Mac Vets honored with Quilts of Valor

Two local veterans were honored with a Quilt of Valor, made by many local quilters and presented by Connie Strom, Dianne Christopherson and Lois Boehrnsen.

Quilts of Valor Foundation’s  desire is to see that returning warriors are welcomed home with the love and gratitude they deserve. Quilts of Valor are stitched with love, prayers and healing thoughts and are awarded to those who have served in combat as a tangible token of appreciation.

This was the second year that QOV have been presented to our local veterans at the Memorial Day programs.

The first quilt was presented to Mark Langamo. Here is his story:

“Early in 1969, Mark entered the U.S. Naval Reserves in Fargo, ND, serving for four years. After several months of meetings he was called up to active duty. He went through basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, North Chicago. He also attended training at Coronado Naval Base, San Diego, CA. Oddly, Mark’s only time spent on a naval ship was frozen in on Lake Michigan.

Mark served active duty on a one year tour in Vietnam. He was part of Naval Support Activity at the Deep Water Pier of DaNang. He was a stevedore first working down in the hold of ships and then as a crane operator on the surface. Petty Officer Langemo was Hatch Captain over a team of Vietnamese civilian laborers with Ba Nguyen Thi as his team checker. At times, Mark rode shotgun in the “cattle car” transporting sailors from Camp Tien Sha to the piers and back.

At the end of Marks tour of duty in Vietnam  he was shipped to Treasure Island Naval Station, San Francisco