West Bend 9/11 Memorial Ceremony
If you were unable to attend the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in West Bend, you can watch it on YouTube by CLICKING HERE.
Hero of the Month, June 2024: John Zink
WEST BEND — At Lt. Ray Dickop American Legion Post 36, they like to honor veterans in their ranks by giving their outstanding members special recognition and a platform to tell their stories. Each month, the Post selects a member to be featured as the Hero of the Month. This month’s Hero of the Month honors is John Zink.
Zink began his military career when he was drafted in November of 1953. He was sent to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, and underwent engineering training. He spent 26 weeks doing basic training, advanced energy training and leadership training.
After his training was complete, he was expected to be shipped out to one of two places: Europe or Korea. However, he ended up going to neither, because the war ended before he was deployed. “It just so happened that in June of ’54, they signed an armistice,” said Zink. “So I got as far as Seattle.”
After the end of the Korean War, Zink spent the majority of his active service doing general maintenance work in Fort Lewis and building roads in Yakima Training Center. Then in January of 1955, he would be tasked with constructing test sites for atomic bombs. “Congress said, ‘Why are we paying all these contractors to build these sites out in the desert to blow them up? Why don’t we use our engineers since the war is over?’ said Zink. “So they put together a unit, and we boarded a train with all of our equipment, went down to Las Vegas, then drove about 30 miles out into the desert.” Zink worked in shifts with his fellow engineers on these test sites, getting to see the destructive power of atom bombs firsthand until he was eventually shipped back to Fort Lewis, where he continued doing odd jobs until his tour of duty ended in 1955.
“If I would have decided to re-enlist, they would have sent me to Fort Belvoir, Virginia for advanced engineering training, which is a great opportunity,” said Zink. “But I just wanted to go home.”
While Zink was never in combat, he still takes pride in his work and appreciates the discipline it gave him that he retains to this day. “It’s the discipline that is the thing that is so great,” said Zink. “It’s such a simple little thing, and to this day, we don’t go away without making our bed.”
Now, Zink has found a new call to service: to advocate for those who need it most with the American Legion. He said one of the things he likes most about the American Legion is the advocacy and camaraderie that come with membership, and the importance of having a support system comprised of those who have been there before.
“I think I read once that it takes 10 people to support a combat veteran, so I think we’re all here to lend support to those that are active now,” said Zink. “We try to service the families of our veterans; our Post services over 60 funerals a year, multiple parades, school visits and more. We try to show visibility, so people don’t forget. That is the one thing we fear, that people are going to forget why we have this freedom.”
From The West Bend News - June 20th, 2024
Lou Conter, last survivor of the USS Arizona attack in Pearl Harbor, dies at 102
CLICK HERE for an article from KCRA 3 for a news article and video about Lou Conter.
West Bend American Legion Post dedicates city lamp post
as Four Chaplains Memorial
WEST BEND — The West Bend American Legion Post 36 announced that they have recently dedicated a city lamp post,located in Vest Park between the Ziegler building and Sal’s Pizza in downtown West Bend, as the Four ChaplainsMemorial Lamp Post. Four Chaplains Day is celebrated each year on Feb. 3 to honor World War II Military Chaplains Lt. George L. Fox, Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Lt. John P. Washington and Lt. Clark V. Poling, who gave their lives to save fellow soldiers by handing out life jackets when the convoy they were on was attacked and sank. "When the life jackets ran out, the chaplains then gave up their own," said Legion member James Maersch. "The chaplains were last seen, arm in arm, singing hymns and praises, as they went down with the ship."
Article from Washington Co. News | gmtoday.com
Guitars for Vets launches West Bend chapter
Library Director Steve Thiry is presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Nancy Larson from our post for all she does working with the American Legion in putting up our displays. For over 15 years, we have been working with the West Bend Library putting up displays five times during the year:
- Four Chaplains
- Memorial Day
- POW/MIA Recognition
- Veterans Day
- Christmas Card Project where we collect Christmas cards to be distributed to area veterans.