Veterans Day 2016 Honoring Men & Women of the Military

Honoring Men & Women of the Military

Veterans Day Friday November 11, 2016

We Salute All Veteran’s ur e Past And Presennt For Thheirr Saacrrififices Too Secur Ouurr Freeddom And Way Of Liife!

Thank You To The Families Left Behind As You Are True Heroes For Keeping The Home Fires Burning!

2 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

Salute to veterans An aerial shot of midfield at Legion Field as veterans and first responders hold a flag and both the Fort Morgan and Centaurus football teams stand behind them for the national anthem.

Jon A. Yamamoto Fort Morgan Times

YOU MATTER Hospice Of The Plains Thanks Our Veterans To Veterans Support Unit

Brush Workstation (970) 842-6060 Sterling Office (970) 526-7901 Wray Office (970) 332-4116

Serving Northeastern Colorado L to R: Jack Scott, Shorty Wilson, OJ Metzgar & Dan Simmons

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VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 3

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY U.S. Marine Corps

Activating reservists is part of Robin Northrup’s duties

Overseas travel was service highlight for Fort Morgan veteran

By Jenni Grubbs Times Staff Writer

Imagine being in the military with your spouse and hearing orders that you both were being activated and sent to a war zone and would need to “make our arrangements for our son while we were both gone.”

That’s the situation Robin Northrup found herself facing during the end of her service in the U.S. Marine Corps in late summer 1992.

“They had told us they had activated all the reservists, and they were sending us over,” she recalled about Operation Desert Storm. “I had a son at the time, just a couple years old, and my husband at the time was in the same unit. They were sending him over, too.”

That’s when Northrup was told to make the custody arrangements during their deployment.

“They tell you to pack your bags one day, and you’re leaving the next,” she recalled.

But Northrup did not wind up going to Iraq after all.

“We got halfway, and they told us the war had come to somewhat of an end,” she said. “They

“They had told us they had activated all the reservists, and they were sending us over,” she recalled about Operation Desert Storm. “I had a son at the time, just a couple years old, and my husband at the time was in the same unit.

They were sending him over, too.”

turned the plane around and sent us to Japan.”

Consequently, Northrup wound up not having to serve in a combat zone.

“I was never in the war,” she said, “but I have the utmost respect for every active military person. I had it easy compared to most.”

Joining up

Northrup initially went into the Marines in 1984 not long after her high school graduation in 1983 in Ithaca, New York.

“I was following in family footsteps,” she said. “I had two cousins in the Marines.

It felt like that was the right place to be.”

She was sent to Paris Island, South Carolina, for boot camp, after which she was moved to North Carolina to work in administration with a deploying unit.

Northrup wound up rotating overseas and back about every six months.

The overseas places she was sent included Okinawa, Japan, and Naval Air Station Cubi Point in the Philippines.

“It was an amazing experience that you wish that everyone could have,” she said of this travel during her service, where she got to take in “the different cultures and the places that most people never get a chance to see.”

Activating reservists

But as things started to heat up in the Middle East,

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Robin Northrup Courtesy photo

Robin Northrup served in personnel and administration in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1984 to 1992. She grew up in Pennsylvania and New York, but she moved to Fort Morgan in 1994 and has lived here since then.

Northrup found herself transferred to Whidbey Island Naval Base in Washington state. There, her job was to activate reservists for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

send people over there that you knew, and some of them never came back.”

After the false call for Northrup to go to the Middle East only to be sent to Japan instead, she only had “That was our job, calling a couple months left to serve. in everyone off from their reserve status,” she “My tour of duty ended recalled. “It was horrible to in October 1992,” she

recalled. “After I finished my time, I ended up with an honorable discharge and going back home to my son. His dad stayed with the unit.”

Skills and honors But while she was in the Marines, she had a job to do that gave her skills for life after the service. She was in personnel and administration.

“I handled the records for all the unit, their ser-

See NORTHRUP, pg. 5

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

NORTHRUP from page 4

vice records,” Northrup recalled. “It’s fun being in that administration field.”

And she still had received the training that all Marines receive, learning about firearms and military tactics.

“When I went into the service, I had never handled weapons before. That was new to me. You go through all of the training, just like everyone else does, and it became comfortable,” she said. “You never know when you’ll need it, where you’ll go.

But I was one of the fortunate ones who didn’t have to use it.”

While in the Marine Corps, Northrup received a number of medals and commendations, including:

Robin Northrup is the executive director of the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce. She also is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having served from 1984 to 1992.

Jenni Grubbs Fort Morgan Times

See NORTHRUP, pg. 6

The Sons of

George and GoldieDoty

Burke Doty - Army

Dale Doty - Navy

Don Doty - Marines

Gene Doty - Army

Ken Doty - Air Force

Larry Doty - Air Force

Thank you for your proud service.

Respectfully submitted by Plains Realty, LLC

VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 5

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

NORTHRUP from page 5

Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal with a star, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with a star, Meritorious Unit Commendation with a star, two Certificates of Commendation and six Meritorious Masts for leading projects to help the community. She said she is very proud of all she achieved while serving her country.

Experiences galore And she had some lifeshaping experiences during that service, including learning about different cultures and languages.

“When we went over to the Philippines, we learned some of the language, enough to get us by,” Northrup recalled.

“The same with Japan.”

With that knowledge in hand, the Marines would head to neighborhood open markets, where local children would act as guides and translators.

“They would lead us around, help find the things we needed,” she said. “We would pay them, and that was money for their families, too. They’d come and take your hand and lead you.”

Another unwritten rule was that the visiting Marines would make sure these children would have something to eat and money for food to take home to their families.

“The American dollars were so important to them,” Northrup recalled, pointing out that this was one of the ways the children were able to help support their families. “When I retire, I would love to go back and visit these places.”

U.S. Marine Corps / Courtesy photo

Naval Air Station Cubi Point, on the edge of Subic Bay in the Philippines, is one of the places where Robin Northrup served during her time in the U.S. Marine Corps.

She also experienced programs on the overseas bases where the local folks would come to learn English, while also sharing some of their native languages with the Marines.

“We would talk to each other and look at pictures in magazines,” Northrup remembered. “It wasn’t a big conversation, but you learned from each other.”

These experiences are very much a part of who she is today.

“These aren’t big things, but they are things that mean a lot to you,” she said, “things that you never forget.”

And she had some scary experiences during her service, mostly related to foreign weather and natural disasters.

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When we were in the Philippines, we went through an earthquake.

When we were in Japan, we went through a hurricane,” Northrup recalled. “I just remember seeing bicycles and stuff go flying by.”

And even while she was travelling and getting to experience these different things, Northrup was very much aware that she was there to serve her country.

“It’s not all fun and games and travelling,” she said. “You have a responsibility. You protect the country.”

Life after serving Since leaving the service in October 1992, Northrup lived briefly in Pennsylvania and New York before her family relocated to Col-

orado in 1994 when the Leprino Foods factor was set up by Fort Morgan.

Her relatives had worked at that company’s factory in New York.

“There were a lot of people who moved here from New York when Leprino set up,” she recalled.

Today, she is the executive director of the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Fort Morgan Humane Society Board and is a single mother to five children, including twin 17-year-olds in 11th grade at Fort Morgan High School and three adults, who are all living in Fort Morgan. She also had one young granddaughter.

Her military service and the chance to travel that it gave her is part of what led

Northrup into tourism and business promotion work through the chamber.

“I encourage anyone that can do any travelling to take advantage of it,” she said. “There’s so much to learn out there.”

And she also encourages people to serve in the military, even if only for a short time.

“I am very proud of the time that I served,” Northrup said. “I don’t talk about it a lot, but it’s always a big part of your life. it makes you who you are. I do encourage our youth to go in the military, even if it’s just one tour, to learn about a different way of life.”

Jenni Grubbs: jgrubbs@fmtimes.com or Twitter @JenniGrubbs

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY United States Army

Lino Sierra: Guinea pig of the atomic age

troops and sail the high seas. “I ended up spending my entire Army career on the water,” he explained. “I loved it.”

It’s the mid-1940s in the After boot camp training, San Louis Valley of ColoraSierra found himself stado, and Lino Sierra has at the young age of 17 already tioned in Japan. It was about year after Japan’s exhausted many of his surrender, and Sierra options.

He’s tired of working on drank in the fascination of the new country and culhis father’s ranch, and ture. He even learned the school was never somelanguage, which he still thing he took to, so Sierra can speak fluently today. did like many young men “The (Japanese) people – of his era, he enlisted in you wouldn’t think we were the U.S. Army. at war with them, they Thus began the adventreated me so nice. We got ture of his lifetime, which along great,” he explained. took him around the world, Once in Japan, Sierra and out to sea.

Having grown up in land- worked several jobs, startlocked Colorado, it was an ing out in the transportaentirely new experience to tion core, then working the harbor patrol as a member board a ship with 1,800

By Robert Leininger Times Editor

of the Military Police. “I patrolled the harbors from Yokohama to Tokyo,” he said.

He even did a stint as a guard in a large military prison in Tokyo. “That’s where they were holding all the Japanese warlords – that is until they hung them,” said the now 87year-old Fort Morgan resident.

While serving as a “gangplank escort,” Sierra met many famous people, but he the ones he remembers most were General Douglas MacArthur and Helen Keller.

“MacArthur told us (the troops), ‘You will treat Robert Leininger / Fort Morgan Times these people (the JapaLino Sierra of Fort Morgan holding a photo of his niece who nese) like you want to be See SIERRA, pg. 8 currently is a member of the armed services.

The American Legion and

Harold DeHaan American Legion Post 19 Sons of the American Legion Squadron 19 And Auxiliary Unit 19 16913 CR 17.5 (121 Nelson Road) - Fort Morgan

salute our militaary veterans of all wars this November 11 - and every day. The Leggion supports our veterans throughout the year: 3,000 Legion-lledd Veterrans Outreach Centers since the VA scandal broke. $1 million: Thhe amount raised for scholarships for children of active-duty servicemembers who died since 9/11.

We thank you for serving America with honor, courage and commitment.

6 Veterans Day 2014 The American Legion - America’s Veterans Service Organization

VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 7

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

SIERRA from page 7

treated,’” explained Sierra, “so we did.”

In his free time, Sierra would visit the Japanese orphanages, taking the kids care packages and candy. He also enjoyed visiting the farmers and ranchers in Japan and learning how they applied their trade. “In Japan they raised a lot more pork than beef. Some of their white hogs were six feet long. I visited farms all over, from rice farms to vegetable farms – I enjoyed it so much.”

While there, he also developed a fondness for the local cuisine – but not all of it. “We went into this one restaurant and I smelled something cooking on the charcoal grill. I asked if it was a rabbit, but it was a dang cat. I didn’t try it.”

“A guy has to watch what he eats, especially in a foreign country,” he added.

Then, in 1951, Sierra’s life changed when the Army picked him to test the first hydrogen bombs in the Marshall Islands.

This was in the early years of the cold war, and the United States used the islands for testing grounds, which included the largest atmospheric nuclear test ever conducted. And Sierra was there.

“I didn’t volunteer, I was hand-picked. It was the atomic age, and I was the guinea pig,” he explained.

In 1952, the government tested an 85 megaton bomb, and Sierra was only 30 miles away. “We could feel the heat. It rocked the ship.”

Then it got more intense.

“They then tested a 120 megaton bomb, and set us down on the island just nine miles away,” Sierra explained. “My job was to go in with instruments and test to see how much radia-

tion there was.”

One would think that with all that radiation, Sierra would have been adversely affected, but it didn’t affect him at all, he said.

“After the bomb tests, we went in and ate the food they had laid out and drank the beer that all had been exposed to the radiation.

Heck, my hair got better. It was brittle when I left Japan, and after that, I could run my fingers through it without any hair breaking off.”

Even now, approaching 90-years-old, Sierra sports a healthy head of hair.

Not long after the Marshall Islands assignment, Sierra was given the option of going to Fort Sill in Oklahoma, or getting discharged. He took the latter.

“I told them I’d go anyplace overseas, but the last place I wanted to be was in Oklahoma.”

So with his military days behind him, Sierra came home to Colorado. In 1960, he settled in Fort Morgan and took a job with Archie Glazier at Custom Farm Service, which he enjoyed.

Then, in 1969, he joined the employee ranks at American Beef (now Cargill), and stayed for 43 years.

“I loved it. The people made it special. Everybody was nice. I never had a bad day. And in all those years, there were only two guys that I couldn’t get along with, and I won’t even mention their names!”

Sierra says he blessed to live here, and with his family by his side, he has “no complaints. I’ve go so many friends here. This is the best town in the world to live in.”

Robert Leininger: rleininger@fortmorgantimes Lino Sierra’s friend and fellow member of the Military Police Donald Geyer in Japan in the late 1940s. .com

8 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

A day of remembrance

Robert Leininger / Fort Morgan Times

Several groups, including the local VFW Post and the Daughters of the Revolution in Fort Morgan honored fallen veterans on Memorial Day at the cemetery.

Robert Leininger / Fort Morgan Times

A flag raising ceremony on Memorial Day at the Fort Morgan cemetery.

Honoring Those Who Served VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 9

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

Flags fly in Fort Morgan

Robert Leininger / Fort Morgan Times

Fort Morgan honors its veterans by flying the flag.

Robert Leininger / Fort Morgan Times

Fort Morgan honors its veterans by flying the American flag up and down Main Street on Veterans Day. 10 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

Injured in a Vietnam fire fight

By Brandon Boles Times Sports Reporter

As a kid growing up in the area, Mark Christensen had to make a decision on his future. He could either continue to get his farm deferments and go through the draft board every six months, waiting to see if he would have to report to serve his country, or choose to not get one, in essence volunteering for the military.

After a few deferments, Christensen chose to forego getting another one, landing him in the U.S. Army in the fall of 1967.

“My mom was really upset that I had done that,”

See CHRISTENSEN, pg. 12

Thank You To All Of Those Who Have Served & To Those Currently Serving!

Mark Christensen

Today... and every day...

We are grateful for Our military service personnel, past and present, and the families who support them.

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VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 11

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

CHRISTENSEN from page 11 Christensen admitted. “I was thinking that I would do it for two years, get my service in, and get it over with.”

When Christensen joined the Army, he was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas for his basic training. Following that training, he went to Fort Polk, Louisiana for advanced training. Most of the people he went into training with were sent on leave at that point, but Christensen would continue his training in Fort Knox, Ky. to drive an armored personnel carrier.

“I was thinking to myself it would be cool to go over in Vietnam and drive one of those things,” Christensen said. “When I got over there, they said they all ready had enough drivers.

So they put me in infantry.”

A folder shows Mark Christensen’s certificates of winning the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

thing up the trail.

“It was an ambush,” Christensen said. “If we had gone up a little bit further, we would have walked In 1968, Christensen was right into it.”

Noticing it, the troops in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division. His time worked their way backserving in Vietnam was rel- wards on the trail. The trail atively short, as he served cut off in a ‘Y’, and rather than walking down the side only 123 days. of the trail they had hiked The reason his time was up, the troops went the othcut short in the war was er direction to walk away due to his injury he suffrom the ambush. fered there.

Another ambush was In Vietnam, Christensen waiting, and the group was and his fellow troops would caught in the fire. be flown by helicopter and The fire fight was costly dropped off in parts of the as two of the troops were country. The infantry killed and three were would walk, carry roughly injured. Christensen was 80 pounds of equipment, one of those that were and settle in on spots for injured as he was shot in only a couple days before his right arm. moving again. Sometimes, “Generally, they would the troops were out for a fly a helicopter in and get few weeks at a time. you right out,” Christensen said. “But this was the lonOne day, the group was walking and stopped to eat gest fire fight I had ever been in. It lasted several lunch on a trail they were hours.” on. The troops that were up in the front heard someBecause the Army did

12 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

not want to give too much morphine to troops so that if they were picked up they could be treated right away for surgery, Christensen only received one shot in the field of the medicine.

He would not be picked up until early the next morning.

“I was sitting there, and the doctor came in a brought me a candy bar.

He told me he had good news for me,” Christensen added. “He told me I was going home.”

The nerve damage was a key catalyst in the Army’s decision to send Christensen home. He spent just A bone in his arm was broken, a nerve was split in over one year recovering two, and there was muscle from his injury. damage to the wound. He In the hospital, Chrisunderwent a number of tensen was given the Pursurgeries. ple Heart award for being wounded while serving, as At one point, Christensen well as the Bronze Star, was sent to Japan. He awarded to members in the thought he would be military for either heroic returning to serve for the achievement, heroic serArmy, but it was there he vice, meritorious achievefound out he would receive ment, or meritorious sera medical discharge and vice in a combat zone. would be sent back to Colo“When I was in Fitzsimrado for his final surgery. mons, they told me to wear “I thought I had just bro- the cleanest pair of pajamas ken my arm,” Christensen and go up on the sixth or said. “A few guys in my seventh floor,” Christensen outfit had been wounded, said. “I went up there and and when they recovered another kid was sitting they were sent back to it. I there. He asked me what thought that would be me.” was going on, and neither

Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times

of us knew. They brought us in and we were given the rewards. The media was also there.”

Finally recovered from his injury, Christensen came back to Fort Morgan and settled. He took a job with the post office and had a long and prosperous career there. After a number of years working there, Christensen retired.

Looking back on his decision, Christensen says he has no regrets and is happy with his service.

“I’m glad that I did it,” Christensen said. “It was an experience like nothing else. At the time, I remember a friend of mine in training were in Louisiana.

I said if you put $1 million or a discharge paper on the table, I would take the papers. Now that it’s over, I’m fine. It was quite an experience.”

Brandon Boles: 970-8675651, bboles@fmtimes.com twitter.com/FMT_Sports

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY Salute to Veterans

Veterans Day: Another time to give thanks

“Thanksgiving is a day when we pause to give thanks for the things we have. Veterans Day is a day when we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have.”

So says an online post from Southern Hospitality and Traditions.

And Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper offered this statement about Veterans Day: “Nearly 1 in 10 Coloradans have fought and served our country.

“On this Veterans Day weekend, and on every day, we are so thankful and very proud of our military veterans and those active duty or National Guard still serving here and overseas.

“We want to especially honor those who gave their lives for our country. Their sacrifice is not forgotten.

“We must also not forget the families who support these brave men and women. On behalf of all of Colorado, thank you.”

Those who serve in our present-day military are to

be particularly saluted.

Today there is no draft. All who serve today are volunteers.

Many who served in the past were drafted or opted to enlist or be commissioned in a branch of the military which did not use the draft at the time they served.

Some saw combat; many did not. The most dangerous things some did were risk exposure to harsh weather conditions, play dodge-em cars with tourists in the areas where they were stationed or suffer

from tedium and boredom while pushing paperwork.

Many served during times of an unpopular war -- Vietnam -- and received criticism instead of accolades.

More recently, many have been shipped to the Middle East or Afghanistan, where the battle lines are blurred, the enemy hard to identify and the benefits nebulous if not questionable.

Thanks to advances in treatment and defensive armor, many who would have come home in body bags in previous wars are

now coming home with artificial limbs and wheelchairs.

Some return broken not in body but in mind and spirit.

Most served to the best of their ability and would like nothing more than to have a good job and the enjoyment of the fruits of the commitment they made to serve.

But a “thank you” like the ones offered by the Fort Morgan Elks, Fort Morgan Military Museum volunteers, Brush Middle School and others is always nice, too.

Honoring all who served.

Thank you

To all VeTerans and Those currenTly serVing!

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970-867-3021 119 S. Main, Fort Morgan

VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 13

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY United States Army

A Vietnam vet recalls time of duty

resided since.

“Fort Morgan has become home for me,” Worth said.

In 2002, the movie We Larry Worth of Fort Were Soldiers was released Morgan graduated high and focused on the 7th school in 1964 and went to Regiment of the 1st Cavalthe University of Wyoming ry Division in one of the for college shortly after. first battles of the Vietnam After his first semester, he War. Worth had served in was given a student deferthe 1st Cavalry Division, ment to complete his eduand the base camp shown cation. is one that he served on.

During his senior year in college, Worth started to “That is one of my favorrealize that there was a ite movies,” Worth said. good chance he would end “When I saw it, I was really up needing to serve his surprised initially. I think it country with the Vietnam was depicted well.”

War going on.

Today, Worth has made “I knew I was going to go it an initiative to give back out to Vietnam and serve and support all veterans. my country at some point,” He serves as a chairman of Worth said. “I called it a the veteran programs for Catch-22 during my senior the Fort Morgan Elks year. I could not get a job Lodge. Their national because I did not have a lodge has entered into an deferment and I could not Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times agreement with the veterget a deferment since I did Larry Worth of Fort Morgan served in the Vietnam War. an’s administration to try not have a job. I wasn’t and highlight some issues going any place in my ment was with the 9th divi- services for me to learn.” they were on a search and that include homelessness, career field or any career post-traumatic stress disorsion and he carried an There were a number of destroy mission. Worth field.” der, chronic unemployM-79 Grenade Launcher. uneasy days and nights almost walked over a booBecause his status was ment, and more.

After a couple months, the while in Vietnam, and by trap, and when the up in the air, Worth decid“We always want to honWorth saw a number of troops walked backwards ed to join the Army and do platoon leader asked him or the veterans that have battles he would have to and destroyed the traps, it his time. He joined the U.S. to take the position of served,” Worth said. “We Radio Telephone Operator. face.

On his first night was discovered that is was Army in February of 1969. want to address all the In April of 1970, Worth alone, he and the rest of a daisy chain of at least 20 Worth is not the only one issues that are current was transferred to Headthe troops he was with had traps. in his family to serve his issues.

We want to raise a “They had traps all along country, however. He grew quarters Company and was triggered an ambush and little bit of money for that assigned to the Battalion killed a North Vietnamese the back and the sides of up in a home where his and to highlight that Commander’s RTO. When solider. the column,” Worth said. father and brother were national program.” his 9th Division returned Another time of battle for “When we blew it, it blew regulars in the military as It is an issue that holds to the United States, Worth Worth was on Christmas up the whole daisy chain. If well. dearly to Worth. did not have sufficient time Eve in 1969. Worth said the we would have tripped the “My dad was in the Air “Veteran service is an in the country to return to troops heard that their sis- wire, it would have killed Force, and we traveled important project for me,” the unit, so he was transter company was in a firemost of the platoon.” every two years while he Worth said. “I’m involved ferred again to the 7th Regfight with a platoon of Viet When Worth finished was stationed,” Worth said. and contribute to it. I have iment of the 1st Calvary Cong. They jumped back serving with the military, “My older brother spent a lot of colleagues that Division, where he served on the choppers and spent he came home and earned his entire career in the milhave their names on the the rest of his tour in the Christmas day in a running his master’s degree. In itary and was a lieutenant Vietnam wall. I always try field. fire-fight.

One of Worth’s 1972, he moved to Coloracolonel when he retired. I to recognize and honor “I think my time serving friends was killed in the do and began working as was pretty much in a milithose friends that I lost was a threshold to me,” battle. the assistant city manager tary family.” when I was in combat.”

There was also the day in Brighton. He bounced With 10 months of train- Worth said. “I appreciate Brandon Boles: 970-441the organization and the that Worth said he experiaround in a few spots ing complete, Worth was commitment to honor. enced a near-death experi- before coming to Fort Mor- 5102, sports@fmtimes.com sent to Vietnam on Dec. 1 Those were all important ence. It happened when gan in 1990, where he has or twitter.com/FMT_Sports of 1969. His first assignBy Brandon Boles Times Sports Reporter

14 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

Dog tags: Small space, lots of info Even the number of beads on the chains serve a purpose

By Jenni Grubbs Times Staff Writer

Military-style dog tags have been trendy as jewelry in recent years, but the real thing carries a lot more meaning and significance the fashion-conscious but non-military wearer might realize.

Every letter or symbol engraved on a soldier or sailor’s dog tags carries important information, and each bead on the chains

serves a purpose, according to U.S. Marine Corps veteran Mike Barber, who also is a former Fort Morgan VFW Post No. 2551 Commander.

First and foremost, dog tags are a means of identifying a fallen soldier, he said.

“Every military personnel gets issued two dog tabs,” Barber said. “There’s one short and one long chain.”

Both of those facts are significant, he explained.

After a soldier is killed in battle, fellow soldiers or officers can use the two tags to mark the body. One tag goes between the top Postdif / Wikimedia Commons and bottom front teeth, and the other goes between the These are the dog tags of a U.S. Army soldier who served during World War II. The tags toes, Barber said, pointing included the name and address of his wife below his information. The small "A" in the upper See DOG TAGS, pg. 16 left corner denotes his blood type; the small "M" below that his gas mask size (medium).

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VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 15

16 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

DOG TAGS from page 16 that it was appropriately called the “toe tag.”

The chains for the tags are each of a specific length. The longer one has 365 beads, which represent the 365 days of the year. The shorter one, which goes with the toe tag, is 24 beads and represents the months of two years.

These numbers of beads are important for prisoners of war, as well as any military members who wind up lost or even missing in action.

The beads allow for keeping track of time, he said, “so you’re not lost to the world.”

And Barber knows a little something about this, having been a prisoner of war during his service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Soldiers taken as prisoner of war typically are allowed to keep their dog tags, he said.

“That’s part of the Geneva Conventions,” which provide for the allowable treatment of prisoners, he explained.

And for quite some time, dog tags have been made of stainless steel so that they would not rust or get destroyed easily, he said.

“Even if you went through a fire that would burn you totally, they’d still survive,” Barber said. “The military was really thinking when they made them.”

The U.S. military’s use of metal dog tags dates back to 1906, according to history website armydogtags.com.

They became mandatory for U.S. service members in 1913, although typically only one was issued at a time until around the 1950s, which was when the formal issuing of both the short and long changes and teeth and toe tags became routine.

One common thing about dog tags since their use was adopted is that they contain specific information about the military member.

That information as changed over the years, depending on what identifiers were most helpful at that time.

Ones issued today would have the last name, middle and first ini-

The chains for the tags are each of a specific length. The longer one has 365 beads, which represent the 365 days of the year. The shorter one, which goes with the toe tag, is 24 beads and represents the months of two years.

These numbers of beads are important for prisoners of war, as well as any military members who wind up lost or even missing in action. tial, blood type, Social Security/ service number, branch of service, gender designation and any specific religious preference.

That way, if a soldier is wounded and unable to speak but needs a blood transfusion, it is easier to make sure that transfusion would not make things worse.

It also allows for any religious beliefs to be honored in the event of death.

There’s no specific protocol for what happens to dog tags after leaving the service, whether by discharge or death. Former service members do not have to return them to the military, but they also can choose whether or not to keep them.

The ones that wind up with fallen service members may wind up getting sent back to loved ones or stay in the casket.

And military members may receive multiple set of dog tags if they are in the service very long.

That can help the service member keep track of where he or she was stationed and served.

Jenni Grubbs: jgrubbs@fmtimes.com or Twitter @JenniGrubbs

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY Salute to Veterans

Fort Morgan football honors veterans, first responders

First responders and members of the military carry out a large flag onto Legion Field for the National Anthem before the football game between Fort Morgan and Centaurus on Friday, Oct. 7.

By Brandon Boles Times Sports Reporter

F

ort Morgan High School put together a special night to honor veterans and first responders.

On Oct. 7 at Legion Field, the Mustangs hosted a Military Appreciation Night at the football game between Fort Morgan and Centaurus. Before the game, people that had served in the military or were first responders

Brandon Boles Fort Morgan Times

See VETERANS, pg. 18

W Post 2551 F V guished All American Post Distin

OUR DEBT TO THE HEROIC MEN AND VALIANT WOMEN IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE REPAID. THEY HAVE EARNED OUR UNDYING GRATITUDE. AMERICA WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES. PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN

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VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 17

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times

Members of the Fort Morgan football team stand behind the veterans and first responders who were holding the flag at midfield for the national anthem at Legion Field on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016.

VETERANS from page 17 were invited down to the field to carry out a large field to midfield for the national anthem, while both teams stood behind them by five yards.

During halftime, both teams remained on the field for a special presentation that included a 21 gun salute, performances of “Taps” and “God Bless America,” and a moment of silence for those who had fallen serving their country.

The Mustangs won the game over Centaurus 4713 More Photos: Page 19, 20 Brandon Boles: 970-4415102, sports@fmtimes.com or twitter.com/FMT_Sports

18 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

The Fort Morgan and Centaurus football teams stand behind the veterans and first responders holding a flag at midfield for the national anthem before their football game at Legion Field on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016.

Courtesy Photo Scott Roberts

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

Salute to veterans Three of the five honorary captains stand behind the Fort Morgan football captains for the coin toss. The honorary captains for the game include: Heldwin Brito of the U.S. Air Force, Alex Iungerich of the U.S. Army, Dave Gettman and Brad Palmer of the U.S. Marine Corps and Clifford Chisum of the U.S. Navy.

Brandon Boles Fort Morgan Times

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VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 19

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

Salute to veterans Three of the Fort Morgan seniors hold American flags out near midfield during the coin toss at Legion Field.

Brandon Boles Fort Morgan Times

Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times

Fort Morgan head football coach Harrison Chisum walks Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times down the line to shake the hands of all the veterans and A 21 gun salute takes place during halftime of the Fort Morgan vs. Centaurus football game first responders standing on the field during the halftime on Military Appreciation Night on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. ceremony on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016.

20 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY A note from the Publisher

Paying tribute to those who serve

Veteran’s Day holds a special place in the hearts of many.

It’s the one day of the year when people from all walks of life come together to pay tribute to those men and women who have sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedoms we all treasure. They sacrificed time away from their family, often horrible working and living conditions, and way too often, the most precious sacrifice of all – their lives.

It is a difficult time to be in our military. We are being challenged on more fronts than perhaps ever before and in different ways than ever before. It’s cyberspace, it’s bioterrorism, it’s sneaky, shady stuff. It’s not bow and arrows or even assault rifles

of the worst kind. It’s scary and it’s a shame.

We pay tribute to these fine folks in many different ways. There are pancake breakfasts and ham and bean feeds; special musical presentations and programs; parades galore including the largest one of all in Branson, MO. We also hang the red, white and blue bunting and display our American flags with pride. Restaurants often will feed the veterans for free or at a greatly discounted rate on their special day. The list goes on and on and on. We chose to feature local veterans and the great work they do in a special publication, supported by our faithful advertisers who also chose to pay tribute to

these veterans.

Friday, November 11 is more than a day off from work Julie Tonsing for many. It is a day to say thank you.

When you see a veteran on that day and every other day, too, stop and say thank you. And salute them – just as we have chosen to do.

Thank you, veterans, for all you have done, yesterday, today and forever in our future to protect this land we love – our America.

Julie K. Tonsing, Publisher Fort Morgan Times

Robert Leininger / Fort Morgan Times

To show its support of veterans, the city of Fort Morgan flies flags up and down Main Street on Veterans Day.

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VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 21

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY U.S. Army

Jurgemeyer led platoon along East German border

Army officer’s Cold War service involved having nuclear weapons at the ready

By Jenni Grubbs Times Staff Writer

Marne Jurgemeyer of Fort Morgan knows a little something about guarding borders.

As an officer in the U.S. Army, he oversaw a platoon of soldiers who patrolled a 120-kilometer stretch of the border between West and East German on a daily basis for quite a few years.

And while doing reconnaissance and putting up an Allied show of force along the border were the primary roles he and his men played, there was always the possibility of attack by Russian or East German troops and a much hotter war starting up on short notice.

“Our job was to be the trip wire,” Jurgemeyer said. “We would be the first to see” any movement along the border to the east. “If the so-called ‘balloon’ went up, we were the first to meet the area.”

But there also was a bit of humor to his situation.

Courtesy photo Jurgemeyer was stationed Marne Jurgemeyer is pictured in the field in 1973 in West Germany, where he led a platoon of soldiers guarding the border at Bad Kissingen, West See JURGEMEYER, pg. 23 with East Germany.

22 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

JURGEMEYER from page 23 Germany, as the second platoon leader of Troop F. That also was around the time when “F Troop” was a satirical show on television.

“Of course I got a bunch of crap about that from family and friends,” he recalled, also laughing a little.

Camp Wollbach in West Germany was the border camp where Fort Morgan veteran Marne Jurgemeyer's platoon worked out of for patrolling the border with East Germany during the Cold War in the early 1970s. Jurgemeyer was an officer in the Army from 1970 to 1974.

Becoming an officer Jurgemeyer, who was born in northwest Iowa, moved to Colorado with his family when he was 9.

He graduated from high school in Loveland in 1964 and then went to Teacher’s College (today the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley.

Jurgemeyer received his draft notice in July 1969.

“Knowing something was going to be up, I had gone to Denver and taken the test for officer candidate school and passed,” he recalled. “I called the recruiter and said sign me up.”

In August 1969, the Army sent Jurgemeyer to Fort Ord in Monterrey, California.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better spot,” he said. “It was never cold and not too hot.”

Initially, he thought he had signed up to go into officer candidate school there, but “it turned out they had closed it. The recruiter gave me some false hope.”

Instead, Jurgemeyer went to offi-

Courtesy photo

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HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

JURGEMEYER from page 23

cer candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia, graduating in July 1970.

He then was given a choice of where he would go next as an officer, although it seemed to come with conditions.

“The company commander said, ‘There’s no way in hell you guys are going to get out of the infantry,’” Jurgemeyer recalled. “I still tried.”

And that worked out for him, since he got commissioned as a second lieutenant armored officer and sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky.

From there, he had another choice to make. If he went “voluntary indefinite status” as an Army officer, he could choose his first duty station.

“I said, ‘I want to go to Germany,’” he recalled.

“That turned out to be a good thing.”

From there, he went to Fort Dix in New Jersey, “a stone’s throw from New York City,” and was sent on a commercial flight from the U.S. Air Force Base to Frankfurt, Germany, with a short stop in Ireland.

“I can say I’ve been to Ireland for about two hours,” Jurgemeyer said, grinning.

When he got to Frankfurt, there was someone waiting to pick him up and take him to the armored cavalry regiment, which was a “unique unit at that time” with forces that could be tailored to the Army’s needs.

“With us, they were armored cavalry squadrons,” Jurgemeyer recalled. “With three squadrons in a regiment, it was probably the most

that Army platoons like his were supposed to have 45 men.

“My platoon had 23,” Jurgemeyer recalled, as well as having fewer officers and ones of lower rank. “We couldn’t have fought all of my tracks.

There was nobody there.”

But the Army did take notice of how few soldiers and officers were filling the ranks of the troops in Europe, he said.

“They saw that this was not a good situation,” he recalled. “We started to get a lot of men.”

And the unit he was in already was a different one from what was normal in the Army, with troops, platoons and squadrons.

“We always took a little pride in that,” Jurgemeyer said.

Big mission

The soldiers Jurgemeyer was leading had a big mission: 24/7 daily patrolling of the border with East Germany. They were a “ready reaction force,” with drills with tanks and daily patrols moving between 20 different patrol vantage points.

The soldiers would “go Jenni Grubbs / Fort Morgan Times to each one and report to Marne Jurgemeyer, a U.S. Army and Army Reserves veteran, is pictured at Fort Morgan camp from there,” JurgeLibrary & Museum on Nov. 2. Jurgemeyer served as an officer in West Germany during the meyer said. “If they saw Cold War in the early 1970s. anybody, they would report where and what they were Not long before this, in powerful unit in the Army gen Gap, which today is in doing.” at that time.” the middle of Germany but 1968, the Czech invasion Frequently, what and then was right along the had happened.

This was the unit that who they saw were routine west border of the divided contained the platoon for “The boom went out. and un-alarming.

West Germany and East which he would serve as Everyone was getting “Usually, we would see Germany. an officer and be part of ready,” Jurgemeyer said. farmers in the filed, but overseeing the operations He was stationed at Bad But the Vietnam War was from the Eastern side, along the border with East Kissingen Military Base as also going on, and the there would be guards Germany. the platoon leader of Troop there,” Jurgemeyer said.

Army had “drained the F, and they were working manpower” from the AmerTroop shortage And there were concrete out of Camp Wollbach forican troops in Europe.

East German guard towers ward camp along the borJurgemeyer’s platoon See JURGEMEYER, pg. 25 As an officer, he knew was operating near Meinin- der.

24 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY JURGEMEYER

from page 24

all along the board, with new ones shooting up from time to time.

“They looked like culverts put end to end with a guard station on top,” he recalled. “They would go up pretty quick. They could build one in a day.”

The border, itself, had two fences with a minefield in the middle.

“They were always looking at you and you were looking at them,” Jurgemeyer recalled about the East German border guards.

It was the height of the Cold War, although “it was warming up a little,” he Courtesy photo said.

Two East German border guards standing on the west side of the border fence are on patrol in the early 1970s.

Scenes And there were some See JURGEMEYER, pg. 26 like this were common for the American platoon led by Second Lt. Marne Jurgemeyer along the border in West Germany.

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VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 25

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

JURGEMEYER from page 25

sneaky mind games going on all the time, Jurgemeyer recalled.

“One area was reputed to be a Russian bunker,” he said of what they saw and heard about happening just across the border. “Russians would bring people up to see what it looked like. It was a hide-and-seek thing. But we were supposed to be seen.”

Jurgemeyer served as the platoon leader for about nine months, and then he was moved “to a job I really enjoyed: border officer in charge of the whole border.”

Part of his duties were to “help write our emergency defense plan,” which is what would go into play “if the balloon went up.” That included the five nuclear weapons that were with his platoon.

“I had to sign for the stupid things,” Jurgemeyer said of the nukes. Fortunately, “I saw the boxes, but I never saw the silver bullets.”

And as worrisome as having the nuclear controls might seem, “it was nice to know you had it” in that scenario, he said, but also it couldn’t be used “unless the president said so.”

though.

He received a report of a battalion of Russian tanks advancing on a hill near the border. The report said that the red “cat’s eye” lights of 31 tanks had appeared and “kept coming.”

Jurgemeyer raced out of the Christmas party to get to the border station, but the tanks were gone by the time he got there.

He heard that the tanks had suddenly stopped and then turned around.

“I think somebody got lost,” he said. “It was dark and snowing. There was always somebody there at that border.”

But for all of these catand-mouse games across the border, there was never really a time when Jurgemeyer thought the call would come to use the nukes.

“It never went that far,” he said.

staying in Europe for three months to travel before being shipped home to the United States.

“I and two other guys, we bought a Volkswagen van and took it out and travelled for three months,” he recalled.

They wanted to see a communist country, so they went to Hungary.

Their other travels included stops in Spain, Monaco, San Marino, Italy, France, England and Belgium.

“The Army flew us back (home) three months later,” Jurgemeyer said. “I didn’t get to (travel) as much as I wanted to.”

Coming home

After the military, Jurgemeyer came back to Colorado and went to graduate school at UNC in history.

He said the GI Bill had helped him a lot with that.

Courtesy photo He also joined the Marne Jurgemeyer graduated from U.S. Army Officer CandiU.S. Army Reserves date School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in July 1970. He went Maneuver Training Comon to serve as an officer leading a platoon in West Germany End of mission mand and did training with during the Cold War. National Guard and Army Everything would change in Germany before reservists in Kansas and sergeant into going back,” Yet another incident Nebraska. long, though.

Jurgemeyer said. “He involved an East German “Because I was going to “When the wall fell, thought the world was 16-year-old who got drunk, college, that was a good coming to an end.” got in an argument with his there’s no reason to be second job,” he recalled. here,” Jurgemeyer said.

Another time, his platoon sister and crossed the borHe served in the Army der into West Germany.

But the first Iraq war was had a Ukrainian man show Reserves from 1975 to The next day, he had right around the corner. up seeking to defect from Exciting moments sobered up and wanted to “My guys were attached 1985.

East Germany/Russia to back home to East GerNot long after finishing And even though it was to that,” he said. “People West Germany or the Unitman. That was another the Cold War, with lots of don’t realize, the ’73 war in up his graduate studies, ed States. head-scratcher for JurgeJurgemeyer saw a job posttime and not much action, the Middle East, that “He crossed the border meyer’s platoon. ing at Fort Morgan Musethere were still plenty of cranked things up for us eventful moments, he said. but couldn’t find anybody Another game involved for sure. We didn’t know if um. He interviewed for it, to give up to. He crossed landed the job and was the speed and noise up in the they were going to attack.

Jurgemeyer recalled back, slept in a barn (in museum’s director for air.

That went on for a while. when a minefield was East Germany) and came many years, retiring about replaced during his first But a year later, Jurge“The East Germans or back the next day. He was winter in Germany.

Soviets would occasionally meyer’s mission in Germa- half a decade ago. In his picked up by the Bavarian free time, he enjoys travel ny and time in the Army fly high-speed jets along A sergeant had put mines Border Police. Everybody and working on his model would come to an end. the border to make things together improperly for was scrambling on that railroads. transport, and they went In 1974, he and a couple one,” Jurgemeyer recount- interesting,” he recalled. off in a “chain reaction of others “took a European ed. “We were more likely There was a one big Jenni Grubbs: mines. out,” which meant they to get an East German than scare on the night of an jgrubbs@fmtimes.com or were leaving the Army but Twitter @JenniGrubbs a Russian.” officer’s Christmas party, “Our CP had to talk the 26 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

Followed his 2 brothers into the army Bruce Wright, an army veteran, says his service was worth it

By Jon A. Yamamoto Times Staff Writer

Fort Morgan resident Bruce Wright decided to follow his two brothers by enlisting into the U.S. Army in 1955. He ser ved from 1955 through 1958.

Wright is a Colorado native and was born June 4, 1936 in Gunnison.

Upon enlisting he started his training at Fort Carson, before being trans-

Courtesy Photo

See WRIGHT, pg. 28 Cargill Retiree Bruce Wright and General Manager Bruce Allen in 2014.

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VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 27

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

WRIGHT from page 27

Bruce Wright holding a 90mm anti-aircraft shell at Fort Bliss, Texas

ferred to Fort Bliss, Texas. He completed his training at Camp Stewart in Georgia.

lock down and could not leave the base.

“It was really great,” reflects Wright about ser ving in the army. IniUpon completing his training he was posted to tially, the Americans were England. “This was a time sometimes frowned upon by the locals. “This was that was at the height of because we were seen as the Cold War. It was also young brash Americans.” a time that the English were fighting the Egyp“It was quite a change tians over the Suez coming to England from Canal,” he remembers.

America when it came to Wright was detached to eating. The ser ving poroperations at a secret tions at the English bases base outside of Chatham were so small and differon the Spa. “The base had ent when compared to been an old prisoner of what the American Bases war camp. The base was ser ved,” he said. “We ate comprised of 85 to 90 a lot of fish and chips.” men.” They were near the SAC Air Force base locat“During this time I ed at Braze Norton, Eng- learned to play poker and land. Wright also recalls I remember being broke that if the base went on all of the time,” said alert that they were on Wright. “We played bas28 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

Courtesy Photo

ketball with some of the English Bases, and usually we won.”

Wright retired as a corporal in 1958. By the time the Vietnam War started, Wright wanted to re-enlist, but his request was turned down because of his two dependents. After that he went to Las Vegas for several months before joining one of his brothers in Los Angeles to work for Learjet. Wright worked there for three to four years in the mailroom.

In 1969, he returned to Colorado to work in oil fields in Grand Junction.

In 1974, Wright returned to Morgan County where with his wife they owned the Oasis Bar in Wiggins.

After his second divorce,

Bruce Wright at home

Wright returned to working in the oil fields for a decade. He retired from Cargill in the maintenance department in 2011.

Courtesy Photo

become a U.S. citizen that you should have to ser ve two years in the army,” stated Wright.

Wright spends his retirement time split “I wish that I had stayed between Fort Morgan and Brenda, Arizona in the Army, but hindwhere he likes to play sight is 20-20. My two brothers have a nice pen- Texas Hold-Em, hunt for rocks and do photograsion from the army.” phy. “I always carr y my Wright’s suggestion to camera,” said Wright. current men and women When asked about his in our armed forces is to favorite photography sub“stay in.” ject he said “I am a duck “I think if you want to fan.”

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY United States Air Force

Northern exposure: Cold War in Alaska

Gail Davis remembers serving with Air Force in Alaska

By Stephanie Alderton Times Staff Writer

Gail Davis served in the military mostly during the Cold War, and for him it was just that: cold.

After growing up in Kanoredo, a tiny town in Kansas, Davis decided to enlist in the Air Force in 1957, right after he graduated from high school. Most of his friends joined the Navy, but he didn’t want to go on a Gail Davis today, in his home in Fort Morgan.

Stephanie Alderton / Fort Morgan Times

See DAVIS, pg. 30

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VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 29

HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

DAVIS from page 29 ship. Instead, he ended up serving as part of the “air police,” or security for the Air Force, on a base in Galena, Alaska.

“It was just like an everyday job to me,” he said.

The base was home to fighter planes and bombers, strategically positioned to go into combat if the Cold War ever turned hot. Davis didn’t fly the planes; his job was to protect the base itself from more everyday threats. He also helped load up planes full of much-needed supplies, which couldn’t get to the base any other way. But he said the biggest enemies he had to face were cold and boredom.

Alaska wasn’t yet a state when Davis enlisted, and the small village of Galena didn’t even have running water. The only way to access it during the winter was by airplane or dog sled, and Davis said the temperature regularly dipped below zero.

“There was nothing to do,” he said. “We had movies once in a while, and you could play pool and

Leaving the Air Force was far from the end of Davis’s time enforcing the law, though. He moved to Colorado and went on to serve for more than 17 years in the Colorado State Patrol. That job eventually led him to Fort Morgan, where he stayed, eventually driving a milk truck for about 11 years. His two children both live in eastern Colorado, one in Brush and one in Windsor. He also has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. things like that, but there wasn’t much going on.”

Davis was on active duty from 1957 to 1961. When he was discharged, the Vietnam War was just beginning. Although he expected to be called up to active duty anyway, he didn’t re-enlist. His younger brother, also in the Air Force, went to Vietnam and ended up serving for 25 years before retiring in Florida. But Davis was never called up again.

He and his fellow airmen did go

on alert many times, such as when Gary Powers was shot down over Russia in 1960, but Davis himself never faced combat--something for which he’s grateful. Still, he regrets not re-enlisting after his first period of service. He said that, at the time, he wasn’t excited about going back to the cold, but if he could do it over again, he’d probably make a different choice.

Leaving the Air Force was far from the end of Davis’s time enforcing the law, though. He moved to

Colorado and went on to serve for more than 17 years in the Colorado State Patrol. That job eventually led him to Fort Morgan, where he stayed, eventually driving a milk truck for about 11 years. His two children both live in eastern Colorado, one in Brush and one in Windsor. He also has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Even though his time in the Air Force wasn’t as exciting as it could have been, Davis still feels he learned a lot from it--how to survive in the cold, for one thing.

“Just the experience of being there in all that cold weather was something else,” he said.

Colorado has never felt very cold to him since then.

Davis said he believes the military was a good experience overall, especially as preparation for his longer career in the state patrol.

“We always had something different going, all the time,” he said of the state patrol. “I’m just glad I wasn’t in any war.”

With Respect, honoR, and GRatitude, We thanK all Who have seRved!

Stub’s Gas & Oil 16740 Highway 39, Wiggins, CO

30 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY

Courtesy photo / Fort Morgan Times

Gail Davis as a senior airman in the Air Defense Command. He served from 1957 to 1961.

THANK YOU! KORF

C O N T I N E N TA L

Brush - 501 Edison St. • (970) 842-0405 YUMA - 500 W 8th Ave • (970) 425-4218 STERLING - 520 E Chestnut St. • (970) 522-2523

VETERANS DAY • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • 31

Longmeadow Game Resort And Event Center 8604 CR 6 Wiggins, CO

(970) 483-8368

“Fifteen Station Sporting Clays Course at Longmeadow”

• Easy one hour drive east of Denver, Colorado off of I-76 and Highway 52 and features year-round

sporting clays action on one of the newest, most exciting country clays courses in Colorado.

• Course is laid out along a beautiful stretch of Antelope Creek and each of the sporting clays stations

can be reached by foot, ATV, or golf cart (ATV & carts not provided).

• Course features 15 fully automated stations, including a 30’ tower with both elevated and ground level shooting positions.

• The course is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9am-5pm, BY RESERVATION ONLY. Closed on Mondays.

Perfect for corporate retreats, shooting competitions or fundraisers! Our 12,000 square foot, climate controlled Lodge and Event Center comes equipped with two bars, 8 sleeping rooms, ballroom, 2 conference rooms, lounge, smoking patios, outdoor banquet and ceremony areas, full service catering and all-inclusive event services.

Unlike no other sporting clays operation in Colorado; we are a one-stop shop for all types of sporting clays events, big or small!

The Perfect Venue for Weddings, Events, Business Meetings, Hunting, Clay Shooting and More!

Visit www.longmeadoweventcenter.com/sporting-clays-and-trap

32 • NOVEMBER 11, 2016 • VETERANS DAY