2015 Veterans Day - Fort Morgan Times

Fromonevettoallothers:Thankyou

Beforeherecentlymovedto Seattle,myfatherhadamancave,ofsorts,inthebasementofhiscondoinsoutheastDenver.

Inside,sportsmemorabiliadecoratedthewalls:AYankeespennant fromthe1950s,anoldDenverBears pennant,CoorsFieldandRockies itemsandmotocross,bicyclingand hockeyfanfare.Helikessports.

Ononewall,threeframeditems weredisplayedproudly.Theywere honorabledischargecertificates fromtheUnitedStatesArmy:FulenciaMartinez,RaphaelMartinezand ThomasMartinez.

ThreegenerationsofMartinez menwhoservedtheircountriesin combatzonesspreadacross70-plus years.

Fulencia,mygrandfather,wasan interpreterinfirstWorldWar.A proudman,Fulenciaservedhis country,helpingovercomelanguage barrierswhenhecould.Afterthe war,hereturnedhomeanddidconcreteworkaroundtheDenverarea, buildingsomememorablestructures,includingafewold“picture houses”thatarestillfunctionalto thisday.

Raphael,myfather,servedatthe endoftheKoreanWarintheArmy CorpsofEngineers.Someofhis

workinKoreawas dangerous:clearing minefields.Somewas purposeful:rebuilding bombedoutbridges, andrepairingand maintainingroads. He,too,returnedto theDenverareaafter histimeoverseas.Hefoundworkat ContinentalAirlinesasamechanic andworked44yearsforthecompanybeforeretiringinthe1990s.

IservedinthePersianGulfWar (orOperationsDesertShieldand DesertStormifyouprefer).Iwasa legalclerkattachedtothemost mobilemilitarypolicebattalionin theArmy.Ididn’tdomuchclerking inthewar,butdidplentyofother tasks.Weprocessedenemyprisonersofwar,clearedoutIraqibunkers, securedandmaintainedroads essentialtoourmission.Afterthe war,IreturnedhometotheDenver areaaswell,finishedcollegeand havebeenworkingasajournalist eversince.

Threegenerationsofafamilywho allservedinwarprobablyisn’ttoo unique.

Butit’sspecialtome.IonlywishI hadthechancetositdownandtalk withmygrandfatherabouthiswar andserviceexperiences.They

wouldmadeagreatstorytotell.

I’vetalkedwithmydadmany timesaboutKorea.Hisstoryisa goodone.

Itakethetimetothankthemfor theirservicetothisgreatcountry welivein.

Andthat’sreallywhatthismagazineyou’rereadingtodayisall about.Documentingstoriesofthe

veteranswhohavefoughtforus, protectedusandservedtheircountry.Wehopeyouenjoytheirstories, andtaketimetothankthemandall vetsforwhatthey’vedoneforus. HappyVeteransDay.

ThomasMartinez:970-867-5651, tmartinez@fmtimes.com ortwitter.com/thomasrmartinez

Thomas Martinez

Courtesyphoto ThomasMartinezposeswithanIraqiweaponhisunitconfiscatedduring thePersianGulfWarinMarchof1991.

Korea.

Loveatfirstsight

KoreanWarveteranJimandwifeDoraStickleysharetheirlovestory

ByThomasMartinez TimesEditor

Ifyouask,JimStickleywilltell yousomestoriesfromhistimein theKoreanWar.

Forstarters,healmostnever madeitoverthere.

“Whenitwastimetogoto Korea,theywasgoingtoholdme back,”hesays.

At17,hewastooyoung,he said,becauseyouneededtobe

JimStickley

Age: 81

Branchofservice: Marines

Hometown: Brush

Currentresidence: FortMorgan

Careeraftermilitary: Plumber,retired

Family: Wife,Dora,fivekids,12grandkids,and12greatgrandkids.

Quotable: “Theoldsaying,onceaMarine,alwaysaMarine.It’strue.”

18tobeinawarzone.

Themilitaryrelentedbecause Stickleywouldspendhis18th birthdayontheboatrideover-

seas.Itwas,hesaid,amemorablebirthday,16daysonaship andallthatcomeswiththat–the smells,thesights,theshocksto

thesenses.

Or,hemighttellyouabouthis timeasatankmechanic.

“Iwasinananti-tankcompany. Wehadfivetanks,”hesays.“We rotated.Someofthetankswere onthefrontline,someinthe reserve.”

Ifyoupressalittlemore,he’ll tellastoryaboutthosefivetanks andPanmunjomvillage.

“Infactwhentheywerehaving allthosepeacetalksinPanmunSeeSTICKLEY,pg.4

ThomasR.Martinez /FortMorganTimes JimStickley,aKoreanWarveteran,standsnexttosomeofhisMarinesmemorabiliainhisFortMorganhome.Stickleyservedinatankunitwhilein

jom,we’dgoovertherewithour fivetanksandsitaroundwhere theywashavingtheirpeace talks,”hesays.

Theyacted,kindof,asadefactosecurityforce,hesaid,asChinese,American,NorthandSouth Koreanofficialsheldpeacetalks.

Ifyougethimtalking,yeah, JimStickleywilltellyousome storiesaboutKorea.

Theonehemightlikethe most,however,involvesleaving Koreaandcominghome.

Andthatstory,well,it’sa doozy.

Alovestory

AfterKorea,JimStickleyhada shortleaveandretreatedbackto hishometown,Brush.

Hemetagirl,16,namedDora.

Theyfellinlove.

“Hecomehomeonleave,andI met,andmarriedhim,in5days,”

Dorasays.“Andwe’vebeenmarried62years.”

Timeswheredifferentback then.Lifewasslower.Theinternet,cellphonesandFacebook didn’texist.

Butloveinfivedays?Itwasn’t unheardof.

“Ididn’tknowhimfromAdam. ButIfellinlove,”Dorasays. “Ithinkhedid,too.”

Forthenextthree-plusyears, theyoungnewlywedsliveda

Marine’slife: Thereweresomemonthsat CampPendleton,justoutsideSan Diego.

NextupwasTreasureIslandin SanFrancisco,wheretheirfirst twochildrenwereborn.

ThenJimwasaguardatthe 12thNavalDistrictBriginthe bayarea,whereheservedtwo years.

SeeSTICKLEY,pg.5

GeorgeandGoldieDoty

Courtesyphoto

JimandDoraStickley.TheymetwhenJimcamehomeonleavefromthe Koreanwar.Theyfellinloveandweremarriedinfivedays.

BurkeDoty-ArmyDaleDoty-NavyDonDoty-MarinesGeneDoty-ArmyKenDoty-AirForceLarryDoty-AirForce

STICKLEY frompage4

AstopinBarstow,Calif.,ata MarineCorpsupplydepot ensued.“Thatwaswhereallthe vehiclescametoberebuilt,”Jim says.

Butthen,aturningpointhit homeforthefamily.

Dora’sfatherpassedaway.And hermotherneededherback home,shesaid.

Jimwassettoeitherre-enlistor leavetheMarines.

JimlovedbeingaMarine,loved thelife.Hecouldhavemadea careerofit,hesaid.

Theymadethedecisionto leaveandgohomeandtakecare offamily.

Itturnsout,Dorasaid,thather motherwasfineandstrong.

“Shewasasprywoman,”she says.

Anewlifetogether

Backhome,JimandDora

begantobuildalife.

Jimworkedasapoliceofficer inBrush,thendrovetrucksfor awhile.

AndthreemorechildrenroundedouttheStickleyhousehold.

Searchingforabetterlife,Jim becameaplumber,establishing himselfasanexpertinhiscraft andeventuallystartinghisown business.

In1980,DoubleJPlumbing becameareality.

Jimopenedthebusinesswith hisson,JimJr.

Thebusinessthrivedforalmost 30years,untilJimretiredabout7 yearsago.

“Westillgetpeoplecallingus forplumbingservices,”Dora says.

Asthecouplegrewolder together,theirfamilyexpanded. Now,theyhave12grandchil-

drenand12greatgrandchildren.

Onethingtheybothloveisthat thefamilystayednearby.

Afterplumbingwithhisdad, JimJr.nowworksfortheBrush hospital.Thegirlsallgravitated towardcookingcareers.Tammy andJoyworkascooksintheRe-3 SchoolDistrict.Cindybecamea stalwartintherestaurantbusiness.Kimalsowasacook,but thenbecameanurse.

Thefamily’scloseproximity makesholidaysmuchmorefun.

“Wecelebrateeveryholiday together,”Dorasays.“Theycome uphere.Istilldomostofthe cooking.Well,didmostofthe cooking.Nowtheyallbringstuff. Itgottobetoomuch.”

AndforJim,well,oncea Marine,alwaysaMarine.

Insidethefamily’shouse, Marinememorabiliadecorates

the“bar”room,whichwasoncea garagebutnowgivesJimand Doramoreusablesquarefootage intheFortMorganhomethey builtin1964.

AMarineflagdrapesgallantly fromonewall.

Onthewallbehindthebar hangsmore–photosofJimwith hisunits,inhisuniformandotherkeepsakes,includingametal replicaoftheMarinesinsignia withJim’snameetchedonit,giventohimbyhisdaughter.

Allareremindersofaproudlife nevertobeforgotten.

“AllMarinesareproudtobe Marines,”Jimsays.“Theoldsaying,onceaMarine,alwaysa Marine.It’strue.Itdon’tleave you.Ilovedit.”

ThomasMartinez:970-867-5651, tmartinez@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/thomasmartinez

McCoyfired

‘bigguns’inKorea

ByJenniGrubbs

TimesStaffWriter

Chester“Chet”McCoyspent onlyacoupleyearsintheU.S.military,butitwasattheheightofthe conflictinKoreain1952to1954.

Now,alittlemorethan61years later,the83-year-oldBrushveteranspendslotsoftimetakingcare

offellowveterans.

McCoycurrentlyservesasthe commanderofAmericanLegion PostNo.68inBrushandDistrict3 commanderfortheLegion,andhe recentlyretiredaftereightyears asadriverforDisableAmerican Veteransinthearea.

Hiscontinuedinvolvementwith veteransissomethingofwhichhe isproud.

“Iwanttohelptheveterans,”he said.

McCoyalsoisinvolvedwith localhonorguardsandhelpspost thecolorsatBrushhomefootball games.

“There’snottoomanypeople likehimwhoarethatdedicatedto helpingveterans,”ShortyWilson, afellowU.S.Armyveteranfrom MorganCounty,said.

Gettingdrafted

Joiningthemilitaryrightafter graduatingfromEckleyHigh Schoolwasnothisidea.

“Ijustgotagreetingfromthe presidentoftheUnitedStatesthat said,‘Wewantyou.’ThatwasHarryS.Truman,”McCoyrecalled.“I wasreadytogo,orelsethey’d

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes Chester"Chet"McCoy,center,receivedanawardplaquefromDisabledAmericanVeteransonOct.22forhiseightyearsofvolunteerworkasaDAVdriver.ItwaspresentedtohimbyColoradoDAVcommanderLionelHogue.AlsopicturedisMcCoy’swifeof63years,Betty.

HecurrentlyservesasAmericanLegionPostNo.68commanderinBrush

MCCOY frompage6

havecomeandgotme.”

Hewasgivenadatetoreport, andthat’swhathedidin1952.

Beforelong,McCoywoundup intheU.S.Army’s213thArmored FieldArtilleryBattalionandfound himselfonatransportship,the USSMarineSerpent,onitswayto Korea—andthewarthatwasragingthere.

Warexperience

“Theyhadbigguns,”McCoy recalledofservingwiththe213th inKoreaat“justaboutthe38th parallel.”

Hecertainly“sawsomeaction” inKorea,withMcCoyandhisfellow213thsoldiersfiringlarge roundsfromstationary240mm howitzerguns.

The213thwasoneoftwofield artillerybattalionsthatusedthis weaponinKorea,accordingto Koreanwaronline.Beforethat,240

mmhowitzerhadbeenamainstay forAmericansoldiersfightingin EuropeduringWorldWarII.

The360-poundshellsthegun firedweresobigandheavythatit tookfourpeopletoloadoneand around12mentooperatethegun.

“Youdidn’tmovethem around,”McCoynoted.

Butgovernmentrecordsshowed 5,943suchshellswerefiredin KoreafromMay1toJuly27,1953, withafairnumberofthosebeing shotoffbyMcCoy’sbattalion. Eachroundcouldtravelasfaras 25,000yards.

OneofthethingsMcCoy remembersmostabouthistimein Koreawashowcolditwas.

“Isaw40belowoverthere,”he said.“Yougotinthesleepingbag. ThatwaswhatIhad.Theyhad wintercoats(forsoldiers)andoil burnersinthemiddleofthefloor

SeeMCCOY,pg.8

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimesfilephoto ChetMcCoyfromAmericanLegionPostNo.68,left,joinsspeakerJohnVon Riesen,portrayingPres.AbrahamLincoln,andHowardBostruminsaluting veteransduringtheplayingofTapsattheBrushMemorialDayserviceheld May27,2013,atBrushMemorialCemetery.

LtoR:JackScott,ShortyWilson,OJMetzgar&DanSimmons

MCCOY frompage7

thatdidn’tputoutmuchheat.”

TherewassomesnowinKorea whileMcCoywasthere,but“not realheavy.”

Lifeaftertheservice

TheshipridebacktotheUnited StatesfromKoreawasacouple daysquickerthantheonethat tookhimoverthere,andafterwardMcCoysettledintolifeback homeinColorado.

HemarriedBetty63yearsago inWrayandtheyraisedafamily thatnowincludestwosons,four grandchildrenandfourgreatgrandchildren.

McCoyworkedattheColorado DepartmentofTransportationfor 35yearsbeforeretiringinDecem-

ber1997.

Hewasasupervisor,butalso workedwithhiscrewonroadwork,snowplowingandthelike.

Today,McCoyremainsheavily involvedinveteransorganizations andservicesforveterans.

Hesaidhisgoalis“tohelpthe veterans,”whichforeightyears includeddrivingavanfortheDisabledVeteransAssociationtogive ridestodoctorappointmentsas needed.ThroughtheAmerican Legion,McCoyhelpsprovide scholarshipstoareayouths.

JenniGrubbs: jgrubbs@fmtimes.com,Twitter @JenniGrubbsor tout.com/jennigrubbs

Chester“Chet”McCoy

Age: 83

Militaryservice: U.S.Army213thArmoredFieldArtilleryBattalion, KoreanWar,1952-1954

Hometown: Eckley,Colorado

Currentresidence: Brush

Post-militarylife: RetiredfromsupervisorjobwiththeColorado DepartmentofTransportationafter35years;activeinbothAmerican LegionandVFW;currentlyservesasAmericanLegionPostNo.68 commanderinBrushandAmericanLegionDistrict3commander; volunteeredasaDisabledAmericanVeteransdriverforeightyears.

Family: MarriedtoBettyfor63years;twosons;fourgrandchildren;four great-grandchildren.

Quotable: “IjustgotagreetingfromthepresidentoftheUnitedStates thatsaid,‘Wewantyou.’ThatwasHarryS.Truman.Iwasreadytogo,or elsethey’dhavecomeandgotme.”

WikimediaCommons /Courtesyphoto

TheU.S.Army’s213thArmoredFieldArtilleryBattalionwasoneoftwo Americanbattalionstousethe240mmhowitzerinKoreain1953.Morgan CountyveteranChetMcCoyservedinthe213thinKoreaandusedweaponslikethis.

WikimediaCommons /Courtesyphoto TheUSSMarineSerpent,shownhereuponreturnfromtheSouthPacificin 1947betweenserviceasaWorldWarIItransportshipandthenagainfor theKoreanWar,wastheshipthattooktheU.S.Army213thArmoredField ArtilleryBattalion,includingMorganCountyveteranChetMcCoy,toface actioninKoreain1952.

Onceapoliceofficer, alwaysapoliceofficer

ByStephanieAlderton TimesStaffWriter

Thedividinglinebetween SteveBrown’smilitarycareer andhispolicecareerisalittle blurry.

Brownspenthisthreeyears onactivedutyintheAirForce

asastaffsergeantfortheSecurityPolice.Afterafour-yearstint intheColoradoAirNational Guard,heretiredfromtheservice–andbecameapatrolsergeantintheFortMorganPolice Department.

“[Isignedup]basicallyto servemycountry,”Brownsaid. “Igrewupamilitarybrat.My

dadwasintheArmy,sothatwas thewayoflifeIknew.”

Buthealsoknewhedidn’t wanttobeintheArmyhimself. Hehadlearnedfromhisdad’s experiencethathedidn’tlike thewaythatbranchofthemilitarywasrun.Sowhenhedecidedtogointothemilitaryin 1995,hejoinedtheAirForce

instead.

Despitewhatthejobtitle mightsuggest,Brownspentall histimeinAirForceSecurityon thegroundandawayfromairplanes.Hewasstationedata nuclearmissilesitenearGreat Falls,Montana,whichhesaid wasnowhereonhislistofpreSeeBROWN,pg.10

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes

SteveBrowninhisofficeattheFortMorganPoliceDepartment.BrownwasintheSecurityPoliceintheAirForce.

ForSteveBrown,AirForceandthepolicedepartmentfeltlikethesamejob

BROWN frompage9

ferreddestinations.Butthe w eather,atleast,wasfamiliar.

“Itwasjustlikelivingout here,”hesaid.“Youdidn’tlivein themountains,butyoucould seethem…Itwasokay.Itgot cold.”

MuchlikeinColorado,the w eathercouldchangebymore than60degreesinjustafew hours.TheGreatFallsareais hometothe“Chinookwind,”a powerfulwindthatcomesfrom themountainsandwasresponsibleformanyofthosedrastic w eatherchanges.Whilehewas there,snowandwindwere Brown’smostconstantenemies.

Theotheradversarieshedealt w ithwerealsoofthe“home front”variety.Oneofthethreats heandtheotherpoliceatthe missilesitehadtoguardagainst w astheMontanaFreemen,a

SteveBrown

Militarybranch: AirForceandAir

NationalGuard

Currentjob: Patrolsergeantat theFortMorganPolice

Department

Hometown:Variouscities-born inTexas

Currentresidence: Brush

Family: Marriedwiththree daughters

Quotable: “Iwouldsayitgaveme morediscipline,butthat’sabout it.Idon’tthinkitchangedme.I’m stillthesamesarcasticguyIwas backthen.”

militiagroupbasednearthe townofJordan.Intheearly 1990s,theFreemenwere engagedinwidespreadbank fraudandcounterfeitingaspart oftheirattempttosetuptheir

SeeBROWN,pg.11

The AmericanLegion

and

dDeHaanAmericanLegionPost19 ftheAmericanLegionSquadron19 AndAuxiliaryUnit19

17.5(121NelsonRoad)-FortMorgan

aryveterans ofallwarsthisNovember11-and gionsupportsourveteransthroughouttheyear: ransOutreachCenterssincetheVAscandalbroke.

heamountraisedforscholarshipsforchildrenof utyservicememberswhodiedsince9/11.

nkyouforservingAmericawithhonor, courageandcommitment.

Courtesyphoto

AphototakenofSteveBrownwhilehewasastaffsergeantintheAirForce SecurityPolice.

TheAmericanLegion-America’sVeterans ServiceOrg anization

BROWN frompage10

ownindependentgovernment, andtheiractivitiesculminatedin astandoffwiththeFBIin1996. T heyandotherdomesticterroristgroupssometimestargeted missilesitesforprotests,so Brown’sjobwastokeepthem away.

Anotherenemyhehadtofight w asboredom.

“There’saphraseinthemilitarycalled‘hurryupandwait,’” hesaid.“We’dgetcalledin becauseallofasuddenthere’s anemergency,andthenwe’dsit aroundforthenextsixorseven hoursdoingnothing,inallour gear,waitingforsomethingto happen.”

Hesaidbeingawayfromhis familywasalsodifficult.Hehad gottenmarriedinBrushnot longbeforejoiningtheAir

Force,andalthoughhiswife movedtoGreatFallswithhim, hestillspentlongperiodsof timeawayfromherwhileon duty.

Buthedidliketheotherpeoplehewasstationedwith,and thathelpedeasetheboredom.

“Justbeingoutinthefieldwas alwaysfun,”Brownsaid.“We

alwayshadagoodtime.”

HealsoreceivedanAirmanof theYearawardwhileinMontana.WhenhelefttheAir NationalGuardtoworkfull-time attheMorganCountyJail,he saidthetransitionwaseasy. Bothhismilitaryandpolicejobs involvecarryingagun,driving aroundinapatrolcarandhold-

ingacertainlevelofauthority. Someoftherulesgoverningmilitaryandcivilianpolicearedifferent,butotherthanthat, Brownsaidthey’relargelythe samejob.

Nowhehasmovedfromthe jailtothesergeants’officeinthe FortMorganPoliceDepartment.He’sbeenoutofthemilitaryfor13years,buthesaidthe thingshelearnedtherestill affectthewayhedoeshisjob now.

“Ithinkithelpedmealot,”he said.“Itgivesyouthatawarenessthatyouneed,givesyou thedisciplineyouneedforthe job.”

StephanieAlderton:970-8675651ext227, salderton@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/slalderton

“We’dgetcalledinbecauseallofasudden there’sanemergency,andthenwe’dsit aroundforthenextsixorsevenhoursdoing nothing,inallourgear,waitingfor somethingtohappen.”

SteveBrown

Goingfullcircle

ByStephanieAlderton TimesStaffWriter

LieutenantJaredCronehas workedintheFortMorgan PoliceDepartmentsince1991, butblueisn’ttheonlyuniform colorhe’sworn.

Croneenlistedinthemilitary onAug.1,1985,aweekafterhe turned17.Thatwasthebegin-

ningofa20-yearcareerinthe ArmyandNationalGuard,during whichhetraveledeverywhere fromAfghanistantoThailandand backtohishometown,FortMorgan.Hesaidhelovedeveryminuteofit.

“ItwasjustsomethingIalways wantedtodo,”Cronesaid.“I wantedtodoitprettymuchfor therestofmylife.Iwantedtobe

onactiveduty,youknow,as manyyearsasIcould.”

Someofthatdesiremayhave beenpasseddowntohimfrom hisfamily.Crone’sgrandfather wasinWorldWarII,hisfather wasintheNebraskaNational Guardandseveralofhisuncles spenttimeinthemilitaryaswell.

Hewentstraightfromhigh schooltobasictraining,andfrom

theretohisfirsttourofinfantry dutyinwhatwasthenWestBerlininGermany.Hespenttwo yearsthereguardinganuclear missilesite.Itwasthefirsttime he’dbeenoutofthecountry.

“It’skindofinteresting,especiallybeingthatyoungandnot reallyknowingwhatitwasgoing tobeabout,”Cronesaid.

SeeCRONE,pg.13

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes

JaredCroneinhisofficeattheFortMorganPoliceDepartment.

JaredCronehasnoregretsafter20yearsinthemilitary

CRONE frompage12

Hesaidheenjoyedexperiencingadifferentculturethanthe onehewasusedto,thoughhis relentlessworkscheduledidn’t allowformanydaysoff.Healso enjoyedGermany’sbeautiful landscapes.

Hisnexttwoyearsofactive dutytookhimtoFortLewis, Washington,andafterthathe decidedtotakeabreakandgoto collegeinthehopethathecould returntothemilitaryasanofficer.But,hesaid,“thatdidn’t workout.”

Instead,hereturnedtoFort Morganin1991andjoinedthe NationalGuardunitthatwasstationedattheArmoryonState Street,nowtheheadquartersof thecity’srecreationdepartment. Thereheworkedpart-timeasan intelligenceanalyst,alongwith

SeeCRONE,pg.14

Courtesyphoto

JaredCronepreparingforaparachutejumpinAprilof2002.Thisphotowastakenafewmonthsbeforehisunit deployedtoAfghanistan.

CRONE frompage13

hisfull-timejobatthepolice department,until2002,whenhis unitwasactivatedinthewakeof 9/11.

Cronesaidhisfavoritejobin themilitarywasthatlastone.He waspartofaSpecialForcesunit taskedwithtrainingsoldiers fromothercountriesalliedwith theU.S.,whichallowedhimtodo alotmoretraveling.Forexample,hespentsixmonthsin Afghanistanactingasaliaison betweenmilitarygroupsfromall overtheworld–includingGermanyandseveralformerSoviet countries.

WhileinAfghanistan,someof hisunit’svehiclesbrokedown, andsincetheyhadbeenmadein Russia,noneoftheAmericans thereknewhowtofixthem.Fortunately,oneofthemilitaryunits

JimCrone

Branchofthemilitary:Army-infantry,NationalGuard-SpecialForces

Currentjob: LieutenantintheFortMorganPoliceDepartment

Hometown:FortMorgan

Currentresidence: FortMorgan

Family:Marriedwithan18-year-olddaughterand11-year-oldson.

Quotable:“TheexperiencesIgotfromtherehavehelpedmesomuchin myjobhere.Justbeingexposedtosomanythingsthroughoutthe20 years,Iwouldn’tsayIchangedthatmuch,butIthinkitwasabletohelp medomyjobheremuchbetter.”

presentwasBulgarian,andthey hadmechanicswhoknewhow Russianenginesworked.Itwas onlylater,whenaBulgarian majorpointeditouttohim,that Cronerealizedthepeoplewho hadjustfixedhisvehicleswould havebeenhisenemieswhenhe firstjoinedthemilitary.

“I’dneverthoughtofituntilhe actuallysaid,‘Ican’tbelieveI’m

HONORINGOURVETERANS

talkingtosomeonefromthe UnitedStatesmilitary,andwe’re actuallyworkingtogether,’” Cronesaid.“I’mgladhesaidit, becauseIwouldhavenever thoughtaboutit.It’salmostlike kindofgoingfullcircle,Iguess.”

Asmuchasheenjoyedtravelingaroundtheworldandworkingwithothermilitaries,Crone eventuallydecidedheneededto

spendmoretimewithhisgrowingfamily.Heretiredin2005and returnedtoworkingfull-timeasa policeofficer–ajobhesaidis morestressfulthananythinghe didinthemilitary.

Croneneverregretsthetime hespentinthearmyorNational Guard,althoughhesometimes wishesithadbeenlonger.He saidittaughthimdisciplineand leadership,qualitieshestillfinds usefulnow.

“InevergottothepointthatI hatedit,”hesaid.“Ialways enjoyedit.Sometimesitwasvery monotonous,sometimesitgot difficult,butIneversaid‘Ihate this,Iwanttobedonewithit.’”

StephanieAlderton:970-867-5651 ext227,salderton@fmtimes.com ortwitter.com/slalderton

REMEMBER

ThoughtKorea,gotGermany

ForArmyveteranHowardSmallwood,timeinservicewaswellworthit

ByThomasMartinez

TimesEditor

TheUnitedStatesmilitary draftedHowardSmallwoodin 1954,afewmonthsafterthe KoreanWarended.

Hethoughthewasgoingover todosome“mopup”fromthe w ar.

Instead,theArmysenthim

somewhereelse.

“TheysentmetoGermany,but theysentmycousintoKorea,” Smallwoodsaid.

Thoughhewastrainedtobea fumigationexpert–“Iftherehad beenachemicalwar,wewere trainedtotakecareofthesoldiers,andbathethem,and everything”–hewasaninfantrymaninGermany.

Hewasagunner,handlinga

“The105wasmountedona jeep.Theshellsthatwefired wereaboutthislong,”hesaid, motioningwithhishandsabout 24inchesapart.“Iwasthejeep driverandgunner.”

ForSmallwood,theHowitzer wascool.

“Wecouldknockoutatankin nothingflat,”hesaid.

ThoughWorldWarIIhadbeen overforabout10years,Americansweren’tverypopularin Germany.

“Buildingswerebombedout, andofcourse,alotoftheGermanpeopledidn’tliketheAmericans,”hesaid.“Butwegot throughit.”

TheColdWarwasjustgearing up,sotrainingwascommonplace

SeeSMALLWOOD,pg.16

105mmhowitzercannon.

ThomasR.Martinez /FortMorganTimes

HowardSmallwood,anArmyveteran,sitsinhishomeinBrushwithmemorabiliafromhisHonorFlighttriptoWashington,D.C.Smallwoodwasdrafted intotheArmyundertheumbrellaoftheKoreanwar.

SMALLWOOD frompage15

forAmericans,whetherathome oroverseas.

“Icanrememberonetimewe w ereoutonmaneuvers,wegot tothistown,Idon’tremember w hattownitwas,butwegotto thistownandallofsudden,here comesanoldmanout,”Smallw oodsaid.

Hewascarryingabottleof Schnappsandsomeglassesin hishand.

“Hewasgivingupbecausehe thoughtweweresoldiersthat w erecominginthere,Iguess. Hecomesout,andheoffersus Schnapps,andwe’dliketohave felloverbecausewedidn’tknow w hatthehellwasgoingon.”

Ofcourse,thereweretimes w hensoldiersexperiencedthe Germanlife.

“Alotofthebuildingswere bombedout.Ihadtwobuddies, andthethreeofuskindofhung

outtogether.Andtherewerea coupleofbarswewenttothat wereprettynice,”hesaid.“Some oftheGermanpeople,theywere polite.”

InAugsburg,wherethetroops werestationed,hestayedonan oldmilitaryinstallation,hesaid.

Justbeforetheylefttocome backtothestates,Smallwood said,theAmericanswerehandingbackcontroloftheinstallationbacktotheGermans.

“Itwasabigdeal.Therewasa bigparade,andatop-ranking Germangeneral,”hesaid.

“Whenwelefttogotothe trainstation,whilewewere goingout,theGermanarmywas comingintotheirbarracks.We wentoutonegate,theycamein anothergate.”

Afterhisservicetime,hewent homeandlivedwithhisparents, SeeSMALLWOOD,pg.17

ThomasR.Martinez /FortMorganTimes ApictureofHowardSmallwoodfromhisservicetime.

SMALLWOOD frompage16

w howerelivinginIowaatthe time.Eventually,hesettledin theDenverareaanddrove trucks.

Heendedupdrivingforthe DairyFarmersofAmerica, w hereheretiredfromin2001 afterhiswifedied.

In2005,though,hemethis currentwife,Carlene.

“Ihadalittlecamper,andhe w antedtoknowwhatIwasgoing todowithit,andIsaid,I’m goingtohittheroad,andhesaid ‘OK.’Thathiswayofproposing, Iguess,”Carlenesaid.

TheywereontheroadRVing fulltime.

“Wehittheroad,andwetraveledalloverthecountry,”she said.“WorkedfortheKOAcampgroundsystemforawhileduring thesummer.Wemetsomewon-

HowardSmallwood

Age: 83

Branchofservice: Army,twoyearsactiveduty,sixyearsinthereserve

Hometown: Hannibal,Missouri

Currentresidence: Brush

Careeraftermilitary: Truckdriver,retiredfromDairyFarmersofAmerica

Family: Wife,Carlene,8kids(5fromHoward,3fromCarlene)

Quotable: “Buildingswerebombedout,andofcourse,alotofthe Germanpeopledidn’tliketheAmericans.Butwegotthroughit.”

derfulpeople.”

Howardadded:“We’veseen countrythatthousandsofother peoplewillprobablyneversee.”

Nowthey’vesettledintotheir homeinBrushandareenjoying theirretiredyears.

“Ittakesawhiletogetusedto, becauseyouknow,whenever you’vebeenworkingfor40,50 whateveryears,andthenallof sudden,youdon’thavetogetup earlyordon’thavetodothisor

dothat,ittakesalittlewhile,” Howardsaid.“Butyougetused toit.Wedon’thavenoproblems, herandI.”

Yeahwegetalong,Carlene quipped.“Idon’tbeathimuptoo often,”shejoked,bringinga chucklefromHoward.

ForHoward,hispatriotismstill runsstrong.

Herecentlytookpartinan HonorFlightandtraveledto Washington,D.C.

“Itwasjustsoawesome,”he said.

He’samemberoftheAmericanLegion.

Heputsupflagsatthecemeterywhentheyneedtobeput up.

HetookpartintheFourthof Julyparade.

“Werodethetruckinthe parade.Itwasabigdealherein Brush,”hesaid.“Wehadsmall flagsandwewaived.People werelineduponthestreetsand theywaived.Itwasawesome.”

He’sproudofhisservice,but doesn’tthinkitwasanything special.

“Beingaveteran,whyitgives megoodfeeling,”hesayssimply.

ThomasMartinez:970-867-5651, tmartinez@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/thomasmartinez

Buildingbridges, onlytoblowthemup

BrushArmyveteranShortyWilsonnowservesasVFWPostNo.3551commander

ByJenniGrubbs TimesStaffWriter

ShortyWilson’smilitaryservicewasoneofcreationand destruction.

The87-year-oldBrushveteran wasintheU.S.ArmyCorpsof Engineers,servingbothinJapan

rightafterWorldWarIIended andinKoreaforwhatisknown as“TrumanTime”towardthe startofthatconflict.

“Ienlistedin1946,rightoutof highschool,”Wilsonsaid.“At thattime,youcouldenlistfor18 months.That’swhatIdid.”

After15months,hewastoldhe

couldgohome.

“Ihadthreemonthsleft,andI thought,‘That’dbelikeavacation,’”herecalled,thinkinghis militarycareerwasoverearly.

“ThenTrumancalledme back,”Wilsonsaid.

Thistime,hewasboundfor Koreaandthewarbuildingup overthere.

Wa rexperiences

WhileinKorea,hehelpedboth buildbridgesandthenblow themup.

“IwasintheArmyCorpsof Engineers.Weweresupportto the1stCavalryinfantryoutfit. Webuiltbridgesandkepttheir supplylinesgoing,”Wilson SeeWILSON,pg.19

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimesfilephoto

TheVFWPostNo.551FiringSquad,commandedbyShortyWilson,left,firestheirgunsintributeoffallenveteransattheBrushMemorialDayservice May27,2013,atBrushMemorialCemetery.

WILSON frompage18

recalled.“Onebridge,weused threedaysandthenhadtoblow itup.TheChinesecamethrough, andwehadtoblowitup.”

Evenbuildingthebridgeswas ascarypropositionattimes,he said.

“Itwasartilleryshootingover thetopofus,”Wilsonsaid.“Itwas scary.Iseentwoor threeshortrounds flyoverhead,”and hewasnotsure wheretheywould hitorifanother roundwouldland wherehestood.

Andthatwasnoteventhescariestpartforhim.

Whatstillgiveshimtheshivers isthinkingabouttheChinesesoldiersfightinginKoreawhoused womenandchildrenasshieldsof sorts.

“Theywouldputwomenand

childrenahead,”Wilsonsaid. “Thatwasscary.tome,thatwas thescariestthing,thatyoumight hitakid.”

Ontopofthat,hesawmany, manystarvingpeopleliving there,whichaffectshimtothis day.

“Theywerewomenandkids,” Wilsonsaid.“Itwassad.”

Beyondthosehorrors,Korea wasacoldplaceforthesoldiers, whoonlyhadpuptentsandoil burners.

“The40thparallelinKoreawas thesameasinNorthDakota,” Wilsonnoted.“Oh,God,itwas cold,andsleepinginapuptentat 40belowisnotmuchhelp.”

Lifeafterthemilitary

Wilsonreturnedhometo NorthDakotain1951,wherehe usedtheengineeringskillshe learnedintheArmyonconstrucSeeWILSON,pg.20

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimesfilephoto Seated,fromleft,infrontareU.S.ArmyveteransShortyWilsonandChet McCoyandU.S.AirForceveteranStanGray.AtfarleftinbackisU.S.Army veteranArthurOrona.AtbackcenterisveteranJerryHilzer.Theywere amongtheveteranshonoredattheFortMorganElksLodgefortheElks Club'sannualVeterans'DayserviceNov.5,2014.

Shorty Wilson

VETERANSDAY

WILSON frompage19

tionprojects,includingbuilding theGarrisonDamontheMissouriRiver.

Constructionandengineering wouldbehiscareer,andhe retiredwith64yearswithOperationsEngineersLocal9.Someof theprojectsheworkedonincludedbuildingInterstate70from StrattontoBurlington.

WithI-70,Wilsonworkedon buildingsixbridgesandfour underpassesandconvertingthe two-lanehighwaytofourlanesof interstate.

“Iputapennyundereach bridgewebuilt,”herecalled. “Whentheytearthemdown,they mightfindthepennies.”

Healsohasbeenmarriedto Eileenfor62years,andthey raisedafamily,movingfrom placetoplacewhereShorty’s constructionworktookthem.

In1977,aconstructionjob broughttheWilsonstoBrush, whereShortyworkedonbuilding thePawneePowerPlant.He operatedacraneonthepower plantconstruction.

Shortyalsoisheavilyinvolved withtheVFW,currentlyserving ascommanderofPostNo.3551 inBrush.Healsoisamemberof theAmericanLegioninStratton.

“Ibelieveinit,”hesaidofthose organizations.“Ibelieveinthe veterans,andwealsosponsora lotofthingsforthekids.”

Healsoparticipatesinarea honorguardceremoniesand helpspresentthecolorsatBrush HighSchoolhomesporting events.

JenniGrubbs: jgrubbs@fmtimes.com,Twitter @JenniGrubbsor tout.com/jennigrubbs

ShortyWilson

Age: 87

Militaryservice: U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,post-WorldWarII194647inJapanand“TrumanTime”duringKoreanWar,1950-51,inKorea.

Hometown: Killdeer,NorthDakota

Currentresidence: Brush

Post-militarylife: Retiredconstructionworkerandcraneoperatorwith 64yearswithOperationsEngineersLocal9;projectsworkedoninclude theGarrisonDamontheMissouriRiverinNorthDakota,Interstate70 fromStrattontoBurlington,andthePawneePowerPlantbyBrush;active inbothVFWinBrushandAmericanLegioninStratton;currentlyserves asVFWPostNo.3551commanderinBrush.

Family: MarriedtoEileeninNorthDakotain1954;threechildren;five grandchildren;sixgreat-grandchildren.

Quotable: “IwasintheArmyCorpsofEngineers.Weweresupporttothe 1stCavalryinfantryoutfit.Webuiltbridgesandkepttheirsupplylines going.Onebridge,weusedthreedaysandthenhadtoblowitup.The Chinesecamethrough,andwehadtoblowitup.”

EngineerswiththeU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersbuildaBaileybridge acrosstheNaktongRiveratWaegwanonOct.1,1950.MorganCountyveteranShortyWilsonwasamemberoftheCorpswhoservedinKoreaatthat time.

EngineersfromtheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersdestroyabridgeoverthe HanRiver,July18,1950.MorganCountyveteranShortyWilsonwasa memberoftheCorpswhoservedduringtheKoreanWarandremembers buildingbridgesinKoreaonlytoblowthemup.

U.S.Militaryphoto

U.S.Militaryphoto

DanfordsettlesinFort Morganafterservice

ByBrandonBoles TimesSportsReporter

Intheearly1950’s,JerralDanfordhadtomakeadifficultdecision.

Acollegestudentatthetime,

thecountrywasgoingthrougha drafttohavepeoplebeinthe military.Hedecidedhehadto dowhathecould,sohechoseto enlistwiththeMarineCorp.

“Mynamewascomingup,soI thoughtratherthanbedraftedI wouldenlist,”Danfordsaid.“I

wantedtoservewiththebranch Iwantedtobeinandnotforced intoadifferentone.”

ForDanford,thatbranchwas theMarineCorps.InJanuaryof 1951,hebeganhisdutywiththe military.Hismilitaryoccupationalspecialtywasinoperation

intelligence.Danfordservedfor threeyears.

Inthebeginningofhislineof duty,Danfordworkedonairplanes.Shortlyafter,hevolunteeredhisservicestotheoffice

BrandonBoles /FortMorganTimes

JerralDanfordistheheadbrokerforhisoffice,DanfordRealty,inFortMorgan.HeservedintheMarines.

DANFORD frompage21

oftheengineeringclerk,where heworkedforaboutayear.

InJanuaryof1952,Danford w enttoKorea.There,hewas theoperationsintelligenceclerk. HeservedinKoreaforayear beforereturningbacktoAmerica.

ThebiggestthingDanford remembersabouthistimein Koreahadtodowiththeweathertheydealtwithduringtheir timethere.

“Itwaskindofastrangething. Koreahastobethehottestand coldestplaceonearth,”Danford said.“Theconditionsweremiserable.AtleastIdidnotliveina foxholelikesomeoftheguys. Wehadatent.”

Danfordwasalsointhesquad-

ronofVMF-323,alsoknownas the“DeathRattlers.”Hesaid everyoneinthesquadrongot alongtogetherandlookedout foreachother.

“Itwasagreatgroupofguys,” Danfordsaid.“Thereweresome

SeeDANFORD,pg.23

BrandonBoles /FortMorganTimes HangingonthewallsofJerralDanford’sofficeatDanfordRealtyisapatch forthe“DeathRattlers,”thesquadronofVMF-323heservedwithinthe Marines.

Jerral Danford

DANFORD frompage22

conflictandstressatsome times,butitwasagreatgroup.”

Afterhisyearofservice,he w entbacktohisoperationintelligenceclerkroleforayear beforereceivingadischargein J anuaryof1954.Rightafterhis discharge,heworkedata machineshop.

Shortlyaftermovingbackto Oklahomatowork,anewopportunitypresenteditselfforDanford,onethatwouldallowhim tostartanewchapterinhislife. T henativeofLamont,Oklahoma,hadanopportunitytomove toColoradoandtakeoverafarm anuncleofhishadowned.

“Whenmyunclepassedaway, myfamilywantedtoknowifI w ouldtakeoverthefarm,”Dan-

JerralDanford

Branch: Marines

Ranking: Staffsergeant

Yearsofservice: Threeyears

Hometown: Lamont,Okla.

Currentresidence: FortMorgan

Currentemployment: DanfordReality,farming

fordsaid.“Imovedherein1958 andhavebeenheresince.”

Today,Danfordstillworkson thefarm,buthassomeassistance.Oneofhisthreechildren doesthemajorityofthefarming today,butDanfordwillstillhelp outwhensituationsneedhimto.

Notlongaftertakingoverthe farm,Danfordfoundanother waytomakealivinginFort Morgan.Whenthefarmingsea-

sonquieteddowninthewinter, hewantedtotryanewpassion hehadbeenintriguedwith.

“Iwantedtotryrealestate,” Danfordsaid.“Idrovebackand forthfromthefarmtoDenver forrealestateschooltogetmy license.”

In1977,hegothisrealestate licenseandbeganasecond careerinreality.Withyearsof hardworkandsuccess,hepro-

gressivelyworkedhiswaytohis ownoffice,DanfordReality.He wasnamedtheRealtorofthe Yearin1980andhasservedas PresidentoftheMorganCounty BoardofRealtorsin1983,1987 and1999.

Today,Danfordislivinga greatchapterofhislifeinFort Morgan,onewrittenafterperhapshismostimportanttimeof hislifeservinginthemilitary. Heisproudofhisexperience, sayingithashelpedshapehim intothepersonheistoday.

“IwasverygladIdidit,”Danfordsaid.

BrandonBoles:970-867-5651, bboles@fmtimes.com twitter.com/FMT_Sports

KansastoKorea

ByJenniGrubbs

TimesStaffWriter

JimKramerfoundhimselfalong wayawayfromKansasintheearly 1950s.

That’sbecausethe83-year-old FortMorganveteran,whogrewup inSt.Francis,Kansas,enlistedin theU.S.NavyinJanuary1951and soonwounduponboardtheUSS

BurlingtonParolFrigate51headed acrossthePacificOceantoward Koreaandthewar.

“TheKoreanWarhadjuststarted in1950,”Kramerrecalled.“There werethreeofus,whograduated together,andwedidn’thaveany particularreasonthatwecouldn’t, sowefiguredwewereprobably goingtogetdrafted,sowejoined theNavyinstead.”

Warexperiences

KramerservedontheUSSBurlingtonfor13monthsoffthecoast ofKoreabeforetransferringtothe USSMansfieldDD-728.

“Thatwasoneoftheshipsthat wasreturnedtousfromRussia,”he recalled.

Kramerwasstationedonthe MansfielduntilApril1953.

Ontheships,Kramerlearned

aboutelectronicsandradiosystems andthenwastaskedwithkeeping themrunning.

“Sometimeswehadtogetupin themiddleofthenighttofixsomething,”herecalled.

Themostexcitingthingduring hiswaryearswaswhentheship wentthroughatyphoon.

“Ittoreawaythetopdeck,”he SeeKRAMER,pg.25

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimes

JimKramer,83,examinesatagontheinsideofablanketmadeforhimcommemoratingtheHonorFlighthetooktotheKoreanWarMemorialandother warmemorialsinWashington,D.C.,in2015."Thisisourgifttoyouinthanksforyourservicetoourcountry,andforkeepingussafe,"thetagreads. "Maythisquiltbeahugandacomforttoyou."Kramer,wholivesinFortMorgan,isaKoreanWarveteran.

NavyvetJimKramermaintainedships’electricequipmentduringwar

KRAMER frompage24

recalled.“Itseemedlikewewere underwater.”

Anothertime,“somethinghitthe sonardome,”whichwasusedto watchoutforsubmarines,andthe equipmentgotdetachedfromthe ship,Kramersaid,althoughthey didnotknowthatinitially.

“Wekeptgettingthesamepicture onthescope,soweknewsomethingwaswrong,”hesaid.“They sentadiverdownthere,andhe said,‘There’snothingthere.’We don’tknowwhatcausedthedamage,wejustknewitwas(gone).”

TheshipKramerwason“did patrolupanddownthecoastof Korea,tryingtokeepthesupply trainsfromgettingthroughtothe south.”

Thatmaysoundboring,but sometimesitgotinteresting,he said.

“Sometimesit’skindofexciting, likewhenyouloseaguyoverboard,”Kramerrecalled.“Butmost

ofthetimeitwasjustday-to-day.”

Othertimes,theshipKramerwas onwasoutinopenwaterforweeks atatime.Foronestretch,hewent 44dayswithoutseeingland.

“SometimesIcouldseethecoast ofKorea,butwenevertouched portfor44days,”herecalled.

AfterseveralyearsaboardNavy ships,Kramerwastransferredto shoreduty,firstatLongBeach,California,andtheninAnnapolis, Maryland.Hedidradiotransmitterrelatedworkinbothplaces.

“InMaryland,therewastheU.S. Navyradiotransmitterstationfor theeastcoast,”Kramersaid.“It beamedclearovertoAfricaand England.Ineverknewwho,Ijust hadtomaintainthetransmittersystem.”

Lifeafterthemilitary

Kramerwasdischargedfromthe NavyinMay1955,andheinitially

SeeKRAMER,pg.26

Courtesyphoto

JimKramerisshownasayoungsailorwiththeU.S.Navyintheearly 1950s.Kramer,whoservedduring theKoreanWar,nowlivesinFort Morgan.

JimKramer

Age: 83

Militaryservice: U.S.Navyfrom 1951-55,servedontheUSS BurlingtonPF-51andUSS MansfieldDD-728andinLong Beach,Calif.,andAnnapolis,Md.

Hometown: BirdCity,Kansas

Currentresidence: FortMorgan

Post-militarylife: Workedforoil surveycompaniesinColorado andCaliforniafrom1955to 1960;farmedinKansasuntil startinganinsurancebusiness; 29yearsininsurancebusiness inPhillipsburg,Kan.;retiredin 1998,thenbacktoinsurance; movedtoFortMorganin2003.

Family: MarriedtoMarjfor62 years;fourdaughters;12 grandchildren;threegreatgrandchildren.

Quotable: “TheKoreanWarhad juststartedin1950.Therewere threeofus,whograduated together,andwedidn’thaveany particularreasonthatwe couldn’t,sowefiguredwewere probablygoingtogetdrafted,so wejoinedtheNavyinstead.”

KRAMER frompage25

returnedtoKansaswithhisfamily, havingmarriedhighschoolsweetheartMarjinApril1953inBird City.

“Wewenttodifferenthigh schools,butwelivedonlyafew milesapartonfarms,”Jimrecalled. “Wecouldwalktoeachother.”

Theystarteddatingrightafter highschool,andthentheycorrespondedthewholetimeJimwas servingintheNavyduringthe KoreanWar,reconnectinginpersonafterhecamehome.

WorkwasscarceinKansasin 1955,though,andtheKramers woundupbouncingbackandforth fromColoradotoCaliforniafor Jim’sjobwithoilsurveycompanies forfouryears.

Butin1960,thefamilymoved backtoKansas,wheretheyfarmed untilJimstartedaninsurancebusinessinPhillipsburg.Hedidthatfor 29yearsbeforetryingouthisfirst retirementin1998.

“IthoughtI’dgetintotherocking chair,buttheycalledme,hadacoupleclaims,andIbecameanadjustorforstormsandcrops,”Jim recalled.

That’ssomethinghestilldoesa bitoftoday,evenaftermovingto FortMorganinNovember2003.

“Ithinkthatmaybethat’senough ofitafterthisyear,”hesaid.“But I’veenjoyedit.Justdoingthecrops, it’seasier,justwalkingonthe ground.Ididladdersandroofsfor aboutsixyears(whilesemi-retired),thenIputtheladderaway.”

TheKramerscametoFortMorgantobeclosertofamily,asMarj’s sisterliveshere,andJimandMarj knewoflotsofotherfolksfrom KansaswhohadretiredinMorgan County.

“Thisisgoingtobeit,”hesaid. “We’reparkedhere.It’soneof thosetownsthatcanbesogood andsofrustrating.Butwejusttake itasitis.Weenjoyithere.”

Itdoesn’thurtthatthreeoftheir fourdaughtersandtheirfamilies liveintheDenverarea. Andhestaysconnectedwithhis militarypast,recentlyhavinggone onanHonorFlighttoWashington, D.C.,toseetheKoreanWarMemorialandotherwarmemorials.

“That’sthemosthumblingthing I’veeverhad,”JimsaidoftheHonorFlight.“It’llputalumpinyour throat.”

JenniGrubbs:jgrubbs@fmtimes.com, Twitter@JenniGrubbsor tout.com/jennigrubbs

WikimediaCommons /Courtesyphoto TheUSSBurlingtonPatrolFrigate51sailedduringWorldWarIIin1944-45 andduringtheKoreanWarin1951-52.MorganCountyveteranJimKramer sailedonitwhileintheUS.NavyduringtheKoreanWar.

Growingupfast

AbrotherlydarebecamealifelongcareerforLeroyDilka

ByStephanieAlderton TimesStaffWriter

LeroyDilkawasn’tsupposed tojointheMarines.

Hisfatherinvitedamilitary recruitertotheirhousein1978 inthehopethatDilka’sbrother,

whowasgettingintotroubleat school,wouldenlistandlearn somediscipline.Hedidn’t expect18-year-oldDilka,the firstmemberofthefamilyto graduatefromhighschool,to enlist,too.

“Ididn’twanttogo,but[my brother]talkedmeintoit,”he said.“Hesaid‘justcomeseeif

youcanmakeit,’orwhatever,so Iwentwithhimandstarted goingthroughtheprocessofthe testingandeverything…next thingIknow,it’sgettingphysicalandeverything,andIsaid, ‘No,I’mdone.I’mnotsupposed tobehere.’”

Buttherecruitingofficers managedtochangehismind,

mainlythroughpeerpressure, hesaid.Sevenotheryoungmen fromhishometownofFortMorganwereenlisting,andDilka wastoldhecouldgowiththem tobasictraininginSanDiego. Sohesignedup,andspentthe next22yearsintheMarine CorpsandtheArmyNational SeeDILKA,pg.28

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes

AlbertLeroyDilkastandsoutsidetheWigginsTownHall,wherehenowworks.DilkaservedintheMarines.

DILKA frompage27

Guard,travelingeverywhere fromtheFortMorganareato J apanandback.Hisbrother didn’tpassthetests.

Dilka’smilitarycareerwasas v ariedasitwaslong.Aftertraining,hespentsometimeasa gateguardattheMarineCorps baseinQuantico,Virginia, w herehemetthen-president J immyCarter.HisfirstdeploymentwastoOkinawa,Japan, w ithamilitarypoliceunit.That w asawake-upcall,hesaid.

“WhenIwasstationedstateside,youknow,homewas alwaysjustadriveoraday away,”hesaid.“Overseas,I couldn’tgonowheres.”

FromtherehewenttoIranin 1979,tohelpwithoneofthefirst attemptstorescueAmerican

hostagesfromtheU.S.Embassy inTehran.DuringtheGulfWar, heservedontheassaultship U.S.S.Tripoliandinacommunicationsvault.

ThenDilka’sfatherdied.After 10yearsintheMarines,he decidedtoleavesohecouldgo hometotakecareofhismother. Butayearlater,whenhismom didn’tneedhishelpasmuch anymore,hejoinedtheNational GuardunitstationedinFort Morgan.Heservedinhishometownformorethan12years, untilheretiredin2002asagunnerysergeantintheMarine Corpsandafirstsergeantinthe ArmyNationalGuard.

Eventhoughhesignedup half-heartedly,Dilkadoesn’t SeeDILKA,pg.29

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes

ApictureofAlbertLeroyDilka-whogoesbyhismiddlename-whenhewas servingasasergeantintheMarines.Thepicturehangsonawallinthe PrairieRanchHouseRestaurantinWiggins,alongwithphotosofotherlocal veterans.

DILKA frompage28

regretanyofthetimehespent inthemilitary.

“It’sjustlikeanyotherjob,I guess,”hesaid.“Idon’tmissthe [badparts],butImissthe guys.”

ThreeoftheotherFortMorganrecruitswhowenttoSan Diegowithhimarenowdead. Butsomeofthemenwhoused toserveunderhimasprivates havegoneontobecomestaff sergeants,andhesaidthat’s encouragingtosee.

Morethananything,Dilka saidhistimeintheMarines taughthim“disciplineand responsibility”–theveryqualitieshisdadwashopingtoteach hisbrother.

“Youseekidstoday,andthey

AlbertLeroyDilka

Branchofmilitary: MarineCorpsandArmyNationalGuard

Currentjob: Wigginspolicechiefandfirechief

Hometown: FortMorgan

Currentresidence:Wiggins

Family: Marriedwithtwosons,onedaughterandeightgrandchildren, includingoneontheway.

Quotable: “Ithinkeverybodyshoulddoit,atleastfouryears...tosee whatit’sreallylike.Theythinktheygotitsobadnow.Liveinsomeofthe conditionsthatourmilitarypeoplehavetoliveintoprotectthiscountry.”

don’thaveanyrespectforanything,”Dilkasaid.“Andme,I wasaregularstupid…punkkid. Butwhenyouseewhat’shappeningintheworld,itchanges yourperspective…whenyou’re inasituationwhereyou’rebeing shotat,yougrowuprealquick.”

Nowhe’smarriedwiththree grownchildrenandsevengrand-

children,plusonewhowasdue toarriveonNov.5.Hestillputs someofthedisciplinehe learnedintheMarinestousein hisjobasthepoliceandfire chiefinthetownofWiggins.

StephanieAlderton:970-8675651ext227, salderton@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/slalderton

“And me,Iwas a regularstupid…punk kid.But when you see what’shappening in the world, it changesyour perspective…when you’r einasituation where you’r ebeing shot at,you gr ow up real quick.”

Alber tLeroyDilka

GlennLawrencefinds roleoffaithinservice

ByBrandonBoles TimesSportsReporter

Whenhewasateen,Glenn Lawrencewasapartofthedraft thatwouldputhiminservicefor theUnitedStates.Afterbeing allowedtofinishhighschool,he enrolledintheMarineCorps,and

waslatersenttoBottCampat ParisIslandofftheSouthCarolinacoast.

Aftertraining,Lawrencewas assignedtoanairservicemaintenancesquadron,wherehehandledmanyduties.Nottoolong afterhebeganservingwiththe squadron,anopportunitypresent-

editselftoserveasachaplain’s aide.

“Iwasaprettyseriouskidand grewupinthechurch,”Lawrence said.“Whenotherswouldsit aroundandreadwhatever,I wouldgoreadtheBible.Someof theguysencouragedmetotalkto thechaplainaboutbeinganaide

becausehewaslookingforone.”

OnereasonLawrencedidget hisrolewiththechaplain’saide wasbecausehewasabletodrive, whichatthetimewasnotanout ofthebluequestionforsome.

“Ifyoucanimaginethe‘30’s whenweweregrowingup,not

BrandonBoles /FortMorganTimes

GlennLawrenceofBrushrelaxesinhishomewithphotosofhisfamily.

LAWRENCE frompage30

everyonehadacar,”Lawrence explained.

Alongwithhandlingdutiesof drivingtrucksandhandling machinery,Lawrencewouldhelp withservicesinthemainbase chapel,servicesofunitsassigned tothebaseonatemporarybasis, andhandledutiesforanoff-base chapelinacivilianhousingcommunitytofamiliesofpeoplewho workedonthebase.Thatoff-base chapelhadayouthprogram amongothersthatweretypicalof acivilianchurch.

“Itwasavarietyofexperiences, anditwouldbehardtodescribe it,”Lawrencesaid.

Inhislineofduty,Lawrence receivedfourdecorations,three ofwhichweremedals.Hewas giventheSharpshooterMedalfor hisabilitytohandlearifle,the

GlennLawrence

Branch: MarineCorps

Ranking: Privatefirstclass

Numberofyears: 2years

Hometown: St.Louis

Currentemployment: Volunteer,ministry

PresidentialUnitCitation,which wasawardedtomembersofthe unit,aWorldWarIIVictoryMedalgiventomembersofarmed servicesatthetime,andtheTheaterofOperationsribbon.

Lawrencesaidthatherepresentsmanyofthosewhoserved inthemilitaryanddidtheir dutiesthatwereassigned,and wasoneofmanywhowouldnot beinvolvedwithcombatthat manyexpecttheywerein.

“Irepresentagoodmanythat wentintothemilitaryandserved

atwhatevertheywereassignedor calledtodo,”Lawrencesaid.“It wasn’tallheroicandwasn’tall great.Thegreatmajorityofmen whowentinwenttodowhatthey werecalledtodoandthenwent home.”

Butthemilitarydidmakean impactonLawrence,mostnotablywhenhecamehome.After serving,hefoundanewdirection hewantedtogoin.

“Youcouldsayitwaslifechanging,”Lawrencesaid.“Ihadn’tfullydecidedatthetimewhattodo,

butitre-determinedthedirection forme.Itre-directedmetowards areligiouslife.”

Heeventuallyfoundhiswayto Colorado,andLawrencedecided thatwaswherehewantedtosettle.Hethenbeganworkingin ministry,andtodaystillvolunteershistimeandeffortto churchesinMorganCounty.He currentlylivesinBrush.

Thoughhistimewasshortwith theMarines,Lawrenceisfondof hisdutyandallheaccomplished inthemilitary.

“Itwasaninterestingandchallengingexperience,anditalso gavemesometimetoconsider whattodowithmylife,”Lawrencesaid.

BrandonBoles:970-867-5651, sports@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/FMT_Sports