Delmar Walser Wagner

Betty's dad, Delmar (Pete) Wagner, was visiting the other day and I showed him the article I had done on the military ribbons, brass and badges I had earned in the military. He expressed an interest in doing the same for the things he had earned.

Recently, we combed through his papers trying to glean what we could find. He found his DD214 or discharge papers. He wrote to the Department of the Army to find that his records had burned and no longer existed.

There is a Web site that sells the ribbons and badges for all the branches of the armed services. These are the ones that we found that were Pete's or that reminded him of service he had rendered:

The patch to the left is the patch of the 10th Army.


The patch to the right is the patch of the 5th army.






The patch to the left is the patch of the European Command.




The patch to the right is the patch of the First Cavalry.


The brass to the left is the brass that would be worn on the collars of the Army Uniform. The US is for the United States and the crossed rifles represent the infantry.

The rifle with the laurel behind it is for the combat infantry man's badge. (Thanks Terri for the replacement image.)

Pete was a First Sergeant. He was really proud of this rank. He told me of many of the experiences he had as the NCO over a platoon of enlisted men.

The light blue rope to the right was worn by members of the infantry. I, Kent, also earned an infantry rope as a member of the Fourth Infantry Division.

This gold airplane has very special meaning. It was awarded to those who were directly involved with the airlift into Berlin. Delmar was in Germany during this historic event and participated directly in the event. He told me that there was a great deal of paperwork that went with this little pin. There were not many who were eligible to receive this award.



Sergeant Wagner was an airborne ranger. I once made a sarcastic remark about jumping from a perfectly good airplane. I learned very quickly just how seriously he took his commitment to the rangers. I have since that day tried very hard to let Pete know that I have a very a deep respect for him and for any man who is willing to take the necessary training for becoming a skilled paratrooper.

The cloud of ribbons to the left represent the ribbons that were earned during his tours of duty. They include a purple heart, an Army Commendation Medal, a National Defense Ribbon, a Good Conduct Medal, A European Theater Ribbon, Pacific Theater ribbon.

We searched unsuccessfully for a Ranger badge for his unit. He was among the Special forces that scaled the cliffs at Normandy. I appreciated his willingness to talk to Betty and I about this experience.

The lapel pin to the right is affectionately called the ruptured duck. It is also known as the Honorable Service Lapel Pin and was awarded to those who were honorably discharged from the World War II. There was an aircraft from which the name was taken.

The afternoon I spent with my Father-in-law talking about his military experiences is one that I will always treasure. Oh, how I wish I had taken the time to do the same thing with my own Dad when he was alive.

I Like game

I got this fun game from Andrea's blog site that I read every now and again - you put into a google search field your first name and the words "likes to" all in parentheses - so for example mine is "Kent likes to" and then you share the first ten results with all your friends on your blog, facebook or whatever forum you choose. The first one, btw, is a search result for guess who...

Kent likes to…

1. Kent likes to do revolves around the dribble weave.


2. Kent likes to keep it simple. Got any free advice?


3. Kent likes to ride.


4. Apparently Kent likes to travel. He also likes to have his picture taken, although sometimes he's a bit camera shy.


5. Knowing that we're all animals, to me, isn't at all as depressing as Kent likes to portray.


6. Kent likes to describe the house to strangers.


7. Kent likes to joke that if the fireworks ever do put his brother in danger, he might just stomp them out instead of using the fire extinguisher


8. Kent likes to play video games, draw, watch anime, and read manga, of course.


9. When away from the office Kent likes to pass his time playing tennis and basketball where his fiery demeanor has earned him the label, "The Dragon.


10. Kent likes to think that he took his father's teachings to heart and followed in his footsteps to a degree. He went in a more westerly direction.

While this virtual pesonality in Google may have some characteristics in common with me, I don't think this is an accurate description of my world view.

What kind of man?

What kind of man am I,
When I am all alone,
Gone away on business,
Many miles from home?

And when there is an evening free,
And no demands at all,
Am I one who will behave,
And go home standing tall?

Lord, I can give a show of faith,
And righteousness at home,
But the kind of man I really am,
Is when I'm all alone.

Oh that I may have, the strength and power
To be kind and good at home,
A genuinely Christian man,
In public, and alone.

Anonymous

Kent and the Military

After serving two years as a missionary for my church, I enrolled in college at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. Before I had finished two quarters as a student, I was drafted into the military twice. The second time, I decided not to resist and became a soldier.

I went to Denver with a friend, Kelly McGinnis to take the induction physical. Kelly came home from Denver, but I did not. It was a long time ago, but I believe that Kelly came home with my recently purchased AMC Green hornet.

I was off to Fort Lewis Washington where I would take basic training. It was in Fort Lewis that I learned about rank and how important it was to salute an officer. The 200 push ups I was supposed to do were a good reminder when I was tempted to forget.

The years of growing up with a family of hunters helped me to be somewhat prepared for the shooting range where we qualified with our weapons These two pieces of "brass" were for qualifying on the rifle range. I did OK with the rifle, but the grenade range was a different story. I gave an instructor quite a scare when my grenade landed short and we had to dive to the bottom of the bunker before it exploded.

After basic training, I was sent to Southeastern Signal School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. It was there that I earned the Signal Corps insignia. I was learning to be a land-line teletype operator. That's a piece of equipment that I don't think is used at all any more. Three fellows I shared my room with also were learning to operate the teletype, but in a radio teletype setup or a RAT rig. When we went to Vietnam, they were working remotely while I was assigned to work in Long Binh in USARV headquarters.

While in Vietnam I earned the rank of Specialist fourth class, or spec 4. I enjoyed my assignment in Vietnam. I was assigned to the communications center, and I drove a 2 1/2 ton truck back and forth from the communication center to the living quarters. I was in Vietnam just short of one year.

This chain at the right is a picture of dog tags (although not my dog tags. The little square thing is a p38. It was a folding can opener. I got rid of mine when it came open in my pocket.

After coming home from Vietnam, I did the work of a sergeant. I wore the stripes, but was never never given the pay grade. I would have been known as a "Jack Sergeant".

The image to the right is a set of dog tags. We wore them around our necks at all times. The small rectangular shape is a P38. It's a can opener that is used for opening up cans of rations. I carried mine in my front pocket for a while, but it opened up on me and I decided that wasn't a very good practice.

I lived in the billets in what was then called the Banana Belt at Fort Carson. I have never understood why it was called that.

The ribbons to the right and to the left are ribbons that I earned while I was in the army. The one at the left is the department of defence ribbon and is given to all members of the armed forces. The one to the right is the Vietnam campaign ribbon and is awarded to all service personnel who served in Vietnam.

The ribbon to the left is an army commendation medal. I was awarded this ribbon for "meritorious service". I never wore ribbons in this format, but put together, this is what they would look like. This group of ribbons was worn above the breast pocket of the dress uniform.

The uniforms that you see on soldiers these days are very different than the ones you see here. There are jungle fatigues. Mine were starched so stiff that I could hardly bend over in them. The ones used today are for a desert environment and are a lighter color.

These would go with jungle boots. I couldn't find an image of the type of jungle boots I wore. They were similar to the ones seen on soldiers today, but they were solid black.

These are two patches that you would find on my uniform. The one on the left was the insignia of the 124th signal battalion and the one on the right was for the fourth infantry division. I was in these units when I was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The picture on the left was taken on Christmas day in Vietnam. We all went to an orphanage and we visited with the children there. That day was a big dissapointment to me. I had hoped to take Christmas presents to some needy children. Instead, we watch some officer's children entertain their parents.

The picture to the right was taken in 1974. You can see some of the patches and insignia on this uniform. The uniform to the left are our jungle fatigues. The one on the right was my winter greens. I was proud to be a member of the armed services and am grateful for those men who are willing to serve our country today.

Aubrey's 3rd year in the Children's Theatre Production!

It's that time of year again! The South Dakota Children's Theatre Production came through town again for try-outs and Aubrey made it again. It's her 3rd year in a row! It's a pretty hectic schedule for the week. They had tryouts Monday after school at 3:30.

This year there were about 60 kids who tried out for parts. The whole process is very interesting. They have the kids form a line in the gymnasium going from the tallest to the shortest person. Then they start with one end of the line and the kids say their name and age. Then they start all over again and have them say their name and age again, but they say it like it is the most exciting day of their life! From their they start moving kids around and start grouping them according to age instead of height.

This year, Aubrey was towards the front of the line. Then they teach the kids a line from the play and have a group of 10 step forward and say the line. From there they start moving kids around within that group. Then they move forward to the next group of 10 and proceed through the process until they get down to the little kindergartners. Then they teach them one more line and go through the process one more time. This is when they really set who they want for the different parts. The older ones or the ones that they move towards the front of the line are the main parts of the play. Aubrey got one of the 8 main parts this year. Her character was Mozart.

Once they select the kids they want, they give them an hour dinner break then it's back at the gym for rehearsal until 8 pm. From their Aubrey practiced from 3:30 - 8:00 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Then performances are Friday and Saturday nights that week! It is so amazing to sit and watch the production and realize that the kids only had 5 days to practice and put the whole thing together. It went really well.

It is so fun to watch your children do something that they truly love doing! Tim and I enjoyed just watching the beautiful smile on Aubrey's face the whole time she was on stage. Her face was just radiant up there. She was in her element and enjoying every second of it. It was so cute, she didn't realize she was doing it, but she was mouthing other people's lines as she was standing up there. She new everyone's lines!!! It was so funny! She didn't believe us when we told her she was doing it! I always said when she was little, that we'd have an actress in the family!

She's always enjoyed doing plays and this has been such a wonderful opportunity for her. She has only one more year that she can try out for the Children's Theatre. She was very disappointed until I told her that they have High School Drama Club that she can do after that! She was VERY excited to hear that! We're so proud of our little actress!

A good book

I'd like to recommend a really good book. Gloria gave it to us for Christmas and we have thoroughly enjoyed reading it together.

I telecommute or work at home. I have a habit of gobbling down my food and hurrying back to the computer to work because there is so much to do. At least that is what I tell myself.

This is one of those books that lends itself to being read aloud. I shared one of the poems in the book with Betty one day after lunch, and before long, we were sharing it after each meal.

All of the verses in this book teach principles. Some are funny and some brought us to tears. The verses were all uplifting.

This is a book that will be a valued addition to our family library, and I recommend it highly.

In Memory of Eddie

Ed was an easy going boy who always loved to play with his army men and motorcycles. He would play for hours by himself making all these sounds like motorcycles. His mom used to love to cuddle with him in the rocking chair and he sure would snuggle up close. He was happy go lucky and had a great sense of humor. His friends called him "the gentle giant". He was a big boy for his age and grew to 6' 6" tall. He loved cats and I remember one time he called me & wanted our help cause his dad stepped on his kitty's head and he was afraid it was going to die. Kent & I hurried over to his house and here he is, this kid with such a HUGE hand holding the tiny little kitty with watery eyes afraid his kitty wasn't going to make it. We rushed to the vet and he saved the kitty's life. Ed was grateful that his kitty made it.

When he was 10 yrs old he was diagnosed with bone cancer in his left leg and he had surgery and 2 years of chemo therapy. I remember him telling his dad and I not to worry that it was going to be okay.

Ed loved the Pittsburgh Steelers, so today, Ed, we are rooting for the Steelers just for you!. Ed loved to imitate people and he was pretty good at it.

I remember one of our phone conversations that he was telling me how much he missed his sister.

I remember one time when Andi and Matthew and Kent & I went to visit him & he held Matthew. Matthew was a baby then, but he thought Matthew was a cute baby.

Any way, Ed we love you and everyone who knows you misses you.

Brenda & Eddie

Memories are flowing through my head. I remember when Eddie and Brenda were little, Brenda used to get Eddie to eat worms, wasn't it worms, Brenda? Of course they tell me this after they got a little older. I remember when we first brought Eddie home and we had him home about 2 weeks, and Brenda told us we could take him back to the hospital now, he had been here long enough.

I remember one time when Brenda & my mom went shopping and it was in the winter, so there was a lot of snow on the ground. Mom was on the way home and she was taking the Old Stage Coach Road that goes along directly above there house and all of a sudden mom got stuck in the mud & snow. She put the car in park and told Brenda to stay in her car seat. Mom got out to look the situation over and put some rocks & dirt in front of the wheel and then got back in the car and here is Brenda out of her car seat standing in the driver's seat and had the steering wheel just really turning it cause she was going to help grandma get out of the mud. She was about 2 or 3. My mom never did figure out how she got out of the car seat.

Another time I took Brenda shopping with me and we went to Duckwall's downtown (showing our age a little), my mom went with us. Mom used to make her homemade wine and she used the big balloons to put on the top of the bottles. We got in the store and mom put the balloons in the basket and was going through the check out and Brenda looked at the cashier & said " those balloons aren't for me ya know. My granma makes wine and that's what she got them for!" My mother could have just died!

I went to the store one time and Eddie was in the back seat sucking on his bottle, he was about 6 mos old and Brenda was in the front seat. I parked the car and was going to get 1 gallon of milk and come right back out. I was gone about 3 min. at the most and when I got back to the car, Eddie was just crying so hard and I couldn't figure out why. I looked in the front seat and here is Brenda with Eddie's bottle sucking on it .

As they got older they became closer and loved going trick or treating on Halloween. One time Eddie was learning how to ride a bike & some kid come up to Eddie & was trying to take his bike and boy did Brenda ever take care of him, She told him "you leave my brother alone" and I think she pushed him down or hit him or something, anyway he went home bawling. They used to love to play together in the portal pool in the back yard.

When Eddie was diagnosed with cancer when he was 10 years old, Brenda, 14 yrs old, was the first one to donate her blood for Eddie one time when his white count was low because of the chemotherapy. Many firemen donated blood for him one time because his white count was so low we were told he would die if we couldn't get blood donations. People really came through and Brenda was the first one.

Betty's teachers

Well, I shall attempt to remember some of my teachers. I've pretty much forgotten K 1st,2nd, and 3rd teachers, but I do remember I had to take 1st grade over. I really loved school and I do remember my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Jumper. She was very slender & always had a smile & positive attitude. My 5th grade was Miss Strowig..very slender tall lady & was probably in her 50's or 60's at the time. We did square dancing in her class & did I love that!! I got kind of close to her & it caused us some problems. She gave me an "A" in math on my report card. Mom knew how I was in math & she knew there was now way I could have made an "a"...homework and math tests were d's & f's. Mom went to the school and talked to the teacher & she admitted she was so fond of me she wanted to give me an "a", but she had to change it to a "d". Thank goodness for a mom who wanted to make sure I really earned that "a". Next report card, I did honestly get it up to a "c". I think she was my very favorite teacher (because of the square dancing) and I just loved her.

My 6th grade was Mrs. Tanilien. She taught Spanish and I always made straight a's in it. She could speak Italian & Spanish, of course she was Italian. I remembered her telling our class one time when she was traveling and she met someone who spoke only Spanish and she spoke only Italian and they could converse well together.

My 7th grade was Mr. Stancato, he was also Italian. He taught Life's Problems and I remember him telling us that there was no harder thing to do than to raise a child. I thought he was being ridiculous, but later on in life found out he was abstolutely correct. No manual comes with those babies.

Mr. Ledbetter was my 8th grade typing teacher and I sat in the far back of the class and a boy sat the table next to me and was always borrowing paper from me. One day we were getting ready to type and he asked me if he could borrow some paper, and as I rolled my eyes & was going to had him some paper my teacher stepped in between the two tables & grabbed the paper and handed it to me and he told the boy he would no longer be borrowing any more paper and that he would come to class with his own paper or he would fail the class. He always came with his own paper after that. Pretty cool teacher. That's all I can remember right now, but I sure did love school and during the summer I worked ad as a PBX operator and did typing and filing in the school office. I earned enough money to buy my parents their first Polaroid camera. They were suprised.

When I graduated from highschool I bought my first car, but dad would do the work on it, if it needed repairs, but I had to pay for the parts. My parents were very good teachers in many ways.