Far Guy is a Veteran he was in the Air Force and the North Dakota Air National Guard for 26 plus years.
He was always going places in planes.
I knew when he was leaving but the return home could take place at anytime ...usually days late.
One time he took a camera with him and took a selfie .
Then he took a photo out of the canopy.
Happy Veteran's Day to my husband and all others who have been or are now in the Armed Forces. Thank you for your service!
Far Side
My Dad's Veteran's grave marker is in place. He still needs a flag holder.
Good to see that it was in place.
Far Side
When we were going through some of my parents "stuff" we found a letter. It is from my Uncle Arthur written to my Dad on January 14, 1944.
Dear brother Jacob,
Received your Christmas card yesterday thanks a lot for it.
I suppose that you already know that I am in North Africa. I suppose you are having a good time there out West. At least I had a good time in Montana boy I wish I was back there.
These natives around here sure live like pig. It sure takes a letter a long time to get here almost a month.
Is Hannah Kangas working in the same factory as you and Walter?
I got a letter from Hugo the other day hes expecting a furlough pretty soon, that boy sure deserves one. Well this paper is getting pretty well filled up so I guess I have to sign off. Take it easy and have a good time.
Your brother Arthur
A few things to note about the letter...
Walter was known as Bee Kangas...Bee was a year older than my Dad...they went out West to work in the shipyards with Bee's Mother Hannah, my Dad worked on the gun turrets when he was 17 years old.
Hugo was Arthur and my Dad's brother who was in the Army.
Note the censors 's stamp in the upper left.
Four months after this letter was written...
Arthur died in the Invasion of Italy May 20, 1944 and is buried at The American -Sicily Rome Cemetery in Nattuno, Italy. He was 23 years old.
Here is a link to more of Arthur's Letters.
Far Side
Thank a Veteran.
Thank you to all the Veterans, especially, my husband, my nephew Ben, my Dad, and my Uncles Arthur, Andrew, Arnold, Hugo, Dennis and Delbert.
Far Side
Yesterday I got the letters from 1943 transcribed.
Letters from Arthur E Yliniemi to his cousin Lila. Arthur’s father and Lila’s mother were brother and sister. Arthur is my Dad's brother. Arthur was born in 1920. The letters were written from Camp Clairborne Louisiana in mid 1943. Arthur lists his address as Co A 409 Infantry
Photo of Arthur taken when he was on furlough in Minnesota
May 31, 1943
Dear Cousin, Here Im’ back from my furlough, I’m having a heck of a time getting used to Army life again.
Well I got some sad news I think my brother Hugo went across the other week.
How is the weather there is it just as nice as it was a week ago. The weather down here sure is hot. It just about burns me up.
Boy oh boy I wish I could get transferred to some northern camp away from the sunny south.
How is every little thing treating you. I am just fine waiting for this war to end.
I suppose Hugo (Lila’s husband) is busy rearing sheep.
By the way I got to do KP tomorrow. So have it pretty easy tomorrow. For you know I rather do KP than go out in the field and trill.
One dam thing with me when I write a letter I don’t know what to scribble and when a person is here it is the same old stuff day in day out so a person don’t have any news.
It’ll be so long for this time next time some more Your Cousin Arthur
***************************
June 12, 1943
Dear Cousin Lila, There I come again with a few lines of bullshit that about all I can scribble for I haven’t any news.
By the way I have some news, my feet are pretty darn sore after marching a 32 mile hike the other night. Was it ever a tough one. We worked all day Friday and four o clock we started on that long march. It was three o clock in the morning before we got through with it. Every dam bone in my body was aching that I couldn’t even lay still in bed. Week after next we are spotted to make 40 miles. I hate thee heck to see that day come.
So Walfred has to go for the examination too, I sure feel sorry for him if he gets into this branch of the service.
I wish I could get part of the cool breeze you have up there north for the weather down here sure makes me sweat like an old plow horse. It’s been 115 in the shade for the last 4 days boy that is too hot for any man.
I received a letter from Alvin the other day and I got just through answering it. He wrote that the weather down there was to hot for him down there.
This Camp itself isn’t so bad but there suppose to give the toughest training than any other C and I can feel it too.
My bullshit box is getting empty. So I will close So Long Your Cousin Arthur PS If you see Walfred tell hello from me.
******************
July 11, 1943 (Parts of the letter are missing…like a mouse chewed them up.)
I haven’t got any news that I could write about and very little we can write about the army life or movement so that covers most of the news around here.
Well Walfred did join the Navy a last long time he aimed for it before he join it. I got a letter from him yesterday he didn’t kick the Navy very much but one thing he doesn’t like to wash his own cloths. I know if we had to wash our cloths I don’t think I’d ever have a clean rag.
Well the final push to Europe started yesterday I almost bet 2 to 1 before 6 months is over we’ll be running all over Germany or if we don’t get it in 6 months its last about from 2 to 5 years
What is Eino….
I suppose a man can make good money out there but all in all I don’t think there’s anything in it for a family man to move.
I suppose Hugo (Lila’s husband) started hay making already like most of the farmers. As far as everything is concerned I’d rather make hay all year around than staying this army especially in that cool Minnesota weather one thing I know now is hot weather up there in Minn we don’t even know what heat is
I’m telling you when it’s 122 in the shade and take off on a 25 mile hike you can really feel the heat and there’s men passing out left and right from sun strokes and still we got to keep going. The heck of it is we don’t get only one quart of water for the whole 25 miles. I’m telling you it is the toughest dam thing I’ve ever gone through.
Tomorrow we have a 11 mile force march we haven’t any dope on that hike yet what it will be like. We even might have to run all the way. One thing about it if they go faster than 3 miles an hour I’m going to drop out.
Shit on hikes.
Sunday we are going to the rifle range to practice a little shooting that’s about all the news this time
So Long Your Cousin Arthur
***************
September 17, 1943 In the sticks.
Dear Cousin Lila, Thank a lot for your letter which I received a few hours ago.
Here we are deep in the woods of Louisiana and two months maneuvers which I don’t like very well but I can’t do a dam thing.
I got a letter from Ma (My Grandmother) today and she said she had gotten a letter from Hugo. I guess it was the first letter in 4 months since he been overseas.
So Walfred got shipped out of Idaho. Have you got any idea where he is I don’t think they will send him to the high seas yet.
I heard a rumor the other ay we had a training schedule up to Sept 1944 so I guess it mean that we won’t be send across for a year yet.
That sure was some thing that Italy gave Arms that shortened the war quite a bit. We celebrated Italy’s Arms a little bit we had a drink party and I think everybody got drunk. I sure hope this war is over by Christmas.
So Long Best of Luck Arthur
*********************
I am not certain when Arthur was sent overseas...most likely January or February 1944.
He was injured or killed during the invasion of Italy and died May 20 1944. He is buried in Italy.
At least now we know a bit more about him from his letters to his cousin.
Far Side
Camp Claiborne was located in the Kisatchie National Forest It is said that Camp Clairborne turned out well disciplined, high spirited and well prepared soldiers. I found it interesting that the camp had its own railway system and they specialized in rail sabotage.
Thank you seems so inadequate but it is the best I can do...Thank you Veterans from all wars in all branches of the United States Armed Forces. Thank you to those that served at home and in far away lands. Thank you to those who died protecting our freedom.
Thank you to young soldiers and old soldiers who read this message today. Thank you!
Air Force Flag
Far Side
“A day which will live in infamy.” FDR
16 Million Soldiers were involved in WWII The Greatest Generation. The old soldiers are dying at a rate of 348 a day. There are 496,777 alive in the United States. Just like our number of lakes we have 10,133 WWII Veterans that are alive in Minnesota. This WWII site has more statistics per state.
There is a park in town called Deane Park.
There is also a plaque at the park.
The placque resides on a large boulder.
Now for the rest of the story.
Deane was born January 10 1896 and he died at the age of 22 on November 10 1918. Exactly 100 years and 1 day ago.
Deane graduated from Park Rapids High School in 1914. He attended college but then joined the service. He was training to be a flying cadet when a influenza epidemic swept through the training camp in Berkley California. The ladies of Berkley assisted with the care of the soldiers. Deane died of influenza and pneumonia. He was in his last 12 weeks of training to be an aviator and scheduled to go to France. His body was returned for burial in Park Rapids. He was survived by his wife, his parents and step mother, a half brother and a half sister.
His father was a banker and very prominant citizen of Park Rapids.
The Flying Cadet program was the prototype for the development of our Air Force.
During World War I the cadet was under the age of 25 and had at least two years of college, was physically fit and morally sound.
Can you imagine in the early years many of the young men had never seen an airplane or been in one.
Hats off to all our Veterans. Thank you for your service.
Today is the day to thank all the Veterans in our lives. Those that serve now and those who have served. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air National Guard, Army National Guard at home or overseas….THANK YOU!
Far Guy
My baby brother, my nephew, my dad and my husband. Thank you all!
Luckily these family members made it home.
My Paternal Grandparents were not so lucky. Five of their twelve sons were in the military.
They all returned but one.
My Uncle Arthur is buried in the Sicily Rome American Cemetery in Italy. He was 23 years old when he was wounded and died during the invasion of Italy.
Some gave all.
June of 1973, we were home on leave in Minnesota. We had been at Lowry AFB in Denver Colorado and were headed for MacDill AFB in Tampa Florida.
Trica was 14 months old then and we had a little Scottie mix mutt of a dog named Snuffer who would live a good long time. We traveled light. Everything we had fit in the back of a pickup truck.
My baby brother was home then, he was honorably discharged from the Navy due to a knee injury.
Being home was bitter sweet, we didn’t know when we would be back or when we would see loved ones or relatives again but we were excited to see a different part of the United States. Florida is a long way from Minnesota. Far Guy orignally had orders for Bitburg Germany. (He had requested Grand Forks ND, Minot ND and Mountain Home ID) We were upset with the orders for Germany…I wouldn’t be able to go for a long time because we would have to save up for my plane ticket and Tricas and our dog Snuffer would have to be quarantined for six months either that or stay with Far Guy’s parents. One of the single guys offered to trade his spot at MacDill and Far Guy took the trade…the next day we could have had Mountain Home and $100…but a trade is a trade.
Military life had a fair amount of twists and turns.
Thank you to the Veteran’s in my life. My husband, my father, my baby brother, my nephew, my uncles and many of my cousins.
When I was growing up it was called Decoration Day. Now a days it is called Memorial Day. Times change but we should not.
Sometime during the day could you stop and remember the soldiers? They are not just a name on a tombstone. They were sons, brothers, husbands and fathers.
They fought for you and for me and their graves should be decorated.
We had a quiet Fall day yesterday, it was a bit cooler 45F or 7C eh!
We walked in the old cemetery on the hill. We found my Uncle Hugo’s friends grave. It was on the south side of the hill near the top.
The flag holder was there and the marker that Veterans get to mark their grave. Mission accomplished!
Perhaps one winter day I will head for the Becker County Historical Museum and search their records so that an obituary can accompany the photos.
Anyone that is looking for a volunteer “job” …let me tell you a cemetery is a good place, it is quiet, no one complains and the graves just keep filling up. One thing I have noticed is that many of the markers are getting overgrown around the edges. I could spend a day or three at this cemetery just trimming around markers. In the spring we carry a couple of old butcher knives and a bucket in the car just for that purpose, the knife cuts the sod away and we toss it in the bucket to be disposed of or to fill in a hole here and there.
I started a list of what I don’t have, which obits I need and who I should ask for photos.
My husband who is great support and a good searcher said yesterday “Maybe someday someone will appreciate the effort you put into the cemeteries.”
I wandered alone for a little while yesterday, until I smelled a skunk. I hurried back to the car, when you smell one you know one is near. When I opened the car door Far Guy said “Uffda you didn’t get sprayed did ya?” Thankfully I didn’t and we headed home.
The flags at Greenwood Cemetery.
Thank you soldiers that gave your all and didn’t return home, Thank you soldiers who returned from battles, Thank you to all the soldiers for serving our country.
Taps
Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.
Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.
Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.
Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.
The day began at the WWII Memorial.
The WWII Memorial honors 16 million who served in WWII.
The Field of Stars. There are 4,048 Gold Stars that pay tribute to more than 405,000 American lives. My Dad’s brother Arthur was one of those lives lost.
Here they are by the Minnesota Column.
Dad at the FDR Memorial
Dad and FDR
Dad at the Korean War Memorial. Dad looked for the BAR man and wanted his photo taken. Dad said “It was just like that on patrol.”
The Granite Wall has more than 2,500 images sand blasted into it’s surface.
I asked my brother to leave photographs of my Dad in Korea,The Christmas Tree in Korea Christmas 1951, My Dad and I, my Uncle Arnold and Uncle Andrew who both served during the Korea War at the Korean Memorial. My brother added a few photos of his own. Jody said “As soon as I placed the photos, people started getting down on the ground to look at them and take photographs.”
Dad couldn’t get over all the people that thanked him, some with kisses and hugs. He met some South Korean people who thanked him for saving their country. He met school kids…he said “I must have shook 500 hands.”
Dad coming down the escalator at the airport in Fargo. There were Honor Guards, Flag carriers and wavers of all ages and a Brass Band.
It was a good trip and a good welcome home!
