Salute to Veterans 2010

Salute to Veterans

This News-Review special section remembers and honors those who have served in the military

for the United States of America

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

World War I, known at the time as “TheGreat War,” officially ended when the Treatyof Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919,outside the town by the same name in France.However, fighting ceased seven months earli-er when an armistice, or temporary cessationof hostilities, between the Allied nations andGermany went into effect on the eleventhhour of the eleventh day of the eleventhmonth. For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, is gen-erally regarded as the end of “the war to endall wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson pro-claimed Nov. 11 as the first commemorationof Armistice Day with the following words:“To us in America, the reflections ofArmistice Day will be filled with solemnpride in the heroism of those who died in thecountry’s service and with gratitude for thevictory, both because of the thing from whichit has freed us and because of the opportunityit has given America to show her sympathywith peace and justice in the councils of thenations … ”

The original concept for the celebrationwas for a day observed with parades and pub-lic meetings and a brief suspension of busi-

ness beginning at 11:00 a.m.The U. S. Congress officially recognized

the end of World War I when it passed a con-

current resolution on June 4, 1926, with thesewords:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918,marked the cessation of the most destructive,sanguinary, and far reaching war in humanannals and the resumption by the people ofthe United States of peaceful relations withother nations, which we hope may neveragain be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurringanniversary of this date should be commemo-rated with thanksgiving and prayer and exer-cises designed to perpetuate peace throughgood will and mutual understanding betweennations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-sevenof our States have already declared Novem-ber 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be itResolved by the Senate (the House of Repre-

Page 2 –The News-Review, Veterans Day Tribute Roseburg Oregon, Thursday, November 11, 2010

November 11, 2010

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SALUTE TO VETERANS

Veterans Day forever tied to ‘The Great War’

News-Review file photo

Young Roseburg dancers dressed in patriotic red, white and blue colors help cele-brate during last years’Veterans Day parade in downtown Roseburg.

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OONN TTHHEE CCOOVVEERR:: A soldier atthe Oregon National Guard

Armory in Roseburg salutesthe flag. Photo by Michael Sullivan of The News-Review

TTAABBLLEE OOFF CCOONNTTEENNTTSS

History of Veterans Day ...... 2

Joe Brumbach ......................3

Orlo Handy ............................4

Three generations ................5

Thomas Sheehan ..................6

Ted Osborn .............................7

Pauline Clark ..........................8

B.J. Engen ...............................9

Herb Johnson ..........................9

Matt Munsey ..........................12

Fred Nelson ...........................13

Lonnie Williams ......................14

Doreen Butler .........................15

John Danville .........................16

D.C. Veterans Forum ..............16

HonoringVeterans

Turn to VETS, page 13

JOE BRUMBACHAs told to Craig Reed

For The News-Review

It was Dec. 7, 1941.I was stationed at the Kaneohe Bay

Naval Air Base on Oahu, across the islandfrom Pearl Harbor. I was in a Navy PBYseaplane squadron and was at the time anaviation machinist mate second class.That’s a mechanic.

I’d been on watch that morning, had got-ten off a little early and was headed to themess hall for some food. When I left thehangar area, I saw some planes flying

around, but didn’t thinkanything about itbecause planes in theair was common. Butthen when the planesbanked, I saw the reddots and immediatelyknew they weren’tours.

I ran up to the bar-racks to rouse people.Then I ran back to thehangar and a friend andI got in a plane that

was sitting next to the hangar waiting forrepairs. The plane had a 50-calibermachine gun and a 30-caliber gun. Wewere working both guns, shooting atplanes as they went over.

The enemy dropped bombs on ourplanes on nearby ships and on our planeson the dock. Some of them were full offuel. The enemy sent in fighters first andthen light bombers. They hit all our planes.

I saw one bomber coming over and itlooked like it was trying to get the planewe were shooting from. I just hunkereddown and figured it was over.

But the bomb landed in the hangar andthe steel hangar doors were strong enoughto protect us from other than some shrap-nel.

I remember one plane being shot down.It made a 180-degree turn and crashed onthe base. I don’t know who hit it becausethere were so many of us shooting. Oneguy was standing out in the open, holdingand firing a machine gun. He was present-ed a Medal of Honor for his effort.

Time completely escaped me. I don’tknow how long it lasted. All our planeswere gone. Out of my squad, we lost 25crew members.

All our facilities were gone, our fuelsupply was all shot up. It was completedevastation as far as we were concerned.We were pretty much in shock.

The good Lord must have been lookingafter me.

We could see explosions coming fromPearl Harbor.

When things finally died down, the deci-sion was made for us to go up a nearbyhill, take the machine guns with us and digin. We were planning to repel any enemylanding on the ground. Nothing happenedthat night.

We came down the next morning andcould see that in our Navy whites we wereeasily seen at night. So we dumped ourwhites in coffee, then went back up thehill. But a ground attack never came.

On the second day, a squad of PBYscame in from Seattle and landed at PearlHarbor. I was sent to Pearl to operate withthat squadron. I was there for a coupleweeks before my squadron got new planesfrom San Diego and I moved back to it.We set up a base on Barking Sands Beachon Kaui island. The planes landed on thewater and then rolled up on the sand.

After the Battle of Midway, I wasordered to Pensacola, Fla., where I spentnine months in flight training to become a

pilot. I then transferred to the Navy testcenter in Washington, D.C., and eventuallyflew 44 different types of aircraft for test-ing.

During the Korean War, I was a flightinstructor and a transport pilot. I flewtroops and supplies to Korea and broughtthe wounded home.

I retired from a 20-year career in theNavy in 1960 and returned to a ranch inthe Dixonville area.

I did what I thought I should do whileserving. I never regretted it. I’d do it againif I was asked. I thought World War II wasa just cause. We did what we had to do. Idid my part and I think I did it well.

Joe Brumbach, 88, was born and raisedin the Dixonville area and continues to livethere on Brumbach Road. He initiallyspent two years in the Oregon NationalGuard before enlisting in the U.S. Navy.He retired from the Navy as a lieutenantcommander. He says as far as he candetermine, he’s the only Pearl Harbor sur-vivor still living in Douglas County. Heasks any other survivors to contact theSouthern Oregon Warbirds at 541-672-4802.

Thursday, November 11, 2010–The News-Review, Veterans Day Tribute Roseburg Oregon, Page 3

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SALUTE TO VETERANS

Dixonville veteran recalls shock of Pearl Harbor bombing

Photo courtesy of Joe Brumbach

Joe Brumbach of Dixonville served for 20years in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed inOahu when Pearl Harbor was bombed.

Brumbach

“I saw one bomber comingover and it looked like it was

trying to get the plane wewere shooting from. I just

hunkered down and figured itwas over.

Joe BrumbachDixonville

”

JENNIFER HIGHFor The News-Review

This is in memory of Staff Sgt. Orlo P.Handy of the 162nd infantry 41st Div. Co. D.

This is a story that almost did not get writ-ten as the process of remembering a lovedone, especially a parent, can be very emo-

tional. The story is big-ger than one person andyet so personal. It hasbeen written in the livesof so many and in histo-ry.

The beginning startedin Douglas County inthe early 1940s. Myfather, Orlo P. Handy,was called to duty alongwith many others andreported to Fort Lewis,Wash., to train. They

then went by boat to New Guinea, wherethey made a beach landing at Nasha Bay inthe Solomon Campaign. It was such a worldaway from their farm and logging communi-ties. New Guinea was filled with creatures ofbeauty, but also some that were deadly.

The soldiers went to fight an enemy who

was a threat to them and their country’s free-dom. It was a very tough and long campaignand they lost many friends and sufferedmany hardships.

My father was wounded and received a

Purple Heart and also contracted malaria. Hewent to Australia to recover from his woundsand he had much respect for the Australians.They fought alongside the natives of NewGuinea, who put themselves at great risk tohelp the Americans and Australians.

When the war was over they came homeand married, started families and startedcareers. My father chose logging, which heloved. Many started small businesses inRoseburg.

He did impart to his children the horrors ofwar and the losses, but also the lifelongfriendships that were forged and experiencesshared. He liked to tell the story of putting asoldier’s bunk up in the rafters. When hecame home from a long night out in the dark,he still crawled up into the bunk. Anotherstory was being hopelessly pinned down byenemy fire. One of the commanding officershad a plan that felt less than doable to themen on the front line, so someone posted ona tree “Beal’s Plan of Retreat” as a joke. Iguess the message is that even in the worst

of circumstances one can fine hope andhumor.

I had the honor of meeting with a group ofhis fellow soldiers from Company D at arestaurant in Roseburg a few years ago and itwas amazing to me that 60 -lus years aftercoming home, they continued to meet as agroup to support and care for each other andtheir families. It is my understanding fromone of the last survivors that there are only ahandful left and they have discontinuedmeeting. But the widows, children andgrandchildren will continue the stories andremember the courage and valor of thesebrave men of Company D.

In closing, this is a tribute to Orlo P.Handy , who was a machine gunner of a 30-caliber water-cooled machine gun and to allthe men of Company D. They lived throughtough conditions and never gave up on eachother or themselves.

Some continued to fight their own person-al demons when they came home, but theywere lucky to have a VA Hospital near forsupport. They also had a group of supportivemen who had been together in the toughesttimes and came out as men of honor andbravery.

When my father was dying of lung cancer20 years ago, a Roseburg VA nurse saidwhen she saw his radiation tattoos, “It lookslike he gave a good fight.” I think that is howI remember him and how he survived life,war and would like to be thought of. So ifyou read this story, remember to “never giveup the fight, cherish your friends and familyas there are always brighter days ahead.”

Jennifer High is a resident of Roseburg.She is the oldest of Orlo and BerniceHandy’s three children. The Handys raisedtheir family in Sutherlin.


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SALUTE TO VETERANS

In memory of Army Staff Sgt. Orlo P. Handy

Photo courtesy of Jennifer High

This reunion photo of U.S. Army soldiers who served in New Guinea in the early 1940s was taken in 1966 at the DouglasCounty Fairgrounds. Many of the soldiers were from Douglas County. Orlo Handy is in the middle row, third from the right..

Young Handy

DAN BRAYFor The News-Review

As a member of the military, I have servedin many places and have gone on two deploy-ments to the Middle East. In between deploy-ments, my immediate family has been able totravel with me to various assignments. Wewere fortunate to live in Germany for sixyears during the 1990s. Additionally, we haveserved in multiple states including Texas,New Jersey, Washington and California.

We have learned many life lessons while inthe military. While touring a castle in Ger-many one day, our sons complained abouthaving to visit yet another castle. We tried toexplain to them that they are experiencinghistory while many of their friends can onlyread about history in school. I must admit thatthey did not totally buy into that speech. But Ibelieve now that they are older they canappreciate that statement.

As I near retirement from active duty, Ihave discovered that no one serves in the mil-itary alone. Generally, we all need supportsystems to make us resilient and determinedto achieve our goals. I am grateful for mywife, Patti; sons, Tyler and Jordan; parents,James Bray and Juanita Schaak of Roseburg;and sister, Diana Haddock of Roseburg, forencouraging me along the way.

Here are some principles I discoveredalong the way that have helped me survive.

Never lose sight of your goal in spite of thepeople around you. People will change,but one’s faith should remain constant. Spendtime with those dearest to you. Quality timeis good, but quantity of time can never beoverlooked. Do not be shy at telling howmuch you love those close to you.

Dan Bray was raised in Roseburg and grad-uated from Roseburg High School in 1976. Heis a chaplain and lieutenant colonel in the U.S.Army and lives in Harker Heights, Texas.


SALUTE TO VETERANS

JAMES BRAYFor The News-Review

My U.S. Army basic training was at FortJackson, S. C., in 1948. After a seven-dayleave, I was assigned to 7840th ordinancedepot in Karlsfeld, Germany, for the nextthree years with the U.S. Army EuropeanCommand.

Karlsfeld was a facility where enginesdamaged in World War II were rebuilt. Itwas located eight kilometers out ofMunich and was close to Dachau, whereso many people were put to death. It was asad place to see.

To perform this huge task of rebuildingall these engines, we had about 5,000 Ger-man men and women helping accomplishthe job.

During my time in Karlsfeld, the armystarted the integration program and I wastransferred to a small town just south ofBordeaux, France, where I spent the nextyear. I was then transferred back to Ger-many near Frankfurt, where I remaineduntil I returned to the U.S. There I wasassigned to Camp Chaffee, Ark., as a pla-toon sergeant until I was discharged in1954. I then moved to Oakland, Ore.,where I went to work for Martin Box.

I have two others in my family who at

present are proudly serving their country:My son, Lt. Col. Dan Bray and my grand-son, Cpl. Kyle Haddock.

James Bray is a resident of Oakland.When discharged from the army in 1954,he was a staff sergeant.

Generations of Oregonians opt to serve their country

Photo courtesy of Jim Bray

Jim Bray was a staff sargeant in theU.S. Army in 1949 when this photo wastaken. His duties included patrolling inGermany near the Russian border.

Photo courtesy of Dan Bray

Dan Bray, right, shares water with aman on a camel in the Middle East.

DIANA HADDOCKFor The News-Review

My son, Kyle Haddock, joined the U.S.Army at 17, deciding that he would forgothe formal high school graduation ceremo-ny to get a “kick start” to his militarycareer.

It was so hard for me to sign his docu-ments to allow him to join before heturned 18, but I knew that he was dedicat-ed to his new career and I would supporthim any and every way that I could.

He has excelled in his three years ofactive duty, has obtained the rank of spe-cialist and is working hard to obtain hisnext promotion to sergeant before thisdeployment ends. His goal after that willbe to apply for Warrant Officer School.

In his career to date he has only man-aged to be in the states for a grand total ofsix months. The remainder of his time hasbeen in Korea and Iraq. We have not been

able to spend the last three birthdays,Thanksgivings and Christmas together dueto his being in another country and notable to come home. Hopefully in 2011 we

will be able to celebrate them all together! As a single parent, having my only child

choose this career path has been a verycrazy roller coaster ride of emotions. The

mom in me wishes that perhaps he wouldhave chosen a path that would keep him alittle less in harm’s way, but joining theArmy has been something that he haswanted to do for several years.

I worry almost nonstop about him. Howis he doing? Does he have everything thathe needs? How unbearably hot has it got-ten? Has he run into any more creaturessuch as the camel spiders, sand snakes,scorpions and vipers? When will he beable to contact me again? When will I getto see him again and for how long? Wherewill he go next in his service to our coun-try?

All military parents face these and manyother obstacles in the journey they takealongside their family members. Somedays are great and they have such excitingnews to share they are talking a mile aminute. Other days are not so enjoyable,such as the day they receive the orders ofdeployment. You start counting down thedays from that point forward trying tomake each minute that you have left special

Photo courtesy of Kyle Haddock

Kyle Haddock, right, is shown re-enlisting in the U.S. Army on Oct. 29. Haddock isin his third year with the Army.

Jim Bray served in the U.S. Armyfrom 1948-54

Dan Bray nears retirement from active duty

Teen enlistee follows in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle

Turn to ENLIST, page 6

Kyle Haddock re-enlisted inOctober, plans to apply for

Warrant Officer School


SALUTE TO VETERANS

Editor’s Note — Thomas J. Sheehan,Jr., passed away on Feb. 19 at the ageof 91. Shortly before his death, he dic-tated the following story from his memo-ry to Norm Gershon, his son-in-law,about his battalion and its encounterwith the Dachau concentration camp inApril 1945. Sheehan was a 1st Lieu-tenant in Patton’s tank corps. He movedfrom New York (where he was born andspent virtually his whole life) to Rose-burg to live with the Gershons in 2009.He was a loyal New York Mets fan.

THOMAS J. SHEEHANAs told to Norm Gershon

On or about April 29, 1945, I was inService Company, 27th Tank Battalion,20th Armored Division, moving south-east from Le Havre, France, to Salzburgin Austria. After an all-night approachfrom the area of Ulm, we came to asmall village, a military installation,which I later found out was Dachau.

This was the worst day of my life.There were U.S. infantry in the village

and they were in possession of theentrance to the camp. My best recall isthat this was the 45th Division (NewMexico National Guard).

Many German civilians were presentto work in the camp. They were turnedaway by the infantry as we were also,but not until we had observed the ovens,which were still quite warm.

This installation seemed to be run bythe SS. As the SS withdrew, they turnedartillery fire on us, and we did have onetanker who was wounded at his tank.The rest of the camp was in the hands ofour infantry.

As we waited for orders (I had aradio), we noticed on the northwest cor-ner of the camp a long train full ofapparent prisoners in very little clothing(the morning was cold). They asked usfor food and water, which we couldn’tprovide.

Several SS officers were met by ourinfantry. They seemed to be medics withbaggage, which was removed from whatI would call a clinic. Our medics treatedwounded Americans in the clinic.

Eventually, we, the 27th Tank Battal-

ion, were ordered to move southwest tothe neighborhood of München, and sowe did.

Norm Gershon lives in Roseburg.

Memories of Dachau were strong decades later

Photo courtesy of Norm Gershon

Lt. Thomas Sheehan stands for a photo while on duty with the U.S. Army in Eng-land on July 28, 1944. Sheehan sent the photo home to his wife, Irene. Note hername on the Jeep.

BARBARA SHEEHAN GERSHONFor The News-Review

My father, Thomas J. Sheehan, Jr., spentfive years in the U.S. Army (1941-46). Hewas among the first group of Americanmen drafted to respond to the dangers ofthe developing world war.

Like so many men and women who havegone off to war, he was profoundly affect-ed by the experience.

He spoke of his service proudly andoften. Aided by the G.I. Bill and while

working full time, raising a family andgoing to school in the evening, heachieved his life long dream of becomingan attorney.

During his final years, I encouraged himto use the medical services offered by theVeterans’Administration. It was somethinghe had never done. He felt he had done hisduty, he had taken advantage of the G.I.Bill and nothing more was due him.

I did finally persuade him that hissevere hearing loss might have been theresult of his years in the tank corps. He

reluctantly submitted to testing at theRoseburg VA facility and received hearingaids, which greatly added to his safety andto the quality of the last months of his life.He was touched by the care and generosityof those at the Roseburg VA and believedhe had received a “gift” from them.

It was a gift for me to have been able tohelp a proud, independent, self-reliantpatriot.

Barbara Gershon lives in Roseburg.

Daughter: My dad spoke of his Army service ‘proudly’

and memorable. You do that because hon-estly you don’t know when you will seeeach other again or under what circum-stances.

My son and I keep in touch utilizing thesystems that are available in today’s techworld. We use e-mails and Facebook andSkype when the connection on his endwill hold up, at times only lasting a fewminutes then disconnecting. Then youstart the calling process over again, butthose few minutes to see and hear are themost precious. At times you just look andsmile and laugh and then talk as fast asyou can trying to catch up on everythingpossible. Phone calls with the use ofphone cards or the DSN lines — when hecan locate an available phone— are pre-cious as well.

I mail “care” packages every couple ofweeks. They will be packed full of treatsand snacks of all of his favorites and eventhose of his buddies. I always have ordersfor cookies, snack mixes, candies, jerky,anything that is homemade and really justabout anything I can send he loves to get.He will send me messages of what hewould like in the next box before theyhave even emptied the current one.

Whenever one of his packages arriveshe tells me everyone gathers around toshare in the joy of something from home.He also seeks out the soldiers who don’tseem to receive any mail or packages andmakes sure that they can enjoy in all thegoodies sent from home. Movies, music,books and magazines are always indemand as well as basic items such aslotion, sunscreen, soap, baby wipes andlip balm.

Support and volunteer groups are avail-able such as Adopt A Hero, Blue StarMoms, The USO and Wounded Warriors,just to name a few. The list grows almostdaily. The internet can provide a wealth ofinformation to anyone who is interested inshowing support to our military guys andgals.

I am so very proud of my son and Iadmire the path he has chosen. At timesthis can be extremely difficult, but I willstand beside him and support him everystep of the way. He has chosen to serveour country and to protect every one of usso we may continue to enjoy the freedomsthat we have.

Kyle Haddock is just one of thousandsof fantastic military individuals.

Thank you for allowing me to sharesome of his story with you. God willing,this tour will end for him in March orApril and he will be home for a well-deserved month of leave.

Enlist: E-mail oneway to stay in touch

Continued from page 5

THEODORE OSBORNFor The News-Review

I entered the Army in 1955 and haveserved in some interesting posts.

After going through military policetraining at Fort Gordon, Ga., I workedas a turnkey at the U.S. Army discipli-nary barrack at Lompoc, Calif., (abranch of Leavenworth Federal Prison)for one year and spent two years in

Munich, Germany,where I did townpatrol as an M.P.

I also had an inter-esting 16 months inSouth Korea whileassigned to the mili-tary police and wasthe officer in chargeof a 55-man SouthKorean security forcein the early ’60s. Dur-ing off duty I some-

times volunteered at Father JoeSweeney’s orphanage and leprosarium.That was real sorrowful.

In 1969, after completing four yearsin Europe (two in France and two inBelgium), I was eager to return to thestates. I had been involved in trans-porting 375 tons of engineer materialand equipment from Paris to Brussels.I made 45 trips through the heart ofParis, around the Arc de Triomphe,driving a Citron truck. The first fewtrips were kind of nerve- wrackinguntil I learned to drive like the French.

Instead of being sent stateside, I wassent to Vietnam for a year and stationedat Tonsonnhut Air Base in Saigon withthe U.S. Army Mortuary. A very somberjob, quite the opposite of the two yearspleasantly spent on the personal staff ofMaj. Gen. Lloyd R. Moses, 5th ArmyHQ in Chicago in the early ’60s.

While in Vietnam the one bright spotwas when I had a week of R&R in

Hawaii and my wife and three kids flewover from Oregon. They lived in MyrtleCreek during my time in Vietnam.

As my tour of duty ended, I againlooked forward to an assignment in thestates. Instead, I received orders forSchwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, near

Stuttgart. We were there three years,completing eight continuous years ofduty outside the U.S. before finallyreturning home.

I retired in 1975 and moved to landthat we purchased 10 years earlier onthe Umpqua River in the Kellogg/Tyeearea.

We spent the really hot days at Win-chester Bay. I had made a vow to myselfwhile in sweltering hot Vietnam that “ifI get out of here alive, I am never goingto be hot again!”

That vow also makes me a churchgo-ing person.

If I knew then what I know now,

would I do it all again? In a heartbeat.The U.S. Army enabled a young lad

from Oakland, Ore., to see such thingsas Napoleon’s tomb, King Louis XII’sPalace of Versailles (where thearmistice, Treaty of Versailles, wassigned), Reims Cathedral where CharlesVII, in the presence of Joan of Arc, wascrowned King of France, the mass graveat Waterloo, the infamous concentrationcamp at Dachau where thousands ofJews were killed by Nazis, LouvreMuseum where the Mona Lisa, Venus deMilo and other works of art wereviewed, several castles located in theAlps, Luxembourg cemetery and thegrave site of Gen. George Patton andmost of all, most of “America the Beau-tiful.”

Theodore Osborn, 74, continues tolive on the banks of the Umpqua River.After his military career, he worked forthe Oakland School District and for theCampfire Girls Campground at Tyee.Osborn was awarded the Bronze StarMedal for meritorious achievement in aground operation against hostile forceswhile serving in Vietnam.


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SALUTE TO VETERANS

Retired Army enlistee reflects on 20-year career

Osborn

Photo courtesy of Theodore Osborn

Theodore Osborn served for 16months as a military policeman in SouthKorea in the early 1960s.

“If I get out of here alive, Iam never going to be hot

again!

Theodore OsbornOakland

”


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SALUTE TO VETERANS

PAULINE CLARKas told to Anne Creighton

For The News-Review

In 1940, when I was 19, I left my fami-ly’s chicken farm in Centralia, Wash., toattend Northwest Nazarene College inIdaho.

I paid for half of my tuition by workingthree nights a week as a server in thewomen’s dormitory cafeteria.

Back then, there were very strict rulesabout studying on Sundays, but I did it any-way so I wouldn’t fall behind.

However, my roommate told on me, and Igot scolded by the dean. I was so angry, andI knew after I finished the semester Iwouldn’t be back.

It was around that same time that PearlHarbor was bombed, and I remember it wasall over the front page of newspapers andon the radio.

I moved back to Centralia shortly afterand told my mother I wanted to join abranch in the service. She said, “Pauline,those women are just there to service themen.”

Whether she was right or not, I’ll neverknow, but I knew I had to get out of Cen-tralia somehow.

One of my friends from college lived inNewberg, Ore., and she invited me to livewith her for the summer and find a job. Iended up working at a cafe for a year, but Inever made much money.

While I was in Newberg, I saw an adver-tisement in the paper that said the Oregonshipyards were hiring women welder’shelpers, and I immediately took a bus toPortland and applied for the job. I was hiredshortly after.

I commuted from Newberg to Portlandfor about a year, but finally found housingin the Portland area with a new roommate,Ruth Miller, who also worked in the ship-yards.

I was on the graveyard shift, and I wantedto be because we only worked seven hours

and got paid for eight. I was earning about75 cents an hour back then.

I learned quickly that welders made quitea bit more so I decided to go to weldingschool. For about a week, I took classes inthe mornings after I got off my shift andwas soon welding Liberty and Victorycargo ships on my own for about $2 anhour.

It was hard work, but it was fun, too.Ruth and I worked six days a week, but we

had Saturday nights off, and we would godancing at the Knob Hill Club in Portland.

One night while I was at the club, thissailor came over and asked me to dance.His name was Harry Byron Clark, buteveryone called him Barney.

Barney worked on a minesweeper, whichwas in port for repairs. After our night ofdancing we continued to spend time togeth-er, and before long he was waiting for me atmy doorstep every morning when I got off

work. This carried on for about a monthuntil he left on his ship to the AleutianIslands for his last tour of duty.

A few weeks after Barney deployed, I gota letter in the mail from him asking if Iwould marry him. I said yes, and we weremarried in 1945 after the war ended.

We were together for more than 40 yearsbefore he passed away.

I’m proud of what I did, although at thetime I thought of it as just a job. I didn’trealize the importance of what I was doinguntil toward the end of the war. It took awhile for all of it to sink in.

The war was hard on everyone. Thereweren’t any new appliances or cars made

because all of the metal went to the wareffort. There was a shortage of everything,including butter.

The people during that time understoodwhy this was happening, and we nevercomplained. I met a lot of great people dur-ing my stint as a welder.

It was a growing-up time for all of us,and I would do it all over again in a heart-beat.

Newspaper advertisement led to role as ‘Rosie the Riveter’

The News-Review

Pauline Clark of Roseburg is proud ofher work in the Oregon shipyards duringWorld War II.

“I’m proud of what I did,although at the time I

thought of it as just a job.

Pauline ClarkRoseburg

” Courtesy photo

Clark, right, is pictured with Ruth Millerin Portland. The friends and roommatesembodied the image of Rosie the Riveter.

B.J. ENGEN

as told to Craig ReedThe News-Review

Being a veteran to me is having a priv-ilege that a lot of people don’t have. Ifeel honored by having served in theU.S. military.

Being a veteran is an honorable pro-fession.

A veteran of course has seen theeffects of wars, of conflicts. I saw warearly in life. I was born and raised inNorway, a Nazi-occupied country duringWorld War II. Even though I was veryyoung, I still remember what was goingon and how the Nazis were treating peo-ple.

I came to the U.S. in 1958 at the ageof 21. I flew into Seattle. I settled in theCanyonville area, but I knew I had toserve in the military. That was part of theimmigration laws at the time.

In 1960, I received the notice that saidI was going to be drafted. I joined theU.S. Navy and was fortunate to be trans-ferred to a transport squadron because Iwanted to fly. I was a load master on aC130 Hercules (plane). The Navy andAir Force worked together. At the begin-ning of the Vietnam War, we flew troopsand supplies into Saigon.

I feel really proud to be a veteran. Ifeel very appreciative of what the Rose-burg V.A. has done for me. That’s whyI’m volunteering my extra time to theV.A. Being a veteran, I have an under-standing of what other veterans gothrough coming back after serving thecountry overseas.

I feel real obligated to help any veter-an I can who’s coming back from war.They have all served and done theirduties for their country. They deserve the

best they can get.Veterans Day to me is one special day

of the year that I feel very fortunate tobe here, and to be able to participate inevents based on veterans.

I belong to the Southern Oregon War-birds and participate in the Veterans DayParade in downtown Roseburg.

Veterans Day has significant impor-tance because it’s a time to recognizeand honor vets.

Winston’s B.J. Engen, 73, was a mem-ber of the U.S. Navy from 1960-66. Hesaid that based on research he did withfriend Dirk Kruysman of Roseburg, theybelieve they are are the only two Dou-glas County veterans who lived in Nazi-occupied countries as youngsters. Kruys-man was born and raised in Holland.


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The News-Review

B.J. Engen of Winston served in the U.S.Navy from 1960 to 1966. He’s now retiredand lives in Winston with his dog, Bisha.

Editor’s Note: The following is anexcerpt from a biography, “One of Ten,”written by Herb Johnson of Roseburg.Johnson wrote one chapter about the waryears, 1941 to 1946.

HERB JOHNSONFor The News-Review

I remember the telephone jingling. Theoperator in a very nervous voice told usthat Pearl Harbor had been attacked bythe Japanese. We had to find a world mapto locate Pearl Harbor.

A few nights later, President Rooseveltwas on the radio with a message to theAmerican people. The one passage thatstood out was, “We have nothing to fearbut fear itself.”

I decided to volunteer. Dad took me toHuron, about 40 miles away. I wanted tojoin the Air Force, but that office in thefederal building was closed.

I inquired at the office across the hall.That was the Navy Recruiting Office.Five minutes later, I was signed up for theNavy.

There were so many volunteers signingup that when we finally arrived at the

Great Lakes NavalTraining Station, therewere not enough facil-ities to handle us all.We were shipped southto New Orleans to getus out of the Januarycold. I was eventuallyassigned to aminesweeper.

It took 45 days forour squadron of 15ships to reach Aus-

tralia. We then headed north to the Philippines

and proceeded to have numerous engage-ments with the Japanese in the Phillipinesand Borneo until the end of the war inAugust 1945.

Our thoughts of going home weredashed when we were assigned to sweepour own mines off the China coast.

We finally made it home in February1946.

Herb Johnson of Roseburg was one of10 children in the family of Henry andAlice Johnson in South Dakota. Johnson,80, is now retired.

Johnson

Herb Johnson rushed to serve


541.672.9405www.cowcreek.com

US Army Specialist Ricky W. Rockholt, Jr. October 28, 1976 - April 28, 2005

US Army Specialist Daniel LeckelAugust 13, 1987 - July 25, 2007

US Army Sgt. Joshua LengstorfDecember 3, 1985 - January 3, 2010

2371 NE Stephens St .Roseburg, Oregon 97470

VETERANS DAY … A DAY TO REMEMBERVETERANS DAY … A DAY TO REMEMBER

ALL WHO HAVE SERVED ALL WHO HAVE SERVEDSix young men from Douglas County gave their lives

serving our country in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 2005, US Army PFC Dean Bright, US Army Specialist Daniel Leckel,

US Marine Corporal James Lee Moore, US Army Specialist Ricky W. Rockholt, Jr., and US Army PFC Joshua A.R. Young died serving our country. Last January,

US Army Sgt. Joshua Lengstorf became the sixth Douglas County mortality. Freedom is not free.

From WWI to the present, over half a million US Military personnel died serving this country during war or confl ict.

Over 25 million US Veterans are alive in the United States today.Remember all of them…always.

US Marine Corporal James Lee MooreFebruary 3, 1980 - January 26, 2005

US Army PFC Dean BrightOctober 13, 1973 - October 4, 2006

US Army PFC Joshua A.R. YoungAugust 8, 1986 - January 28, 2008



541.672.9405www.cowcreek.com

US Army Specialist Ricky W. Rockholt, Jr. October 28, 1976 - April 28, 2005

US Army Specialist Daniel LeckelAugust 13, 1987 - July 25, 2007

US Army Sgt. Joshua LengstorfDecember 3, 1985 - January 3, 2010

2371 NE Stephens St .Roseburg, Oregon 97470

VETERANS DAY … A DAY TO REMEMBERVETERANS DAY … A DAY TO REMEMBER

ALL WHO HAVE SERVED ALL WHO HAVE SERVEDSix young men from Douglas County gave their lives

serving our country in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 2005, US Army PFC Dean Bright, US Army Specialist Daniel Leckel,

US Marine Corporal James Lee Moore, US Army Specialist Ricky W. Rockholt, Jr., and US Army PFC Joshua A.R. Young died serving our country. Last January,

US Army Sgt. Joshua Lengstorf became the sixth Douglas County mortality. Freedom is not free.

From WWI to the present, over half a million US Military personnel died serving this country during war or confl ict.

Over 25 million US Veterans are alive in the United States today.Remember all of them…always.

US Marine Corporal James Lee MooreFebruary 3, 1980 - January 26, 2005

US Army PFC Dean BrightOctober 13, 1973 - October 4, 2006

US Army PFC Joshua A.R. YoungAugust 8, 1986 - January 28, 2008



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SALUTE TO VETERANS

TODD MUNSEYFor The News-Review

When my oldest son, Matthew, calledfrom college to tell me he didn’t knowwhat he really wanted to do, that he real-ized it was costing a lot of money to bethere and that he had decided he wasgoing to enlist in the Navy, my reactionwas simple.

Throughout his young life, Matt hadalways made good decisions and givenme every reason to trust this one as well.Besides, I think most of us have a per-ception that if you’re in the Navy, you’rea little safer riding around on a big boat,hopefully staying out of harm’s way.

While it started out that way, 9/11changed all that. Without going intodetail, Matthew is extremely good atwhat he does. When others who areextremely good at what they do tooknotice, the war scenery for Matt changedfrom waves to caves.

When I’m trying to describe how I feelabout my son and his commitment tokeeping our country safe and free, wordslike “pride” seem so inadequate. To putit in perspective, most folks think aboutthe war when they see or hear somethingabout it in the media. For me, however,Matthew and the brave souls he serveswith are on my mind and in my prayersconstantly.

As he has just finished his ninth tourof duty in Afghanistan, our occasionalphone conversations while he’s overthere have always had a common theme.I can’t ask him where he is, what he’sdoing, what time it is, what the weath-er’s like or when he might be cominghome.

But I’m able to ask, ‘How ’bout those

Patriots?” and to talk football. Matthew was elevated to senior chief

almost two years ago as one of theyoungest to reach that honor. I took theopportunity to fly back east to be withMatt and his family and I shared thesewords with him:

“To my Senior Chief, “I salute you and congratulate you on

a phenomenal accomplishment. I knowyou have the respect and admiration ofyour peers and people who love you. I’mproud to be at the front of the line andlucky to be here to celebrate yet anotherincredible moment in your life.

“I hope I tell you often just how proudI am of you. The incredible work thatyou do often goes unnoticed by peopleoutside of your circle. Most people inthis country take their freedom and secu-rity for granted. While I don’t even havea good grasp on everything you do, Ipromise you that I appreciate you andyour colleagues every minute of everyday.

“On a personal note and from a fatherand son perspective, I’ve tried to raiseyou to be polite, courteous and respect-ful … mission accomplished.

“My hope was also to perhaps haveyou grow up to be kind of like me ….the good parts. A funny thing happened,somewhere along the way I came to real-ize that the tables had somehow turnedand I began to hope and wish that Icould be more like you. As a Dad, yourDad, I can’t imagine a better feeling.”

The reason words seem so inadequate

to describe my feelings is because hav-ing a son, daughter, husband or wife inthe military adds such a personal andemotional element to our lives. It’sappreciated when an acquaintance, afriend or a relative says, “I know howyou must feel.”

But they can’t. They can’t know howI fight back tears of pride when I wit-ness a stirring rendition of the StarSpangled Banner, a fighter jet flyingover a parade or ball game, or the sightof a little girl welcoming her dad homewith her little arms wrapped around hisneck.

They can’t know what it’s like for afather and son to celebrate their Patriots’first Super Bowl Championship or RedSox first World Series Championship,together in spirit, but a half a worldapart.

They can’t know how I feel whensomeone gives me the greatest compli-ment possible, “Please thank your sonand tell him how much I appreciate hisservice to our country.”

Because I can’t think of a better word,I am so proud of my son. I would beproud to have my younger son, Andrew,follow in Matthew’s footsteps, and I’meven naïve enough to hope that it wouldbe in a more peaceful world.

I’m so proud of our other men andwomen who are currently serving andthe veterans who have gone before them.

I seldom miss an opportunity to extendmy hand and thank them for their servicewhen I see them in the airports, restau-rants or on the street.

Here at home where we are all busywith work, school, ball games, birthdaysand life in general in a free world, it’sthe least we can do.

Todd Munsey is a Sutherlin residentand works at Douglas Electric Coopera-tive in Roseburg. His son, Matthew, is a1995 Sutherlin High School graduate.

Son’s commitment to country sparks pride in father

Photo courtesy of Todd Munsey

Matt Munsey of the U.S. Navy hasserved nine tours in Afghanistan.

Matt Munsey, a Sutherlin HighSchool grad, reached the rank ofsenior chief about two years ago

“Because I can’t think of abetter word, I am so proud ofmy son. I would be proud to

have my younger son,Andrew, follow in Matthew’s

footsteps.

Todd Munsey, fatherSutherlin

”

Resolved by the Senate (the House ofRepresentatives concurring), that thePresident of the United States is request-ed to issue a proclamation calling uponthe officials to display the flag of theUnited States on all Government build-ings on November 11 and inviting thepeople of the United States to observethe day in schools and churches, orother suitable places, with appropriateceremonies of friendly relations with allother peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code,Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, madethe 11th of November in each year alegal holiday—a day to be dedicated tothe cause of world peace and to bethereafter celebrated and known as“Armistice Day.” Armistice Day wasprimarily a day set aside to honor veter-ans of World War I, but in 1954, afterWorld War II had required the greatestmobilization of soldiers, sailors,Marines and airmen in the Nation’s his-tory; after American forces had fought

aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress,at the urging of the veterans serviceorganizations, amended the Act of 1938by striking out the word “Armistice”and inserting in its place the word “Vet-erans.” With the approval of this legisla-tion (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954,November 11th became a day to honorAmerican veterans of all wars.

Veterans Day continues to beobserved on November 11, regardless ofwhat day of the week on which it falls.... It helps focus attention on the impor-tant purpose of Veterans Day: A celebra-tion to honor America’s veterans fortheir patriotism, love of country, andwillingness to serve and sacrifice for thecommon good.

FRED NELSONFor The News-Review

I am a young octogenarian who is a WorldWar II veteran. I served overseas in thePacific Theater for one year and was in theArmy Reserves for nine years with the rankof staff sergeant.

My wife and I moved from California in1990 and to Roseburg in 1994. We have beenblessed with six grandchildren and havefound life most wonderful here.

With this writing, I will use three quota-tions. The first is by Randy Pauch and was aquote from his father: “If you dispense yourown wisdom others will dismiss it, but if youoffer the wisdom of others it will seem arro-gant and more acceptable.”

The second from James Reston: “The firstcasualty of war is common sense, the secondis communication via open discussion, i.e.debate.”

The question I ask is: How do we speak tothose whose sole purpose of existence is tokill all, including themselves, who are notwilling to confirm to their tenets?

Now that our nation is currently involvedin two land wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) andvery possibly may be required to commitourselves to two or more in Pakistan, Yemenand at sometime Iran, how can we prevailand obtain a peaceful solution?

We were victorious after World War IIlargely because we were a nation united andeveryone did what they had to do to achievethe complete victory. This is the price wepaid in blood, sweat and sacrifice. We had atthat time rationing of gas (needed a card),rubber, food (coffee, sugar, butter, etc.).

I advise all the younger generation to asktheir grandparents about what the circum-stances were then and then compare thatwith what we have today. Those who foughtduring this conflict had to suffer many lossessuffered by Kamikaze pilots who were will-ing to die for their emperor and their belief inShintoism. Does history not repeat itself?

Who will be the winner after the world isnuked? This planet will be uninhabitablewith bodies and debris everywhere just as itwas in Germany in 1945. Except with radia-tion lasting for centuries what crops willgrow? Who will be here to tend and harvestthem?

In 1945, I saw what remained betweenShinagawa (a suburb of Tokyo) and Yoko-hama. There was nothing with the exceptionof some reinforced concrete smokestacks.

The third quotation was by Albert Ein-stein: “I do not know what weapons WorldWar II will be fought with but any later con-flict will be fought with sticks and stones.”

Therefore, is it not prudent that anyresponsible government must be prepared forany eventual future attacks by those who

wish to destroy our way of life?My prayer is that we cease to argue among

ourselves as with Democrats versus Republi-cans or right against left, red versus blue orany other colors. What we need is change forthe better with less debt, taxes, welfare, regu-lations, wasteful spending, less government(which lately seems to be expanding), morehonesty and transparency (as promised) withadherence to our Constitution and live by the10 Commandments, if possible, to end all theobvious corruption, then we can truly be aUnited States.

Fred Nelson, now 84, and his wife, Leticia,have lived in Roseburg for 16 years. Nelsonworked in the construction industry for 37years before retiring.


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Photo courtesy of Fred Nelson

This picture of Fred Nelson of the U.S.Army was taken in a Tokyo studio in1945. The backdrop is a picture of MountFujiyama.

Vets: An act approved in 1938 madeNov. 11 of each year a legal holiday

Continued from page 2


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SALUTE TO VETERANS

LONNIE WILLIAMSFor The News-Review

Editor’s Note — Lonnie Williamsserved two six-month tours, in 1969 and1970, in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.He wrote a book, “In the Shadow ofPeril,” from his war experiences. The fol-lowing is Chapter 6 — “It’s a Jungle OutThere” — in the book.

Walking “point” or being “point man,”as it was often referred to, was a presti-

gious position,reserved for the moreexperienced andrespected among us. Itwasn’t a job for therash, reckless orimpetuous, for thelives of those he pilot-ed depended on hisdiscretion and discern-ment as much as hiseyes and ears.

If your point mansuddenly felt that

“something just wasn’t right,” then thatwas serious stuff, carrying nearly as muchclout as an actual tangible threat.

Another qualifying trait of being “upfront” was that it wasn’t for the faint ofheart. The “point and drag” (last in line)positions both carried with them the terri-ble price of aloneness and vulnerability. Itwas the point man who, if he missed see-ing that deadly trip wire at his feet, wouldbe the first recompensed for his oversight.If others died or were injured having beenled into an ambush, it was he who borethe guilt. Needless to say, it was no placefor those who charged blindly on, think-ing more of the goal ahead than thosewho followed behind. A typical point manencounter might have sounded somethinglike this, an experience I, myself, had.

What a helpless, hopeless and paralyz-ing sensation. I’m talking about the

dreadful feeling that some unseen enemyis pointing a rifle right at you. Leading apatrol along a well used trail could makeyou imagine all kinds of things, some ofwhich you couldn’t just brush aside likeanother thorn-studded vine.

You stop, you look, you listen, but allyou hear is your own heart beating fasterand louder with each passing moment.You don’t see or hear anything threaten-ing, yet you “feel” a dangerous presence.Startled, you jump as a dry, dead leafoverhead floats downward, colliding firstwith one branch, then another, as it spins,rocks and tumbles to the ground besideyou. Unconsciously, you thumb the safetyoff your rifle, causing those behind you todo the same. Back down the line ofteenage soldiers, a newbie is hushed as hequestions what’s going on up ahead.

You can’t see him, but you know he’s

there. His sights are on you. You havebecome a walking (and for the moment)breathing human target. You can perceivehis finger shifting on the trigger, search-ing for that “sweet” spot that makes manand rifle one. You’ve been that very agentof death yourself: you know the drill.He’s concentrating on his breathing now,timing his breaths with the moment hisfinger chooses to drop you or one ofyours to the jungle floor.

“What’s he waiting for?” you wonder.Is there something blocking his shot?Maybe he’s having second thoughts abouthis position. Whatever is going on, youlong for something to hide behind, butthere’s nothing nearby. Besides, anymovement on your part may make thingsworse, not better.

Now, for some bizarre reason, yourmind envisions that 7.62 mm round set-

ting snugly in the chamber of his rifle,that round fate commissioned for you(“Oh God,” you think to yourself, “notthe flag draped coffin scene again.”). Youconsider diving to the ground or “hosing”down the area with your own bullets in areckless response to the panic welling upinside. “Fight or Flight” — what do youdo when every choice is the wrongchoice? What a typical Vietnam experi-ence. Once again, there is no rightanswer. You’re damned if you do anddamned if you don’t.

The guy behind you, your “slack” posi-tion, is staring at you; you can feel thattoo. He’s wondering why you’re tensedlike a man who’s just stepped in front ofan oncoming train. You know you’re scar-ing him and the rest of the guys as well,but you’re afraid to turn and explain.Besides, what would you say to him?“I’ve got this ‘feeling’ that one of us isabout to be killed?”

Just as you start to take a courageousstep forward, your mind betrays you. Itbegins playing a graphic, full-color movieof a young man choking on his ownblood. Shot through the chest, he falls tohis knees, then on his side, vainly gaspingfor air.

“No!” you accidentally blurt out, shak-ing the morbid scene from your head.Mustering every ounce of courage youcan find, you ignore your fears and takethat first step, then another. Soon, all iswell again; it was just your imagination ...except you could have sworn you saw afaint shadowy figure melt into the jungleahead.

Lonnie Williams of Winston is a twice-wounded combat veteran of the VietnamWar and was a recipient of the BronzeStar. He served in Vietnam and Cambo-dia. He wrote his book, “In the Shadow ofPeril,” to honor his friends who died inthe war, and for his children.

War experiences from a pair of Vietnam tours recalled

Williams

Photo courtesy of Lonnie Williams

Lonnie Williams is pictured in front of one of the tracks he drove while serving inthe U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was wounded twice during combat.


SALUTE TO VETERANS

DOREEN BUTLERFor The News-Review

In the summer of1945, a terrible thinghappened to my motherand her family.

She was 10 years old.Her family had movedfrom Eureka, Calif., toStockton, Calif., so thatmy grandfather couldwork in the assemblyyards.

My mother, LaDora,her sister, Donna, and afriend visiting fromEureka went swimming.The three girls wereskipping down somerocks that were likestair steps when myAunt Donna tripped.She went ahead anddove in.

When she didn’tcome back up, mymother and their friendwent for help. Theydragged the river andtwo days later the bodyof my mother’s sisterwas found.

Donna Downey was13 years old. It wasAug. 20, 1945.

My mother’s olderbrother, Billy, was serv-ing as a Marine then.Several weeks afterDonna died this letter(to the left) arrived.Uncle Billy had writtenher. It was dated Aug.14, 1945 “VJ Day.”

The death of my AuntDonna became a familytragedy. My UncleBilly’s letter became afamily treasure.

Doreen Butler ofRoseburg submitted theadjacent letter that waswritten by her UncleBilly (Wilmer PatrickShea) in 1945 followingthe end of World WarII.

Tragicdeath,

treasuredletter


SALUTE TO VETERANS

The News-Review

Editor’s Note: A version of the follow-ing story about John Danville appearedin the 1988 Umpqua Edition of TheNews-Review.

A “Bouncing Betty” blew the top off19-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. JohnDanville Jr.’s head near An Hoi, Viet-nam, in December 1967.

“Bouncing Betty.” With typical sardonic humor, the GIs

gave an alliterative female nickname tothe foot-activated grenade favored bythe Viet Congo. It was a cunningweapon, calculated to kill by bouncingoff the ground and exploding at waistlevel or higher.

It didn’t quite do the job in Danville’scase. He survived. Barely.

He wasn’t expected to live. He saysmore than one telegram was sent to hisparents announcing their son’s deathwas imminent. He says he spent fourand a half years in veterans hospitalsand during that time his head was oper-ated on nine times.

Danville is disabled for life, with athick fiberglass plate implanted in his

head. He’s dependenton heavy medicationto quell injury-induced epilepsy.Because of the braininjury, there are holesin his memory and hesometimes has diffi-culty explaining whathe means.

But Danville’s aproud man. He doeswhat he can. Three

times a week he volunteers at the Veter-ans Administration Medical Center. He’scontributed 2,000 hours to the center.He’s an active member of the DisabledAmerican Veterans and the MilitaryOrder of the Purple Heart. He’s partici-pated in the March of Dimes WalkAmer-ica.

Danville says he has no regrets abouthis tour of duty in Vietnam. His onlyregret is that he still isn’t an activeMarine.

“Semper Fi — do or die,” he says res-olutely, raising his arm in a salute.

To be a Marine was Danville’s onlyambition “since I was born,” he says.His dad, John Sr., had been a Marine,

serving in World War II. Father, howev-er, didn’t want son to go into the MarineCorps.

But young John couldn’t wait. As soon as he turned 18 in 1965, he

quit Roseburg High School, one creditshy of graduating, and headed to the LosAngeles area, where his mother lived, toenlist in the Marines.

After basic training in San Diego andinfantry training at Camp Pendleton, theyoung man shipped out for Vietnam, rar-ing to fight.

“I hoped I’d be going to Vietnam,” hesays.

He calls his 18-month tour with theMarines “the most wonderful time of mylife.”

Despite the brain injury, his memoryof that time remains vivid. He shares hismemories with the same pride that hewears the big brass belt buckle that pro-claims, “Vietnam ... We served our timein hell. “

A grainy black-and-white photo showsDanville in a hospital bed, receiving thePurple Heart from an officer Danvilleidentifies as General Walt. Emaciatedand covered with bandages, the patientbarely resembles the strapping, cocky

young Marine infantryman who hadenlisted a couple years earlier.

After his years of hospitalization,Danville settled in the Roseburg area tobe near his family. Although he foughtto get out of the VA hospital, he spendsmuch of his time there as a volunteer.It’s as close to the military as he can get.

His allegiance to his country, the mili-tary and the Vietnam War remainsunswerving.

“I don’t think it was good,” he says ofthe war. “But I don’t think it was bad. Ithink anybody who was asked to go overthere should have gone.”

Any ill-will he carries from the 1960sis aimed at the antiwar protesters.

“I feel very resentful of people in theU.S. treating us like we were (crap)when we came back,” he says.

No matter what the personal and phys-ical toll extracted by the Vietnam War,Danville considers himself a militaryman.

“I’m a 100 percent retired Marine,” hesays.

John Danville lives in Green and vol-unteers about 15 hours a week at the VARoseburg Healthcare System.

War injury ended the career of a ‘100 percent’ U.S. Marine

Danville

Douglas County Veterans Forum service organizations


So Proud ofRod Adams

SERVING 2004 - PRESENT

NATIONAL GUARD

WE ARE SO PROUD

OF YOU AND HAPPY

YOU’RE HOME.

HonoringPFC. Harold A. Roady

SERVED 1943 - 1946WORLD WAR II

US MARINESWe were proud then &

even more proud now!

Love, your Grandkids.

In Memory OfPFC Harold RogersSERVED 1942 - 1945

UNITED STATES ARMYLifetime Resident of Yoncalla Passed at 101. We Miss you.

Love, your wife Martha & The Whole Rogers Family.

So Proud ofP.F.C. James KuperSERVING 2009 - PRESENT

CURRENTLY IN IRAQ

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Love & Prayers, Grams & family

We SaluteCpt. Natalie Hayes

SERVING FROM

MAY 2002 - PRESENT

US ARMYWE’RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.

WELCOME HOME

FROM IRAQ

So Proud OfDon Jenkins

SERVED

1962-1966

UNITED STATES MARINES

Love, Joell, John and Shellee

On Veterans Day, November 11, 2010

we honor the men and women who have

served and those that are serving our

Country in the Armed Forces.

We Support You and We Thank You!

So Proud ofLt. Joshua TalcottCURRENTLY SERVING

US ARMYWe are so proud of you, Joshua

So Proud of

T5 Neil Talcott

SERVED 1943 - 1946

US ARMY

GO COMBAT INFANTRY MEN!

We SaluteCurtis Hannevold

SERVED

2004-2008

UNITED STATES NAVY

Love, Grandma, Grandpa,Mom, and John

In Memory of

Dean Robert Bright

US ARMY CAV. SCOUTKIA IRAQ 10-04-06

“No Father Ever

Had A Better Son”

Dad, Mom, Sandra, Emily,

Chris, Ron, Jarrod, Maddie,

Myah & Evan


Gone...Never ForgottenJohn Wesley Hughes

SERVED

1943 - 1945U.S. NAVY

We Love You Daddy Jack! Your Wife, Children, Grandchildren and

Great-Grandchildren

In Memory ofSFC John L. Armstrong

SERVED 1950-1952

US ARMYOnce in a lifetime

Love, Dottie

William J. DuncanSERVED 1944 - 1951


Join The Heroes.

Become a Hospice

Volunteer at the

V.A. in Roseburg

HonoringCol. Richard L.

MeredithSERVED 1963-1989UNITED STATES ARMY

We love you, Cheryl, Mike, Christi, Beth,

Shelli & Staci

We Salute You!Michael J. Ardito, Sr.

VIETNAM

1968-1969UNITED STATES MARINE CORP.

From yourWife, Susan

So Proud OfLance CorporalNathan Cheney

SERVING 2009 - PRESENT


Semper FiLove Mom & Dad

HonoringMelvin Cheney

SERVING 1971 - 1977

UNITED STATES ARMY

Thank You for your service to our country

HonoringCapt. Tex MarshallSERVED 1949 - 1970

OREGON NATIONAL GUARD

Love,

Your Family

HonoringPFC Roy D. Marshall

SERVED 1954 - 1956

US ARMY

Love,

Your Family

So Proud OfE-5 Petty Officer Chris JohnstonSERVED 1987-1997

US NAVYI’m so Proud of You!

Love, Alsy

We Salute

LewisJohnston

US NAVY

We Love You Dad!

In Memory ofSgt. Calvin F. Marshall

SERVED 1947 - 1949

US MARINES

Love,

Your Family

So Proud OfMK-2 Jack Reilly

SERVED

1971 - 1977US Coast Guard

“SEMPER PARATUS”LOVE ALWAYS, YOUR WIFE.

So Proud OfMsgt. Ken Barnes, Ret

SERVED

9/8/1987 TO 9/1/2009


Thank you,

Russ & Vangie

So Proud OfKen Barnes, Msgt.

SERVED

9/8/1987 TO 9/1/2009


We Love You,

Dad & Mom


We Salute2nd Lt.

Harry Burton BlackSERVED WWII

US ARMY

Gone, but not forgotten

In Memory OfCPL Calvin Coolidge

PonchoOur beloved husband,

father, g. father & gt. papa

SERVED 1943-1947

ARMY RANGER, UTAH BEACH, EUROPEYou’re in our Hearts

So Proud OfSam Morris

SERVED

1967 - 1968

UNITED STATES ARMYVIETNAM

You made it!

We love you.

We SaluteJacob Tobias Notenboom

SERVED 1967 & 1968

UNITED STATES ARMY

Night Hawks 131st AVN Co.

From, your family

In Memory ofJess Portlock

SERVED 1967 - 1969 (VIETNAM)


Still Loved, Badly Missed

We SaluteWinston Bridges Jr.

SERVED 1964-1965

US ARMY

From, Pat, Barby & Sean

In Memory of Lt. Commander

Winston Bridges Sr.SERVED 1942-1945

US NAVY

From, Pat, Barby & Sean

So Proud OfSP4 Michel

Robert KreskySERVED 1969-1971

US ARMY 3/4 CAVForever in our Hearts

Love, Lore, Daniel, Tania

So Proud Of Cpt. Trenton W.

SimshauserSERVING

US AIR FORCE

Thank you for serving in IraqLove, Your Family

So Proud OfRyan Simshauser

SERVING 2007 TO PRESENT

U.S. COAST GUARD

Love, Your Family

You’re Our HeroCasey Dawley

Sergeant 1st Class SERVING 1998 - PRESENT

UNITED STATES ARMY

We Love You,You make us proud

Mom, Dad, Dana, Jason, A.J. & Emily

So Proud Of

Robert C. Weaver

United States Army

FOR SERVING TIME IN

VIETNAM

LOVE, MOM.

In Memory OfRobert R. Weaver

UNITED STATES

ARMY AIR FORCEWe miss you

Love, your family.

In Memory of

DeanRobertBright

US ARMY CAV. SCOUT

KIA IRAQ 10-04-06

I Love You

Dad,

Jarrod


Honoring

SPE 4 John D. WeaverSERVED

1971 - 1977United States Army

FROM THE WEAVER FAMILY

Honoring

PFC Franklin G. WeaverSERVED



In Memory Of

SFC William R. Weaver Sr.SERVED



Honoring

Sgt William R. Weaver Jr.SERVED



So Proud OfGary Cross

Vietnam Medic 82nd Airborne

SERVED 1970 - 1973

The World is Better

For Having You

HonoringRobert “Bob” Pearson

SERVED 1966-1970

UNITED STATES NAVY

Thank YouLove, Sherry, Wanda & Bobbi and rest of

your loved ones

In Honor OfE4 Lloyd O. Nelson

SERVED

1941-1945

WAKE ISLAND POW WWII

Love, Mary Ann & Nels

So Proud OfSGT. Stephen D. Guido

SERVED

1966 - 1969

Grandpa, We love you!Sierra, Arielle, Kennedy,

Dylan & Khloe

In Memory OfSr. A Ryan Matthews

SERVED

6/08 - 11/09US AIR FORCE

Forever in our heartsLove, Mom, Dad & Kody

In Loving Memory of Fallen Heroes &

BrothersCpl. James L. Moore, USMC

Esau Ivan Deapena-Hernandez

USMC & USA

LOVE, MOM, ANDREWS,LAKES, STEWARTS

We SaluteDarin T. Kell

SERVED 1988-1995

United States Army

SO PROUD TO CALL YOU DAD!LOVE, COLLIN & AUSTIN

So Proud OfLt. Col. Eric Riley

SERVING 1993 TO PRESENT

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Congratulations on your promotion. Love Kristin, Cole,

Logan & Kaitlyn

So Proud OfLeonard A. Dyer

United States Army

WOUNDED IN OKINAWA, YOU

MADE YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS

& COUNTRY PROUD.

In Memory of

Dean R. Bright

US ARMYKIA 10-04-06

Love Forever...Becky, Jarrod and Maddie

Documents

Salute to Veterans 2010