Bergeson family participates in 40th Army Ten-Miler

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By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX  —  Major Dale Bergeson (Retired) of Colfax has once again participated in the Army Ten-Miler held at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on October 13.

Bergeson has participated in the Army Ten-Miler for 30 years.

The race is always held in Washington, D.C. in October.

This year, he ran the race with his daughter, Tabatha O’Keefe.

Dale’s catch phrase is “It’s only 10 miles,” and this year, Tabatha had the opportunity to point out to her dad, “It’s only 10 miles.”

This year marked the 40th Army Ten-Miler.

The race starts and finishes at the Pentagon. People running in the race take a route that goes around the monuments and bridges in Washington, D.C., Tabatha said.

“There are so many things to do and see in D.C.,” she said.

At the age of 72, Dale says he might be “getting too old” to run in the Army Ten-Miler.

Still, while talking to the Colfax Messenger, he indicated he has plans to run in next year’s Amy Ten-Miler, God willing, and has a plan for how he will train as well.

The Colfax Messenger reported in the November 10, 1994, edition that Bergeson was one of 13 Wisconsin Army National Guard members running in the tenth annual Army Ten-Miler race October 16 at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

This year’s race featured 35,000 runners, while last year’s race, the 39th, had about 26,000 runners.

The Highground

According to Major Bergeson’s biography published in the Messenger in July of 2017 after Dale and his late father, Staff Sergeant Donald R. Bergeson, were honored with stone placement ceremonies at The Highground Veterans Memorial Park near Neillsville:

Dale “attended the rural Running Valley School until 6th grade and graduated in 1970. He attended vocational school for a semester, then the national school of Heavy Operating Engineers in North Carolina and was the honor graduate.

“In 1971, the Vietnam war was ongoing, and he received his draft number. When he signed up, it was under the civilian acquired skills program, and he was to go directly to the engineers. “However, after basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he won the company physical fitness award, he was surprised to learn that he was being sent to Fort Sam Houston to train to be a combat medic. He was later transferred to Germany to work as a medic and engineer.

“He served two years, then attended college at UW-River Falls while working in a nursing home. A year later, he was accepted in the Physician’s Assistant program in Marshfield, Wisconsin, graduating in 1976. He then received his Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees, while also working as a full-time PA-C.

“While working at the nursing home, he met Ginger, now his wife. Together they had four children, Bronson, Megan, Tabatha and Abigail. In 1993, Abigail died in a car accident. She was 6 years old …

“Dale remained a soldier in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, retiring in December 1999. He felt fortunate to have many deployments to Central South America. In 1990, he was activated and sent to Desert Storm. He worked with the Infantry Battalion and the 13th evacuation hospital.”

Spirit of a Nation

According to the Army Ten-Miler website,” the Army Ten-Miler, (ATM) exemplifies the Spirit of Sport and the Spirit of a Nation. Participants include military, civilians, wheelchair athletes, and wounded warrior athletes. ATM’s mission is to support Army outreach, build morale and promote physical fitness. Over 900 soldiers and 900 volunteers support the Army’s ‘world class’ ATM race.”

The winner of this year’s Army Ten-Miler ran the race in 48:40.

Dale Bergeson finished the race in 2:37:15.

Tabatha O’Keefe finished the race in 1:26:38.