Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Archives for Military

Senator Grassley supports Space Force if it is needed for national defense

By

Senator Chuck Grassley. (file photo)

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’ll back a Trump administration plan to create a Space Force as a new branch of the U.S. military.

Last week, Vice President Mike Pence outlined a proposed effort which would be established by 2020 to face “emerging threats on this new battlefield.” Grassley says the way Pence describes it, America is losing ground in the field where we were once the world leader.

“The United States is behind other countries as far as our concern about outer space, both from a military and an educational and a scientific point of view,” Grassley says. “We need to do more to protect our interests in space.” The Space Force would become the sixth branch of the U.S. military, following the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

The administration plan would have the Space Force established as soon as 2020. “I’m a strong believer in a strong national defense and if there’s a need to set up a separate branch of the military, I guess I’m willing to do it,” Grassley says, “just because of my interest in the number-one responsibility of the federal government: to defend our citizens.”

One concern Grassley raises is that there would be no duplication of duties between the new entity and existing divisions within the current military system. Grassley says he has concerns about our future security. “I can tell you, China is looking at all of this stuff in space and using it for defense, besides the scientific advantages you can have or the communications advantages you can have,” Grassley says. “Particularly, if they move ahead, we can’t cede space to any of our adversaries.”

The last time a new branch of the military was created was the Air Force in 1947, shortly after the end of World War Two.

 

Historic World War II ship to travel up Mississippi for stops in Dubuque and Bettendorf

By

LST 325

A historic U.S. Navy ship that provided a crucial service in the pivotal D-Day invasion of Normandy, France during World War Two will sail up the Mississippi River this month, docking for tours in two Iowa cities.

Known as LST 325, the landing ship tank changed the course of the war, according to volunteer Chris Donahue, who serves on the ship’s board of directors. “It can go to any unimproved beach in the world without the use of port facilities,” Donahue says, “unload 20 battle-ready Sherman tanks, about 30 trucks and 200 troops.”

The LST was commissioned in 1943 and served in multiple battles in North Africa and Italy before heading to Normandy for the D-Day invasion — part of the largest armada in history — on June 6th of 1944. Because of its versatility, Donahue says the U.S. never lost an invasion once this type of ship was put into use, allowing the military to land tanks and troops right on the beach.

“The LST won the war,” Donahue says. “Between ’43 and ’44, it was the most sought-after ship because they had all these invasions to do. We talk a lot about Europe on our ship because it was at every major European invasion. The 60-some-odd landings in the Pacific after D-Day and the LST was at the forefront of all those.”

The LST 325’s home port is on the Ohio River at Evansville, Indiana, which produced more LST’s than any other shipyard in the country. More than 1,000 LSTs were built during the war, but this is the only one remaining that’s preserved and able to sail under its own power.

“I won’t say it’s full of holes but it’s got holes in it from German aircraft,” Donahue says. “It’s got some dents and bends in the sides. Other than painting it up, we wanted to keep it as it was.” The ship is almost as long as a football field and measures 50 feet across. It craft is being brought to the shores of Iowa so aging veterans who were carried into battle aboard one of them some 74 years ago can get another look.

Donahue says the tours are very popular. “Really, people of all ages, and we do see a lot of the old timers, this means a whole lot to them, some of the guys who were on these,” Donahue says. The rare ship will dock at the Port of Dubuque from August 23rd through the 27th, and then will visit the Isle Casino Hotel in Bettendorf from August 30th through September 3rd. Tours are available daily for a fee, while World War Two veterans can come aboard for free.

Webster City soldier surprises family at Hamilton County Fair parade

By

Gunther and Amanda Range.

Members of a central Iowa family were very pleasantly surprised last night to see one of their own appear during the Hamilton County Fair parade.

U.S. Army Specialist Gunther Range has spent the past 16 months serving as a combat medic in South Korea. Range managed to keep his trip home on leave to Webster City a surprise.

“It’s not always fun when they know you’re coming home, it’s just not as exciting for everybody,” Range says. “I figured out who I wanted to let know I was coming home and figuring out when I wanted to do it. I missed the fair last year because I was overseas and I wanted to make it this year. I got with Grandma and figured out when the dates were and put in for my leave about two months ago.” The soldier’s mother, Amanda Range of Webster City, says the fair parade was a wonderful and very appropriate homecoming setting for her son.

“The fair’s been a big deal for us. I sat 23 years ago, pregnant with him, he’ll be 22 on Friday,” Range says. “His dad and I met at the fair in ’95. We were hoping to see him but he kept playing the card that, ‘I can’t leave yet.'” Amanda Range says it was stunning for her son to emerge during the parade.

“A little shocked at first,” she says. “The weird part was, his sister looked at me and said, ‘I’m going to scream if my brother jumps out of a fire truck,’ and their dad was sitting in the front seat and they all looked at him funny and the next thing you know, the door opened and we bombarded him.” Gunther Range plans to enjoy the Hamilton County Fair with his family through Sunday before he has to head back to duty.

(By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)

 

Senator Grassley says new Veterans Administration secretary supports whistleblowers

By

After years of trying to fix critical problems in many of the nation’s Veterans Affairs hospitals, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says confirming Robert Wilkie on Monday as the new VA Secretary is a big plus.

Grassley, a Republican, says Wilkie has proven himself as being a supporter of whistleblowers and he doesn’t retaliate against those who speak out when there’s trouble. “Respect for whistleblowers, because we wouldn’t have known anything about everything that was happening that was so tragic down in Arizona four or five years ago if whistleblowers hadn’t of come forward.”

A report issued earlier this month found almost 700,000 veterans were waiting more than 30 days for appointments at VA facilities, while 76,000 veterans had waited more than six months. Only the Pentagon is larger than the VA, so in a bureaucracy of that size, Grassley says it can be a difficult process to identify and remove people who are part of the problem.

“When things are wrong, if heads don’t roll, nothing changes,” Grassley says. “It’s going to be easier under existing law for the VA to fire people, so when something’s wrong, you send a real strong signal if you fire people.” In a news release, Grassley says, “Wilkie has dedicated his life to defending and serving his nation as a member of the armed forces and a distinguished public servant.”

The Choice program that was set up in the VA in 2014 isn’t working the way it should, according to Grassley, and he trusts Wilkie to make the needed corrections. “Getting that straightened out so people can have access to private medical care when the VA can’t deliver it within 30 days for a non-emergency situation ought to be a top priority,” he says.

Wilkie becomes the fourth VA secretary in five years. The inspector general’s report found more than 23-hundred job openings in VA clinics nationwide. In recent years, some officials in VA hospitals were accused of falsifying wait times and at least 40 veterans died while waiting for care. A VA report released in June found the suicide rate among veterans in 2011 was 16 per day, while now, up to 20 veterans take their own lives each day.

 

Sioux City items will travel with namesake ship

By

Admiral James & Mrs. Mary Winnefeld, Commander Randy Malone & Eldon Roth.

A group of dignitaries from Sioux City were on hand for a mast stuffing ceremony aboard the USS Sioux City in Marinette, Wisconsin this past weekend.

Sponsor, Mary Winnefeld says items symbolizing the city and the navy were placed into the ship’s mast. Winnefeld says she put a gold dove into the mast along with other mementos. “So I’m hoping that the Sioux City no matter where she goes — while she is a warship — she will also bring peace throughout the world,” Winnefeld says.

Winnefeld says those mementos are now a permanent and special part of the USS Sioux City She says there are a lot of neat items that will be with the ship throughout its history — including a coin from Bud Day. Day is the Sioux City war hero who was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Winnefeld and her husband, retired Admiral James Winnefeld toured the ship with the Sioux City delegation. She says excitement is building following the ceremony Friday as the ship nears completion and prepares to sail to Annapolis, Maryland for it’s commissioning.

“It was absolutely fabulous day being there and seeing the ship out. She’s been out on a couple of trial runs,” Winnefeld says. The navy has not yet taken ownership of the ship from Lockheed Martin and the shipyard yet, so an official commissioning date is still pending.

(By Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City/ photo by Chris McGowan)

Iowan who died in Pearl Harbor to be buried in Osage tomorrow

By

An Iowan who died 76-and-a-half years ago is being honored tomorrow.

Leon Arickx of Mitchell County, Iowa, was a Seaman First Class in the Navy. He’d been assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft and hit by several torpedoes. It quickly capsized according to Navy records. Arickx and 428 other crewmen on board died. Arickx was 22 years old.

Arickx and other unidentified sailors were buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. In 2015, the Department of Defense ordered the remains of soldiers who’d served on the USS Oklahoma be disinterred. Arickx’s remains were identified early this year and returned to his family in Iowa for burial.

A graveside service for Arickx will be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Osage tomorrow at 11 a.m. The governor has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff tomorrow to honor Arickx. His name is still engraved on the “Walls of the Missing” at the National Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu, but a rosette has been placed next to his name, indicating his remains have been returned to his relatives.

The governor has ordered flags on state buildings to be flown a half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday to honor him.

 

Iowa soldier’s remains buried in Morning Sun 74 years after death in Germany

By

John Walker

A World War II soldier from Eastern Iowa, declared missing in action nearly 74 years ago, was buried in his hometown Wednesday with full military honors.

Army Private First Class John Walker was believed to have died during a battle in Germany in 1944. But his body wasn’t identified until 2017, when DNA analysis confirmed the match. Walker’s remains were returned to his family and laid to rest at Elmwood Cemetery in Morning Sun. Walker’s brother, Robert, is thankful for the technology that made this possible and hopes it brings more service members home.

“You never expect to have happen after this long,” Walker said. “What I feel sorry for is…there are hundreds more out there who haven’t come home yet. I wish they could find them too.” The remains of a Korean War soldier were also buried in Iowa on Tuesday, after he was returned to his family in Cedar Rapids.

(Thanks to Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

 

Iowans part of military reserve exchange program with Germany

By

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

By

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

By

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