Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 to honor the the 11th hour, 11th day of the 11th month when fighting ceased between the Allied nations and Germany during World War I. The Sentinel salutes all Shenandoah veterans who have served,  and those who are currently on active duty. The following is a list of city residents who responded to the Sentinel’s “Calling All Veterans”:

Cesar J. Aguirre, Navy, 4 years
John Brennan, Navy Reserves, 8 years
Robert Irving Bryan, Marine Corps, 3 years
Forest Lynn Clough, Army, 3.5 years
Steven F. Crooke, Army, 4 years
Gary Henson, Army, 2 years
John Houston, Army, 2 years
Norman J. Lindemann, Texas National Guard, 9 years
Anthony Lux, Marine Corps, 20 years
John Parker, Navy, 4 years
Wenqing Su, Army, 10 years
Savannah Sullivan, Army, currently serving since 2021
Gene Wells, Navy, 5 years

Five local veterans submitted stories to the Sentinel, they are included below in alphabetical order.

Cesar J Aguirre

After basic training at Great Lakes, ILl, I was assigned to Company 761 for naval training on December 17, 1965. I learned about navy life including survival skills at sea, arms and drills. At graduation we earned “The Flag Company” for winning the most flags among the graduating companies. I graduated with a rank of E2 or Seaman Apprentice.

The ship USS William C. Lawe DD 763 arrived at Mayport, Florida, on 9 March and commenced leave and upkeep. May and June were spent in support of Gemini IX and X. For the next several months, the destroyer served as a school ship for the Fleet Sonar School at Key West, Florida; joined in “Demolex 1-66” off the coast of North Carolina; and conducted type training exercises. Lawe returned to Mayport on 19 November and remained in port for the remainder of the year.

The ship’s first 1967 underway period was a three-week “Springboard” operation in the Caribbean during February. Operations with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the Virginia Capes area followed. On 1 May, Lawe deployed to the Mediterranean. While conducting routine exercises at Villefranche-sur-Mer, she received a 24-hour notice to speed to the eastern Mediterranean upon the outbreak of the Arab-Israeli War. She remained in the area for three weeks.

The destroyer remained in the Mediterranean and continued operations until 31 August when she departed for her home port Upon returning to Mayport, the ship spent the remainder of 1967 serving as a sonar school ship at Key West and undergoing various inspections at her home port.

From January through March, 1968 the ship conducted exercises in the Caribbean with in-port periods at Mayport. Returning to her home port on 28 March, the ship prepared for an upcoming overhaul. After anti-submarine exercises and a two-week trip to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Lawe got underway in May for Charleston, South Carolina and overhaul. After a successful sea trial in October, the destroyer returned to Mayport, Florida, on 5 November. At this time, the ship was placed in “Reduced Operational Status”, and spent the remainder of 1968 in Mayport, Florida.

The ship continued in reduced operational status for the first five months of 1969. On 7 July, Lawe left Mayport en route to Newport, Rhode Island, for repairs. She returned to Mayport on 19 July and began preparations for refresher training and inspections in the Caribbean which were completed in early October.

I left active duty in the navy on October 21, 1969 after sea service of 3 years, 7 months and 13 days. My last rank was E4 or Petty Officer 3rd Class, my rate was Ship Serviceman or SH3. During General Quarters stations, I served in the Forward Gun. I remained on reserve status until the end of my navy contract that expired on December 16, 1971.

Forest Lynn Clough

It was on February 22, 1957 when a C-124 crashed onto a sandbar in the middle of the Han River (South Korea). I was flying the second helicopter to arrive on the scene and picked up two survivors from floating ice. I started evacuating survivors and within a few minutes, over 20 other helicopters started arriving.

Thanks to the unique capabilities of the helicopter and the pilots’ skills, 137 out of the 159 soldiers on board the C-124 were rescued before an 18 foot tide rolled in.

Steven F. Crooke

I served as a US Army officer from 1979-1983. I started as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 1st Infantry Division based in Ft. Riley, Kansas and finished my tour as a captain. My army branch was Ordnance. I followed the example of service set by my father who also served and retired as a US Army officer in the Ordnance Corps in Vietnam in 1967.

Norman J. Lindemann

In September 1953, I joined the National Guard of Texas, the 49th Armored Division, still a senior in school. We had about 12 men from our small town of Holland, Texas and our Ag teacher, Mr. Baker was a major in the guard unit. In 1959 I moved to Dallas and was in the guard there. In 1960, the 49th Armored Division was mobilized and reported to Fort Polk, Louisiana.

I left my wife and year-old son in Dallas. The Russians and Americans were gun barrel to gun barrel in Berlin so we were to be sent over if fighting broke out. We had some 15,000 troops at Polk, which had been closed down after the Korean conflict ended in 1955. We had cows in the barracks, no kitchens operating for two weeks. We were released on the 10th of August 1961. With an honorable discharge, rank of Buck Sgt E-5, my total time in service was almost 9 years. I would not want to do it again, but I would if asked to. The military is good for creating memories.

Savannah Sullivan

Savannah Sullivan is a 2019 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, daughter of Shenandoah resident Shannon Sullivan and grand-daughter of 30-year residents Fred and LaVerne Balke.

Savannah left for Army basic training January 2021. After completing basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina she left for Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas for 6 week training in combat medic and earned EMT certification. Following combat medic training, she left for Fort Benning, Georgia completing and graduating Airborne school. She graduated August 13, 2021 and joined the ranks of 173rd Airborne division in Vicenza, Italy.