A gesture of gratitude

While many in America were celebrating the trappings of the holiday season from their homes, many members of the branches of service weren't feeling quite so cozy.

Whether it be serving stateside, or in foreign lands, fleeting moments of peace can be hard to come by.

So, a small but simple show of thanks to those who fight or who have fought for the country's freedoms can mean the world to them.

The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliaries have been busy for many a Christmas season putting together care packages and letters to veterans.

"We're all good at getting caught up in the busyness of Christmas, while our deployed military are busy making sure that we enjoy our festivities as they carry out their missions far from home and family," said Marlene Boyer of the Carrington John Raymond O'Hara Post 25 American Legion Auxiliary. "Packages and letters of gratitude are one small way to thank them."

The Auxiliaries also prepared monetary donations and gift packages for residents at Golden Acres Manor and Estates, as well as for those living at the North Dakota Veterans Home in Lisbon.

"Visiting with our veterans is always a highlight of our Christmas tradition of 'Keeping the Promise' to support those who serve our country," Boyer said.

This season, the work of dedicated volunteers and generous community patrons allowed the Auxiliaries to provide area veterans, National Guard and spouses an honorary supper at the Chieftain. General Manager Skyler Patzer took his turn at the keyboard to provide special music, and children of the military families helped provide games and prizes for the evening.

"Many hours are given throughout the year to support our military, their families and our veterans," said Boyer. "We invite you to join us in remembering our veterans by supporting our auxiliaries."

Recognizing their service

The Independent got the chance to talk to two veterans this past week, both residents of Golden Acres Manor, about their military experiences.

Paul Wadnizak and Steven Halonen are almost one generation apart in age, but their experiences in their respective services are stories in themselves.

Wadnizak, 52, is a native of Fargo. He comes from a family with a distinguished record of service, including his father and uncles, and later himself.

"I went into the Navy, just like my dad," he says. "I guess you could say I was a legacy. My dad's brothers both served in World War II."

He commented that his father was "too young for Korea and too old for Vietnam." His father served as a Senior Reservist, and was later called to active duty in Twentynine Palms, Calif. 10 days before Wadnizak himself was scheduled to go to boot camp.

"That pretty much removed all the men from the homes, since I have no brothers," he recalls.

Following schooling, he served out of Groton, Conn., on a submarine crew. His years of service, 1991-1996, spanned Operation Desert Storm in Iraq.

"We did most of our training off the coast in Groton," he said. The specifics of his deployment, later declassified, were to provide support as a test platform for scientific expeditions ("SciEx") of the North Pole region.

His time in the Navy was certainly adventurous, but often lonely.

"Connecting with family isn't as easy as it is today," said Wadnizak. "You didn't have cell phones back then, and you had to make collect calls, something that kids nowadays don't really understand."

His training with his crew made him a "jack of all trades," and he later dabbled in small engine repair, general repair work and labor upon his discharge from the service.

Wadnizak is grateful for the work the local Auxiliaries do to keep the recognition of their sacrifices in mind.

"It's always nice to feel appreciated and remembered," he says. "Sometimes you hear people say that you appreciate their service, like politicians and others, but the Legion and Auxiliary do that. That's why we love them."

For Halonen, 72, a Vietnam War veteran, his time in combat was dominated by hardship and suffering for many of his fellow soldiers.

"I served in Da Nang for part of my service," Halonen said. "I don't remember a whole lot of it. Most of it was a blur."

He was born in Long Beach, Calif., but grew up in Ellendale. Around the age of 10, he and his father moved to Alaska, and later lived in Wyoming. Halonen's father eventually settled down in Gettysburg, S.D., operating a dry-cleaning business.

The prospect of conscription, or the draft, was a constant reality for young men in the 1960's and 70's. While a good many sought a way out by fleeing to Canada, Halonen stayed put.

"They pulled my number in the draft, and I just had to go," he said.

Halonen served as a driver for an armored vehicle which transported wounded troops on the battlefield to emergency care. He served for four years in that role in Vietnam.

"We'd take them to a MASH [Mobile Army Surgical Hospital] unit, or wherever we could go," he recalled, adding, "You don't leave your friends behind in a place like that."

He said that children were often recruited for suicide bombing missions by the Viet Cong, but there were also moments of compassion from the Vietnamese people.

"They'd make us bowls of rice and noodles," he said.

Upon returning to the States in uniform, Halonen and his fellow veterans were the object of scorn from some Americans.

"Driving around the big cities, you'd hear people saying we're 'baby killers,' " he says. "I didn't like that too good. It was just a rough time. People didn't want this."

While many of his generation struggled with PTSD (then known by the term "shell shock,") for his part, Halonen said, "You just got out of the service and kind of lived with it."

Halonen is also appreciative of the Auxiliaries' efforts.

"It means a great deal, that somebody remembers what you've done," he concluded.