Veteran Spotlight

Today Senator Murkowski is releasing her 26^th Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of WWII and Korean War veteran Robert Grant of Anchorage. Grant was just 18 years old when he volunteered to join the U.S. Army where he served as a ball turret gunner for the Army Air Corps in the 486^th Bombardment Group. After being stationed in England during WWII, flying over Germany, he later went on to be a radar observer in the 319th Fighter Squadron during the Korean War. His military career later led him to receive a stage waiver to go through pilot training in the U.S. Air Force. 

Robert reflected on his 27 years of service, including his time as ball turret gunner in WWII, “The heroes in that war were in the ground. They were the heroes, not me. Those were the guys that did all the real fighting.”

During his interview, Robert recalled his experience fighting in WWII valuable to helping his fellow serviceman during the Korean War, especially when they came under fire. At this time, Robert was a radar observer, sitting directly behind his pilot.

“Our job was to intercept those airplanes at nighttime. My pilot had never been in combat before so it shocked him and surprised him with these explosions going off outside the airplane. That was all new to him, and I was busy with my radar scope and he was flying the airplane and I was telling him, you go left, port, starboard, and all that,” said Robert Grant. “Sure I was scared, but I didn’t have time to be scared. He needed help. He was flying the airplane, and he needed help because it was frightening to him and I’d been through it, so I knew what the hell it was.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski today is releasing her 25th Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of WWII Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Louis Fessler of Anchorage. Fessler began his military career in Alaska as a young man. He was working on the docks in Whittier as a rigger when he had to report for the draft in Cordova.

During the war, Japanese forces invaded Attu and its neighbor Kiska in the Aleutian Islands. Fessler was part of the effort when U.S. troops retook both Attu and Kiska in the summer of 1943. Although he was trained in desert warfare, his Infantry Division left Alaska and was sent to Pearl Harbor for combat training where he saw firsthand the extensive damage from the attack.

His demolition experience working on the Whittier Tunnel proved to be a valuable asset to the Army when his unit was deployed to fight in the horrific South Pacific War battles in Kwajalein, the Philippines, and Okinawa. He was tasked with handling dynamite, setting booby traps, and making explosives more effective.

Like many of his military comrades, he saw more dead bodies than he could count. The horrors of war were forever etched in his memory.           

“Getting out of it alive is the hardest part,” said Fessler. “I was having nightmares for several years.”

After surviving the war, Louis came back to Alaska to start Fessler Equipment Service in Anchorage, a business that he still operates to this day.

“Louis Fessler offers a unique perspective of Alaska’s role in WWII, a piece of our history that is unknown to many,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He served our nation and our state when we needed it most. I thank him for his service.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski today is releasing her 24^th Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of WWII veteran and Bronze Star recipient Al Hershberger of Soldotna.  Hershberger, just 18 years old when he volunteered to join the U.S. Army, recalls in his interview being eager to pitch in and join the efforts to end the war.

On May 8 of this year, V.E. Day, the landmark 70^th anniversary of the end of the war, Hershberger made sure to call each of the three living members of his battalion – asking them if they remembered where they were 70 years ago to the day. It was a date forever etched in his memory.

During his interview, Hershberger recounts being assigned to his line outfit, the 670^th Field Artillery Battalion, one of the battalions formed after the D-Day invasion.  After basic training in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he remembers heading out on a convoy of over 40 ships at the end of January in 1945—journeying across the North Atlanta for Europe. For fourteen days he was on a ship, the days filled with constant drills for submarine attacks and a couple close calls.

“It was nervousness, anxiety. To say I was scared is a masterpiece of understatement, “said Al Hershberger. “I wasn’t exactly anxious for getting to battle but we were a little bit scared of what lay ahead of us. None of us really had any idea what we were getting into.”

Hershberger was sent to the front lines where he would be in combat for 37 days serving as an ammunition handler. He weighed just over 120 pounds; the shells weighed 95 pounds.  His unit fought on the banks of the Rhine River, near Duisburg, Germany. He recalls late night ammunition runs and the constant noise of tracers being fired across the river from both sides. 

WASHINGTON, DC –On this Memorial Day weekend, Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 23^rd Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of Sterling resident Commander William Howell Jr., a veteran of the United States Navy.  During his 20 year carrier, Howell served on submarines across the country and around the world during the Cold War, the First Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Bill Howell recalls following in his father’s footsteps in joining the Navy, and some close calls during classified missions.  Though he’s not at liberty to talk in detail about those missions, he does recount how close his crew’s submarine came to colliding with another, larger ship deep underwater.

“If we are going to talk about who deserves the recognition, it is the men and the women who have borne the brunt,” said Bill Howell.  “They have done what was asked by this country and its people and we need to see that and thank about that, particularly before we ask them to do it again. We need to ask how many lives is this going to cost, and how many young people is this going to destroy? Even in the best of causes, the cost is very high.” 

“The United States Navy was lucky to have Bill Howell on its submarines,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He served our nation well then moved here to Alaska where he continues his service to the young people at Kenai Peninsula College.  We owe it to veterans like Bill to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski today is releasing her 22nd Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of Soldotna resident Gary Turner, a highly decorated retired U.S. Air Force Captain.  During his fifteen year career, Turner earned a number of honors including the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and Outstanding Airman of the Year.  Now Director and CEO of University of Alaska Kenai Peninsula College, Turner is continuing his life of service by helping to educate the next generation of Alaskans and veterans.

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Turner recalls how as a young person, service to his country was one of the furthest things from his mind. That is, until his brother in-law lost limbs in Vietnam just weeks before he was set to come home. 

“He really opened my eyes to what I feel all American citizens owe to their country.  This man who had lost so much still loved his country.  He was still a patriot,” said Gary Turner.  “Here I am trying to figure out what to do with my life and I thought well, I owe my country something.  I had a debt that I needed to pay, so I enlisted in the Air Force and started my career.”

Over the next fifteen years, Turner served all over the world, including as director of public affairs for Eielson Air Force base in Fairbanks.  He was named as one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year in 1982, the only public affairs specialist to ever receive the honor.  Upon retirement, Turner used his expertise to work at NASA before returning to Alaska with his family and settling on the Kenai Peninsula.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is today releasing her 21st Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of Soldotna resident Jane Fuerstenau who served in the U.S. Navy for five years as a jet mechanic and then served our country in the reserves.     

During her Veteran Spotlight interview, Fuerstenau recalls being 18 years old and a year and a half into college when she realized it wasn’t for her.  She decided to join the military.  It was the luck of the draw that brought her to the Navy, and although she singed on to be a hospital corpsman, a paperwork mix-up put her on track to become an aviation machinist.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is today releasing her 20th Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of Anchorage resident and WWII veteran Captain Howard “Mike” Hunt.  The honor comes as Hunt celebrates his 91^st birthday.

Hunt joined the Army Air Corps, which would eventually become the U.S. Air Force, as a commissioned officer in 1942 when he was 20 years old.  As a member of the Air Transport Command Ferry division, Hunt flew all over the world, including missions over Japan, England, India and Alaska.  He says he flew “just about everything in the fleet,” including the famed Memphis Belle for 10 days during a bomb drive.

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Hunt recalls several near-death experiences during WWII that he says proves he is one of the lucky ones.   

CLICK HERE for the extended interview)

“You realize freedom isn’t free.  There are a lot of men and women who gave their ultimate sacrifice so that we may enjoy our freedom today,” Said Capt. Hunt.  “I am one of the lucky ones. I flew with kind of a religious man and I think the Lord was saving him to do the Lord’s work because that is what he did when he got out of the service.  He went on to help people, and if we would have crashed on some mountain top, that wouldn’t have happened.”

For the last 71 years, Hunt has kept a log book that lists every hour he’s spent in the air.  After the war, Hunt flew supplies and troops to Japan, then he started an airline with a group of other veterans.  It would be the first of several airlines he would build from the ground up in Alaska.  Today, Hunt still enjoys working on his airplanes and flying the Alaskan skies he loves.  

“Mike Hunt is an American hero and Alaskan aviation pioneer,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He knew right from the beginning that he wanted to fly and he used that love of the skies to serve our country well during World War Two and he’s been flying ever since.  We owe it to veterans like Mike to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  It has been named a “Best Practices” example by the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.  Today’s installment is the twentieth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad, and all of the spotlights can be seen by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

Anchorage resident Norman Hogg carries with him an Army-issued Bible received during his service time in World War II, bearing an inscription from then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  He also carries a remarkable abundance of stories, observations and an authentic Alaskan brand of optimism. As the nation remembers the December 7^th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into the Second World War – a “date which will live in infamy” in Roosevelt’s words – Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 19th Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of WWII veteran Norman Hogg.  Hogg was just 19 years old when he recalls hearing of the Pearl Harbor attack on the “wireless” radio.  He would join the U.S. Army just a few months later at age 20.

During his interview, Hogg recounts being assigned to the Signal Corps, where he would put his Eagle Scout training to good use teaching his fellow soldiers how to survive in life-threatening water combat operations.  Though he remained in the United States throughout his military carrier, Hogg recalls losing his childhood friends to the WWII battles overseas and the impact it had on the rest of his life.

(Click here for excerpt of Norman recalling hearing about the Pearl Harbor Attack over the radio. CLICK HERE for the extended interview)

“Americans were killed by a foreign country and I knew we were going to war,” said Norman Hogg.  “There was this comradeship between soldiers that I remember.  We became family.  Those 400,000 people who died, they sacrificed their lives, and I am very grateful to them, because otherwise there would have been tyranny.”

This past October, Hogg was one of 29 Alaskan World War II veterans who traveled Washington, D.C. to visit the WWII memorial as part of the inaugural Last Frontier Honor Flight.  Hogg brought his Bible with him as a link to the past that he says brought him and his service in the military full circle.

“As you get older, memories become more important,” said Hogg.  “I remember times from the war and my childhood and the early years in Alaska.  All these memories are mixed up in you, and they are you.  Life has been good to me.  Life is magnificent!”

“Norman Hogg’s story is one of an American hero,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He stepped up and served our country during one of the most trying times in our nation’s history.  His memories and his legacy should not be forgotten.  We owe it to veterans like Norman to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.” 

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the nineteenth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with theLibrary of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, DC – As the United States commemorates Veterans Day weekend, Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 18th Veteran Spotlightinterview, focusing on the service of Kenai resident Herb Stettler who served in the U.S. Army and did a 13 month tour during the Korean War.  Stettler is an active member of the Kenai Peninsula veteran community, supporting fellow veterans and honoring veteran sacrifice at local events and ceremonies – and has fostered a special bond with his neighbors for years that was reciprocated when they rallied to his aid last year.

During his interview, Stettler recalls being 18 years old when he was asked to register for the draft.  At 20, he enlisted in the Army and his superior officers capitalized on his farm-honed strength making him a machine gun operator.  During his Korean War tour, Stettler says there were some “hairy times” and he was often called upon to provide machine gun cover for his fellow soldiers to escape enemy fire.

CLICK HERE for the extended interview

“I hope that the Lord took all of our men up there for defending the freedoms of our people,” Said Herb Stettler.  “For those of us who made it home, we are there for each other.  It’s a camaraderie thing with your fellow veterans.  You’ve got something in common.  You don’t talk about it much- you’re mostly talking about day to day stuff, but you are there to support each other.”

Stettler was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge for his service.  After he got out of the Army, Stettler made his way to Alaska, eventually settling on the Kenai Peninsula.  Today, at 82 years old, he is an active officer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10046 and the American Legion where he works to honor veterans, their service, and our country.  It’s a commitment the Kenai community returned in an overwhelming way last year, when his home burnt to the ground and the community came together to build him a house.

“My house caught fire.  It was a chimney fire that got away and the whole house went,” Said Stettler.  “The community came in and everybody chipped in and they built me a 10 x 34 foot cabin and put a deck on it and an addition behind it.  It is warm in there and it doesn’t take much to heat it.  They put plumbing in there and my goodness, I am living good.  I sure thank the community.  I owe them a lot.”

“Herb Stettlers’ story is one of an American hero,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He has served our country and returned home where he continues to support active duty military members, veterans and the community as a whole.  We owe it to veterans like Herb to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the eighteenth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with theLibrary of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here. 

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is today releasing her 17th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring Soldotna resident Colonel John Pollock, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1985 to 2010.  Since serving, Pollock has been on the cutting edge of military intelligence gathering in Afghanistan and has devoted himself to helping young veterans make the most of their military benefits at Kenai Peninsula College.

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Pollock recalls being in Quantico, VA when the Twin Towers were hit during the September 11^th attacks and recalls knowing he would be gone “a long time.”  He says he lost a decade with his family while serving our country, as did many of the Marines he served with.

(CLICK HERE for the extended interview)

“As proud and as happy as I am with my military service, there is this gap in my life that I can never get back,” said Col. John Pollock.  “Still, I have absolutely no regrets about my military service.  They were the best 25 years of my professional life.  Marines do this for the Marines to their left and the Marines to their right.”   

During his 25 year Marine Corps career, Pollock did tours in Somalia and Kosovo as well as three tours in Iraq.  A month after his retirement in 2010, Colonel Pollock was in Afghanistan working for General David Petraeus in the Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance team and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.  Pollock would spend the next two years traveling throughout Afghanistan perfecting intelligence operations and technologies for the U.S. Military. Today, Pollock works as the Veteran Services Coordinator for Kenai Peninsula College – a job he says is more fulfilling than he could have imagined.

 “I understand the veteran students who walk through my door.  I spent the last 25 years with them so I think I read them better than most just because we have a shared foundation and some shared experiences,” said Pollock.  “Being able to help them with their benefits, understand their benefits and get access to their benefits has been a really nice way to close out my professional military career.  I have been able to give something back to a group that gave so much to me over the last 25 years.  It kind of closes the circle on my career and I am probably happier doing this than anything I have done in a long, long time.”

“Col. John Pollock’s story is one of an American hero,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He has had a long and distinguished Marine Corps career that includes receiving three Legion of Merit awards and the Bronze Star.  He has not only shown exemplary leadership on the front lines, he continues to serve on the home front, helping young veterans navigate their GI Bill benefits and in some cases, navigate the sometimes scary reality of PTSD.  We owe it to veterans like John to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the seventeenth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, DC –Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 16th Veteran Spotlight installment today featuring Wasilla resident Tina Trosper.  Trosper served in the Army from 2005 to 2010 and was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq as an Aviation Specialist and radio transmit operator.  Since serving, Trosper has devoted herself to helping Alaskan soldiers transition back into the civilian workforce – after having dealt with war both on the front and as the spouse of a deployed soldier.

Tina Trosper was born in Palmer and grew up in Chugiak, joining the JROTC in high school and immediately joining the National Guard once she graduated. After a year, Trosper went active duty and was eventually stationed at Fort Hood.  During her Veteran Spotlight interview, Trosper talks about being a single parent when she was deployed to Iraq and the difficulties of being away from her three year old son.

  CLICK HERE for the extended interview

Trosper left the Army after remarrying and becoming pregnant with her daughter.  During that time, her husband was deployed to Afghanistan and Trosper spent the next 10 months experiencing life from the other side of deployment: the side of the family back home.

Today, Trosper works for Northern Industrial Training in the Transitioning Service Members which provides training and certifications programs to advance veterans and those about to leave the military into a career in the civilian workforce.  She says the program has a 99% placement rate for Alaska’s veterans.

“My husband and I got out of the Army, and we didn’t know what we were going to do or how we were going to provide for our family.  It was a scary thing,” said Tina Trosper.  “Now, through Northern Industrial Training, I am able to help these guys getting out get the training they need to get good jobs.   We put on that uniform together.  We are family and you don’t want to see your family suffer.  You want to see them successful and happy and moving on with the next mission, the next chapter.   It is important to me to still have their backs.”

“Tina Trosper’s story is one of a new generation of American veterans,” said Senator Murkowski.  “She’s proudly served our country while also doing one of the toughest jobs at home: being a mom.  The work she does for Alaska’s service men and women today is vitally important, making sure they transition smoothly back home.  We owe it to veterans like Tina to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the sixteenth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with theLibrary of Congress’ Veterans History Project – which recognized Murkowski’s series earlier this year as a model of best practices. You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski today is releasing her 15th Veteran Spotlight, featuring Colonel Suellyn Wright Novak of Eagle River, a United States Air Force veteran who served more than 32 years active duty.

During her Veteran Spotlight interview, Novak recalls knowing she wanted to join the Air Force from a very young age.  In the 3^rd grade, she was asked to draw a picture of what she wanted to be when she grew up.  She drew a picture of a “2^nd Lieutenant outside a barracks saluting a Major.”  Suellyn told her teacher she wanted to be a colonel in the Air Force in Alaska – and the teacher was so shocked at the clarity of her vision that she convened a parent-teacher conference where Novak’s parents nodded and said that they were aware of the dream of their daughter they nicknamed ‘Scooter.’  Her father said “Scooter’s going to be what Scooter’s going to be.”

CLICK HERE for the extended interview

When Novak was studying at a Pennsylvania college in 1971, women were allowed into Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) for the first time – and she was one of only two girls who joined.  She recalls facing criticism and backlash from men who believed the military was no place for women at multiple levels along her professional ascent, but she continued to pursue her dream of becoming a colonel.

Novak was stationed in Turkey during the height of the Cold War, and became Chief of the Air Force Blood Program during the Gulf War.  While stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Novak brought frozen blood to South Korea in 1994 after she had done work and research on the freezing method, as a decades-long safeguard for future military medical needs – a vast improvement over the 42 day shelf life of whole blood.

Now retired, Suellyn Wright Novak is now the Executive Director and President of the Alaska Veteran Museum where she is credited for taking the museum from a concept to a reality, striving every day to share Alaskan veteran stories with the state and the nation.

“Each individual human life has its own story,” said Colonel Novak, of her work at the museum.  “It bothers me when people say ‘you glorify war.’  No.  That is not what this is about. This is about service and sacrifice.  We tell human interest stories and we tell about people who always put service above self.  Those are the people we remember and memorialize.”

“Suellyn Wright Novak’s story is one of a true American patriot,” said Senator Murkowski.  “She blazed trials for women while she served proudly in the Air Force, and she continues to communicate her pride and the pride Americans should have at the Alaska Veterans Museum.  She has devoted her life to this state’s veterans and preserving our rich military history.  We owe it to veterans like Suellyn to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the fifteenth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with theLibrary of Congress’ Veterans History Project – which recognized Murkowski’s series earlier this year as a model of best practices. You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 14th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring Wasilla resident James Hastings – a U.S. Army veteran who served 22 years in the Infantry.  After his time in the Infantry, Hastings went on to the U.S. Army Reserves and the Alaska National Guard before continuing his service to the nation by serving the battle wounded and battle weary in Alaska and beyond.

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Hastings recalls being only 17 when he knew he wanted to carry on the tradition of military service his family started during the Civil War.  Hastings was assigned to the elite 82^nd Airborne Division and trained all over the world.  He was in Germany when theBerlin Wall fell, returned to America and was stationed in Alaska at Fort Richardson.  Although he was active duty Army Infantry for 22 years, Hastings never saw active combat – something he says was hard to come to grips with.

 CLICK HERE for the extended interview

Today, Hastings has devoted his life to helping other military members and veterans as the Alaska Employment Transition Coordinator for the Department of Defense’s Hero 2 Hired program and as the Director of Operations for the non-profit Alaska’s Healing Hearts.

“Everyone’s normal is different.  Normal for someone who has been on 6 or 7 deployments is combat, not going to the zoo with their kids,” said James Hastings. “We need to get them to a new normal of happiness, so at Alaska’s Healing Hearts, we try to get our warriors back to happy.  We try to instill a spirit of love, understanding and acceptance, and who cares what you had to do there- you’re not there, you are here.  And, every great memory that they make here takes space in their heads that can’t be occupied by bad stuff.”

“James Hastings’ story is one of a dedicated American,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He stepped up and served our country proudly, then devoted his life to helping his fellow soldiers and veterans.  James takes these warriors who have given so much to our nation and helps them find a little peace in the great Alaskan outdoors we all love.  We owe it to veterans like James to honor them by sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the fourteenth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Senator Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country in conjunction with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project. Earlier this year, the interview series was recognized by the Library of Congress as a model way to demonstrate gratitude for the nation’s veterans. You can watch all the interviews by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 13th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring Wasilla resident Tyler Hall, a U.S. Army veteran who served as a combat engineer in Iraq, and in 2003 was the first Alaskan to be injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Hall recalls that generations of his family serving in the Army and the opportunity to travel around the world helped him decide to join on the delayed entry program right after he graduated from Wasilla High School.  During his four years in the Army, Hall traveled around the world until a fateful day in August, 2003 when his caravan was struck by an IED on a road near Tikrit.  Hall was told he died and was revived eight times.

 CLICK HERE for the extended interview

 Hall would spend the next ten years undergoing surgeries to reconstruct and repair injures he received from head to toe. Hall lost his left leg, suffered a punctured lung, torn aorta, broken back and was badly burned on areas not covered by his flame-resistant uniform.  Hall says his healing process is far from over as he still struggles with post tramatic stress disorder, but the support he has received helps him cope.

 It’s not natural what you go through when you go through war,” said Tyler Hall.  “It’s not natural to go and train and you are expected to take somebody’s life.  I think to come back and to have that support and know that you are not alone is so important.  It’s more than just a pat on the back.  It’s the support from your friends, your family and the community that get you through.”

Hall later received the Purple Heart award from President George W. Bush, at the request of Sen. Ted Stevens, Senator Murkowski and Congressman Don Young. 

“Tyler Hall’s story is one of a true American patriot,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He stepped up and served our country, made a huge sacrifice, and now, has become a strong voice for veterans’ advocacy in the Mat-Su Valley.  We owe it to veterans like Tyler Hall to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the thirteenth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with theLibrary of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 12th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring Ron Travis of Big Lake.  Travis, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, has devoted his life to serving his fellow veterans. These days, Travis is working to start the Last Frontier Honor Flight, the first non-profit in Alaska dedicated to bringing veterans to Washington, DC to visit the memorials dedicated to their service.

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Travis talks about how the Navy was a family business; his father and brother both served in the Navy, so when Travis got out of high school in 1961 he also joined.  Travis was assigned to the USS Providence CLG-6 and quickly sent to Vietnam.  The guided-missile cruiser Providence was the first U.S. Navy ship of its size to travel up the Saigon River and park in front of Saigon.

CLICK HERE for the extended interview

After getting out of the Navy, Travis used the GI Bill to go to college in Washington state where he recalls his professors, during the height of the Vietnam War, organized protests to the war.  Travis and his fellow veterans were some of the few to safely return from Vietnam and believed the troops there still needed support. In response, the group organized a counter protest to have a veteran in every classroom so that the professors could not shirk their teaching duties. This act would be the first in a lifetime of standing up for America’s veterans.

“I have been thanked more for my service in the last 2 years than I have in the last 50 before,” said Ron Travis.  “We’re on the right track, but I think we can do more.  We need to recognize our veterans and the sacrifices they have made.  Some people take it for granted.  It’s all about the veterans, and I am proud to be part of it.”

Travis also speaks of the growing awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among returning military personnel, saying that in years past it had been dismissed as mostly being “shellshocked.”  He says that the reality is “you’re not carrying around a bullet, but you’re scarred.”

Ron Travis is now devoting his life to organizing the first Honor Flight in Alaska, and has set a goal to bring 25 of Alaska’s WWII veterans to Washington, DC this fall.  

“Ron Travis’ story is one of a true American patriot,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He has lived some of the injustices we have put our veterans through in the past, and has been a driving force in Alaska to make sure we fully appreciate their sacrifices.  On this Memorial Day, and every day, we owe it to veterans like Ron Travis to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the twelfth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with theLibrary of Congress’ Veterans History Project, who recently designated the “Veteran Spotlight” series as a ‘Best Practice’ of this veteran outreach and education effort.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 11th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring Jim VanOss, a U.S. Army Veteran drafted during the Vietnam War who served as a military police officer and an embassy guard in Saigon during the Tet Offensive.

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, VanOss recalls being 20-years-old when he was drafted into the Army after failing a college class at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.  When he arrived in Vietnam, last minute order changes put VanOss on guard duty at the U.S. embassy in Saigon.  Just a few months later, the Tet Offensive transformed Saigon from a place where soldiers took their R&R leave freely, to a dangerous war zone.

CLICK HERE for the extended interview

“I count myself as one of the lucky ones.  I was never injured and I never had to kill anyone. There were a few close calls, but I was lucky.  Now, 40 years later, I have Parkinson’s.  Is it from the Agent Orange?  I don’t know.  But the Veterans Administration help I have gotten has been very good.  I never thought that 40 years after being discharged from the Army that I would need help from the VA, but they have been very, very helpful.”

After 15 months in Vietnam, VanOss returned home to Wisconsin, where he used the GI Bill to finish college.  Once he graduated, VanOss decided to hitchhike to Alaska, where he worked on the construction of the TransAlaska Oil Pipeline before homesteading in Homer – where he raised bison and European wild boar.

“Jim VanOss’ life story is one of an Alaskan pioneer who sees the good where he can,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He came to Alaska when it was a young state, and he helped build not only our great oil pipeline, but also our state’s agriculture industry.  We owe it to veterans like Jim VanOss to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaskan veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the eleventh in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with theLibrary of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski released her tenth Veteran Spotlight installment today, showcasing Jim Vance – a United States Marine Corps veteran and Purple Heart recipient who served in Vietnam.  An active member of Alaska’s veteran community, Vance shared his incredible story of facing sniper fire during the war, which led to a life-changing moment on the morning of April 30^th, 1970 – a firefight he still remembers today as when “all hell broke loose.”

Born in 1950, Vance knew he wanted to be a Marine from a very early age. He recalls being 14-years-old when his father, a U.S. Air Force airman, flew on his first mission over Da Nang, Vietnam.  Four years later, at 18, Vance joined the Marines and was stationed near that same city.  Vance would only get to serve from 1969 until 1970, when he was seriously injured by a mortar blast and machine gun fire.

In his Veteran Spotlight interview, Vance recalls the first time his unit came under fire, the close friends he lost, his numerous injuries, and his daily battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Vance says he struggled with anger for decades until receiving counseling and returning to Vietnam where he finally was able to heal some old wounds.  Vance says that these days, in times of acute stress, he finds relaxation by spending time with his dogs.

CLICK HERE for the extended interview

“I remember hearing bells.  That’s how I knew I was hit: the bells wouldn’t stop.  After I made sure I could still see and I still had my arm, I jumped up, and that’s when I was hit by seven rounds in my arm and chest.  It was April, 30^th at 8:30 in the morning.  It’s like a camera in my head; I remember it all,” said Jim Vance. “When I went back to Vietnam seven years ago, I met the general who was commanding the army that wiped us out, I met the guys who shot me.  They were doing a job just like us.  It was a good healing trip for me.”

“Jim Vance paid a heavy price for our country, and his service continues,” said Senator Murkowski.  “Jim remains active in the veteran community, and he and his son are fixtures at Stand Down events and other outreach programs.  His wounds are still healing, and he is continuing his commitment to service by helping the wounds of others heal as well. We owe it to veterans like Jim to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the tenth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with theLibrary of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her ninth Veteran Spotlight installment today, showcasing the work of Hugh “Bud” Fate, a U.S. Army Veteran who was drafted during the Korean War and helped map the ALCAN Highway for military use.

Born in 1929, Fate recalls his family being greatly impacted by the Great Depression when he was a child.  As a young man, he moved to Alaska for better job opportunities and for the Frontier life style.  Fate recalls working on a drill rig on the North Slope in 1950 when the radio message came in that the United States was at war.  “I remember thinking it wouldn’t affect me way up on the Slope, but two weeks later to the day, I got my first draft notice,” said Bud Fate. 

Fate never made it to Korea.  When his commanders found out he was from Alaska, they tapped him for the Army mapping of the ALCAN Highway.  Fate rode in the lead Jeep on all the twists and turns of the newly constructed 1,700 mile road advising the mission commanders about the Arctic and Alaska. 

CLICK HERE for the extended interview

After his time in the Army was up, Fate returned home to Alaska, where he met his wife Mary Jane Fate(nee Evans), a young woman who would go on to become a powerful Alaska Native leader in the Fairbanks and Interior communities.  As they were raising their young family, Bud Fate used the GI Bill to put himself through dental school, an opportunity he says would have been out of his reach had it not been for his military service.  Fate would go on to serve Fairbanks in the Alaska Legislature from 2001 to 2005.

“Bud Fate’s life story is woven into the tapestry of Alaskan history,” said Senator Murkowski.  “He was one of the first people to strike oil on the North Slope, helped map the ALCAN Highway and he served the Interior as a State Representative in Juneau.  We owe it to veterans like Bud to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the ninth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with theLibrary of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

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“I Hope Alaskans Remember What We Did”

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski today is releasing her 8^th Veteran Spotlight installment featuring Father Norman Elliott, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.  Now nearly 94-years-old, Elliott recalls living in Michigan at age 22 when the war broke out and the calling he felt to defend his country - putting seminary school on hold to join the National Guard and then the U.S. Army in 1941. Nine months later, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor led the United States to join the Allies in WWII.

In his interview, Father Elliott shared his stories of the grit and resourcefulness of troops in 1941 – using 1917 Howitzers and training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, which he said was “built on gumbo mud.”  He also shared his observation that America was not adequately prepared in those days, and that “the Japanese could have gone into any port along the [Pacific] coast and not been stopped.”

CLICK HERE for the extended interview)

“I remember good times, I remember bad times.  I remember times where I barely escaped by the skin of my teeth,” said Father Norman Elliott.  “You never forget.  I remember, and there are things that I wish I had done, or didn’t do.  I hope that as a whole, Alaskans remember what we did, because as a nation, we are losing our remembrance of WWII.”

Father Elliott served in the 89^th Infantry Division, 341^st Field Artillery Battalion, B Battery during WWII

Before Father Elliott’s unit was sent to Europe, they were chosen to serve in an experimental “light unit” modeled after the German Light Divisions. After a year of research and training in the swamps of Louisiana and the mountains of California, Elliott was shipped to Europe where he fought the German Army in France, Luxembourg, Germany and England.  After the war concluded, Father Elliott returned to the United States and devoted his life to God and the Episcopal Church.  In 1952, he was stationed in Alaska, where he would spend the next 50 years traveling and ministering for the Episcopal Church throughout the state.  Father Elliott retired in 1990 but remains active in the community, and was recently appointed to Anchorage’s Military and Veterans Advisory Commission.

“Father Elliott has been a beloved priest and key leader in interreligious relationships throughout Alaska since he arrived in 1952,” said Senator Murkowski.  “But what he did in WWII isn’t as widely known in our state.  We owe it to veterans like Father Norman Elliott to honor their legacy through sharing their stories, and we owe it to ourselves to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service these heroes demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus to honor and draw well-deserved attention to an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide.  Today’s installment is the eighth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Senator Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 7th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring Nichole Tovar, a U.S. Army veteran who served as a nurse in the Baghdad Green Zone and continues her service in the U.S. Army Reserves, as well as being a proud advocate and representative for young veterans of our current conflicts.

Nichole Tovar grew up in Palmer, Alaska, and joined the Army as soon as she turned 18.  During her Veteran Spotlight interview she recalls a powerful draw to do something meaningful for her country. After completing basic training, Tovar continued her Army training to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.  She deployed to Iraq in 2004 and served at the 31^st Combat Support Hospital, where she cared for seriously injured Iraqi detainees.

CLICK HERE for the full interview where Tovar discusses her Iraqi Tour.)

“I am so proud of all our veterans.  A lot of people in the civilian world think that we all suffer from PTSD and have emotional issues, and that’s not the case” said Nichole Tovar.  “We are not broken people.  We are a generation of young, highly trained professionals that can take on anything you ask.  We wear our wounds internally, but we keep driving on.  Our experience as soldiers adds to us and makes us stronger.  There is nothing we can’t do.”

 After serving four years of active duty, Tovar joined the Army Reserves and took advantage of the GI Bill at the University of Alaska, Anchorage where she is president of Student Veterans of UAA. Tovar earned her Associates Degree in Culinary Arts and will complete her degree in Hospitality and Restaurant Management in early 2014.  Tovar currently serves on Anchorage’s Military and Veteran Affairs Commission and is dedicated to helping yesterdays warriors become today’s scholars and tomorrow’s leaders.

 “Nichole’s story highlights the experience of a woman in today’s Army,” said Senator. Murkowski.  “This is a new generation of soldier who is serving our nation bravely, then coming home and making meaningful contributions to the civilian world too.  We owe it to veterans like Nichole Tovar to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrate for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is Senator Murkowski’s monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Today’s installment is the seventh in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan, in conjunction with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 6th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring U.S. Army veteran Vanessa Meade – who served on the front lines during the Gulf War.  Meade continued her service in the National Guard, then came to Alaska where she created the Alaska Veterans Organization for Women last year.

During the First Gulf War, Vanessa Meade was a military police officer in Iraq, charged with transporting potentially-dangerous prisoners of war – frequently finding herself on the front lines of Operation Desert Storm.  During her Veteran Spotlight interview, Meade recalls that her prisoners often didn’t realize she was a woman until she spoke to them.  She also remembers the difficult split she felt between her and other female soldiers because of the need she felt to be “one of the guys” throughout her military career.

Click HERE for extended interview

“As a woman in the military, especially in a combat-type situation, you want to be seen as one of the guys and you want to fit in.  You go above and beyond to prove yourself and you’re almost pitted against your fellow female soldiers,” said Vanessa Meade.   “It’s an unfortunate reality, and I started the Alaska Veterans Organization for Women to bring women veterans together to share experiences and support one another when once they return to Alaska.”

Vanessa Meade’s Alaska Veterans Organization for Women, or AVOW, was created in 2011 to support women veterans through advocacy, collaboration and empowerment.  AVOW members tackle issues like the guilt associated with women leaving their families to serve, military sexual trauma- which ranges from sexual harassment to rape, and lack of some VA services for women.

“Vanessa’s story highlights the experience of a woman in a world dominated by men, especially as it was in the early 1990s,” said Murkowski.  “She served her nation bravely, then returned home and created the only women-specific veterans support group in Alaska.  We owe it to veterans like Vanessa Meade to share her story and her duty, and we owe it to all Americans to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrated for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is a monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of our conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  This installment is the sixth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, the Senator posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad, in conjunction with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  The interview series is now a feature at the Alaska Veterans Museum, as well as an educational tool for students around the state.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 5th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring Earl Wineck of Anchorage – anAlaska Territorial Guard (ATG) member and U.S. Army veteran.  In 1934, before World War II, Wineck’s father headed to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley to make a place for his family.  Two years later, Earl’s mother took the rest of the family to Alaska in a Studebaker to join up with his father and begin farming.

In 1942, Wineck joined the ATG at 15, the earliest age permitted. As an ATG member, he watched the skies over Southcentral Alaska for any signs of Japanese airplanes and helped Valley families conduct several blackout drills during World War II.  As soon as Earl Wineck turned 18 in 1945, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and was stationed on Adak Island.

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Wineck recalls the harsh reality of military service on the farthest reaches of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.  Rotten food, isolation, murder and suicide claimed the lives of some of his fellow soldiers. Wineck says he survived due to the unique type of toughness he had acquired living and working as a farmer in the Mat-Su Valley.

CLICK HERE for longer interview

“I guess I was lucky - I survived all that, and I think the big reason was the way I was brought up.  As a farming family, you had to do what you had to do to survive,” said Wineck.  “You had to depend on each other in those early days, and I used that same mentality to survive Adak.”

“Earl’s story is one of an Alaskan pioneer, in more ways than one,” said Sen. Murkowski.  “The Alaskan pioneering spirit shaped Earl and proved to be a lifeline for him in the Aleutian Islands Campaign during World War II. We owe it to veterans like Earl Wineck to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrated
for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is a monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of our conflicts worldwide to honor and draw the well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  This installment is the fifth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012.  Every month, the Senator will post a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad, in conjunction with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.  You can watch them all by clicking here.

Senator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49^th State to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project.  If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

In honor of Alaska General Aviation Appreciation Month, Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the Veteran Spotlight of Holger “Jorgy” Jorgensen, an Alaska Territorial Guard member and U.S. Army veteran living in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Jorgy Jorgensen saw his first airplane flying over the Nome area when he was just six, and knew instantly that he wanted to be a pilot.  In 1942, a week after his 15^th birthday, Jorgensen volunteered for the Alaska Territorial Guard and worked as a radio operator, monitoring the airwaves for signs of the Japanese during WWII.  A few years later, Jorgensen enlisted in the U.S. Army and was tapped to be in the elite Alaska Scouts.

(CLICK HERE for interview)

Now 85, Jorgensen says the Army shaped his life. “In many ways, the war and military service was one of my life’s greatest fortunes,” said Jorgensen.  “It opened up doors for me, and it was because of the G.I. Bill that I was able to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a pilot.  Flying was such a big part of my life - until I went blind in 1994.”

During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Jorgensen recalled being a young boy in Nome in the when Alaska Natives were segregated from the White population.  He tells the story of a defiant act in 1944 when he refused to move from the White section of Nome’s movie theater.  Jorgensen’s actions proved to be the spark that ignited equality in the gold rush town.

“Jorgy’s story is one of an Alaskan pioneer, in more ways than one,” said Sen. Murkowski.  “It’s amazing that a single man had such a huge impact on Nome civil rights and on the Alaskan aviation community.  We owe it to veterans like Jorgy Jorgensen to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrated for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is a monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of our conflicts worldwide to honor and draw the well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Every month, the Senator will post a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad, in conjunction with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.

To nominate an Alaskan veteran to be included in Sen. Murkowski’s Veteran Spotlight project, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

In honor of National Airborne Day, Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the Veteran Spotlight of Paul Shirey, an Army infantry veteran living in Eagle River, Alaska who was inspired to join the Army after 9/11 and did tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In a compelling and honest Veteran Spotlight interview, Paul recounts his experiences while serving with the 4^th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division based at Fort Richardson.  Paul served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2004 and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2008.  Though he has now been home in Alaska for years, Shirey still struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) every day.

“You have a whole new generation of soldiers who are going to be affected by the things they have seen and done,” said Shirey.  “Any time I have a down day, I think about the fallen, and I think about what they would be doing with their lives right now.  There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about them.  I live my life for them, and it helps me appreciate what I have.”

CLICK HERE for interview

“Unfortunately, PTSD is a very real problem for veterans returning home from war,” said Murkowski.  “This is a new generation of veterans, and it takes the entire Alaskan community, to reach out to these men and women who have fought for us to help them through the darkness.  We owe it to them to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrated for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is a monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of our conflicts worldwide to honor and draw the well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Every month, the Senator will post a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad, in conjunction with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.

Congress created the Veterans History Project (VHP), in 2000. Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel in the U.S. Senate, sponsored the project under unanimous support. The law was signed by President Bill Clinton on October 27, 2000.  The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by Senator Murkowski and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) that commemorates August 16^th as National Airborne Day.

To nominate an Alaskan veteran to be included in Sen. Murkowski’s Veteran Spotlight project, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Independence Day, Senator Lisa Murkowski is commemorating it by releasing her latest “Veteran Spotlight” featuring Alaskan veteran Benno Cleveland – a Fairbanks Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War.

In his Veteran Spotlight interview, Benno talks about volunteering for the U.S. Army in 1968 under the Great Society Choice after running into trouble with the law in Fairbanks.  He served two tours in Dong Tam, Vietnam, earning the Purple Heart before being discharged for medical reasons in 1970.  When he returned home to Alaska, Benno recalls struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and a number of health problems, including feeling like he no longer belonged in the “Real World” outside the Vietnam War zone.

click here for ten minutes of Mr. Cleveland’s observations and stories.

“Unfortunately, PTSD is a very real problem for veterans returning home from war, whether that war was decades ago, or it is one going on now,” said Murkowski.  “It takes veterans like Benno, and the entire Alaskan community, to reach out to these men and women who have fought for us to help them heal. We owe it to them to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrated for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is a monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of our conflicts worldwide to honor and draw the well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  These interviews are a collaboration between Senator Murkowski and the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.

Click here for the debut interview from Memorial Day with Harold Bahr, a member of the Alaska Territorial Guard.

Congress created the Veterans History Project (VHP), in 2000. Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel in the U.S. Senate, sponsored the project under unanimous support. The law was signed by President Bill Clinton on October 27, 2000.

To nominate an Alaskan veteran to be included in Sen. Murkowski’s Veteran Spotlight project, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski today released her first “Veteran Spotlight” interview – featuring the stories and observations of Alaskan veteran Harold Bahr.  Bahr began serving in the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) in Nome, Alaska during World War II in 1942 when he was just eleven years old.  ATG members were often men too old or boys too young to be drafted, who volunteered to be the first line of defense for Alaska.

In his Veteran Spotlight interview, Harold recalls sitting in his uncle’s attic as a boy in Nome, hoping the Japanese planes flying overhead would get low and close enough to be in his range.  Harold continued to watch for Japanese ships and planes until 1945.

Harold’s service to the country continued in 1951 when he was old enough to enlist in the US Navy, serving on an ammunition ship during the Korean War.

click here for longer segment

“We can learn a lot about our country, our state, and ourselves from the men and women like Harold who have fought for us,” said Murkowski.  “We owe it to them to honor them through sharing their stories, and we owe it to the rest of us to learn from the high levels of patriotism, commitment and service they demonstrated for us.”

The “Veteran Spotlight” project is a monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of our conflicts worldwide – to honor and draw the well-deserved attention to Alaska’s men and women who served.  Every month, the Senator will post a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad, in conjunction with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

Congress created the Veterans History Project (VHP), in 2000. Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel in the U.S. Senate, sponsored the project under unanimous support. The law was signed by President Bill Clinton on October 27, 2000.

To nominate an Alaskan veteran to be included in Sen. Murkowski’s Veteran Spotlight project, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.