These Vietnam Veterans made a commitment that they would never let comrades be unaccounted for or forgotten, thus the black flags they carry. Back Row L-R: Ron Boeckman, Alan Dockendorf, Dan “Bones” Erpleding, Gary Caauwe, and Ervin Becker. Center Row: Mike Yanish, Dave Thielan, Steve LaVine, Al Brutger, Daryl Becker and Chuck Unterberger. Front Row: Tim Inselman and Paul Heibel. Photo contributed. There is a group of Vietnam war veterans called Wat-Kim-Valley POW MIA Flag Ba

Carlos man lost vision in one eye, earned Silver Star while serving in Vietnam Kerry Nelson of rural Carlos, Minn. had a vision for his life before he was drafted into the United States military in 1965, just as U.S. combat troops were being drawn into the Vietnam War. Looking back, from the hilltop home he built in 2003, and a span of over 50 years, his military experience and its long-term effects are much clearer, though his vision remains cloudy. Kerry Nelson of rural Car

Sister remembers a brother lost in Vietnam Tony Quitmeyer of Parkers Prairie, in 1967, before leaving for Vietnam Contributed photo Tony Quitmeyer grew up in Parkers Prairie, Minn., and graduated with the class of 1966 from Parkers Prairie High School. He had just started to experience life in the “real world” when his life was cut short in a foxhole in Vietnam. “Like many classmates, Tony thought he would work a year first to save money before going to college,” said Tony’s

Appearing in this edition of the newspaper is our “Heroes Remembered” special section, a 20-page section honoring our fallen soldiers. Vietnam Memorial Soldiers by Frederick Hart. One of the most visited monuments in Washington, D.C. is Hart’s heroic bronze statue The Three Soldiers, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, dedicated by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Photo from Library of Congress, by Carol M. Highsmith. In past years, we have featured soldiers from WWI and WWII, the Kor

Family received last letter on day they were informed their son had died Leon Barickman Leon Barickman was a 20-year-old Marine lance corporal when he was killed in Vietnam on July 27, 1969. He and his family always enjoyed time spent visiting at Fort Ridgely State Park located near Fairfax in the days before he went away to war. He was buried at the Fort Ridgely Cemetery after his death, and in 1996, Leon was included in a book, The Faces Behind the Names,”written by Don War

Siblings talk about their brother’s death in Vietnam Tom Bradley’s basic training graduation at Fort Campbell 1968. Contributed photo Tom Bradley wasn’t a high school all-star or president of his class. He played baseball with his younger brother in the yard, did a lot of hunting, and went to school – even liked Industrial Arts and P.E. a little. He was a handsome, home-grown Southern Minnesota boy who was nice enough to let his little sister ride along on his Sunday paper ro