14,000 Babies; A True Patriot

The Brookings Register still retains the flavor of a small town newspaper.  Its Local page highlights area residents who have achieved notable birthdays. These birthday notices often run for a number of days. Last month, for example, Sadie Bortnem, mother of Jim, was featured on her 100th birthday.    Recent articles noted Bonney Bork, the mother of Carol, who will be celebrating her 90th birthday on January 22, 2016.  She "was an OB nurse at Brookings Hospital for over 40 years and was involved with over 14,000 births.  Send cards to 1312 Fourth St., Brookings, 57006."  Perhaps we could take a few moments to do just that for someone who was so caring and who helped so many mothers bring a new life into this world .  Knowing that so many are concerned can do wonders for one's outlook and attitude, no matter how old one is.

On a sad note, Walter Herrig, the father of Jim, passed away recently (http://rudesfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/RudesF1/obit.cgi?user=07230246_WHerrig).  A few years ago, the Brookings Register had a wonderful article about his tour of duty during WWII. As the obituary states, he was POW in the Philippines.   During this time, he and the other POW's were treated inhumanely and brutally by their Japanese captors.  A very small number of them were able to survive.  Mr. Herrig's weight fell to 98 pounds, according to Jim.  Jim also said that this was not the Bataan Death March (a short summary can be found at http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march; a longer article can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataan_Death_March).  Jim indicated that when his father and his fellow soldiers were assembled in the Philippines, they were split into two groups.  One group went to Bataan. Jim's father was in the other group.   Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to Jim and his family at the loss of their father, a patriot in every sense of the word.

.  At the funeral Mass, Jim gave a glowing tribute to his late father.  He noted that his father enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from high school in Kansas, and that he was a prisoner of war for 40 months, not only in the Philippines, but also in Japan. After returning to the States, he married Doris McDonald after a courtship of 12 days, resulting in a marriage that lasted 69 years.   His family lived throughout the United States, and even in Germany, before coming to Brookings in 1957.  Jim, for example, was born in Michigan.  Jim emphasized the importance of their family life, especially the adventuresome fishing trips they had.  Oakwood seemed to be popular spot, a they usually came home with enough fish for the numerous fish-frys at their residence.  While Jim's job took him to Tennessee, some of Jim's brothers remained in Brookings.  One of his nephews is employed at Daktronics, and has traveled extensively internationally overseeing some of their scoreboard operations first-hand.  Jim's youngest brother was a student of mine during my first year of employment in the Brookings school system.  A few years later, I was privileged to have some of Jim's nieces and nephews as students as well.  It was wonderful seeing Jim and his wife and daughter, as it has been a long time since I had last seen Jim.  High school graduation may have been the most recent.  Perhaps this summer we will have a chance to meet up again at our July 16th class reunion.