Veterans Day

The Brookings Register issue of Nov. 11, 2015,  has a supplement "honoring all who have served in times of was,in times of peace." A number of men who served in World War II are featured in such articles as "Rolling with Patton," "Pharmacist serves in both Europe, the Pacific," "Tales of a tin-can sailor," "Veterans and veterinarians," "Present for the first post-war big bangs,"   "Gunnery to dentistry," and "Getting his start in the Seabees."  For these men and women, whose lives were disrupted, World War II, to quote The Register,  "made them part of what Tom Brokaw called, in his book by the same, 'The Greatest Generation.' "   Many of these men are the fathers of our friends and classmates.  The articles described what the men were doing when they went into the service, where the were stationed, what they did during the was, and what they did after the war. 

Richard Wahlstrom is the soldier who rolled with Patton.  His son Rick was a year ahead of us in school.  (Rick was first baseman on our  Dodgers little league team in 1962 and 1963).  Mr. Wahlstrom fought in the Battle of the Bulge "on the 16th of December, which is a day to be remembered," he stated.  The "weather was terrible.  Feet got wet and cold and frozen, sleeping in foxholes."  He mentioned that they traveled at night, and noted the carnage that had taken place.  After returning home, he resumed his education at the University of Nebraska, where he also met his future wife.  She taught for four years in a rural school when he had been in the service.  He later went on to earn master and doctoral degrees at the University of Illinois.  They came to Brookings in 1952, retiring in 1988.  They have been marrried for 68 years, and both he and his wife are still active in their church and in the community.

The pharmacist is Harold S. Bailey, Jr.  He served both in the Pacific and in Europe,  He was a medic in Italy in early 1945.  As he was pharmacist, having earned his degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science, he was assigned to a ship that was headed to New Guinea, although the ship never arrived there.  Instead, they ended up in Okinawa.  He eventually set up a pharmacy and operated it there until the Army took it over.  Early in 1946, he was transferred to Sasebo, Japan, serving as chief pharmacist.  In August of that year, he returned to the States.  After marriage, he earned his doctorate from Purdue, eventually coming to Brookings in 1951.  From 1961 to 1985, he was chief academic officer, dean of academic affairs, vice president of academic affairs, and dean of the graduate school.

The tin-can sailor is George "Dale" Wagner, who graduated from BHS in 1941. He was in the Navy, and was at Pearl Harbor a couple of years after the initial attacks.  He later had duty on just about every island in the Pacific.  "Every island out there, we hit," he is quoted as saying.  He was discharged in 1946, having hauled troops back from Calcutta and Karachi after the war.  I believe Mr. Wagner is the father of George, who was a couple of years ahead of us.  He was on the state championship team of 1967.  Did he place fourth in 120 lb. weight class? 
Another Bailey also later associated with SDSU served in WWII.  James Bailey came to Brookings and "served for 17 years as Extension officer at SDSU, working with other veterinarians on their continuing education requirements and holding meetings with ranchers."  After retiring in 1985, he was named Extension veterinarian emeritus.  James entered the service in 1943 in the midst of his veterinary studies at Iowa State.  He did not see any action, as he was ironically sent back Iowa State because the tests he took at Riverside, CA qualified him for the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP).  He was able to study veterinary medicine while enjoying a little taste of the Army.  In 1944, the SSTP program was discontinued, so James continued on with his schooling.  What was fascinating about his experience with the Army is that his father was also a veterinarian, and served in France the last few months ofWorld War I.  At that time, veterinarians were necessary because mules and horses were a vital component of the war effort.  The ship on which the elder Bailey sailed to France carried not only soldiers, but also about 700 horses and mules. 

A local dentist also contributed to the war effort.  Dr. Phil Blackford  served in the Army Air Corps, having joined in 1943 right out of high school.  He received training in Las Vegas, but it appears that the cadets were given the option of leaving the program, as the war effort was winding down in Europe in 1945.  He chose to return to college and then continue on with dental school at the University of Minnesota.  He came to Brookings in February of 1952.  Of his fellow veterans, he said, "We were raised in the Depression years.  We weren't affected like our parents were.  But once you've been through something like that, it never leaves you.  If gives you a different slant on things.  Life can be messy.  It was a different mindset." 

Does anybody remember the Junior High Newspaper "The Wildcat"?  It probably came out at quarter time.  The last issue usually contained a last will and testament of the 9th graders in which they willed something to the 8th graders.  It is likely that the editors of the paper concocted up theses stories.  Any way, one that comes to mind is Chip Kabrud passing on his basketball shooting abilities to Tom Bozied.  There was also a column in one issue that was a little on the "punny" side.  In that column was this statement:  We have a Blackford, but no White Chevy, or something similar.  The reference was to Nancy Blackford, who was a 7th grader when we were 9th graders.

Another Brookings resident who contributed to the war effort was Lloyd Darnall.  His article can be found in the pictures below.  It's in rather small print, but if you click on the image, will it be enlarged enough to read it more easily?