CASS CITY, MICHIGAN CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 PAGE NINE
We Salute You!
Hometown hero Gould flying high
Noah T. Gould moved to Cass City in 1996 Gould graduated in the U.S.N.A. Class of 2006, when his father, the Rev. Todd Gould, was called took his Marine Corps commission, completed to pastor the Evangelical Free Church. Home - six more months of The Basic School in Quan - schooled up until high school, he chose public tico, Va., then was off to flight school. education when his parents gave him the option He completed his training both in Pensacola, in 1998. He thrived there. both in academics and Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas. Finally, Gould sports. reported to his first In his sophomore duty station at year, Gould decided Camp Pendleton, he wanted a future Calif., as a Cobra in the U.S. military. helicopter pilot. His father encour - Eventually his aged him to go as squadron shipped an officer, which out to the frontlines led to a discussion of Afghanistan in about the various 2010. As a partici - military academies. pant in Operation Because he wanted Enduring Freedom, to fly and secure a Lt. Gould flew nu - Marine Corps com - merous combat mis - mission, the U.S. sions in support of CAPTAIN Gould and his Cobra helicopter in California. Naval Academy be - the U.S. Marines. came the school of In fact, his squadron choice — provided CAPTAIN Gould with his wife, Chaelyn, flew the most mis - he could gain ac - sions of the entire ceptance. and their daughter, Poppy, near the flight war up to that point. After months of deck in Pensacola, Fla. Rotating back to the administrative paper states after his initial work, including a waiver for less than perfect vi - tour, he returned to the Afghan theater in 2012 sion, and selection by U.S. Rep. James Barcia, while his parents and others prayed Isaiah 54:17 Gould was accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy. over him just as they did the first time. He was the first student from Cass City to attend a U.S. military academy in 20 years. Gould’s second tour complete and finished with Gould graduated with the Class of 2002 and re - combat for a while, Captain Gould and his new ported as a plebe to Annapolis that summer. He wife were stationed in Okinawa, Japan, for three says the Navy definitely “accelerated his life” years. From there he was offered an instructor’s during that time. He truly enjoyed his four years position back at U.S. Navy Flight School, Pen - there and won the east coast championship for sacola, where he currently serves as a helicopter the Naval Academy Karate Team in his senior pilot instructor for Navy and Marine Corps avi - year. ators. McNaughton served country THEN-LT. NOAH T. Gould and Major D.M. Crousore and community with valor prepare for a combat mission in Afghanistan. Dave McNaughton, Cass City, served with Echo and Headquarters Companies, 2nd Battalion, 506th Airborne Infantry, of the 101st Airborne Division (paratroop - In memory of ers). E Company was the same unit depicted in the HBO series Charles A. Drier “Band of Brothers” It was a tough history to follow and not disappoint those who served in World War II. In memory of Sgt. Charles A. McNaughton was married to his wife, Connie, Feb. 24, 1968, Drier, who lost his life May 24, and flew out about two weeks 2005 while serving in Iraq during later. They met for Christmas Operation Iraqi Freedom. in Honolulu while he was on Drier was assigned to the 1st R and R. Battalion, 76th Field Artillery, McNaughton’s MOS (mili - 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd tary occupational specialty) Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, was 11F4P (infantry opera - Ga. tions and intelligence special - Drier was serving as a sniper ist). when an improvised explosive He served for more than 25 device detonated near his years on the Elkland Township Humvee in Baghdad. Fire Department and managed Drier was a 1995 graduate of Unionville-Sebewaing Area High the local ambulance service Charles A. Drier Dave McNaughton for 12-plus year before it was School. sold to Mercy. McNaughton and his wife still reside in Cass City. They’re children are Justin J. McNaughton, Jennifer J. McNaughton Dave McNaughton, then Johnson, Jude J. McNaughton, Joshua D. McNaughton and John J. McNaughton. T H A N K
Y O U PAGE TEN CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN
We Salute You!
Lance Corporal Chippi Father/son duo remembered member of U.S. Marines for their courageous service LCpl Cole Lewis Chippi by Deborah Robinson is currently in the U.S. Ma - Cass City rine Corps Reserves. He graduated from boot In 1967, at age 20, Newton R. Robinson, along with thousands of other young men, was drafted into camp at Parris Island, S.C., military service during the Vietnam War. As years would pass, the military action would be called a Sept. 8, 2017, completed conflict or era, but Newt called it war. Fortunately, he survived his marine combat training and returned home to continue his life. at Camp Lejeune, N.C., After working thirty years at General Motors and raising three and received his MOS children, Vietnam became more than a distant memory. training at Fort Lee, Va. At age 56, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which is A 2017 graduate of Cass linked to Agent Orange, and died 14 months later. Agent Or - City High School, his par - ange was a potent herbicide used to kill foliage. The idea was ents are Joseph and Brenda to clear the dense jungles of Vietnam and reduce areas for the enemy to hide. Although the plan did indeed kill foliage, it also Pomeroy; and Matt and exposed thousands of men and women to this deadly chemical. Elissa (Hendrick) Sadly, the United States made an improper decision as they Chippi all from Cass City. declared that this stuff won’t kill people, just plants. Some young troops experienced being soaked with the herbicide as they followed orders to administer the liquid. In 2002, shortly before his death, Newton Robinson watched his youngest son leave for basic training, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The events of Sept. 11, 2001, spurred many young men and women to join the military. Brian David Robinson was no exception. Brian Robinson was ten days short of his 18th birthday when he left for basic training with the dream of becoming an Army Newton Robinson Ranger. Lance Corporal What an amazing soldier he proved to be! Brian graduated from boot camp, jump school and was de - Cole Chippi ployed to Afghanistan before turning 19 years old. Four months into his tour Brian, was called home by the Ameri - can Red Cross because of Newt’s rap - idly declining health. Brian was able to spend a few pre - cious days with his dad before the can - U.S. Marine cer claimed his life. Two months later, Brian was sent to Iraq and began his F. Anchor second deployment. He began to show signs of anxiety which we now know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder served in (PTSD). As he attempted to rejoin civilian life, Vietnam it was obvious that he’d been deeply af - flicted from his military experience Frank C. Anchor Jr. served coupled with trauma of losing his dad. with the U.S. Marine Corp dur - Riddled with anxiety and addiction to ing the Vietnam war from 1969 the medications prescribed to ease his to 1971. PTSD symptoms made life very diffi - After the war Anchor moved to cult for this young veteran and for Detroit where he worked as a those who loved him. police officer until his retire - At age 27, Brian died from an acci - ment. dental, prescription drug overdose. Frank and his wife Sandra Brian Robinson I grieve for my son, his dad and so moved to Cass City where they many others who have served this great now reside. They have 2 chil - nation. My mission is to spread awareness and respect for our nation’s heroes and the families who Frank Anchor Jr. dren Frank and Candy. love them. Cpl Rich stationed In remembrance of Corporal Pallas Caister stationed on USS America In remembrance of Corporal Herbert Pallas who served from at Fort Bragg, N.C. 1951 to 1953 and was stationed at Fort Campbell located Corporal Bray - along the Kentucky-Tennessee border with the United States Randall Duane Cais - don Rich was Army. He was a Corporal with the 51st Infantry Division in ter, formerly of Elkton, stationed on the the 11th Airborne Quartermaster Company. He earned a Para - chute Badge, National Defense Service Medal and a Good served in the Army USS America Conduct Medal. from September 1983 from June 2014 After Fort Campbell he was reassigned to Indiantown Gap to July 1986, he was an to June 2018. He Military Reservation base. Pallas drove around the generals Administrative Spe - received his and other officials during his time at Indiantown. He served cialist in Fort Bragg, basic training in with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. North Carolina. Camp Pendleton, After serving Pallas came back to Decker, where he and his Caister is the son of Calif. wife Mary Louise raised 3 children Judith, Sandra and Duane and Janet Cais - He is the son of Wayne. Pallas worked on the Peppermint Farm, for many area ter of Elkton. He and farmers, Farmers Coop Elevator of Marlette, Buick Motors his wife Mary have 2 Dale and Tracy of Flint, Marlette Homes for 32 years, Coachman Homes in Randall Rich of Ubly. Braydon Rich Indiana, and retired from Active Homes in Marlette. children Matthew and Herbert Pallas Caister Lily. Thank you for your service to our country
CASS CITY, MICHIGAN CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 PAGE ELEVEN
We Salute You! Graham wounded in action, awarded the Purple Heart Joseph Graham served with the U.S. Marine looked at my wound and said, ‘We can’t do any - Corps in Vietnam. thing for him’. They put me on a stretcher. From Knowing he was going to be drafted in 1968, there I was loaded onto a personal carrier, which he said he “decided to join up, so I could get it when it took off, my stretcher started to slide off. over with. I signed up in Caro and was put on a Another wounded guy held onto it to stop it from bus to Detroit the next going out the back end. day.” “At the ‘helo’ pad, the Graham underwent a medic said, ‘Put him on last physical and then flew to so he can come off first’. I San Diego for boot camp. was flown 30 miles to a hos - From there, he went to pital in Danang, where they Camp Pendleton for ar - removed the shrapnel from tillery training. my head.” “My MOS (military oc - Graham spent nearly a cupational specialty) was month there until he regained artillery, fire directional his eyesight. He was eventu - control. After school I was ally transported to recover at Graham receiving a Purple Heart while recovering from sent to Twentynine Palms, Great Lakes in Chicago, war injuries during his hospital stay. Calif., where, after several where he was released in Au - months, I received orders gust 1970. Graham retired as to Vietnam.” a corporal with a national de - In September 1969 Gra - fense ribbon, Purple Heart, ham arrived near Danang, and two Vietnam medals. Vietnam, where he served After returning home, Gra - for nine months and was ham recalled, “Within a few wounded by shrapnel weeks I was in college and from a rocket in May realized, because of the at - 1970. mosphere in this country “I was in the ‘hooch’ and about the Vietnam war, it was saw someone running out best not to talk about my ex - the other end and won - Joseph Graham with his par - perience there. There were no dered what was going on,” ents Mildred & John Graham parades for the vets. The sac - he recalled. “I immedi - at Boot Camp graduation in rifices made by them, to serve ately felt an electric shock the country they loved, like grabbing onto a bare camp Pendleton, Calif. seemed not to be appreciated. wire. I ripped off my dog tags thinking to get rid So, we just didn’t talk about it.” of the metal.” Graham and his wife, Kaye, currently live in The shock Graham felt was caused by shrapnel Cass City. sticking in the back of his head from the blast of He spoke of the pride for his family’s continued a rocket nearby. service, saying, “We have two grandsons in the Joseph Graham stationed in a gun tower in Vietnam “One guy came and grabbed me by the arm and service — PFC Tracey Moore Jr. and LCpl took me to the first-aid bunker,” Graham said. Reice Kimball — that we couldn’t be more “At this time, I was 90 percent blind. The medic proud of for their service to our country.” PFC Moore Turner stationed at Stimpfel served aboard stationed at Red Beach Base ‘71 the USS Grand Canyon Camp Geiger After graduating with the Ruth High School U.S. Marine Corps PFC George Turner was stationed in Da Nang, Vietnam, Class of 1962, Thomas Anthony Stimpfel joined Tracey Moore Jr. completed at Red Beach Base in 1971, with the U.S. Army. He the U.S. Navy and served from 1962 to 1966. boot camp at Parris Island, a door gunner with the 142nd Helicopter Company. Stimpfel at - S.C., May 25, 2018, and is Door gunner’s were tasked with firing and main - tended boot taining manually directed armament aboard heli - now stationed in Camp camp at Great Geiger, N.C., where he is copters. Lakes, Ill. He After he served his time, Turner returned to Cass completing marine combat then served his training. City, where he worked at General Cable and the term aboard the state hospital in Caro. He retired as a fire safety of - Moore is the son of Tracey U.S.S. Grand and Perry Moore of Cass ficer. Canyon AD-28, Turner and his wife, Margot, live in Vassar. A 1968 working in the City. He is a 2017 graduate graduate of Cass City High School, he is a member foundry. The of Cass City High School. of VFW Post 3644, Cass City. U.S.S. Grand Canyon pro - vided tender and repair facilities for destroyer- type ships. He was stationed at the Cuban Blockade dur - Thomas Stimpfel ing the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Stimpfel also completed four tours of the Mediterranean and was stationed in Newport Rhode Island Naval Base. Stimpfel and his wife, Doris, have been Cass City residents for the last 40 years, they have four children, Tammie, Renae, Tom and Jim; and eight PFC Tracey Moore Jr. grandchildren. Stimpfel ran his own business, Tom’s Drywall, US Marine Corp George Turner until his recent retirement. Thank you for your service to our country
! PAGE TWELVE CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN
We Salute You!
In memory of Sgt. D. Wilson Lance Cpl. Hulburt
Sgt. Donald R. Wilson, served with the 83rd Armored Division completes training during World War II. Wilson was decorated with the Silver Star – the third highest Ethan Hulburt is a lance corporal medal a civilian can receive in the United States — for his courage in the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed and bravery during combat in Germany. at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Wilson earned his Silver Star by singlehandedly capturing an Hulburt is a 2016 Cass City High enemy tank. He noticed the enemy German tank advancing on School graduate, he completed other soldiers. Out of the sight of the Mark V German tank, he ran boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., towards the tank, climbed up and opened the hatch, grabbing the July 14, 2017. enemy commander and pulling him out of the advancing tank. Hulburt is the son of Shari Hul - The German Mark V tank was the first German tank captured in - burt of Bay City and Jason (Tres - tact, and it was then sent stateside, where experts were able to sica) Hulburt of Lansing. study the tank and develop bullets able to pierce its armor. The tank was on display at Fort Knox for many years. BELOW LCpl Hulburt Wilson was also awarded two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained proudly poses after grad - in battle. The Wilson family came to Cass City in 1973. He was married uating from Parris Is - for 58 years to Martha Wilson, who passed away in 2016. They land’s boot camp with his had eight children; Donald (1953-1976), Joseph, Ann, Jeanette, mother Shari Hulburt. LCpl Ethan Hulburt Sarah, Robert, Stan, and Mary. Wilson was a hero not only to his family, but was also a true Sgt. Donald Wilson American Hero. He passed away in his Cass City home in August 2010. BELOW Sgt. Donald Wilson re - ceiving a Silver Star for exem - plary service to our country.
ABOVE Sgt. Donald Wilson during WWii in Europe, giving his rations to M. Kirn served aboard the local children. USS Oak Ridge ARDM1
In remembrance of Michael (Mick) F. Kirn, Cass City, also served in the U.S. Electricians Mate Navy, as an Electricians Mate 2C from February 1974 through Stanley P. Kirn Jr. 1978. He completed his boot camp training at Great Lakes, Ill. Stanley P. Kirn Jr., Cass City, served in the Kirn served aboard the USS U.S. Navy during World War II. After com - Oak Ridge ARDM1 floating pleting boot camp training at Great Lakes, Ill., drydock in Rota, Spain. The he served as an Electricians Mate 3C aboard Oak Ridge was attached to Sub - marine Squadron 16 and dry the USS Nashville CL-43 from 1944 through docked submarines. 1946. Kirn, an electrician who has The Nashville was General Douglas owned and operated his own McArthur’s flagship when he returned to the business for many years while also volunteering with the Cass Phillipines in October 1944. The Nashville City Fire Department since was hit by a Kamikaze plane in December 1980, and his wife, Barb, a re - 1944, resulting in 133 deaths and many in - tired veteran Cass City Public juries. Schools teacher, have two chil - Stanley P. Kirn, Jr. dren, Whitney and Meredith. Michael “Mick” Kirn Thank you for your service to our country
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We Salute You! SPC A. Mazzone receives PFC Warford completes Distinguished Unit Award U.S. Marines training SPC Alexander T. Mazzone is a member of the PFC Brady R. Warford, 19, is on active U.S. Army Reserves, 460th Chemical Company duty, serving with the U.S. Marine Corp. out of Fort Custer. A graduate at Fort Leonard The 2017 Cass City High School grad - Wood in September 2015, he is a CBRN (chem - uate was an honor graduate of Parris Is - ical, biologi - land, South Carolina, in April 2018, cal, earning the distinguished title of High radiological, Shooter for Fox Company with a score of nuclear) spe - 329 out of cialist. 350 points. Mazzone, a He also 2015 gradu - earned the ate of Cass Marksman - City High ship Expert School, is Badge. currently at - Warford tending Sagi - graduated naw Valley from Ma - State Univer - rine Com - sity, where he bat Training is studying school in computer in - June 2018. formation He earned systems. the title of He recently company received the guide for Distin - PFC Brady Warford Hotel Com - guished Unit pany Camp, Lejeune, N.C. Award from He is currently stationed at Camp John - the Depart - SPC Alexander Mazzone son, N.C., waiting to begin MOS instruc - ABOVE PFC Brady Warford ABOVE SPC MAZZONE ment of Defense, as well as the Army Achieve - tion to become a Financial Management ment Medal from the 460th Chemical displays his High Shoot Resource Analyst. gears up to work with the Company. Warford is the son of Joseph and Hope Award for received top marks Mazzone is the son of Joseph and Hope Maz - 460th Chemical Company Mazzone and Robert Warford III, all of zone of Cass City and Angela Sillman of Cass City. with 329 out of 350 points. out of Fort Custer. Columbiaville. In memory of Warren R. Kappen
In remembrance of Warren R. Kap - pen, March 28, 1920 – Sept. 18, 1944. Warren R. Kappen, TEC (techni - cian) 5, served with the 67th Ar - mored Division during World War II. Next to the entrance of the Petrus en Marcellinus Roman Catholic Ceme - tery in Galeen, Netherlands, is a me - morial to commemorate the Second Armored Division “Hell on Wheels”. The memorial contains the names of ABOVE left, citizens and U.S. troops celebrated the liberation of southern American soldiers, including Kap - pen’s, who were killed in September Limburg before receiving a surprise attack. Right, in 2008 Tilly Hulbert 1944 during the liberation of south - Stevens commemorated Kappen along with many other fallen soldiers listed ern Limburg. Warren Kappen on “Hell on Wheels” monument in Galeen, Netherlands. Thank you for your service to our country
PAGE FOURTEEN CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN
We Salute You!
Specialist Pink presented with Sgt. D. Miller served along the distinguished Silver Star Award DMZ with U.S. Marine Corps
Nicholas Pink joined the U.S. Sgt. Donald Miller E5 graduated Army in 1968. He was a machine from Flint Central High School in gunner with the 5th Infantry along May 1967. Shortly after graduating, the DMZ border in Vietnam. he was drafted and served with the According to a letter from the U.S. Marines starting in July 1967. Department of the Army Head - He was immediately sent to San quarters, Pink was presented with Diego to attend boot camp before a Silver Star Award “for gallantry being shipped out to Vietnam. in action while engaged in mili - Miller was stationed in the Northern tary operations involving conflict DMZ (demilitarized zone), fighting with an armed hostile force in the VC/NVA communist troops and the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Viet Cong. Four Pink distinguished himself While home on leave, Miller joined by exceptionally valorous actions the Genesee County VFW. He signed while serving as a machine gunner up for a second tour overseas in with Company D, 1st Battalion, 1969. This time he was stationed in 11th Infantry. Da Nang, Vietnam, near the South “During the afternoon, the com - China Sea. pany was conducting a search and Miller was promoted to crew chief destroy mission, when he was of his amphibious tractor. Miller had caught in cross fire from an enemy 30 days left to serve in 1971 when his bunker complex,” the letter states. vehicle ran over a land mine. He suf - “Specialist Pink observed a piece fered injuries to both legs and was of vital equipment that had been shipped home to recover. An expert abandoned during the initial fight - rifleman, Miller spent the last 16 ing. With complete disregard for months of his term on light duty at his own safety, he proceeded to re - Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, trieve the lost equipment. qualifying new marines on the rifle “On his return through heavy range. enemy fire, he noticed a wounded Miller received several medals in - comrade. With calmness and brav - cluding a Purple Heart, Vietnamese ery, he carried both the wounded Cross of Galantry, Combat Action NICHOLAS PINK displays his Purple man and the equipment, along Medal, and Good Conduct Award. Heart and Silver Star Awards. with his machine gun, back to a Miller later attended the police secure area. Once safe, he volun - academy in Flint. He and his wife, teered to help rescue other wounded. When one of the rescue party was wounded by enemy Bridget, moved to Cass City, where fire, Specialist Pink laid down an accurate base of fire with his machine gun, covering the he served as a Cass City police offi - withdrawal of the casualties. He continued his intense fire, although wounded himself, until cer for 41 years until his retirement enemy fire damaged the machine gun. in 2013. “Specialist Pink’s extraordinary heroism in close combat was in keeping with the highest The Millers have three children, traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United Ron, Sarah and Dale; and three States Army.” grandchildren, Caleb, Kenzie and Pink also received the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat. Katilyn. After the war Pink, worked for 15 years in construction as an electrician. He was involved in several large projects, including the Alaska Pipeline and the subway in New York. He spent LEFT SGT. MILLER 30 years working at Chrysler as an electrician. POSES with captured He and his wife, Fran, moved to Cass City in 2014 from Detroit. They have two children, Nicole Kurzawa and Erik Pink; and two grandchildren, Katelyn and Jonathan Kurzawa. Northern Vietnamese weapons after the battle of DIA Do/DMZ in May of R. Schneeberger drove fuel semi-trucks 1968. for the 5th Army Headquarters, Calif.
Longtime local businessman and Cass City native Russell Schneeberger joined the U.S. SPC Merchant served as Army in 1958. He attended boot camp at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. “My barrack was one away from Elvis Presley’s barrack. Sometimes I part of the Berlin Brigade could hear him singing and other’s SPC 4 Leslie Merchant enlisted into the U.S. Army in August 1972 and was sent excited about him being there, but to Fort Knox., Ky., for basic training. He also completed Advanced Individual Train - Elvis just wanted to be treated like ing where he trained to be a gun - the other soldiers out of the spot - ner with anti-tank rockets and light,” he recalled. 106mm recoilless rifles. The anti- Schneeberger was stationed in San tank rockets are shoulder- Francisco at 5th Army Headquarters. launched rockets designed to He was a fuel semi-truck driver. destroy tanks. He also trained to “I would drive back and forth from work with wire-guided missiles. San Francisco to Oregon, but the After training, Merchant was sent truck had no muffler — the continu - to Berlin, where he was part of the ous loud noise made me lose my Berlin Brigade. The brigade’s hearing,” said Schneeberger. “The units would march along Berlin to V.A. has helped over the years to demonstrate an American pres - supply hearing aids, as my hearing ence to the people free in Berlin. never (returned) fully.” Merchant was part of the Berlin In 1956, Schneeberger opened a Occupational Army. He pulled fruit/produce store in Cass City. guard duty at Spandau Prison in “During my time in the reserves, I West Berlin, where Rudolf Hess, would close the business, go serve, an appointed deputy of Adolf Hit - then come back to Cass City and re - tler, was imprisoned and guarded. open the market,” he said. The prison was controlled by the After being discharged from the United States, France, Britain and U.S. Army, Schneeberger returned to the Soviet Union. Cass City and eventually opened Merchant completed his service Schneeberger’s Furniture and Appli - in August of 1974. He returned to ance with his brother, Clarence Cass City, working for UPS, driv - “Bud” Schneeberger, and the broth - ing trucks and delivering pack - ers have owned and operated the Russell Schneeberger ages, until he retired after 42 business along Main Street for more than 58 years. years of service. Leslie Merchant Schneeberger and his wife, Olga, have three children, Gloria, Cindy and Rusty. Merchant and his wife, Marcia, live in Cass City. He is a member of VFW Post 3644, Cass City. Thank you for your service to our country CASS CITY, MICHIGAN CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 PAGE FIFTEEN
We Salute You! Merchant stationed at fire Corporal Ferris served in the direction center in Vietnam U.S. Marine Corps in 1954-57 Shortly after graduating with the Cass City High School Class of 1968, Dennis “Joe” Merchant en - Corporal Gerald N. Ferris served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957. listed in the U.S. Army in June of 1970 and was sent to Fort Knox, Ky., where he completed basic He completed his basic training at San Deigo MCRD before being stationed at training before being deployed to Vietnam. the Marine Corps Base Camp in Pendleton, Calif. Merchant, SPC 4, served with the Fire Direction Center for artillery with the 1st Battalion, 77th Ferris, an infantry rifleman and section leader for 3.5 rocket launchers, served Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division. Merchant was granted security clearance in Vietnam to handle with the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Bat - unclassified and top-secret missions. The orders for all fire missions would come to the Fire Direction talion, 5th Regimen, item company Center before being sent out to the troops. 35. In 1957 he was sent to Desert Merchant served in Vietnam until May of 1971. After returning home, he worked in the family Rock, Nev., where the U.S. govern - business — Sommer’s Bakery in Cass City – alongside his parents, the late Stuart and Joan Mer - ment was testing atomic bomb explo - chant. sions. During his time in the service, Merchant has spent the past eight Ferris was also on roving patrol at the years serving as commander of VFW brig (military prison). Post 3644, Cass City. His job as com - Ferris received marksmanship badges mander is to help lead support of — the sharpshooter rifle award and a local veterans and their families in high expert medal. He was also pre - the community. sented with good conduct ribbons and the Presidential Unit Citation award for the Korean War. After he was discharged from the service, he attended Bible college in Grand Rapids to become an ordained minister. He was a minister in Oc - queoc for 13 years before moving to Deford with his wife, Pat. He worked around the county, preaching, and Gerald Ferris even ran a ministry group at the Caro prison. Ferris also worked at Cole Carbide for many years until his retirement. He then preached at the Tuscola County Jail. Ferris has three sons, Cass, Randal and Raymond; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. ABOVE Merchant stands in front of his barracks in Vietnam. H. Merchant joins SPC Dennis “Joe” Merchant U.S. Air Force
Crawford volunteers to go Hoyt B. Merchant, E2, is currently sta - tioned in Dover, Delaware in the United States Air Force. overseas as others drafted Merchant works as a Fuel Mobile Distri - bution Operator. He completed his Basic Kenneth Crawford graduated from Cass City High School in 1965, and the next year Military Training in Lackland, Tex. he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army. He was then sent to Ft. Knox., Ky., to complete Merchant is a 2017 graduate of Cass City basic training. Crawford was on the armor and engineer board in Fort Knox, where he spent 11 months High School. testing new equipment. He is the son of proud parents Deanna “I grew bored with the testing, so I requested a 1049 form to go overseas. I received Merchant and Dan Merchant; and even my shipment orders in March of 1967 to go prouder grandparents: Dean & Nancy overseas,” recalled Crawford, who was shipped Hutchinson (Cass City) and Bill & Marlene to Pleiku, Vietnam. He was stationed at Camp Merchant (Cass City). Enari as part of the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Hoyt B. Merchant Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. “During my time there I was a light truck driver through Northern Vietnam,” he said. “I would go to the different bases, delivering supplies and In remembrance of POW Venema mail to our troops. I also rotated on weekly pa - trol duty.” In honorable remembrance: Peter Venema was drafted into the U.S. Army during World Crawford was stationed in Vietnam during the War II. He completed his basic training at Camp Roberts in California. and was then TET Offensive. “The North Vietnamese attacked shipped overseas to Portsmouth, England, where every large city from January to March of 1968,” he joined the 76th division. he said. “It was a very dark time; a lot of fallen Venema served as a first scout in enemy territory. soldiers and local civilians were scattered among In 1945, he fought along the Rhine River, where the streets. his company was captured by the Nazi army. The “When I came home, I was proud to have prisoners of war were forced to walk across the served, but was sad for the attitude and nasty Rhine River with their hands over their heads. treatment from Americans who hadn’t seen what Venema’s and his fellow soldiers were forced to it was like in Vietnam,” he added. “I still suffer march for about a week, day and night, 24 hours from PTSD. My family has dealt with horrible a day, and those who disobeyed orders were shot nightmares nearly every night from all the terri - and killed. Eventually the prisoners arrived at Sta - Kenneth Crawford ble things I saw. It’s just something you cannot lag Seven. Venema and his company were held adjust to knowing about.” for nearly 30 days before being rescued by U.S. Crawford, who received the Army Commendation Medal for his service, returned home forces. and met the woman who would become his wife. After being liberated, Venema was sent home, “My sister, Patricia Ferris, asked a young lady, Carolann, to send me…letters while I serving remainder of his term with a military po - was stationed overseas,” he said. “She would send me wonderful letters that would al - lice unit in Miami, Fla. ways smell so nice. During Christmas she sent me a package of six snowballs in dry He and his wife, Pearl, later moved to Caro, and ice. When I opened the package and saw the snow, it was then that I knew I had to meet he worked for many years as a truck driver for this wonderful woman, who then became my wife.” Dow Chemical in Midland. The Venemas had six A 1965 Cass City High School graduate, Crawford worked in several construction jobs, children together, Allen, Calvin, Doreen, Edwin, building bridges for more than 40 years, following his time in the service. Frank and Bruce. He and Carolann have three children, Ken, John and Bobbi-Jo; and 10 grandchildren. Peter Venema Thank you for your service to our country