LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:53 PM Page 1

The Minnesota American Legion and Auxiliary

LegionnaireVolume 98, Number 11 For God and Country November 2016 Leading Candidate Rohan tells conference: ‘We are family’ MARSHALL — Destined to be the years have been on the families, and she first woman commander of The American spoke in particular of one eight-year-old Legion, Leading Candidate Denise Rohan boy who said in a counseling session that of Wisconsin had one word for he didn’t know his own father. Minnesotans at the Fall Conference: “The counselor said it was okay, but I Family. don’t think it’s okay. It’s not okay.” Rohan is due to be elected national She said the Legion Family must look commander at the Reno Convention this after the families of those deployed. “The coming year, and the convention she pre- Legion has to take care of the families. sides over will be the Minneapolis When soldiers are overseas, they’re not Convention in 2018. concerned about the battles they’re facing “We are an American Legion Family, there, they’re concerned about the battles and we are doing our best to keep this their families are facing at home.” country great,” Rohan told a joint meeting Rowan outlined other ways the Legion of Auxiliary and Legion at the Red Baron can help service people including job fairs Arena in Marshall. “We always should be for when they get home, and “setting a one happy family united for a common patriotic example for the nation’s chil- cause.” dren.” She spoke of how hard the deploy- Rohan, who is from Verona, Medal of Honor recipient Leo Thorsness came home to Walnut Grove. He was in Minnesota as part of the MOH national convention held in the Twin Cities. ments of service people over the past 15 Continued on Page 2 Hometown hero

comesLeo Thorsness, Minnesota’s home only living Medal of Honor recipient, came home to a rousing reception with friends, family and school children in little Walnut Grove By Al Zdon walked hand in hand up the sidewalk Whoever said you can never go home into the school, with Leo stopping fre- again wasn’t in Walnut Grove in early quently to greet people, shake hands, October. laugh and trade some old memories. MAIN STREET MARSHALL -- Department Commander Denise Milton waved to a Medal of Honor recipient Leo One old classmate hugged the war passerby in downtown Marshall during an awareness walk held at the Fall Thorsness made a triumphal return to his hero and laughed, “The other girls and I Conference. Leading National Commander Candidate Denise Rohan of Wisconsin hometown, greeting school children, old used to put gum in your hair.” Thorsness helped lead the walk aimed at promoting the Legion and veterans causes. friends and community members with agreed, “They were just terrible to me.” equal parts of enthusiasm and love. He was asked if he wanted a golf cart Thorsness, a Vietnam War Air Force ride up to the school, but he declined, pilot who earned his Medal of Honor in saying, “I think I can make it that far.” Activities planned for 75th 1967 just 11 days before he was shot Thorsness, 84, is fighting cancer, and it down and captured, spent a hectic two- is difficult for him to stand even for plus hours in what was the Walnut Grove short periods. Pearl Harbor anniversary High School and is now a regional ele- Inside the school, he was ushered A series of events have been On December 7 at the Minnesota Historical mentary and middle school. into a large room that had been convert- planned to help Minnesotans mark Society, there will be a program in the morning in He arrived promptly at 9 a.m. in a con- ed into a museum for Walnut Grove the 75th anniversary of the attack the 3M Auditorium. The program, co-sponsored by voy of official vehicles and flashing schools, with letter jackets and cheer- on Pearl Harbor. the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, the Fort lights. Continued on Page 8 Snelling Memorial Rifle Guard, the Minnesota He and his wife of 63 years, Gaylee, Department of Veterans Affairs and others, will fea- ture music, a video tribute and remarks by retired Brig. Gen. Joseph Kelly. At 1 p.m., also at 3M Auditorum, there will be presentations of events regarding Pearl Harbor. At 3:30 p.m. Mark Wortman, author of 1941 will dis- cuss events leading up to the Japanese attack. And at 7 p.m., Dave Kenny, author of Minnesota Goes to War, will talk about the home front. Admission to the Minnesota Historical Society is free for active duty military and veterans. On December 8, the World War II History Round Table at the Fort Snelling History Center will hear a talk from Col. John A. Adams, author of The Fighting Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. Veterans of the Philippines will discuss the attack of the Japanese at Bataan. Admission is $5. The one-hour ceremony, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the History Center on Dec. 7 will be live streamed on the MNHS website: mnhs.org/pearl- harbor event. Thorsness greeted a line of local Legionnaires outside the former Walnut Grove high school where he graduated in 1950. LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:53 PM Page 2

Page 2 Minnesota Legionnaire November 2016 Rohan, Nelson speak at Fall Conference Veterans Affairs Continued from Page 1 of Nebraska. right equipment. “But God national day of thanksgiv- and Rehabilitation Wisconsin, said it was Nelson said her theme was looking after these ing, a holiday we still cele- imperative that we keep for the year was “God and patriots. That’s the mira- brate. By The American Legion Country,” and her talk was cle.” Nelson said religious Ron Quade strong. “We all made sacri- on how historically our She talked about how faith has been a constant fices in the military, and we great leaders were imbued group prayers were said part of the American have to make sure those with a deep faith. each day when the Heritage. “Our leaders Cutting Edge Advocacy sacrifices were not in vain.” “General George Constitution was being worked within their faith. Your American Legion Claims Divisions are at the cut- The Legion Family, she Washington prayed twice a framed, and how in 1789 They made America great, ting edge of advocacy at a local, State, Federal and National said, “must continue to day, and prayer was part of Washington declared a through the grace of God.” level. In previous segments you learned about MDVA and serve veterans, their fami- his battle plan as he led his American Legion Claims Division. This month you will lies and our communities. men,” Nelson said. learn about a new and exciting Board of Veteran Appeals Thank you for always put- When Washington led Joshua Kunkel (BVA) project the Claims Division helped create and exe- ting family first.” the Americans in the cross- Details Done Right Master Detailer cute beginning in 2015 and through 2016. Rohan was followed by ing of the Delaware River In October 2015 MDVA Claims Director (Quade) was the other featured speaker to the Battle of Trenton on 952-913-4494 contacted by American Legion National Claims Director on Saturday morning of the the day after Christmas, 1811 Nokomis Street, Suite 3 Jeremiah 29:11 (Hearn) with an opportunity to discuss participation in a Fall Conference, Auxiliary 1776, it was a daring raid. Alexandria, MN 56308 potential pilot project in where local Regional Office Power Northwestern Division Vice “We didn’t have the right Certified invasive species cleanup of Attorney (POA) Offices would cooperate with BVA President Virginia Nelson clothes, the right boats, the Services offered: Cleaning of vehicles, Judges to determine cases most easily granted or remanded. including ATVs, motorcoaches, farm This process, the first of its kind, would allow the Claims equipment, boats, lifts, trailers, Division Staff, who are most familiar with the claims, to heavy machinery, buffing communicate to a BVA Judge directly. Cases in VA Veteran and paint removal Benefits Management System (VBMS) could be consid- ered for resolution without year’s long wait for a formal American Legion hearing. MDVA and American Legion Claims Division was con- Riders tacted by BVA Judge John Crowley as the test pilot POA. By Chuck Stone MDVA / AL was selected based on our reputation for edu- cation, quality argument and development of VA-46 adden- and Dennis Lewison dum or legal brief attached to the claims file upon certifica- tion to the BVA. An initial discussion resulted in a decision Judge Crowley would work to establish a pilot at a National Greetings American Legion Family, Fall is in the air, Level and the Judge would leave local program parameters leaves have changed their color and are falling all around up to MDVA. MDVA developed a local program and the us. The Riders will soon be putting their motorcycles away judge has been successful nationally. for the winter but that doesn't mean we aren’t still out there The program known as Pre-Hearing Conference Pilot doing all the great things to support Veterans and their fam- program has been hugely successful. To date The American ilies. Hope to see as many Riders as possible at Fall Legion Claims Division held four hearings, settled almost Conference in Marshall. Wishing all safe travels and a 17% of our current issues on behalf of our claimants and we Happy Thanksgiving. have a 100% success rate in grants or remands of claims. Chuck Stone, Director MNALR Some claims even paying out decades of retroactive pay- ments to claimants. All of these actions would have taken First District Report years before they would have been decided under the nor- First of all, I would like to congratulate Chuck Stone, a mal BVA process. We are proud to announce this program member of the First District ALR and his officers on their has gained attention and support of U.S. Congress and the election to the MN ALR. I would like to thank Chuck for VA leadership. The Program will soon start its initial year giving me the honor of installing him as the new MN ALR at eleven Regional Offices including St. Paul with all indi- Director at the ROMP held at Legionville. cation it will become a permanent VA program nationally. Talking about the ROMP, the First District had another Your American Legion Claims Division is working hard for good turn out this year. A special thanks to Dave Vulcan you on the cutting edge of advocacy. and his crew for the great meals. Thank you 6th District Please contact your local County Veteran Service Office Director, Paul for setting up the weekend activities. or contact the AL Claims Division directly at 612 970 5662. The First District Legacy Scholarship ride was a big suc- Quade is the director of The American Legion claims cess this year. We had 62 registered participants. We start- division at the MDVA. ed with a kick off gathering at the Kasson Post #333. Leaving from there on Saturday. The overnight stay was hosted by the LaCrescent Post #595 legion family. A meal was provided and an auction to raise money for the fund. The ride continued on Sunday with our ending stop at the Eyota American Legion Post #551 for lunch, refreshments Thank you and more fund raising events. At the end of the ride we had Thank you to everyone for all of your kind words, raised over $16,000. A big thank you goes out to all of the thoughts, prayers and cards that you expressed to me after Posts, Auxiliary Units, SAL Squadron who donated. Thank the recent death of Dick Amundson. He was a very special you to the ride committee for all of the time and hard work person to me and we enjoyed 32 years of happiness togeth- to set the wheels in motion. er. Thank you so much to all of you for attending his Chapters in the First District have been busy with their “Celebration of Life.” Dick will be missed by all. He would own activities which include bike shows, flag lines, fund have been happy to see how many people were there to raising events for other organizations and the dedication of honor him as this was what he wanted. a new Veteran’s memorial. The First District had the honor Pam Hoshal of escorting the “Quilts of Valor” bus into Albert Lea Post 56 where the quilters pre- Thank you American Legion Sixth District and sented around 40 quilts to Department of Minnesota for all the prayers and thoughts local veterans. and deeds expressed to our family throughout the three We meet as a district on years of John’s illness. He never expressed a word of pain, a quarterly basis. We try to ever. Bless each and everyone of you. If you’re ever in attend events of the chap- Membership Chart Fargo, stop at Riverview Place, 104B, which is my loca- ters in our district. We have tion. The kids are still in Baudette with their families. Take a “Rider of the Year” award As of October 19, 2016 care of one another always. and we are always looking District 2017 Total Total Percent Same Jean Bey for ways to raise funds for the American Legion Goal 2016 2017 of Goal Date ’15 Legacy Scholarship Funds. 1 9,380 9,322 6,425 68.50 6,684 Dennis Lewison, First 2 7,572 7,488 5,433 71.75 5,434 District ALR Director 3 11,977 11,912 8,519 71.13 8,698 Independent Rural Living 4 2,592 2,572 1,756 67.75 1,798 Senior apartments for elderly and those with 2,679 2,657 1,794 66.97 1,932 disabilities. Safe, convenient, comfortable, and 5 affordable rural living in Southeast Minnesota. 6 12,109 12,038 8,547 70.58 8,712 7 6,695 6,619 4,631 69.17 4,791 Also available: Housing with 8 4,417 4,377 2,974 67.33 2,990 Services, Nursing Home, 9 7,015 6,950 4,673 66.61 4,826 Subsidized Contact: 10 10,611 10,557 7,126 67.51 7,353 Rent, Homemaker Samantha 507-864-7714 At-large 1,953 2,710 1,501 78.19 1,758 services or www.goodshep-rushford.org Totals 77,000 77,202 53,405 69.36 54,976 LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:53 PM Page 3

November 2016 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 3 Endorsements

StumpChamplin Post 600endorsed has District Commander, for past Vicehe was the Cdr. chairman of the endorsed William V. Stump commander of St. Louis Community Services Jr. for 8th and 10th District Park Post 282, and past Committee. Vice Commander for the commander of Hopkins He is the judge advocate coming year. Post 320. for the 10th District at this Stump is a past 10th At the Department level time. Hill endorsed for Sgt.-at-Arms Brewster Post 464 and of Brewster American Hill served on the SDSP BILL STUMP JR. the Nobles County Council Legion Post 464. He helped soybean crush plant at have endorsed Ryan Hill for start the Brewster Sons of Volga South Dakota for 14 Department Sgt-at-Arms the American Legion years, 9 of those years as for the 2017-2018 year. Squadron and is a 5 year Public Relations Chairman. MILTON AT THE MIKE -- Commander Denise Milton Hill enlisted in the US SAL member there. He He then served as an advi- recorded the Minnesota American Legion’s message Navy in February, 1968, served as 2nd District sor to the MnSP start-up at on Minnesota Military Radio recently. The ad will run and served 4 years on active Commander in 2015-2016, Brewster Minnesota. this month. The program is on dozens of radio stations duty and 2 years in the 2nd District 1st Vice Hill and his wife Naomi throughout the state. Reserves. He served on the Commander in 2014-2015, have two children and two USS Oriskany, CVA-34, for 2nd District Vice grandchildren. He has 4 tours to Vietnam and was Commander from 2012- farmed in the Brewster area discharged on 13 February, 2014 and is currently 2nd all his adult life. 1974. District Legislation Hill is a 39 year member Chairman. RYAN HILL Minnesota Boys Stater is Samsung winner James Libbey of St. he graduates from high Benilde St. Margaret. Michael has been named school, excluding time in A Girls State delegate one of Samsung’s American the service or church mis- was also a finalist for the Legion Scholars for this sions. top award and earned a year and will be the recipi- The money can be used $750 scholarship. Sophia ent of a $20,000 Samsung for tuition, room and board, Peterson of Orono attended scholarship. books and supplies, fees the 2016 Girls State pro- Libbey attended and equipment. gram and won the Minnesota Boys State this All Samsung winners Minnesota Samsung com- WOMEN POWER -- National Commander Charles past spring. He was spon- will be honored during a petition. Schmidt posed with women department adjutants and sored by St. Louis Park Post recognition event in department commanders at the Fall Meetings in 282. Washington D.C. scheduled Indianapolis. Department Commander Denise Milton At Boys State, he won for June 5-7 this coming is second from right. the Samsung Scholarship year. contest and automatically Only a handful of qualified for the national Department scholarship scholarship. winners earn the $20,000 He will be able to use the scholarship at the national money for school expenses level. JAMES LIBBEY for six years from the time Libbey is a senior at

DEER HUNT -- The annual deer hunt for disabled vets was held at Camp Ripley near Little Falls. Commander Denise Milton, Department Service Officer Jeremy Wolfsteller and Assistant DSO Heather Larson gather around a veteran who got his deer. LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:53 PM Page 4

Page 4 Minnesota Legionnaire November 2016 Financial Assistance and continued training of our Veteran Service Officers. Saturday was spent together as a Legion Family learning Chaplain’s about our programs and giving special recognition to those COMMANDER’S that have made a difference in our lives. Leading National Corner COLUMN Commander Candidate Denise Rohan of Wisconsin gave a moving and inspirational speech. We will be starting the second 100 years of The American Legion with great lead- By ership with an emphasis on “Family First.” Bill Brockberg By Denise Milton Election Day will soon be upon us and we will be elect- ing new leaders. Review and understand their platforms and We give and we give thanks how it affects the lives of our veterans, our families and our As we enter this month of November or depending on communities. We can make a difference. Encourage your your branch of the service, as we march, ride, crawl, sail, fly neighbors and friends to get out and vote. Thanks in or coast into November, we will continue to give of our- advance to all of you who assist at the polls, registering vot- selves and our time and we will also give thanks for many ers, offering rides to those who need them. blessings come Thanksgiving Day. Veterans Day has always been an important day in The The first Thanksgiving actually occurred in October of Greetings. American Legion. It is a time we remember and honor all 1621, when a small band of pilgrims joined together with We have just returned home from our American Legion our veterans that have served and protected our country and some local Indians to give thanks for the bountiful harvest Family Fall Conference. Thanks to all of you who attended. way of live. It is quite busy with all the meal preparations, of crops—crops that produced more than enough corn to I hope that you had an opportunity to come away with parades and speeches that it is easy to forget those that are see them through their second winter. something new and able to use at your home posts. less visible. Once a veteran, always a veteran. Remember to Things were not always so joyous for these Pilgrims, Thank you to the Marshall Legion family for making our thank them. they had suffered much pain and loss of life that first year conference run seamlessly from the easy registration check- We have had several revitalizations already this year and and winter, but they suffered their way through to thanks- in, efficient shuttles and the new Red Baron Arena - what a many more are scheduled for the upcoming months. I know giving. Even though they had endured great hardship, they wonderful facility. We had plenty of room and the audio- that the 5th District is planning a revitalization from 17-19 maintained steadfast in their faith to God and through the video equipment was state of the art. Conference Chairman of November at the Richfield Post. Do not hesitate to call Almighty’s guidance and grace, they more than just sur- Jeffery Gay was always available if I had any questions. Mark Dvorak, our membership director or myself if you vived—they flourished. They could not help, but to give Thank you. wish to conduct one in your post, county or district. thanks. We couldn’t have had better weather for the Veterans The month of October was filled with many membership More than 200 years later, in 1864, Abraham Lincoln Awareness Walk on Friday afternoon. We walked from the dinners, committee meetings, deer hunting at Camp Ripley declared a national day of thanksgiving. The proclamation post to the community’s 911 Memorial. What an awesome and Legionville, Fall meetings at National Headquarters. I called the nation to set aside the last Thursday in the month memorial, they have included a steel beam that had been never tire of visiting all the war memorials in Indianapolis. of November as a time of thanksgiving to Almighty God for salvaged from the Twin Towers of New York City. We took I learn something new about all of our wonderful programs his blessings. Ever since, our Country has observed this time to reflect and remember what happened that day and and can’t wait to share with others. It takes many hours of occasion. honor those that lost their lives. Our special guest, the lead- volunteering and dedication to be successful. I remember my first thanksgiving in the Army. I was sta- ing candidate for National Commander Denise Rohan gave I would like to take this time to extend to you all a very tioned in Germany in the Field Artillery and my first major a stirring message about courage, sacrifice and patriotism. happy Thanksgiving. My favorite season is the fall. The training exercise that November of 1982 was to We must never forget or allow others to forget. I want to colors and clear, fresh air are wonderful. It is a time to count Grafenwoher, Germany and its large live-fire training base. extend a big thank you for all those that walked with us. The our blessings, be thankful for all that we have: family, It was sometimes cold, most of the time rainy and all of the proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts will be sent to friends and to live in a country that I still believe in and time muddy and miserable. Through it all on Thanksgiving National Commander Schmidt’s project: Temporary love. Day, the unit, indeed the whole Battalion was brought in to garrison for a hot, thanksgiving dinner. The celebration gave us all something to be thankful for. Stories abound of fond memories when service members were pulled out of the field, or taken off of their current duty, to enjoy a spe- cial, often solemn moment of thanks for getting through the Mail Call day, not having to eat C-rations or nowadays, M-R-E’s. And Great Organization joins the military, he or she metaphorically writes a check To the Editor: payable to the United States of America and signs it for any in these circumstances, as well as present day and pleasant Just got through reading my August 2016 issue of the amount up to and including his or her own life. That is ded- circumstances, we give thanks. Minnesota Legionnaire newspaper. Was sad to learn of the ication, commitment and patriotism. In the Bible, the apostle Paul begins nine of his thirteen still steadily declining membership and subsequent annual I believe that God gave America the greatest gift He epistles recorded in the New Testament with phrases like dues increase. The cost of printing the magazine and news- could bestow to man while he lives on earth -- freedom. He this one; “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all paper are not going down so the increase is justified. also gave us another gift, our soldiers, sailors, Marines, cus- of you” (Romans 1:8). At the church in Rome he was thank- This of course would not be happening if the veterans toms and border patrol, Coast Guard, National Guard, and ful for their increase in faith; in Corinth, it was for the grace who came home from the military service in the past twenty law enforcement to safeguard that gift and to guarantee that given to them; at Ephesus, it was for their love and attention years would join an organization as great as The American no force on earth, internal or external, can ever steal it away. they gave to other believers; at Philippi, it was their partner- Legion. I hope they remember this when the politicians start An unbreakable bond has been forged between those ship in the gospel they had with Paul; and at Thessalonica, taking away their benefits little at a time that I told you so. who fought, side by side, in combat action. You either die it was for their work and labor for Christ. Paul was thankful Tom Dokulil in a red flash on the battlefield or survive to the cold of a through God for people, and all the wonderful things God Apple Valley nursing home. The memory of long past battles is forever was doing in and through their lives. indelibly embedded in our minds, and we’ll take that mem- As we Legionnaires pilgrimage in this life we are com- pelled to continually grow and serve with our giving of our Half-staff Overuse ory to our graves. To the Editor: Whether one lives to the age of 19, or the ripe old age of possessions and ourselves. We do this for all our service I couldn't agree more about the overuse of ordering the 90 plus, in every human heart lies the pure joy and wonder- members serving today and for those who served before flag flown at half-staff. ment of playing the game of life. them. We do this in response to all that God has done for us. It cheapens the meaning of the honor when everyone is Whether in the vigor of youth, or the declining years of Like the Apostle Paul, we can be thankful for the many rea- honored. It is like the participation awards for most youth peace and tranquility, we will all die. But the U.S. military sons Paul gave thanks for the people in his life. We give of (and some adult) activities where effort, merit, and out- lives on. our time and money to the Legion and other charities. And standing achievement are meaningless. Everyone who served is living still in those who claim for all the wonderful things God does in our lives, we give It is also like the routine use of the standing ovation; the title of soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, or Guardsman. thanks. every performance is now deemed worthy of what was This is especially true of our law enforcement officers who intended as extraordinary recognition, and those who do not keep a sense of order. It is a sense of belonging that will out- feel it justified are chastised for not joining in. Or grade live our own mortality which gives people a light to live by The Minnesota inflation in school and university. and a flame to mark their passing. On the the other hand, now that it has been established Veterans of the Iwo Jima battle have gathered for Official PublicationLeg of iando Ownednn Exclusivelyair bye by usage, any president or governor who doesn't order it reunions, but the number is dwindling. We may have seen The American Legion, Department of Minnesota will be criticized by partisans for the deceased. the last reunion. Al Zdon, Editor J.G.G. Kahn Sr. The United States Marine Corps has deemed the Battle for Iwo Jima the worst armed conflict in its 240-year histo- First published in 1920 as the Hennepin County Legionnaire, Eyota the Minnesota Legionnaire is now in its 97th year of publica- ry. That flag on top of Mt. Suribachi, put up by a gutsy tion. It is published monthly by The American Legion, Uncommon Valor bunch of Marines, will remain in memory of all who served. Department of Minnesota, Room 300A, 20 West 12th Street, To the Editor: Marshall Harris St. Paul, MN 55155-2000. Periodicals postage is paid at St. After the last shot were fired on Iwo Jima, and before Carrollton, Texas Paul, MN, and at additional mailing offices. The Legionnaire leaving battalion headquarters, we went over to where the (Marshall Harris is a native Minnesotan who served at is a member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association and Graves Division had erected white crosses marking the Iwo Jima.) the National American Legion Press Association. SUBSCRIPTION: $10 for non-members. Members receive location of those killed. Those who paid the final price were the Legionnaire as part of their dues. sealed in body bags in a wooden coffin, where, lying in wait PHONE: 651-291-1800, 866-259-9163, FAX: 651-291-1057 for a time after the war when they would all be brought Corrections POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The American home to their families and loved ones. Legion, 20 W. 12th Street, St. Paul, MN, 55155-2000. (USPS In the meantime, from high on top of Mt. Suribachi, our A story in the October issue incorrectly listed the title for No. 013-679.) (ISSN No. 1644270) nation’s flag of 48 stars, that silent sentinel of freedom, the Eric Grumdahl at the Minnesota Department of Veterans ADVERTISING RATES: Contact Al Zdon, 651-291-1800 soul of our nation, continued to wave from the mountain Affairs. He is Special Advisor on Ending Veterans E-MAIL: [email protected] top. For many who had cheered and waved at it, they would Homelessness. WEBSITE: www.mnlegion.org never see another flag. A photo in a prior issue of the Legionnaire incorrectly BOARD OF PUBLICATION MEMBERS: President Denise They came from all corners of America, Hispanic, listed the name of a member receiving a 60-year certificate Milton, Bagley; Vice President Don Amundson, Blue Earth; at Oklee Post 159. His name is Elmer Hanson. Secretary Randy Tesdahl, Elk River; Treasurer, Richard Jewish and Italian, black and white, rich and poor. Together Horn, Melrose. Board Members include: Bob Locker, Fridley; as one unit, they fought to make a difference. Clinton Burt, Slayton; Joe Bayer, Minneapolis; Pat Logan, The U.S. military recruits members for one purpose, to Bloomington; Donna Arends, Raymond; Jean Walker, fight our country’s battles anywhere in the world. When one Warren. LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:53 PM Page 5

November 2016 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 5

What’s Happeninerans who are homeless or at riskg of becoming homeless. WWII GI Bill vets The apartments are affordable and permanent. For informa- November Round Tables A Harvard researcher is doing a study on veterans who tion, contact Sand Property Management, 320-258-3400. The World War II History Round Table will feature the used the GI Bill following World War II. He is seeking vet- 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Bataan and Corregidor on erans who used the bill, particularly in the 1946-48 time December 8, at 7 p.m. The program will feature John period. If you would like to contribute, contact Tarpley Hitt Holiday Party Adams the author of a book on the battles. There will also at [email protected]. The Gen. John Vessey Chapter of the Association of the be veterans of the conflict. Admission is $5. United States Army will be having its annual wounded war- The St. Croix Valley Civil War Roundtable will feature rior holdiay party at the Polytrauma Unit at the Minneapolis “Sherman’s March through the Carolinas.” The event is a Yarn sought VA Medical Center. It is for wounded veterans and their dinner program at the Lowell Inn in Stillwater. It will be A volunteer who knits for Treats for Troops is seeking families. held Monday, Nov. 28. yarn to continue his efforts. If you would like to contribute, Each hero receives a gift bag worth $400. Donations are For more information, contact Steve Anderson at 715- contact Mona Longtin at [email protected]. accepted. Contact Cintia Rivas, AUSA, 3459 Washington 386-1268. Drive, Suite 208, Eagan, MN 55122. Shop, Ship and Share Legal Clinic The Fourth District will again sponsor Shop, Ship and 100 Memorials A free drop-in legal clinic will be held Tuesday, Nov. 15, Share this year. It will be held at the Maplewood Mall on Cities that have World War I memorials can apply for a at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center in the Flag Atrium Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with grant of up to $2,000 in the 100 Cities/ 100 Memorials proj- Balcony Room. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There a program on Saturday at 2. There will be postal services ect sponsored by the WWI Centennial Commission, the is free parking also. available to ship packages, purchase stamps and other Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and The American The clinics offer veterans advice on housing, employ- postal supplies. Items can be donates or money can be Legion. ment, benefits, expungement, wills, debt collection, family donated. Donations can be sent to Fourth District, Packages Grants can be used to restore the memorials to their orig- law including child support. Attorneys and staff from the for the Military, Box 17035, St. Paul, MN 55117-0035. inal quality. For more information, got to the project’s web- Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans will be on hand. site: ww1cc.org/100memorials. Fargo VA documentary Caregiver Celebration The Fargo VA will present “Citizen Soldier” on Nov. 10 Wolfsteller on TV The St. Cloud VA Medical Center will host a “celebra- at 3:30 p.m.in the Third Floor Auditorium. It will be fol- KARE-11 in the Twin Cities will be doing a news feature tion of caregivers” education and resource fair in the lowed by a moderated panel discussion. on service members who were discharged with a less than Auditorium, Building 8, at the medical center on Nov. 18 The film includes footage of real battles fought by an honorable discharge that could have been related to PTSD from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Oklahoma Guard Unit deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. A or TBI. The American Legion has been in the forefront of There will be various workshops throughout the day member of the unit will be on hand. helping veterans get an upgrade in their discharge if war- including PTSD and families, memory loss activities, The event is free, but registration is preferred: 701-239- ranted. dementia, traumatic brain injury, strength-based language, 3700, extension 94311. Part of the news show will be an interview with resource fair and suicide prevention. Department Service Officer Jeremy Wolfsteller. The pro- For information, contact 320-252-1670, extension 7283. Linden Grove Apartments gram will air on Veterans Day. The Linden Grove Apartments in St. Cloud are now open for occupancy. The community has a priority for vet- Taps Karnas, George James, 86, veteran of the War, died Sept. 25, 2016. He was a member of Willmar Post class. He was a member of Austin Post 91. Korean War, died Oct. 19, 2016. He was very active in 167. Stoll, Emil, 88, Navy veteran of World War II, died Sept. American Legion Baseball as a coach and district director Krueger, Donald P., 87, Army veteran of the Korean 13, 2016. He was a member of Fairfax Post 205. and served as the state director for many years. He was a War, died Oct. 14, 2016. He was a member of East Grand Ress, William George, 86, Army veteran of the Korean past commander of Richfield Post 435. Forks Post 157. War, died Sept. 28, 2016. He was a member of Keewatin Ellison, John, 87, Navy veteran of the Korean War, died Karthaus, John, 85, Air Force veteran of the Korean Post 452. Oct. 12, 2016. He was a member of Thief River Falls Post War, died Oct. 10, 2016. He was a radio operator in the Klankowski, DuWayne, 86, Army veteran of the 117. Aleutian Islands. He was a member of Austin Post 91. Korean War, died Sept. 17, 2016. He was a member of Bisher, Robert A., 70, Navy veteran of the Vietnam Postera, Norman, 90, Army veteran of World War II, Caledonia Post 191. War, died Sept. 12, 2016. He also served in and retired from died Sept. 29, 2016. He was an infantryman serving in Colsch, Ronnie “Punk,” 68, Army veteran of the the Army. He was a “hard hat” diver in the Navy and Europe. He was a member of Marshall Post 113. Vietnam War, died Sept. 22, 2016. He was a member of received a special commendation for clearing the Suez Harriman, James J., 79, Army veteran of the Korean Caledonia Post 191. Canal. He was a member of Rice Post 473. War, died Sept. 21, 2016. He was a member of Waconia Froderman, Eldred, 92, Army veteran of World War II, Stangl, Herman F., 84, Army veteran of the Korean Post 150. died Sept. 19, 2016. He was a member of Round Lake Post War, died Oct. 7, 2016. He was a past commander of Pierz Stroud, Kenneth, 78, Coast Guard veteran of the 461. Post 341. Vietnam War, died Oct. 6, 2016. He was a member of Geertsema, Douglas R., 78, Army veteran of the Kummet, Brian Michael, 30, Air Force veteran of the Cloquet Post 262. Vietnam War, died Sept. 25, 2016. He was a member of Iraq War, died Sept. 23, 2016. He was an aircraft mainte- Renstrom, William, 86, Army veteran of the Korean Round Lake Post 461. nance specialist. He was a past commander of Pierz Post War, died Sept. 29, 2016. He served in the 2nd Armored Prescher, Roland John, 93, Army Air Corps veteran of 341. Division. He was a member of Mora Post 201. World War II, died Oct. 14, 2016. He was a waist gunner on Baldwin, Roger Allen, 89, Navy veteran of World War Gall, Norbert Jr., 89, Army veteran of World War II, a B-24 flying out of Italy. He was shot down over II, died Oct. 3, 2016. He was a past commander of Big Lake died Sept. 26, 2016. He was a member of Mora Post 201. Yugoslavia and saved by the partisans. He was a member of Post 147. Dorman, Junior A., 83, Army veteran of the Korean Blue Earth Post 89. Wolter, Clift C., 88, Minnesota National Guard veteran War, died Sept. 17, 2016. He was a member of Albert Lea Swanberg, Glen, 74, Army veteran of the Vietnam War, of the Korean War, died Oct. 1, 2016. He was in the 135th Post 56. died Oct. 20, 2016. He was a member of East Grand Forks Tank Company in Redwood Falls, serving in Korea. He was Nelson, Richard D., 81, National Guard veteran of the Post 157. a member of Franklin Post 308. Vietnam War, died Sept. 21, 2016. He was a member of Wehseler, Henry, 95, Navy veteran of World War II, Gillen, Jeanne Marie (Goar), 92, Navy veteran of Albert Lea Post 56. died Oct. 17, 2016. He served in the Pacific. World War II, died Sept. 28, 2016. She was a PBX operator Jacobs, George M., 87, Navy veteran of the Korean Tomala, Zeno H., 80, Navy veteran of the Korean War, in San Pedro, Calif. She was a member of Faribault Post 43. War, died Oct. 1, 2016. He was a member of Albert Lea died Oct. 16, 2016. He served on the USS Vega. He was a Baarson, Olgar “Oggie,” 96, Army veteran of World Post 56. member of Harris Post 139. War II, died Oct. 9, 2016. He served as a military police- Mulholland, Cecil B., 79, Army veteran of the Vietnam Gabrielson, Arnold, 89, Navy veteran of World War II, man. He was a member of Trimont Post 373. War, died Sept. 19, 2016. He was a member of Albert Lea died Oct. 13, 2016. He was a past commander of Austin Schmoldt, Howard R., 86, Army veteran of the Korean Post 56. Post 91. He was volunteer driver for veterans going to med- War, died Oct. 10, 2016. He was member of Trimont Post Netjes, Henry, 92, Army veteran of World War II, died ical appointments. 373. Sept. 14, 2016. He was stationed in the Philippines and Tacheny, Art, 84, Army veteran of the Korean War, died Amiot, Clarence, 88, Air Force veteran of World War II, Hawaii with the 4025th Signal Services Group as a ser- Oct. 10, 2016. He was a member of Rush City Post 93. died Oct. 1, 2016. He was a flight surgeon and medical geant. He was a member of Edgerton Post 42. Lindstrom, John A., 86, Army veteran of the Korean assistant in Guam. He was a member of Thief River Falls Emery, Wilbur George, 98, Army veteran of World War War, died Sept. 9, 2016. He was a member of Mora Post Post 117. II, died Oct. 5, 2016. He was a member of Red Wing Post 201. Loeffler, Elgin, 94, Army veteran of World War II, died 54. Raddatz, Silas Oliver, 94, Navy veteran of World War Oct. 1, 2016. His tank was hit during the Battle of the Bulge Samec, Frank R., 86, Air Force veteran of the Korean II, died Oct. 19, 2016. He was a Seabee and served in the in 1944 and he was captured. A German doctor removed War, died Oct. 3, 2016. He was a member of Chisholm Post Philippines and on Truk Island. He was a past commander shrapnel and an eye. He was a member of Thief River Falls 247. of Wood Lake Post 556. Post 117. Schmakel, Larry S., 67, Army veteran of the Vietnam Meyer, Arnold, 98, Army veteran of World War II, died Peters, William Bernard, 83, Navy veteran of the War, died Oct. 5, 2016. He was a member of Waconia Post Oct. 2, 2016. He was a corporal. He was a member of Korean War, died Sept. 24, 2016. He was a member of Rush 150. Troska Post 210. City Post 93. Allerman, John C., 74, Army veteran of the Vietnam Bartly, Irvin Don, 88, Army veteran of World War II, Buss, Birchard, 98, Navy veteran of World War II, died War, died Oct. 2, 2016. He was a member of Little Falls died Oct. 21, 2016. He was a member of Austin Post 91. Oct. 16, 2016. He was a radio operator. He was a member Post 46. of Claremont Post 422. Gallaher, Richard Glen, 85, Navy veteran of the Holmgren, Donald R., 91, Army veteran of the Korean Korean War, died Oct. 26, 2016. He was a torpedoman first LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:53 PM Page 6

Page 6 Minnesota Legionnaire November 2016

Vice Commander Harley Wahl led the group in the Pledge of Allegience to open the conference.

“Oh, my gosh, Bill, look!” A tearful Judy Stein held up a plaque naming her late husband Bill Stein as Legionnaire of the Year toward heav- en. It was presented by the Sons of the American Legion. SAL Commander Gene Olswold presented the award which recognized Bill Stein’s many years of service to the SAL. He died this year. Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Shellito spoke on Friday. Fall Conference in Marshall Plaques were awarded to Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, and Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn., for their work in helping veterans. Neither could attend since they were on the campaign trail. Legislative Chairs Donna Arends and Peggy Moon showed off the plaques.

Virginia Nelson, National Vice President of the Auxliary, Northwest Division, spoke Denise Rohan of Wisconsin, the leading candidate for National Commander, was on Saturday at the Fall Conference. She is from Nebraska. the other featured speaker on Saturday morning at the joint session. LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:54 PM Page 7

November 2016 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 7 Outstanding Guard and Reserve honored

SFC TERRY CLABO HM1 DANIEL MSGT DEVIN DURYEE MSGT CLINT HAMANN Hutchinson DONNDELINGER Apple Valley Cannon Falls Army National Guard Inver Grove Heights Air Force Nat’l Guard Air Force Reserve A Co., 334 BEB Navy Reserve 133rd Airlift Wing 934th Airlift Wing Nominated by Op Support Center Nominated by Nominated by National Commander Candidate Denise Rohan and Department Commander Denise Milton pose with the Hutchinson Post 96 Nominated by Wold Chamberlin Post 99 Univ. of MN Post 548 Univ. of MN Post 548 awareness walk banner outside the Marshall Post.

Commander Milton had a drawing and presented posts that had registered their histories on the national website with 100-year Centennial patches. From left are The Second District took first place in membership percentage announced at the Ron Wolford, Anoka Post; Bert Marth, New Ulm Post; MIlton; Gene Olswold, New conference. From left: Denise Milton, District Membership Director Mike Schaffer, Ulm Post, Larry Pocrnich, Hibbing Post; and Gene Leifeld, Red Wing Post. District Commander Mark Coney and Membership Director Mark Dvorak.

A print showing a tractor for handicapped hunters was auctioned off and Garylee Davenport had the top bid of $250 from the Seventh District and Spicer Post 545. He then donated the print to the Department Headquarters office. Girls State Senator Hannah Hendrickson of Moorhead told the Fall Conference of her experiences at Girls Nation in Washington D.C. Chuck Stone, chair of the Pheasant Dinner Fund, pre- sented Department President Carol Kottom a check for $10,000 for the Auxilairy.

During Saturday’s joint session, SAL Mebership Director Cliff Teigland, Department Membership Director Mark Dvorak and Auxiliary Membership Chair President Kottom and Commander MIlton were the Department Service Officer Jeremy Wolfsteller gave a Zandra Kessler all gathered at the podium at the Red final grouping at the Grand March of The American Baron Arena. Legion Family. talk on veterans whose discharge may have been affected by PTSD. LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:54 PM Page 8

Page 8 Minnesota Legionnaire November 2016 Continued from Page 1 leader outfits hanging from the walls amid hundreds of pic- tures. Thorsness looked around, but said he couldn’t remember the room. Others seemed to have trouble pinning down its past use also, one saying it was a library, another a study hall and another said it was an English classroom. It may Hometown hero have been all those things at one time or another. Thorsness graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1950. He talked about his early years as friends gathered around him in the history room. Soon, though, he made his way the 100 feet or so across the hall to an even larger room that he did remember well, goes home again the gymnasium. The room was filled with perhaps 200 Leo Thorsness enjoyed a few hours back in his childhood grade school and middle school children and the school band. hometown at Walnut Grove, Minnesota. The band bravely struck up “The Halls of Montezuma” and finished with “Anchors Aweigh.” They may have got- ten to the Air Force song, but the program was about to start. Thorsness settled into a red, padded office chair that the principal assured him was the most comfortable chair in the school. He sat just a few feet from the kids, and began his story. “I grew up on the farm, but then we moved into town and I had to prove myself all over again. When I lived on the farm, I actually used to ride a horse to school every day. “I wasn’t a great student, but I loved to play sports. I played on every team they had. I really liked sports. Later on, I can’t say my time here helped me academically, but it did improve my motor skills. “And I spent a lot of time out on Plum Creek fishing.” Walnut Grove and Plum Creek were the settings for Laura Ingalls Wilder who wrote the popular “Little House” pioneer books — in particular the book “On the Banks of Plum Creek.” It was later a television series. After high school, Thorsness went on to South Dakota State College at Brookings where he met Gaylee. He later chose the military and became a fighter pilot. “Then Vietnam came along, and that was my war.” He became part of an Air Force group flying out of Thailand that would attack the surface-to-air missile batter- ies that were becoming lethal to U.S. pilots over North Vietnam. The Air Force unit was called the Wild Weasels. Leo Thorsness spoke to the elementary and middle school children in his hometown of Walnut Grove. “In those days, you had to fly 100 missions to go home. I was on my 93rd mission, and I probably shouldn’t have flown that day. I got shot down and spent the next six years as a prisoner of war.” Talking to the school children and later in his talks to the press and the community, Thorsness probably didn’t say 25 words about an earlier mission where he earned the Medal of Honor. He talked at length, though, about getting shot down and becoming a prisoner of war. “That day we were flying along at 700 miles an hour and we took a missile right up our tailpipe. I told the other man in the plane to eject and so did I. It was probably the right move because two seconds later the plane exploded.” Thorsness summed up his prisoner experience as being At left is Thorsness’ pic- two equal parts, three years of brutality and torture, and ture from his 1950 year- three years of boredom. book at Walnut Grove. At Much of his early time in prison was spent in solitary top is a homecoming but- confinement in a five-by-six-foot cell. ton from his senior year. A classmate reminds Thorsness that she and others He said in the latter three years, he got a letter now and put gum in his hair at school. then. “Including my tour or flying in Vietnam, I was gone for seven years. All this time, my wife had to be on her own raising our daughter. I didn’t see my daughter from the time she was 11 until she was 18. Gaylee did a phenomenal job. For me, raising a teenager was not a bother.” He told the school children, “Life is a battle. Right now I’m fighting cancer.” And he tried to convince them that small towns are great. The yearbook in its predictions section didn’t quite nail that Thorsness would be become a jet fighter pilot. “This was such a wholesome place to grow up. The Boy Scouts and Pastor Morgan taught me some values that have served me well through the years.” His mantra, he told the kids, is the four F’s: “Friends, Family, Faith and Fun.” The youngsters then had the chance to ask their home- town hero questions. The teachers had worked with the kids, and the questions were read from note cards. Thorsness sometimes had trouble hearing the little voices, but he never gave up until he understood the question. One question was on how he felt to be released from the Hanoi Hilton. Walnut Grove city park will be renamed for Thorsness. Leo and Gaylee met with Thorsness’ old friends. “I felt mighty good. It was just joy. But as they flew us into an Air Force base in the Philippines, we really weren’t sure how we’d be received. We’d been prisoners for a long ation for American ideals. “Civilizations come and go. As Thorsness told of the huge culture shock of going from time, and we weren’t supposed to give the enemy anything all of us came home, we came to appreciate the freedom flying a technologically advanced airplane to lying wound- but name, rank and serial number. But when you’re tor- America has. We are a very blessed people. We sometimes ed in a hut in this village. “It was just abject poverty. These tured, you tend to say more than that. We didn’t know what take that for granted.” people didn’t have anything. Some of them were smoking they thought of us.” Another question was on why he became a pilot. dope. When they took off my flight suit, they were amazed When the plane touched down, though, there was a mil- “That’s the best job in the world. Why wouldn’t anyone because they had never seen a zipper before.” itary band. “This was a good sign that we’d be treated want to be a fighter pilot? He said he looked at his partner, Harry Johnson, and well.” Going supersonic, screaming over the rice paddies at 20 wondered about their future. Some pilots were shot within Thorsness said he was down to about 110 pounds at one feet off the deck at 700 miles per hour, trying to avoid a hours of being captured. “Harry said, ‘Well, they either will point as a prisoner, and even though the North Vietnamese missile. And if it doesn’t hit you, that’s fun.” or they won’t and there’s nothing we can do about it.’ ” began feeding them sugar toward the end to fatten them up, How about ejecting from the fighter? “My knees and He talked at length about how long the wait was in the he said almost all the prisoners were scrawny. back were hurt during the ejection. I couldn’t walk. I was prison camp. He spoke of how discouraged the prisoners “When we saw these young Air Force people we just captured 15 minutes after I hit the ground. They wanted me were when the bombing stopped in Hanoi, because they felt stared at them. We said, ‘Boy are you fat.’ ” to walk, but I couldn’t. Finally, they put me in a net and car- it was the only leverage the U.S. had in negotiating their One part of coming home, he said, was the new appreci- ried me off to their village.” release. And he spoke of the joy when the bombing started LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:54 PM Page 9

November 2016 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 9 up again two years later. Alcorn had a special gift for Thorsness. It was a footstool prison camp. Somehow a story gets more interesting when Another question was on why he did what he did to earn made out of the wood from the original bleachers in the it’s told by someone who was there. the Medal of Honor. “It was just my job. It’s a military tra- gymnasium from bygone days. “Toward the end in Hanoi, we had about 25 or 30 in a dition that nobody gets left behind. I think any pilot would “I’m sure this is where Leo sat while he was on the room, and one thing we did to pass the time was teach have done what I did.” bench watching the rest of the basketball team play,” Alcorn courses to each other. I taught real estate. Both Mike One serious young lad asked about the torture. “Oh, you joked. Christian and I took a Spanish course together and we know, the usual,” Thorsness said. “Sticks, whips, chains, By this time, Thorsness had to be fairly exhausted by would practice on each other. whatever they had.” being the center of attention all morning, but when he took “One day Mike found a white rag in the gutter, and he The last question was about the best thing in his life. “It’s the podium, he seemed to catch a second wind. had an idea. We could make a flag. We got the red dye from waking up next to my wife Gaylee every morning. It’s so “First of all I want to talk about the values of a small grinding up some red tiles in the prison. The blue we got peaceful – even if I have been having nightmares all night.” town. I noticed that during the National Anthem, not one from these blue pills they gave us. We never knew what person knelt. Thank you.” they were for, but we could grind them up and make a blue qqqqqqqqq It was a reference to some NFL football players who are dye. We made thread from our blankets and needles out of protesting these days by not honoring the anthem. bamboo. After about two weeks we had a flag.” The next section of the morning was a 20-minute session Thorsness told the local folks the oft-told story of Mike Thorsness said the problem, though, was that every 10 with the press — about half dozen local newspaper people Christian, the Navy pilot who made a flag at the Hanoi Continued on Page 11 gathered around a table in the history room. He asked each reporter where they were from. One said he was from Sanborn, and Thorsness’ face lit up. “Watermelon Days,” he said. “My dad would always take us over there. Those were great days to be a kid.” Thorness was told by one of the reporters that Walnut Grove now has a very large Hmong population, and that many of the Hmong risked their lives to rescue American pilots during the Vietnam War. Thorsness said he knew that. He spoke of his days milking cows and then selling the milk on a neighborhood route. “It was so wholesome here. These kids growing up here have got to love what they have. It’s not south Chicago. They have all this opportunity. We are so blessed.” What are his favorite memories of growing up in Walnut Grove? “Hunting and fishing with my friends. “There was a farmer living south of town who had one old horse who was ready to die. The horse was blind. My father knew this farmer well, and we used to hunt ducks at his pond. One day the farmer asked if he thought that young Leo, me, could come over and shoot the horse and put him out of his misery. My father said that shouldn’t be a prob- lem, and he asked me to do it. “I was with my best friend, Bud Schultz, and we headed over to this farmer’s pond with our shotguns to get some Thorsness, with Gaylee by his side, was presented ducks. I didn’t tell Bud anything about shooting the horse. the Medal of Honor by President Nixon in 1973. We didn’t get any ducks, and on the way back we went by this horse. I said to Bud, ‘I wonder what it would be like to shoot a horse?’ He looked at me like I was crazy. “I took my shotgun off my shoulder and aimed it at the Thorsness was held for six years in prison camps in horse and pulled the trigger. It was a big horse and it went Hanoi. At one point, he weighed 110 pounds. down like a ton of bricks. I looked at Bud and said, ‘What did we do? Let’s get the heck out of here. They’re going to arrest us and put us in jail.’ We ran all the way back to town. “I didn’t tell Bud the truth for about a week. I just kept saying how ‘we’ were in trouble. Finally I let him in on it.” A reporter asked if he was an Eagle Scout, and he said he was. “In the prison camp, we figured out that of the 150 of us in that camp, five of us were Eagle Scouts. It’s funny how important that was to the people in that camp.” Next up was the meeting with the community and the dedication of the city park with a new name. qqqqqqqqqq

There are 77 Medal of Honor recipients alive in the United States, and 34 of them came to the national conven- tion in the Twin Cities. It’s probably the most exclusive, elite club in America. When President Truman awarded Duluth’s Mike Colalillo his Medal of Honor in 1945, he looked Colalillo in the eye and said, “I’d rather have one of these than be pres- ident.” During his visit to Walnut Grove, it was announced Sandy Alcorn, a high school friend, presented So how does a person live with that kind of honor, ado- that the city park would be named after Thorsness. Thorsness with a stool made from the original bleach- ration, respect and stardom through the years? Observing ers in the gymnasium. He joked that Thorsness had the recipients at the opening ceremony at U.S. Bank spent a lot of time on the wood watching others play. Stadium, it seemed that some had become a little, how to say it, full of themselves. Others seemed to have adopted kind a patriotic gravitas. Many were friendly and outgoing. For Leo Thorsness, though, there’s only one word to describe his having to wear the crown as a true American hero: Joy. Wherever he went that morning, that joy and abundance of life just overflowed into the people around him. And he never seemed more joyful than when he had a chance to talk to his hometown brethren. Again, it was short trip from the history room back to the gymnasium. But now the children were gone, and about 200 neighbors had taken seats on the hardwood floor, which was protected by a gray tarp. The school band played the National Anthem. The Walnut Grove American Legion and its Sons of the American Legion detachment had much to do with the plan- ning of the event. Legion member Don Johnson started off the session with a few words and handed off the mike to Mayor Greg Hanson, who was very emotional through his remarks. Thorsness’ childhood buddy Sonny Alcorn was next. “Leo lived in the house just south of the Methodist Church. It was a big place, and that’s where all the kids Leo Thorsness talked with people from the community would gather and plan their activities for the night.” who turned out to meet their favorite son. The word “activities” drew a laugh from the audience. The visit over, Leo and Gaylee walked hand in hand “Oh, we didn’t do anything illegal or immoral, just the back to the waiting motorcade. usual kid’s stuff.” LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:54 PM Page 10

Page 10 Minnesota Legionnaire November 2016

ThorsnessLeo Thorsness talked to different groups about earned a variety Thorsness zoomed MOH in on the MiG at 500as miles per Weaselhour, pilot of different subjects during his hometown visit to Walnut but his burst from his Gatling gun missed. Now he was Grove. The one thing he didn’t talk about very much was slightly below the MiG, but still about 700 feet behind him. his Medal of Honor and how he earned it. “I pulled the trigger again. This time I saw his wing From his book, Surviving Hell, A POWs Journey written come apart.” in 2008, here’s that story: The elation of seeing the MiG crash to the ground was quickly overcome when Johnson called, “Leo, we’ve got a ajor Leo K. Thorsness was stationed at Takhli MiG on our ass!” Air Base in Thailand in 1967. He had been a “I snapped my head left and saw the belly of a MiG fighter pilot in the Air Force for many years, about 1,000 feet back – a bad sight. If he were a good pilot, rackingM up over 5,000 hours of flight time. He was 35 years we were dead.” old. Thorsness snapped to the right and kicked in the after- The Vietnam War brought him overseas for combat. At burner. The enemy aircraft fired, but its bullets missed. As home were his wife, Gaylee, and their daughter, Dawn, then the Weasel went supersonic, the MiG gave up the fight. 11 years old. Thorsness took inventory of his situation. His missile He was assigned to a group called the Wild Weasels, and his bombs were gone, and he was low on bullets. He whose primary mission was to knock out the Soviet-provid- was also running out of gas. ed surface-to-air missile sites in North Vietnam that were He radioed in the position of the downed pilots and playing havoc with American bombing runs. headed for an American air tanker in a safe area. He was Major Leo Thorsness and Captain Harold Johnson The Wild Weasels by that time in the war were using the told that two A1E Skyraiders, nicknamed Sandys, and a hel- pose next to their F-105 in Thailand. Mustaches were F-105 Thunderchief, known by the pilots as a “Thud,” to icopter were on their way to the site. popular at that time for pilots. find and destroy the SAM sites. The fighter was well This would be the closest to Hanoi that a rescue mission armored, very fast and used the latest electronics. It also had ever been attempted. they had just enough fuel to make it over the Mekong River was not as maneuverable as the smaller Soviet MiGs that it Thorness radioed the Sandys, World War II aircraft that where they could eject in friendly Thailand. often faced. were used because they could fly just over the treetops and If Panda 4 didn’t refuel, he would have to eject over The pilot sat in front and the Electronic Warfare Officer, absorb a lot of punishment, that MiGs were in the area and enemy territory. “It was an easy choice. The tanker often called a “backseater” was just behind. Capt. Harold that the downed pilots were also within SAM range. belonged to Panda.” Johnson was Thorsness’ backseater. The job of the two Skyraiders was to make contact with Still, Thorsness had to finesse the last drops of fuel to The idea was to aggressively attack an enemy position, the downed pilots, protect them if possible, and guide the make it happen. He brought the Thud up to 35,000 feet and and as soon as the SAM site caught the Thunderchief on helicopter in for a rescue. aimed the aircraft at Udorn Field, 30 miles beyond the radar and locked in, the Thud could also electronically As he was being refueled, Thorsness learned that all of Mekong River. He then cut the throttle and began gliding “see” the SAM site. The trouble was, both sides could see the other 105s in the mission had headed home. He had a toward the airstrip. each other on radar, and the Wild Weasel had the task of short conversation with Johnson. “Harry, if we go back, we “Luck was on our side. With fuel indicating empty, the destroying the missile site before it could destroy them. go it alone.” Thorsness wrote: “Harry didn’t object when I engine ran until we got to Udorn, turned straight in on the And, quite often, the 105s had to fend off the enemy’s turned back toward Vietnam. southeast headed runway and landed. Just after we touched MiG jet fighters at the same time. “As we headed in, the knot in my stomach tightened. I down, the engine shut down.” It was dangerous work, and many Wild Weasel crews had promised myself never to lose a wingman in combat. I Harry said, matter of factly, “That was a full day’s were killed or captured. had failed.” work.” On April 19, 1967, Thorsness only had a handful of mis- Thorsness kept trying to get his wingman on the radio, It had been an interesting day. Thorsness had bombed a sions left before he and Johnson reached the magic number but the weak transmission he got back was unintelligible. SAM site, shot down two MiGs in an aircraft not designed of 100 and could go home. At 18,000 feet, the Wild Weasel came back over the site for aerial combat, protected another aircraft and then let Their target that day was the Xuan Mai army barracks where the pilots had bailed out. “Leo, MiG at eight another comrade use a tanker, knowing that he too was crit- and supply depot about 30 miles from Hanoi. Up until that o’clock!” Johnson shouted. Thorsness also saw another ically low on fuel. point, the Wild Weasel attacks usually had four planes: one MiG at about 11 o’clock, just to the left of where they were “But as I retracted the canopy and stepped out of the converted 105F, with all the special electronics and special headed. plane, I felt like a failure, dejected at leaving two good men bombs, and three 105Ds, the original fighter version, as “We had flown right into a ‘wagon wheel,’ four or five behind in the jungles of North Vietnam. If someone had told wingmen. MiGs in a large circle orbiting the downed pilots.” me I would receive the Medal of Honor for this mission, I But more of the converted 105Fs were coming on line. Thorsness picked out one of the enemy fighters and would not have believed him.” “Harry and I came up with the idea of having two Weasels squeezed off the last of his ammunition. Pieces flew off the But earn it he did. The citation says, in part: “Lieutenant in our flight.” The two Weasels and two wingmen would MiG. Thorsness, whose gun camera had run out of film, Colonel Thorsness’ extraordinary heroism, self sacrifice then split just before entering the target area, and thus could was later credited with a “probable kill.” and personal bravery involving conspicuous risk of life attack two SAM sites at the same time. Now it was time for evasion, and the 105 again hit the where in the highest traditions of the military service, and The drawback, of course, was that each Weasel would afterburner until the MiGs disappeared in the rear view mir- have reflected great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air only have one 105D wingman for protection. ror. Again Thorsness warned the Sandys about the MiGs in Force.” the area. And he headed back to the scene. Harry Johnson received the Air Force Cross. Eighty miles out, the four planes already had picked up When he got near the crash site, he began trying to make For most people who survive the event of their Medal of two SAM sites and their acquisition radar. More SAM radar contact again with the downed airmen. Instead, he got a Honor, a lifetime of recognition lies ahead. For Thorsness, quickly came on line. The SAM missiles had a range of 17 high-pitched transmission, “Sandy 1 is going in. Sandy 1 is 11 days later he and Johnson were shot down over North miles, while the Weasel missiles had a range of seven miles. going in. MiGs got him.” Vietnam and spent the next six years in a series of brutal “They got to shoot first, that was their advantage,” Thorsness radioed the remaining Sandy, “Get on the prison camps including the Hanoi Hilton. Thorsness wrote. “Ours was that if they missed us, we had treetops. Get as low and slow as you can, turn as hard as Free at last in 1973, he wanted to stay in the Air Force, a window of opportunity to kill them.” you can, and the MiGs can’t get you.” The Sandy pilot but the injuries he received while ejecting and the torture in At 25 miles out, four SAM sites were tracking them. radioed back. “Copy, I’ll try. Okay but hurry, there’s at least the camps had disqualified him medically from further fly- Several anti-aircraft batteries also were locked in. four of them.” ing. Thorsness waggled his wings, and the other Weasel and its “I dropped our nose toward the trees,” Thorsness said, He later served as director of civic affairs for Litton wingman split off to take a northern approach, as had been “grabbed about 600 miles per hour and wondered what I do Industries. Thorsness also tried politics, and took on Sen. planned. when we got there.” George McGovern in South Dakota in 1974, losing by less Thorsness said, “The high-pitched radio chatter was He aimed his screaming fighter first at one MiG, then than four percent. He tried again, this time for Congress non-stop” with pilots calling out anti-aircraft bursts, spotter pulled up and aimed at another one. “My hope was that from South Dakota, and lost to Tom Daschle by 139 votes planes calling out MiG attacks, plus Thorsness and Johnson they’d think I was armed… If they believed that, maybe out of nearly 130,000 votes cast. talking to each other. they’d let go of the Sandy, at least temporarily, and concen- He finally found election success after moving to Suddenly, the northern flight came under MiG attack. trate on killing us.” Washington state when he was elected a state senator in The pilot in the Weasel called for “burner,” meaning that The improvised scheme worked, and all four MiGs 1988. Four years later, he lost in the primary election. both 105s should kick in their afterburners and be able to focused on getting the Thud. The Skyraider was able to Thorsness then retired. He was 56 years old. He wrote outrace the MiGs. Unfortunately, the wingman’s afterburn- scoot through a valley and find safety. his book in 2008 and he has been active in the Medal of er failed. Thorsness and Johnson were now in afterburner again, Honor Society, serving on its board for many years. The two planes were able to get out of the area, but sec- twisting and turning through the mountains at treetop level. He and Gaylee live in Florida. onds later Thorsness’ wingman radioed, “Kingfish 2 is hit.” “By now fuel was critical. We kept calling the tanker for Thorsness delivered his Shrike missile and bombs on a a rendezvous.” SAM target and then pulled up. He radioed: “Kingfish 2, Both the remaining Sandy and the helicopter were with- The patch for head southwest toward the hills, plug in burner, keep trans- drawn. “The rescue attempt had failed. I had lost my wing- the Wild mitting and I’ll home in on you.” men. I wondered what I would write their wives.” Weasels, a But the wingman was now seeing more warning lights He kept trying to contact the tanker when he got a sur- group whose pop on in his cockpit. As the stricken plane neared the hills, prise message, “Leo, Panda 4 here. I’ve got 600 pounds (of task it was to he radioed that the situation was worse. fuel – almost an empty tank) and I’m lost. Can you help?” take out sur- “Within a few seconds, I heard the sickening sound of Thorsness was first shocked that another pilot would use face-to-air mis- the beeper,” Thorsness wrote. It indicated that the pilot and his name, a no-no in a combat situation. He would learn sile sites in his EWO had ejected and were heading for the ground in later that a flight of the 105D fighters had made a strike North Vietnam, parachutes. attempt at the crash scene, and had shot down two more had the initials “I saw them floating down, about two miles ahead of us, MiGs. But one of the fighters had got separated, was lost YGBSM at the their white chutes standing out clearly against the green and about to run out of gas. bottom. It foothills below. Off to my left… I saw a movement. It was Thorsness radioed: “Tanker 1, you have six minutes to meant, “You a MiG-17.” The MiG’s intention was to strafe the two rendezvous with Panda 4 or he ejects. You gotta come fur- Gotta Be S--- Americans in their chutes. ther north.” The tanker radioed back that he would do what ing Me.” “I cranked to the left, pulled up and rolled back right, he could. ending up a bit higher than the MiG and in a nose down, Meanwhile Thorsness and Johnson talked over their own right bank pursuit curve. The enemy pilot was concentrat- fuel situation, which was also critical. They decided that ing on killing out pilots in their chutes and didn’t see us.” LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:54 PM Page 11

November 2016 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 11 Hospital Association elects two new members at annual meeting The Minnesota only two people can serve voice vote. there were 38 claims American Legion Family from any one district. Linda Propenske, how- processed by the Hospital Association elect- Leading up to this meet- ever, after asking the Judge Association this year, com- ed two new members and ing there were four mem- Advocate Tom Lannon for a pared to only 17 last year. changed its bylaws at the bers from the 10th District. ruling, moved the exact The claims totaled annual meeting in Marshall. The change didn’t come wording from the floor. $49,000 for the year, up Alberta Marth-Wohlfeil, easily. It was passed. from $23,000 last year. New Ulm, was elected to Ronning read and moved Marie Goede, president There were also $17,000 the Legion slot on the asso- a resolution that called for of the Association, said, “It in operating expenses for ciation’s board, and Sharon the two-per-district rule -- will be good to get others the Association. Thiemecke, Bemidji, was excluding the automatic involved and spread the In all, the Hospital elected to the Auxiliary slot. positions on the board from word throughout the Association raised $46,000 Marth defeated Reuben the three organizations. Department about the good for the year, and the total in Nathe of Litchfield. Two members of the work we do.” the bank is $241,000 a drop Leaving the board will board, Dennis Blue and The new bylaws would of about $20,000 from last be Marland Ronning, 10th Nick Kakos, immediately not affect those whose year. District, and Jan Walker, spoke against the resolution terms were continuing this The districts’ share of the 10th District. saying that the board had no year. Both Ronning and payouts for claims varied Their departure was prior knowledge that it Walker’s terms were expir- widely, ranging from partly due to a change in would be brought up at this ing. $8,900 for the First District how board members were meeting. Those attending the to $258 for the Fifth ALBERTA MARTH-WOHLFEIL elected. The new rules say It was defeated on a annual meeting learned that District. SHARON THIEMECKE -- Notes from the

TheFall 2016 Fall Conference Conference was held at Marshall. Some-- of the news from the conference included: -- Richard Wog presented a report to the Department Executive Commitee from the Strategic Planning Committee that included a request that membership in the Department’s Post 1982, the holding post for the Department, be transferred back to the posts every three to four weeks. The committee approved the action. -- The DEC heard a presentation from Dave Jenkins of the PCI company. The company makes books that are sold to associations and organizations that contain biographical MARCY SCHOOL PROGRAM -- Representation from the American Legion Riders, the Minnesota American information about members. The company would create the Legion, the Sons of the American Legion and the Auxiliary help put on a patriotic program and flag donation at book and sell it for $99. A share of the money would come Marcy School in Minneapolis. The program was planned by Dave Adam. back to the Department. The DEC took no action on the request, but it was later approved by the Finance Committee. -- Jeremy Wolfsteller, the Department’s service office, make a greenhouse, Minneapolis will develop a circle of -- Two resolutions pertaining to rehabilitation were gave a talk on how the Legion is trying to help veterans who flags, and Hastings will buy a bus to transport patients. passed by the DEC. Both will go to the Department received a less-than-honorable discharge due to PTSD rea- -- Wayne Gilbertson said Legionville accomplished sev- Convention in 2017. One dealt with power of attorney for sons to have that discharge upgraded. Wolfsteller said the eral projects this past year including burying many electri- veterans in the VA system, and the other dealt with time success rate has become much higher in recent years. cal lines, and planting 1,000 seedlings. The Conservation limits for rating decision reviews. -- Jim Kellogg and Ray DeZurik asked posts to have Committee provided the seedlings and the Junior Auxiliary -- About 80 Legion members gathered at the Marshall greater participation in the Centennial website’s history members planted them. The SAL announced that the Camp- Post and did an awareness walk. Clad in bright yellow t- page. Posts can put information about their history, timeline O-Ree had earned $7,283 for Legionville. shirts, the group walked about four blocks to the city’s 911 and events on the national site. Kellogg also said Minnesota -- Pat Logan, Convention Corporation, announced that memorial. The walk was led by National Commander should have a booth at the Reno National Convention this the 2017 Department Convention will be back in Candidate Denise Rohan and Department Commander coming year. Mahnomen at the Shooting Star Casino. He said the entire Denise Milton. Both spoke at the memorial and a moment -- Baseball Director Mike Perry said there would be zero convention will be under one roof. In 2018, the convention of silence was observed. The Marshall Independent cov- tolerance for players not standing for the national anthem will be in Rochester. ered the walk. this year. He also said that Legion would be going to pitch -- The Auxiliary’s silent auction raised $4,300. -- MDVA Commissioner Larry Shellito told the Legion counts rather than innings pitched to assure that players do -- Membership Director Mark Dvorak said Minnesota that the Minnesota Veterans Home project at Minneapolis not overtax their arms. was in second place in the nation to Wisconsin, trailing by was on schedule and on budget. He said Bemidji and -- Lloyd Ricker reported what the five veterans homes only a fraction of a percentage point. He said four districts Montevideo are vying for new veterans homes for will use the $5,000 from the Minnesota American Legion in the state were fighting for the top position at this time. Minnesota. Minnesota is allowed to have 143 more beds by Foundation for. Silver Bay will build a band shell, Luverne federal law. will improve shading in the dementia area, Fergus Falls will

twice.” he was to eject immediately. There would be no time to hes- Besides the tap code, the prisoners also had to listen to itate. So with the stick flopping around in my hand, I said Thorsness the enemy’s version of the news. “They didn’t understand ‘Go’ and he said ‘Shit.’ And then he was gone.” Continued from Page 9 the language very well, and so they would say, ‘Here are the What did the years in prison teach him, one of the local days or so, the guards would have the prisoners strip naked news.’ If they only had one item, they’d say, ‘Here is the people asked. “I learned I was an average guy. In fact there and go outside leaving everything in the cell. The guards new.’ was no one more average than I was. You learned yourself. would then hunt through the prisoner’s clothing, bedding “They’d always give us all the bad stuff. If 20 people had You learned who you are. and meager possessions looking for contraband. been killed in a flood, they’d say it was 20,000. In the casu- “I came out of the camp a better person, but maybe not “We told Mike that no matter how tough he was, he alty reports they gave us, they killed off the whole six years better.” couldn’t keep that flag. But he didn’t listen.” The North American army about three times. They told us about every When the day finally came to be released, he said there Vietnamese found the ragged Star Spangled Banner. anti-war protest. was a lot of suspicion among the Americans. “We wondered “The beating started in the morning and continued “But at least we got some news.” if it was a trick. They took us to the airport and put us in a through mid-day. It was brutal, it was terrible. When he The tap code could mean life or death for the prisoners. hangar and gave us warm beer. That was a good sign.” came back to the cell, he couldn’t talk. He couldn’t talk for “They’d take a guy in for torture, and when he came back Finally the American transport plane showed up. “We a week. he’d tap out what the interrogators were after, and what he were helped on the plane by the best looking nurses in the “But the first thing he did when he could move his fin- had to say to stop the torture. That meant a lot to the next world. But you have to understand that we had not seen a gers was to find another scrap of cloth and begin another guy they were taking in to torture.” female for six years. flag. He said the prisoners got better and better at the code, “When the plane broke ground, that was it. We finally “So when I see people not respecting the flag…” which consisted of arranging the letters in the grid of 25, knew we were going home.” He told the story about how he learned he had been nom- five by five, eliminating the letter K. “The Air Force guys Thorsness had talked for about 45 minutes, leaning on inated for the Medal of Honor about two years into his cap- could get up to 15 words a minute. The Navy pilots could the podium in the middle of the gym. But the welcome tivity through the prisoner’s tap code, a Morse code-like maybe do ten words a minute,” Thorsness said with a smile. home was not over as dozens lined up to get a book signed, communication that could move from cell wall to cell wall. “The Marine pilots, we’ll we didn’t even bother to teach shake his hand, or share some experience from the past. The And how when he finally got home, the government them the tap code.” hero leaned hard on the podium through it all, but the smile went through the process of determining whether he should Thorsness went into some additional detail about the never left his face, nor the joy from his countenance. He get it again. “There were 350 prisoners, and about seven of ordeal of getting shot down that he hadn’t told the kids. was home again. them became collaborators with the enemy. They didn’t “Before we were hit, we reported there were MIGs in the And then it was back to the long sidewalk for the walk know who these guys were, and they wanted to make sure area. But we got a radio message back from the F-4 to the waiting cars. Again he refused the cart. they didn’t give the medal to a collaborator. They might Phantoms that were supposed to protect us. ‘Have no fear, He strolled slowly down the walk, hand in hand with have thought about me, ‘After all, he’s Norwegian…’ we’re here.’” Gaylee. The crowd laughed heartily. The American fighters’ help, though, didn’t prevent the “In the end it was approved, but I’m the only person who missile strike on Thorsness’ F-105 Thunderchief. “Harry got the Medal of Honor who had to go through the system and I had talked it over beforehand that if I ever said, ‘Go’ LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:55 PM Page 12

Page 12 Minnesota Legionnaire November 2016

DistrictFIRST CommandersFIFTH SEVENTH DISTRICT DISTRICT DISTRICT Sylvan Fix Garylee Davenport Commander Ray Eiden Commander Commander October was another fun and busy month. My thanks to October was a busy month topped off with our Fall Greetings Mighty 7th. Lake City Post for hosting our Fall Americanism/ Conference in Marshall Oct. 28-29. I hope that everyone is doing well. October has been Membership Rally October 1st. We started out the day with On October 5th I attended the Medal of Honor ceremo- a very busy month. I attended two 7th District Membership bowling for about two hours with the kids. This included ny at US Bank stadium. I felt fortunate to be in the presence Rally's. The first Rally was held in Montevideo on October some of us big kids as well. Kids always seem to add that of such brave veterans. There were about 35 present out of 1st and the second rally was in Glenwood on October 15th little spark of excitement and fun. We then started the meet- 77 living recipients. Our District received a proclamation where there were more in attendance. I would like to say ing and talked about several of the programs within from Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges. The proclamation, "Thank You" to the Montevideo & Glenwood Posts for Americanism. The program went well. Thanks to La signed by Mayor Hodges, proclaimed Friday, Sept. 16, hosting the Rally's. If anyone would like me to attend one Crescent Post for hosting our Fall Conference October 15th 2016 as American Legion Day in the City of Minneapolis, of your post meeting, please feel free to give me a call. and the wonderful steak fry afterwards. Since Junior which was the site of the Legion's first convention in 1919. We are in the process of setting up dates to do area Shooting Sports is my project for the year we had our Junior Our membership revitalization will be held Nov. 17-19 at revitalizations, so if you are interested in doing one, you can Sports Chairman Michael Toban provide us with a demon- Richfield Post #435. I will be encouraging all our Posts to call me or my Membership Director Richard Wog. stration of a rifle and target and fill us in on financial or get involved to make this event a success. After a slow start A big thank you to Marshall Post 113 for hosting the other obligations there may be. Get out and vote and have the 5th District is gaining on their renewals. We are still Department Fall Conference. Hopefully everyone had an a Great Veterans Day. God Bless. behind last year at this time so there can't be any letdown. enjoyable time, a fun learning experience and gained some At our October District Assembly we voted to develop a knowledge from this event. SECOND website. This website will be for the entire Legion family; The 7th is currently in 4th place. Keep up the good legionnaires, auxiliary, SAL and ALR. This will give our work and look towards 1st place. I know we can do it. I DISTRICT District good exposure and hopefully boost our member- have faith in the 7th. Mark Coney ship. And last, but not least, Membership, Membership, Commander We will have a District Family Fundraiser on Dec. 4th. It Membership. November has quickly arrived as we see cooler temper- will be a pancake and sausage breakfast from 8:00 a.m. to atures, leaves dropping off the trees, the harvest is well noon at Wold Chamberlain Post #99. under way, and there has even been frost reported in the Remember to honor our veterans on Veteran's Day. Say NINTH a prayer for those serving overseas and their families. area. November is a very important month this year. First, DISTRICT in just a few days we will be heading to the polls to elect a Coming up: District Hospital Visitation - Nov. 6 at 2:00 Eric Wilkens new President and all the way down to the local City Hall p.m. and Commissioners. Please exercise your right and duty to Commander vote this year. We are fortunate to live in a country where FOURTH Greetings from the Roaring Ninth. As we enter we have such liberties as the right to vote without the fear DISTRICT November we have put a few big milestones behind us such of retributions. So please, get out and vote on Nov. 8th. as the 55% target, the Kaisersatt Derby, and the infamous On Veteran’s Day we will take time to remember and say Randy Bastyr leg between the 6th and 9th. “Thank You” to all veterans both young and old. Those who Commander Unfortunately, the 9th will keep the leg although it was are alive, and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to a close contest this year. November will bring another goal protect our freedom including those who have not returned Greetings to all members of the Fabulous Fourth. Can you believe that it’s already the beginning of November? with 65% target on November 16th. Second membership or been accounted for. That is what makes this country so notices have been sent and I hope all Posts are seeing more great. We have come together in the time of need to fight The MN Deer hunting season opens on the 5th. If you’re heading out into the woods like me, please be careful and renewals coming in. for what we felt was right and to protect our way of life. Let Just as important as renewals is recruiting new members. us not forget our veterans on November 11th. Please keep return home safe and sound. Good luck to all. Last month we slipped to 9th place in the membership Our weakest demographic is those veterans who have those currently deployed in your close thoughts and served from the Gulf War to today. I encourage each mem- prayers. Finally, we will celebrate Thanksgiving where we race. Please send your membership renewals into your Post so they can be sent in. Membership Chairman Mickey ber of the Legion to recruit one new member this year. Just give thanks for many things. The families will come togeth- think how many we could gain with that simple goal. I have er and catch up on distant relatives. If you plan on travel- Ostrum wants every Post to get those renewals in weekly. Please don’t hold them. already recruited 3 new Legion and 3 SAL members this ling for Thanksgiving, please be safe. year so I know it can be done. I would like to welcome the third chapter in the Second The Shop, Ship and Share Committee is working hard on this year’s event, to be held at the Maplewood Mall on November also brings three additional important events, District of the American Legion Riders. This has been in Election Day, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. Regardless the making for a few years, but now it is a reality. The December 2nd & 3rd. We are looking for names and addresses of Minnesota service men and women that will be of your stance, I encourage everyone to vote as there is chapter is tentatively scheduled to be based in either Rock plenty at stake in all levels of government. or Pipestone counties but will encompass the Southwest deployed over Christmas and New Year’s. If you know of someone we could send a care package to, please forward I also encourage everyone to take part in a Veterans Day area of the state. This is open to all Legion Family mem- event and remind our communities the important role veter- bers who ride and would like to bond with your fellow their name, company and address to me at: r-bastyr@com- cast.net. Donations can be sent to the “Shop, Ship and ans play. Then take time from the hustle and bustle of life Legion family members. If you would like to join, feel free and spend a day being thankful for all we have in this great to contact me at (507) 669-2006. Share, PO Box 17035, St. Paul, MN 55117-0035 Upcoming District events: November 9th - RCCC at country. Thank you for everything that you do and have a safe Until next month, keep doing the great things you do for November. Arcade-Phalen Post 577, Executive Board @ 6:30 and Membership meeting @ 7:00; November 15th -Shop, Ship The American Legion and fellow veterans. and Share meeting at NSP Post 39 @ 5:30, November 16th THIRD - Membership Rally at Rosetown @ 7:00; and November TENTH DISTRICT 20th - Hospital visitation @ 12:30. Thank you all for this opportunity to serve the Fabulous DISTRICT Mike Maxa Fourth District. Commander Bonnie Hanson Happy Thanksgiving! Commander Hello "Thundering Third’" How are you getting the word out on the work your post is accomplishing? Are you When you read this we will have finished up at Fall placing articles in your local paper? A fund raiser is happen- SIXTH Conference in Marshall. Hope we have many new mem- ing at the post to support our Veterans, youth, and commu- DISTRICT bers that are coming to see how we as the American Legion nity, how are you advertising? Legion family how do you are getting the message out about who we are and what we find information on the events happening at your post or Vernonica Fernlund are about. neighboring posts? If your post doesn't have a web-site, you Commander Please bring this Leadership back to your Post. might want to look into developing one. Your post web-site I can’t believe we are already into November and the Membership is what we need to continue in. We just fin- is information at your finger tips and will keep your mem- start of the holiday season. Our membership year is close ished up with our first revitalizion of the year. First I want bers informed on events at your post and The American to half over. to thank Cambridge for having us in their Post to do the Legion. The web-site is a powerful tool keeping you in Congratulations to the 6th District for not ending up with calling and then to the volunteers that helped make the calls touch with your post. Our young Veterans use social media the “Leg” award at the 6th & 9th District Membership rally. and then a big one for the District’s Membership Chairman to stay connected in their world. Facebook is widely used It was an honor to attend several membership dinners Paul Orson. We will be having another one in early and this is where our young Veterans are communicating throughout the District in October. February. I want to thank the St. Cloud VA and the and search to find the happening's around them. If we want I have received several generous donations for our Minneapolis VA for the invitations for the Pheasants these young Veterans to join us, we better change with the District project. The project is to raise funds for a passenger Luncheon and how tasty they are. times or we will be left behind. It is amazing that the device golf cart for the St. Cloud VA. Thank you to all the posts Now we have Veterans Day coming up where we honor you hold in the palm of your hand can find information, who have donated. We have been bouncing near the top for all Veterans living and those that have given their lives so locations, happenings, and buy stuff. My bride and I don't membership. that we can live in a free country. argue anymore, I google it and show her the results and Keep “pouring” in the membership to keep us floating We have the Rallies both in the Department and once again I was right.... Take a hard look at having a post on top. Saturday Nov. 19, 2016 the 6th District will have a Districts. We are working hard on getting those member- web-site or Facebook page to get your story out. If you holiday/membership rally at Brainerd American Legion ship’s in, calling the members that sign up on-line and ones already have a web-site page or Facebook, is it current? Post 255 starting at 5:00 pm. Everyone is welcome, I heard that haven’t paid for the last couple years. Most of the time Take an inventory of your site and keep it fresh and up to Santa might even attend. they do want to talk with someone. date. Finally have you registered your post at www.centen- Friday Nov. 11, 2016, I will be attending the Veterans Remember motto is “Family First.” Hope to see you all nial.legion.org for the 100 year anniversary? Please do, we Day Ceremony at the St. Cloud VA. down the line. want a 100% participation. "Ask" a Veteran to join and the I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Legion family will grow. LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:55 PM Page 13

November 2016 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 13 World War II HIstory Round Table

OnlyBy Al Zdon 1 AirborneThe division Japanese had interred thousands ofserved civilians in in Pacific uring World War II, there were five Airborne camps on Luzon, and the largest was at a college campus in divisions. Los Banos, about 40 miles from Manila. On Feb. 21, a pla- toon of paratroopers secured a landing zone near the camp. DFour of those fought in the European war, and two of On the morning of the 23rd, B Company of 511th them, the 82nd and the 101st, became well known because dropped into the landing zone while the platoon that had of their action at the D-Day landings, Operation Market secured the zone attacked the camp. At the same time, an Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. amphibious assault was made from a nearby lake using The one parachute/glider division that went to fight the Amtraks. Other parts of the 11th Airborne advanced down other war was the 11th Airborne. a highway leading to the camp and prevented Japanese Gerard Devlin, author of Paratrooper, and veteran Victor counter measures. Liptrap, who fought with the 11th Airborne, gave the World By three in the afternoon, the Airborne forces withdrew, War II Round Table audience at Fort Snelling a history les- having freed over 2,000 civilians prisoners. It was one of son in October. the most successful raids of the war. Devlin, a decorated paratrooper himself and author of The division then was tasked with taking on the several books on Airborne history, said the fact that only entrenched Japanese south of Luzon, which they did. one paratrooper division went to the Pacific reflected the The last Japanese forces on Luzon were now in the Moderator Doug Bekke interviews Airborne veteran preoccupation of the American military with winning the north, and as the Army drove to reach them, a team of the Victor Liptrap as historian Gerard Devlin looks on. European war first. 511th was dropped on June 21 on the other side of the “They wanted to do Germany first and then take on Japanese stronghold, and began advancing south. schoolhouse down the road. We had four Jeeps with trucks Japan.” They linked up with the other American divisions three following us going down a wooded lane to the school Devlin said each Airborne division was made up of one days later. It was the last combat action for the division in house. regiment of paratroopers and two regiments of glider the war. “We sneaked up on them. They were just getting up and troops. “The 511th fought as long and as hard as any infantry they were in the yard with washbasins, shaving and bathing. “The idea was that the paratrooper would go in first and division in Europe, but how many books do you read about It was my first taste of combat.” secure the area, knock down the telephone poles and so the battle for Manila?” Devlin asked. Liptrap’s Company F encountered many of the pillboxes forth, and then the two glider regiments would come in.” The 11th Airborne then did occupation duty in Japan, with naval guns and mortars. “Some we could take out our- The division was commanded by Maj. Gen. Joseph first at Yokohama. “There was a popular song during World selves, but for one we called up a tank. One of our guys told Swing, who, Devlin said, was highly regarded by his troops. War II,” Devlin said. “It was, ‘Good bye mama, I’ve off to the tank driver to back up a little bit, and he backed over a “He was one of the class of 1915 at West Point, the class Yokohama.’” 500 lb. mine. It destroyed the tank, but the driver was only they said ‘the stars fell on’ because so many in that class Later the division served up north on the island of injured. He went back to the aid station, and on the bunk excelled in World War II. Eisenhower was part of that class Hokkaido. It went back to the United States in 1949. next to him was the guy who had told him to back the tank and a close friend of Gen. Swing.” up.” The Division was formed in 1943, and was the principal ictor Liptrap grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and The 511th finally made it into Manila. “It was pretty unit in a practice drop called the Knollwood Maneuver in went into the Army when he was 17 years old. “I much on fire when we got there.” The regiment was the first Louisiana. The Army was considering eliminating division- fudged a little on my birth date,” he told the to enter the city, along with the 1st Cavalry Division. sized Airborne units, but the maneuver went so well, that RoundV Table listeners. When the call came for the 511th to make a raid to the Eisenhower kept them as part of his Army. He did basic training in California, and then signed up to Los Banos prison camp, the leadership was about to pick The 11th headed overseas to Papua New Guinea in late be a paratrooper. Why? “It was $50 more a month.” Liptrap’s Company F for the honor, but instead chose May, 1944, for more training and to learn jungle fighting. Training was at Fort Benning in Georgia. “The training Company B. “We’d had more casualties at that point, and so Its first action in November was in Leyte in the was quite rigid. We worked very hard.” they picked the other company.” Philippines, but it was brought to battle in transport ships He remembers his first jump. “I know I didn’t sleep at all As the 511th was mopping up an area south of Manila, rather than transport planes. the night before. We jumped two times that first day, and there was one incident Liptrap remembers well. “The day The terrain was rugged and full of jungle and it rained then we did three more jumps later, including a night jump. before I had been lead scout going down the trail, but that constantly causing problems in advancing and in being re- And then we got our wings.” day I was back in the line a little bit. We were walking on supplied when it did advance. The Japanese resistance was Liptrap was sent to New Guinea, a 28-day boat trip, and a trail alongside a ridge and we couldn’t see ahead. fierce. The 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the lead despite his Airborne training, was assigned to a replacement Suddenly a machine gun opened up in front of us. It was a of the operation, resorted to using Piper Cubs for re-supply. depot where he spent two or three months. “We spent four good thing I wasn’t the scout that day. By Mid-December, 1944, the 11th Airborne broke weeks in training learning how to rig parachutes.” “I had just passed a Japanese foxhole and I headed for it, through to the western shoreline of Leyte. The parachute The rest of the time on Goodenough Island was waiting. but when I got there, the sergeant behind me and a Filipino regiment was relieved on Christmas day by the two glider “We didn’t have anything to do. There were a lot of trucks soldier were already in it.” regiments, who also incurred heavy losses against the available and so we could go around the island. There was Liptrap had no resort but to just lie flat while the entrenched enemy. a really good swimming hole at the end of the island. But machine gun bullets sprayed over him. Meanwhile, a mor- By mid-January, the 511th was back at its base camp on mostly we’d just sit in our tents and watch the rain.” tar was “walking” its way down the trail getting closer and Leyte getting ready for the next push – this time north to the For a while, he was assigned to a unit that handled closer. large island of Luzon. The glider units went by ship to ammunition and drove trucks. Finally he decided it was “Finally one landed six feet from me. The next one Mindoro, an island just to the west of Luzon, and the 511th time to get into the war. would have got me, but that was the last shot they fired. I got ready to do its first combat jump. “There were three of us, and we were young and we guess it was my lucky day.” One glider regiment, the 188th, landed in southern thought we should be doing something over there, so we Liptrap said that not all the Japanese fought to the death. Luzon on Jan. 31, 1945, and pushed inland. Later in the day, volunteered for the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment.” “We came upon one soldier who had a bullet hole in his leg. the other glider regiment, the 187th, also landed. The glider They were sent to Leyte, and part of their job was to They just sent him back. He made no attempt to do us any units broke through three Japanese defense lines and by bring supplies to the 511th PIR. harm.” Feb. 3, they were in the vicinity of Tagaytay Ridge. “We had to cross a river which was between our camp After the Philippines, the 11th Airborne was sent to The ridge was the goal of the parachute regiment. The and where the 511th was fighting. To do this, we would put Okinawa to prepare for the invasion of Japan. “I was just a 511th only had 47 C-47s at its disposal (compare to the trucks on an LST which would take us around the river. buck private. I wasn’t in on the planning. They showed us Operation Market Garden in Holland where the Allies “We had two trucks loaded with ammo, but the other sand tables of an island that we were supposed to take that employed over 1,400 C-47s) and so the regiment had to truck got swamped. So I had to tow the other truck 10 miles had 200 Japanese soldiers on it.” make its landing in three waves. up into the mountains. Then we came back. I asked a He said he and the others were happy when the atomic The first wave landed in the drop zone on top of the Filipino where the boat was, but he took me down to the bombs were dropped and the Japanese surrendered. “We ridge, but the second wave was dropped prematurely and river where his dugout canoe was.” were all for that.” They were immediately sent to landed about five miles east of the ridge. The third wave That was no help, and Liptrap and his comrade went Yokohama as occupation forces. also had problems and three-fourths of its troopers were back to the trucks. “We had to back them out, but we hit one “I remember all the Japanese had were old American dropped well short of the drop zone. end of a truck on the end of a hut, and it moved the hood a cars and trucks. The trucks ran on charcoal.” Still within five hours, the entire 511th was assembled bit. The people from all over the village came and were Liptrap became a driver, taking officers where they on the ridge. By three in the afternoon, all three regiments standing around. We spent the night in the trucks. wanted to go. “A Russian general and a lieutenant wanted were in contact and fighting as one. The division began “In the morning, we took that dugout canoe across the to go to Tokyo. We were told that was off limits, but I advancing toward its ultimate goal: Manila. river. The trucks stayed there.” wasn’t going to tell a general where he could go.” The Japanese had had ample time to prepare for the Liptrap was then stationed at an airfield the Americans In Tokyo, they had to find the Russian embassy. “The attack, and had built the Genko Line, consisting of over had seized from the Japanese, and it was expected, he said, Russian officers didn’t speak any English or Japanese, and 1,200 large blockhouses using naval guns or large mortars that the Japanese would try to recapture it. After five days we had to ask people where to go. It was pretty confusing.” plus machine guns and booby traps. Over 6,000 Japanese of waiting, the Japanese mounted its own parachute assault At last the embassy was located. “They asked me if I were dug in around Manila. on the airfield. wanted breakfast and I said, ‘Okay.’ So they gave me a slice “The Japanese planned to hold out to the last bullet, and “They came in just before dark and took over the strip of apple pie and a glass of vodka.” then blow up whatever was left,” Devlin said. and started burning our airplanes. The next morning, the Liptrap said generally, the Japanese “just kept quiet and The regiments of the 11th Airborne took turns leading 511th came in and cleared off the field.” were very polite. Except for one guy when we took his the assault, and finally broke through the Genko Line. By The jump onto Tagaytay Ridge on Luzon was next up. truck away from him. He wasn’t very happy.” Feb. 12, the line was breached, and the Airborne fighters Liptrap was in the group that didn’t quite make it. “We “I had a good time in Japan. The first week we were headed for Japanese defensive units close to the city. landed down in the valley beside the ridge. We had to go there was the best week I had in the service.” The 511th led a break-in at a key fort, and on Feb. 18, five miles to get up on the ridge, and it was steep. One of In January, 1946, Liptrap was discharged and went home the Americans entered Manila. Fighting went on sporadical- our buddies broke his ankle, and we had to take turns carry- to Wichita. The trip home by ship only took seven days. ly for another two weeks. ing him up there. We were pretty fatigued by the time we He became a mechanic for Northwest Airlines, and later “Manila had been a beautiful city, modeled after made it.” moved to Minnesota. His hobby has been skydiving, and Washington D.C.,” Devlin said. “It had beautiful marble Without much rest, though, the 511th went into combat he’s done over 60 tandem jumps. buildings and elegant hotels. By the time it was retaken, it working its way toward Manila. For the last four years, to celebrate their anniversary, was nothing but a pile of rubble on the streets.” “We were told that there were a bunch of Japanese in a Liptrap and his wife have gone skydiving. He’s 91. LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:55 PM Page 14

Page 14 Minnesota Legionnaire November 2016 The Auxiliary Bulletin No. 17-3 November 2016 President Carol Kottom Secretary Sandie Deutsch Department Headquarters, Veterans Service Building, St. Paul, MN 55155 651-224-7634

The Auxiliary receives two President’s $10,000 checks for projects Column The 84th annual Fall Conference was held in Marshall, Zandy as we continue to improve our membership counts. Minnesota, with The Ramada Inn being the host hotel, our We had a great turn in at Fall Conference and need to keep Auxiliary Conference at Southwest State University and the up with all of the Department goals that have been set. Your Joint Session with The American Legion Family being held Unit can win some cash for just working that membership By at the Red Baron Arena. The Conference was sponsored by and meeting goals. If you need any assistance, please do Carol Kottom the Marshall American Legion Family 113. The Auxiliary not hesitate to contact Chairman Zandy Kessler or the was blessed this year with a $10,000.00 grant from the Department Office. Veterans for Veterans Foundation to be used in our annual Gift Shop and also the $5.00 bill shower. A presentation CHRISTMAS GIFT SHOP was made to President Carol Kottom by Don Pankake and The Department Office and the Hospital and Home Marland Ronning from the V4V Board. We also received a Representatives want to give a big thank you to the Units Greetings from the American Legion Auxiliary – check in the amount of $10,000.00 to be used for our and Posts that have contributed funds to our Gift Shop pro- It was a privilege and a pleasure for me to get to present Veterans from the Pheasant Dinner fund. Chuck Stone pre- gram. Again this year, the veterans at the four VA Medical our newest unit, Bruno (out of my own 10th District), with sented this to President Carol as well. There aren’t enough Centers and the five Minnesota Veterans Homes will be their charter. The Legionnaires attended along with 2015- thank yous to shout out to both of these groups. This will selecting gifts for their loved ones through our Gift Shop 2016 10th District President Dawne Juhl and Department ensure that we have funds to make our Veterans Christmas program. About 2,000 veterans participate in this program. Secretary Sandie. very bright this year. A huge change this year for the Gift Shop is the amount that Let’s see if we can get a few more going this year. Bruno Donna Redepenning and her crew had a very successful was approved by the Department Executive Committee to has a dual member and they are already working on getting Silent Auction with benefits the American Legion Auxiliary spend on our Veterans at the Gift Shop. an active Junior group together. Gotta love it. Emergency Fund which is Auxiliary members helping their The Gift Shop committee has been busy shopping for the Thanks to Barnesville, Rosetown and Brainerd for the own. The final tally hasn’t been totaled but it will be gifts and would appreciate your Unit’s financial support of invitations to your events. President Jeanette Kava invited around the $4,500.00 mark. Again – thanks to all who this program. Those who attended Fall Conference saw the neighboring units to a luncheon and I had a great time vis- donated items and especially to those who upped those bids. nice quality and selection of items the veterans may choose iting with the gals. President Sandy Gibson’s unit had a This is another area where it makes one proud to be a mem- from. Please include a generous cash donation in your wonderful Fall Fashion luncheon. ber, seeing all of The American Legion Family supporting Unit’s annual budget and send it to the department office Our 4th District President Connie Anderson did quite the this cause. earmarked Gift Shop. Let’s support our own Auxiliary pro- job modeling the Dress Barn fashions. Brainerd had the last grams first. survivor from the Bataan march there. What an honor to HAPPY 97th BIRTHDAY Donations to the Gift Shop are accepted all year. You meet him. Also 5 of their Girl Staters spoke and I enjoyed Does your Unit know November is “birthday month” for may use Poppy funds and Gambling funds for this program. visiting with them. It was fun to share my project and the American Legion Auxiliary? Will your Unit be cele- The Gift Shop is available to all veterans who are in the var- answer questions for those attending. brating? It was November 10, 1919, when the American ious facilities at the time of the Gift Shop including regular The 10th District Juniors also had their fall meeting and Legion Auxiliary was established by a resolution adopted at day care patients. The Gift Shop is chaired by Raleen fun day. Shaaron Barnes, 10th District Commander Bonnie the first National Convention of The American Legion here Tolzmann and her committee member is Vida Bacon. They Hanson, 10th District President Linda Deschene, myself in Minneapolis. Since then the Auxiliary has grown to are both giving much of their time to make this a very suc- and a bunch more members held a “learn to crochet” class. around 9000 Units and over 600,000 members. This cessful event. The concept is that the Juniors can make a baby blanket November is the American Legion Auxiliary’s 97th birth- What is the Gift Shop? It is where volunteers of the for the Honorary 10th District President Megan Bruzek’s day. We hope you are planning a celebration in your Unit. American Legion Auxiliary work together, with the assis- project. What a fun afternoon! Do something fun and memorable as a Unit. tance of the Hospital and Home Representatives, to find out Mary Davis, our National President, had her homecom- what types of gifts are appreciated and needed. Those items ing in Seattle in October. Although I had a little trouble get- 2017 POPPY ORDERS are purchased and delivered to the facilities. ting around, I did attend and enjoyed being there. Orders for our 2017 Poppies are being accepted. Prices Where does it Happen? The Gift Shops are set up in the Sadly, our membership is not doing as well as I hoped. for small poppies are remaining the same as last year. An Veterans Homes and Medical Centers all over the State of Buffalo’s Post Commander, Robert Larson, who is also the order form was included in the first Unit mailing. Poppy Minnesota. There are 9 facilities and with the assistance of Wright County Vice Commander, has vowed that he is prices: Small Poppies - $180.00 a thousand ($18.00 a hun- the Hospital and Home Representatives there will be 9 dif- going to get the Post, Unit and SAL all to their goals. How dred) for orders of 500 or less; large Poppies - $18.00 a ferent Gift Shops (see dates below). about your Legionnaires? Are they out there working mem- dozen and the Poppy Window Display cards are $ .50 each Who does this help? This helps the Veterans and their bership for you? while supplies last. Remember that the Department Office families. It gives the Veterans a chance to get a gift that Let’s go out as a family and sign up the grandmothers, no longer has any of the Poppy Display cards. You must they don’t expect and it gives them the ability to give their mothers, wives, daughters and granddaughters of our either order what Emblem Sales offers or come up with family members a gift as well. Legionnaires. When a new Legionnaire is signed up, have your own creative way to make the displays. The 2017 Who can help? Any Auxiliary member, Auxiliary Junior whoever is signing them up ask if they have family that Poppy orders will be shipped on the dates requested on the member, Sons of the American Legion or Legionnaire would like to join the Auxiliary or the Sons. orders. When you receive your Poppies, please store them themselves can volunteer. There are jobs for all ages during Membership is a program that all members need to get in a safe place so they aren’t inadvertently thrown away or the Gift Shops. Please get in touch with your local repre- involved in. It’s not just a job for your membership chair- wrapped up as a holiday gift. Please check your order upon sentative and find out what you can do to help. man and/or your president. It’s everybody’s job. How receipt and report any discrepancies to the Department about Christmas gifts? Pay for an existing member or sign office. GIFT SHOP DATES up a new member for Christmas. The Department Office wants to assure you that the Our representatives have announced the date(s) of their Do it now. Then you’re shopping is done early. Poppies this year are very well made. Our Veterans at the Gift Shop at their respective facility. Fall Conference is now in the past. Had a wonderful Hastings Veterans Home has been working very hard, along Fargo VAMC December 5 time and I hope everyone else did too. with a few individual Veterans here in Minnesota. As of Minneapolis VAMC December 6 & 7 Went to my first American Legion Family Hospital right now, 93 Units have already placed their Poppy order. Sioux Falls VAMC December 15 Association meeting and am looking forward to being We would love to have a 100% participation this year. St. Cloud VAMC November 28 - 30 active in the association. Fergus Falls VA Home December 19 First time for the Riders to participate in the Grand Hastings VA Home December 8 March. I hope they enjoyed the experience – they are a PEARL HARBOR RALLY Luverne VA Home December 8 great group and I’m pleased they agreed to participate. Our The Pearl Harbor Membership Rally will be held at the Waite Park American Legion Post 428 on Saturday, Minneapolis VA Home December 7 & 8 Northwest Division National Vice President Virginia Silver Bay VA Home December 8 Nelsen attended the entire conference. December 3rd. Turn in 3-4:30 p.m., with dinner at 5 and We were all glad to hear from her and enjoyed her being program to follow. Your District President and Membership with us. Chairman asks every Unit to have membership ready to be MEMBERSHIP SUPPLIES Remember to always “Thank a Veteran”. picked up when they or a Legion representative comes to If your Unit is in need of additional membership sup- And as we did in kindergarten – “When you go out into your area. Check with your Post Commander for your pick- plies, i.e., application forms, transmittal sheets, member- the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.” up day and time. ship cards, etc., please send your order to the department Until next month – Please do not hold membership in your Unit. Mail your office. All supplies are sent from the office upon request. transmittals on a regular basis. Just be prepared to give those last minute memberships to the representative who SEWING NEEDS comes to pick them up for the rally. Included in the November/December Unit mailing were Let’s make this a special Holiday Season for our the sewing patterns of items needed at the various hospi- Department President Sandy and Membership Chairman tals/homes. Home Service Chairmen please ask your Unit LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:55 PM Page 15

November 2016 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 15

AuxiliaryContinued from Preceding Bulletin Page

President for these items. Remember: Times are changing; needs are changing. Please make only those items that are requested by our Representatives to meet the needs of our veterans. Send all completed items to the facility that has requested them in care of our Representative there. Make sure and contact the Representative before bringing items to the facility to make sure they are in need of the items at that time. They don’t have a lot of space for storage so it is very important to con- tact them. If your Unit has an active sewing group, may we suggest you contact your local nursing home, shut-ins, etc. within your own community and “sew for them”. Many of these local facilities and their needs are overlooked by our Units and could certainly use your sewing talents.

SECRETARY SANDIE’S NOTES By the time you are reading this we will have another Fall Conference under our belts. I hope many of you attended. It was a very memorable conference. What a warm feeling it leaves seeing our entire American Legion BRUNO NEW UNIT -- Above, charter members of the Family working together and enjoying each other’s compa- Bruno Unit 563, pose with their new charter. Below, Oct. 28, 2016, Auxiliary Membership ny. The Silent Auction was awesome and as usual there are President Carol Kottom, Bruno President Sandy (3) huge baskets sitting on my kitchen floor wondering, Hoiland and Past 10th District President Dawne Juhl “What am I doing here?” My husband has the same senti- show off the new charter. ments. I just get all caught up in the bidding process and somehow hate to lose. I always tell myself it is for a won- derful cause; Auxiliary members helping other members in need. We have been busy here in the Department Office as membership has finally started to come in. Very sincerely I would like to thank all of you who work so hard to recruit, renew and rejoin but I would also ask that everyone work just a little bit harder so we could make our goals set by National. National has listened to our members and dropped the 1,000,000 member march setting realistic goals this year. We already have some Units at 100%. If you get a chance, visit one of the Gift Shops this year and offer to help. The Hospital/Home Reps can always use volunteer help. For me, helping at Hastings the past 3 years has been the most rewarding parts of being in this organiza- tion. This year I promised Mary Ann Davis I would be at the Minneapolis VAMCE to help her out. I can’t wait. On the personal side of things, thanks to all Districts but espe- cially my very own 3rd District for allowing me to partake in the cider taste testing contest at Fall Conference. Wasn’t that a treat? It was right to bed for me after that. Shorty and I did it again. We went shopping and got our retirement home on wheels. We decided that’s the way we want to go when and if we are ever able to retire. We both wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving and to my fam- ily, Merry Christmas as well. We get to celebrate over Thanksgiving – it will be great having all our kids and grandkids together again. My shout out this month is to the V4V Board, especially Don Pankake and Marland Ronning and also Chuck Stone November is Past with the Pheasant Dinner group for the generous donations. It is a pleasure to work with these gentlemen, especially Don, I always get a few wisecracks out of him. Pres. Parlay Month November is Past Presidents Parley month. I hope that every Unit has a Past President’s Parley. Wouldn’t it be great if Minnesota would have a 100% participation? Many Units have Past Presidents of the District and Department and some even a Past National President. The Past Presidents of all level are here to assist and mentor mem- bers, you never know. Your Unit might help someone come along to be one of the future Auxiliary leaders. Along with Unit members the Past Presidents Parley emphasis on women veterans, as our mil- itary has changed and we sometimes seem to overlook what their needs are. Remember, the deadline for the Past President Parley Health Care Scholarship is earlier than the Annual Reports. If you have any questions, feel free to con- tact me for more informa- tion. The Unit Guide is also a great tool for information. The November Unit mailing and Trophies and Awards also contain detailed infor- mation on the American Legion Auxiliary Past CHRIS RONNING Presidents Parley. Remember to nominate a Unit Member of the year. If chosen, she will be honored at the 2017 National Convention in Reno. Please follow the guidelines listed in the Trophies and Awards document when making your NATIONAL WINNER -- Brennan Rasmussen was the selection. winner of the annual Department of Minnesota Poppy Past Presidents are ambassadors for the members of the Poster Contest. His poster then went on to National American Legion Auxiliary and are here to share informa- where it was judged one of the top 7 posters in the tion to make this organization strong and maintain its nation. growth. LegionnaireNov16_Layout 1 11/1/2016 4:55 PM Page 16

Page 16 Minnesota Legionnaire November 2016

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