East Polk QOV honors 4 local Veteran's for Veteran's Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2020

 The East Polk County Quilts of Valor group recently presented quilts to the following Veterans: Rodney Emerson, Bill Malwitz, Bruce McWillimam, and Walter Pederson. Because of the pandemic the group had to present them privately instead of at the Veteran's Day program as is usually done

The month of November is a special time for the nation's veterans. 

While Memorial Day honors fallen soldiers and service people, Veteran's Day, which takes place each November, is an opportunity to commemorate the efforts of all who have been in the armed forces, with a special emphasis on living veterans. 

While people are encouraged to thank veterans throughout the year, Veteran's Day is a particularly poignant time to show your appreciation for the men and women of the military.

Veteran's Day takes place on November 11th and marks an important moment in history. 

On November 11, 1918, World War I, known at the time as "The Great War," unofficially ended when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, took place between Germany and the Allied nations on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. World War I ended on paper when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. 

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Armistice Day became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. However, after subsequent wars, including World War II and the Korean War, veterans' service organizations lobbied for Armistice Day to be revised so it would be more inclusive of all veterans. On June 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to strike the word "Armistice" from the holiday's name in favor of "Veterans." Since then, November 11 has been known as "Veterans Day" and has honored veterans of all wars.

Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October for roughly seven years under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which sought to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating certain national holidays on Mondays. B

But since November 11 bore such significance, many states disapproved and continued to observe the holiday on November 11. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed legislation to return the observation of Veterans Day to November 11 beginning in 1978. 

Should the day fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the federal government observes the holiday on the previous Friday or following Monday, respectively, according to History.com.

The United States isn't the only country to celebrate its veterans. Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and France also commemorate the veterans of World War I and II on or near November 11 as Remembrance Day or Remembrance Sunday.

Below are the stories of the Veteran's honored by the East Polk County Quilts of Valor group for 2020 Veteran's Day.

 

 

 

 

Bill Malwitz

Bill Malwitz was on the top of the Draft Call for Red Lake County, so he volunteered for the Army and was enlisted on May 15, 1954.

Bill attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, which was easy compared to life on the farm. His greatest honor during his two years in the service was probably when he was selected as the Outstanding Trainee for the company of 250 trainees.

Following basic training, Bill attended tractor/scraper school at Fort Leonard Wood and then left immediately for Korea, where he operated heavy equipment until he was asked if he would like to attend crane and shovel school in Japan for eight weeks. Bill agreed to go, although he could have stayed at the school as an instructor, but his company in Korea had other ideas. He spent the rest of his one-year tour as a crane operator, namely a large dragline. He was in the Army, but was attached to Air Force in SCARE WAF (Special Category Army Reassigned with Air Force). The basic purpose was to maintain the air base at Puson, Korea.

Bill always said he spent time in the navy also, since he was on a ship for 34 long days going to and from Korea. While on leave after his duty in Korea, he met his wonderful wife, Phyllis. They have been happily married for 62 years.

Bill’s last six months of the service were spent at Fort Wood, Texas. He earned the rank of Specialist 3rd Class. He enjoyed serving in the US Army and was honorably discharged on May 16, 1956. 

Bill has been a member of the American Legion for 65 years and currently serves as Adjutant and Membership Chairman for Post 114.

 

 

 

 

 

Bruce McWilliam

After two years of teaching, Bruce McWilliam entered the Army in July of 1969. He took his basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington. He flew across the country for his AIT at Fort Lee, Virginia. He was trained as a Supply/Armorer. Bruce was then sent to Vietnam shortly before Christmas of 1969. He was stationed with the 47th Transportation Company that delivered fuel to outlying companies. While there, he was given a Bronze medal and was chosen soldier of the month. For that honor, he was awarded a trip to South China Beach, but in order to take that trip, his stay in Vietnam would have been extended. Instead, he lobbied for someone else in the company to get the trip, which was granted. He took his R & R to Australia. While there, he visited a carousel dairy (he likes cows) operation and spent the rest of his time at a ranch in the outback. He never saw so many sheep in one place! Also, it was the first and only time he ate lamb.

After Bruce’s leave in Minnesota in 1970, he was sent to Ansbach, Germany right before Christmas. He began his time there as a Public Information Office. He was able to do interviews, write articles, and take pictures. He had to often walk across town to the PX area to develop pictures at night. One of his walks was an inspiration for a poem he wrote titled, “Children of the City.” The months he spent in the Army were a prolific time for reading and writing. After a trained PIO came to the company, he was transferred to the security office to complete his service. Bruce was able to travel to many European countries and spend time with relatives in England and Portsoy, Scotland, the village his great grandparents emigrated from when they immigrated to Canada. The army offered him that opportunity.

Bruce returned to Minnesota in February of 1972. Shortly after, he was offered the job to finish directing a play due to the illness of the director. He returned to Erskine High School in the fall of 1972. The students he left as freshman were now seniors. He also continued milking cows and enjoyed showing them at fairs. He continued being the advisor for yearbooks and directing plays even after he quit teaching. 

Bruce says he probably directed over 100 plays and hopes to do a few more. He was a 4-H leader for over thirty years including the years his daughters, Marissa McWilliam-Donner and MarJenna Koehler were 4-H members.

Bruce married LaVonne Moteberg in 1989. Both of their girls were born in the early 90’s. In December 2019 their delightful granddaughter, Emmie Lou Donner, was born.

For the past 25 years, Bruce has been a paraprofessional at Fosston High School, so he has had the opportunity to work with many enjoyable young people.

On page 2 is the poem written by Bruce McWilliam while he was serving in the army and stationed in Germany.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rodney Emerson

Rodney Emerson was born on June 4th, 1946. He grew up on a farm southwest of Gully, MN. He attended Fosston High School and graduated with the class of 1964. 

Rodney enlisted in the United States Army on November 12th, 1965. He had basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then advanced armor training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. 

Then he was off to Germany with the 1st Battalion, 37th Brigade, 4th Armor Division 7th US Army. He was in Germany 16 months then volunteered for Vietnam on August 15th, 1967. He was assigned to the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment F Troop. After three months, he was transferred to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade D Troop, 17th Armored Calvary Regiment. While in Vietnam, he served on an M-113 “Armored Calvary Assault Vehicle.” It had a 50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun and two M-60 7.62 x 51 caliber machine guns.

On May 6th, 1968, Rodney was wounded in action by a R.P.C. rocket propelled grenade. It hit the top of the track and went through the APC and into the ground. For his wounds he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Man’s Badge.

Rodney left Vietnam on August 6th, 1968, and left the United States Army at Oakland Army Terminal, California. 

“It was my honor to serve in the United States Army and to serve my country during the Viet Nam war,” Rodney states. “God Bless America.”

 

 

 

 

Walter Pederson

Walter Pederson was an Airman 2nd Class in the North Dakota Air National Guard for 6 years, from 1958-1964. He was a radar technician. He worked on airplane components for the F-89. He was active during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but was never deployed.

One of the best things that came out of Walter’s service to his country was that he met his wife, Leona. Walter and Leona have been married for 56 years. They have three daughters and 9 grandchildren.