Four locals share memories of time served

By Robert Williams

Editor

Four area veterans were selected to take part in the Veterans Honor Flight of North Dakota and Minnesota three days May 4-6 in the nation’s capital.

David O. Mickelson, Jerry W. Mott, Edgar J. Jahnke of Frazee and Murray C. Trieglaff, of Detroit Lakes, were four of the 100 to make the trip to Washington, D.C., this month.

Both Jahnke and Mickelson described the trip as moving and somewhat solemn, but not a surprise as each veteran there is contemplating thoughts and memories of their time served and those they served with.

“Everybody seemed kind of quiet,” Jahnke said. “Everybody was friendly but it was kind of subdued.”

“People kept kind of to themselves,” said Mickelson.

After departing Fargo on Sunday, May 4, the group arrived in Baltimore and had a box lunch on the way to D.C. By 12:30 p.m., they were at the National World War II memorial, followed by the U.S. Marine Corps memorial, the National Museum of the Army before retiring to the Hyatt Regency Crystal City for dinner and a social hour.

Day two started early at 6:45 a.m., with breakfast and a first stop at the Navy Memorial, followed by the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, lunch and a drive to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. 

“Every service got their own wall,” Jahnke said regarding the most publicized Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. 

“They had the traveling display in New York Mills that my wife and I took in,” Mickelson said. “By the time I walked halfway through that I kind of lost it. All those names.”

The next stop at Arlington National Cemetery was another emotional one.

“I was so surprised; I thought it was just one field,” said Jahnke. “Jerry asked them how long before they fill it up and they said 20 years.”

“It’s amazing that there was that much room set aside for expansion,” Mickelson said. “They say there are about 35 burials a day.”

The trip continued with visits to the Military Women’s Memorial and the Air Force Memorial. 

Prior to leaving for home on Tuesday, the veterans visited the National Archives and Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Maryland.

Both David and Edgar highly recommend taking the trip if able and were thankful for the many volunteers.

“They were ready to do anything for you,” said Jahnke.

David O. Mickelson, National Guard

David O. Mickelson grew up in Frazee and still calls the area home today. David enlisted in the National Guard in August 1955 in Detroit Lakes and was discharged honorably in February 1962. 

“We had a tough outfit,” Mickelson said. “We had a Field First and a First Sergeant for our outfit, both of them had been in the Battle of Kasserine Pass in the second World War. They were hard as nails; they didn’t let up on a guy, at all.”

He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then spent active duty time in the Combat Support Company 2nd Brigade 136th Infantry, based out of Detroit Lakes. 

“I was a forward observer in our heavy mortar company,” said Mickelson. “My service in the military instilled a lifetime of patriotism and I’m very proud to have served.”

Mickelson’s time of serving was at the end of the Korean conflict and prior to the start of Vietnam.

“I was so fortunate to have eight years there that I could have been involved in a war,” he said.

Mickelson stated an invitation to participate in the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. will be one of the highlights of his life. 

“A huge thank you is due to all who made this trip possible,” he said.

Mickelson has a special goal for his trip, to honor the memory of his first cousin, Donald Mickelson. David grew up on the farm with Donald, both of their fathers were partners. 

“He died in an explosion and fire while serving in Korea in 1955 when he was 20-years-old. He’d answered the call of his country and just a really nice guy. When I saw the impact that it had on his family and went to the national cemeteries and national memorials and standing there and thinking of the impact that his death had on his family and his community and saw that multiplied many times over. It’s very moving and almost overwhelming.”

And David’s military time ended, he worked in turkey farming. 

“I am now enjoying fewer gobble-gobbles in my retired life,” he said. “My wonderful wife, Jan, and I were married in 1960. We raised two fine children and are now grandparents to five. I enjoy fishing and golfing in my spare time.”

Mickelson is a charter member of the Wolf Lake Lions Club and is active in his church, Bethany Lutheran.

Jerry W. Mott, U.S. Army, PFC

U.S. Army Private First Class Jerry Mott is originally from Lake Park and now calls Frazee home. The Army drafted me, and I served from 1965 through 1967. 

“I spent my basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and was then assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry where I worked as a clerk,” Mott said. 

Mott’s unit saw time in An Khe, Vietnam. 

“Heading back to the U.S., will always be my favorite memory of my time in the service,” he said.

After being discharged, Jerry moved back to Minnesota and worked in farming for the rest of my professional days.

“I now enjoy being retired,” he said. “My incredible wife, Esther, and I were married in 1969. We are the proud parents of four wonderful children, grandparents of two more, and even call ourselves great-grandparents these days!”

Murray C. Trieglaff, U.S. Army

Murray C. Trieglaff is originally from Frazee, now living in Detroit Lakes.

Trieglaff was drafted by the Army and served from September 1967 through September 1968. He completed basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and was then assigned to the 25th Infantry Division where he worked as a radio teletype operator. 

Trieglaff saw time at Fort Gordon, Georgia; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; and Tay Ninh and Cu Chi, Vietnam. 

“There’s a funny story from near the end of my time in the Army about how I feared I’d receive an Article 15 and some time in the brig for delivering a case of toilet paper,” he said. “I received neither but still chuckle at the absurdity of that event.”

After the Army, Trieglaff worked as an office manager for a furniture store in Fargo, North Dakota, a car salesman in Grand Forks, and then owned my own fire extinguisher business —Thomas Fire Equipment — in Detroit Lakes for 25 years before retiring. 

“My sweetie and I share a blended family of eight children whom we both love to pieces. I am a member of the VFW and the American Legion,” he said. 

Edgar J. Jahnke, U.S. Army Sergeant

Sergeant Edgar J. Jahnke of Frazee was drafted by the Army in August 1961. After graduating from basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he spent time with the Post Engineers 7th Infantry, based out of Camp Casey, Korea where he operated heavy equipment, mainly road graders. 

Jahnke had a humorous recollection of his time in Korea.

“The best thing I can remember is going pheasant hunting up by the DMZ,” he laughed. “I could say I was fortunate that I didn’t get into anything. I just worked at the post.”

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a 2.5-mile-wide buffer zone between North and South Korea, established at the end of the Korean War.

Edgar said he “kind of enjoyed it,” being at war, as much as one can.

“I took a lot of pride in taking care of our camp and keeping it in tip-top shape,” he said.

Jahnke spent a year in Korea and served in the Army until November 1965.

“After my Army career ended, I went to work in the carpentry field,” he said. “The work kept me busy for years. I am now enjoying the retired life very much. My pretty Pauline and I had 50 great years together before her unfortunate passing. Together, we had the privilege of raising three children and were promoted to grandparents five times. I enjoy hunting and fishing in my spare time.”

Jahnke is a member and past Elder at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Frazee.

Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s Veterans for all their sacrifices. Top priority is given to the senior Veterans—World War II and Korean War Veterans—along with other Veterans who may be terminally ill.  Flights occur in the spring and fall of each year pending fundraising.