Happy Birthday Bob Leonard (DHS 1951): Dunseith, ND
Military Service
Reply from Bill Hosmer (’48): Tucson, AZ
Note: Your reply Bill I felt was worthy of added exposure, so I posted it on my Face Book page. https://www.facebook.com/gary.stokes.18
I have pasted below a comment from that posting that is worthy taking note of from a good friend of mine.
Thanks Bill for this reply. You always focus your main attention to others in your conversations highlighting their successes. That is the kind of a guy you are. Bill, many of us cannot hold a candle to you and all of your successes and that is a fact. Gary
Gary and North Dakota friends.
I have to say on this my 84th birth date that so many of you have given praise to people who served and serve now in military units. This seems to me to be a characteristic of patriotism that we Northern North Dakota folks have always maintained, even in controversial times.
I can remember in the first times of WW II, our young men were leaving our tight community and going to places far away and dangerous. The guys my age joined the Boy Scouts, collected paper, and other items to be sent somewhere to help. We bought War Bonds, Savings Stamps, became a unified community and country because the young men in our area were going to war. When our guys came home to Dunseith after their training, to go to war, we were in awe. I remember so many names: Norman Fassett Marine Corps, who was on the invasion of Iwo Jima. A deadly place where the flag eventually was raised on Mount Surabachi. His brother Bill Fassett in the South Pacific in the Air Corps. Allen Campbell a tail gunner on B-17s in England flying bombing missions over Europe, Swede Lindy a sailor on a Naval ship in the Pacific that was attacked by Kamakazi Japanese aviators killing them selves in the glory of the emperor, Emerson Murray, whose dad Ray ran the creamery on main street, Wayne Williams in the Army in the European campaign. Clarence Hagen who was in the invasion of Sicily and Italy, Harold Korbel who used to work for Steve and Jenny Cook at the original Kelvin who was a fighter pilot flying P-47s in Europe. The Johnson brothers, older than Chuck and I who served in the Air Corps, and Navy-Bob, Warren and Roger. Loyd Awalt who was in the Navy in the Pacific arming fighters with ammunition to do their mission. Vance Bailey, who started the Dunseith Blog through his own interest in our community history served in the Navy. There were more, and among them were our Tribal members from Dunseith and Belcourt who served courageously, and honorably, and gained the respect of all of us. That war had full support of the citizenry, as it should have, because it was an obvious
Korea and Vietnam wars were not accepted by our population, but our citizenry in ND showed care for those who served, despite the political stance. Whenever I came home on a furlough between trips to Vietnam, there was unqualified friendship and support from everyone in my home town. There were other things going on in the country which were more dramatic in negativity. Marshal Awalt , Our Tremendous Gary Stokes, and I served in that fracas, as did many more, like Aime Casavant who was a crew chief on F-4 aircraft in Thailand and South Vietnam.
In my senior years, I f eel like saying something that reflects my admiration for all of you on this blog, your parents, your grandparents, your children and your grand children. It is a gift to realize the sensational community that raised me, supported me, and gives me friendship, even after all these years.
In my own way, I salute this readership, and all your parentage. Keep doing the positive stuff, forget the negative stuff, and remember where you came from.
Thanks for being who you all are. Bill Hosmer
Reply from my good Puget Sound Shipyard Colleague in the Scheduling department.
Mark Moshay: Bremerton, WA.
| Mark Alan Moshay commented on your photo. |
| Mark wrote: “I envy you ND folks! I know many guys like wished we had been part of a community like yours. One thing I especially appreciated about the Colonel’s message and that is that we don’t all have to agree on political issues and the decision to go to war. However, I agree that we have to put our personal views aside once the decision is made and give our men and women our total support. The Col sounds like a great guy and by his letter it’s obvious there are many more good folk like him. So this Southern California native gives a big salute to all you great folks in ND!!”
Thank you Mark for this nice reply. Coming from you I know it is sincere. You are a straight shooter and tell things the way they are. Mark, you and I go back a long way to the spring of 1990 when you were hired into the scheduling department. I remember well you being assigned to the Nuclear scheduling department with a Non-Nuclear Electrical background. Man did you shine. Folks quickly learned to know the name “Mark Moshay” and with a whole lot of respect too. |
Posting of the day
From Jim Kofoid: Bottineau, ND
One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it. The six-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, ‘Good morning Alex.’
‘Good morning Pastor,’ he replied, still focused on the plaque. ‘Pastor, what is this? The pastor said, ‘Well son, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service.’ Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque. Finally, little Alex’s voice, barely audible and trembling with fear asked, ‘Which service, the 8:30 or the 10:45?’
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Blog (179) posted on August 2, 2008
Neola Kofoid Garbe’s reply to Gary’s comments from yesterday:
It’s sad, but Doris Kessler is now living at Good Sam. I’m not sure of her mental abilities now–I think they are slipping somewhat. I visit with her sometimes when I see her there–say “hi” for sure.
Neola
Neola, I am so sorry to hear of Doris’s condition. She was such a mentally sharp lady. Gary
From Bob Lykins (DHS Teacher – mid 60’s):
Gary and all,
In response to Diane Larson Sjol’s comments regarding living military. People such as Diane have an identity of their own. It is called people of the 3rd culture. Gary, you are Third Culture, I am Third Culture. Anyone who lives and works in a culture not of their own, nor do they intend to become a part of the host culture, is called a Third Culture person. Our first culture is that in which we have been raised. Our second culture is any culture in which we have lived. The effects of living in a host culture give rise to a third culture person. Gary, you live in the PI, Diane has traveled the world as a member of a military family, I have lived and worked in Japan and Europe with DoD schools. Living this way of life builds in us certain characteristics that set us apart from the general population. One is that we are very well traveled and have experienced a variety of situations which has taught& r to return to a Third Culture Community. Approximately 70% of them accomplish this by enlisting in the military or working for the government overseas, obtaining employment with International business, or as missionaries. To a Third Culture person returning home often times means returning overseas where they have been raised. This is not being anti-American. In fact, like Diane and the rest of us, we are fiercely patriotic. It is just that we feel more comfortable in a Third Culture environment. I must confess that I have had a heck-of-a-time adjusting to living back in the States and I look forward to returning to Germany for a couple of months in the fall. I could go on and on about this subject since it has been and continues to be one of my studies. I have written several articles and lectured widely to governmental institutions and international business concerns on this subject. It answers a lot of questions by people
Bob Lykins
From Bev Morinville Azure (72):
| Ele, thanks for sharing growing up in a small town,,,,,,,,,, wanted to say NO Mc Donadls ? well no not here in little Dunseith but I remember so well the phone would ring and it would be Lyle Olson and all he had to say was MAC attack and i knew to be ready he was coming to get me and we were off to Minot just to get a big Mac Lyle turned out to be one of the best friends in the world , we now introduce each other as his sister or my brother we had one lady tell us oh I can tell in the eyes , lol thanks Lyle what memories we have. GOD BLESS YOU …………BEV |
Reply from Dick Johnson (68):
Gary and Friends,
Ele’s forward was right on down to a tee! Don Martel’s forward about the
Ten Commandments is also right on. I’ve always wondered what these
people think our laws were based upon! Where would you have gotten the
idea that stealing and killing and other crimes were wrong if it wasn’t
from the Ten Commandments? I think lawyers and judges have confused
themselves as to where the laws are founded! Common sense is fading in
our legal system. Dad always said that nothing is so simple that a
lawyer can’t complicate it! I think he was right! Thanks Gary, Ele, and Don!
Dick
Message/Pictures from Paulette LaCroix Chisholm (68):
Gary,
So many people in the Dunseith area seem to have a tie to Washington state.
We went to Port Townsend, WA for 10 days the first part of July and visited
“Hurricane Ridge” where there are many beautiful snow capped peaks and hills
flocked with spring flowers. The mountains, while we were there, were
filled with smoke from the California fires. They weren’t as visible as they
might be. I shared pictures of our trip with Lola Metcalfe Vanhorny and she
wrote back with interesting family memories. She gave me permission to
share them with the “Gary Blog.” Feel free to post her story or any of the
pictures I sent along.
Tim, Many of your gabbier classmates are very excited and happy to hear the
good news about you. We hold you in healing light.
To our service people, we cannot thank you enough. Thank you for sharing and
please tell us more about your experiences in Viet Nam or the Middle East.
Whenever we fly we always give a round of applause for any person we see in
uniform.
Thanks Gary,
Paulette LaCroix Chisholm
Paulette, I have pasted Lola’s lovely letter below.
I know that area of Washington state really well. I lived in Bremerton, located on the Olympic Peninsula, for 37 years.
Bremerton is just an hours ferry ride across the sound, to the west, from Seattle. Gary
Lola,
Wow, what a story! Thanks for sharing that. I never knew all this went on.
Those paths we don’t take… I thought this a good
story to share with the Dunseith blog, but of course would leave that up
to you.
Paulette
(Lola Metcalfe Vanorny’s (68) reply)
I remember in 1961 we went to Seattle to my brothers (jim jr)
graduation
for his masters- he worked at Boeing– and to Denny Creek in the
cascades for a picnic with all the MEtcafe relatives– they mostly settled
in Seattle– I loved it there! anyway– – gorgeous!– my parent s
moved to Seattle in 1939 cause Gary had asthama so bad and after he was
about a few months old — he had spent almost his entire life in the
hospital – the dr in Bottineau – told my folks that he would not
survive if they didn’t leave this climate!– soo they sold everything they
had and paid the dr bill to the bottineau hospital it took everything
they made on their sale– except enough to buy a pickup and moved to
seattle– — this is as I remember from what my Mom told me—
— Dad started out with a wheel barrow digging basements and then as the
war ended, the cement era came into being and he started a construction
company and poured cement all over the Seattle area and Alaska– –but Mom
said their weekend was always picnics at Denny Creek!! in the
Cascades– —
When we visited it was just like a dream!!!_ gorgeous!!!!! — water so
clear you could see to the bottom of the creek and we walked across a log
and watched the fish etc – rocks — it will be forever burned on my
mind–
air so light and clear and the smell of the pine trees– AND QUITE
COOL!!!— like heaven —
my poor Mom when she had to move back to NoDak!!!_)- Dad decided he
didn’t want to raise his kids in that environment (that was at the time when the
unions came into being — even bombings at houses etc.. and you had to
party with the “Good Ole Boys” and drink and gamble mostly forget the
family—–and he knew that would be very detrimental to famiily life ( he
sold out to his partner Chris Berg who became a millionare— with
offices in 11 different countries) — however always stayed in touch and
friends with Dad—a very good friend–
soooo – he bought a farm in the Turtle Mt for $400 and moved everyone
back to nodak—LeRoy Strongs lived in their house so Dad just built on a
lean -to and -they all lived together — (which is why I think there is
quite a bond between the two families even to this day)———no
electricity –no water- sometimes a phone —-more often than not it
didn’t work ————— nothing just a house in Rolette County-and onto a farm
and start up buying cattle etc. farming — .and lots of work!!! that meant 4 babies
and 3 more subsequently!– and hauling your water for everything and even laundry-and
hanging clothes on the line in the winter until they froze and then bring them into the house
to finish drying and then iron EVERYTHING –clothes even the t
shirts–hankies — and sheets and dishtowels – with a “sad Iron” that
you heated on the wood stove . milking cows and feeding calves and
cooking–endless cooking on that wood stove and oh man could she cook!!–
and send the kids with their Dad to Kelvin on Saturday night for
groceries and selling cream (like a vacation ha! ) and then scrub and
wax and shine the whole house for Sunday– which ALWAYS meant company for
meals!!– after church in the summer – but church the winter was
called Little Prairie Ladies Aid and all the members of the church went to
different households for church– ( the old country church was too cold
to heat–) — which started around 10 am in the selected home’s
living room and kitchen area and as soon as church was over it was time
for potluck dinner and an afternoon of visiting and kids playing and
babies being played with– I remember that well– what fun we had!!–
Mom said she cried the entire trip home (she had lived that cold nodak
winters and very poor and hard work for all those living then during the
depression— all her life and had it soooo nice in Seattle with all the conveniences –
washer , dryer , vacuum , sidewalks , new homes,, new things and lots of
fun– people from Nodak went there to work and stayed with Mom and Dad–
and she cooked and did their laundry when they went to work in the
shipyards mostsly– she talked of Max Petersons and the Schimetz’s
staying there – etc) . and when they stopped in North Dakota in the spring of
1945– whatever town they were in the wind shipped a flag so hard it about tore it apart — soooo
unhappy- but Gary did okay and mother—– being mother — so good
natured — – adjusted–took things in stride and “bloomed wherever she was
planted !! she got to love Nodak again —and adjusted and was happy where she was
always!– she was such a flexible person– and was happy all the
time—- I don’t ever remember seeing Mom when she didn’t act really happy
to see us !==whether at home or in public– yes she was a beautiful lady
both outside and inside!!– and Dad knew that and he appreciated it –
always trying to make her quit working so hard– !
Dad promised Mom that he would put in electricity and water as soon as it
was available and he did — I just have vague memories of them hauling
in a bathtub and all of us kids trying to be the first to be in it — I think
they got electriccity when I was about 2 yrs old cause that is all i
remember about that — anyway enough rambling — I have always wanted to
go back there- it is absolutely heaven on earth!!– I supposed it has
all changed now though–
in the early 80’s Jay and I decided to go to Montana and visit his Mom’s
sister Lucille and her husband– — we stayed with them and had a ball
fishing on a dam in montana – well, as long as we were that close —-I
insisted Jay and our kids see the “Road to the sun ” in Glacier –cause i
remembered it from when i was a kid——– with Dad — so we
took off for there – I remember going through there with the folks and how
beautiful it was and I wanted Jay and the kids to see and enjoy it–yeah
right ! they sure did and had a ball!!! =– however –I was on the
floorboards scared to death- I supposae the responsibility of kid did it
for me — I was never so glad to get out of mountains!!– anyway gotta
close this for tonight — morning comes early — but thanks for the
pics–gorgeous–Love ya -Lola
Pictures provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:
Do any of you recognize any of the folks in these two pictures?
