The Minnesota American Legion and Legionnaire Auxiliary Volume 101, Number 12 Every Day is Veterans Day December 2019 ‘They thought I was dead’ Patrick M. Novack Post 5222 Commander Teresa Huberty IRAQ WAR opens the post’s first official meeting on Nov. 14. Post formed in Mpls. is first in 6 years Twin Cities TV reporters descend on initial meeting for Post 5222 By Tim Engstrom and was a member of American Legion post in Coon Rapids. His MINNEAPOLIS — Under badge number was 5222. the spotlight of TV crews across Novack’s son, Mike, is vice the Twin Cities market, The commander of the new post and Ryan Sabinish, an Army National Guard veteran of the Iraq War, stands in front of the State Capitol. The Albert American Legion Department said his father was awarded the Lea resident was the 2018-19 Department of Minnesota commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of Minnesota welcomed its first Purple Heart, two Silver Stars and visited St. Paul often that year. He also is an American Legion member of Albert Lea Post 56. new post in six years. and three Bronze Stars over three Patrick M. Novack Post 5222 tours in Vietnam in the Army. of The American Legion has Assistant Adjutant Mike Ryan Sabinish survives checkpoint bomb, now urges younger 27 charter members, with the Maxa was at the Nov. 14 char- youngest at age 27 and the oldest ter meeting. veterans to get involved with local and state organizations at 83. Teresa Huberty, the post “My goal is to meld our By Tim Engstrom High School in 2000. Three years later, he commander, estimates about 85 older veterans, our older gen- The Sabinish enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard, percent of the new members are eration, our older Legionnaires n the Iraq War, being a quartermaster knowing that three previous generations veterans of wars in Iraq and Af- into our younger Legionnaires, could be just as dangerous or more so military tradition in his family had served. He felt the duty, ghanistan. our younger veterans, and to than being in the infantry. he said, to have the military experience. Novack, a Coon Rapids resi- show them how we embrace I • Great-grandfather, Lauritz Just ask Ryan Sabinish, an Albert Lea In January 2004, he went through basic dent, died with his wife, Mary, the community, how we em- resident and a member of Albert Lea Post 56. Carlsen, Army, World War I, Europe training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, in a car crash in May 2004. He brace our children and youth, He is the former commander of the • Grandfather, Richard Sabinish Sr., then he went to quartermaster school in Fort was 57. She was 60. They are the Americanism, national de- Military Order of the Purple Heart and Army, World War II, Europe Lee, Virginia. His military occupational buried at Fort Snelling. fense,” Maxa told reporter Reg advocates for younger veterans to get to • Father, Richard Sabinish Jr., Navy, specialty? Petro supply specialist. The He retired from a 30-year Chapman of WCCO, himself a know their local veteran organizations — Vietnam War 224th Transportation Company in Austin career with the Minneapolis Gulf War veteran. join them all. • Ryan Sabinish, Army National is filled with truck drivers, mechanics and Police Department in 1999 Guard, Iraq War Continued on Page 7 Sabinish, 38, graduated from Albert Lea Continued on Page 10 Chris Kyle widow: ‘This doesn’t end you’ National commander to head south By Tim Engstrom ROCHESTER — American dinner at Redwood Marine Corps and Legion National Commander Falls Post 38 before served during the HUTCHINSON — Life is James W. “Bill” Oxford will spending the night Vietnam War as an getting better lesson by lesson tour much of southern Minne- at Jackpot Junction aviation electronic for Taya Kyle, widow of U.S. sota in his 2020 tour. Casino Hotel. technician for the A-6 Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle The schedule has Oxford, On Feb. 19, Oxford Intruder. He served in who served four tours in Iraq who hails from Post 29 in will eat breakfast at Vietnam during his and survived, only to be mur- Lenoir, North Carolina, flying Gaylord Post 433, initial enlistment. He dered in February 2013 helping into Rochester International lunch at Minnesota was discharged as a a veteran with post-traumatic Airport Feb. 16. The next day, State University in sergeant in 1970, then stress disorder. he is slated to have breakfast Mankato and dinner joined the North Car- God, she said, has prepared her at Adams Post 146, lunch at at New Prague Post Bill olina National Guard, for obstacles, even ones within Waseca Post 228 and dinner at 45. The command- Oxford eventually retiring as the past month. She has become Albert Lea Post 56. er plans to stay overnight in a colonel after more than 34 stronger every time and is less After overnighting in Albert Bloomington before flying out years of military service. scared of the challenges of life. Taya Kyle speaks Nov. Lea, Oxford will have break- of Minneapolis-St. Paul Inter- He served as North Carolina “When it’s not me, it’s not 13 at the Hutchinson fast Feb. 18 at Wells Post 210, national Airport on Feb. 20. commander from 2010 to 2011. Continued on Page 7 Event Center. lunch at Madelia Post 19 and Oxford is a veteran of the (Tour times are on page 13.) We wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a Wonderful New Year. Page 2 Minnesota Legionnaire December 2019 Zdon fondly remembered during retirement party reflecting on his 23-year American Legion career By Tim Engstrom ANOKA — Past National Commander Dan Ludwig’s first impression of Al Zdon came at the 1996 Fall Conference. Zdon, the former editor for the Hibbing Daily Tribune, wore khaki pants and looked a bit haggard. Below an American Legion emblem, the tablet reads: “I slept in khaki pants for “100th National Convention of The American Legion: a week that didn’t look that August 28, 29, 30, 2018: This tablet is placed in grateful bad,” Ludwig said to laugh- recognition of The American Legion in awarding the 1st ter in a room of 125 people. and 100th national conventions to the city of Minneapolis, “I thought he was a homeless Minnesota: Dedicated November 11, 2019: Department vet. … Never have I been so of Minnesota.” wrong about a first impression.” Anoka Post 102 hosted a meal and celebration Friday, Nov. 15, called 23 Years of Sto- Plaque to note rytelling to let Legion family Friends and family of Department of Minnesota Communications Director Al Zdon, and friends reflect on working who edited the Legionnaire for 23 years, applaud Nov. 15 at Anoka Post 102. Zdon with Zdon, who retires Dec. 31 felt his retirement warranted a two-paragraph brief, not a story with photos. as the American Legion Depart- centennial ment of Minnesota’s commu- That’s a calling.” nications director. The job title Department Commander includes being the editor of The Mark Dvorak said he shared a Minnesota Legionnaire and the love of music with Zdon and convention secretary for Legion Baseball called him “a class act and a MINNEAPOLIS — A new Commander Mark Dvorak, in Minnesota. true professional.” American Legion plaque tells Department Vice Commander Zdon, 71, wrapped up the Department Adjutant Randy pedestrians on the Nicollet Mall Teresa Ash, 5th District Com- evening’s festivities by play- Tesdahl called Zdon “a moral in downtown Minneapolis, stop- mander Andrew Rose and Past ing the banjo and singing “Five compass” and said everyone ping for a rest at Peavey Plaza, Department Commander Jim Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” to a knew him. Rudy Boschwitz how their city hosted the 100th Kellogg. round of applause. called Tesdahl to get an item in convention of The American A moment of silence, along Ludwig said Zdon produced the Legion’s “bulletin.” When Legion in August 2018. with a rifle squad and a bugler, the finest state Legion news- Tesdahl explained it was a At the base of an arrangement will commemorate the lives paper in the country and com- statewide newspaper edited by mended him for capturing the Zdon, Boschwitz knew Zdon. Legionnaires got to see a side of Al Zdon that they don’t of flagpoles, the marker was in- lost in the 1941 attack on Pearl often see. Zdon played the banjo and sang. stalled a few feet away from a Harbor. history of Minnesota veterans. “You don’t run into anybody, 1959 plaque that notes the city The American Legion ordered A particularly poignant it seems, who doesn’t know Al raising six children was diffi- haps the most extraordinary hosted the first American Legion the plaque from the St. Paul comment came from Dr. Rich Zdon,” Tesdahl said. cult enough but moving them man I’d ever met in my life.” convention in 1919. office of Twin City Monument Dinter of Hibbing: “Al Zdon Sandie Deutsch, executive from Hibbing to the Twin Cities Foley, a retired appellate court A half-hour dedication cere- Co., which installed it Saturday, could get men who were in the secretary for the Auxiliary, told was tough. Al loved being the judge and past national com- mony is slated for Pearl Harbor Nov. 9. wars to talk about it. I want how she dropped her column editor and the family loved mander, took Zdon under his Day, specifically 10 a.m. Satur- The new plaque effort began you to know that’s not a skill.