Honoring our elected Veterans this Veterans' Day

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Politics is the housekeeping of Good Government. I advise folks in the military service to get into politics because somebody who is ready to lay their life down for their country qualifies more than those you see there now. They're always greasing up something to pass for their local communities instead of looking out for the whole country.

--Joe Foss, The American Legion Magazine, February 2003

Joe Foss certainly had his opinion about the people who should be serving in Politics. And he was clear about the dedication and honor of those in the military .

I wanted to do something a little different for Veterans' Day, so I had some information culled from the Blue Book on which of our elected officials served in the Military. You'll also note them featured on the scrolling banner above.

Many of them may be speaking to groups gathered to honor the occasion this weekend. If you happen to be in one of those areas, stop and listen for their message of community, responsibility, and country. They, and each and every veteran who has served has my debt of gratitude for keeping our country free.

Please remember our veterans on this Veterans' Day.

Statewide Where Served
 When Served
Rich Sattgast U.S. Army
(Berlin, Desert Storm)
1983-86,1991-92

South Dakota Army National Guard 1996-2001

U.S. Army Reserve 2001-present

Army Achievement Medal 84, 85, 88

Army Commendation Medal 86, 91, 92
Senate

Gene Abdallah SD Air National Guard 1954-1962
Stanford Adelstein SD Army Guard

Colorado Air Guard

Civilian Aide to Secretary of the Army
Jerry Apa US Marine Corps 1958-1962
B. Michael Broderick, Jr. US Navy 1956-1960
Jay Duenwald US Army Not Listed
Jim Hundstad US Air Force 1960-1968

including being in country during Vietnam war
Dick Kelly Minnesota Air Guard 1963-1965
Clarenece Kooistra US Marine Corps 1959-1963
Orville B Smidt SD National Guard 1961-1964

US Army 1966-1993

Bronze Star Medal

Air Medal

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry

Legion of Merit

Meritorious Service Medal

Cambat Air Crew Member
House

Jeffrey K Haverly USAF

USAF 28th Bomb Wing Evaluator Aircrew

2 Meritorious Service Medals
Thomas L Hennies US Army-Served in Japan & Korea 1958-1960
Roger W Hunt US Navy Judge Advocate General Corp 1962-1984

Retired as Captain
Mike Kroger National Guard 6 years
Gerald Lange US Army Signal Corps (ASA) 1946-1947
Matt Michels Naval Legal Service Office, Mayport Fl 1987-1989

Naval Legal Service Office & US Naval Hospital, Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines 1985-1987

US Navy Commendation Medal 1989

US Navy Achievement Medal 1987

US Naval Justice School Lawyer Course, Honor Graduate 1985
Gordon Pederson US Army Infantry 1945-1947, 1950-1970
J.E. "Jim" Putnam US Air Force 1960-1968

Strategic Air Command, 817th Air Division, 509th Bomb Wing

Gold Medal Winner, US Air Force, Europe, Judo 1964
Larry Rhoden Former Army National Guard
Lou Sebert US Army 1955-1957
Charles M Turbiville 3 years in the military including one year in Viet Nam
Paul Valandra Sergeant US Marine Corps 1972-1975
Hal Wick SD Air National Guard 1975-1994

Iowa National Guard 1969-1974

Comments

Anonymous said…
I'm tired of this bullshit that keeps getting pushed. If being in the military makes a person more qualified for office (a bizarre idea), then does it also not make a person more qualified for anything?

If you're ready to lay your life on the line for the Country, you're just the kind of person we need to sell term life insurance!

Considering that anyone with four distal pulses can get into the military, I see that about as demanding as pouring piss out of a boot. It's not like you get to just QUIT the military once you're in.

I've met some extremely stupid military personnel that I hope were never given anything more deadly than a shovel. The ratio of stupid to not stupid is, in fact, slightly higher in the military.

There's plenty of qualified people in the general public, just as in the military. There's no special gift that doing as your told for four years gives you.
10:00 AM
Anonymous said…
Moreso than anything else, it's about serving your fellow countrymen.

Those in the military don't do it for glory or reward. They do it for the community of the United States.

Compare that to someone who goes into politics because "they want to be in politics." Where is the sense of the greater good? There isn't one. It's for their selfish needs.

Anonymous, I can see why you are writing anonymously. Because you should be ashamed.
2:19 PM
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