Thank You, Sunset Veterans
Marge Higgins wanted to do something special for the military veterans who live at the Sunset Home.
A year ago she was visiting her mother who resides at the home, and it just happened to be Veterans Day. During an activities session, all the military veterans were asked to stand and be recognized for their service.
"I was really surprised," Higgins said, "because about a dozen men stood up. I didn't realize that many veterans were at the home, and I thought we should get a group together and just visit with each other."
Higgins is a veteran herself, having served in the Army from 1967-1970. Her grandfather fought in World War I, her father fought in World War II, and her brother fought in Vietnam. Higgins and her brother were in the military at the same time.
"Back then, you could only have one sibling in a combat zone, so I was stationed at Fort Bragg for three years."
Higgins had an idea and met with Taunya Miller, the Activities Director at Sunset Home.
"We got it set up so that we could get all the veterans together twice a month. We just sit around with each other and tell stories. It's really nice."
The veterans at the home affectionately refer to Higgins as "the Sergeant".
"She makes all the rules," Troy Anderson said with a laugh.
Listed below are the veterans who were honored at the Sunset Home for Veterans Day 2018.
RENEAU "Johnny" JOHNSTON
Navy Seaman - 1944-46 - World War II Combat Veteran
Army Staff Sergeant - 1949-52
Johnston was stationed at a PT (Patrol-Torpedo) Boat base in the Philippines, and participated in the Pacific theater of the war against the Imperial Japanese Navy.
"I served two years and two months," said Johnston, who is now 94 years old. "Then I was brought back into the Army about the time of the Korean War."
WILLIAM JOE LYLE, JR.
Specialist E4 - 2nd Infantry Battalian/635th Armor 1986-1991
"I was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. I'm proud of my service"
DEAN HARDAWAY
U.S. Army
"I fought in Japan," Hardaway said. "And then after the war ended I was sent down into the Philippines. And I also served in China."
Hardaway hesitated for a moment, then looked away and shook his head.
"Some of it I just can't talk about."
JEROME JOHNSON
U.S. Army - Korean War
Johnson does not live at Sunset Home. He was visiting for the day but was happy to share the time with other veterans.
"I was assigned occupational duty in Europe, on the border with Czeckoslovakia."
At that time, the Cold War between the United States and its Communist adversaries China and the Soviet Union was in full force. Guarding the borders with a Soviet satellite country like Czechoslovakia was an often times tense situation.
"The damage from World War II was still everywhere," Johnson said. "There were a lot of destroyed buildings and bomb craters. We would see women and children sift through the rubble for bricks to use to try and rebuild their home."
Johnson has an interesting story about his return home once his tour of duty was over.
"On the ship, I was the 13th man in the 13th row of the 13th group. And we arrived home on Friday the 13th." Johnson grinned. "Guess what my lucky number is?"
BEN GROSSE
Kansas Army National Guard
A native of Beloit, Kansas, Grosse served five years in the Kansas Army National Guard.
DON OLSON
U.S. Army - 1949-52
Olson also served in the occupational forces after the end of World War II.
GENE GANSTROM
National Guard - Master Sergeant - 1951-59
"I was number three on the draft list, and I was going to get called up, so I joined the National Guard. They said we were all going to get sent over to Korea, so I figured I ought to try and be with my friends. But we never did get sent."
Ganstrom spent a little over eight years in the Guard, working with an Engineering Battalion.
"I was a carpenter. We started out in Belleville, but then we were transferred to the Armory here in Concordia."
ED RICHEY
U.S. Army - Corporal - 1942-45
Richey fought in the Pacific theater of war. He was part of the large force of American soldiers being prepared for the invasion of Japan. At the time, military planners estimated that invading and then defeating the Imperial Japanese army on their home soil would cost an estimated one million American casualties.
President Harry Truman decided to instead drop two atomic bombs on Japan, thereby ending the war.
"We were scheduled to invade, and instead we landed as occupation forces in Japan," Richey said.
TROY ANDERSON
U.S. Army - E4 - 1983-99
Anderson began his military career in Concordia with the National Guard.
"I was here in Concordia for three years, and then in 1986 I was sent overseas to Germany."
Anderson was stationed in Europe for another three years, until 1988. That summer his unit was sent to the Middle East to take part in Operation Desert Storm, the war against Iraq.
"I was stationed in Kuwait," he said. Anderson has one lasting memory of his time in the Arab desert. "It was hot! 150 degrees in the shade."
Anderson said the soldiers in his unit did acclimate to the weather eventually, but only to a point.
"We constantly drank water. And we did a lot of maneuvers at night. We often slept during the day, but that was hard because we were in metal buildings."
Anderson served 13 years in the military.
Also in residence at the Sunset Home:
ED PICK
Air Force - Staff Sergeant - 1952-56
LES HEMPHILL
U.S. Army
DOLAN DUEWELL
Air Force - Staff Sergeant - 1946-48, 1951-52
ROBERT ST. PIERRE
U.S. Army
To all the military veterans at the Sunset Home, and American veterans
everywhere around the world, thank you for your service.