Armed Forces

Brig. Gen. Jack Nicholson awarded Silver Star for action in Vietnam (10/30/09)
Dec. 27, 1963 had already been a devastating day. Of the 240 men then-Capt. John "Jack" Nicholson was with, only 39 were able to walk away from an eight-hour battle with the Viet Cong. But for Nicholson, the night wasn't over. He would lead his men to save the lives of nine people...

Le Mars troops may head to Afghanistan (10/21/09)
More than 100 Iowa National Guard soldiers based in Le Mars may be packing their bags for Afghanistan next fall in the largest single unit call-up of the guard since World War II. Official word from the Department of Defense came Tuesday that about 3,500 Iowa National Guard soldiers are being alerted for potential mobilization to Afghanistan as part of a scheduled rotation of forces in fall 2010...

Community rallies together to build veterans memorial (05/27/09)
In a community of 132 people, a project like the newly-dedicated Oyens Veteran's Memorial is -- by necessity -- grassroots. Brainstormed around a Memorial Day lunch table, designed by locals on their own time, built on the sweat of volunteers and paid for by local donations, the new memorial now stands in the Oyens cemetery...

Memorial Day services honor service men, women (05/22/09)
Plymouth County American Legion and V.F.W. posts will join with others across the United States in Memorial Day services Monday, May 25, to honor the U.S. men and women who served their country in military service with a special tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country...

Area quilters answer call to Red, White and Blue Challenge (05/20/09)
Local quilters will provide 30 injured military service men and women "hugs" as part of the Red, White and Blue Challenge's American Hero Quilts project. Becky Wiersma, of Le Mars, learned of the project -- providing quilts for injured soldiers at Fort Lewis' Madigan Army Medical Hospital in Washington state and other military hospitals -- through quilting friends on the Internet...

Like father like daughter (05/07/09)
This week, Staff Sgt. Steve Dolph is heading to training for his third tour of duty in Iraq. His daughter, Morgan, a senior at Le Mars Community School, doesn't want to say goodbye. She wants to go with him. The only thing that's standing in her way: basic training...

A reminder of honor:Oyens citizens band together to build veterans memorial (03/04/09)
Memory is important for the community of Oyens, population 132. Oyens residents are gearing up this year to remember 100 years of history for the Oyens Centennial, June 6. But if all goes well, they'll also celebrate the completion of the Oyens Veterans Memorial...

A year to remember: Top stories of 2008 (12/30/08)
Editor's note: This is the first of two stories recapping 2008's top stories in the Daily Sentinel. 10. O'Keefe stabs, kills a man A butcher knife to the chest led to the death of Sam Toliver, 32, Jan. 24, 2008. Jody O'Keefe, 35, most recently of Le Mars, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and other charges and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. ...

Behind the bells: Salvation Army ringers tell their story (12/18/08)
Ring-a-ding, ding-a-ding. Imagine hearing that for 10 hours. Mike Gunderson, of Sioux City, doesn't have to imagine it. As a Salvation Army bell ringer, he's rung his bell for a 10-hour shift before. "I like the bell. There's something about ringing the bell at this time of year people like," he said...

WWII Last Man's Club members gather for 11th year (11/11/08)
The 11th annual banquet of the World War II Last Man's Club in Le Mars Saturday evening gave the veterans a chance to renew old acquaintances and quietly reflect on their wartime experiences. More than 70 veterans, spouses, family members and friends attended banquet, which is held annually in November close to the Nov. 11 Veterans Day observance...

Siouxland veterans flown to memorial in D.C. (09/09/08)
The Honor Flight began as a flicker of light three years ago and has grown into a beacon, thanks to retired Air Force Captain Earl Morse of Springfield, Ohio. It was Morse who flew World War II veterans to see the Memorial, the latter of which was built, completed, and dedicated to them in May 2004. ...

Service honors soldier who fell 40 years ago (05/27/08)
First Lieutenant Corbin Clark Tindall was killed in action on April 12, 1969. He and other members of the Armed Forces were honored Monday at The Avenue of Flags Memorial Day Program, in Le Mars, at the Plymouth County Courthouse. Tindall and his unit's service were recognized during the ceremony as this month is the 40th anniversary of their mobilization, May 13, 1968...

American Legion Auxiliary announce winners of Poppy Poster Contest (05/21/08)
Sixth grade students at Gehlen Catholic School showed their support of veterans of all wars by participating in the American Legion Auxiliary's annual Poppy Poster contest. Poppy Week is usually observed as the week that ends on the Saturday before Memorial Day. However, Gehlen Catholic sixth graders learned about it earlier as part of a unit on good poster design in art class in preparation for the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Poster Contest, under the direction of Beth Schlichte...

History to send students to Maryland (04/30/08)
Three Le Mars Community Middle School students and nine Akron-Westfield Middle School students are among the 25 Iowa students to earn a trip to the National History Day National Contest June 15-19 at the University of Maryland. They were among the 440 Iowa students in sixth through eighth grade competing in the National History Day Iowa Junior Division contest held Monday at the State Historical Building in Des Moines...

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