Who are your favorite South Dakota veterans? The Dakota Scout wants to know
Help us tell their stories in our print and digital editions
Veteran’s Day is a holiday to honor those who have sacrificed and served in defense of what we at The Dakota Scout consider the finest nation ever. Most, if not all of us, have family and friends who served their country. And of course, many of you answered the call.
We want to acknowledge that service in next week’s print edition of The Dakota Scout. Who are your favorite veterans and why? We are looking for blurbs of about 100 words. Maybe it’s your father or grandfather, a brother or sister. Who are they? What did they do, what did they sacrifice?
Many selflessly did their duty and moved on with life. I’m reminded of my good friend Dick Gregerson, who was a Marine forward observer in the Korean War. He went on to join the FBI and work as a lawyer in Sioux Falls.
Then there are those who have received plenty of press in the past, like World War II fighter aces Joe Foss or Cecil Harris. Or World War I Congressman Royal Johnson. Or maybe it’s Vietnam Medal of Honor winner Michael Fitzmaurice.
Our deadline for submissions is noon on Nov. 6.
If it’s a loved one, consider including a picture. We would love to publish that!
Email submissions to Jonathan@TheDakotaScout.com.
First off, military medals and citations are earned...not won.
Second, whil I have not been a South Dakota resident for a long time, I am aware of GEN Joe Foss and Michael Fitzmaurice's actions during WWII and the Viet Nam War.
I'd like to honor LCDR John Waldron among those being recognized. He commanded a flight of15 torpedo bombers in the Battle of Midway which stopped the Japanese Navy from expanding its goals in June 1942.
For readers who don't know, our Navy won that decisive battle by sinking four aircraft carriers and with no place to land,all of those carriers' aircraft and pilots.
LCDR Waldron's squadron was shot down as he and his crews flew directly toward their targets only 60 feet above the surface. Twenty-nine of the 30 pilots and gunners on this attack were killed, including LCDR Waldron.
Admiral Yamamoto allegedly praised those aviators as being Samurai warriors. I noticed the bridge over the Missouri in Pierre was named after him.
Kip Crawford. I work at va and he is 90 and still volunteers at VA every Friday escorting patients to appointment.