Pictured (L-R): Dale Schlichte, Manning VFW; Wally Rose, Carroll VFW; Larry Boyle, Carroll VFW; Tony Konkler, Carroll Legion; Doug Cunningham, Glidden Legion; Bob Fasbender, Breda Legion and MC; Al Tigges, Dedham Legion; Jim Bruggeman, Dedham Legion; Ralph Lampman, Arcadia Legion; Chris Friedrichsen, Iowa Army National Guard; Greg Siemann, Guest Speaker; Don Bernholtz, Event Organizer
Next week, Carroll-area Vietnam War veterans and their families will gather at the Arthur N. Neu Carroll Municipal Airport as they mark Vietnam War Veterans Day and 50 years since the last combat troops departed the country. Representatives from the county’s six American Legion posts and two Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts have planned a special presentation at the airport’s Vietnam War Memorial for Wednesday, March 29 at 6 p.m. RT Schreck, a Carroll American Legion member, explains what they have planned for that night.
Schreck says the 30-to-40-minute program also includes the history of the LTV A-7 Corsair attack aircraft that is positioned near the airport’s entrance and a plaque emblazoned with the names of six local soldiers who did not return from their deployments.
Those men include U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Thomas John Eischeid of Halbur, U.S. Navy Corpsman Gerald Lee Feltner of Carroll, U.S. Marine Corps Second Lieutenant Wayne William Gross of Carroll, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Lawrence Raymond Hagedorn of Carroll, U.S. Army Specialist Steven Thurlow Jewell of Coon Rapids, and U.S. Army Private First Class Donald Lee Sparks of Glidden. Schreck says Wednesday’s program is to honor these men, their families, and all Vietnam-era veterans.
The program is open to the public, and Schreck says anybody from the area is encouraged to attend.
