War affected Silber’s life in many ways, he plans to visit the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Wall in Eagle River July 4. “My view of life is more compassionate than what it could have been. Besides working as an LPN at area nursing homes, I’ve been volunteering for a week the past 14 years as a camp counselor with disabled people,” he said. “I see the effect of my past experiences on presentday decisions.”
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MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
Klessig’s desire to serve State provides vets began as a youngster many vital programs His service included time in Germany and Iraq ___________ BY CAROLYN RITTER NEWS-REVIEW LIFESTYLE EDITOR
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Joining the military was something Sgt. Zack Klessig of Eagle River always wanted to do, a desire that developed from his interest in history, especially military history. He also saw military service as a way to serve his country. He decided to join the U.S. Army in high school, talking to a recruiter prior to his graduation from Northland Pines High School. He enlisted for a four-year tour of duty. He began his basic training in 2000 at Fort Sill, Okla., continuing his education with specialized training in field artillery. Other areas he wanted to explore included ground combat. “I joined the field artillery division, which provides fire support for ground troops,” said Klessig. “The large vehicles would travel behind the ground troops, shooting far over them to clear the way. The large Howitzers could shoot up to 25 miles, but generally we would be shooting about 5 miles in front of the troops.” Following basic training, he was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington state for 18 months and in Geissen, Germany, for a year before doing a 14-month tour of duty in Iraq. Working and depending on others, he learned teamwork skills that he uses today. “My brother, Zeb, was also in the Army at that time and for several months we were both stationed in Iraq, although in different locations,” he explained. Deployed to Iraq in the spring of 2003, he served most of his time in northeast Baghdad but also spent three months in An Najah and three weeks in Fallujah. The area was extremely dry and there were few trees. Vegetation often was dusty due to the blowing sand. Farming took place along the rivers where the fields could be irrigated. “When I came back to the states, the first thing I noticed was how green the trees and grass were,” he said. “The green color was so intense it almost hurt my eyes.” As part of the infantry, Klessig’s assignments included foot patrols through city areas, targeted house raids and mounted patrols. “When we went on mounted patrols, we would ride in the back of trucks as they drove through the streets, keeping order,” he said. “You get close to the other soldiers who are part of your unit, facing challenges together, and they become life-
SGT. ZACK KLESSIG
long friends.” Klessig noted that the reaction of the Iraqi people to American troops varied. “At the beginning, most would come out and talk to us as we moved through the city on our patrols,” he said. “But then some stopped from fear of being attacked in retribution by other Iraqis.” At one point, Klessig was working with an Iraqi interpreter, an elderly man. The interpreter had served in the Iraqi military in the late 1940s where, as a young man, he worked in conjunction with the British military. During his years of service, Klessig received four U.S. Army Achievement medals, two U.S. Army Commendation medals and a Purple Heart from wounds he received while in Iraq. “I was shot in the leg during a patrol, and I was lucky in that the bullets did not hit a main artery or vein,” he explained. His leg has healed well and he has no impairment as a result of the injury. “I was happy to serve my country and I have no regrets,” he shared. “I would do it again.” The son of Greg and Pam Klessig of Eagle River, Klessig did not re-enlist but returned to Eagle River where he now works for the U.S. Forest Service.
___________ BY STATE SEN. JIM HOLPERIN
___________
Wisconsin has a long tradition of providing a variety of state-level programs and services to veterans. These benefits include assistance in housing, education, health care, job training and employment assistance, and counseling. Programs like the Wisconsin GI Bill Tuition Remission Program, the Veterans Education grant program, and Academic Credit for Military Experience all provide veterans with opportunities to advance their education at minimal expense. Wisconsin offers a grant program that provides assistance to needy veterans and family members who have no alternative source of aid. Grants may be applied to dental, vision or hearing care and may be offered when there is a decrease in income due to injury, illness or a natural disaster. The Wisconsin Veterans Assistance Program can provide job training, education, counseling and rehabilitation services to veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Job retraining grants may be provided to unemployed or underemployed veterans for a maximum of two years. Employment assistance is also provided through the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program and Local Veterans Employment representatives. The programs mentioned above are only a few of the benefits available to veterans from the state of Wisconsin. A visit to the Department of Veterans Affairs website at dva.state.wi.us and a click on the “Benefits” button will reveal a complete listing. Better yet, contact local county Veterans Service officers for a complete summary of federal, state and local resources available to you. Vilas County residents should contact Scott Jensen at (715) 4793778 or visit him at the Vilas County Courthouse. Oneida County vets should contact Tammy Walters at (715) 3696127. Every two years, the Wisconsin Legislature reviews, revises and renews the state’s offerings for veterans. In the 2011-’12 state budget the Legislature made a major commitment to keep the Wisconsin Veteran’s Trust Fund solvent until 2013 by approving a one-time $5 million transfer into the fund. The fiscal condition of the fund will need to be carefully reviewed next session. Nearly $7 million was appropriated to open a new 72-bed nursing facility at the veterans home at Chippewa Falls. The new facility should be open to new pa-
SEN. JIM HOLPERIN
tients this coming November in time for Veterans Day. Another change will help veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. Those vets will now be able to seek help both at assistance centers around the state or through video conferencing. In addition to the state budget, several pieces of legislation enacted during the 2011-’12 session will benefit Wisconsin veterans. — Wisconsin Act 120 will allow military training to count in qualifying for various state professional licenses or certifications issued by various state agencies. — Wisconsin Act 209 allows veterans living in Wisconsin or relocating here to receive one professional license without charge. The legislation is intended to promote veterans moving to Wisconsin and to honor those who have served our country. — Wisconsin Act 211 authorizes state agency heads to appoint disabled veterans to civil service positions on a noncompetitive basis as long as they meet all qualifications. Several other legislative bills to benefit veterans in various ways were introduced, but did not advance through the entire legislative process. Most will likely be re-introduced next session, starting in January 2013. I always welcome questions or concerns about veterans issues, legislation or benefits and I can be contacted by phone at (608) 266-2509 or by email at sen.holperin@legis.wi.gov.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
PAGE 19
Peer support groups effective in helping vets Rhinelander VA Outpatient Clinic leads the way IRON MOUNTAIN, MICH. — Shell shocked, battle or combat fatigue, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are some of the evolving terms for the impact that war has had on troops throughout the last 100 years. Much is made in the press and in healthcare circles recently of PTSD resulting from 10-plus years of combat operations. In reality, war has always impacted the mental health of soldiers and sailors. However, mental-health professionals are much more knowledgeable of PTSD and other mental-health disorders, and treatments for those disorders are more varied and effective. One of the effective treatments used today by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in its mental-health recovery program is peer support recovery groups, and the VA’s Community Outpatient Clinic in Rhinelander is leading the way. The Rhinelander VA Clinic, which had more than 18,200 veteran health-care appointments in 2011, is staffed with a psychologist, a licensed master social worker and a peer support specialist, in addition to one physician, two nurse practitioners, a pharmacist, six nurses and two administrative staff. The two mental-health professionals offer evidence-based therapies that are proven treatments for behavioral health issues. The peer support specialist leads eight peer support recovery groups and two spouses groups in support of the recovery program. “The peer support groups provide opportunities for the veterans to take control of their own recovery,” said Tim Bahr, the VA
Clinic’s certified peer support specialist. Bahr is a long-serving Marine Corps veteran who, himself, is recovering from PTSD. “These groups teach and support the learning of skills needed to facilitate one’s recovery as well as help the veteran develop a sense of wellness and self-worth,” he added. Two of the peer groups Bahr leads are mantric repetition groups. “Mantra is not transcendental meditation (TM), and I’m not a TM type of guy,” said Bahr, “but rather it’s a way to initiate a pausing action in my cyclic thinking.” Bahr uses the method as another tool in his recovery. Two other peer groups are for spouses. “I was asked by the spouses of our group participants if they could have a one-time group so they could understand what was happening to their spouses,” said Bahr. “This one-time group turned into a weekly spouses group, and now we have two spouses peer groups going,” he added. Studies have demonstrated the positive impact peer support makes to the recovery of people dealing with mental-health conditions. Peer support groups have improved social functioning and quality of life for veterans while reducing hospitalizations and use of crisis services. “One Vietnam combat vet had isolated himself from pretty much everyone since returning from the war,” said Bahr. “He wanted little, if any, interaction with others. After being fired from his long-time job, and with the insistence of his wife, the veteran joined one of the clinic’s peer-led peer support recovery groups, and today he is getting out and socializing with members of the group,”
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Bahr added. This veteran is just one example of many veterans who have expressed the empowerment they feel by having the opportunity to participate in peer support groups. “It is not uncommon for participants in peer support groups to say that they are glad the group is being led by someone who knows where they have been or understands where they are coming from,” said Bahr. Peer support groups and evidenced-based therapies are both part of the VA’s mentalhealth recovery model. “Mental-health recovery is about the veteran finding his or her way in the world, the way that works best for them so they can live the best life possible,” said Karen Krebsbach, recovery coordinator at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Mich. “Recovery groups change the emphasis from, ‘What is wrong with you?’ to ‘What is right with you?’ ” said Krebsbach. Veterans interested in peer support groups or other mental-health treatments may call the Rhinelander VA Outpatient Clinic at (715) 362-4080 or the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center at 1-(800) 2158262, ext. 32777, or karen.krebsbach@ va.gov.
Marine Corps veteran Tim Bahr is the VA clinic’s certified peer support specialist. —Contributed Photo
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PAGE 20
MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
Vilas County Veterans Service Office serves 3,000 vets, spouses, dependents The Vilas County Veterans Service Office is located in the Vilas County Courthouse at 330 Court Street in Eagle River. The office is staffed by Veterans Service Officer Scott Jensen, who is a retired U.S. Army first sergeant, and benefits specialist Debbie DursSCOTT JENSEN ki. The office is on the ground floor next to the Social Services office. The hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jensen and Durski advise veterans and their families living in Vilas County who served in the U.S. armed forces, regarding any and all benefits to which they may be entitled, and assist in any claim, benefit, complaint or problem arising out of such service. “We serve as a counselor, an advocate and
a source of information and assistance to veterans and their families and/or survivors,” said Jensen. According to Jensen, the 2010 annual report showed the office assisted 2,996 veterans, their spouses or their dependents. “The fiscal impact to those nearly 3,000 people in Vilas County was almost $15 million,” said Jensen, who noted the 2010 office budget was $131,116. He said the 2011 figures are not yet available. The 2010 benefits included compensation and pension totaling $6.173 million; 14 home loans totaling $2.776 million; Veterans Affairs (VA) medical benefits totaling $5.417 million; education and vocational rehabilitation totaling $224,000; and insurance and indemnities totaling $199,000, for a total U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefit of $14,789,452. In addition, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs benefits totaled another $80,202, including: $52,217 for 52 disabled veterans receiving property tax relief; $10,000 for two recipients of the personal loan program; $7,985 for three recipients of the aid to needy veterans dental program; and $10,000 for the county veterans service officer grant.
The grand total for the federal and state veterans benefits in Vilas County in 2010 was $14,869,654. The federal VA assistance includes preparing and perfecting applications for service-connected disability, compensation, VA Pension benefits, widow’s pension, burial benefits, dependency and indemnity compensation, death compensation, VA health care enrollment and Civilian Health and Medical Program for the Department of Veterans Affairs for dependants, automotive adaptive equipment and automotive grant, specially adapted housing grant, application for VA home loan, federal GI Bill, vocational rehabilitation, veterans educational assistance program, Chapter 35 Educational Benefits for widow, spouse and children, VA work study and tutorial assistance, request military records and medals, VA insurance programs, homeless and at-risk veterans, incarcerated veterans, discharge review and corrections, and appeals of denied benefits or claims. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs assistance includes eligibility determinations, aid to needy veterans programs, homeless assistance, hunting and fishing licenses, individual income and property tax
benefits, job retraining grants, military funeral honors, home purchase loan, home improvement loan, personal loan program, Wisconsin GI Bill and other educational benefits, employment assistance, Troops to Teachers program, veterans and military license plates, Wisconsin veterans cemeteries, Wisconsin veterans homes, and women veterans programs. The office also assists with veterans aid and relief funds, grave markers/headstones, flags and flag holders, transportation to VA medical appointments and claim appointments. “We also provide information to local veterans organizations and interested persons in the form of emails, newsletters, news releases and service officer reports at meetings,” said Jensen. “We also refer clients to proper service agencies and support services when required.” As a Vilas County veterans representative, Jensen also attends funerals, luncheons/dinners, community events and veterans benefit fairs and meetings. For any questions about veterans benefits in Vilas County, call Jensen at (715) 4793629 or email him at scjens@co.vilas.wi.us.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
PAGE 21
Maj. Weber’s parents share his story ___________ BY WALLY GEIST SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-REVIEW
___________
After completing three deployments to war zones as a soldier in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Major Michael Weber of St. Germain is now an active-duty serviceman assigned to Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Michael, the son of Bruce and Mary Weber of St. Germain, graduated from Northland Pines High School in 1990 and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and -Madison, graduating in 1996 with a degree in English literature. Upon graduation, Michael worked for a payroll software company in Milwaukee, a job that didn’t quite live up to his expectations, according to brother, David Weber. “He once told me that working in the software company didn’t seem right, that he needed to do something more fulfilling with his life,” said David. “He found that fulfillment by enrolling in the Officer Candidate School of the USMC in Quantico, Virginia.” Michael’s father, Bruce, said he is proud of both of his sons. “We are also privileged to follow Michael’s career in the Marine Corps because of what he is giving to us and our country.” Michael’s Marine Corps career has included three deployments to war zones. The first was the toughest on the family, said his mother. “The first deployment was the hardest for us because the troops were constantly moving forward,” said Mary. “They were blasting their way to Baghdad. There weren’t the phone calls and emails of the later two deployments. It’s hard not to hear, not to know where our children are or what they’re facing. It’s a very anxious time.” Putting things into perspective, Bruce envisioned the distress families must have gone through in the World Wars. “I cannot imagine what it was like for parents of soldiers in the World Wars,” he said. “They put their sons on trains and
Mary and Bruce Weber recounted the story of Maj. Michael Weber’s three deployments to war zones as a soldier in the U.S. Marine Corps. Weber graduated Northland Pines High School in 1990 and remains an active-duty serviceman. —Photo By Wally Geist
didn’t hear from them for long periods of time. It must have been much harder for the parents than it is with today’s communication technology.” Michael’s initial deployment was to Iraq in 2003, from January to July. “We heard all about weapons of mass destruction, nerve gas and chemical weapons,” recounted Bruce. “We knew the threat to our son’s life and health was
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very great. We felt it everyday.” During that deployment, Michael was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, according to Mary, who produced a color copy of the commendation which reads in part: “Lieutenant Weber courageously led the battery into uncertain terrain through hostile direct and indirect fire . . . Weber’s charismatic leadership inspired the Marines at the
brink of exhaustion to higher levels of performance.” According to Bruce, Michael went back to Iraq in 2007 through the spring of 2008. “He was assigned to Camp Leatherneck in Fallujah to do intelligence work and help guide the troop activities,” said Bruce. “His mother and I felt a little more comfortable with this deployment, but we always knew he spent time in the field and there was always the threat of IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices).” While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Michael was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in connection with intelligence information gathering and analysis. The description of his achievement which came along with the Star states that his work led to the seizure of more than 100 small arms, ammunition and more than 30,000 pounds of combined military grade and homemade explosives. The action destroyed 17 enemy combatants along with the detention of 30 more known and suspected insurgents. “Each of the deployments put Michael in a different kind of combat situation,” said Bruce. “The first was all-out war, the second was skirmishes and the third, in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, was counter insurgency work where we were trying to win over the people and run off the Taliban.” Today, Michael is assigned to Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which is involved in planning and guiding counterterrorism operations. It was a JSOC operation that led to the death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011. In 2010, Major Weber’s work was recognized when he received the Colonel Donald G. Cook Intelligence Officer of the Year Award. David Weber was Michael’s special guest at the ceremony, where the prestigious award was presented. The Weber home flies the Blue Star Service Flag, a symbol of pride indicating a member of the immediate family serves or has served in the United States armed forces during any period of war or hostilities in which the forces are engaged.
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MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
American Legion Riders have common interest — motorcycling ___________ BY DOUG BREIT SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-REVIEW
___________
Who are the American Legion Riders? The original American Legion Riders is a group that was first formed in Garden City, Mich., Post 396 in November of 1993 by Bill Kaledas and Chuck “Tramp” Dare. It consisted of members of the American Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion who ride motorcycles. Since that time, several groups have been formed throughout the country. These American Legion Riders all share a common interest — motorcycling. We are not a motorcycle club. We are an association, a group of American Legion members who ride for a cause. Whether it is working together on veterans issues, participating in a local parade as a motorcycle color guard, raising monies for a charity or cruising together on a beautiful fall-colored highway, the American Legion Riders have provided a lot of enjoyment for those members who share a common interest in motorcycling. In August of 2000, a group of American Legion members founded and chartered the American Legion Riders Association of Wisconsin (ALRA). The group saw the benefit to the American Legion by using the interest of motorcycles as a means of growing the Legion family here in Wisconsin. The 12 separate American Legion Districts organize the ALRA of WI. The state officers, President Helms, Secretary Hill and Road Captain Wiley, chartered the ALRA of WI District 11 in Eagle
River in May of 2003. The District 11 charter members are Dick Klug, president; Doug Breit, vice president; Lanny Ross, treasurer; and Dick Moss, secretary. Each district of the ALRA of WI has officers that represent their district. There are officers at the state level who are responsible for running the state organization and supporting the 12 Wisconsin districts. The district to which an ALRA member belongs is identified on their uniform by looking at the rocker under their back patch with the district number and post number. There are 16 ALRA members in District 11 and they come from all over the North Woods. The post and their rider numbers include Rhinelander Post #7, two; Tomahawk Post #93, three; Eagle River Post #114, three; Phillips Post #122, one; Glidden Post #247, two; Lake Tomahawk Post #318, three; Ashland Post #90, 1; and Saxon Post #371, one. American Legion members who like to ride, have a 500cc or larger motorcycle and a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license are invited to ride with the group. Current District 11 officers include: President Doug Breit, Treasurer Eric Brunner, Vice President Bob Sabatke, Sgt. At Arms Marion Much, Secretary Eric Brunner, Road Capt. Jim Sprague and Chaplain Don Reed. The historian position is currently open. For more information about the American Legion Riders, contact Doug Breit at (715) 477-2163.
The American Legion Riders District 11 members participate in area Memorial Day services and Fourth of July parades. —NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO
To All Veterans Who Have Served This Great Nation with Honor in Times of War, These Members Salute You
This military salute sponsored in part by
Fredrick J. Walsh Post 114, American Legion, Eagle River, Wisconsin
Eagle River
The Veterans of Foreign Wars offer our heartfelt thanks to all veterans who make the freedom we now enjoy possible. VFW 418 Pine St., Eagle River, Wis. (715) 479-8810
Thomas Andersen John Armstrong James Bardenwerper Virgil Beyer Richard Bloom Douglas Breit Eric Brunner Donald Budney Allen Burdick Merril Burmeister Lon Bushey Wayne Campbell Francis Carlson Melvin Carlson Carolyn Carter Gary Case Rick Conant Jonathon Cook Christina Crane Norman Dashiell Jeff Davis Marty Doede Donald Duncan Richard Fenzke Eugene Garraty L. Allen Geiger Allen Greenwald
Richard Griffey William Grigus Robert Grimm Gary Guymon Don Hagen Charles Halfmann John Hayes Agendrew Heffner Dawn Hrickson Glenn Huelskamp Harvey Hyslop Daniel Ingraham Ruth James Joseph Jankers Scott Jensen Harold Johnson William Jones Alois Kammes Jr. James Kasper Benard Keith Martin Ketterer Roger Klinter Vincent Kohls Calvin Korpela Arthur Koscielnniak Bernell Kraut Quentin Kukanich
Robert Leach Harry Lee Eugene Leveille Michael Lucas James Lynn Harold Madsen Larry Matson June Maurice Edward Mayack Robert Millard Mark Nagy Earl Newton Bruce Neir Eric Neir James Neir Bernard Opichka Earl Pankow Peter Perfetti Richard Peterson Nellie Pietila Russell Pride Donn Proven Steven Pulec Erwin Rappold Ignatius Rebarchik Richard Reese Ronald Richards
Ralph Richardson David Roberts Max Rockafellow Daniel Rogers Robert Rozga Dennis Rushlow John Sarama Frederick Scharf Wilson Scott Ray Shebesia Darren Slizewski Clarence Sparks Scott Sparks Walter Spiess Joseph Steffek Arney Storzer Einar Syvertsen Charles Tienhaara Charlie Tienhaara Joseph Tomlanovich Timothy Treazzise James Van Haverbeke Michael Vinovich John Wade Ronald Waller Daniel Wroblewski Robert Wuytach
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
PAGE 23
Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation has support in Phelps, says Lyle Spurgeon ___________ BY SHARON GIFFORD SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-REVIEW
___________
The Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation (WWIA) was established by John McDaniel in 2007, who set up corporate headquarters in Apollo Beach, Fla. A retired Army officer, he said his service to the American nation was not yet finished. WWIA, a 501(c) organization, assists more than 100 Purple Heart veterans with recovery by providing various outdoor sporting opportunities at no cost. Combat wounded veterans who have been given a Purple Heart receive numerous opportunities through WWIA, according to the foundation’s website, including first-rate sporting activities like hunting elk in Washington, hunting pheasant in South Dakota and wreck fishing off the coast of New Jersey. “The foundation is now growing by leaps and bounds, thanks to the generous support of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, devoted federal employees in the Combined Federal Campaign and concerned patriots,” reads the website. Purple Heart recipients participating in WWIA events can connect with other service members who have been through similar experiences. “These events can also help to ease the debilitating effects of posttraumatic stress disorder, facilitate warriors’ adjustments to life back home and foster a sense of self-reliance,” according to the website. The situation is that the country has been at war for more than nine years. As of May 27, 2011, the combined number of wounded warriors from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn was 43,643. These men and women are our nation’s most-treasured asset. Americans want to help but are unsure how. The WWIA provides them an opportunity to make a difference in our heroes’ lives.
Lyle (Scott) Spurgeon of Phelps, an associate of WWIA and a Purple Heart recipient, said he has long realized the therapeutic nature of the outdoors. “I grew up in northern Wisconsin, where the forests, lakes and streams were right out my back door, and where hunting and fishing are a way of life,” he said. Spurgeon was wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade during deployment to Afghanistan Oct. 1, 2009. “Although my wife and family have been the main focus for my recovery, hunting and fishing have been my therapy,” said Spurgeon. “My love of the outdoors has helped to get me back to what is now a normal life.” On that very same night, Sgt. Ryan Adams of Rhinelander made the greatest sacrifice of all, according to Spurgeon. “He gave his life so that others could continue to enjoy these things,” he said. “It is my hope that through the WWIA I will have the opportunity to pass on what little knowledge of hunting and fishing I have and hopefully help fellow wounded warriors back to a normal life.” In February of this year, Holiday Lodge in Phelps hosted a WWIA fundraiser event, which was coordinated by Lyle and Karen Spurgeon, along with Robin and Debbie Vold, all of Phelps. “Because of the awesome crowd and generosity of raffle prizes and certificates from local community businesses and individuals, we sent a check for $7,500 to the WWIA,” said Vold. “Everyone opened up their hearts and supported our wounded heroes.” Forty-eight prizes and 78 gift certificates were donated. All proceeds went toward providing six Purple Heart recipients, located throughout the states, an all-expensespaid two-day and three-night fishing event in Phelps with local fishing guides. Excess
Scott Spurgeon helped bring the Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation (WWIA) to the Phelps area. A recipient of the Purple Heart award, Spurgeon is a northern Wisconsin native who describes himself as an outdoor enthusiast. One of the core goals of WWIA is to provide outdoor sporting opportunities to veterans at no cost. —Photo By Sharon Gifford
funds were donated to the WWIA to help support other events. The Phelps fundraiser event was to date the most profitable event put on for the WWIA. Local Purple Heart recipients who
attended the event included Scott Spurgeon, U.S. Army, Afghanistan; Albert Mietus, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam; Tom Miles, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam; and Matt Tenneson, U.S. Army, Afghanistan.
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PAGE 24
MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
Organizations ready to assist veterans Phone numbers
Websites
• Vilas County Veterans Service Office, (715) 479-3629
• Federal VA: va.gov
• Oneida County Veterans Service Office, (715) 369-6127 • VA Regional Office call center, 800-827-1000 • VA Pension Center call center, 877-294-6380 • Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, 800-WIS-VETS
• Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs: dva.state.wi.us • Tricare: tricare.mil • Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS): dfas.mil • Oneida County: co.oneida.wi.gov • Vilas County: co.vilas.wi.us
• VA Medical Center, Iron Mountain, MI, 800-215-8262 • Community-Based Outreach Clinic, Rhinelander, (715) 362-4080 • DAV van reservations, (715) 369-6227 • Tricare, Northern Region 877-TRICARE • CHAMPVA, 800-733-8387 • Education Center, St. Louis, MO, 888-GIBILL1 • DFAS for retirees, 800-321-1080
Proud to help honor our American Heroes!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
Oneida Veterans Service Office ready to assist vets, dependents The Oneida County Veterans Service Office is located in the Oneida County Courthouse in Rhinelander. The office is staffed by Veterans Service Officer Tammy Walters, who is a retired Navy senior chief, and Danielle “Dani” Lundberg. The office is on the first floor, room No. 2, between the clerk’s and treasurer’s offices. The office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on all county holidays, which are not necessarily the same as federal holidays. “Because there are only two staff members, it is strongly recommended you call to make an appointment if you need to apply for benefits,” said Walters. “If you just have questions about benefits, you are welcome to call or stop by anytime during normal working hours.” The purpose of the Veterans Service Office is to inform veterans, dependents and survivors about the benefits to which they may be entitled and assist them with applying for those benefits. Benefits include, but are not limited to: filing service-connected disability claims, applying for VA health-care, requesting military personnel files or service medical records, requesting medals earned, filing for VA pensions, assisting family members with any benefits after and much more. Additionally, the office took over coordinating the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) van, which transports veterans from Rhinelander to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Mich. This van runs Mondays via Lake Tomahawk, Woodruff and Eagle River, and Wednes-
TAMMY WALTERS days via Monico, Crandon and Laona. This is a free service. DAV van reservations can be made by calling (715) 369-6227. “Reservations should be made as soon as your appointment is scheduled, but they must be made no later than two working days prior to the day you want to ride,” said Walters. People with questions about any veterans benefits are urged to call (715) 3696127 or email Walters at twalters@co.oneida.wi.us.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
PAGE 25
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Conover couple on mission to honor veterans with 1941 muscle truck Conover residents Bob and Meg Cankar, founders of Ultimate Sacrifice USA Inc., would personally like to thank all military personnel past and present for their selfless service to a grateful nation. The Cankars’ nonprofit organization was birthed of an intense attitude of gratitude while visiting the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Ill., in September of 2009. Halfway through the first granite panel displaying names of fallen heroes, Bob became a very broken man. As he composed himself, he said to his wife, “Meg, we have got to do something to thank these people who laid down their lives for us!” The Cankars brainstormed about a way to do just that. Bob has always had a passion for classic muscle cars and trucks. He envisioned an old truck painted with military, patriotic and Christian symbols that would honor the participants of many American conflicts, along with acknowledging their personal faith in Jesus Christ. The name Ultimate Sacrifice said it all. Of course, the truck would have to sound a clarion call, a rumble that would turn heads and command attention from all within earshot. For the next five months, Bob contacted several artisans, gearheads, veterans and bikers, telling them of his vision. Many were moved to tears upon just hearing of the endeavor. In February of 2010, the project commenced. A 1941 Chevy pick-up truck became the palette for a heartfelt tribute to all who have valiantly served this country. “It is difficult to express with words the overwhelming emotion and attention that went into this truck from all involved, truly a labor of love,” said Bob, “It is a truck on a mission.” The goal was to have the vehicle completed in time to attend LZ Lambeau, the official, long overdue welcome home to the Vietnam veterans in May of 2010. After many trips around Wisconsin and Illinois, fitting into participants’ work schedules, Bob drove the candy-blue beauty into his driveway at 6 p.m. the night before the event. Meg remembered, “We were up until the wee hours of the morning completing lastminute tasks in order to arrive in Green Bay prior to the hundreds of veteran bikers.” The bikers were riding across Wisconsin in their statewide honor procession. Ultimate Sacrifice’s maiden journey was finally underway — phase one successful. LZ Lambeau began a series of momentous experiences that have profoundly transformed the lives of many people, not
This 1941 Chevy pick-up truck honoring military personnel past and present is the brainchild of Bob and Meg Cankar of Conover. The
the least of which are Bob and Meg’s. “Having a positive impact on others is the greatest trophy that we can ever receive,” Meg shared. They and the truck have participated in troop deployments, escorted memorial veteran rides and ceremonies, stood vigil at the traveling Vietnam wall, and proudly escorted veterans from all eras in parades. The Cankars make themselves available to listen, laugh, pray, encourage and thank those who are drawn to them. “We desire to elicit the same patriotism and thanksgiving in our fellow citizens,” said Bob. Bob and Meg see themselves as a voice representing multitudes of Americans who esteem, admire and respect our precious defenders of freedom. They see the truck as a lightning rod that draws people to them. “We didn’t know what to expect at first, but our assignment has become crystal clear every time we have been out with the truck,” said Bob. “What began as the two of us expressing our appreciation to all who have worn the uniform has evolved into an outstanding team of combat vets who have partnered with us. “We thrive on assisting our veteran brothers and sisters through issues of post-
truck is called Ultimate Sacrifice. The classic truck will be on display at various events this summer. —Contributed Photo
traumatic stress disorder, connecting those in need to veteran assistant services and, oftentimes, just being a confidant to another veteran in need,” said Bob. “We all bring different talents and abilities to the table (or the truck, in this case).” Bob and Meg have spoken and sung together at many events and look forward to the 2012 lineup of activities. The Cankars are quick to declare what a blessing Ultimate Sacrifice is to them. “We have emerged from a period of tremendous personal challenge over the past few years by focusing on others instead of ourselves. This venture has truly
been a silver lining to what seemed like certain destruction of another dream,” Meg shared. As is written on the passenger door of the truck, “No greater love has any man than he lay down his life for his friend.” Ultimate Sacrifice will be on display at the Memorial Day ceremony May 28. The vehicle also can be seen in the Fourth of July parade and at the Vietnam traveling wall this July in Eagle River. The Cankars can be reached at (715) 547-0015 or ultimatesacrificeusa.org for more information. May God bless our troops and God bless America!
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MILITARY SALUTE
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
Kveck participates in area honor flight ___________ BY JOAN MEEDER FEATURE WRITER
___________
George Kveck of Three Lakes was part of the area’s seventh honor flight, “Never Forgotten,” which went to Washington, D.C., for the day Monday, April 23, to tour the various monuments. Most of the 163 passengers were veterans (three or four were women) who fought in World War II, while the rest fought in the Korean War. Kveck served in the U.S. Army Air Force, as there was no regular Air Force then. Other passengers included committee members who organized the event, escorts and medical personnel. The day before departure, Kveck and his wife, Vi, drove to Wausau to spend the first of two nights free of charge at Howard Johnson Inn and Conference Center. Local Cub and Boy Scouts carried their luggage in. Upon registration, the Kvecks received a package with a yellow golf shirt, disposable camera and blue cap. Escorts received green jackets and organizers received red ones. Then they were treated to a dinner with guest speakers afterward. Kveck said he couldn’t sleep much that night. At 3:30 a.m., the veterans were awakened to board a school bus at 4:30 a.m. for the airport. By 6:30 a.m., they had gone through security and boarded their plane. The plane, including a crew of six, flew at 39,000 feet for one hour and 46 minutes, logging 687 air miles. After breakfast on the plane, the veterans and crew arrived at Ronald Reagan Airport. The first stop was at the World War II Monument, where schoolchildren shook their hands and congratulated the veterans. Each time the veterans boarded the bus, roll call was taken. A bus tour took them to the Capitol, Navy Memorial and White House followed by time at the Korean, Vietnam and Lincoln memorials. “When I was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, I recalled a Clint Eastwood movie that had been filmed there,”
said Kveck. The next stops were at the Air Force and 9/11 memorials with a drive by the Pentagon. At Arlington National Cemetery, the veterans observed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Kveck stood in the rainy, 40-degree weather, despite having pneumonia two months prior. It was the first area honor flight to experience inclement weather. The final stop was at the Iwo Jima Monument. Boxed lunches and dinners had been donated by Arby’s. While the veterans were out East, their spouses were in Wausau experiencing a day full of events, including a visit to the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. They also made art projects and had a luncheon and dinner provided at the hotel. The total cost of the flight was $85,000, which businesses and individuals covered completely. “The World War II Memorial was so impressive,” said Kveck. “I’d never seen the Vietnam Wall or the Korean and Iwo Jima memorials before. They were impressive too. It was a memorable thing, I’ll never forget it.” Highlights of the trip were more personal than monetary, said Kveck, and included getting to be good friends with Korean War veteran Earl Louze of Wausau and Allan Scheunemann of Wisconsin Rapids, his escort. Kveck said he enjoyed meeting up again with two gentlemen he’s known over the years from Minocqua and Winchester. When the plane was in the air, letters were distributed to the veterans from community members and loved ones which the spouses had secretly lined up previously. George received letters of gratitude from Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Herb Kohl, Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Sean Duffy. Waiting outside for the veterans was a reception line. Kveck said he couldn’t be-
George Kveck, left, of Three Lakes and Earl Louse of Wausau visited the World War II Memorial during a recent honor flight to Washington, D.C. —Contributed Photo
lieve how many people were in the reception line “All the different organizations such as American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, Disabled American Veterans and the
We Salute
Knights of Columbus were represented, with people in uniforms saluting us and shaking our hands,” he said. “It takes a lot of dedication from young and old for a flight that landed at 9:30 p.m.”
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VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
MILITARY SALUTE
PAGE 27
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PAGE 28
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VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
SALES SERVICE RENTAL
Thank you to those who serve for us.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012
We thank our veterans and active military personnel.
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www.tracksideinc.com
437 W. Division St. Eagle River, Wis. (715) 479-7700
All active-duty military and their immediate families receive free admission on the train. 5068 Hwy. 8 & 32, Laona, Wis. (715) 674-3414
www.lumberjacksteamtrain.com
THANK YOU
To all the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in the military, and remembering those who are no longer with us. God bless them, the families and God bless America!
Parsons of Eagle River
Striving to do what’s best for you! 5353 Hwy. 70 West (715) 479-4461 www.parsonsofeagleriver.com
Check out “Tribute to Our Military” tab at www.parsonsofeagleriver.com for special GM rebates and pricing programs for military personnel and their families.