World War II Soldier Finds Former Comrade
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Community Calendar Page 8 Obituaries Page 6 i Genealogy Column Page 4 Outdoor News Page 14 Hometown Histories Page 4 Public Notices Page 10 All 4 Hartford Public Schools National Honor Society Kute Kids Picture Page 8 Sports Page 11 Letters to the Editor Page 2 Want Ads Page 10 receive accreditation page 5 WHS members page 7 Movies Guides Page 7 We Asked You Page 2 The Combined Newspapers of the Watervljet Record, Coloma Courier & Hartford News TRI-CITY RE /16"' Year Issue No. 21 May 24, 2000 Seventy-five Cents Ami Sherwood takes top honors Remember... WHS woodworkers "clean up" on regional and state awards; continue long winning tradition By Joe Cheshire zer, and Justin Gagliardo earned The old myth of '"woodworking is honorable mentions. a guy thing" has been shattered with With 11 different categories in the Watervliet senior Ami Sherwood Regional Woodworking Division, proving girls can do anything they Watervliet students were entered in want, even in a predominately male eight of them and ended up winning atmosphere. seven. They also earn four second Ami walked away with the Re- places, two third places, and two^ gional Grand Award in Woodwork- fourth-place ribbons. ing, winning the distinguished The top four placing finishers in award with a project called a "Mor- each category advanced to the state ris Chair." She is following a tradi- competition against winners from 17 tion at Watervliet, for Watervliet other regions around the state. has won this award five times in the According to Waite, "Students The American legion reminds us that Memorial Day flag protocol requires the flag be flown at half-staff until noon only, then raised last six years.' learn many things while building to the top of the staff. The flag should be raised briskly and low- Ami, along with her classmates and sometimes designing their own ered slowly, and should always be treated with respect. from Mike Waite's woodworking projects. Teamwork, patience, per- class, came home winners from the severance, safety, and the sharing of Michigan Industrial Technology knowledge with others along the Education Society (MITES) Student way are some of the valuable skills Project Contest held in Constantine. they develop. The most rewarding, Memorial Day services Some 22 schools from all over of course, is the end result." southwest Michigan competed in It is easy to see that Waite is very announced for Tri-City Area this year's regional contest. proud of this year's students and By Joe Cheshire Services will be held in Pioneer Watervliet set a record by having their efforts and accomplishments. The Tri-City Area will pay tribute Cemetery at approximately 11:50 14 students advancing to the state "We moved into a new shop and REUNITED...After 56 years, in Mansfield, Ohio, William Mack of to local heroes on Monday, May 29, a.m. and again at 1:00 p.m. in competition in Grand Rapids last dealt with a few setbacks, but we Coloma Township holds a picture showing him with Steve Bogner, with each of our cities of Coloma, Keeler Cemetery. weekend, with six WHS students made it. Watervliet's students take whose life he saved during the D-Day landing, June 6, 1944. Mack ap- Hartford and Watervliet doing so in In Watervliet, VFW Post 6803 will finishing in the top 10. a lot of pride in their projects, some- plied a tornique to Bogner^s left leg after Bogner was hit by fire bursts different ways. provide a Color Guard for a parade Taking third- and ninth-place times spending several evenings after landing on the beach. (Cliff Stevens photo) In Hartford, a parade will be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. The parade finishes at the state competition was after school to get them completed at 10:30 a.m. that will feature will begin at the dwffntown water Adam Hall; Doug Wing, Stefanie on time for the contest." veterans from several conflicts. tower and proceed down Main Brule and Brian Geike had fifth- Watervliet students have been World War II soldier Members of Stoddard Post 93 will Street to the City Cemetery. place finishes, Andy Mayer had a recognized at the state level as one provide the Color Guard. The parade will feature veterans sixth-place finish, Ami Sherwood of the top woodworking programs in A 40-passenger benched wagon from several eras and will include placed ninth; and Eric Leith, Nathan the state. Many students have finds former comrade will be provided for those veterans Miss Watervliet and the Watervliet Antio, Chad Worl, David Hill, Jerry earned top honors at the state com- By Cliff Stevens those three, only one tank was able who are unable to march but who High School Band. Capovilla, Neal Evans, Joshua Pat- petition as well over the years. It took 56 years, but William Mack to assist in the beach landing." would like to participate in the Services at the Watervliet City of Coloma Township finally was About two weeks after the landing. parade. Cemetery will feature District Judge able to locate a wounded soldier he Mack was hospitalized at the Co- The parade will feature the Emer- Gary Bruce as guest speaker. served with in the U.S. Army during logne Hospital, suffering from ald Vanguard band from Hartford World War II. "battle fatigue." High School and Miss Hartford and There is no parade on tap for Co- Mack, 75, was among soldiers "They called it battle fatigue, but it her court. loma but veterans will be remem- landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day, was really from a concussion from a Ceremonies will be held in Ely bered in services at North Shore June 6, 1944. shell exploding close to me," said Park, by the Vietnam and World Memory Gardens in Hagar Shores Serving alongside Mack were Mack. War II memorials, featuring at 11:00 a.m., with Maurice Bishop Steve Bogner of Ohio and Carol Mack, who owned and operated speakers Mary Ann Middaugh and as speaker. Enders of Benton Harbor. Mack Cement Work off North Wa- Bill Queen. Middaugh is Michi- Another service will be held at After landing in Normandy, tervliet Road for 42 years, often gan's 79th District Representative 1:00 p.m. in Coloma City Cemetery, 51 France, Mack, a member of the 1 wondered what happen to Bogner. and Queen is Finance Officer from with Post Commander from Amer- th Division, 16 Infantry, along with In late March of this year. Mack Post 93. ican Legion Post 362 as speaker. Bogner and Enders, entered the and his wife were able to locate Ardenes Forest. Bogner. He was residing in Mans- After entering the forest. Mack field, Ohio. recalled Bogner was struck by a "1 was able to find out Steve's State requires computer for blast of fire bursts, with his left leg home address and telephone number suffering extensive damage. when I asked my stepdaughter Cyn- "I saw Steve (Bogner) fall to the dy Powers, who resides in South Watervliet Twp. voter files; ground and I opened a first aid kit Carolina, to enter his name in her and applied a tourniquet to his computer." Twp. will finance fire hall, bleeding leg," said Mack. When Mack and his wife were "I wanted to stay with him until a returning from Florida this March, medic arrived, but a sergeant hol- they drove to Mansfield and were lease back to Fire Board lered to me to keep moving on and a able to talk with Bogner and his By Joe Cheshire municipalities with no regard to medic would soon arrived to help wife. The Watervliet Township Board their individual situation. Steve." "It was both a joyful and emo- approved purchasing a new compu- In other matters, the Board heard a During the landing. Mack recalled tional moment as we relived that ter for state-mandated "Qualified report from Township Attorney Ron about 75 percent of the soldiers time, 56 years ago," said Mack. Voter Files," at a cost of $850 at the Postelli on financing for the pro- were killed. Bogner asked Bill, "Was it you board meeting May 15. posed Fire Station addition. Mack was an 18-year-old ammu- who rolled me over after I was "The state says we have to file via "There are different ways of nition carrier for his unit and hasn't wounded and put a tourniquet on the computer," said Clerk Eva Bau- financing it, but I think the best way forgotten that 55 amphibious tanks my leg?" meister. "Because we have less is to use Public Act 99 which will were to help the ground troopers as "We talked for quite a while," said than 3,000 registered voters, we use the full faith and credit of the they approached the beach. Mack, "and we plan to keep in cannot file with the state directly so Township." "Of the 55 tanks, most of them touch; and, hopefully, Steve and his we are filing by using Coloma Postelli said the Township would sank before reaching shore, and wife will visit us here in Coloma Township's system." take out a loan in its name for the only three tanks made it; and of someday." According to Baumeister, Water- cost of the addition, with the station vliet Township will connect via a deeded in the Township's name. It computer modem to Coloma Town- would then lease the station back to ship's computer and data will then the Fire Board, which would make be transferred electronically. the monthly installment payments to First at new location at 1-94 & M-140 A Board member said that at the the lending institution.