Veterans honored with Piecemakers quilts 

By Chris Spangler

The Piecemakers Quilt Guild recently saluted 20 local veterans and first responders with Honor Quilts.

The presentation took place during the Veterans Day program at the Fort Atkinson Senior Center on Friday, Nov. 10.

Piecemakers member Candy Milan noted that since 2015, the quilters have given of their time, talents and materials to sew more than 160 quilts with one single purpose: “To thank and honor veterans and law enforcement officers for their service to our country and community.

“The importance of the thousands of roles that men and women perform cannot be overstated,” she said. “Whether it is guard duty, delivering supplies, feeding or housing the troops, providing intelligence, parachuting, repairing engines, serving on the front lines or providing medical care, etc., the complex staging the strategies of our worldwide military and diplomatic core confirms the fact that each and every role is important and far-reaching,” Milan said.

She shared a quote describing the guild’s motivation: “Today and always, let us remember the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom, country and world peace.

“These ‘quilted hugs of gratitude’ also recognize that when men and women join the military and protective services and later take an oath to serve, there is no doubt that their dedication to our country and communities continues in so many capacities throughout their lives,” Milan said.

Honored with quilts were:

• Dean G. Schmidt.

Schmidt’s quilt was presented to him prior to his passing in September. His wife, Sue, accepted the recognition on his behalf at the program.

Schmidt served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968-72, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. He was deployed to Taiwan and to Vietnam, where he was in combat.

He was a life member of the Edwin Frohmader Post 1879 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Fort Atkinson.

• Roger W. Strege.

Serving in the Air Force from 1958-62, Strege was an airman 2nd class with the Air Police. He was deployed to Beale Air Force Base in Maryville, Calif., and then Ankara, Turkey.

For 10 years, he volunteered for the Jefferson County Emergency Communications crew with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

• Eric Schultz.

Schultz served in the Army National Guard from 2004-14 and has been a member of the Army Reserves since 2004, holding the rank of major.

He was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait in 2005-06, Iraq in 2019-20 and Kosovo in 2011-12.

Having seen combat during all three deployments, Schultz is a member of the VFW, Paul Frank Florine Post 166 of the American Legion in Fort Atkinson, Fort Atkinson City Council and Fort Atkinson Lions Club.

• Robert Buell.

Buell served 20 months in the Army from 1969-70, attaining the rank of specialist 4th class.

While deployed to Long Binh, Vung Tau and Nui Dat in Vietnam, his duties included highway patrol, town patrol, harbor security, prisoner-of-war guard and liaison to the allied forces military police.

He is a 43-year member of the Lions Club.

• Ronald L. Delaney.

Delaney served in the U.S. Navy from 1962-68 as a seaman 2nd class. He was deployed to Japan in 1962-64.

While aboard the USS Okanogan when it was deployed to Da Nang, Vietnam, he served as an electrician for 24 boats via the USS ATA-220 that transported and offloaded Seabees and cargo between ships and Da Nang.

He served four more years in the Reserves and is a life member of the VFW.

• Daniel Delaney.

Delaney served 30 years in the Navy and Reserves from 1989-2019, with the rank of master chief. As an electrician in the Seabees, he was deployed to Iraq to build the Allasod Base. Deployed to Turkey, he helped repair a dam.

He also spent a year in Djibouti, Africa, where he trained Seabees for overseas duty.

Accepting the honor quilt on his behalf was his father, Ronald Delaney.

• Scott Church.

Church served in the Army Reserves from 1990-96 as an E-4. During service, he was a member of the band.

For many years, he has played in fundraisers for the High Ground Veterans Memorial at Neillsville.

• Donald Strojny.

Strojny served in the Army from 1968-70 as an E-5 sergeant. He was deployed to Vietnam, where he saw combat and served 10 months with 13 BRAVO.

Accepting the quilt on his behalf was his friend, Rudy Fadroski.

• Anthony Brus.

Brus is the first law enforcement officer to receive an Honor Quilt from the Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

He served 29 years as a first responder and law enforcement officer, including from 1993-2000 as Columbus police chief and 2000-14 as Fort Atkinson police chief.

He was a member of the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club, as well as the Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and its restore.

• David A. Behling.

Behling was active duty in the Navy and Marines from 1970-78 and in the Naval Reserves from 1979-97. He was deployed during Desert Storm in 1990-91 with the Marines and Liberation Kuwait. His rank was E-9 hospital master chief.

He is a member of the Watertown American Legion Post 67, 40 et 8 Voiture 750 of Jefferson County, Marine Corps League, Fort Atkinson VFW and Vietnam Veterans of America.

He currently is the 40 et 8 grand chef de gare of Wisconsin and VFW commander.

• Vern Holler.

Holler served in the Army from 1967-69. He was deployed to an army base in Germany.

• James J. Kirk.

From 1973-95, Kirk served in the U.S. Navy, attaining the rank of E-7 chief petty officer. He was deployed four times to Southeast Asia and six times to the Mediterranean.

In addition, he flew to 105 countries on services-related missions throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and South America and saw combat during the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.

• James Koehler.

Koehler served in the Army from 1969-72. An E-5, he was a member of the Signal Corps. During his deployment to Vietnam, he was in combat.

He is member of the VFW and American Legion.

• Dwight Tomczak.

From 1970-72, Tomczak served in the Marine Corps. He saw combat in Vietnam.

• Richard Brown.

Brown served in the Navy from 1988-96. A yeoman third class-E4, he was attached to the Air Squadron VAW 121 Bluetails that was attached to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

He was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf and saw combat in the Red Sea during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Accepting the quilt on his behalf was Steve Leggett.

• Thomas Leggett.

Leggett served in the Navy from 1968-72 as an E-3. He was deployed to Danang in Vietnam for land duty for a year. While running PDR gunboats on the rivers, he was exposed to Agent Orange.

During his second tour to Vietnam, he was stationed on the first nuclear-powered cruiser on the USS Long Beach.

Accepting a quilt on his behalf was his brother, Steve Leggett.

• John W. Drury.

Drury served in the Air Force from 1963-66, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. While deployed to the Philippines, he was in military intelligence.

Transferred to Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas, he was in charge of keeping flight crew records for KC 135 refueling tankers.

• David Price.

Price served in the Army from 1985-88. He was a combat medic and paratrooper based out of Fort Craig.

He attained the rank of specialist E-4.

• David R. Becker.

Becker served in the Marine Corps from 1961-65. He was deployed to Hawaii, Japan and Taiwan.

While stationed at Camp Hanson, Okinawa, he graded as a noncommissioned officer. His reconnaissance battalion guarded during the construction of airfields in Danang.

• William Scherwitz.

Scherwitz served in the Marine Corps from 1968-70 and then four more years in the Reserves. He attained the rank of corporal E-4.

While deployed to Vietnam, he was in combat with the 3rd Marine Division. His company was sprayed with Agent Orange while stationed south of the Demilitarized Zone Peace Preservation Corps.

Scherwitz is a member of the VFW and board member of VVA Chapter 409.

The Piecemakers Quilt Guild invites nominations to honor military and first responders. Forms for recipients are available from Donna Petersen, who can be contacted by email: sewnsow51@charter.net or phone: 920-397-7732.

Service officer speaks

Duesterhoeft speaks

Also during the senior center program, Jefferson County Veterans Service Officer Yvonne Duesterhoeft offered brief remarks.

She first shared trivia about all of the branches of the military, including the Space Force, before outlining many of the services her office provides.

Duesterhoeft, who has been the service officer since February 2007, said her “usefulness to my fellow veterans and their families is to help navigate the bureaucracies of the state and federal government in order to get every veteran and their family members, whether they are surviving family members or they’re currently living, the benefits they need and deserve.”

She answered questions about veterans benefits, starting what the PACT Act.

The PACT Act is a new law that expands Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances.

“The PACT Act was a piece of legislation long in the making that President Biden signed on Aug.10 last year and it kicked the doors open wide for being able to offer disability compensations to veterans who had been made ill through toxic exposures, all the way back to World War II radiation, World War I … mustard gas, Agent Orange in Vietnam and, in the last 20 years veterans serving in the Gulf (have been affected by) of burn pits. They were just burning everything and the toxic soup that that was unleashed has … (led to) one of the main things (we do is to) file disability claims.”

Illnesses include respiratory conditions and various cancers, she noted.

As an example of where the PACT Act has helped, she mentioned a Gulf War veteran who was diagnosed with pneumonia. Antibiotics didn’t work, and three weeks later, he was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroendocrine lung cancer that already had metastasized to the spine and liver.

“That is representative of the clients that we see. … The point is, when things are going worst is when we can sometimes help the most,” Duesterhoeft said.

“Sometimes people survive the war, but don’t survive the peace,” she continued, citing Vietnam and Gulf war veterans. “It’s mental health conditions, it’s physical disabilities that limit people’s enjoyment of life, of their family’s lives. That is where the rubber meets the road in my office.”

Duesterhoeft said that her office considers the service background and medial situation and applies the law to get veterans all the benefits for which they are eligible.

“Bad news: you have a year to live, maybe. Good news, at least you have $3,800 a month of disability compensation to help your family through the process,” she said.

Duesterhoeft encouraged eligible attendees to sign up with Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare, noting that the care is “awesome.”

Drivers sought

In addition, Duesterhoeft announced that volunteers are needed to drive patients to the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital and Clinics in Madison. It could be as little as once a month or more if desired.

For more information about volunteer driving or any of the Veterans Service Office’s services, call: 920-674-7240 or visit https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/departments/veterans_s_service/index.php.