May 15, 2013

PAGE 2 MILITARY SALUTE VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

We salute and supportAmerica’s veterans andactive military personnel!

We salute and supportAmerica’s veterans andactive military personnel!

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Thank you to all veteransand those currently serving our country.

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WEDNESDAY, May 15, 2013 VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS MILITARY SALUTE PAGE 3

Men and women who died in militaryaction for their country will be remem-bered during Memorial Day services Mon-day, May 27, in communities across theNorth Woods.

Veterans, area residents, governmentofficials and North Woods visitors are wel-come to attend all the ceremonies.

Veterans organizations in Eagle River,Three Lakes, Land O’ Lakes, St. Germain,Phelps and Rhinelander have provided thefollowing details of Memorial Day weekendprograms. St. Germain’s program will beSunday, May 26.

Eagle RiverThe Eagle River Memorial Day ceremo-

ny is scheduled for Monday, May 27, at 11a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park (frontgrounds of the Vilas County Courthouse)in Eagle River.

Ceremony participants are asked to as-semble at 10:45 a.m. at the park. The pro-gram will be held rain or shine.

The program will open with the North-land Pines High School band performing“The Star-Spangled Banner” and the 8thWisconsin Artillery canon salute. The Rev.Jim Fosdick will lead the opening prayer.

The master of ceremonies will be Mer-ton Jensen, commander of Veterans of For-eign Wars (VFW) Post 8637 in Eagle River.Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. MichaelBiszak will be the guest speaker.

Other highlights will in clude bagpipemusic by Tom McKale of the Emerald Soci-ety of Wisconsin and the Greater Milwau-kee Fire/Po lice Pipes and Drums, area BoyScouts and Girl Scouts offering poppies atthe Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and, an-other canon salute. There will be perfor-mances by the Northland Pines HighSchool band and choir.

The ceremony will close with the bene-diction from Rev. Fosdick, a rifle salute byVFW Post 8637, the playing of taps, a can-non salute and the choir singing “GodBless America.” McKale will conclude theprogram with a bagpipe solo.

Three LakesMemorial Day in Three Lakes will be

observed Monday, May 27. The programwill start at 10 a.m. with a solemn proces-sion from the Three Lakes Winery downSuperior Street to the Three Lakes Ceme-tery.

The procession will include the Ameri-can Legion Color Guard and Firing Squad,the Legion Auxiliary, the Three LakesLions Club and the Three Lakes HighSchool band.

A riderless horse will honor the fallenduring the parade.

The ceremony at the cemetery willhonor those who have served and giventheir life for this country. The Three Lakes

High School Badger Boy and Badger Girlswill speak. The guest speaker is Lt. Col.John Forino, who is on active duty at LukeAir Force Base in Arizona.

The program will conclude with the na-tional flags at the cemetery and CyWilliams Park raised to full staff. The pub-lic is urged to attend.

In the event of bad weather, the pro-gram will be held in the Three LakesSchool gymnasium at 10 a.m. For informa-tion about the program , contact the Amer-ican Legion at (715) 546-3431 or Mike Sil-ber at (715) 546-3077.

Land O’ LakesThere will be a Memorial Day service at

the Land O’ Lakes cemetery Monday, May27, at 11 a.m., with a light sandwich lunchto follow at the Veterans of Foreign WarsPost 8400.

St. GermainSt. Germain will have its Memorial Day

ceremony Sunday, May 26, at 1p.m. at theWar Memorial near the intersection of high-ways 70 and 55. The St. Germain LionsClub, which donates new flags each year forthe memorial, will replace the U.S. flag, fiveservice flags and the Missing In Action flag.Veterans of each military branch will raisethe flag for their respective service.

PhelpsThere will be a Memorial Day service in

Phelps Monday, May 27, but the time hadnot been determined at press time of thisspecial section. For updated information,contact the Phelps Chamber of Commerce at(715) 545-3800.

RhinelanderThe Oneida County Veterans Council will

host a Memorial Day service Monday, May27. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., a river ceremo-ny will be held at the Davenport Streetbridge, where a wreath will be lowered intothe water in honor of those who were lost orburied at sea. Guests can view the ceremonyfrom Trig’s parking lot.

Upon completion, participants andguests will march and walk to the OneidaCounty Courthouse, where the final Memo-rial Day ceremony will begin at approxi-mately 11 a.m.

Guests can take a lawn chair. For moreinformation about the ceremonies, contactthe Oneida County Veterans Service office at(715) 369-6127.

The Oneida County Veterans Council in-cludes members of the American Legion,American Veterans, Disabled American Vet-erans, Marine Corps League and Veterans ofForeign Wars.

Communities across the North Woods will have Memorial Day ser-vices Monday, May 27, honoring those men and women who died in

military action for their country. St. Germain will have its service Sun-day, May. 26. —NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO

Memorial Day programs plannedin communities across North Woods


Staff Sgt. Brooks M. Maines is a 1992 gradu-ate of Northland Pines High School. He graduat-ed from One Station Unit Training at Fort Knox,Ky., January of 1993. He was a cavalry scoutfrom 1992-’95. While on active duty, he was sta-tioned in Buedingen, Germany.

Maines currently serves in the U.S. Army as apsychological operations team chief and hasdone multiple deployments to Afghanistan. He iscurrently a member of the 319th Tactical PSYOPCompany.

Maines is married to Holli Maines of Min-neapolis, Minn., where they currently live. Hisparents are Will and Barb Maines of Sayner. Hissister, Ericka, is married to Scott Vandenheuveland they live in Mukwonago. Vandenheuvel alsoserved in the U.S. Navy.

Maines’ 90-year-old grandfather, Bill Maines,served in the Army Air Corps as second lieu-tenant in 1944-’45. His great-grandfather, ArthurMaines, was a private in the Army Infantry inWorld War I.

Brooks M. Maines

PFC Michael Eicher is a 2012 graduateof Northland Pines High School. He grad-uated recruit training on Jan. 4, 2013, atMCRD San Diego, Calif. Michael thencompleted Marine Combat Training atCamp Pendleton, Calif., and is currentlystationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.,awaiting his MOS training as engineer,heavy equipment operator.

His parents are James and DeborahEicher of Eagle River, and he is brother toDaniel and Joel.

Michael is following in the footsteps offriends and family who have served andare serving in our military.

“For He shall give His angels charge over thee,to keep thee in all thy ways.”

Ps 91:11

Michael T. Eicher

Lacey Spiess, a 2006 graduate of NorthlandPines High School, joined the Wisconsin ArmyNational Guard June 23, 2005. She graduatedfrom Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.,in October 2006 and graduated from AdvancedIndividual Training at Ft. Bliss, Texas, in De-cember 2006. Lacey went active duty in April2007 and was stationed in Germany. She de-ployed to Iraq in October 2007 for 15 monthsas a gunner.

In April of 2007, she was stationed at Ft. Eu-stis, Va., with the 169th SOC. She deployedagain to Iraq in November 2009 for 12 monthsand deployed to Afghan istan in December2011 to October 2012.

Awards include multiple Army commenda-tions and achievements, combat action, globalwar on terrorism, expeditionary, drivering, pt.and markmanship.

She is currently stationed in Hawaii. She isthe daughter of John and Jackie Spiess ofEagle River.

Lacey Spiess

Lt. j.g. Tyler A.C. Turpin, sub marine warfare of-ficer, USS Rhode Island SSBN 740, is currentlystationed in Kingsland, Ga.

Turpin is a 2006 graduate of Phelps HighSchool and a 2010 graduate of UW-Madisonwith a degree in nuclear engineering. His militarytraining includes Officer Candidate School inRhode Island, graduating in April 2011; NuclearPower School, S.C., graduating in November2011; and Nuclear Power Training Unit Proto-type Ballston Spa, New York, graduating inNovember 2012.

When he’s not out on patrol, Turpin attendsschools of engineering, stragetic weapons and-navigation, during which time he works withweapons launch and nuclear reactor casualtycontrol simulators.

His parents are Joy and Joe Turpin of EagleRiver, his brother and sister-in-law are DonaldMatthew and April Rose Crass of Phelps, and heis engaged to Katie Jeanette Nagel of Madison.

Tyler Turpin

Justin Schmidt is a 2007 graduate of NorthlandPines High School. He completed boot camp at CapeMay, N.J., in November of 2007. He was first stationedin Charles ton, S.C., on the USCG cutter Dallas. Hethen went to Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team inSan Francisco Bay. Upon completing his promotion topetty officer, second class, he volunteered for his cur-rent assignment to Operation Enduring Freedom,where he works out of Manama, Bahrain, assigned tothe Navy aboard the 110-foot cutter Baranof.

Upon completion of the one-year deployment, hewill return to San Francisco to serve aboard thenewest high-endurance cutter, the 420-foot Stratton.

His parents are Tammy and Gary Schmidt of Sayn-er. His sister is Danelle Moran of St. Germain.

Schmidt’s grandfather served in the USCG duringWorld War II, participating in 12 combat landing mis-sions. His sister served five years in the U.S. Navyaboard the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan and spenttwo combat tours in the Persian Gulf supporting Op-eration Iraqi Freedom. Schmidt’s uncle, Glenn Stein-er of St. Germain, also served the USCG duringWorld War II.

Justin Schmidt

Anthony graduated from Phelps HighSchool in 2007. He graduated from GreatLakes Academy on Jan. 18, 2013. Hisrank is Airman and he is currently sta-tioned in Jacksonville, Fla.

His parents are Jerry and Sharon Gif-ford of Phelps. He has two brothers andfive sisters, and five nephews and fournieces.

His grandfather, Orville Marks, servedin the U.S. Navy on the Abnaki duringWorld War II. His uncle, Winston Gifford,served in the U.S. Army. His brother-in-law, Mark Doubek, also served in the U.S.Navy.

Anthony Allen Gifford


Marble Mountain is a cluster of fivemarble and limestone hills near Da Nangin Vietnam. The United States constructedan aviation facility in this area usedmainly by the United States Marine Corpsduring the Vietnam War. It was primarilya helicopter facility. Gary Vold, now 67,from Conover, was assigned to work there.

Raised in Phelps, Vold moved to Mil-waukee as a teenager where he and hiscousin, Kenny, worked in a factory. That iswhen Vold received a notice giving himthe option of being drafted into the Armyor to join the Marines. He chose theMarines.

Trained in San Diego, Vold, like all oth-ers in boot camp, realized that ordersmust be obeyed and that if there was anyhesitation, it may cost someone his life.

“That’s what they needed to drill intous — respect and discipline,” he said.

From boot camp, Vold received infantrytraining, and then went home on leave for30 days before being shipped overseas aspart of the 3rd Marine Division locatednear Marble Mountain in Vietnam.

As part of the helicopter squadron for13 months in 1965 and 1966, he operatedpumps to fuel helicopters. Defending thevehicles as a door gunner was also his re-

sponsibility.“We were supposed to rotate out in 13

months, but you could re-enlist for anoth-er six months then get an early out whenyou returned. My cousin Kenny did that,but a week before he was to rotate back,he stepped on a Bouncing Betty whichkilled him during a patrol,” Vold agonized.

Agent Orange, used as a defoliant inVietnam, caused various health issues forveterans. The chemical was used to clearareas of foliage when fuel dumps werebuilt.

“They tested the chemicals on dogs andit didn’t harm them so they didn’t thinkthe dioxin would hurt humans. We weredirectly underneath the spray. Within 48hours, all the plants were dead,” Vold re-called. “I have some health issues now, somust travel to the Iron Mountain VetsHospital periodically for tests.”

Following his discharge from theMarines, Vold discovered that adapting tocivilian life was difficult. He had difficultysleeping and often slept with his eyeswide open.

Soldiers returning from war have notalways returned to a grateful country.During and following the Vietnam War,many Americans criticized the troops.

“Over there, we did what we were toldand what was expected. We did what wethought was best for our country,” he said.“The most difficult part was that when wecame back to the states, nobody wantedus. People would ask if we were in the ser-vice, but we never mentioned that it wasthe Vietnam War. When we sailed home,people were protesting as we disembarkedin San Diego.”

Armed guards protected the troops asthey got off the ship Vold recalled.

“It’s still difficult. I think people whoprotested then now realize what they didto the Vietnam vets and are trying tomake it up to them 47 years later,” headded.

Vold married his girlfriend, Nancy,moved from Milwaukee to the farm ownedoriginally by Nancy’s grandparents inConover, and then opened Northern Car-pets in Land O’ Lakes. It was in this jobthat he met Gen. Joseph J. McCarthy.

“I was installing flooring in a house onNorth Twin Lake in Phelps; he asked inwhich branch of the military I served andI told him I was a Marine. He jerked meup and sat me down to talk,” said Vold.

“His license plate identified him as a

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.Everything in his house was MarineCorps. He showed me his battle scars,from the Battle of the Bulge to Iwo Jima.Eventually, we became great friends. Mc-Carthy was the highest ranking officer inall branches of the military,” Vold acknowl-edged.

Through it all, a special bond developsbetween soldiers during wartime. They de-pend upon each other. A few years ago,Vold received a call from a man namedArt in Kentucky who wondered if he wasin the Marine Corp serving on MarbleMountain in Vietnam.

Vold laughed, “I almost fell over! Forty-five years later, we are in touch! Anotherbuddy, Tom, who lives in the Fox Valley,also served in the same area. So for thepast couple years, the three of us havegotten together.”

When the Vietnam Traveling MemorialWall toured Wisconsin and came to EagleRiver last July, Vold and his Vietnam bud-dies rehashed old memories when togeth-er they visited the wall on the Fourth ofJuly — a memorial that stood as a re-minder of the great sacrifices made duringthe Vietnam War.

Bond continues between soldiersVold reunites with Vietnam War buddies after 45 years

___________BY SONIA DIONNE

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-REVIEW___________

Gary Vold, right, and Art were buddies during the Vietnam War. After almost 50 years, theyget together a couple of times per year. Another military friend, Tom, also joins them.

Gary Vold, right, and his military buddy, Art, sit on a 10,000-gallon fuel tank used to fuel theMag 16 helicopters in Vietnam. —Contributed Photos


Thomas Hurtado was first stationed atGreat Lakes and is currently stationed atMarine Corps Base in Hawaii. He servedwith a medical trauma unit tending towounded warriors while in Afghanistanfrom 2011-’12. He received the Navy andMarine Corps Achievement Medal.Thomas is currently a lieutenant and aphysican assistant in the U.S. Navy.

His family has a strong tradition of mil-itary service. His grandfather, Thomas A.Thiele, served as a Seabee in the U.S.Navy and his uncle, Arturo Thiele-Sardi-na, is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army.

He and his wife, Jenny (née Sobecke)are expecting their first child June of2013. Jenny’s parents own a home inEagle River.

Thomas Hurtado

Matthew Justice joined the Wisconsin Army Na-tional Guard in April 2003. He attended basic andadvanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood,Mo., and was assigned to the 951st Sapper Compa-ny in Rhinelander. In 2008, Justice’s unit was de-ployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Endur-ing Freedom. While there, the combat engineers ofthe 951st Sapper Company operated as a routeclearance package. Their mission was to find andeliminate improvised explosives devices (IEDs).

Spc. Justice worked in many capacities duringhis overseas deployment. He was an MRAP driverand a .50-caliber gunner, spending a great deal oftime on dismounted operations. This allowed him towork closely with the Afghan National Army, For-eign Militaries of the International Security Assis-tance Force and local nationals. Justice’s ser vicealso allowed him to attend UW-Madison, receivinga bachelor of business administration degree, ma-joring in finance, investment and banking.

He attributes his military and personal success tohis parents, David and Connie Justice, of EagleRiver and other family and friends.

Matthew Justice

1st Lt. Chelsea M. Habermaas (née Bishop) graduatedfrom Northland Pines High School in 2004. She receivedher bachelor of science degree from UW-Milwaukee inDecember 2008. Habermaas joined the U.S. Army as anofficer candidate. She received her commission from theOfficer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., March 24,2011.

She moved with her husband, Eric, to Fort LeonardWood, Mo., where she attended Engineer Basic OfficerLeader Course. They were assigned to the 1st EngineerBattalion at Fort Riley, Kan., where Chelsea was a pla-toon leader.

On Sept. 15, 2012, the 1st EN BN deployed toAfghanistan for a nine-month deployment. Chelsea’s pla-toon leader time ended in November 2012, and shemoved into her current position as the executive officer ofHHC.

The 1st EN BN will redeploy to Fort Riley in early June2013. Chelsea will remain with the unit until she is pro-moted to Captain in September 2014.

Chelsea M. Habermaas

Cpl. Matthew Tidmarsh, U.S. Marine,graduated from Notre Dame Prep, Scotts-dale, Ariz., June 2008, and attended NAUin Flagstaff, Ariz., and Scottsdale Com-munity College, Scottsdale, Ariz., and ispresently enrolled online at GrandCanyon University.

He joined the Marines in January 2011,and is stationed at Camp Pendleton, SanDiego, Calif.

He was deployed to Afghanistan Juneto December 2012, and is in communica-tions. He has been recognized as an ex-pert rifleman.

Matthew is engaged to Jessica Snyderof Utah, and is the son of Jan and DaveTidmarsh, Eagle River.

Matthew Tidmarsh

Nicholas P. Wagner completed his basic train-ing at Great Lakes, graduating Sept. 24, 2011. Hereceived the distinction of being chosen for theposition of Recruit Petty Officer of his division.

Wagner then was transferred to the Navel Nucle-ar Power Training Facility at Goose Creek, S.C. Hebegan the Nuclear Field “A” School in November2011 and completed the school in January 2012.

His next school, Nuclear Power School, startedin April 2012. He graduated with honors inSeptember 2012 and was chosen to be the classleader in both schools.

In October 2012, he was transferred to the Nu-clear Prototype Training Unit in Ballston Spa, N.Y.,graduating second in his class in March 2013.Again, he was chosen class leader. Wagner’srank is Nuclear Machinist Mate, 3rd Class.

Currently, he is a staff instructor at the NuclearPrototype Training Unit.

Wagner is the son of Vince and Linda Wagnerof Eagle River.

Nicholas P. Wagner

Craig S. and Julie L. Frydrych are currentlyserving in the U.S. Air Force, with the rank of Mas-ter Sergeant. Craig is a Vehicle & EquipmentMaintenance Mechanic and Julie is a Supply Ma-terial Management Craftsman. They are stationedat Scott AFB, Ill., with previous assignments inGermany (twice) and New Mexico.

Craig has been deployed to Bahrain,Afghanistan and Kuwait/Iraq. Julie has been de-ployed to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Korean andIraq.

Craig is carrying on a family tradition of militaryservice along with his father, Stanley Frydrych(U.S. Army) of Armstrong Creek, Wis.; grandfa-ther, Stanley Renkas (U.S. Army) of Goodman,Wis.; and cousins, Mark Giebudowski (U.S.Marines) and Lance Corp. Matthew Giebudowski(currently in U.S. Marines) of Eagle River, Wis.

Craig & Julie Frydrych


Marv Anderson of St. Germain has hasbeen a teacher, worked in the businessworld and run in marathons, but says heprobably learned the most about life andpeople while serving his country.

Anderson spent 18 years in the Wiscon-sin Army National Guard and anotherseven years in the Army Reserve.

Holding a two-year degree in architec-tural engineering and wanting to pursueadditional college education, Andersonjoined the Wisconsin Army NationalGuard in 1965 during the height of theVietnam War.

“I was an architectural draftsman inMadison and joined a Wisconsin Army Na-tional Guard transportation unit of the32nd Brigade,” said Anderson. “I wastrained as a light vehicle driver initiallyand later worked as a medical specialist,similar to an EMT or paramedic in thecivilian world.”

As a medical specialist, he trainedalongside his comrades under realisticfield conditions with live fire drills andmock rescues of the wounded.

When Anderson moved to StevensPoint, he attended college and transferredto the Wisconsin National Guard ArmorBattalion, Wausau. He was able to com-plete courses at UW-Stevens Point for abachelor of science in biology, general sci-ence and physical education. After receiv-ing his degree, he taught in Rib Lake innorth central Wisconsin and continued toserve his country.

“The tank battalion encompassestanks, artillery, small arms and heli-

copters. We had field operations trainingto teach us what a soldier would typicallyengage in,” said Anderson. “Along withthings like land navigation and map read-ing, we engaged in medical practice suchas triage of patients, how to handle pa-tients, doing evacuations on the groundand with helicopters. Guard battalions arecompletely self-sufficient with medical,quartermasters and other services neces-sary to achieve their missions.”

While in the Guard, Anderson’s unitwas called to state active duty at leastthree times.

“During the late ’60s and early ’70s,there were a lot of peace and anti-warprotests going on around the country,” hesaid. “My unit was called up and weserved several weeks in Madison, quellingstudent protests and activist riots.”

Another state call up came in 1975when a tribe of Native Americans justoutside of Shawano illegally took over aRoman Catholic Novitiate.

“It was tense with a small amount ofshooting going on which disrupted thecommunity and the countryside aroundShawano,” said Anderson.

His unit also was called up when thestate employees went on strike.

“So my unit ran the medical dispensaryat the Oshkosh Penitentiary,” he said.

Things changed for the Guard and Re-serves in the mid 1980s, when the U.S.Army was enabled to federalize or call upspecific divisions such as the engineersfrom Rhinelander or Hurley for out-of-country operations.

Anderson retired from the military asan E8 Master or First Sergeant.

“I view my military service as benefi-cial and I am fortunate that I didn’t haveto serve in conflict situation outside of ouremergency call-ups,” said Anderson. “Ifyou are in the military and you are doingyour job, paying attention, you learn abouthow to better interact with people, how tolead people.

“You learn the best ways to lead andwork within an organization, and the onephrase I use is, ‘If you are in a position ofresponsibility, take that responsibility.’Don’t shy away from your responsibilitiesfor either people, or things, or actions.

“This is what comes to mind when Ithink of serving in the military or servingin my community. This is part and parcelof why some people join the military orelect to get involved in their community inthe type of things I’ve been fortunateenough to be able to do.

“What I think a person can get fromthe military that relates to civilian life

and responsibilities are two things. First,a sense of mission and getting the jobdone. Second is camaraderie, working re-lationships with the people around you.This can be tremendously satisfying. Ithink most of the time the military doesthe best job of fostering these things,much more so than in the civilian workenvironment.”

Since 1979, Anderson worked for Sen-try Insurance, First Financial Bank andLiberty Mutual in administrative services,managing suppliers, vendors and supportoperations for the companies.

Anderson and his wife, Karen, havebeen married for 45 years and live on LostLake in St. Germain. They are active in

the community and contribute time andenergy to local organizations such as thePrimeTimers. He is also a supervisor onthe St. Germain Town Board and hasserved the Marathon County Board.

The Andersons also have run in Grand-ma’s Marathon in Duluth, Chicago, NewYork City, Milwaukee, Twin Cities and Ne-braska marathons, as well as competed inthe Birkebeiner and Journeys Marathonin Eagle River.

“The marathons are a little bit of thedrive to succeed — part of what the mili-tary and competitive sports teach you.Gives you the drive to accomplish the mis-sion, to finish, to do it. Get it done. Doyour best,” said Anderson.

Anderson learned about life, peoplewhile serving in Guard and Reserves

___________BY WALLY GEIST


Marv Anderson said he learned a lot about life during his 18 years in the Army NationalGuard and Reserves. He now lives on Lost Lake in St. Germain. —Photo By Wally Geist

MARV ANDERSON


Cmdr. John Smallman has served inthe U.S. Navy Reserves for more than 20years. His most recent activation wasserving as the Staff Judge Advocate forPacific Partnership 2012 aboard the hos-pital ship USNS Mercy which providedhumanitarian and medical care to under-privileged areas in the Pacific Rim.

Smallman recently retired as an attor-ney after 28 years with the Naval CriminalInvestigative Service and the FBI. He hasbeen assigned to the Legal Affairs Depart-ment and Legal Advisors Office in Kobul,Afghanistan, beginning Oct. 15, 2013.

He graduated from Purdue Universityand obtained a master’s degree in crimi-nology from Indiana State and a law de-gree from Michigan State. He is the son ofJack and Joan Smallman of Eagle River.

John SmallmanMaster Sgt. Jacob Simac enlisted in the U.S.

Air Force in November 2000. He attended basictraining at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) inSan Antonio, Texas, from December 2000 toJanuary 2001.

He then attended technical training at Shep-pard AFB as an engineer. Simac later spentfour years stationed at McConnell AFB, Kan.,four years at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, twoyears at Minot AFB, N.D., and three years atDover AFB, Del.

Simac has been on active duty for the last 13years and has served six tours in the MiddleEast including Arabia, Iraq in 2003 during theIraqi War, and two tours in Qatar and Kuwait.He has been decorated seven times, five forAchievement and two for Commendation.

Simac is married to Kathrin and has a son,Benjamin. He is the son of Joe and Mary Simacof Clearwater Lake.

Jacob Simac

In 1943, Harold DeRuiter volunteered toserve in the U.S. Army engineers after grad-uating from Thornton High School in Harvey,Ill. He served one month at Camp Claybornin Louisiana and was then transferred toCamp Ellis in Illinois to continue with hisbasic training.

He then went to England and Wales tohelp build living quarters for the troops, andafter D-Day he was sent to Utah Beach inFrance. Based on the point system, he wasone of the first to be honorably dischargedat Camp Grant in Illinois in 1945.

He and his wife, Nellie, moved to SugarCamp in 1949 where they built Three D’sResort on Dam Lake. They sold the resort in1965. DeRuiter has two children, RandyDeRuiter of Katy, Texas, and Diane Weberof St. Germain.

DeRuiter and his wife will celebrate 65years together in June 2013.

Harold DeRuiter

Tyler graduated from Northland PinesHigh School in 2003. He enlisted in theU.S. Army right out of school. He didbasic training at Fort Sill, Okla. Tyler wasassigned to the 1st Battalion, 37th FieldArtillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd In-fantry Division Stryker Brigade CombatTeam, Fort Lewis, Wash. Tyler was on hissecond deployment to Iraq when he waskilled in action on June 3, 2007, in Thaine,Iraq, when an improvised explosive de-vice detonated near their vehicle.

Tyler was a happy person who wantedto enjoy life to the fullest. He is sadlymissed by his family and friends. Ourangel, our hero.

His parents are Joseph and DoreenKritz of Eagle River, and sister, MarciaCira of West Bend.

Sgt. Tyler J. Kritz

Lewis Jacobson, M.D., graduated fromGeorgetown University and ChicagoMedical School. He completed his resi-dency at D.C. General Hospital.

He served in the U.S. Army for 18months during World War II in England,France and Germany. He received theCombat Infantry Badge, two Battle Starsand a Bronze Star.

Jacobson is now retired after 54 yearsas a family physician serving the EagleRiver area.

His three brothers also served in theU.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. One grand-son is now completing training at Ft. SamHouston, Texas, as a medic and in Junewill deploy to Korea with the 2nd InfantryDivision.

Lewis Jacobson, M.D.

MONDAY & TUESDAY

• Rhinelander Trig’s Liquor, 6 a.m.• Lake Tomahawk Sloan Comm. Ctr.,

6:20 a.m.• Woodruff Corner Hwy. 47 & 51,

6:30 a.m.• Arbor Vitae Mobil Gas (51 & 70),

6:40 a.m.• St. Germain Citgo Gas, 6:55 a.m.• Eagle River VFW, Hwy. 70 West,

7:05-7:15 a.m.• Iron Mountain VAMC, 8:45 a.m.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY

• Rhinelander Trig’s Liquor, 6 a.m.• Monico K&R’s Short Stop,

6:30 a.m.• Crandon Courthouse (front)

6:55 a.m.• Laona Fire Station (back), 7:15 a.m.• Cavour Corner Hwy. 8 & 139,

7:30 a.m.• Armstrong Creek Gas Station,

7:45 a.m.• Iron Mountain VAMC, 8:45 a.m.

Disabled American Veterans Van RoutesReservation line (715) 369-6227


The memorial at Vilas County VeteransPark in front of the Vilas County Court-house has been standing for more than 22years, thanks to the initiative and hardwork of one local veteran.

Roman Zulkowski of Eagle River, a pro-fessional bricklayer and member of VFWPost 8637, started building the monu-ment’s base in 1990 in conjunction withAmerican Legion Post 114.

He donated all of the time he spent de-signing and building the structure.

Chuck Harsla, who was commander ofthe Eagle River VFW at the time, coordi-nated the effort to create Vilas County Vet-erans Park.

While the part of the monument that isengraved with the names of all the de-ceased veterans of Vilas County was pur-chased, the base was built entirely byZulkowski.

He also assembled the monument andthe benches surrounding it. The eagle thatstands atop the monument was purchasedand installed by Zulkowski.

A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II,Zulkowski passed away on Dec. 12, 2006,at the age of 81.

Each year, flowers are planted aroundthe memorial, flags are placed and namesof deceased veterans from Vilas County areengraved on the monument.

Many local merchants have donatedproducts for the project over the years, in-cluding Horant’s Garden Center, which do-nates flowers to decorate the structure.

Memorial Day ceremonies typicallytake place at the site of the memorial infront of the courthouse and include perfor-mances by the Northland Pines HighSchool band, a canon salute and a guestspeaker.

Roman Zulkowski rememberedfor building Vilas vets memorial

Roman Zulkowski donated his time in1990 to construct the base of the monu-ment at Vilas County Veterans Park.

—Contributed PhotoVisitors at the 2012 Memorial Day ceremony at Vilas County VeteransPark admired the grandeur of the monument constructed by Roman

Zulkowski in 1990. Chuck Harsla organized the fundraising effort andname-gathering for the memorial. —NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO


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Col. Michael A. Biszak has been namedthe new Vilas County veterans service offi-cer, serving veterans across the county.

The commanding officer of the 12th Ma-rine Corps District, Biszak has ties toManitowish Waters. He replaces ScottJensen, who retired as the Vilas Countyveterans service officer in 2012.

The Vilas County Board approvedBiszak for the position at its March meet-ing.

Biszak was commissioned a second lieu-tenant in the Marine Corps in December1986, having completed his undergraduateeducation in physical education at the UW-Platteville.

Following the Basic School and the In-fantry Officer Course, Biszak was assignedto 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Regiment, 1stMarine Division, at Marine Corps BaseCamp, Pendleton, Calif., in August 1987.

During this tour, Biszak served as aPlatoon Commander and Company Execu-tive Officer for Bravo Company 1/1 andparticipated in various exercises and de-ployed with the 11th Marine Expedi-tionary Unit (MEU) in 1988 and the 15thMEU in 1990 to the Western Pacific.

In August 1990, Biszak was transferredto Recruiting Station Oklahoma City, 8thMarine Corps District, where he served asthe Operations Officer and Executive Offi-cer and subsequently reported to Fort Ben-ning, Ga., in August 1993, where he at-tended Infantry Officers Advance Courseand Airborne School.

Ordered to Camp Pendleton, Calif., inFebruary 1994, Biszak reported to 3rd Bat-talion, 5th Marines where he served as theAssistant Battalion Operations Officer,Kilo Company Commander and the Battal-ion Operations Officer. During this tour, hedeployed twice with the 31st MEU andconducted numerous exercises in the West-ern Pacific.

In 1996, he was assigned as the Com-manding Officer of Recruiting StationChicago, 9th Marine Corps District, wherehe served until reporting to Marine CorpsCommand and Staff College, Quantico, Va.,in August 1999.

In July 2000, Biszak reported to Re-cruiters School, Marine Corps RecruitDepot, San Diego, Calif., where he servedas the director. In July 2003, Biszak wasreassigned to Headquarters Battalion, 1stMarine Division, where he served as theBattalion Executive Officer and subse-quently as the Battalion Commander. Dur-ing that tour, he deployed twice to Iraq insupport of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In June 2005, Biszak was reassigned tothe U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Bar-racks, Carlisle, Pa., where he received amaster’s degree in National Security andStrategic Studies. In July 2006, Biszak re-ported to NORAD-U.S. Northern Com-mand, Colorado Springs, Colo., where heserved as the Deputy Division Chief, The-ater Security Cooperation Division, Direc-torate of Plans, Policy and Strategy (N-NC/J5) until May 2008.

In May 2008, Biszak reported to MarineCorps Recruit Depot/Western RecruitingRegion, San Diego, Calif., to serve as theAssistant Chief of Staff, Recruiting, untilMarch 2010 when he assumed his currentduties.

Col. Biszak’s personal decorations in-clude the Bronze Star Medal, the DefenseMeritorious Service Medal, the Meritori-ous Service Medal (2nd Award) and theNavy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal(2nd Award).

About the officeThe Vilas County Veterans Service Of-

fice is located in the Vilas County Court-house at 330 Court St. in Eagle River. Thehours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondaysthrough Fridays.

Biszak and benefits specialist DebbieDurski advise veterans and their familiesliving in Vilas County.

The 2010 annual report of the VilasCounty veterans service office showed theoffice assisted 2,996 veterans, their spous-es and their dependents. The fiscal impactof those people in Vilas County was almost$15 million.

For more information, call the veteransservice office at (715) 479-3629.

Col. Michael A. Biszak appointedVilas County veterans service officer

Col. Michael A. Biszak is the new Vilas County veterans service officer. His office is locatedat the courthouse in Eagle River. —Photo By Ken Anderson


Don Oberg of Phelps had been marriedto his wife, Margaret, for only three daysbefore he was drafted into the U.S. Army in1953, where he served as a radio operatorfor 15 months.

After training in Augusta, Ga. and

learning teletypewriting, voice and Morsecode, Oberg learned his services wereneeded in the Korean War.

The type of communication used at thattime depended on the weather, accordingto Oberg.

“I preferred to teletype over the othertwo,” he said.

He was dispatched from Seattle, Wash.for a 17-day journey around a typhoon,

eventually landing in Sasebo, Japan topick up winter clothing and weapons.

Oberg traveled on to Incheon, SouthKorea where he was assigned to Hill 3. Hemoved around on a two and one-half-tontruck with communications equipment.

All communications in South Korea,both secret and regular, went through thattruck, according to Oberg. He was able tocommunicate with 15 different stations.

“I was very fortunate that I was neverinjured, as the enemy wanted to destroyany communication,” said Oberg. “I hadthe ability to block foreign stations on ourchannel, causing them to switch to anotherstation and our frequency would be clear.”

He was assigned to a communicationscenter at the 8th Army Battalion head-quarters in Seoul, South Korea during hislast three months of service.

Landlines had been put in, and Obergcontinued to keep his radio clear in casethe landlines went out.

“We could still communicate to those 15stations with my radio,” he said.

Oberg was born and raised in Phelpsalong with three brothers and one sister.His parents owned Big Twin Lake Lodge.

Unable to finish high school due to hisfather passing away in his sophomore year,he had to help out at home. His father hadworked for the Vilas County Highway De-partment.

After returning home, Oberg worked inPhelps at Sylvan Products in the buildingmaterials industry for 38 years. As a sidejob, he helped with the upkeep of the LongLake Dam for 40 years.

Oberg said he enjoys fishing, and espe-cially enjoyed fishing in Canada with hisbrothers in past years. He is a member ofthe VFW and the American Legion.

He and Margaret have been married 60years and have six daughters, five sons-in-law, 12 grandchildren and six great-grand-children.

“The radio operator job was a very goodjob, and I regret that I did not continue onin that field when I got out of the military,”said Oberg.

___________BY SHARON GIFFORD


During the Korean War, circa 1953, Don Oberg of Phelps traveled ona 21⁄2-ton truck that was responsible for much of the secret and regu-

lar communications in South Korea. He was in touch with 15 individ-ual stations. —Photo By Sharon Gifford DON OBERG

Don Oberg vital to communicationsduring Army service in Korean War


We Salute All Veterans & Military Personnel

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The Three Lakes Historical Museum ishost to an exhibit that honors the militarypersonnel from the Three Lakes area andfeatures memorabilia donated by local vet-erans and their families.

The exhibit, “Three Lakes Answers theCall,” is housed in the Goldsworthy Exhib-it Hall at the museum.

The exhibit features items from menand women from Three Lakes who servedabroad and at home during 20th centuryconflicts. Local veterans and their familieshave donated items to be displayed.

Some displays feature photographs ofthose who served, along with uniforms,correspondences and other artifacts.

Museum Curator Alan Tulppo said fa-cility personnel were pleased to recognizearea veterans for their service and variouscontributions to the Three Lakes commu-nity.

“This is a living exhibit, and will changeas people are ready to donate items toshare with us,” said Tulppo. “The exhibitwouldn’t have been possible without thewillingness of the veterans and their fami-lies to share their experiences with us.”

The exhibit will be open Saturdays be-ginning May 25, and will be open Tuesdaysthrough Saturdays beginning June 18. Themuseum hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about the ThreeLakes Historical Society and Museum,visit threelakeshistory.org or follow theirFacebook page.

Three Lakes Historical Museumfeatures exhibit with war artifacts

___________BY JAN HINTZ


The Three Lakes Historical Museum’s exhibit, called “Three Lakes An-swers the Call,” displays historical photographs and military uniforms

in honor of men and women from the town who were enlisted in theU.S. Armed Forces during 20th century conflicts.

—Photo By Jan Hintz

Uniforms, photosin military display


Arnold Craig from Three Lakes flew toWashington, D.C., April 22 as part of themost recent event sponsored by the NeverForgotten Honor Flight organization.

The organization’s mission is to honorveterans who have sacrificed so much forthis country. Craig traveled with morethan 100 veterans from northern Wiscon-sin to the nation’s capital.

“They really put themselves out for theveterans on these flights,” Craig ex-plained. “From putting us up in hotelsand providing meals, touring Washingtonand all the war memorials from WorldWar II, the Korean War and the VietnamWar, giving us disposable cameras andproviding us with someone to help us getaround and a tour guide who explainedeverything. It was top notch! Someone gotsick, but there was a doctor right there tohelp him.”

The World Ward II veteran also wasimpressed with the public’s outpouring ofgratitude.

“Letters were delivered to us later inthe day on our way home,” said Craig.“When we returned to Wausau, from oneend of the airport to the other, peoplelined our way, shaking our hands! It wasa wonderful experience.”

Craig was born in Stevens Point in1924 to parents who met during WorldWar I. He was raised mainly in the Mil-waukee area during the challenging peri-od of the Depression.

“We lived across the field from Mar-quette University. Like many families, wewere poor. It was a difficult time in thehistory of our country,” Craig recalled.“Work was very hard to find; train carswere loaded with men who traveled from

place to place looking for employment.During summers, I peddled newspapersevery day being paid a penny per copy.”

He attended West Division HighSchool, which later became the LaytonSchool of Art. When Craig turned 18, hewas hired by Badger Meter, a machineshop making bomb parts for the war.Within six months, before graduatingfrom high school, he was drafted.

Troops were transported to Europe in avariety of ways during World War II.Craig traveled aboard the Queen Mary, aluxury ocean liner which now sits in drydock as a full service hotel and historiclandmark in Long Beach, Calif.

In the 1940s, the ship was retrofittedto carry troops with even the swimmingpool fitted with bunks. It was dubbed“The Gray Ghost” and could carry 15,000troops.

“For safety reasons, the ship zigzaggedas it sailed until reaching Scotland, thenEngland and France, where I served inthe First Army and then the Third ArmyDivision with Patton. That’s when I gotshot,” said Craig, who lost his left eye andhis hearing in combat.

Craig doesn’t like to dwell on the war,but would rather focus on the positive,saying he was just thankful to be alive.

Part of that celebration of life involvespainting. Craig graduated from the Lay-ton School of Art with an art degreeunder the GI Bill when he returned fromthe war. (In addition, the school sent himan honorary high school diploma in 2000.)

At age 89, he spends much of his freetime putting brush to canvas, using what-ever he has on hand to express that tal-ent.

“If you really want to paint, you don’talways need the most current supplies,”Craig added. “I like to paint things thatmake me feel good.”

Craig sits in his easy chair, surroundedby letters from supportive individuals hereceived following the Honor Flight.

One letter, from his nephew read: “Youplayed the hand that you were dealt andlived your life to its fullest.”

A different message read: “You join theselect group of individuals who put asidepersonal dreams, goals, and self to serveyour country. There’s no way I can fullyexpress my gratitude.”

Craig’s wife, Janice, provides his mostobvious support.

“The Honor Flight program gives sol-diers recognition for what they did. It was70 years ago that my husband was inWashington, D.C., aboard the troop train,”she said. “I am proud that he is beinghonored.”

Craig focuses on life’s positivesWorld War II vet takes Never Forgotten Honor Flight

___________BY SONIA DIONNE


Arnold Craig of Three Lakes, a World War II veteran, shows the certificate that recognizeshim for participating in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight. —Photo By Sonia DionneARNOLD CRAIG


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WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

The American Legion Post 431 is an orga-nization that provides camaraderie and sup-port to veterans in the Three Lakes area.

Legion manager George Kveck said thepost also offers a special program when apost member loses his or her life.

“We act as honor guards at the members’funerals and at the burials we pay tribute tothe veteran with a gun salute,” said Kveck.“Following the burial, we present the casketflag to the spouse and family members.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs pro-vides an American flag to veterans to honorthe memory of the service they have givento their country. This flag is used to drapethe casket during the funeral service and isgiven to the next-of-kin as a keepsake.

Realizing that not all families have theproper place to keep the burial flag, theThree Lakes American Legion has a walldedicated to the displaying of these flags.Families donate the flags to the Legion sothat the flags can be appropriately respect-ed and displayed.

“The families just have to ask to havethe flag in the wall,” said Kveck. “We arerunning short on space, but we will findroom for the flag.”

The Three Lakes American Legion Post431 and the Legion Auxiliary support veter-ans in many other ways. The Legion repre-sents veterans by promoting veterans rights.

The Legion sponsors Camp AmericanLegion. The post refers veterans and as-sists them in applying to Camp AmericanLegion, where they can receive assistancefor physical or psychological conditionssuch as post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Three Lakes Legion provides schol-arships for students graduating fromThree Lakes High School.

The Legion also conducts Memorial Dayceremonies honoring the men and womenwho have given their lives for this country.

Three Lakes Legion Post 431 walldedicated to displaying burial flags

___________BY JAN HINTZ


Three Lakes American Legion Post 431 Commander Mike Silber andAuxiliary Treasurer Dolores Kaberlein stand at the wall displaying the

veterans’ burial flags at the American Legion building on SuperiorStreet in Three Lakes. —Photo By Jan Hintz


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An Eagle River woman who served intwo combat deployments says her mili-tary experiences will carry over to her fu-ture endeavors.

Kimberly Aut enlisted in the U.S.Army during her senior year at North-land Pines High School. Now, following adecade-long military career, she will beattending medical school to become a doc-tor.

After graduating from NorthlandPines in 2003, she attended basic train-ing in Ft. Jackson, S.C., and advanced in-dividual training as a combat medic atFort Sam Houston, Texas. Her initial as-signment was at the William BeaumontArmy Medical Center in Fort Bliss, Texas.

In 2004, Staff Sgt. Aut deployed toIraq in support of Operation Iraqi Free-dom and was assigned to the 31st Com-bat Support Hospital. Following a four-year break in service to attend college,Aut re-entered the Army and reclassifiedto a behavioral health specialist.

“The things I learned while deployed(to Iraq especially) will never be forgottenand will only ensure that I am a greaterdoctor one day,” said Aut. “But I feel asthough I have served enough time aftertwo combat deployments.”

In 2012, she deployed to Afghani stanwith the 219th Medical Detachment,Combat and Operational Stress Controlusing therapy dogs, and served in sup-port of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Aut recently returned from Afghani -stan and is currently stationed at FortBliss, where she will remain until thecom pletion of her military commitment inJune.

“My experience in the Army was awe-some. I did things most people wouldnever imagine or dream of doing,” saidAut. “I traveled around the world and

met amazing people.”Aut will attend the post-baccalaureate

pre-medical program at Colorado Univer-sity-Boulder, where she was recently ac-cepted, in preparation for medical school.

Aut’s military awards include theArmy Commendation Medal (3rd award),Army Achievement Medal (6th award),Good Conduct Medal, National DefenseService Medal, Global War on TerrorismExpeditionary Medal and Service Medal,Afghan Campaign Medal, NATO (ISAF)Medal, NCO Professional DevelopmentRibbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, ArmyService Ribbon, Combat Action Badge,Expert Field Medical Badge, and the Ger-man Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.Aut was also inducted into the SergeantAudie Murphy Club.

Aut’s advanced military education in-cludes the Primary Leadership Develop-ment Course, Sexual Harassment and As-sault Response Prevention, Certified UnitVictim Advocate, U.S. Military Dog Han-dler’s Course, Combat Stress ControlCourse, Traumatic Event ManagementCourse and Physical Readiness TrainingCourse.

“The skills and knowledge I gaineddon’t compare to anything else in theworld,” said Aut.

Her civilian education includes a bach-elor of science in nursing, graduatingcum laude from the University of Col-orado at Colorado Springs.

“I am moving forward to further myeducation and attend medical school,” shesaid.

Aut is the daughter of CharisseRozga-Anderson (Scott) of Eagle Riverand R.D. Aut (Sharon) of Queen Creek,Ariz., and the granddaughter of Robertand the late Nancy Rozga, also of EagleRiver.

Military experiences to guide Autinto new endeavor as medical student

___________BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH

NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR___________

Kimberly Aut is shown with K-9 Isaiah, a military therapy dog. Dogs that Aut worked within Afghanistan were utilized to assist stress-related patients. Isaiah was trained specifical-ly to live with and assist an Army veteran who is a quadriplegic. —Contributed Photo


4492 County Hwy. BLand O’ Lakes, Wis.

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Thank you forsupporting us,so we cansupport thosewho servedour great country.

VFWVETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

Stateline VFW Post 8400

This military salute sponsored in part by

Eagle River

he Wisconsin Korean War VeteransMemorial, located in the village of Ploverin central Wisconsin, pays tribute to Wis-consinites who fought, died or are stillmissing as a result of the Korean War.

The memorial features a series of larger-than-life bronze statues as its centerpiece.The figures represent the various U.S.Armed Forces that took part in the war.None carries a weapon, signifying thatpeace is the fervent hope of all veterans.

Adjacent to the statues are stone wallswith inscriptions, including several com-prised of hundreds of tiles offered by indi-viduals to commemorate the service oftheir loved ones, friends or comrades.

The Wisconsin Korean War VeteransMemorial was developed through volun-teer efforts and the assistance and direc-tion of the Korean War Veterans MemorialAssociation of Wisconsin.

The memorial was first dedicated in1994 and was rededicated in 2009, follow-ing extensive site reconstruction.

Annual programs are held each year onthe first Sunday in June to pay tribute toKorean War veterans, their families andall military personnel who continue to ad-mirably serve this country.

In 2010, the 60th anniversary of the Ko-rean War, the Korean War Veterans Memo-rial Association of Wisconsin turned overownership, maintenance and control of thememorial to the village of Plover.

“The village of Plover has expressed deeppride and honor in assuming ownership ofthe memorial and has vowed that the Wis-consin Korean War Veterans Memorial for-ever remain a testament to the valor andhonor of all those who served in the KoreanWar and that the dedication of all service-men and -women be honored and recog-nized annually through ceremonies to beheld at the memorial,” said Dan Mahoney,village of Plover administrator.

Wisconsin Korean War Veterans Memo-rial maintenance and care is funded solelyfrom donations, sales of memorial tiles andsales of memorabilia.

The Wisconsin Korean War VeteransMemorial is located in the village of Ploverin Portage County, just off the intersectionof I-39/Highway 51 and County Road B.Follow County Road B West to Village ParkDrive, then to Maple Drive, which leads tothe memorial.

Memorial honors Korean War vets

Special military events are held at the Wisconsin Korean War Veter-ans Memorial located in the village of Plover. The memorial was first

dedicated in 1994 and was rededicated in 2009 following extensivesite reconstruction. —Contributed Photo


Donn Proven, the present commander ofAmerican Legion Post 114 in Eagle River,has a long history of service in the U.S. Ma-rine Corps Reserve, U.S. Army Reserve andIllinois National Guard.

He served the U.S. Armed Forces for 38years, seeing action in the Vietnam Warand contributing to the effort in Saudi Ara-bia during Operation Desert Storm.

Proven entered the U.S. Marine CorpsReserve in April 1962 and completed basictraining at Parris Island, N.C. At CampLejeune, N.C., he received infantry, jump,diving and reconnaissance training.

“My senior year of school, I quit collegeand joined the Marine Corps at the age of23,” said Proven. “I was an old man inthose days. Vietnam was just getting start-ed and not too many men were gettingdrafted. It really wasn’t a ward involvingthe United States at that time.”

At the conclusion of Proven’s first 18-month tour of duty in Vietnam, he washeaded to the “Freedom Bird” for a flight tothe United States when incoming mortarhit the waiting troops. Wounded, he wastransported to the naval hospital ship USSRepose and then back to Great LakesNaval Hospital in Illinois.

“It got me in the back, both legs andunder my shoulders,” said Proven about hisinjuries from that mortar.

After a year of convalescence, Provenserved as a drill instructor and trainer onthe rifle range at Parris Island. In Decem-ber of 1966, he returned to Marble Moun-tain in Vietnam attached to Marine Medi-um Helicopter Squadron 362 (HMM-362).Proven received his second Purple Heartafter his helicopter was shot down over theMekong River after serving just fourmonths.

“I got shot in the head and I broke myback and my neck. So it took me anothertwo and one half to three years before Iwent again,” said Proven.

His next three trips to Vietnam werespecial operations incursions of shorter du-ration.

“When I got back in Parris Island, I kepttell them this is not the way the war isbeing fought and you shouldn’t be doing itthis way. But things and fighting methodshad changed. I also went back in 1975 andwe tried to get some POWs out, but wecouldn’t find them,” he said.

Proven continued to serve in the MarineCorps Reserve on special operations dutyfor 20 years, including time at Special Op-erations Command at McDill Air ForceBase in Florida.

“I was always in Reserve, so I couldcome in and come out,” said Proven.

In 1982, he transferred to the IllinoisArmy National Guard at Glenview, Ill., at-

tached to a helicopter repair unit as a mas-ter sergeant. At this time, he continued ser-vice in special operations for the reserves.

Proven was then promoted to chief war-rant officer two (CW2) attached to the108th Medical Battalion as an aviation op-erations officer. He also was involved intraining, instruction and logistics with vari-ous military services and agencies.

“I trained at a sniper school and that’show I ended up losing most of my hear-ings,” said Proven.

In September of 1990, Proven was or-dered to King Khalid Military City, SaudiArabia, during Operation Desert Storm.Proven continued his work in special opera-tions until he retired from the Army inNovember of 2000.

During his years in the U.S. MarineCorps Reserve, U.S. Army Reserve and Illi-nois National Guard, Proven and his wifeowned and operated an association man-agement business. He also served 20 yearsas the police commissioner of Northfield,Ill.

Proven is presently commander ofAmerican Legion Post 114 in Eagle Riverand is a lifetime member of the Veterans ofForeign Wars (VFW) Post 8637, also inEagle River.

As the Legion commander, Proven at-tends many Vilas County veterans’ funer-

als and presents the U.S. flag in honor oftheir service to the United States of Ameri-ca. The Legion meets the first Monday of

each month and the VFW meets the thirdThursday of the month.

Proven and his first wife, Barbara, pur-chased a summer cottage on WatersmeetLake in 1973.

“It was our second home,” said Proven.“When I returned from Vietnam, we camehere and it worked out just fine.”

When they retired in 2000, the couplemoved permanently to Eagle River. Bar-bara passed away in 2008. In 2010, Provenmarried his present wife, Nickie. Theyenjoy fishing, boating, snowmobiling, andvisiting children and grandchildren.

“We rebuilt this whole house about twoyears ago, but we didn’t have enough roomfor the all the kids during the summer.Now a two-and-one-half-car garage is be-coming a cottage for the grandchildren andtheir parents,” he said.

Looking back, Proven is proud of hismilitary career, but knows more needs to bedone for veterans and soldiers returningfrom war.

“We need people who are willing to givetheir life for our country,” said Proven. “Thebest thing about all of this is that when Icame back from Vietnam, they spit in myface and called me a murderer. The guysthat are coming back now are being treatedreal well. The problem is most people don’tknow what war is all about.”

Proven said that many soldiers return-ing from war today return to work, butthey still have personal issues from theirwar experience.

“My passion is that someday we willhave a systems, programs and organiza-tions to help our veterans of all ages,” saidProven.

Proven served in military for 38 yearsSoldier awarded two Purple Hearts during Vietnam

___________BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH

NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR___________

Donn Proven, the present commander of American Legion Post 114 in Eagle River, servedthe U.S. Armed Forces for 38 years. —Contributed Photo

Veteran Donn Proven of Eagle River, after his retirement, talked to students during a Veter-ans Day program in Eagle River in 2009. —NEWS-REVIEW PHOTOS


To All Veterans Who HaveServed This Great Nation

with Honor in Times of War,These Members Salute You

Fredrick J. Walsh Post 114, American Legion, Eagle River, Wisconsin

Thomas AndersenJohn ArmstrongJames BardenwerperVirgil BeyerRichard BloomDouglas BreitEric BrunnerDonald BudneyAllen BurdickMerril BurmeisterLon BusheyWayne CampbellFrancis CarlsonMelvin CarlsonCarolyn CarterGary CaseRick ConantJonathon CookChristina CraneNorman DashiellJeff DavisMarty DoedeDonald DuncanRichard FenzkeEugene GarratyL. Allen GeigerAllen Greenwald

Richard GriffeyWilliam GrigusRobert GrimmGary GuymonDon HagenCharles HalfmannJohn HayesAgendrew HeffnerDawn HricksonGlenn HuelskampHarvey HyslopDaniel IngrahamRuth JamesJoseph JankersScott JensenHarold JohnsonWilliam JonesAlois Kammes Jr.James KasperBenard KeithMartin KettererRoger KlinterVincent KohlsCalvin KorpelaArthur KoscielnniakBernell KrautQuentin Kukanich

Robert LeachHarry LeeEugene LeveilleMichael LucasJames LynnHarold MadsenLarry MatsonJune MauriceEdward MayackRobert MillardMark NagyEarl NewtonBruce NeirEric NeirJames NeirBernard OpichkaEarl PankowPeter PerfettiRichard PetersonNellie PietilaRussell PrideDonn ProvenSteven PulecErwin RappoldIgnatius RebarchikRichard ReeseRonald Richards

Ralph RichardsonDavid RobertsMax RockafellowDaniel RogersRobert RozgaDennis RushlowJohn SaramaFrederick ScharfWilson ScottRay ShebesiaDarren SlizewskiClarence SparksScott SparksWalter SpiessJoseph SteffekArney StorzerEinar SyvertsenCharles TienhaaraCharlie TienhaaraJoseph TomlanovichTimothy TreazziseJames Van HaverbekeMichael VinovichJohn WadeRonald WallerDaniel WroblewskiRobert Wuytach

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We salutethose who serve

in our armed forces!

We salutethose who serve

in our armed forces!

Cell Phones for Soldiers, a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization that provides cost-free communication services to active dutymilitary members and veterans, has a newdrop-off site in Eagle River.

The collection box for recycling used cellphones is located at the Eagle River Veter-ans of Foreign Wars Post 8637 at 418 W.Pine St. in Eagle River. Drop-off times arebetween 2 and 6 p.m. daily.

The organization was founded in 2004by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12and 13 years old, with only $21. CellPhones for Soldiers relies on generousdonors for cash contributions and fundsraised by the recycling of used cell phones.

About Cell Phones for SoldiersIn 2012, Cell Phones for Soldiers shared

more than 515,000 communication toolswith military families, providing morethan 41 million minutes of talk time.

The program collected and recycledmore than 815,000 phones in 2012.

Since 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers hasprovided troops with 181 million minutesof free talk time.

Since 2004, more than 10.8 million cellphones have been recycled, reducing theimpact on landfills.

Approximately 12,000 calling cards aremailed each week.

A $5 donation warrants two and one-half hours of talk time; a $100 donationgives 50 hours or 3,000 minutes of talktime.

There are approximately 15,000 collec-tion points across the nation.

Eagle River VFW becomes drop off for Cell Phones for Soldiers program

The Eagle River Area Troop Support or-ganization is in need of new and updatedaddresses of area servicemen and -womento send cards, gifts and personal items.

While the local support group is espe-cially interested in assisting military per-sonnel overseas, the group will send pack-ages stateside as well, according to SharonBenda of the organization.

“I don’t like to see the money sitting idlein our account if there’s someone out therewe can help,” said Benda.

To make a donation or send an addressof military personnel, people can contactBenda at [email protected] or writeArea Troop Support, Attn: Sharon, 1210Perch Lake Road, Eagle River, WI 54521.

Troop support group seeking new addresses

For many, the Memorial Day week-end marks the beginning of our sum-mer recreational season. With the neverending winter that many of us have ex-perienced, it will mark our first chanceto enjoy the outdoors, maybe have acookout or start on yard projects.

It is important that we never losesight of what the last Monday in Mayis really about. Memorial Day is a daythat has been set aside to honor andremember those who have given theultimate sacrifice for our nation.

America has been blessed withmany brave men and women who donot view serving their country as aburden, but as a sacred duty. I thinkthat all of us as Americans share thesame hope that each conflict, battle orwar will be our last. We are reminded,by history and recent events, thatthreats to our way of life do exist. Astime passes, the enemies and threatsto our nation may change, but thevalor of the men and women willing toanswer our nation’s call has not.

It is important that we never over-look the origins of this sacred andsolemn day. Memorial Day was origi-nally known as Decoration Day. MajorGeneral John A. Logan, a Civil Warveteran and the Commander-In-Chiefof the Union veterans organization, theGrand Army of the Republic, estab-lished Decoration Day as a time for thenation to decorate the graves of thewar dead with flowers.

Originally, May 30 was designatedby Major General Logan as the date tobe observed because flowers would bein bloom by that time of the year. Priorto the establishment of DecorationDay, many communities around thecountry informally observed separate

traditions for honoring veterans andthose fallen in battle.

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnsonofficially named Waterloo, N.Y., as thebirthplace of Memorial Day.

After World War I, the holiday wasexpanded to honor all who died inAmerican wars. The annual observanceof Memorial Day on May 30 continuedaround the country, but it was notuntil 1971 that Congress declared it anational holiday and moved it to thelast Monday in May.

To ensure the significance of theholiday was not lost, in the year 2000,Congress passed the “National Momentof Remembrance Act.” The NationalMoment of Remembrance encouragesall Americans to take a moment of si-lence at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to re-member those who died while servingour country.

We must keep the promise that wewill never forget. Thank you.

Keep honor, reflectionin Memorial Day events

___________BY STATE SEN. TOM TIFFANY

12TH SENATE DISTRICT___________

SEN. TOM TIFFANY


The Veterans of Foreign Warsoffer our heartfelt thanks to allveterans who makethe freedom wenow enjoy possible.

VFW Post 8637418 Pine St., Eagle River, Wis.

(715) 479-8810

Join us — you might like it.Stop by or call today.

We thank those who served,our veterans and active military

Paul’s Pump-’N-PantryOUR REGULAR PRICES ARE OTHERS’ SPECIALS

O’Brien’s Pub — FULL BAR, OPEN 7 DAYSE. Wall St., Eagle River, Wis. (715) 479-2999

The 24-note melancholy bugle callknown as “taps” is thought to be a revi-sion of a French bugle signal, called “tat-too,” that notified soldiers to cease anevening’s drinking and return to theirgarrisons.

It was sounded an hour before thefinal bugle call to end the day by extin-guishing fires and lights. The last fivemeasures of the tattoo resemble taps.

The word “taps” is an alteration of theobsolete word “taptoo,” derived from theDutch “taptoe.” Taptoe was the command— “Tap toe!” — to shut (“toe to”) the “tap”of a keg.

The revision that gave us present-daytaps was made during America’s CivilWar by Union Gen. Daniel Adams But-terfield, heading a brigade camped atHarrison Landing, Va., near Richmond.Up to that time, the U.S. Army’s infantrycall to end the day was the French finalcall, “L’Extinction des feux.”

Gen. Butterfield decided the “lightsout” music was too formal to signal theday’s end. One day in July 1862, he re-called the tattoo music and hummed aversion of it to an aide, who wrote itdown in music. Butterfield then askedthe brigade bugler, Oliver W. Norton, toplay the notes and, after listening,lengthened and shortened them whilekeeping his original melody.

He ordered Norton to play this new

call at the end of each day thereafter, in-stead of the regulation call. The musicwas heard and appreciated by otherbrigades, who asked for copies andadopted this bugle call. It was evenadopted by Confederate buglers.

This music was made the officialArmy bugle call after the war, but notgiven the name “taps” until 1874.

The first time taps was played at amilitary funeral may also have been inVirginia soon after Butterfield composedit. Union Capt. John Tidball, head of anartillery battery, ordered it played forthe burial of a cannoneer killed in ac-tion. Not wanting to reveal the battery’sposition in the woods to the enemy near-by, Tidball substituted taps for the tradi-tional three rifle volleys fired over thegrave.

Taps was played at the funeral ofConfederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson 10months after it was composed. Army in -fantry regulations by 1891 required tapsto be played at military funeral cere-monies.

Taps now is played by the military atburial and memorial services, to accom-pany the lowering of the flag and to sig-nal the “lights out” command at day’send.

This story of taps is from the U.S. De-partment of Veterans Affairs.

The story of taps

Following a 20-year career in the mili-tary, U.S. Navy Commander Donald E.Czarapata Jr. is now teaching and coach-ing at Northland Pines High School.

An honors graduate from Lake ForestCollege, Czarapata began his military ser-vice in 1989, training in the nuclearpower program. However, he was called totransfer over to the naval flight officerprogram and received his Wings of Goldin October 1992.

Czarapata was assigned to thesquadron VAQ-165, flying the A-6E In-truder, which he flew off the USS Nimitzin Operation Southern Watch. He thentransitioned to the EA-6B Prowler.

After a short time in the VAQ-129Squadron, he was designated a prowlertactics officer instructor in Pensacola, Fla.His special abilities and excellence led tobeing named Air Wing Nine’s and CarrierGroup Seven’s Naval Flight Officer of theYear in 1999.

During this time, Czarapata was as-signed to the USS Nimitz and USS Sten-nis. He then participated in Western Pa-cific deployments in support of OperationSouthern Watch.

In addition, in 1999 he deployed toAvaino, Italy, for combat in Kosovo in sup-port of Operation Allied Force. During histour, his squadron won the 1997 BattleEfficiency Award and the Radford Awardfor the most outstanding electronic attacksquadron in the U.S. Navy.

In September 2001, as a result of Sept.11, he was assigned to the USS Stennis insupport of Operation Enduring Freedomfor combat in Afghanistan, and again in2003 he was deployed to the Western Pa-cific, on board the USS Carl Vinson insupport of the War on Terror.

After September 2003, Czarapata re-ported to NATO in Stavanger, Norway.There he was responsible for preparingfour International Security AssistanceForce operational headquarters encom-passing more than 2,500 staff personnelfrom more than 25 nations for the real-world NATO mission in Kabul, Afghani -stan.

Czarapata ended his career as the ex-ecutive officer at Great Lakes Naval Sta-tion, the U.S. Navy’s only recruit trainingcenter.

As the No. 2 man in command, Czara -pata led 1,100 instructors and staff across16 departments in professional develop-ment of 43,000 personnel annually. Heguided the Navy’s boot camp into a world-class training facility during a $770 mil-lion recapitalization of 37 facilities, all to-taling $317 million.

Some of Czarapata’s accomplishmentsduring his 20-year career include his 100combat missions on various aircraft carri-ers, where he logged more than 2,200flight hours and had in excess of 575 car-rier arrestments.

Czarapata’s military decorations andawards include Defense Meritorious Ser-vice Medal, Meritorious Service Medal,Air Medal (three individual actions, onewith combat “V”), Air Medal (fifthstrike/flight), Navy Commendation Medal(three), Navy Achievement Medal, andvarious unit, campaign and serviceawards.

In addition, his superiors used thesephrases to describe his service: “Born tolead,” “Everything runs smoothly when heis in charge,” “He has uncommon foresightin team building,” “Legendary warrior,”“He has expertise in all facets of carrieraviation and strike warfare,” “A giftedleader with communitywide reputationfor excellence,” “My most productive offi-cer,” “A natural leader,” “Has impeccablemilitary bearing” and “Combat-provenwarrior.”

Czarapata and his wife, Nicole, daugh-ter, Lauren, and son, Jacob, now live in St.Germain. He teaches math at NorthlandPines High School and is an assistantcoach for the Eagles boys hockey team.

Czarapata completes20-year Navy career; now teacher, coach

DONALD E. CZARAPATA JR.


“Thanks to all the veterans who have served!”

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The Veterans Administration (VA) Out-patient Clinic in Rhinelander offers a vari-ety of health care services to area veterans,including primary care and behavioralhealth services on site and referrals forspecialty care services with specialists atother VA medical centers.

Currently, up to 25 specialty-care clinicappointments with specialists at other fa-cilities may be accomplished via telehealthvideo technology.

This technology allows a patient at theRhinelander clinic to be seen by a special-ist at the Milwaukee, Madison or IronMountain, Mich., VA medical centersthrough state-of-the-art clinical videoequipment with all the necessary acces-sories to conduct a thorough examination.

The clinic also hosts peer supportgroups for both veterans with posttrau-matic stress disorder (PTSD) and theirspouses and, most recently, the VA as-signed a team there to serve chronic men-tally ill veterans in northern Wisconsin.

The Department of Veterans Affairs hastransformed how it delivers care to its vet-erans. In 2010, the VA began implement-ing the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)model to provide more patient-centric careto its veterans.

The PACT model is team-based care.This means the veteran works with a core

team of health care professionals atRhinelander, which includes his or herphysician, registered nurse, licensed prac-tical nurse and administrative clerk. A so-cial worker, pharmacist, dietician andmental health professional also may be onthe team.

These health care professionals worktogether as a team to provide comprehen-sive care for each veteran.

The model also is a veteran-centeredpartnership where the veteran and his orher health care team work together to as-sess and treat the whole person, with anemphasis on lifelong preventive health andwellness.

The PACT emphasizes coordinatedcare. The VA health care team coordinatesall aspects of a veterans’ health care to in-clude within the clinic, with specialists atother VA medical centers, or with non-VAproviders. The objective is to ensure seam-less coordination and continuity of care forthe patient.

The VA’s Rhinelander Clinic, located at639 West Kemp Street, currently has 17employees, including two full-time nursepractitioners, a psychologist and a socialworker.

Veterans interested in services providedby the VA Outpatient Clinic in Rhine -lander may call (715) 362-4080.

Rhinelander VA clinic provides specialty care___________

BY BRAD NELSON

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

OSCAR G. JOHNSON VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER___________

The Veterans Administration (VA) Outpatient Clinic in Rhinelander serves veterans acrossnorth central Wisconsin with on-site health services. —Photo By Brad Nelson


Although the corner of highways 70 and155 was designated as Veteran’s Park bythe St. Germain Town Board as early as1991, the final dedication of the park’smemorial wall didn’t take place until 2003,after years of careful planning.

The town board initiated the project,contributing $7,500 toward the futurememorial. Action on raising funds andbuilding the present memorial didn’t beginuntil 1999, when St. Germain Lions Clubmember Ken Oldenburg petitioned theclub to sponsor the memorial’s construc-tion.

The club then appointed a committee tooversee the design, construction andfundraising efforts for the project.

In 2001, Waldmann Construction wasasked to design and submit plans for thememorial. Building phase one then began,which included five walls representingeach branch of the U.S. armed forces.Meanwhile, the Lions Club performed ad-ditional fundraising, selling inscribedbricks at $50 apiece.

Phase one resulted in the placement of532 inscribed bricks into the five sectionsof the memorial. Lions Club memberWilmer Weber was responsible for the saleand placement of the bricks. The first brickwas sold in April 2002 and the final brickwas sold in September 2002.

A bronze plaque at the memorial recog-nizes the generous donations from individ-uals, businesses and organizationsthroughout the town of St. Germain.

In time, four additional, smaller wallswere built, allowing for another 288 in-scribed bricks to be added to the memorial.The second phase saw bricks sold fromMarch 2003 to November of the same year.The estimated overall cost of the projectwas $85,000.

Between 700 and 1,000 people were inattendance for the memorial’s dedicationMay 26, 2003. Cactus Squadron-EagleRiver member J. Brentlinger performed afly-over in his AT-6 while music was pro-vided by the Northland Pines High Schoolband.

The memorial continues to display theAmerican flag, the five flags of the U.S.armed forces and the POW-MIA flag. Thetown of St. Germain continues to maintainthe site and pays for lighting after dark.

Veterans war memorial maintained in St. Germain

The St. Germain Veterans War Memorial is located at the corner ofwhat was once Weber Field, named in honor of William Weber who

died in France during World War II. Plaques facing the intersection ofhighways 70 and 155 represent the five branches of the armed forces.

—Photos By Wally Geist

___________BY WALLY GEIST


A bronze plaque dedicated by the St. Ger-main community at the memorial site com-memorates those who served the U.S.Armed Forces during 20th century conflicts(near photo).

Four brick walls were added after the origi-nal memorial was constructed which allowedfor the addition of names from more recentconflicts. These walls allowed for 288 moreinscribed bricks to be added to the previoustotal of 532 (far photo).


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We pray for God’s blessing and protection forthose who risk their lives to serve our country.

Welcomes you to our worship services:

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SHEPHERD of the LAKES LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA

715-542-3701 www.shepherdofthelakeschurch.orgA member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO REMEMBER

As Americans, every Memorial Daywe honor those who have given the ul-timate sacrifice for our country. May27 is a day to remember our brothersand sisters who have fought againsttyranny. Their dedication to the Ameri-can people should never be forgotten.

I cannot stress enough how much Iappreciate all that our armed forcesfrom Wisconsin, and across the nation,have done to keep us safe.

Over a decade ago, New York Citywas struck by a force that chilledAmericans to the bone. We werecaught off-guard and flat footed by theterroristic group Al-Qaeda. AfterSeptember 11, 2001, the United Statesof America was changed forever.

On the surface, America has recov-ered from the impact of 9/11.Skyscrapers have been reconstructed,streets have been cleared and memori-als have been built to honor the de-ceased. However, the pain and suffer-ing from the families and friends in-volved will never be alleviated.

America responded and our troopshave continuously risked their lives inthe Middle East to ensure our safety.As with any conflict, not all of thebrave returned home; join me today inhonoring them.

On this day, May 27, let us remem-ber the brave and courageous soldierswho have risked everything to makeAmerica a better place. Our armedforces are the reason that we can sleepwith ease at night. Let us also remem-ber the ones who were ripped from ourlives on the sunny September morningin New York City, the Pentagon, andthe fields of Pennsylvania.

Memorial Day allows us a chance to

spend extra time with family andfriends, perhaps over a cook-out.Please take time to visit a local paradeor event to honor our veterans. Reachout to those who have lost a loved oneor friend during conflict and assurethem that they are always in yourthoughts and prayers.

Honoring our veterans is the leastwe can do, considering the dedicationand commitment they have provided tothe safety and protection of our nation.God Bless and thank you Wisconsinveterans for all that you continue to dofor your country.

Honor our veterans,it’s the least we can do

___________BY STATE REP. ROB SWEARINGEN

34TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT___________

REP. ROB SWEARINGEN


The Military Support Group and AT&Trecently announced the conclusion of aRhinelander area Cell Phones for Soldiersdrive at the Rhinelander American Legion.

More than 300 phones were collected inthe past month. Recycling proceeds fromthe phones are used to purchase phonecards to send to military members over-seas.

“Our country owes a debt of gratitude toour troops that can never be repaid,” saidRay Zastrow, president of the MilitarySupport Group. “Recycling these cellphones to help them be connected to lovedones back home and sending these carepackages will help show our support forthem.”

State Rep. Rob Swearingen said he wasproud to join the group to help the troops.

“This project has been a great way tobring the community together to supportour troops and honor their tremendoussacrifices to our country,” he said.

Additionally, local volunteers recentlypacked care packages to be distributed totroops overseas.

“As a company, AT&T is committed toshowing our support for our troops and ourveterans each and every day,” said ScottVanderSanden, president of AT&T Wiscon-sin. “We’re very proud to join withRhinelander area community leaders tohelp our heroes abroad and their families.”

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in2004 by then teenagers Brittany and Rob-bie Bergquist as a way for military familiesserving overseas to keep in touch withfamily back home.

With the support of AT&T and cell

phone donations by its customers, thecharity has generated more than $3 mil-lion to help connect military members totheir families back home.

Any Wisconsin resident can join the

cause and donate old cell phones throughthree simple and free ways:

• Donate old cell phones at any AT&Tstore located in Wisconsin.

• Visit the Cell Phones for Soldiers web-

site to locate a drop-off location at cell-phonesforsoldiers.com.

• Print off a free shipping label by visit-ing the Cell Phones for Soldiers websiteand mail old phones.

Volunteers in Rhinelander areacollect over 300 phones for soldiers

Wisconsin Salutes Veterans licenseplates are available to anyone who is inter-ested in expressing their support for Wis-consin’s veterans.

The license plates are available throughthe state Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The plate features black numbers, alongwith the word “Wisconsin” across the top ofthe plate in red and the words “Salutes Vet-erans” at the bottom, also in red. A decalfeaturing a bald eagle and a U.S. flag aredisplayed on the left side of the plate.

Guidelines to keep in mind for the Wis-consin Salutes Veterans license plates in-clude:

• Fees for the plates include the basicannual vehicle registration fee (currently$75 for many cars and trucks), plus a $15fee when new, nonpersonalized plates areissued.

• Funds collected from the $15 issuancefee are transferred to the Veterans TrustFund at the Wisconsin Department of Vet-

erans Affairs. Personalized WisconsinSalutes Veterans plates are available andrequire an additional $15 annual fee.

• The salute plates can be placed onautos, motor homes and trucks up to 8,000-pound gross-weight, including dual-pur-pose farm and dual-purpose motor home,and 12,000-pound gross-weight farmtrucks.

The Wisconsin DMV also offers morethan 50 different military plate options forveterans and recipients of certain militarymedals and honors. All currently issuedWisconsin military plates feature bluenumbers on a red, white and blue back-ground. Military plates are available to ac-tive, reserve or retired U.S. military person-nel, military academy students or alumniwho submit proof of eligibility.

More information regarding Wisconsinspecial plates, including a preview of theveteran’s plate and other military plates,can be found at dot.wisconsin.gov.

Wisconsin Salutes Veterans license plates available to all

Anyone who is interested in supporting Wisconsin’s veterans can request a WisconsinSalutes Veterans license plate through the state Division of Motor Vehicles.

Volunteers in the Rhinelander area teamed up with the Military Sup-port Group and AT&T to collect more than 300 cell phones, which were

then recycled to raise funds to purchase phone cards for soldiers over-seas. AT&T also donated $2,500. —Contributed Photo


715-477-0501

Giving credit where it’s due,we salute our veterans andactive-duty military.

OWNER —

EAGLE CARPET CLEANING

WE SALUTE:THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED

THE SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR VETERANSTHOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

The American Legion RidersMission is “to participate in parades

and other ceremonies that arein keeping with the aims and

purposes of the American Legion.”

The American Legion Auxiliaryhas one great purpose “to

contribute to the accomplishmentsof the aims and purposesof the American Legion.”

Phone numbers

• Vilas County Veterans Service Office, (715) 479-3629

• Oneida County Veterans Service Office, (715) 369-6127

• VA Regional Office call center,800-827-1000

• VA Pension Center call center, 877-294-6380

• Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, 800-WIS-VETS

• VA Medical Center, Iron Mountain,MI, 800-215-8262

• Community-Based OutreachClinic, Rhinelander, (715) 362-4080

• DAV van reservations,(715) 369-6227

• Tricare, Northern Region877-TRICARE

• CHAMPVA, 800-733-8387

• Education Center, St. Louis, MO,888-GIBILL1

• DFAS for retirees, 800-321-1080

Websites

• Federal VA:va.gov

• Wisconsin Departmentof Veterans Affairs:

dva.state.wi.us

• Tricare: tricare.mil

• Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS): dfas.mil

• Oneida County:co.oneida.wi.gov

• Vilas County:co.vilas.wi.us

Organizations ready

to assist veterans

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While there is more than one organiza-tion that veterans can join, one of those notmentioned as often is AMVETS, whichstands for American Veterans.

AMVETS is a national organizationwhich was formed in 1944 to aid those re-turning from World War II. Eighteen ofthose returning veterans founded TheAmerican Veterans of World War II Dec. 10,1944. The name was eventually shortened toAMVETS.

Today, AMVETS membership is open toanyone who is currently serving, or who hashonorably served, in the U.S. Armed Ser-vices from World War II to the present, in-cluding the National Guard and Reserves.

AMVETS Post 8400 is the local chapterof this organization. It is led by Cmdr. BillSpence. The organization often works close-ly with the Land O’ Lakes Veterans of For-

eign Wars (VFW). In addition to helpingwith other civic duties, it assists with mili-tary funerals and participates in MemorialDay and Fourth of July parades.

Officers in Post 8400 include Spence, 1stVice President Jack Garbarek, 2nd VicePresident Jim McDonough, Finance Officerand Chaplin Lee Forassippi, Judge AdvocateDavid Johnson, Provost Marshall Joe Jus-tice and Adjutant Dan Swiecichowski.

On Flag Day, the group holds its annualceremony to properly dispose of Americanflags. This year’s event will take place Fri-day, June 14, at Sand Lake Pub in Phelps.

As their average membership age contin-ues to become older, the organization is al-ways interested in having new membersjoin. Anyone interested in more informationon this organization should call Spence at(715)-545-2517.

AMVETS seeking membersfor new chapter in Land O’ Lakes

___________BY JANET GARLING



The Highground is a 148-acre mannedveterans memorial park near Neillsville incentral Wisconsin that pays tribute to thedead and honors the survivors, their ser-vice and their sacrifices.

Its mission is to honor veterans andtheir families and to educate about the costof things — the human cost. Its vision is tohonor human courage and sacrifice wher-ever it is displayed, without either denyingor glorifying the pain and suffering of waror of life.

“We seek to have The Highground con-tinue to be a focus of healing for all whocome, regardless of the name of the battlewhich left the scars,” said a Highgroundspokesperson.

The plaza provides easy accessibility tomany tributes honoring veterans fromWorld War I to the present with a stunningview of the two tributes that rest on the ad-jacent hillsides.

The idea for The Highground was actu-ally born Dec. 18, 1965, on a battlefield inVietnam. Twenty-four-year-old Tom Millerwas holding in his arms his good friend, 22-year-old Jack Swender, who was uncon-scious and bleeding from a large piece ofshrapnel that had torn his throat and sev-ered his jugular vein. As Jack lay dying inTom’s arms, Tom made a silent promise tohimself and to Jack that this terrible lossand great sacrifice would not be given invain.

The Flag Pole was the first permanentstructure brought to The Highground bythe Clark County Area Veterans Council.The nurse has a place of honor in front ofthe flagpole. She pays tribute to all womenwho served this nation.

Wisconsin’s Vietnam Veterans Tribute

(Fragments) has a combat nurse wearing aponcho, gathering the fragments of the oth-ers into her arms. Under her poncho, bun-dles of names of those from Wisconsin whowere killed in Vietnam are interspersedwith chimes, never meant to be read but tobe voiced in sound so that the prayers lefthere go out to the hillsides and beyond.

Visitors will notice that not one of thefigures in the statue is complete. They flowinto one, much like war, each are depen-dent on each other and strengthen eachother. The artist didn’t sign the statue. “Itwas signed with the cost of things. It wassigned in sound. It was signed by us all,”said a Highground spokesperson.

The National Native American VietnamVeterans Memorial is the first nationalmemorial to come to The Highground. Thesculpture depicts an American Indian sol-dier in jungle fatigues, holding a rifle inone hand and an eagle feather staff in theother. The names of all American Indiansin North America who died as a result ofthe Vietnam War are etched into the blackgranite base which skirts the entire statu-ary.

Korean veterans no longer feel theirservice has been forgotten at The High-ground. Three bronze figures depict Cold,Heat and Anguish — conditions that madeliving and fighting in Korea an unendingnightmare. Water surrounds the peninsulaemphasizing the distance these men arefrom home, friends and family.

The Meditation Garden welcomes ev-eryone whose footsteps guide them alongits pathway and whose hearts seek thesanctuary and promise of spiritual renew-al. Healing and hope abide in the warmembrace of the family arbor, the gentle

sound of the Fountain of Tears and the re-flective quiet of the Prayer Stone. Thepathways join into one at the Ascension ofDoves, a signature sculpture sponsored bya Gold Star Family in memory of their sonwho died in Iraq.

World War II Women Airforce ServicePilots (WASP) are proud of the role womenpilots played during World War II. Morethan 1,100 WASPs served as test pilots, fly-ing instructors and transport pilots. TheWorld War II Globe rests on a four-sidedblack granite base calling attention to thefar-reaching scope of that time period andthe 16 million people who were in uniform.

The Earthen Dove Effigy Mound honorsPrisoners of War and those who remainMissing in Action (MIA). A second MIA isrecognized on The Highground “Missing inAmerica” — those veterans who camehome with life enduring wounds to bodyand mind.

The Gold Star is a living tribute thathonors all those families, who not only losta member as a result of their service, butthose who supported their loved ones whenthey came home.

The Doughboy, a World War I tribute,features a classic statue recognized inmany places and representative of WorldWar I. At The Highground, the Doughboy’srifle is at parade rest, rather than at theready. His right hand is outstretched andopen in greeting instead of raised in angerholding a grenade.

The Liberty Bell is an exact replica ofthe Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pa.. Visi-tors are encouraged to ring the bell withthe words on the entry beam — Let Free-dom Ring.

The Learning Center invites visitors toa variety of gallery displays honoring vet-erans throughout the year, as well as abrowsable library.

The Wisconsin Persian Gulf tributecalled The Bootprint Design is the nexttribute to come to The Highground. Thetribute will honor those who served inDesert Storm, Desert Shield, OperationEnduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Free-dom and the Global War on Terrorism.

A tribute to military service dogs andtheir handlers is in the planning stages. Aproposal will be presented to the board ofdirectors for approval to move forwardwith fundraising and then construction.

“More than for all veterans, more thanfor those who did not come back, The High-ground is a place for all of us,” said aspokesperson.

Incorporated in 1984 as the WisconsinVietnam Veterans Memorial Project Inc.,this grassroots effort continues only be-cause of the dedication of countless indi-viduals, families, organizations and busi-nesses that have given of their time, tal-ents and financial resources. Volunteersand contributors are the heart of The High-ground.

The Highground is located three mileswest of Neillsville on Highway 10. Thepark is lit at night and open to visitorsyear-round 24 hours a day. The Timber-frame Information & Gift Shop is openfrom 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays throughSundays.

Donations can be sent to The High-ground, W7031 Ridge Rd., P.O. Box 457,Neillsville, WI 54456, or call (715) 743-4224 for more information.

The Highground pays tribute to Wisconsin veterans

The Highground memorial park features a number of monuments, including Wisconsin’s Viet-nam Veterans Tribute titled, “Fragments.” —Contributed Photos

The Highground also has a Meditation Garden, where individuals, couples, friends and fam-ilies can walk along a pathway and pause for spiritual renewal.


America’s Propane CompanyR E L I A B L E , S A F E , R E S P O N S I V E

www.Amerigas.com1659 Hwy. 45 North, Eagle River (715) 479-7300

We’re Honored to Saluteour Veterans and the Military

The Honor Flight Network (HFN) is anonprofit organization created solely tohonor America’s veterans for all their sac-rifices.

The organization transports veteransto Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect attheir memorials. Top priority is given tothe senior veterans, World War II sur-vivors, along with those other veteranswho are terminally ill.

Based on recent 2012 statistics, theUnited States is losing World War II veter-ans at the rate of approximately 800 perday. HFN will continue to do whatever ittakes to fulfill the dreams of veterans andhelp them travel absolutely free for thislife-changing experience.

Subsequent to the World War II veter-ans, HFN efforts will focus on Korean Warand then Vietnam War veterans, honoringthem similarly. Many hubs are already ac-cepting applications for these veterans.

In Wisconsin, there are five Honor

Flight hubs. They are:

— Badger Honor Flight, Madison,Brian Ziegler, (608) 616-0243;

— Freedom Honor Flight Inc., LaCrosse, Cheryl Higgins or Bill Hoel, (608)784-1015;

— Never Forgotten Honor Flight,Wausau, Mike Thompson, (715) 573-8519,or Pat Puyleart, (715) 355-1585;

— Old Glory Honor Flight, Appleton,Drew or Diane MacDonald, (888) 635-9838; and

— Stars & Stripes Honor Flight Inc.,Port Washington, Brad Hoeft or Joe Dean,(262) 238-7740.

For more information, people can viewthe HFN website at honorflight.org.

Tammy Walters is the Oneida Countyveterans service officer. She can be reachedat (715) 369-6127 or [email protected].

Honor Flight trips help veterans reflect

___________BY TAMMY WALTERS


For the past few years, the VilasCounty News-Review has given me anopportunity to write an article for the“Military Salute” special section totheir newspaper. I’m always happy tooblige because anyone who takes thetime to honor military men and womenthat way deserves support.

I am Tammy Walters, Oneida Coun-ty veterans service officer and retiredNavy Senior Chief. I have had thehonor and privilege of serving OneidaCounty veterans since February 2006.And if you know me, you know I reallymean it when I say “honor and privi-lege.” I love helping people and whenthose people are veterans, it just sweet-ens the pot. I feel blessed to be doingwhat I’m doing and hopefully will bedoing it until my second retirement,which is many years away. I’m proud tobe a veteran and I’m even more proudto serve veterans.

I think veterans are often taken forgranted. Many people never stop to re-alize or try to understand the sacrificesa veteran made during their militaryservice. Even in peacetime, the sacrificeis extraordinary.

As an unknown author wrote, “A vet-eran is someone who, at one point inhis/her life, wrote a blank check madepayable to ‘The United States of Ameri-ca’ for an amount of ‘Up to and includ-ing my life.’ ” Veterans Day honors allmen and women who signed that check.Memorial Day honors those veteranswho made the ultimate sacrifice andcashed that check.

Memorial Day is traditionally heldon the last Monday in May. Unfortu-nately, that is also viewed as the unoffi-cial start of summer. I say unfortunate-ly because it causes people to forgetabout the true meaning of MemorialDay. Instead they’re more focused onboating and barbecues. Don’t get mewrong. I understand why people dothat. It’s a great opportunity to spendquality time with the people they love.

But please take the time to thinkabout those men and women who gavetheir lives so you could enjoy those ac-tivities. Those men and women weresomebody’s father, mother, brother, sis-ter, son and daughter. Their family and

friends are still grieving their loss andtrying hard to live a normal life. Theirbravery and heroism deserve our re-spect.

To all the veterans out there, Ithank you for your service. And I thankthe families that supported them dur-ing their service and the family mem-bers who are still supporting them.

Remember, most of our military menand women came home, but a lot ofthem didn’t come home unscathed.Many veterans will be paying the pricefor their service for the rest of theirlives. Don’t ever think that just becausea person’s military service is finished,they should just move on with theirlife. It doesn’t always work that way.

So take the time on Memorial Dayto thank a veteran. And take the timeto thank the families and friends whohave a loved one that paid the ultimatesacrifice for us.

Tammy Walters, Oneida County vet-erans service officer, can be reached at(715) 369-6127 or [email protected].

Take the timeto thank a veteran

TAMMY WALTERS

OOOOO

OOOOO

In honor of the countless men and women who have given their service,and for some their lives, to protect our liberties and freedom,

you have our unmeasurable gratitude and appreciation.

VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEWEAGLE RIVER PUBLICATIONS


Gaffney-Busha

O’Brien,Anderson,Burgy &Garbowicz, LLP

ESTABLISHED 1927

Attorneys At LawPlease supportour veterans,soldiers andmilitary families.

America’s Military HeroesShould Never Be Forgotten

THIS SPECIAL MILITARY SALUTEIS SPONSORED IN PART BY

America’s Military HeroesShould Never Be Forgotten

THREE LAKESAMERICAN LEGIONPOST 431

ALL VETERANS WELCOME TO JOIN

“When in the region, stop at the Legion”

The Legion BarDOWNTOWN THREE LAKES • OPEN TO THE PUBLICLive music once each month, usually the last Saturday

ALL VETERANS WELCOME TO JOIN

“When in the region, stop at the Legion”

The Legion Bar

Military SaluteVILAS COUNTY

NEWS-REVIEWEagle River Vindicator Established 1886

Eagle River Review 1890 Vilas County News 1892

Publisher KURT KRUEGEREditor GARY RIDDERBUSCH

Assistant Editor ANTHONY DREWLifestyle Editor RYAN BURGY

Production Manager JEAN DREWAssistant Production Manager ELIZABETH BLEICHER

Circulation Manager ELIZABETH SCHMIDTAccounting Manager TERRY POSTO

Photo Technician SHARINA ADAMSProduction Technician CARLY RATLIFF

AdvertisingKURT KRUEGER • TAMMY KLEIN

KATHLYN OGDEN • MARCIA HEYERMARY JO ADAMOVICH

Published by Eagle River Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 1929

425 W. Mill St. atEagle River, Wisconsin 54521

e-mail: [email protected]

Phone 715-479-4421Fax 715-479-6242


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GM rebates and pricing programs formilitary personnel and their families.

THANK YOUTo all the brave men and women whohave served or are currently serving in the military,and remembering those who are no longer with us.God bless them, the families and God bless America!

THANK YOU

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May 15, 2013

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