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Iowans part of military reserve exchange program with Germany

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A German Luftwaffe officer was in Iowa this week as part of a military reserve exchange program.

Lieutenant Julia Renke, a personnel officer from Germany’s Air Force, visited Sioux City’s 185th Air Refueling Wing. “It’s a great opportunity to get to know American units, as kind of an ambassador between both countries,” Renke said. “It gives you an inside look, which you wouldn’t get in different ways. So, this exchange program between Germany and America is just a special experience.”

Renke took flights on aircraft housed at both the 185th in Sioux City and at the 132nd Wing in Des Moines. “I got to ride on a Black Hawk (helicopter) and I got to go on the KC-135 on a mission,” Renke said. “We saw some F-16s getting refueled, which was amazing for me to get to experience.”

As part of the Defense Military Reserve Exchange Program, 1st Lieutenant Joshua Thomas — Sustainment Services Flight Commander with the 185th — will visit German bases in September. It’ll be his first trip overseas. “I’m very excited to go to Germany for two weeks…and learn their military programs and how both the reserves and active duty units work over there,” Thomas said.

Another officer from Germany and the 132nd Guard unit in Des Moines are also been taking part in the exchange program.

Reporting by Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City

PHOTO: U.S. Air National Guard 1st Lt. Joshua Thomas, the Sustainment Services Flight Commander assigned to the 185th Air Refueling Wing, poses for a photo with German Luftwaffe (air force) Lt.  Julia Renke, a personnel officer, at Sioux City Iowa, June 3, 2018. Renke and Thomas are a part of an officer transfer program designed to enhance service member’s abilities to work and communicate with individuals from various NATO nations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Ter Haar)

 

Sioux City war hero Bud Day posthumously promoted to general

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Bud Day

A Sioux City war hero who was among the most decorated military men in American history has been posthumously promoted by the United States Air Force.

Medal of Honor recipient George “Bud” Day was advanced from colonel to the rank of brigadier general during an event at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia on June 8th. Day was an Air Force fighter pilot who was shot down in the Vietnam War and served in World War Two, Korea and Vietnam.

Captain Jeremy McClure of Sioux City’s 185th Air National Guard says Day has long been an important figure to those who serve in his hometown.”I know he’s an inspiration to a lot of us — especially as we learn about Air Force history and how much of a role he plays,” McClure says.

McClure is currently attending training at Maxwell Air Force Base and says there is evidence there of how well respected Day was outside of his home state. “When you go to bases like Maxwell Air Force in Alabama and see how large of a figure that now General Day is to the entire Air Force and all the

Bud Day campaigning with John McCain in 2008.

monuments and plaques to him down here, it helps you realized that he is more than just a big deal to Sioux City. He’s a legend in the Air Force as well,” McClure says.

Day died in 2013 at the age of 88. He enlisted in the Marines during World War Two. While flying a mission over North Vietnam in 1967, Day was shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese. Day suffered a dislocated knee and broke his arm in three places, but managed to escape captivity and evade the enemy for two weeks, the only prisoner to actually escape from North Vietnam. Day was just two miles from a U.S. Marine Corps base when he was shot and recaptured by a Viet Cong patrol.

He endured a brutal, 67-month imprisonment that finally ended in repatriation in March of 1973 when he was reunited with his wife and four children at March Air Force Base in California.

McClure says most people know about Day’s actions while a prisoner of war, but probably don’t know he also lead one of the most dangerous missions of the Vietnam war when he took control of the forward air controllers flying in the F-100’s. He says there are “so many reasons why General Day is a legend.” The landing area at Sioux Gateway Airport is named “Bud Day Field” in his honor.

The posthumous advancement of Day to general was introduced by Senator John McCain, a fellow POW with Day in North Vietnam at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” Day’s widow Doris attended a concert at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, last Friday where her husband’s promotion was formally noted.

(By Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City)

 

 

Afghan man, living in Iowa, still waiting for visa

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Zalmay Niazy and Senator Chuck Grassley in 2017

A man who fled Afghanistan four years ago to settle in Iowa Falls is still waiting on word to learn if he can stay in the United States.

Zalmay Niazy came to America in 2014 after threats on his life as he’d been working as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan. The 29-year-old says it’s been a very long wait for a visa.

“I applied for political asylum and I had my interview in Nebraska last year,” Niazy says. “The results are supposed to be declared in two weeks and it’s more than a year now and I haven’t heard anything from the asylum officer.”

Niazy met with Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley in February of 2017 during a town hall meeting in Iowa Falls and told the senator about his situation. Grassley promised to review Niazy’s application but there’s still been no word.

“I am confident but I don’t know about the legal process and what today’s government and rules and regulations,” Niazy says. “I hope I hear good news.”

While in Afghanistan, Niazy says he’d been shot twice and survived a roadside bombing. His family is still in Afghanistan and he’d like his parents to move to America.

“I have a regular conversation with my family based on Skype and Facebook,” he says. “I talk to my parents. I really miss them and they really miss me. My mom and dad, one of their big hopes is to see me again.”

Niazy says he’s very grateful to his adopted community for being so hospitable.

“I’m very lucky that I live in Iowa, especially Iowa Falls,” he says. “I’ve been living there for four years now and I’ve been treated very, very good and I am proud to be an Iowan now.”

Niazy operates a handyman service in Iowa Falls. He spoke recently in Webster City about his life and the Muslim faith.

Thanks to Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City

 

 

 

Iowans mark Memorial Day with words and actions

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Flags line the road of a cemetery in northeast Iowa.

Iowans have been gathering in cemetaries, along parade routes and around the courthouse square for Memorial Day ceremonies throughout the state.

A wreath was cast into the Iowa River in Marshalltown, in memory of American sailors who died at sea. Ceremonies were held at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter and at the Keokuk National Cemetery where Civil War dead are buried. The governor ordered that flags at state-owned facilities be flown at half-staff today.

During a Memorial Day commemoration in Le Mars, veteran Jim Rolfes read a poem he wrote. It’s titled “Come Visit My Grave” and written from the perspective of a soldier speaking to those still alive.

“It’s sad that for many who fought so brave, now no one comes to visit their grave,” Rolfes first wrote and recited more than a decade ago. “We died so that you could have one whole year free. Now can’t you save just this one day for me?”

Rolfe and other volunteers put up 1400 flags in Le Mars for this Memorial Day.

(Reporting by Ken Huge, KFJB, Marshalltown, and Dennis Morrice, KLEM, Le Mars)

Goldstar Museum has special events for Memorial Day

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Memorial Day is one of two holidays which the Iowa Goldstar Museum at Camp Dodge is open.

Museum director Sherie Colbert says they have special events planned that include a military style breakfast in the morning. Colbert says the military tribute band will be playing, the first 1,000 visitors will get free ice cream, there’s crafts for kids and the first 300 people will get a free petunia for the “Plant a Flower for a Veteran” program.

The museum has been upgrading and adding new exhibits during the past several years. “The newest one is the Pacific Theater from World War Two… and we have our World War One exhibit, which is an awesome exhibit that’s up for national recognition,” according to Colbert. “And then we are in the process of working the European Theater.” There are exhibits on the Vietnam and Korean wars.

“We also have a temporary exhibit from the American Legion, which is honoring the G-I Bill and the significance of the G-I Bill and how it has really helped to build the middle class here in America,” Colbert says. She says the exhibits have a lot of equipment and other things of interest.

Colbert says there is motion, lights, buttons to push as she says they are trying upgrade the exhibits while keeping them period specific. Colbert encourages you to come out and learn more about Iowa’s military heritage.

“It’s a great opportunity for people to look around and see what we have to offer, and hopefully will come back for a lot of things that will be offered at Camp Dodge over the summer,” Colbert says. She says they have things like the Adjutant General’s summer concerts that people can come out and enjoy. The Iowa Goldstar Museum is open from five a.m. until 1 p.m. today (Memorial Day). The museum admission is free year round.

 

Historical Society exhibit honors all who gave the ultimate sacrifice in World War I

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Captain Edward Fleur.

The State Historical Society of Iowa is rolling out a new exhibit this Memorial Day weekend.

Spokesperson Jeff Morgan says it’s called the World War I Honor Roll. “It’s a compilation of more than 4,000 Iowans who lost their lives a century ago during World War I,” Morgan says. The exhibit features the names and corresponding photos collected from Iowa families who lost loved ones during the war.

Some of the featured artifacts will be delivered in a private ceremony on Saturday by the descendants of Captain Edward Fleur of Des Moines, who was killed during a German gas attack on May 27, 1918. Morgan says the items will include a uniform, quilt, personal journal, and photos and negatives. One of Des Moines’ busiest streets, Fleur Drive, is named after Captain Edward Fleur.

The World War I Honor Roll opens to the public at 9 a.m. Saturday at the State Historical Museum of Iowa (600 E. Locust St.) in Des Moines. Admission is free. The exhibit will eventually make its way around the state.

“It’s going to be here at the museum for the next three to five months and then we’ll start touring it across the state,” Morgan said. “As we get closer, we’ll know more about how people can make that reservation to bring it to their community.”

 

 

National Guard helps in search for missing La Porte City teenager

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An Iowa National Guard Chinook helicopter helps in the search for Jake Wilson.

The Iowa National Guard helped Wednesday in the search for Jake Wilson, the autistic 16-year-old from La Porte City who’s been missing now since April 7th.

La Porte City Police Chief Chris Brecher says the guard provided the services of a military helicopter during a training mission. According to Brecher, the Chinook hovered over Wolf Creek to create down pressure in hopes the disturbance would free up an object trapped under the water. During the operation, two teams in kayaks made their way down the creek to check on any immediate results.

Authorities didn’t give any advance notice of the Iowa National Guard exercise, due to safety concerns. Details of the operation were made public in a press release Wednesday evening. Officials also had a large excavator in the water Wednesday, removing large debris from Wolf Creek as part of the search.

(By Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Waterloo)

 

Honor Flight carries 145 Iowa heroes on thank you trip to DC today

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More Iowa veterans will be flying on a chartered jet to Washington, D.C. this morning as part of the state’s latest Honor Flight.

Ron Newsum is an organizer with the Fort Dodge-based Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight chapter.

“When we first started, we were hoping to get enough veterans and enough money for one flight and our first flight was May 1st of 2010,” Newsum says. “Fifteen flights later, this will be number 16.”

The group will fly out of Fort Dodge Regional Airport shortly for a day-long trip to see the various monuments and memorials in the nation’s capitol.

“We’ve got about 145 veterans,” he says. “It’s a mixture. We’ve got eight or nine World War Two veterans, about 25 or so Korean War veterans and the balance are all Vietnam War veterans.”

Thanks to the generosity of the public, Newsum says the Honor Flights are a high honor for those who have served our country.

“The core of our donations are the $5 and $10 and $100 donations,” he says. “We have church suppers and freewill offerings. We do not send any money to any state or national organization so every dollar contributed to Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight goes directly towards a veteran for his flight.”

The chartered flight will depart Fort Dodge at 6:40 AM, direct to Dulles International Airport for the bus trip into Washington.

The group will arrive back in Fort Dodge around 10:35 PM for a special welcome home ceremony from family members, friends and the community.

There are expected to be 20 Iowa counties represented on this latest Honor Flight.

Thanks to Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City

 

 

 

Senator Ernst, in tweet, says McCain and his family due ‘respect’

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Senator Joni Ernst has indirectly responded to a White House staffer’s dismissive comment about Arizona Senator John McCain, who is battling brain cancer.

A White House communications assistant reportedly said McCain’s opposition to President Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA was “irrelevant” because “he’s dying anyway.”

In a tweet sent this morning, Senator Joni Ernst said the “nation should be grateful” for McCain’s “exemplary service and sacrifice.” Ernst said McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for five and a half years, is a war hero. Ernst, in her tweet, said McCain and his family should be treated “with the civility and respect they deserve.”

Rathbun Lake event allows veterans and their caretakers some vacation time

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Veterans boarding a boat at Lake Rathbun.

Veterans from Iowa and around the Midwest who suffer from major traumatic injuries after combat are spending this week at the Honey Creek Resort at Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources spokesman, Alex Murphy, says this is the second year Iowa has hosted the “Veterans Casting Away Disabilities” event. “This gives them an opportunity to come down and fish for the entire week here at Honey Creek Resort,” Murphy explains. “They get to stay at the resort and each night there is a campfire and a dinner and some presentations. It is just a chance for them to live a normal life.”

The program was created by the Veterans Affairs Department and the DNR partners with them to help the veterans participate. He says a lot of the veterans come with a caretaker and then there are dozens of volunteers, along with the DNR staff who help with the program. “We come down and we help clean the fish, or we are boat buddies and help them on and off the boats,” Murphy says. Murphy says the event lets the veterans enjoy something they might not always get to experience. He says it has another purpose as well.

“We also say it is for the caretakers, because at the same time they are also going through major life changes of having to constantly be there to help of

Fishing during the Veterans Casting Away Disabilities event.

these veterans,” according to Murphy. “We also have a full day on Thursday where the caretakers get to go on a trip through southern Iowa.” He says it gives the caretakers the same type of vacation that they people they help throughout the year are getting. The event was held in Ely, Minnesota until moving to Iowa two years ago. Murphy says it has become the highlight of the year for many of the participants .

“You hear that from a lot of these veterans, they look forward to this week-long vacation every single year,” Murphy says. “And some have been coming for 14-plus years, to these this. They really look forward to it, they build a lot of camaraderie with their fellow veterans and they get to tell their story in trusting and comforting atmosphere.” Murphy says anyone who would like to help veterans participate can do so by donating.

He says Veterans Casting Away Disabilities is a nonprofit organization and they are always looking for donations to help pay the cost. “This year we have 65 veterans here and that is the most we’ve had in all the years,” according to Murphy.

To learn how you can help, go to the program’s Facebook page. You can also call Kirt Sickles at 319-358-5963.

(Photos courtesy of the Iowa DNR)