Salute to Veterans
Northwoods Quilts of Valor presents 10 quilts on Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11
By LeAnn R. Ralph COLFAX — The Northwoods Quilts of Valor presented 10 quilts all together on Veterans’ Day, November 11. One of the quilts was presented to Dale Bergeson (Major; U.S. Army retired) at the Veterans’ Day program at Colfax High School on the morning of November 11. The other nine quilts were presented…
Read MoreAmanda DeSmith, MN National Guard – U.S. Air Force
By Missy Klatt Amanda grew up in the Sheldon/Gilman area but has called rural Downing her home for many years now. Amanda who was attending UW-Stout signed up for the Minnesota National guard after her freshman year when she was 19 years old. She missed the first semester of her sophomore year to go to…
Read MoreBob Schug, Army, Vietnam by way of Korea
By Missy Klatt Although Bob Schug served during the Vietnam era, he was stationed in Korea. Bob grew up in Emerald and has lived most of his life between Downing and Emerald. Bob graduated from Glenwood City High School in 1969 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1971. He served from May 18,…
Read MoreLifelong Glenwood City resident, Doug Hill, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam
By Missy Klatt Doug Hill grew up on the family farm on Highway 64 north of Glenwood City. Besides his time at college and in the service he has lived in the Glenwood City area all his life. He is a 1965 graduate of Glenwood City High School and he graduated from UW-River Falls in…
Read MoreWilson native Duane Butler, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam era
By Missy Klatt Duane Butler of rural Wilson had a short but interesting career in the military. Duane grew up in the Wilson area and has lived there all his life. He is a 1969 graduate of Spring Valley High School. Duane enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and he states that he had about…
Read MoreHerb White, Army, Korean War, one of 17 children
By Missy Klatt Herb White of Menomonie credits God for his safe return from Korea. Herb grew up on a farm about five miles west of Menomonie. Herb grew up with seven sisters and five brothers. He said that there were 17 siblings but three died as babies and one of his brothers died when…
Read MoreGilbert “Wimp” Rice, Army, Korean War and oldest resident of Knapp, WI
By Missy Klatt At 95 years old, Gilbert “Wimp” Rice is the oldest resident of Knapp. He is also a Korean war veteran who served from 1950-1953. Wimp was born in Menomonie but grew up in Eau Claire. He was the second oldest in a family of five boys and one girl. Tragically his mom…
Read MoreWorld War II Veteran, Gilmer Hagen recently celebrated his 100th birthday
By Missy Klatt Long time Menomonie resident, Gilmer Hagen, recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Gilmer is also veteran of World War II. Gilmer was born on September 29, 1924 in Prairie Farm in an all Norweigan community, his family moved to Menomonie in 1929. At that time Gilmer couldn’t speak any English and his dad…
Read MoreThe nine men that earned the highest rank! Five star generals of the U.S. Military
In late 1944 the United States Congress passed a bill that established the army rank of five-star general and five-star fleet admirals. It became necessary for the United States to establish a five-star rank to eliminate the incompatibility of U.S. commanders charged with commanding Allied officers of a technically higher ranking. When the United States…
Read MoreVeronica Minor, Persian Gulf War, U.S. Navy
By Missy Klatt Veronica Minor moved around a lot as a kid but has lived in Boyceville for the last 27 years. She and her husband, Don and now their son, Lucas were all in the United States Navy, with their son still on active duty. (You can read an article about Lucas in the…
Read More