[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 98 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4287-S4290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING VIETNAM VETERANS AND NORTH DAKOTA'S SOLDIERS WHO LOST THEIR 
                            LIVES IN VIETNAM

  Ms. HEITKAMP. Mr. President, I rise today to again speak about the 
North Dakotans who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our 
country in the Vietnam war.
  Since March, I have had the honor of learning from families about the 
lives

[[Page S4288]]

of their sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, and uncles who died during 
the Vietnam war.
  Before speaking about the 13 of the 198 North Dakota young men who 
didn't return home from Vietnam, I want to first talk about Dan 
Stenvold of Park River. Dan is a Vietnam veteran who survived the war.
  While a student at Sargent Central High School, Dan thought about 
joining the military. After graduation, he felt he should grow up 
before going to college, and he enlisted in the Army. He was sent to 
Vietnam and served three continuous tours of duty there. His records 
count that he was in Vietnam for 802 days. After returning home from 
Vietnam, Dan enrolled in college at North Dakota State School of 
Science in Wahpeton so he could fulfill his dream of playing college 
football. The combination of Dan's time in Vietnam and a football knee 
injury made Dan feel old, and he left college. He then had a 33-year 
career with Polar Communications in Park River.
  In 1999, the North Dakota Vietnam Veterans of America voted him as 
their State president, and he has served in that position for the last 
16 years. For the last 6 years, he has served on the National Board of 
Vietnam Veterans of America. The national president asked him to run 
for another 2-year term, and I wish Dan well in that upcoming election.
  Dan also serves his community as a member of the DAV, AMVETS, VFW, 
and the American Legion, and he is currently in his third term as mayor 
of the city of Park River in North Dakota.
  Dan is proud of his three wonderful children and seven grandchildren.
  Agent Orange exposure education is one of his top priorities. He has 
seen his own family affected by the side effects of Agent Orange. Dan 
is grateful to the North Dakota State Legislature for once again 
approving funding for education and outreach related to Agent Orange 
exposure.
  I thank Dan for his continuing service to our country.
  And please, Dan, keep up your good work on behalf of the citizens of 
your community and Vietnam veterans all across this country.


                         Richard ``Rich'' Boehm

  Richard ``Rich'' Boehm was born on June 23, 1951. He was from Mandan. 
He served in the Army's 198th Infantry Brigade. Rich died on March 26, 
1971. He was 19 years old.
  Rich was one of six children. All three boys served our country in 
the military--Marvin and Clarence in the Army National Guard and Rich 
in the Army.
  Rich served in Vietnam with Myron Johnson from Mandaree, and they 
became very close friends. Rich was engaged, and Myron was going to be 
his best man.
  Keith Nolan's book ``Sappers in the Wire: The Life and Death of 
Firebase Mary Ann'' includes details of the day Rich and Myron died. 
Rich and Myron were in a foxhole together, ran for safety, and were 
both shot in the back and killed.
  Dennis Bollinger was assigned to escort Rich's body home, and his 
family knew Rich's family. Dennis continues to serve our State and my 
community of Mandan as the current city of Mandan chief of police. 
Rich's brother Marvin says he is grateful to Rich's squad leader who 
contacted him from Texas and shared memories and photos of Rich during 
his time in Vietnam.


                             Larry Jacobson

  Larry Jacobson was from Norma. He was born on March 15, 1949. He 
served in the Army's 1st Aviation Brigade. Larry was 21 years old when 
he died August 26, 1970.
  He was the second of six children and grew up on his family's farm 
near Norma. He attended grade school in Norma and high school in 
Kenmare. His best friend in high school, Craig Livingston, remembers 
Larry as a shy person who never had an enemy.
  Larry's older brother remembers the week Larry was killed in Vietnam. 
The family had been in Fargo celebrating his sister's graduation from 
nursing school. They had planned to host a party at home, too, but when 
they arrived home, there were a sergeant and captain waiting for them 
to deliver the news of Larry's death.
  This year on Memorial Day weekend, a large memorial was dedicated at 
the Mouse River Park honoring Renville County veterans. The memorial 
includes Larry's photo, images of the soldier's cross, and a helicopter 
like the one Larry was riding in when it was shot down and he was 
killed.


                               Carl Woods

  Carl Woods was from Bottineau. He was born June 8, 1933. He served as 
a Navy pilot. Carl was 32 years old when he died on September 28, 1965.
  His father Monte also served our country during World War I, and six 
of the eight boys in Carl's family served in the military.
  Carl was an honor student in high school and college in Bottineau, 
where he made the All-Conference Football team. He then chose to enlist 
in the Navy. He served our country as a Navy pilot for over 12 years, 
reaching the rank of lieutenant commander.
  While serving in the Vietnam war, Carl's plane was hit by an anti-
aircraft missile. Instead of bailing out over North Vietnam, Carl 
maneuvered the plane 40 miles to the Tonkin Gulf, where he died after 
his parachute failed to open.
  The family is grateful to Carl's wingman for sharing with them the 
details of Carl's service and extraordinary flight skills the day he 
died.
  In addition to his brother, Carl left behind his wife Elaine and 
three children, Mark, Jennifer, and Kathryn.
  Carl is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
  This summer, the Bottineau AMVETS Post 25 is going to rename 
themselves the Carl J. Woods Memorial Post 25 in honor of Carl's 
service and his sacrifice.


                             Joel Ellington

  Joel Ellington was from Rolette. He was born January 21, 1945. He 
served in the Navy. Joel was 22 years old when he died on June 26, 
1967.
  Joel was the oldest of three boys. They were 3 years apart in age. At 
Rolette High School, Joel played in the band. Right after high school, 
Joel enlisted in the Navy. After serving 2 years, he returned home and 
worked in the local grocery store.
  Due to the Vietnam war draft, Joel reenlisted in hopes that his 
brothers, Dennis and Doyle, would not have to serve in Vietnam. Dennis 
said of Joel's reenlistment, ``I think he did that to try to protect 
me; he didn't think they'd take two brothers.''


                             David Haegele

  David Haegele was from Napoleon. He was born on September 28, 1948. 
He served in the Army's 25th Infantry Division. David died February 28, 
1969. He was 20 years old.
  He was the fifth of eight children and grew up on his family's dairy 
farm. His brother Tim also served our country in the Marines.
  David's family said that he was such a kind person and a hard worker. 
They remember his jokes and how much he enjoyed playing fun pranks on 
people.
  David's letters home to his family requested three things he and his 
fellow soldiers desired most: Kool-Aid, baked goods, and dry socks.
  His mother gave David's niece Veronica a box she filled with David's 
things, such as the letters he mailed home from Vietnam and his wallet. 
She said that Veronica would know what to do with them. About 3 months 
before David's mother passed away at age 95, Veronica finished David's 
scrapbook, and his mother thought it was perfect.


                              Garry Klein

  Garry Klein was born November 22, 1947. He served in the Marine 
Corps' Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. 
Garry was 19 years old when he died on May 27, 1967.
  He was third from the youngest of nine children. His sister Arlene 
said that Garry was an easygoing kid who was lighthearted and never 
caused any trouble. She remembers the cartoons he liked to draw.
  Garry chose to enlist in the Marines to serve his country. When he 
went home during Christmastime on leave, he told Arlene and her 
children, ``I won't see you again, but you may see me.''
  He died almost exactly 1 year after he graduated from high school.


                            Randy Lee Hansen

  Randy Lee Hansen was born October 23, 1948. He was from South Dakota, 
but he was living in Williston when he enlisted. He served in the 
Army's 1st Signal Brigade as a field radio repairer. Randy died on 
Easter Sunday, April 6, 1969. He was only 20 years old.

[[Page S4289]]

  Randy's brothers, Jim and Mike, served our country in the Navy. His 
stepbrother, Arthur, also served in the Army.
  Randy's brother, Jim, remembers that Randy liked to fish. Jim 
believed Randy had some great stories from his time fishing, as many 
fishermen do.
  While his brothers, step-brothers, step-sister, and mother remained 
in South Dakota, Randy attended Williston High School, where his father 
was working in Williston as a bricklayer.
  In 1966, Randy enlisted in the Army before he graduated from high 
school. The product of a service-oriented family, Randy felt it was 
important that he serve his country.


                              Fred Johnson

  Fred Johnson was born on November 3, 1939. He grew up in Watford City 
and Leeds. He served in the Army's 1st Cavalry Division. Fred was 27 
years old when he died on January 20, 1967.
  Fred's wife's name was Jacqueline, and they had one son and three 
daughters. Their oldest child, Richard, said that Fred loved to hunt 
and fish. Fred's dad was a game warden and Fred would go to work with 
his dad sometimes. They would bring home injured animals and nurse them 
back to health. Among the most memorable animals were a white owl, a 
baby skunk that behaved like a pet cat, and a raccoon that he kept for 
6 years.
  After high school, Fred joined the Army. He served for 7 years before 
he was killed in action in Vietnam on his second tour of duty.
  Fred's son, Richard, remembers going fishing with his dad often and 
fishing together the week before Fred left for Vietnam on his second 
tour of duty.
  Fred's brother, Robert, said he took Fred to the airport before he 
returned to Vietnam the last time. Fred was scared and didn't know if 
he would be back again.
  Fred died shortly thereafter when his vehicle hit a landmine.


                             Lyle Johannes

  Lyle Johannes was born June 25, 1949, and spent his high school years 
in Kulm. He served in the Army as a radio operator. Lyle died January 
29, 1970. He was 20 years old.
  Lyle was the oldest of four children. His youngest sister, Sally, 
said that Lyle was a happy person who didn't get rattled by anything. 
He loved a good joke and had lots of friends. Sally said, ``You'd never 
want to turn your back on him because you never knew what he might 
do!'' He was a daredevil who loved motorcycles, had a number of 
Hondas--and crashes--over the years. He spent a lot of time hanging 
over the engine of a car. He would buy old cars and fix them up. He 
also worked on the cars of elderly women who lived in town. After high 
school, he attended a technical college in Denver for mechanics.
  Lyle was glad to be in the Army serving in Vietnam. He kind of 
``adopted'' a young Vietnamese boy. The boy really liked blue jeans and 
a turtleneck sweater, so Lyle asked his mom to send them for him. She 
said she sent them as well as other things, but for packing material 
she put popcorn in Lyle's packages. When the packages arrived, the 
soldiers would eat the stale popcorn because they were so happy to have 
something from home.
  Lyle was accidentally killed by friendly fire. Since his death, the 
family occasionally finds items someone leaves on Lyle's grave.
  Lyle had shipped cashmere sweaters home for the family as Christmas 
presents in late 1969. The package arrived after his funeral in January 
of 1970.


                              Eric Nadeau

  Eric Nadeau was born November 12, 1948. He was from Grand Forks and 
was a member of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa. He served in the 
Army's 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles. Eric died May 26, 
1969, just days before his tour of duty was scheduled to end. He was 20 
years old.
  He was the eldest child of his family and had three sisters. Eric's 
sisters remember how much he loved hunting game in the Turtle Mountains 
before he enlisted in the Army, and they think that is part of the 
reason why he joined the Armed Forces.
  Everyone liked Eric. He had a circle of friends he grew up with, and 
if he was ever in town on break from the service, Eric and his best 
friend Dale were inseparable. Wherever Dale was, one could find Eric, 
and vice versa.
  His sister remembers a time when Eric came home and surprised their 
mother. She and her mother were playing bingo in the local church 
basement. When he walked into the room, everything stopped, and 
everyone stood up and sang the National Anthem. Eric's mother was 
shocked and thrilled.
  Eric died when his company was outnumbered and overrun. He jumped 
back in to save his crew members, and did save some, but was killed in 
the process. Eric's sister thinks of Eric not only as her brother but 
her hero.


                             Fred Jansonius

  Fred Jansonius was born June 23, 1948. He was from Jamestown. He 
served in the Army's 9th Infantry Division. Fred died February 2, 1968. 
He was only 19 years old.
  He was the oldest of four children. His sister, Claire, said that 
Fred was a gentle soul and that his younger siblings looked up to him. 
In high school, Fred was a good student and enjoyed photography, golf, 
and tennis. After graduation, he attended Drake University and studied 
journalism.
  One of his Drake professors told Fred's class, ``To be a good 
journalist, you really need to see the world.'' Fred's draft number was 
high, but he was deferred for being in college. So he quit college and 
traveled to New York City to see part of the world while waiting to be 
drafted.
  Claire shared some of Fred's letters he wrote home to his family, 
which revealed a talent for writing and the wisdom of someone who had 
definitely seen his share of the world in his 19 years. Many of his 
letters included vivid descriptions of Fred's experiences in Vietnam, 
so you could imagine Fred sleeping in a cemetery, using a bag of 
grenades for a pillow or his fellow soldiers drinking Coca-Colas and 
using their imaginations to create their own entertainment.
  After Fred was killed in Vietnam, his casket arrived in Jamestown on 
the train. The same conductor who drove the train the day Fred left to 
go to basic training was driving the train that delivered Fred's body 
back to Jamestown.
  About a year ago, one of Fred's officers, Lee Moorman, was traveling 
the United States visiting the graves of the soldiers he knew in 
Vietnam. Lee told Fred's family that Fred liked to read and was well 
liked by everyone.


                            Gregory Krueger

  Gregory Krueger was born March 1, 1949. He was from Garrison. He 
served in the Army's 173rd Airborne Division. Gregory died July 17, 
1970. He was 21 years old.
  He was the oldest of three boys. His brother, Stephen, said that 
Gregory was hard-working, responsible, and well-liked by everyone who 
knew him.
  Stephen remembers that Gregory loved everything to do with the farm. 
He had fond memories of working with Gregory, hauling many bales of hay 
on Saturdays. Their brother, Fred, continues to farm that family farm 
today.
  Gregory had a special relationship with a nearby farmer who trusted 
him at a young age to run his farm equipment and to help on the farm. 
Gregory hoped to eventually take over the neighbor's farm after 
completing his service in Vietnam.
  The Heritage Park in Garrison is currently in the process of adding a 
stone memorial in memory of Gregory's service and his family's 
sacrifice.


                            Richard Hovland

  Richard Hovland was from Williston, and he was born August 12, 1946. 
He served in the Army's 20th Engineer Brigade. Richard was 21 years old 
when he died on January 31, 1968.
  He was one of four children and his family and friends called him 
Ricky.
  Growing up, Richard was active in the Boy Scouts. He played baseball 
and sang in the choir. His sister, Deanne, remembers his beautiful 
voice and him singing country music in their living room with his 
friend, Charles Hanson.
  Deanne thought she and her brother were the coolest when he would 
drop her off at school in his Chevy Impala. She looked up to Richard 
very much. When he left for Vietnam, she was in junior high and was in 
awe about what he was going to do.
  Deanne said Richard was a fun-loving and family-oriented man who was 
especially kind and good with their brother, Duane, who had Down 
Syndrome. Richard always mentioned Duane in his letters he sent home 
from Vietnam.
  After completing his service in Vietnam, Richard had plans to go to 
college

[[Page S4290]]

and become a farmer. Deanne has drawings that Richard made of the 
farmhouse he wanted to build on the land he was picking out in the 
Williston area. His parents Arlene and Oscar often said Richard wanted 
to farm and loved the land so much that he didn't realize his true 
calling was becoming an architect.
  These are just some of the stories of North Dakotans who sacrificed 
their lives on behalf of our country in Vietnam.
  I have to say that every time I do this, I wonder who would they be 
today. Would they be standing here instead of me? But I do know the men 
and women in uniform who serve our country continue to serve when they 
take off the uniform. I also know our country suffers a great loss any 
time we lose a young man or a young woman in service of our country. 
That loss must be remembered, it must be respected, and we can never 
forget.
  In this anniversary and commemoration of the Vietnam war, it is so 
important that we spend our time talking about the sacrifices our 
country and our servicemen gave in Vietnam and continue to give through 
the ravages of Agent Orange--the issue Dan worked so hard on. They 
continue to suffer the post-traumatic stress that was part of that 
service, and they continue to overrepresent in the homeless populations 
and populations of people who continue to be troubled from the 
experiences they suffered in Vietnam.
  So today we celebrate these lives and we think about who they might 
have been. We offer a very humble and grateful thank-you to all of the 
family members who have helped us with these memorials but who have 
experienced this loss in a way we will never understand.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sasse). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

  

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