Quilts of Valor for Clearwater County
The Headwaters Quilt Guild Quilts of Valor for Clearwater County coordinator awarded five quilts at the 60th class reunion of the class of 1966.
Interesting fact in November 2023 when they starting awarding quilts in Clearwater County the first one was presented to a member of the class of
1966 and when all quilts were awarded on June 6th sixty-six quilts were now awarded including all ages and classes. How ironic is that! The veterans receiving Quilts of Valor were James Fischer-Navy, Carl Dahlke-Army, Arlen Mashall-Army, Wayne Larson-Navy, and Arlan Norling-Army.
James Fischer, a member of the graduating class of 1966, was born in Baltimore, Maryland moving to Bagley when he was just one year old. He was raised on a farm southwest of Bagley with a sister.
He was one of several from the class that enlisted in the US Navy. His basic training was completed at Fort Gulfport in 1968. Further training in heavy equipment operation for Seabees was at the Navy base Coronado and Camp Pendelton CA. Seabees provide a wide range of construction in support of operating forces, including roads, bridges, bunkers, airfields and logistics bases. While deployed to Vietnam he was stationed at Danang and Phi Bai Vietnam. Even though he was in the Navy he didn’t spend any time on a ship – always stationed inland. Jim was discharged from Long Beach CA in 1969.
For his service he was awarded a Vietnam National Defense medal, Vietnam Campaign medal, Vietnam Service medal and his unit received the Navy Commendation.
In 2010 he retired with forty years as a member of the Local 49ers as a heavy equipment operator.
Jim is married to Bonnie Watne of Gonvick and they had two sons and spoil the one grandchild they have.
James is proud to be a member of the Bagley American Legion Irvin Blix Post 16 and performs his duty as a member of the Honor Guard.
Arlan Norling was born to Carl and Myrtle Norling joining a family of three sisters on a farmstead south of Leonard.
Arlan is a member of the Bagley Highs School class of 1966. He studied at Bemidji State College until being drafted by the US Army In 1970. His basic training was completed at Fort Lewis, WA. His military specialties were in infantry, medical specialist, and Practical Nursing. Arlan served at numerous stations in the US and had overseas deployments to Okinawa, Japan, Korea and the United Arab Emirates. He served three years active duty and thirty years in the Army Reserves. Arlan had earned the rank of Master Sergeant, pay grade E-8. His total service when he got his final discharge letter in 2008 was thirty-three years, 4 months, and 18 days of service.
On his first active duty tour he was on the team that removed the nuclear and chemical weapons from Okinawa. In the Army Reserve he served in two infantry units, then two medical units, where he was a Medical Specialist and Ward Master. He finished his career by going to an infantry training /evaluation unit where he trained and evaluated infantry units for deployment.
His service was recognized by earning a Southwest Asis Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal as well as other service medals and service ribbons.
He had several family members in the military including two uncles that were killed in WWII.
When returning from active duty he returned to BSC graduating with a BS degree in Mass Communications in 1974. He furthered his education in nursing and earned a RN degree. It was through this career he met his future wife Marilyn marrying in 1986 with a ready-made family of six children. Marilyn, children and grandchildren have been a true blessing
Arlan and Marilyn are both retired from nursing careers in various capacities and places. They have had the pleasure of traveling around the country. Arlan has earned his pilot license and at age sixty-two started running marathons by completing five full and five half-marathons. They are happy to be settled in Bagley living a quite life style.
Arlen Marshall a member of the class of 1966 was born to Sophie and Earl Marshall being raised north of Bagley. His family consisted of four boys and three girls.
Arlan was drafted into the US Army in March of 1968 doing his basic training at Fort Lewis WA. He completed his MOS training for mechanic at Fort Huachuca AZ. He also served at Fort Benning GA and was deployed to Vietnam in January 1969. Upon his discharge in December 1969, he had earned the rank of Spec 4 along with being awarded an Airmen Medal, a Vietnam Cross along with others.
The Marshall brothers were all in the military. His brother Donald was in the Army and served in Germany. Brother Clifford was wounded in Vietnam and received the purple heart medal. Brother Harvey was in the Airforce.
His civilian career started at Reserve Mining Company in Silver Bay where he was working when drafted. When discharged he returned to work there until 1984 at which time he returned to school and was later employed with Sanford in the occupational therapy department until his retirement in 2010.
The best day of his life was May 26th 1967 when he married Diane Jacobson at 2 in the afternnon and graduated with the class of 1967 at 7 that night. To this marriage were born three boys and one girl producing twenty-one grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Diane passed away 2020. His best moments now are when his grandson spends time with him.
You can find a paver stone in his honor at the Clearwater County Memorial site in Bagley.
Carl W Dahlke was born to parents Carl and Mabel Dahlke and they had a family of five boys and two girls. He was blessed to live on a farm north of Bagley with lots of siblings to play with.
Carl was a graduate of the Bagley High School class of 1966.
He was drafted by the US Army in April 1968 completing his basic training in Fort Lewis, WA followed by infantry training 11IB10 before being deployed to Vietnam. Carl spent his last six months at Fort McCellan, AL being discharged in March 1970 with a rank of E-4
Carl was awarded a Vietnam service medal and earned two overseas bars, an Airmen Medal and Sharpshooter M14 and M16 medals.
His family had a good representation in the military with brother Arlan serving in the Army, brother Dalton served during the Korean War, and brother Dennis was a member of the National Guard.
Carl retired from a civilian career where he worked for Holman and Homen doing carpentry work. He stated that his company had installed the gum floor in Bagley.
Carl is a member of the Saint Francis American Legion Post John Colline Post 622.
You will find his paver stone at the Clearwater County Veterans Memorial site in Bagley.
Wayne Larson was born to parents Leslie K and Joye Larson. The family consisted of five boys and two girls. They were raised on a farm near Zerkel.
He attended the Pine Center country school through seventh grade before joining the eighth-grade class in Bagley being a member of the class of 1966 through part of his senior year when the family moved to Bemidji. Wayne graduated with the class of 1966 from Bemidji High School.
After graduation Wayne enlisted in the US Navy and served fours years from 1966-1970. His basic training was completed at the Great Lakes Navy Base near Chicago, IL. Wayne’s military training was in electronics and ship radar operator. Duty stations that he called home were USS Henderson, DD785, home based in Long Beach CA. He had twelve months of Vietnam combat pay, and one month of combat pay from North Korea. While on the ship his responsibilities included operator supervisor and Air Search Radar, Navigation, electronic counter measures, and ship to ship communications.
Wayne was discharged in 1970 with the rank of 2nd Class Radarmen (E5) having earned a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
His brothers Larry and Mark served in the US Army following the lead of their father Leslie K who was with the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII.
Wayne is retired from Biomedical Instrumentation Service Electronic Tech at VA Medical Center in Minneapolis.
He is enjoying retirement with wife Audrey, her two children and the best part is being grandpa to fine grandchildren. Camp Ripley will be his and wife Audrey’s final resting place.
Wayne is proud to be a lifetime member of the Sauk Rapids VW Post 6992.