Vickie Metcalfe’s (70) reply to Sharon Longie Dana (73) & Gary: 

Note: Sharon Longie’s letter follows Vickie’s below.

I write this, as I was influenced by the sharing of Dunseith Veterans, Gary, and to Sharon Longie , because, as Sharon continues to write, her clarity of heart and her pride as an American Citizen will not be silenced.

Meanwhile back here in ND.

Gary, Last week, I ran into your brother, Darrel at Wal-Mart.   Bud and I discussed the recent sharing of Ken N., Warren A, your’s,  Evon’s pics of  her Lagerquist brothers and others, this past month.  Through the words, eyes, minds, and  heartfelt sharing of pictures and first person experiences of Viet Nam, you let us know…pieces of  your experiences….in that another world outside of Dunseith.

Bud and I discussed, that while you were there;  We, back home, on the farm were doing chores, sharing rides into the weekly confirmation classes and bumping along in the slow yellow school buses over dusty gravel roads to and from Dunseith school.  While at school,we’d go through the motions, acting to be normal teens, to fit in, in hallways, classes,study halls, Stella’s lunch,Speech and  POD, then long bus ride home again chatting nonsensically with our second families ie our  bus buddies.

Silence on what  we’d watched so intently on T.V., in our living rooms the night before.   After the animals were well fed, the chores done, supper with family visiting around the kitchen table, clean up dishes, then dashing to get the best space on the floor, in front of the t.v. with dad sitting in his easy chair…  just 1/2 hr. time to watch news before homework,

Yup. Those little 1 or 2  t.v. channels flickering.. shadows.. sounds…shhkkhhs crackely ..grays, black and whites,  or whoa the nightly news with  Quiet. Watch. Listen. Dan Rather, Chet Huntley, David Brinkley and Walter Cronkite.  … New T.V?.. forbid __color, vivid colors…reds,…explosive….raw, raw feelings….. Acute Silence. Homework.

One Sunday,the new Lutheran Church had been built, the members were voting on a new name.  I sat in one of the pews with my parents and siblings at the old Dunseith Church. Various speakers from the congregation put in their plugs, speaking  on 3 or 4 or 5  names.  My thoughts rambled away… as an errant teen (you know how much more intelligent we were then?), thoughts like, “these names don’t make sense to me and those old church grown ups.. don’t seem to be aware of ..what’s going on in the world.”  The pastor spoke, ” as conferments, you are members of the church and each conferment gets to vote on new name for the combined congregations. ”  My thought,  ” Wow. That, and, we weren’t even 21….”

I was respectful. My mouth was Silent.  But, my heart thump thumping, so bursting inside as I listened to  names like, Ebenezer, ..Trinity,..St.___, then someone spoke a word….What? Who? What was that? a feeling of hope,”Perhaps there are grown-ups here who are aware of what’s going on in the news.”  I had the feeling of  Hope!  “Were they  throwing out a name just to fill a quota to vote on? ” No. All the  names were put  on a written ballot, and all conferments present  from Dunseith Lutheran, Rendahl Lutheran, and Little Prairie Lutheran voted.

“What name did we all  feel in our hearts?”

It came to pass………….. when the votes were counted.

PEACE

To, Each of you, the military warriors &  members of military families, X and current, I  know now, that we, may have been silent to each other during those trying times. Often confused just trying to figure out how to make sense of stuff and then communicate.  I believe, Each of us; the errant teens, the Ladies aide mom’s, the wise leader -elders, the silver starred (grand)mothers, the VFW dads’, We were just there in Dunseith together,with  thoughts and hearts flying those many miles to Viet Nam, to you the guys there.

You, our hometown big brothers and bus buddies, a belated but heartfelt                        THANK YOU AND PEACE. Vickie Metcalfe

Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:41:10 -0700 (PDT)

From: Sharon Dana <msmtice@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: msmtice@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Hello #172, Well said.

To: “Vickie L. Metcalfe”

X-EduTech-MailScanner-From:

Thanks Vickie, i appreciate it. Since i went in the service and was a military wife you see a different side to freedom. I went to a concert tonite for a young man who was on American Idol. His name is Phil Stacey and he wrote a song about Old Glory and sang it there and it brought tears to my eyes becasue people do forget and we can’t forget we are Americans every day and what we have is not just given to us we fought many fights to be where we are. I am jsut thankful for those freedoms and able to wxpress it. Sometimes its a hard thing for me to do quietly because i have been on both sides of the fence and i like that freedom side alot. I will quickly tell you a story about my sone David when we lived in Japan, he was 10 years old and one day it came out in the base paper that there was going to vbe a demonstration at the Main Gate of our Naval Facility and any families that lived off base were to come and stay on the base til the deomonstration was
over, they expected it to be peaceful but wanted to insure our safety. So i did what they asked and went on the base. We were told what time the demonstrtion was going to be going on and once things cleared up and folks went home, we to could go home. Well my son asked if he could see how the Marines were keeping us safe at the main gate so i decided to drive him there so he could see what was happening. The gates of course were closed and standing there shoulder to shoulder were United Sates Marines all across the gat with the rifles drawn but not pointing at anyone but there were ready. My little boy couldn’t believe his eyes and he asked “they are doing that so that we can live here and still be Americans” and i said yes that they would defend us and die for us if necessary. He never forgot that day. Neither have I. Seeing them there and knowing i lived on foreign soil a few miles from that gate makes you appreciate your freedom and love that flag
even more.

Thanks again Vicki, i was a little surprised no one else said anything about what I wrote. check out that website from Grys site the one about losing someone, i went and listened to the video and its awesome…………makes you feel proud.

Sharon

Sandra Zeiler Vandal’s (62) reply to Gary Metcalfe (56): 

Hi Gary,  in response to Gary Metcalfe,  That accident was approx. 59yrs. ago.  What I have been told—we went to Kelvin for birthday candles for my cake.  It was my 5th b-day..guess you could say I did it up right!!!  A couple from Canada came around the corner going a bit fast, but certainly not expecting to see a child on the road.  What I remember—a long time in the hospital(Mom with), a cast from above my waist, down both legs, and very itchy knee caps.  Going home still with the cast and scooting around on the floor and up&down the staires.

Dr. Nelson put a metal plate in my leg along with springs and screws and hoped for the best.  I have some great scars (sewed up with cat gut, must have had a fancy med. term for that) I am very fortunate ,the best is what I got.  I don’t remember how many of stitches—how long ago was your accident, Gary .  Sandy Vandal

Dave Wurgler’s (64) Reply to the Dunseith Peace Lutheran Picture: 

Gary : You probably know I left Dunseith in 66 but I think i can pick a few of this photo that I remember so here I go. Back row 4 right Erling Berg, 5 right Stan Salmonson, my brother in law,6 right Cliff salmonson, 3rd row 2 right Joan Wurgler, maybe Salmonson, my sister, 2nd row 4 right Agnes salmonson, oops then Deloris berg, Erlings wife wow now Imight be getting confused but 5 right is Caroleen Lider splash Williams and 1st row Don Johnson 2right Cliff Halvorson 3right  is Laurel or loren Sturuck, and 7 right is Don Willaims. This is the best of my recolection, and if anyone else can contribute I will be looking. Happy Day Dave (64)

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Thanks to Bob for sharing his/his daughter’s/granddaughter’s story. I can’t even imagine the pain an incident like inflicts on a family.  The sad part is that (I understand) most “shakers” are good/decent people; they just “snap” for a bit.  So sad.  I haven’t had time to read the article; I hope it remains on the net for a few days.

When I get ready, I’m going to the hospital again.  I have to admit my mind/body need more rest.  Tomorrow is the Class of ’58 reunion; that’s the class I actually graduated with.  I plan to attend the banquet on Monday/picnic on Tuesday, although chances are great, the banquet is all I’ll attend. 

You can mention in your email that I’m not doing much with pictures these days, due to Mom’s being in the hospital–if you want to.  My energy level is dropping. 

Neola

From Floyd/Carmen Leonard Richard: 

That picture of the fellow in uniform that was unidentified is Larry Richard, son of Ernest Richard and Beatrice Slyter. They lived in Bottineau when he graduated from high school, but they previously  lived in Dunseith and some of their children attended grade school there.Their daughter, Marlene (Richard) Parslow was a member of the class that graduated in1965 and attended the gathering at the Dunseith Country Club last year. Larry lives in Pennsylvania and is an ordained minister. He also served in Viet Nam.When the family went to Minot to meet the plane when Larry returned from service, he talked about his expericnces  over there, but when they arrived at his home, he told his parents that was all he was ever going to say, and that he never wanted to talk about Viet Nam again.

Ernest Richard is a brother to Floyd and Don Richard and Stella Schmeitz.

Marlene Richard Parslow’s (65) Reply to Gary: 

Note: Marlene was with the DHS class of 65 before her family moved to Bottineau. I am pretty sure Larry Went to Bottineau too.  They have lots of relatives from and in the Dunseith area.  And yes, as Carmen Richard stated, Marlene did attend our DHS class of 65 reunion last summer

Yes!!  This is my big brother, Larry!!  Who has this picture?   Wasn’t he a handsome dude?  Today he is a Methodist Minister in Pennsylvania.

Yes, LeRoy, Dianne, Lester, Jim, Mike, Deb, Peg, and Brad are all my siblings!! We are all doing well. My father, Ernest, passed away 2 years ago.  My Mom, Beatrice (Slyter) is still alive.  She will be 86 in November.

Thanks for asking about this picture!!
Marlene(Richard)Parslow
715-425-7525

 
Photo/message from Glen Williams (52): 

Gary this is a “cleaned up photo”that I eamiled you before….someone said they could not recognize anyone….maybe this will help….It was the 1950 squad…and Bob Leonard was number 1…now who else do you recognize?

Glen Williams

From Florence Pladson Sime (62): 

In reply to Neola question about Tom and Carolyn Boguslawski, they live in Lewiston, Idaho. I don’t know their exact address.

Keep up the good work as it is great to hear all the news about
people that you haven’t heard of for years. Florence

Tom & Carolyn Wilhelm Boguslawski, stamped Nov. 24, 1967