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Veteran of the Week
during peace and war time, we are teaming up with Minnesota State University, Moorhead (MSUM) to preserve their stories. MSUM's hope is to interview and record veteran's stories, keeping them on file to share with others for years to come. We at West Funeral Home hope to further share the stories of local veteran's by highlighting one veteran a week on KFGO 790's Jack and Sandy radio show. If you would like the opportunity to share your story or nominate someone for Veteran of the week please call West Funeral Home (701)282-6699 or visit www.vetoftheweek.org
please click on "RECOMMEND THIS PAGE" at the bottom of your screen. - - - - - - - -March 12, 2007 Adam BrehmAdam Brehm of West Fargo was in an Army photo reconnaissance squadron. He was a bombardier and took photos before and after bombing raids. He flew over Hiroshima about two days after the bomb and had never seen such destruction. Upon returning to civilian life, he was Master Electrician 42 yrs. March 12, 2007 Rueben Brekke Fertile, MNRueben served during WWII in the Philippines. His role was to take care of the released American POW's at the end of the war. They were in such terrible shape that they had to be fed and nurtured back to health for at least a month before they were able to go back to the USA. Rueben also had to guard Japanese POWs while they worked. American POWs wanted to kill them after the torture they had received at their hands. Rueben continues to be a caring individual. He is the first one who will offer to help fix a tire, shovel a sidewalk, or fix a tractor. He is very active at 83 and continues to restore old tractors, I think he has 16 right now. March 5, 2007 Clifford Bevolden Fertile, MNClifford served thee hard years in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. When asked if he remembered his "Baptism of Fire" he hesitantly spoke of his very first day out in battle when his Sergeant Robert Klein of North Dakota was walking right in front of him, was hit by a Japanese Sniper and killed. He had a brother who was a Japanese POW while he was in the Philippines and that was all he could think of was to find his brother and rescue him. He has never complained of his hard years, has never been bitter and loves his Country. His brother did live, surviving 4 years of Japanese brutality. Cliff has participated in the Veteran's History project and has always been willing to participate in any Veteran related event, has been a Legion member for over 50 years, and is currently helping in Fertile's project of building a Veteran's memorial in town. He has been a gentle soul his whole life and has been married for 60 years, has five wonderful daughters who spoil him rotten, 14 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. February 12, 2007 - Marrion WalshMarrion Walsh grew up in Rock Lake, North Dakota. She attended grades K-12 in the Rock Lake public schools. She attended Junior College in Aberdeen, SD and North Dakota State University. Marrion and her best friend, Jean, enlisted into the Navy in 1944 because they wanted to help with the war effort. She attended basic training in New York and store keeping school in Georgia. Following training, Marrion was transferred to Gulf Port Naval Training Center in Mississippi where she served as payroll clerk. Everyone loves the payroll clerk because she got the sailors paid. Marrion served for two years in Gulf Port. Marrion returned to North Dakota and had a very successful career as a teacher. February 5, 2007 Ray StordahlRay Stordahl, Moorhead,MN, was born in Macintosh, MN where he graduated from high school in 1944. He enlisted in the Army in July 1944 and after 17 weeks of training, Ray was sent to the European Theatre in time for the Battle of the Bulge. Ray was part of Pattons army who repelled the German offensive. Ray was with the Army during the liberation of Nazi POW and concentration camps. Ray earned the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland and Central Europe ribbons. Ray returned to Minnesota and completed a college degree at Concordia College in 1950. Ray worked in manufacturing and in the construction business and served as Mayor of Moorhead from 1964 until 1972. Ray is retired and lives in South Moorhead. He recently talked about his WW II experiences and was recorded. His video recording is the first of our Vet of Week honorees to have a podcast. It can be seen at www.bakkecomputing.com/oralhistory January 29, 2007 Daniel (Dan) MurphyDaniel Murphy was born in Ada, Minnesota and graduated from Felton, Minnesota. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and some of his duties and training include Bombardier - Navigator 9th Air Force. He was shot down while flying on the 54th mission - he bailed out and was held captive until the end of the war in Stalag Luft 1. Daniel also served in the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944. A few years ago, Dan returned to Europe and visited places he had been during the war. Daniel's final rank in the Army Air Corps was 1st Lt. After separating from the military in 1945 he was a teacher for a year and then farmed the rest of his life. Dan military decorations Purple Heart, POW medal, Air Medal and European Victory medal. Dan graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College, now Minnesota State University Moorhead. January 22, 2007 Raymond (Ray) VolkRay was born in Linton, ND in 1924, graduated from Linton High School in 1942 and graduated from North Dakota State University in 1950. Ray entered the service in 1943 and served as a radioman in both the Navy and Marine Corps during World War II. Ray participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima where the famous flag raising occurred and heard that cheers when it was raised. Ray was also in the invasion of Okinawa. Ray was aboard a ship when it was hit by the Japanese, the ship sank. One of the best comments Ray made during his interview was that the Marine Corps taught him how to succeed in life. He said that if it were not for the military, he would probably have never gone to college, much less graduate from college. Lorraine Gerberding- January 15, 2007Lorraine Elisabeth Gerberding was born near St Cloud, MN September 1921. Her mother was a nurse at the VA hospital in St. Cloud. Graduated from Cathedral High School in St. Cloud in 1939. Attended St. Benz College. Worked for a couple years until she was old enough to enroll in nursing training. Finished nursing training St. Joseph Hospital in St. Paul, MN in 1944. During World War II, Lorraine joined the Army as soon as she completed nurses' training. She enlisted in order to help wounded in the war. After basic training at Ft. Carson, Lorraine was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. She served with the 139th EVAC Hospital as a registered nurse in the European Theater. In March 1945, the 139th EVAC Hospital was sent overseas for the duration of the war. After the Americans liberated the concentration camps, Lorraine's unit was detailed to a camp near Ebensee*, Austria, where they cared for the prisoners until they were repatriated. Once the prisoners were all returned to their homes, the unit returned the United States where Lorraine worked with GIs recovering from war injuries. In August, 1945, she was on a ship in route to the Pacific Theatre when the war ended, so the ship returned to port in the United States. She worked with skin drafting of wounded soldiers after returning to the States. She was discharged in Fort Snelling, MN. In her recorded oral history, she said "She and 40 other nurses toured Europe in the back of a truck." After discharge, she returned to St. Cloud, MN. *Ebensee, Austria Location: At the southern tip of the Traun lake approximately 75 kilometers SW of Linz (Austria). Established: 18 November 1943 Liberated: 9 May 1945 Estimated number of victims: Approximately 20.000 Johnny Wentz - January 9, 2007Battle of the Bulge, Normandy, D-Day, Rosie the Riveter, Ridgeway, Vietnam, all are names in history that are etched in our minds. There are so many stories associated with these events that are carried in the minds of North Dakotans. Johnny Wentz tells his story as if it just happened. He was a Merchant Marine during WWII. Merchant Marines are part of the Coast Guard and are responsible for delivering the supplies to the US troops who are in combat. This includes food supply, ammunition and equipment. During WWII, only about 40% of all Merchants returned form war. These men were the first target of the enemy, many being sunk by submarines and enemy bombers. |
