 | Frank Bergquist graduated from Eddyville, IA, high school in 1958. After graduation, he entered the Army, serving 20 years in Missouri, Maryland, New Mexico, Germany, Iowa, Turkey, Kansas, S.E. Asia, and finally retiring in 1978 in Louisiana. Before retiring, Frank was assigned as an ROTC instructor at WSU and Kemper Military School until 1974. In 1978 he served as the Non-Commissioned officer in charge of operations at Fort Polk, LA. He has served as the Veterans Counselor (DVOP) with the Kansas Job Service Center National Service Office, with the Disabled American Veterans at the VA Regional Office in Wichita; Veterans Employment and Training Coordinator with the US Dept. of Labor at Ft. Riley, KS; Service Coordinator with Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation; Dept Adjutant-Treasurer and the Dept. Executive Director Dept. of Kansas Disabled American Veterans; and past President of the Wichita Civil War Round Table. Currently he is doing graduate work as an instructor in Genealogy and Military History at Wichita State and Kansas State Universities, and is the CEO for the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores in Wichita, KS. Bergquist has an AA from Kemper Military School and College from Boonville, MO. and a BGS from Wichita State University. He can be reached by telephone at 316-262-6501. He is located at 926 N. Mosley Wichita 67214. |
Veteran Affairs
2008-01-01 14:23:00
The worst and the best
What kind of service men and women represent the United States of America?
As always in our country we have the worst of people and we also have the best. We have two fine individuals who sold veteran grave markers for money to buy drugs. PA State police say a Lawrence County couple might have stolen as many as 800 metal markers from veterans’ graves. Police say the couple sold the brass stakes on the markers for scrap so they could buy drugs with the money. These fine individuals are guests of the state and charged with theft, institutional vandalism and other charges. The authorities say the couple stole the markers and broke the military emblems off them but kept the brass stakes. Over 238 damaged emblems have been recovered, but authorities say they expect to find more once snow melts at the three cemeteries police say the couple targeted.
Think about this when you see one of these markers at garage sales, flea markets or wherever. I have been to cemeteries and have seen these markers tossed in a pile. These markers serve a purpose they identify the final resting place of a serviceman or woman who placed their life on the line for their country. The markers also hold a flag of the USA. The same flag that covered the remains during the final services.
That was the worst but now how about the best. A soldier loses leg and his wife enlists to take his place. A year after Spc. Albarran lost his right leg in an explosion in Iraq, his wife graduated from basic training, enlisting to take his place in uniform. His wife stated “I made him a promise that I would finish what he started.” She graduated from basic training and promotion to the rank of private.
About 24,000 of the Army’s soldiers, 9 percent of the force, are married to other soldiers. The Army does not have any statistics on how many join after a spouse or family member is badly wounded in combat, but a spokesman, said she has heard of people joining after the injury or death of a sibling and at least one woman who joined after her husband was killed in combat. “The courage of our soldiers and their families is remarkable,” she said. Now you have seen the worst of some people and now the best. This couple represent the best of our country.
I was on active duty with the United States Army when President Kennedy was shot. I could not believe when I heard that he had been shot. I was on recruiting duty that day. I was at Ft. Des Moines, IA. A friend of mine told me about the shooting and I could not believe him. My friend later died serving his country in Vietnam. I will always remember the famous quote by President Kennedy, this may not be exact, but this is how I remember it: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country.
