TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2015

VETERANSDAY
Saluting our soldiers
A Special Supplement to Cadillac News
The Origin of
Veterans Day

broke out in Europe. Sixteen and onehalf million Americans took part. Four
hundred seven thousand of them died
In 1921, an unknown World
in service, more than 292,000 in battle.
War
I
American
soldier
was buried in Arlington National
Armistice Day Changed
Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overTo Honor All Veterans
looking the Potomac River and the city
Realizing that peace was equally
of Washington, became the focal point
preserved by veterans of WW II and
of reverence for Americas veterans.
Korea, Congress was requested to
Similar ceremonies occurred earmake this day an occasion to honor
lier in England and France, where
those who have served America in all
an unknown soldier was buried in
wars. In 1954 President Eisenhower
each nations highest place of honor
signed a bill proclaiming November
(in England, Westminster Abbey; in
11 as Veterans Day.
France, the Arc de Triumph). These
On Memorial Day 1958, two more
memorial gestures all took place on
unidentified American war dead were
November 11, giving universal recbrought from overseas and interred
ognition to the celebrated ending
in the plaza beside the unknown solof World War I fighting at 11 a.m.,
dier of World War I. One was killed in
November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour
World War II, the other in the Korean
of the 11th day of the 11th month).
War. In 1973, a law passed providing
The day became known as Armistice
interment of an unknown American
Day.
from the Vietnam War, but none was
Armistice Day officially received its
found for several years. In 1984, an
name in America in 1926 through a
unknown serviceman from that conCongressional resolution. It became a
flict was placed alongside the others.
national holiday 12 years later by simiTo honor these men, symbolic of all
lar Congressional action. If the idealisAmericans who gave their lives in all
tic hope had been realized that World
wars, an Army honor guard, The 3rd
War I was the War to end all Wars,
U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps
November 11 might still be called
day and night vigil.
Armistice Day. But only a few years
A law passed in 1968 changed the
after the holiday was proclaimed, war
national commemoration of Veterans

We honor and give thanks to all

veterans who served and sacrificed
to ensure our freedom.

BREIDENSTEIN OIL
& AUTO SERVICE, INC.

With Gratitude
to Our Veterans
Mr. Pibs
Restaurant

502 S. Mitchell St., Cadillac

(231) 775-3371

3780 N. Mackinaw Trail, LeRoy

Open: Monday-Friday 8 AM-5:30 PM

231-768-5288

Melissa Kuhns

US Air Force
Security Police Specialist
35th Security Forces Squadron
Misawa, Japan
Served 1994-1998

SFC Don Grage

Trusted. Local. Connected.

A special thank
you to all service
men & women!

Mexican Bar & Grill

1700 S. Mitchell St., Cadillac 231-775-4575

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Rebekah Oates

past and present, who have given their all

in defense of our great nation.

We salute your
valor & dedication!

Lets Put
Our Hands
Together for
Our Veterans

For their service and their sacrifice, we

salute Americas brave veterans.

In memory of

We love you and

miss you every day.
Joey, Mistie,
Hollie and Isaac

News
CADILLAC

Whitetail Realty
would like to give
a special thanks to
their office assistant:

sincerest
thanks
to all of our servicemen and women, both

In appreciation for your

service in Vietnam and
twenty-one years in the
Michigan National Guard.

National Ceremonies
Held at Arlington
The focal point for official, national
ceremonies for Veterans Day continues
to be the memorial amphitheater built
around the Tomb of the Unknowns. At
11 a.m. on November 11, a combined
color guard representing all military
services executes "Present Arms" at
the tomb. The nations tribute to its
war dead is symbolized by the laying
of a presidential wreath. The bugler
plays Taps. The rest of the ceremony
takes place in the amphitheater.
Every year the President of the
United States urges all Americans to
honor the commitment of our veterans
through appropriate public ceremonies.

Army National Guard

Intel Analyst
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
Served 2009-2015

Desert Storm
Two Iraq Tours
Purple Heart
Bronze Star
Served from 1987-2010

Staff Sergeant
James D. Olson

Day to the fourth Monday in October.

It soon became apparent, however,
that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans.
Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned
the observance to its traditional date.

Chris Eastway

Senior Airman, 1994-1998

~ Basic Training- Lackland
Airforce Base in Texas.
Stationed at Elmendorf
Airforce Base in Anchorage
Alaska and in Denver,
Colorado, DSAS-DE.

John Leveque
Army
September 1969
-January, 1970
(Medical Discharge)
Fort Knox, Kentucky

Ken Koch

U.S. Army, 1/32 Armor

M1 Tank Mechanic
Ft. Hood, TX
Desert Storm Vet
Served from 1987-1991

Thank you for your dedication to

this great country and our values
as a nation.
Your courage and conviction
make us proud to be Americans.

775-NEWS (6397)

cadillac news | Trusted. Local. Connected

www.cadillacnews.com | TUESDAY, November 10, 2015

War mystery solved by local veterans diary

Local veteran
survived Malmedy
Massacre and
wondered fate of
others
by Mardi Suhs
Cadillac News

MESICK Frank Zinger

turns 94 this month.
He loves life, stated his
wife Elaine. He wakes up
every morning happy. He
never complains about his
health even though he does
have some issues.
Zinger is a Godly man
who thanks the Lord every
day.
As Zinger described his
trek across Europe during
the Battle of the Bulge in
1944 with the 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, he frequently stopped
to sigh. I just thank the
Lord every day for that ...
making it home from
World War II.
Zinger grew up in
Marion and McBain, the
son of a farmer with eight
brothers and sisters. Like
many, he quit school during the depression to help
on the family farm. He was
drafted at 21.
The 78th division arrived
in England in October
1944. They crossed France
and arrived in Germany to
relieve regiments fighting
a major German offensive
called the Battle of the
Bulge on Dec. 7, 1944.
My first experience (of
the war), I remember I saw
a guy laying there, frozen
stiff, there were a lot of
them. We were there to
replace them. In the first 24
hours, we had 75 percent
casualties in our area of
the Hrtgen Forest.

Close Call

About a week into

combat, Zinger was sent
by Jeep through heavy
machine gun fire to get
supplies. On the way back,
Zinger was injured in a
rollover and sent to a field
hospital on a nearby hill in
Malmdy, Belgium.
I ended up in that hospital at Malmdy, a little
town, he recalled. We
could see all the civilians
leaving with everything
they owned. We knew we
were going to get captured.
Something was happening.
At the hospital, a major

Remembering those
who gave their lives
for our freedom
Veterans Day
Nov. 11, 2015

announced they were surrounded and now prisoners.

Then, a chaplain
brought three guys in all
shot up and told us the Germans lined 20 of them up
and mowed them down,
Zinger said. These men
were part of a series of
war crimes by a German
combat unit. The most
infamous occurred on Dec.
17, 1944, when a German
SS Panzer Division opened
fire on an allied truck convoy. According to reports,
the outgunned Americans
abandoned their vehicles
and surrendered.The
soldiers were herded into
a nearby field and the SS
opened fire with machine
guns and pistols on the unarmed, terrified POWS.
Anyone who survived
was killed by a pistol shot
to the head.
Meantime for Zinger, all
hell was breaking lose near
the Malmedy field hospital as the Germans broke
through the allied lines.
He decided he didnt want
to wait around. He left under cover of darkness and
made his way back to his
company.
I never figured out what
happened to the people
in the hospital, he said.
There were 200 people
there. I assumed they were
killed. I dont know what
they found, I wasnt there
when the Germans went
in there. I thank the Lord
every day for that.
For 70 years, Zinger has
wondered about the fate of
those in the field hospital
on the hill near Malmdy.
In the Veterans History
Project, Library of Congress, Zinger is listed as a
survivor of the Malmdy
Massacre.

Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News

Frank and Elaine Zinger live with a view of Briar Hill in Mesick. They chose their property for its beautiful trout stream and because its
a good place for deer hunting.
Guernsey, gave the Cadillac News permission to
draw from his account.
Nixon was in the same location as Zinger during the
Battle of the Bulge with an
Army ambulance unit in
December 1944.
The shelling kept on. I
thought, I cant take it anymore. Ive come from the
beach in Normandy, the

hedge rows, St. L, Paris,

the Hrtgen Forest, the
Battle of Aachen and now
this. I didnt know it this
was the beginning of the
Battle of the Bulge.
Nixon wept and prayed
through a night of heavy
fire and many casualties.
On the morning of Dec.
16, 1944, he found his bunk
mate dead.

There were 200 people there. I assumed

they were killed. I dont know what they found, I
wasnt there when the Germans went in there. I
thank the Lord every day for that.
Frank Zinger
World War II veteran
n

Answer comes
from near by

A deceased Cadillac
World War II veterans
diary answered Zingers
question
In a stranger than fiction
twist of fate, it was a Cadillac man, Howard E. Nixon,
that provided the answer
in his online memoir titled
An Ambulance Drivers
Experiences in World War
II From Omaha Beach to
the Malmdy Massacre.
His daughter, Cindy

We honor our
service men &
women, past and
present

Foster Bros. Transfer & Storage

(231) 775-3501

1003 5th Ave. Cadillac, MI

8049 Crestview Cadillac, Michigan

H. 231-775-0788 Cell: 231-920-7409

Our Veterans,
Our Heroes
Its time to honor the brave soldiers
who safeguard our peace and freedoms.
Thanks, veterans.
We salute you for your extraordinary
courage and dedication to your country.

Family Practice
of Cadillac

MANTON
TIRE &
PARTY STORE
711 S. Michigan, Manton
231-824-3061

We salute the
men & women
who have
bravely fought
for our freedom
- Thank you

Medicine For Your Entire Family

Honoring our
veterans Past and
present thank you
for your service

A Full Service Lumber Yard and Hardware Store

302 N. Pine St., McBain 231-825-2110 phone 231-825-9903 fax
Monday-Friday 7AM-5 PM, Saturday 7:30 AM-12:00 PM

827 E. Division Cadillac 231-775-9741

Saluting Our VeteranS, Our gueStS, Our FriendS

Duane Anderson:
Air Force 1944-1945
Stateside

Bill Wyatt:
Army 1950 1953
Korea

George Lizenby:
Army 1949-1953 Fort
Knox, KY Stateside

Arnold Graf:
Air Force 1950-1954
Stateside, England,
South Pacific

Ron Nieman:
Army 1954-1956
Germany

Joaquin Mayoral:
Army 1940 Panama
Canal, 1944 1945/
WW2 Army, 1952-1982
Army National Guard

Alvin Fender:
Army

Eddie Deview:
Air Force

Roy Wolverton:
Army 1946 1948
Tokyo, Japan, and
Stateside

Gail Whitney:
Army 1941 Stateside

Edward Bekken:
Army 1957- 1959
Austria

Bob Brodeur:
Army 1952- 1954
Stateside

Make The
Right Move
Now!

ADVANCE
REALTY

CurryHouse

Park Place Centre

108 S. Mitchell
Cadillac, MI 49601

(231) 775-1368

www.advancerealty.com

Carol
Coe-Vokes
President

Assisted Living & Memory Care

Hubert Toupin:
Army 1942-1984
Philippines, Europe,
Stateside

Jacob Elenbaas:
Army 1945-1946
Philippines

...because everyone deserves great care!

231-876-0611 5858 S. 47 Rd., Cadillac
www.curryhousecadillac.com

775-NEWS (6397)

TUESDAY, November 10, 2015 | www.cadillacnews.com

Lake City veteran thankful for

Trumans atomic bomb decision
Norman Parker
was expecting to
be part of invasion
into Japan before
bombs were
dropped

cadillac news | Trusted. Local. Connected

Chris Lamphere | Cadillac

News

Norman Parker
enlisted in the
U.S. Navy after
he graduated
high school, and
was assigned to
cargo ships that
hauled food and
equipment from
New Orleans
to countries
throughout the
world, including
England, France
and Belgium.

bombs on Japan, effectively ending World War

II.
Ive never been a
LAKE CITY To this
Democrat, Parker said.
day, Lake City resident
But I do agree with that
Norman Parker, 90, still
expresses warm gratitude decision.
to U.S. President Harry
Truman for making
See Invasion on page 4
the call to drop nuclear
By Chris Lamphere
Cadillac News

Cadillac veterans account explains fate of Malmdy patients

If I had gone (the other way) I would have
been captured. The Germans had soldiers
dressed in American uniforms all behind our
lines. They changed road signs. That M.P. was a
German trying to get us into a trap.
Howard Nixon
From www.garnweb.com
n

the hospital on the hill

just after he left.
As he went through
the Baugnez crossroads,
an M.P. directed him to
go left. Realizing it was
the wrong direction, he
turned back, passed the
M.P. and took another
road and made it out.
If I had gone (the other
way) I would have been
captured. The Germans
had soldiers dressed in
American uniforms all
behind our lines. They
changed road signs. That

Howard Nixon was an ambulance driver from Omaha Beach

M.P. was a German trying to the Malmdy Massacre durto get us into a trap. Later ing World War II. An answer to
they found him out and
a question that Mesicks Frank
shot him where he stood. Zinger has had about the war
Next, Nixon explained
for 70 years was answered in
the Baugnez crossroads
Nixons online memoirs.
was the location where a
German SS division captured 140 or so American
prisoners, herded them
into a field ... and opened
up on them with machine
guns ... the ones that were
still alive, they shot with
a pistol. Dobbins and Anderson (men from Nixons
unit) played dead and

Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

We Salute
Our Veterans!

AmVets Post 110

If you served your country honorably

- you can be an AmVet.
Veterans Always Welcome! 127 W. Cass St., Cadillac 231-775-7433

Thank you to all those who

have served past & present.

231-592-1057

20979 19 Mile Rd., Big Rapids

laid there in the mud and

snow until night fall and
then crawled away.
The next day, Dec. 18,
1944, Nixon recalled the
confusion of the previous
day ... with shells dropping, stones and shrapnel
hit my ambulance ...
small groups fighting and

A Salute To Our Veterans

After surviving a night

of heavy artillery fire
that killed many others in our unit, Nixon
writes, The Germans
had broken through.
Nixon was ordered to
evacuate the field hospital in the old school
house on the hill on the
outskirts of Malmdy. He
went there, followed by
another ambulance driven by Bill Schupp and Bill
Chasteen. After loading
his truck with evacuees,
another driver insisted
on taking the load and
Nixon returned to headquarters.
The driver that delivered Nixons evacuees
was captured and shot
at the Malmdy Massacre
... It would have been me
if I had taken that load. I
think of that often. Schupp and Chasteen were
captured.
Back at headquarters,
Nixon was ordered to get
out of here. He was told
the Germans captured

Honoring the Best

& the Bravest
For their courage, hard work and dedication
to their country, we salute the men and
women of our Armed Forces past and
present. It is because of their sacrifice that
America remains the land of the free, and
we thank them for protecting our citizens
and our country.
Wishing all of our veterans and
soldiers a very happy Veterans Day.

Carl T.

Courtesy photo

Howard Nixon of Cadillac and his ambulance in a photo taken

in November 1944 at Mancove Forest in Belgium. The word
Cadillac is written on the door of the ambulance under Nixons
arm.
not knowing where to go
or turn.
The drivers Schupp and
Chasteen escaped the
hospital and reported the
German capture to a U.S.
colonel, whose unit captured the Germans and
freed the American prisoners. Chasteen received

a Silver Star for that.

Both Nixon and Zinger
could have been captured
by the Germans during
the time period when the
massacres took place.
To read more of Howard Nixons war memories, visit: www.garnweb.
com.

We can never repay the

debt of gratitude owed
to our nations veterans.
Thanks for your service
and a job well done!

CADILLAC FAMILY PHARMACY

108 N. Mitchell St. Downtown Cadillac (231) 775-8200

Midtown proudly honors

WWII 10th Mountain
Division Veteran,
Lawrence Johnson,
and all service men
and women who have
sacrificed for our
Countrys FREEDOM!

Vernelle

JOHNSON
INSURANCE AGENCY

223 N. Mitchell, Cadillac

231-775-3469

231-826-3333 Falmouth
www.ebelsgeneralstore.com

860 N. Mitchell CADILLAC 775-0910

We Salute
Americas Veterans

All Of Us At Godfrey
Thank Our Vets
For Their Service.

GODFREY
CHEVROLET BUICK
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MUNSON HEALTHCARE
Cadillac Hospital

U.S. 131 North, Cadillac On The Busy North End

775-4661 OR 1-800-4-GODFREY

400 Hobart St. | Cadillac, MI | (231) 876-7200 | munsonhealthcare.org/cadillachospital

775-NEWS (6397)

cadillac news | Trusted. Local. Connected

www.cadillacnews.com | TUESDAY, November 10, 2015

Parker was readying for invasion near Okinawa

Continued from page 3
Parker enlisted in the
U.S. Navy after he graduated high school, and was
assigned to cargo ships that
hauled food and equipment
from New Orleans to countries throughout the world,
including England, France
and Belgium.
As part of his duties,
Parker and a crew of
around 30 other seamen operated gun turrets installed
on the ships, which also
were manned by Merchant
Marines.

Although he was never in

a gunfight, Parker said they
would take shots at German
planes and buzz bombs as
they passed over the English Channel on their way to
England.
Parker said buzz bombs
were unmanned planes the
Germans loaded with just
enough fuel to get them
across the Channel, where
they then fell to the ground
and exploded on English
targets.
Typically, Parker said
they would travel in convoys
of 80 or 90 ships.

Thats what I
remember most about
the service. The people
I met.

With most of his time

spent on the boat, Parker
said it could get pretty boring, but they passed the time
by playing cards and throwing around a football on top
of the cargo containers,
which were tied to the boat.
Norman Parker
Near the end of the war,
Parker said he and thouWorld War II veteran
sands of other Navy sean
men and other troops were
stationed for more than a
month outside Okinawa,
He said these conveys
would travel incredibly slow Japan.
It was around this time
because they had to move
that the U.S. dropped nucleat the speed of the slowest
ar bombs on Hiroshima and
boat.

Nagasaki in Japan, eventually leading to the countrys

surrender.
Parker said it was a widely circulated rumor at the
time the reason they were
stationed outside Okinawa
was to participate in an
invasion of Japan a plan
that was called off after the
bombs were dropped.
After the war, Parker attended Central Michigan
University, then found employment in the oil-hauling
business.
Parker eventually purchased the oil-hauling busi-

ness and renamed it NK

Parker Transport. In the
1990s, he sold the business,
which still operates today.
Parker currently resides
in Lake City with his second
wife, Charlene. They have a
daughter who also lives in
Lake City.
While many of the men
he served with have passed
away over the years, Parker
said he still keeps in contact
with a few of them.
Thats what I remember
most about the service,
Parker said. The people I
met.

Associated Press file photo

FILE- In this Aug. 6, 1945,

file photo, aboard the cruiser
Augusta, President Harry S.
Truman, with a radio at hand,
reads reports of the first
atomic bomb raid on Japan,
while en route home from
the Potsdam conference. On
two days in August 1945, U.S.
planes dropped two atomic
bombs, one on Hiroshima, one
on Nagasaki, the first and only
time nuclear weapons have
been used. Their destructive
power was unprecedented,
incinerating buildings and people, and leaving lifelong scars
on survivors, not just physical
but also psychological, and
on the cities themselves. Days
later, World War II was over. (AP
Photo, File)

A Salute To
Our Heroes.

Full Service Convenience store

movie rentals

Our Veterans.

P
REALTY
OF CADILLAC

A special thank you to

all veterans for your
courage, sacrifice and
service.
5884 E. M-115, Cadillac
Office: (231) 779-2515
www.prorealty-cadillac.com

We Salute All The

Servicemen & Women!

MCNALLYS
108 S. Roland, McBain 231-825-2357

Thank you To all

who have served

Whitetail Realty
231-839-8142 101 S. Main St., Lake City, MI
www.lakecitymirealestate.com
www.lakemissaukerealestate.com

We salute our veterans

& the hardworking men and
For all that you are and all that youve given
to our country, we salute you, veterans.
Your service and your sacrifice
will always be remembered.

women in armed forces today.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget
that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live them - John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Lee Goodrich, LUTCF
lgoodrich@fbinsmi.com

Home Medical Equipment & Supply

Melissa Schultz
mschultz@fbinsmi.com

Call Lee or Melissa at 231-779-7936

9052 E. 13th St., Suite B, Cadillac, MI 49601
www.lgoodrichinsurance.com

Our
Veterans

Only they know the true cost of freedom.

We sincerely thank all our
veterans & soldiers.

American Legion Post 94

422 N. Mitchell St., Cadillac
231-775-6500

we honor them,
and thank them for
their service and
their sacrifice.

Stop By Today!
205 BELL AVENUE CADILLAC 231-775-7143 or Fax 231-775-7486
124 W. UPTON REED CITY 231-832-4565
WE BILL MOST INSURANCE PLANS!

SPECIAL MOMENTS

HONOR OUR VETERANS

903 N. Mitchell, Cadillac 231-775-3101

Sales Parts Service
www.northlandtrailer.net

They wouldnt be possible without our men

and women fighting for our freedom.

Cadillac

TIRE CENTER
South U.S.-131 Cadillac 231-775-7382
www.cadillactirecenter.com

1110 N. Mitchell Cadillac, MI 775-2413

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 AM-5:30 PM, Sat. 8 AM-2 PM, Other by Appt.

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TUESDAY, November 10, 2015 | www.cadillacnews.com

cadillac news | Trusted. Local. Connected

Keeping communism at bay

By Chris Lamphere
Cadillac News

LAKE CITY He didnt

enlist in time for World
War II, but 87-year-old Lake
City resident George Higgins believes after the war
was over, he and his fellow
Marines were stationed in
China for a very important
reason.
At the age of 17, Higgins
dropped out of high school
and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.
I wanted to go fight (the
Japanese), Higgins said.
That was the attitude everyone had at the time.
Before he had the opportunity to see action, however, the U.S. dropped nuclear
bombs on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki in Japan, effectively ending the war.
During his time in the
service, Higgins maintained American airstrips
in China, operated a 50-caliber machine gun and repaired generators.
Although he didnt see
any combat, Higgins said
he experienced some
scary things during his
deployment, including one
occasion when two of his
friends fell off a landing
net.
One of them was
knocked unconscious and
the other fell into the water
and never came back up,
Higgins said. I never saw
either of them again.
Higgins said despite the
fact both countries technically were allies, relations
between the U.S. and China
at the time were not good
because China was a communist country.
I heard stories of some
of our guys being shot at
and captured by the communists, Higgins said. I
think the real reason we
were sent there was to prevent communists in north

Chris Lamphere | Cadillac News

To this day, Lake City resident George Higgins still runs a small gunsmith shop out of his house and is proud to show off his collection of vintage military guns and rifles,
ranging in era from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam.
China from invading. I
think it was a show of force
by the American government.
Upon returning to the
states in 1946, Higgins
resumed working as a gunsmith something he had
been doing since he was 15.
Eventually, Higgins was
able to own and operate his

own gunsmith shop called

On Target, a business he
sold in 1986.
To this day, Higgins still
runs a small gunsmith
shop out of his house and

is proud to show off his collection of vintage military

guns and rifles, ranging in
era from the Revolutionary
War to Vietnam.
Thanks to the GI Bill,

Higgins was able to go to

school and earn his pilots
license, which provided
him with years of enjoyment until recently, when
poor health forced him to

retire from flying.

Over the years, Higgins
has raised eight children,
including two boys who followed in their fathers footsteps by becoming Marines.

A Salute
To Those Who
Have Served!

Veterans Day
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231-775-8102
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Tuesday-Friday 8:30-3:30 Saturday 8:00-3:00

We Remember and Honor Your Service

Honoring all
tHat HaVe
serVeD.
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Ph 231-734-6705 Fax 231-734-6706

Jim Lambert
Auctioneers
McBain, MI 49657 (231) 825-8116 or (231) 633-5673
Visit our website and view pictures at
www.lambertauctions.com

November is Free Admission

Month for All Veterans

The Wall A Salute to Our Veterans by local artistShannon Nelson

is part of our permanent Military Display.

Thank you To all

who have served
On Veterans Day, we
proudly honor these
brave men and women
for their courage,
commitment and
patriotism.

Northern Michigan Servicestore

6170 W. Blue Rd., Lake City

Corner of M-55 and M-66 231-839-3030

Bosticks
Drugstore
117 W. Main St., Manton
(231) 824-6465 Fax (231) 824-6466
bosticksdrugstore@yahoo.com

In memory
of Ellwood
J Kelly Sgt.
- wounded
vet of WWII

Mike Moffit, Pharmacist

Quality Hometown Care, for a healthier you!

Food & SpiritS

A Proud Tribute To
Our Veterans
Home of
the Free,
Thanks to the Brave!

Wexford Wood Workings

Locally Made Products
407 Goode Ave., Cadillac 231-876-WOOD (9663)
wexfordwoodworkings.com

Your local
hometown hero...

As your local independent agent, were your neighbor someone you can trust and someone whos here for you 24/7!

Brian N.
Jones
Vietnam
War

523 N. Mitchell
Downtown Cadillac
231.775.1810
Mon.-Thur. 11 AM-10 PM,
Fri & Sat. 11 AM-11 PM
Sunday Closed

Honoring the
Best & the
Bravest
For their courage, hard work and dedication to
their country, we salute the men and women of
our Armed Forces past and present. It is because
of their sacrifice that America remains the land
of the free, and we thank them for protecting
our citizens and our country.
Wishing all of our veterans and soldiers a very
Happy Veterans Day.

113 N. Roland St., McBain, MI 49657 www.schepers.agency.com

Phone 231-825-2411 1-877-251-0727 Fax 231-825-2228

Bandeen
Orthodontics

8865 Professional Dr., Cadillac, MI 49601

www.bandeenbraces.com 231-876-2530

775-NEWS (6397)

cadillac news | Trusted. Local. Connected

www.cadillacnews.com | TUESDAY, November 10, 2015

World War II, DC-3 cargo pilot humbled by Honor Flight

by Mardi Suhs
Cadillac News

CADILLAC World War

II veteran Frank Burder
doesnt think of himself as
a war hero.
I did my bit overseas,
he said. I dont feel like I
was a big hero. When I meet
people, like the guy that was
on the beach in Normandy,
those people really fought
the war.
But if you dig into Burders service in the U.S.
Army Air Corps 13th Troop
Carrier Squadron, theres a
different narrative.
Burders squadron earned
two presidential unit citations and seven battle stars.
When the war started in
1941, Burder was 17. He had
just started college when
he enlisted in the Army Air
Force at 18.
By then, they tried to
keep up the requirements
(college degree) for becoming a pilot, but they couldnt
keep it up, he explained.
So I graduated from flying
school in April 1944. Most of
us were just 18. I went overseas in June of 1944. That
was before D-Day. The real
war was just starting.
Burder was sent to the
southwest Pacific Theater
and ended up in New Caledonia and Borneo in the
13th Troop Carrier Squadron, flying a transport airplane.
I was flying troops from
one island to the other,
he explained. The troops
would land on an island,
secure the island, open the
airstrip and we would fly
in supplies and fly out the
wounded.
Everyone knows about
fighter and bomber pilots.
But cargo planes and their
pilots were so important
Frank Burder
that Gen. Dwight D. EisenWorld War II veteran
hower is credited with
n
saying that they were one
of the four keys to winning
the war.

I graduated from
flying school in April
1944. Most of us
were just 18. I went
overseas in June of
1944. That was before
D-Day. The real war
was just starting.

Throughout history, at home and

overseas, theyve put their love for
their country above all else. On
Veterans Day, we proudly honor these
brave men and women for their
courage, commitment and patriotism.
To all the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have
sacrificed so much, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

BEST TRASH REMOVAL

6400 W. Jennings Rd., Lake City

231.839.5926

Courtesy photo

Top photo:
Frank, left, and Thomas Burder
received patriotic welcomes to
and from airports on the recent
Mid-Michigan Honor Flight.

Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News

Bottom photo: Cadillacs Frank

Burder, a 90 year old World
War II veteran, holds a book
that details his war experience
titled, The Thirsty 13th, the
U.S. Army Air Corps 13th Carrier
Squadron, 1940-1945

Our thanks to
all those who have
served in our
nations armed forces.
~ Ron Neal, Veteran

In war, there are

no unwounded
soldiers.
~ Jose Narosky

Thank You
Veterans &
Soldiers

1714 N. Mitchell St., Cadillac

231-775-8891

Saluting Our Veterans

Remember the Brave

Give Thanks to Americas Heroes!

MITCHELLS AUTO SERVICE

Throughout history, at home and

overseas, theyve put their love for their
country above all else. On Veterans Day,
we proudly honor these brave men and
women for their courage, commitment
and pariotism.
To all the men and women of
the U.S. Armed Forces who have
sacrificed so much, we thank you
from the bottom of our hearts.

775-6115 522 N. Mitchell St., Cadillac

Salutations and deep

gratitude to all our
veterans...beholden
to you for all your
sacrifices

3080 W. 13th St., Cadillac

231-779-8088
www.ERAGreaterNorth.com

To all past and

present service
men and women,
Thank you for
your service.
VENETIAN BLIND CO. of
MID MICHIGAN, L.L.C.

231-768-4902 3770 N. Mackinaw Trail LeRoy, MI

Belle Oakes
Living Center

2353 S. LaChance Road Lake City, MI 49651 231-779-4671

Esther Nederhood, R.N., Owner www.belleoakes.com

is proud to wish salutations to

our wonderful veterans:
Ted Agema, Army Alfred Cockeram, Army
Gerald Kelly, Navy Roger Loeks, Army
Ray Madders, Air Corp
Dorothy Montgomery, Womens Army Corp
James Ream, Navy Lyle Rose, Navy
Bert Sisson, Navy Keith Davenport, Navy

Thank you from the bottom

of our hearts for your service.

Residential Commercial Repair Services

Eric Brown, Owner 989-666-0445

Happy Veterans Day!

716 S. Chestnut St., Reed City 231-832-5501 2nd Generation Owned!

Your Hometown Spartan Grocery Store

With Honor
& Respect
to our
Veterans
They are our family, friends,
and neighbors; everyday
citizens, yet so much more.
They are the brave men and
women who have put their
lives at risk to protect and
serve our country in war.
Time and again, our countrys
veterans have been on the
front lines in defense of our
freedom. On Veterans Day,
we take this opportunity to
say thank you to the brave
souls who have served in
battle for our Armed Forces.

Thank you for serving our

counTry and proTecTing our
freedoms!

River Junction
Bar & Restaurant

107-109 N. Main St., Hersey, MI 231-832-4544

Hours: 11:00 Am - 9:00 pm

603 W. 7th St., Cadillac

231-775-6571

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cadillac news | Trusted. Local. Connected

It was back to business when war ended

Cargo planes were large,
slow targets. And valuable. They carried fuel,
guns and supplies with no
protective armor or arms.
The 13th not only delivered
supplies, it supported six
battles. In three years of
flying 9.7 million miles,
almost entirely over water,
often in terrible weather,
the squadron lost only one
load entrusted to it.
Burder held up a book
titled, The Thirsty 13th,
written by the father of a
soldier in his squadron.
When Burder left the service, he returned home to
the Detroit area.
Everybody went home
and it was, la-di-da, he
said. My dad made a big

sign ... but as a society, we

were all glad it was over.
There wasnt any welcome
home.
And because of that,
Burder was overwhelmed
when he visited the memorials in Washington,
D.C. on Oct. 13, 2015 with
the Mid-Michigan Honor
Flight.

Mid Michigan Honor

Flight Finally
a thank you!
World War II veterans
are hailed as heroes and
gifted with the flight by
donations from citizens.
The day includes patriotic welcomes to and from

At the United States Air Force Memorial, a drill team performed for members of the October, Mid-Michigan Honor Flight for World War
II veterans.

Courtesy photo

World War II veteran Frank Burder received a heros welcome

when he arrived in Washington, D.C. aboard the Mid-Michigan
Honor flight.

A Proud Salute to
those who have
courageously
risked their lives
fighting for our
freedoms.

vice. That doesnt include

the bus tour of Washington, D.C. war memorials
with police escorts, where
strangers often stop to
shake their hands.
Burder was overwhelmed by the experience, and was especially
moved by a packet he
received this week, filled
with hand written thankyou notes from school children. Another highlight
was the emotional walk to
the first flight in Traverse
City, where 350 members
of the U.S. Coast Guard
stood at attention, holding
flags, creating a protective
walkway to the boarding
gate.
I think the reason veterThomas Burder, right, and his father, World War II veteran Frank
ans get so emotional on the
Burder, visited the monuments in Washington, D.C. with the MidHonor Flight is that its the
Michigan Honor Flight.
first time anyone has ever
hands, sing patriotic songs, really said, thank you.
airports, where citizens,
And its the first time any
wave flags, and thank the
veterans, and school chilof us ever realized we did
dren line up to shake their aging heroes for their sersomething to be thankful
for.
Burders daughter, Linda

K
N
A
H
T
S
N
A
R
TE

OUR

VE

ism and
and hero the land
e
ic
if
r
c
a
s
to live in
courage,
for their s the opportunity f the BRAVE.
u
eo
g
for givin EE and the hom
R
F
of the

Anderson, said her fathers

experience was emotional.
He still tears up when
he talks about it, Anderson said. He said he didnt
realize that people were so
thankful for the veterans
... and with the cheering
and the bands playing he
was amazed. And that he
was able to do this with my
brother made it even more
special.
Burder, a widower, was
accompanied on the trip by
his son, Thomas Burder.
After the war, Burder
joined the reserves and
earned a degree in mechanical engineering.
He worked in design for
Fisher Body in Detroit and
retired after 30 years with
the Ford Motor Company,
where he headed up the
group responsible for wiring on all Ford trucks.
Burder, 90, lives in Cadillac to be near his daughter.
He enjoys spending winters in Florida traveling
with extended family.

Thank You To all who

have served!

7880 Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 231.775-9947

Because the
memory will
live forever.

Over the past year,

we have had the
privilege of
serving
the families of
many veterans
of foreign wars.

460 Pearl Street, Cadillac, Michigan 49601

Thank you to all

service men &
women for your
great sacrifice for
our country

HQAA Accredited 1908 N. Mitchell St., Cadillac

www.airwayoxygeninc.com 775-2443 Toll Free 1-800-828-6160

Offices at Baldwin, Irons, Luther,

Reed City, Tustin, Wellston,
2 locations in Big Rapids
ATMs at All Locations

Time may hide the sadness,

Smiles may hide the tears,
But memories last forever,
Despite the passing years.
In memory of William Warren Sr. 1918-2000
(231) 775-8511

7193 E. 34 Rd. (Boon), Cadillac

Mon-Thur 9-6, Fri 9-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 10-3

In recognition
of the service
these veterans
rendered to their country, we would like
to show our appreciation this Veterans
Day.
In memory of their lives and their service.

PETERSON

They are our family, friends and

neighbors; everyday citizens, yet so
much more. They are the brave men
and women who have put their lives at
risk to protect and serve our country
in war. Time and again, our countrys
veterans have been on the front lines in
defense of our freedom.
On Veterans Day, we take this
opportunity to say thank you to the
brave souls who have served in battle
for our Armed Forces.

FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES

The Peterson Chapel

205 E. Cass St., Cadillac, MI
Ross C. Meyering, Mgr.
231-775-3411

Customer Care,
Community Support

The McBain Chapel

212 E. Maple St., McBain, MI
Megan Meyering-Brinks, Mgr.
231-825-2361

Then join hand in hand,

brave Americans all!
By uniting we stand
by dividing we fall.
~ John Dickinson

We salute veterans & soldiers!

McBain Auto Service, Inc.

9438 Morey Rd.
M-66 N. McBain
231-825-2729

South End Business US-131, Exit 177, Cadillac

www.HighpointAuto.com
(231) 775-1222 1-800-828-9852

North of light on 66
near softball diamond
Mon.-Fri. 8-5:30

775-NEWS (6397)

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www.cadillacnews.com | TUESDAY, November 10, 2015

Pain of loss stung twice for Evart family

the first rocket-propelled,
radio-controlled Henschel
HS-293 radio-controlled
glide bombs. Although the
Rohna probably was not
the intended target, King
said, one of the bombs hit
the Rohna.
King said Gus should
have been near the bombs
impact point. She hopes he
was as it would have been
over for him, and perhaps
he didnt suffer.
King said she still worries about Gus final
moments, though. The
conditions on that ship
were so bad that a lot of
guys chose to stay topside,
and that would have meant
panic, fire, jumping and
probably drowning.
Details about the loss
of the Rohna trickled out
slowly. King said that Gus
mother Emma died in 1977
still not knowing many of
the details about the ship
and its loss.

By Andy Duffy
Weekly Voice

One Osceola County

family was hit doubly hard
by World War II. It lost two
family members in the
conflict.
Today, one of their nieces, Floridas Teresa King,
is willing to share the familys story.
The two boys lost in the
war were Charles Gus
Harrington Jr. and Carl
Dwayne Harrington.
They were the sons of
Charles and Emma Harrington, a couple that lived
near the small community
of Avondale and in Evart.
King is the daughter of
Donna Harrington Dake.
Dake is one of the sisters
of the Harringtons.

Charles Gus Jr.

Harrington

Gus, the younger brother

was born Jan. 3 1923 and
died Nov. 27, 1943. He was
just a farm kid who died
way too young along with
a lot of other young men,
King said.
He loved to drive and
his letters home speak of
driving the army trucks
and he was always asking
his mom to send him fudge
or perhaps a dollar if they
could afford it.
Gus was drafted and
eventually assigned to the
853rd Engineering Battalion. His unit left Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, on
the Liberty Ship Lambert.

Gus Harrington
The last letter his parents received from him
was written on August 28,
1943. It was mailed two
days later from Brookley
Field near Mobile, Alabama, and received by his
parents on Sep. 4, 1943.
T 853rd Engineering
Battalion shipped out of
the Port of Oran, Algeria,
Nov. 24, 1943, on the H.M.T.
Rohna.
The Rohna belonged to
the British India Steam
Navigation Company. It
was a passenger and cargo

Thank you Veterans!

Todays FiTness llc

Carl Harrington

liner, built on Tyneside in

1926. The British government requisitioned it to
use as a troop ship in 1940.
When the Rohna left the
Port of Oran, it had 2,000
America enlisted men,
American and British of-

ficers, Red Cross staff and

an Indian Lascar Crew on
board. It was heading for
Bombay, India as part of a
convoy, KMF-26.
The 2,000 U.S. troops on
board included 823 men
from Gus battalion.

Thank You To All Who Have Served

202 S. Howard Street

Tustin

231-829-9922

231-775-0775

Locally Owned & Operated

Veterans...

Thank You

For Your Service

We salute those who have served.

Lake City Fraternal Order Of Eagles

4154 W. Houghton lake Rd., Lake City 231-839-7224

We salute and remember those

who have served & presently serve for
their courage, dedication and sacrifices.
Thank you for protecting & ensuring our freedoms.

13997 US-10 Hersey 231-832-5141

415 Goode Ave.

Cadillac, MI 49601

See Fierce fighting on page 9

611 Sunnyside Drive

Cadillac, MI

Ceramic Memories
Vincent E. Goslyn, Jr.

Carl, the older brother,

was born on April 29, 1919.

231-775-0564

24 HOUR FITNESS CENTER

Group Classes $5 ea.

No membership required

Carl Dwayne Harrington

Clean

Stay fit today...so you can do what you want tomorrow!

Staffed hours: 8 am-6 pm
$25/mo. - no contract
$5 key fee. No other fees.

This ship would lose

1,015 American men.
On Nov. 26, three Luftwaffe squadrons attacked
the 24-ship convoy. The
German bombers carried

We honor the members of our

armed forces who served and
made the ultimate sacrifice.
Their courage and dedication
will always be remembered.

Smith Lumber Co.

Lake City Family Dentistry

salutes the men and women
who have served or are serving
in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Thank you for the time you have
given protecting our freedom
and making this country great.

Lake City

FAMILY DENTISTRY
Susan Vignola, D.D.S.

213 Canal St., Lake City

www.lcdentist.com 839-2630

202 North River, Evart 231-734-5513

Remembering
our veterans
On Remembrance Day, we
honor the members of our
armed forces who served and
made the ultimate sacrifice.
Their courage and dedication
will always be remembered.

Lest we forget.
Remembrance Day 2015,
November 11

112 N. Mitchell St., Downtown Cadillac

231-775-1660

simplydelightful101@hotmail.com

Honoring The Best

and The Bravest
HOLIHAN DRUGS
Your Full Service Pharmacy
128 N. Main, Evart, MI 734-2551

CLASSIC CHEVROLET

Corner of M-55 & M-66 Just South of Lake City

231-839-7231 www.classicchevyonline.com

1-800-55-4LESS 231-839-7231

Thank you for your service

Loy VanderVeen- US Army
Robert Kochanowski- US
Army Master Sergeant
Charles Borring- US Army
Kevin Reetz- US Air force
Ronald Fasbinder- US Army
Rex Curtis-US Army

235 Pearl Street,

Cadillac
231-775-5300

Call today for a tour or more information

231-775-7750
An Assisted Living Community

108 Wildwood Drive (just off Sunnyside Drive)

A program of Baruch Senior Ministries, a non-profit organization

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cadillac news | Trusted. Local. Connected

Government secrecy regarding Rohna disaster reigned for years

by a Henschel Hs 293, a radio-controlled glide bomb
with a rocket engine slung
underneath it.
The attack on the HMT
Although those on
Rohna resulted in the
largest loss of U.S. troops board the ships later
at sea in a single incident. guessed some 60 of the
glide bombs had been
Among the 1,015 U.S.
launched at the 24-ship
personnel who were lost
convoy. The Rohna was
in the attack was Evart
the only ship hit by one
resident Charles Gus
of the bombs, probably
Harrington.
because of the withering
The ship was a British
barrage of anti-aircraft
India Steam Navigation
fire directed at the GerCompany passenger and
cargo liner that was build man bombers.
Later, some of the
in 1926. In 1940, the BritRohnas survivors blamed
ish government requisicrew incompetence and
tioned it to use as a troop
confusion for some of
ship. It sank in the Medithe loss of life. Other isterranean Sea in November 1943 after being struck sues, however, included
By Andy Duffy
Cadillac News

the destruction of 22 of
the ships lifeboats in the
blast and the inability to
launch other lifeboats because of damage caused
by the bomb.
Details regarding the
scope of the tragedy trickled out over time. By February 1944, the U.S. government confirmed that
more than 1,000 soldiers
had been lost in the sinking of an unnamed ship
in European waters. Not
wanting to alert Germany
of the success of the
radio-controlled bomb,
government information
sources suggested a submarine was responsible.
In June 1945, the gov-

ernment identified the

ship, admitted German
bombers were responsible
for the ships demise and
released accurate casualty figures. It still did not
mention Germany used
a guided bomb in the attack. Although additional
information regarding
the Rohna was released in
1967 after the passing of
the Freedom of Information Act, Teresa King, Gus
Harringtons niece, said
his mother, Emma, died in
1977 still not knowing the
full truth about the Rohna
tragedy. Now a number of
books have given a full account of the attack and its
aftermath.

Carl saw fierce fighting in France

Continued from page 8
Carls letters home were
much more grown up,
King said. He thought like
an adult and appeared
very caring, always reassuring his family.
After shipping overseas,
he went first to Africa,
then Sicily and on to
France.
He was a tank commander in Co. B., 66th
Armored Regiment.
Gus was originally reported as missing and his
body was never recovered.
When Carl heard the news
about Gus, he always held

out hope and dreaded the

fact that he might have
lost his little brother.
Carl went into France
three days after D-Day
and was in some nasty
fighting in France, King
said. He was wounded on
July 28, 1944, and died on
August 3, 1944. His body
was buried in France and
returned to Evart four
years later.
The family knew when
Carls body reached Evart. Those who remain
still remember the sound
of the horses hooves as
they pulled the wagon
carrying the casket from

the train depot to the funeral home.

Oris Corey, who owned
the funeral home, wanted
to open the casket to make
sure the body was Carls.
Emma, however, said she
didnt want to know. If it
wasnt her boy, she had
at least taken care of another.
When we were little,
my parents always took us
to the Memorial Day Parade in Evart, King said.
We loved to watch the
parade but would wonder
why grandma (Emma
Harrington) was always
in the parade and got to

We recognize the many sacrifices made

by our men and women in uniform
both today and throughout our nations
history. We honor their courage and
dedication, and we thank them for their
contribution to our country.

Thank you for your service.

Safe Keeping Storage

11540 E. M-55 Cadillac
Richard Moomey, Owner 231-884-1880

Honoring Our
Brave Veterans
As our Armed Forces fight to protect our freedom abroad, were
reminded of the sacrifice made by so many brave soldiers before them.
On Veterans Day, we pause to recognize and thank all of the
veterans who have served our country. We are eternally grateful for
their dedication and service.

ride in the front car.

Kings mother, Donna
Harrington Dake, and her
Aunt Jo, Josephine Harrington Jagger, sisters
of Gus and Carl, would
stand with us, usually
between the old A&P store
and Jerry Diehlmans grocery store. Quickly, Aunt
Jo would take off running
for home and Mom would
follow. It was later that we
would understand why
they couldnt watch. To
this day I dont watch any
Memorial Day Parades
even though they are
always in my thoughts,
King said.

Coffey Insurance
207 N. Mitchell St., Cadillac 775-3421
www.coffeyinsurancegroup.com

To all those that have served or

are serving now...Thank You

Cadillac News file photo

Rufus Szeliga, 7, with his grandmother, Sandy Szeliga, placed flowers at the Harrington cemetery plot last spring before Memorial
Day. The Szeligas live in Evart. Sandy was friends with Jo Jagger, a
sister of the Harrington brothers.

Remembering
Those Who Served

Vickery Financial

llc

120 West Harris St., Cadillac, MI 49601

231-775-4244

Securities offered through Sigma Financial Corporation, Member FINRA & SIPC
Vickery Financial, LLC is not affliiated with Sigma Financial Corporation.

A Special
Thank You To All Service
Men & Women

David L. Vickery

Printing for our Community

Since 1921

Boats
Shrinkwrap
Storage
Docks & Hoists
Sales& Service
231-839-6196 2345 Green Rd., Lake City www.RaysLandingStorage.com

214 S Mitchell St., Cadillac

(231) 775-2488

Longs Hearing Care Systems

www.longshearingcare.com
CADILLAC LOCATION CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-286-1378
1027 N. Mitchell St. 231-779-0400
Satisfaction
Guaranteed

We accept most insurance plans. Payment plans also available

On Veterans Day, we remember the brave men & women

who fought to protect our countrys freedoms
at home & overseas.

Mr. Cleans Complete Auto Clean-Up

Honoring Our

Brave
Veterans

605 N. Mitchell, Cadillac 775-3824

2141 Plett Rd., Cadillac 231.775.9920 or Fax 231.775.9927

Email: jglangworthy@yahoo.com www.pakmailcadillac.com

Saluting
Our Veterans!

corey

funeral home inc.

Skilled Nursing Care & Rehabilitation

would like to honor our veterans

past, present, and future:

As our Armed Forces fight to protect our freedom

abroad, were reminded of the sacrifice made by so
many brave soldiers before them. On Veterans Day,
we pause to recognize and thank all of the veterans
who have served our country. We are eternally
grateful for their dedication and service.

Lewis Crawford - Army

Harold Bird - Navy
Ralph Cross - Navy
Jerry Yonkman - Navy
Guy Coleman -Army
Larry Wierda - Air Force
Vasco Vinny Souto - Air Force
David Kinter - Army
Fred Feikema - Air Force
Clarence Clements - Air Force
Joel Barry Briggs - Air Force

Mark F. Corey, Manager

415 N. Main St. Evart
231-734 -2251

On Veterans
Day
We recognize the many
sacrifices made by our men
and women in uniform both
today and throughout our
nations history. We honor
their courage and dedication,
and we thank them for their
contribution to our country.

Thank You, Veterans.

Thank you for your service

to our nation. We salute you!

220 Hughston St., McBain

231-825-2990

Quality is affordable - We only look expensive Call for your appointment today!
2141 Plett Rd., Cadillac 231-775-4679

10

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www.cadillacnews.com | TUESDAY, November 10, 2015

Vietnam veteran reflects on intelligence missions

By Antonio Coleman
Cadillac News

LAKE CITY When

asked about his service in
Vietnam, Larry Dubey responds simply, My service
time was completely different than most people.
The 68-year-old Lake
City resident first arrived
in Vietnam as a teenager
in September 1966.
The 19-year-old served
as a hospital corpseman,
shortly before his plumbing experience allowed
him to find a position as a
United States Navy Seabee.
But it was his knowledge
and skills of counterinsurgency which took Dubeys
military career on a different course.
After all my testing, I
qualified to be in an experimental program for the
Navy and thats where it
all started, Dubey said.
Dubey soon learned he
would be one of a handful of soldiers involved
in counterinsurgency
operations during the war.
It was covert military action against the activities
of Northern Vietnamese
forces.
For seven weeks Dubey
performed escape and
evasion training, learning new techniques for
survival.
There were days I didnt
sleep or eat for 52 hours.
We learned to eat cattails
once we got lethargic
because of the starch
content, Dubey said. It
was all about learning
techniques for living off
the land.
Once or twice a month,
the young soldier would
board a Huey helicopter or
sail the Bassac or Makong
River in the dark of night
to gather enemy intelligence.
Each man aware of the
danger of being captured
behind enemy lines. Without radio communication
and limited supplies, no
military reinforcements
would be able to promptly
come to their aid, he said.
We knew once our boots
hit the ground, we had to
keep moving, Dubey said.
If we were ever detected,
there was no way we could
protect ourselves.

Within 10 minutes,
there were about 40
Northern Vietnamese
soldiers firing at us.
Larry Dubey
Vietnam War veteran
n

The team underwent between 18 to 20 missions behind enemy lines throughout areas of Cambodia,
Laos and north Vietnam.
During one mission, we
discovered the Northern
Vietnamese had tanks,
rocket launchers and were
assembling weaponry,
Dubey said. During our
debriefing, the Army officer said, thats impossible. They had supplies
coming from sources we
hadnt anticipated.
But on his last mission,
Dubey said he was unsure
if he would ever return
home.
Dubey and his team had
traveled 7 kilometers into
Laos at night to gather
intelligence on how far the
Northern Vietnamese had
penetrated Laos. But by
the third day of the mission the team would be left
fighting for their lives.
Within 10 minutes,
there were about 40 Northern Vietnamese soldiers
firing at us, Dubey said.
We were able to evade
them, but they found us a
second time less than 24
hours later.
Two of his comrades
died in the firefight, he

News file photo

Vietnam veteran Larry Dubey, 68, spent several months serving in counterinsurgency operations during the war. Decades after returning home Dubey said he can still reflect of his 14 months serving in Vietnam as an interesting life experience to share. From left, Will
Hirdning, Carroll Harger, Larry Dubey and Kenneth Tidey honor deceased veterans at Liberty Cemetery in Manton.
said.
Dubey said he reflected
on the emotion running
through his mind as he
buried his last comrade.
But even more vivid was
the fear he felt evading
Northern Vietnamese forces behind enemy lines.
I almost gave up because I thought I only had
a 10 percent chance of survival, Dubey said. But I
decided I was too young to
die. I wasnt going to give
up.
With only a small compass, Dubey spent the
fourth day in Laos traveling east hoping to get res-

cued. There were no roads

or street signs. Dubey was
in the jungle.
The Northern Vietnamese were only about
500 feet from his location

when he was found by a

nearby Marine patrol.
Decades after returning home Dubey said he
can still reflect of his 14
months serving in Viet-

nam as an interesting life

experience to share.
I was proud of what
they had asked me to do
and I have no regrets,
Dubey said.

Thank
you
for your Service!
907 Sanders, Cadillac MI 231-775-8391

Lisa A. Nelson, Agent

An Independent Agent Representing Aflac

PO Box 456, Cadillac lisa_nelson@us.aflac.com aflac.com

231-775-0750 office 231-779-0461 fax 231-510-7612 cell

Remembering Those Who Served

This Veterans Day, we honor and give
thanks to all veterans who served and
sacrificed to ensure our freedom.
The Professional Choice for Hearing
Healthcare and Balance Assessment

Veterans Day

noVember 11, 2015

today we pause
to honor the
brave men and women
who have made great sacrifices
to protect our families,
our country and our freedom.

americas Heroes

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CADILLAC

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Dr. Sharon Blackburn, Audiologist
Dr. Amie Ruppert, Audiologist

231-775-9398 or toll-free 877-775-9398 www.aschearingclinic.com

8872 Professional Dr., Suite A, Cadillac

to all of our nations Veterans,

thank you & Happy Veterans Day!

Cadillac Elks Lodge 680

SALUTES

VETERANS
As long as there are Veterans,
the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks will never forget them.

211 N. Pine St., P.O. Box 38 McBain, MI 49657

231-825-8191

Keith D. Burkholder, licensed mortician and resident of the area since 1974

November 11, 2015