Features

(Editor’s note: This series of articles honors our Veterans of Foreign Wars as they share their military service experiences with the community. This 46th article is about John Moon.)   John Moon’s military career started in 1966 at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, where two years of ROTC was required. It involved class twice a week, learning military terminology, how to shoot a rifle, practicing marching on the parade field Saturday mornings, etc. If he chose the additional two years, he would be commissioned as second lieutenant and then go on to active duty. Vietnam was the hot spot and if he had to go, he would rather go as an officer. Also, if he agreed ...

While living his life, Geof adheres to several mottos. The most important is, “Take care of my family.” He came to the United States with his wife as a teacher. After several jobs in education and other occupations, he decided he really wanted to work in the medical field.  He wanted a good ...

In 1967, Allen Corneliusen left home to go to Butte, Montana, which is where he ended up enlisting in the Army for three years. He called home and told his parents what he had done.   As he recalls, he went by train to Fort Lewis, Washington, where he attended about six weeks of basic training. He&rs...

What could a young man do between his junior and senior years in high school? In Russ’s case, he talked his parents into signing permission for him to join the National Guard. They were not horribly thrilled, but joining the military was all he ever wanted to do, so they agreed. Russ told the recruiter...

After graduating from high school in Oklahoma, Charles “Chuck” Whitson went to college on a basketball scholarship. But at that time, lots of guys were being drafted. Joining the military seemed like the thing to do. So on Jan. 15, 1953, he enlisted in the Army for three years. Chuck got his f...

Joseph comes from a military family with members serving in WWI and WWII.  It was expected that he would join, and he did. In 1963, Joseph enlisted in the Army and went to Fort Ord, California, for basic training. He was there as a private for about three hours and decided it wasn’t for him. So, h...

RONAN – Creating a positive future for hundreds of children is such an important goal for the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County that they’ve named their annual celebration the Great Futures Breakfast. This is the fifth year for the event. About 200 adults and a fe...

PABLO – Whether time constraints, fear or cost have prohibited you from pursuing healthcare, it’s time to schedule a day off from work to attend the annual Women 4 Wellness health fair. The event organizers have found ways to eliminate almost all barriers to women pursuing healthcare. This yea...

In August 1966, HJ Pieper was told by the post mistress in Polson, who was on the draft board, that his name was on the draft list. Because it looked like he would be drafted into the infantry — and he didn’t want to be — instead he enlisted and let the Army make a mechanic out of him. P...

Charleen enlisted in the Army on February 12, 1980, in the “delayed entry program” and chose military intelligence as her field.  She actually reported on March 23, 1980, and received credit for that pre-duty time period as a benefit. During her 10 weeks of basic training at Fort Leonard ...