Taking another look at the memorial wall

SWAN VALLEY – Imprinted on the tree slab segments above the door of the Swan Valley Community Hall are the words "Lest We Forget." Beneath them, another slab shows five saddled but riderless horses, the military symbol for fallen soldiers who will ride no more. To the right and left of the slabs are more than 100 wooden plaques containing the names and death-dates of military veterans who once lived in Swan Valley.

According to American Legion Post 63 Post Adjutant Ray Opp, the Veterans Memorial was started about 30 years ago when Bob Reed was Post Commander. Opp said Dale Aldridge was the one who established the plaque setup. He added that previous Post Commander Rick Ferguson was another person who dedicated himself to the upkeep and improvement of the memorial.

In addition to arranging for new plaques to be made as needed, Ferguson began researching the history of each veteran on the wall. The information he gleaned from obituaries, service records and other sources resulted in a binder full of interesting details about Swan Valley veterans.

Almost half of the veterans on the wall are from the World War II era. Some were drafted, but many obituaries, like John Hulett's, document the surge of patriotism and subsequent enlistments that resulted from the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Other veterans, like Robert Kaser, served in the Korean War. Phil Hauck served in the Navy during WWII and the Air Force during the Korean War.

Vietnam Veterans like Frank Jette and Smokey Mills represent the Vietnam War. Helicopter door-gunner Ken Wolff served two tours of duty in Vietnam. A few other men, like Rod Fox and Jack Strickrodt, participated in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Master Chief Kevin Frye is the first to represent modern conflicts, serving as an aviation electrician during Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

All branches of the military are present on the wall, though at this point Robert "Ting" Wilhelm and Gary Wiscarson are the only two from the Coast Guard. The memorial includes five women: four who served during WWII, Agnes Beck and Monica Hudson in the Army (WAC), Polly Wilhelm and Elizabeth Hammer in the Navy (WAVES) and Sally Ann Goff-Neyman who joined the U.S. Air Force in 1955 and worked in communications.

Aside from being in the military, the only other requirement for having a name posted on the wall is residency in Swan Valley. It doesn't matter whether the person grew up in the valley like Lee Anderson, moved to the Condon area after retirement like Bill Funke, or was someone whose name was practically a household word like "Shorty" Koessler of Gordon Ranch fame. Post 63 decided that any veteran who lived in the Swan Valley for any amount of time, or who was a member of the American Legion, deserved the honor of having their name on the wall.

New plaques are hung whenever the Post is notified of a person whose name belongs on the wall, whether that person died a week or 20 years prior. Nor is rank a concern. Clayton "Tate" Fraser and John Stump, both of whom served two years in the Army and were then honorably discharged, have plaques one above and one below the highest-ranking person on the wall, Major General Robert Warren Akin. Akin was the first Air National Guard commander at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard, Tenn. The Guards' primary assignment was in-flight refueling of U.S. and Allied Forces aircraft.

Ferguson's research reveals the vast array of jobs undertaken by Swan Veterans. Bob Martin was an aerial gunner in WWII and flew 50 missions over North Africa, Italy, Sicily and France. Plez Packard Moody was a P-39 Air Cobra Pilot flying ground cover. Calvin Tassinari instructed pilots on survival skills. Bill Ukrainetz served with the Royal Canadian Navy as a minesweeper and radio and Morse code operator. He earned his place on the wall because the U.S. and Canada were allies during the war. Vernon Sharp was an engineer who did equipment maintenance. Russell Haasch was a medic.

Other unexpected, but obviously needed, jobs included parachute rigger (Max Greenough), cook (Russell Conkling), aerial photographer (Doug Melton), pharmacist's mate (Don Reynolds) and Chief Dental Officer (William "Bill" Mielke – a 28-year veteran.)

Even more unusual occupations, most of which require further explanation, include a two-year stint aboard a floating dry-dock in the South Pacific (Victor Wise). This essentially was an ocean-based station capable of repairing, refitting and resupplying ships at sea. Ozro Black and Melbourne Shupe were Seabees in WWII. Seabees were skilled construction workers who built naval bases where needed in war areas. Oliver "Ollie" Hill trained to become what is now considered to be the precursor of the Navy Seals. Joseph "Pat" Patalon served in the Army's 10th Mountain Division, an elite winter-warfare force trained to fight in the Italian mountains.

The number and variety of service ribbons, badges and medals earned by the veterans on the memorial wall would create a riotous kaleidoscope of colors and shapes if they were all attached to their respective plaques. Included would be numerous Marksmanship Medals, National Defense Service Medals, Combat Action Awards, Good Conduct Medals, Meritorious Unit Commendations, Asian-Pacific and European-African-Middle Eastern WWII Campaign Medals, WWII Victory Medals, Service Medals for participation in various wars. Grover "Dale" Duffin, who served a total of 42 years, earned the Korean Service Medal with five bronze service stars indicating the number of times he served during that conflict.

The Bronze Star is given to members of the Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievements or service. WWII machine gunner Alexander "Barney" Anthony earned his Bronze Star by dropping a grenade inside a tank while under fire. John Nelson received his for technical skill and mechanical ability. His obituary elaborates: "he constructed electrical tools from enemy equipment."

The Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal are awarded for meritorious achievements and acts of heroism while participating in aerial flight. Harold Older received both in WWII adding three clusters to his Air Medal. Veteran of both Korean and Vietnam conflicts Harry "Duke" Sultzer also received an Air Medal and added three clusters.

Purple Heart Medals are bestowed upon those who sustained injuries during a war. Vietnam Vet Steve Stolp earned two; WWII parachute infantryman Sherwood "Johnny" Trotter earned three along with a Bronze Star. Korean Veteran Richard Meckler, who was held as a prisoner of war for three years, earned a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star.

The Silver Star is the third highest personal decoration achievable, awarded for gallantry in combat. The other veteran on the Swan Valley Veterans Memorial Wall who earned a Silver Star was combat medic Richard James Best who was killed in Vietnam in 1969.

Ferguson's research on the veterans of the wall came to a premature end with his death Oct. 10, 2018.

Opp said he intends to continue entering obituaries and other pertinent info into the binder. Opp is also considering where best to keep the Swan Valley Veteran's notebook.

"I hate to just put it in the file cabinet with all my other stuff but I don't know if we should put it in the library or put it in the Historical Society. They have a military section."

Opp said he will bring up the issue at the next Post meeting and talk it over with the rest of the members before making a decision.