By Spc. Mark Watson

129th MPAD

A man sits quietly under a tent listening

to a soldier giving a speech. The man,

slightly more hunched over than he was

when he was younger, looks at the

American flag to his left, and then behind

the speaker to a different flag, one that is

dedicated to him and thousands of other

men and women who served in the

military. His hat, slightly cocked to one

side offers no relief from the sun, yet he

wears it proudly. It is adorned with several

patches and words. One patch reads Stalag

III C. Running the length of his maroon

garrison cap are the words, Former

Prisoner of War. 

Volume 1, Issue 4 Fall 2004

State honors Korean War veterans

South Dakota Army National Guard

By Spc. Shannon Crane

129th MPAD

An older man wearing a Veterans of Foreign Wars cap sits in his

camp chair with a slight smile on his face. He opens the program

he received only moments ago and skims through the pages,

patiently waiting for the ceremony to begin. A ceremony that, to

him, has been worth the wait.

The South Dakota Korean War Memorial dedication ceremony

was held Sept. 18 in Pierre to honor the men and women who

served in what is known as the Forgotten War.

“It’s been a long time coming, but they finally managed to get

it done,” said Erwin Kost, a U.S. Army veteran who served as a

supply room typist at Fort Eustis, Va., during the Korean War.

The day’s events began with a parade starting at the intersection

of Poplar and Capitol Avenues, showcasing everything from

National Guard units to various marching bands to floats.

“This is fantastic!” said Jim McPhee, a U.S. Air Force veteran

who served as a medical entomologist during the war. “It’s never,

ever too late to recognize a veteran.”

The dedication of the memorial was held near the Capitol.

In this issue

Stories

109th in Afghanistan Pg. 3

Korean War Pg. 4 

Unit homecomings Pg. 5

Former POWs, MIAs Pg. 7

Lewis and Clark Pg. 8

Camp Rapid completes POW, MIA memorial

Photo by Spc. Mark Watson

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Birnbaum, the state sergeant major of the South

Dakota National Guard, left, The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Michael A. Gorman

and former POWs stand by one of the plaques during the unveiling ceremony.

Photo by 1st Lt. Anthony Deiss

The Korean War Memorial sculpture, left, was dedicated

Sept. 18 at the Capitol complex in Pierre. Continued Veterans pg. 10

Continued Memorial pg. 10
AG Comments

We have finally gotten all of the units home that were

serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom One. Very recently

the 1085th returned from Kosovo. The 665th

Maintenance Company will complete its security

mission at Joe Foss Field and EAFB prior to the first of

the year. As our soldiers have done in the past, the

performance of the soldiers in these units has been

outstanding. The same can be said of the Joint Force

Headquarters and other support personnel that

supported the deployed soldiers. The soldier readiness

processing, equipping, and training provided the kind of

soldier care we can all be proud of. Preparing our

soldiers, their families and employers during the

deployment process is critical to mission completion

and the eventual family reunion process.

The three units currently serving in Iraq as part of

Operation Iraqi Freedom Two continue to excel at their

missions. The 2/147th Field Artillery Battalion, the

153rd Engineer Battalion and the 216th Fire Fighter

team have reached the half-way point in their scheduled

12 months “Boots on the Ground.” I used to say the

time has gone by fast, but I no longer say that after I had

a conversation with a mother of three. She told me if I

thought it was going so fast, I needed to spend a little

time with her three kids.

In August I was happy to have gotten the

opportunity to visit the 109th Engineer Group serving in

Afghanistan. They are doing a great job managing the

engineer effort for the Coalition Joint Task Force in the

Afghanistan Theater of Operations. Their morale was

excellent and the leadership of the 25th Division, the

Engineer Group Higher Headquarters, had many

laudatory comments about Group’s performance.

As our units come home from the deployments

and activations, it is important that all of our soldiers

and airmen understand how to access the veterans’

benefits to which they are entitled. I want to make sure

that each and every member

understands that we want

them to stay in the National

Guard. We understand that

the current optempo has

caused many to assess their

future military careers. Some

of those who have attained 20

years of service may choose

to retire. Some who have less

that 20 years of service may

also make a decision to get

out of the Guard. We understand that families and

employees are part of the decision process on whether

to continue National Guard service. It is important for

all of you to know how grateful we are as a state and

nation for the sacrifices our service members, their

families and employers have made to continue this fight

against terrorism. We will be eternally grateful to each

of you answering our nations call.

The National Guard has a long-standing and proud

history of service to our state and nation. Since 1636

Americans have answered the call to serve in the

National Guard. The National Guard has been relied on

to respond to our state and nation’s natural disasters,

civil disturbances, and security missions. When called

we have responded to help win our nation’s wars. This

proud tradition of service and self sacrifice has seldom

been more evident than what it has been since 11

September 2001. The SDNG has mobilized almost

75% of our forces. The performance of our members

and units has been truly beyond expectation. You

would be hard pressed to find units that could match the

performance of South Dakota National Guard units.

Soldiers and airmen are the cornerstone of our success

and will continue in the future of the South Dakota

National Guard. One of the real keys to our future lies

in the experience and professionalism our soldiers have

gained since 11 September. It is more important than

ever that we retain the future leadership of the South

Dakota National Guard. We ask each of you to

seriously consider staying with the best, the South

Dakota National Guard. Thank you again for your

dedication and service, and I wish you and your families

nothing but the best.

Michael A. Gorman

MG, SDNG

The Adjutant General

Page 2 Fall 2004

CSM Comments

The State Family Readiness Program held their

State Workshop on Sept. 24-26 in Spearfish. Family

members, soldiers and volunteers from across South

Dakota gathered to attend the workshop.

The Workshop allows time for South Dakota

National Guard volunteers to come together to share

ideas, offer each other their support and to network.

Judge Thomas Webb was the keynote speaker for

the Workshop. Judge Webb’s life story “You can make

a difference” focuses on making a positive difference in

a negative world. He has experienced life from a

perspective not commonly shared by individuals who

live in this part of the world. His dynamic message to

value and appreciate the qualities of other people is

delivered with a sense of humor that was inspiring,

thought provoking and entertaining. Judge Webb was

an orphan from Korea, who shares his life of living on

the streets of Korea and his lessons learned after being

adopted by his American family.

He gave insight on how to deal with issue in our

lives. Many of these issues are the issues that our

deployed soldiers and families are facing today.

The Workshop included a

testimonial by Fran Hinton

who deployed overseas with

the 109th Medical Battalion.

She talked of her deployment

and issues that affected her

while deployed and the

personal problems she now

endures upon her return. She

gave a powerful and thought

provoking testimonial that

painted a real picture of what our soldiers are facing.

She has issues that are a result of the deployment but

she is being proactive in resolving her issues and

seeking assistance.

The entire workshop was educational and

informational. I hope all our soldiers appreciate the

hard work their families do at home for them. I feel the

job they do in many respects is harder and more

difficult than our jobs are as soldiers.

Michael L. Birnbaum

CSM, SDARNG

State Command Sergeant Major

Commander’s Corner

Adjutant General

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Gorman

129th MPAD Commander

Maj. Joseph V. Jacobson

Chief Public Affairs/NCOIC

Master Sgt. Cal Crooks

Print OIC/Editor

1st Lt. Tony Deiss

Coyote Staff

2nd Lt. Stacy Spizzirri

Sgt. 1st Class Kim Smith

Sgt. Wes Nowitzki

Spc. Mark Watson

Spc. Shannon Crane

Pfc. Nikki Kueter

SDNG PAO Staff

Lt. Col. Harold Walker

Sgt. 1st Class Don Matthews

Staff Sgt. Matt Johnson

Mr. Roger Anderson

The Coyote Magazine is an unofficial

publication of the South Dakota Army

National Guard, published quarterly on

the South Dakota National Guard

website: www.sdguard.ngb.army.mil for

its soldiers. The Coyote is published by

the 129th Mobile Public Affairs

Detachment, Camp Rapid, 2823 West

Main Street, Rapid City, South Dakota

57702, in accordance with AR 360-81.

Views and opinions expressed in this

publication are not necessarily those of

the South Dakota Army National Guard.

Contributions to the Coyote are

encouraged. Send articles, photos and art

to Editor, 129th MPAD, 2823 West Main

Street, Rapid City, S.D. 57702, or 

e-mail:anthony.deiss@us.army.mil
Page 3 Fall 2004

By Spc. Mark Watson

129th MPAD

Three years ago this September,

America came under attack from terrorists,

and now South Dakota has residents

fighting the war on terrorism in

Afghanistan. After nearly four months in

Afghanistan, South Dakota Guardsmen

have made progress in restoring the

security and stability to the country.

Members of the 109th Engineer Group,

based in Rapid City, deployed to the wartorn country May 17 and are the command

and control center for engineer units from

several countries.

“We are supporting the war fighters,

providing them life support items such as

tents, shower and latrine facilities,” Col.

Nancy Wetherill, the Group’s commander,

said. “We help with force protection,

building burms, hescos, large wire baskets

filled with dirt, and guard towers.”

The unit also directed the building of

dining facilities, brigade and battalion

tactical operation centers and perimeter

defenses. 

Even though the 109th is in a combat

zone, Wetherill said in some places you

wouldn’t know it.

“Some of the larger bases are like Camp

Rapid or Ellsworth Air Force Base,” she

said. “You don’t get a taste for the country.

Some soldiers haven’t even been off

Kandahar or Bagram.”

As the command section of Task Force

Coyote, the 109th has more than 1,800

soldiers from the U.S., Korea, Poland,

Slovakia and Australia under its command.

It also has about 30 mine dogs to locate

and civilian de-miners to destroy land

mines. In one of the most heavily mined

countries in the world, some estimated 10-

15 million land mines in Afghanistan

alone, the de-miners have their work cut

out for them.

“There are still a lot out there,” she said.

“We’ve made a small dent, but it is time

consuming. In places where the Russians

laid mines, it is very predictable where the

mines will be. They are spaced the same

and have the same distance between rows,

but where the Taliban members move in,

the mine fields are unpredictable. They

move the mines to where we don’t think

they will be.”

Although the soldiers have been

deployed for not quite four months, some

are already returning home on their two

weeks leave. One soldier, who is

tentatively scheduled for leave in

November, said he is learning a lot about

the Afghani people.

“You see the people here and you feel

how lucky you really are,” said Spc.

Michael Kroells, a member of the

operations section. “They are poorer than

anyone could imagine. A lot own one or

two sets of clothing, a pressure cooker to

cook meat and maybe a tent. You will see

one person drive by in a new car and then

the next guy will be walking with a

donkey. They are either really rich or dirt

poor.”

Kroells said much has changed for the

Afghani’s since the Taliban were ousted.

“A lot of the people really appreciate

us,“ he added. “The kids are

always happy to see us and

the adults will greet us with a

smile. They have told us so

much has changed since the

Taliban have gone. Before,

they had a curfew of 6 p.m. If

they weren’t in their houses

by then, they would be shot

at. Now they are free.”

All things considered,

Wetherill said the

Afghanistan mission is a

good mission.

“If we have to be

somewhere, Afghanistan is

not a bad place to be,”

Wetherill said. “It’s a very

good mission for the 109th

Group. It definitely has its

challenges. We have to plan

more than we did at A.T.

We’ve trained for this type of

mission before and I couldn’t

ask for a better staff. From the

top to the bottom, everyone is

doing a great job.

“We are contributing to the security and

stability of Afghanistan, so in the future,

the Afghani people can resist incursions

and remain free and stable.”

Guard engineers help rebuild Afghanistan

Photo by Spc. Chris Ripka

Lt. Col. Bill Freidel of the 109th Engineer Group, middle, talks with other soldiers from Task

Force Coyote in Afghanistan.
Page 4 Fall 2004

153rd Engineer Bn.

216th Engineer Det.

2nd Bn. 147th FA

(Iraq)

665th Maintenance Co.

(Fort Carson, CO)

CONUS OCONUS

HHC 109th Engineer Group

(Afghanistan)

National Guard supports Korean War

By Sgt. Wes Nowitzki

129th MPAD

They may not have physically fought in hand-to-hand combat

or even fired a round at a hostile enemy, but when their number

was called they went willingly, swiftly and did what was called

upon them.

Valor, bravery, selfless service and patriotism are just a few

words that describe the men and women who serve in today’s

military. These brave men and women are sacrificing their lives

for freedom just like so many did more then 50 years ago during

the Korean War.

The Army National Guard mobilized about one third of its total

strength which included more than 138,600 soldiers from 43 units

to serve in Korea. Many other units and soldiers were activated

for state-side duties. This was the National Guard’s largest

mobilization of the last half of the 20th century, and it was also the

most combat the Army Guard would see during those same 50

years.

South Dakota activated three units from the Army and Air

National Guard during the Korean War. The 196th Regimental

Combat Team, which consisted of the 196th Infantry, 147th Field

Artillery Battalion, 200th Engineer Combat Company and a

medical detachment. The 109th Engineer Battalion and the 175th

Fighter Squadron were also activated during the war.

The 196th was activated Sept. 1, 1950, and was sent to Camp

Carson, Colo., where for 10 months its soldiers underwent

rigorous basic and advance training. When the unit first arrived at

Camp Carson it was considerably under strength, so over those

ten months draftees and reservists were assigned to the unit.

The 196th left Camp Carson July, 1951 and arrived in Haines,

Alaska, Aug. 3. From Haines, the unit traveled 800 miles by

motorcade, which was the longest overland movement of any

army unit since the close of World War II. The unit arrived at its

permanent duty station, Fort Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 25, 1951. 

Beginning in March, South Dakota Guardsmen from the 196th

were released from active duty and replaced with soldiers from

the United States Army. The 196th was activated for just under 24

months. In Sept. 1, 1952, it was officially reactivated into the

South Dakota Army National Guard.

The 109th was the first volunteer militia organized in Dakota

Territory in 1884 and 1885, so it’s no stranger when it comes to

being deployed. Its first deployment started during the SpanishAmerican War and saw action in the Philippines. The unit also

served in World War I and World War II, where it participated in

campaigns with the 34th Infantry in North Africa and Italy. 

Their Korean deployment started on Sept. 3, 1950, where for

ten months the battalion trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The 109th, like the 196th, was also under strength, so for those ten

months the unit was filled with draftees and retirees. Then in June

1951, the unit loaded-up and sailed to Europe where it was

assigned to the 11th Engineer Group and was stationed near

Mannheim, West Germany. The 109th completed many

engineering projects during its deployment like bridges,

buildings, and other engineering necessities that the Army needed.

Beginning in the spring of 1952 the unit was gradually released

from active duty as replacements arrived. By Sept. 3, 1952, the

unit was reactivated into the South Dakota Army National Guard.

More recently, the 109th has been deployed to Iraq in support

of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 175th Fighter Squadron was mobilized in Sioux Falls on

March 1, 1951 and remained there until the following August.

After August the unit, which flew the P-51 Mustang, moved to

Ellsworth Air Force Base to support the B-36 bombers that were

stationed there and to perform air defense duties. The unit was

released from active duty Dec. 1, 1952 . 

For many of these soldiers and airmen, deployments are a harsh

reality of war. This harsh reality has been shown recently with all

the deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, but the state has gotten

through it before and it can get through it again, and the veterans

of the Korean War are proof of that.

CURRENT SOUTH DAKOTA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENTS
Page 5 Fall 2004

By Spc. Mark Watson

129th MPAD

It was a day some had waited 18 months

for, the day when they would see their

families again. For members of two South

Dakota National Guard units, their days of

being separated by half a world from their

families are over.

The 842nd Engineer Company returned

to the U.S. July 21 after serving in the

Middle East since June 3, 2003, and a

week later, they were back in South

Dakota. The 740th Transportation

Company soldiers, who thus far have been

deployed longer than any other South

Dakota unit, landed in the U.S. early July

28 ending their 18-month long

deployment.

“I don’t believe it’s real yet,” said Spc.

Ronald Voeller, shortly after he and the rest

of the 740th landed in Colorado Springs,

Colo. “It just feels like we are home on a

couple weeks leave and then will be

heading back.”

The 740th activated Feb. 11, 2003 and

spent several months at their mobilization

station, Fort Carson, Colo., before

deploying to the war zone April 19, 2003

in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

For the units, their homecoming has

been a long time coming as they both were

extended past their “one year, boots on the

ground” tour of duty. In April, when the

amount of insurgent attacks in Iraq

increased dramatically, the soldiers were

told that they would be staying past their

expected return date and would be staying

for another 90 to 120 days. For the 740th,

the order to stay came as they were only

days out from returning to the states. Many

of the soldiers were devastated.

“It wasn’t too bad the first time we were

extended,” Sgt. Brandon Peery, said,

referring to an extension they received

months earlier. “We hadn’t been there a

full year, so we kind of expected it. But the

second time we were extended it was

pretty hard. We were sealing our connexes

and were getting ready to go home.”

Delivering that order was a trying

experience for the leaders of the unit too.

“It’s probably the hardest thing I’ll ever

have to do, walk in that tent and tell my

soldiers that they are not going home,” said

1st Lt. Shyla Rohlfs. 

The 740th was extended, as were other

transportation units, because the Army was

in need of their capabilities. The 842nd

received their order to stay about the same

time. They however, were attached to the

1st Armored Division, so when the 1st

Armored was extended, so were the South

Dakota soldiers.

Tasked with “moving dirt” the 842nd

built roads, leveled areas for tent cities,

constructed by-passes and created barriers.

“The troops performed admirably,” said

Capt. Wyatt

Hansen, commander of the 842nd. “They

outperformed many of the engineer units

that were there and provided outstanding

support to the 1st Armored Division.

“We constructed a lot of things for the

Army and the Iraqi people. I am really

proud of these soldiers and everything we

accomplished,” he added.

While the 842nd was busy in and around

the Baghdad area, the 740th made

transportation runs into and out of Iraq,

Extended units return to families

Photos by Kristen Strisell

(above) Cpt. Wyatt

Hansen, commander

of the 842nd

Engineer Company,

holds a bag of

candy as he and his

family parade

through the

downtown streets of

Belle Fourche, S.D.

(left) Pick-ups and

convertibles filled

the streets of

Milbank, S.D., and

people from the

surrounding

communities lined

the sidewalks during

the welcome home

parade for the 740th

Transportation

Company.

Continued Units pg. 6
Page 6 Fall 2004

hauling supplies and equipment for nearly every major combat

unit involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. They logged more than

2 million miles during their 15-months in theater, traveling within

miles of the Turkey and Syria borders and back into Kuwait. 

“A lot of our mission miles were through treacherous terrain,

dangerous roads and conditions, and to be able to go 2.3 million

miles and have no one killed or seriously injured is very

impressive for a transportation unit to say,” said 1st Lt. Travis

Eastman, a platoon leader with the 740th.

However, on the last mission immediately before the unit was

extended, Sgt. Jason Veen was wounded when an Improvised

Explosive Device exploded by his truck, causing the windshield

to shatter, cutting his face. He was able to make a full recovery.

It was this attack that drove the magnitude of the war home, but

it was previous IED attack that brought the reality of the war to

the Guardsmen.

“An IED hit a (Military Police) escort about 20 feet in front of

me,” Voeller said. “That’s when the reality set in that this is a real

war. We were shot at before, but never saw the people who shot at

us. Half the time we wouldn’t realize it until we arrived at camp

and saw holes in our trucks or connex.”

Likewise, the 842nd came under attack on only a handful of

occasions which caused no injuries. 

Beyond their engineer missions, the 842nd participated in a

mission of a non-military type, Operation Caring Hands.

“One thing they gave us the opportunity to do was to participate

in Operation Caring Hands,” said Spc. Michelle Vice. “We went

into schools and handed out school supplies, glue and pencils and

also personal hygiene items like toothpaste and toothbrushes, then

showed them how to use them. The kids really enjoyed that, and

it was really a nice thing to be able to do.”

Now that the deployment is over, many

of the soldiers have big plans. However,

most will relax, spend time getting

reacquainted with family and some look

forward to the little things.

“I am looking for some privacy,

pampering and a good American steak,”

Vice laughed.

Although both units were extended, the

soldiers were taken away from their

families and they all faced the uncertainty

of war, most said they were glad they had

the opportunity to serve.

“It was an experience that not everyone

can say they did,” Vice said. “It is

something you never hope you get to do,

but it is something to feel proud of.”

Hansen agreed. “It was an experience

of a lifetime,” Hansen said. “If anybody

ever forgets this, they won’t remember

anything. It will be imbedded in our

minds forever.”

Continued from pg. 5

Photo by Spc. Mark Watson

(above) Spc. Ethan

740th Transportation

Company soldiers

were greeted by

many distinguished

guests as they

unloaded from the

plane that flew them

into Fort Carson July

28, 2004 after a long

flight from Kuwait. 

Kristen Strisell

(right) Spc. Donally

Kranz reunites with

his family shortly

after the 740th

arrived in Milbank,

S.D., Aug. 1.

Units overcome deployment challenges
By Spc. Mark Watson

129th MPAD

“Nitch come, Grenades!”

Those words marked the end of one South Dakota man’s war

and the beginning of his captivity.

Charles Dawes, Mitchell, S.D., and his unit were in

Luxembourg, and November 29, 1944 marked a desperate day for

him.

“German artillery was hitting all around us all day long,” Dawes

recalled. “I was just lucky I was in my foxhole.”

When the sun set, Dawes and his fellow soldiers left their

fighting positions and went into the basement of a nearby

farmhouse.

“There were 60 of us in there sitting as quiet as we could, then

we heard a German knock on the door with the butt of his rifle,”

he said as he rapped three times on a nearby pillar. “‘Nitch come,

Grenades’ the German said, which meant if you don’t come out

he’s going to throw grenades down there. I was so scared. They

told us that if we are ever captured, to take apart our rifle and

throw one part this way and another part that way, so the Germans

couldn’t put them together. I was so scared I didn’t even do that.”

And with that, the Mitchell man, who was drafted and had only

been in Europe for slightly more than one month, the war was

over.

Thirteen is an unlucky number for Steve Fousek. Thirteen is the

number of days he fought in WWII before he was captured. It is

also the number of other survivors and soon to be prisoners from

two companies who made it through a German attack near St.

Mere Eglise, France.

The war for Fousek began June 6, 1944, D-Day, as he, and

thousands of other allied troops, stormed the beaches of

Normandy, France. Utah beach was his destination.

“You hear so much about Omaha beach and how tough it was,”

Fousek said. “Utah beach was no cake walk. It was tough.”

That night, he and the rest of his unit entered the town of St.

Mere Eglise.

Thirteen days later, June 19, that fateful day, Fousek, along with

the rest of H and F Companies came under attack. The massive

German attack inflicted 248 casualties. When the smoke cleared

there were only 14 survivors, Fousek included.

“That’s when my career as a prisoner of war started,” he said.

Friday, Fousek, Dawes and other former POWs, along with

those missing in action, were honored at Mt. Rushmore.

“I’m here to honor the Ex-POWs and MIAs,” said Richard

Dieter, a Vietnam veteran. “No one seems to care about the World

War II vets. They don’t realize the grief they put up with. They

went through hell. The Geneva Convention didn’t mean anything

to their captors. They were beat. If they ate, it was leftover food.

They went through hell for me and they deserve our respect.”

During the ceremony, Bill Lanning, with the Veterans Affairs

Health Care System, said the men on the stage know the meaning

of perseverance.

“Article Four of the Code of Conduct states; if I become a

prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will

give no information or take part in any action which might be

harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If

not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and

will back them up in every way,” Lanning said. “No American

understands the meaning of keeping the faith better than these

gentlemen sitting up here and we honor them.”

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Gorman, the adjutant general for the

South Dakota National Guard, said he understood what it means

to be a POW. His father was captured Feb. 17, 1943 near the

Kassarine Pass in North Africa along with 12 other members of

the 109th Engineer Battalion.

“I remember my dad didn’t like to talk about his ordeal with the

family, but I know that it changed his life forever,” Gorman said.

“Words are not enough to repay your sacrifice, but that’s what we

are here to do today, to say thank you for your service and

sacrifice. Without you we would not see the freedom and

democracy that we have today. Remember, you are our heroes.”

Page 7 Fall 2004

State recognizes former POWs, MIAs

Photo by Spc. Mark Watson

Steve Fousek, state commander of the American Ex-POWs,

stands in front of the newly-dedicated memorial on Camp

Rapid
Page 8 Fall 2004

By 1st Lt. Anthony Deiss

129th MPAD

It began more than 200 years ago on May

14, 1804, when Meriwether Lewis and

William Clark started their journey up the

Missouri River to explore America’s newest

frontier. The Expedition’s goals were

ambitious: discover a possible water route

to the Pacific Ocean, trade with American

Indians and scientific discovery. 

Now, two centuries later, volunteers from

across the country dressed in bear skin hats

and bright blue early 19th-century Army

coats trimmed in red, are reenacting the

historical journey for the Bicentennial

Commemoration.

Leading the Lewis and Clark Corps of

Discovery Expedition is Staff Sgt. Scott

Mandrell of the Montana Army National

Guard. Mandrell is portraying Capt. Lewis.

He is doing his best to help America

understand what the expedition endured and

accomplished and how much the country

has changed since then. 

The Expedition was a military mission

that consisted of about 40 personnel,

including American soldiers, frontiersmen

and French Canadian boatmen. 

“Of those brave men, nearly a third of

them were militia, or modern day National

Guardsmen,” Mandrell said. “Each of them

provided special skills vital to the success of

the expedition. William Clark himself was a

militiaman who volunteered for the

expedition.”

The original Lewis and Clark expedition

spent the late summer and early fall of 1804

exploring present-day South Dakota. The

new Corps of Discovery first entered South

Dakota Aug. 20. 

The South Dakota National Guard has

been there to support the expedition as it

journey across the state. The Guard has

supported the expedition with portaging

boats, supporting media events, providing

shower facilities, transporting personnel

and providing medical support.

The first of these events took place Aug.

20 in Sioux City, Iowa, to commemorate the

200th anniversary of the death of Sgt. Floyd

of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The

147th Army Band of Mitchell, played

prelude and postlude music for more than

1,000 people in two similar ceremonies. Reenactors portrayed the authentic characters

and events of Floyd’s death and burial.

Floyd volunteered for the expedition as a

militiaman.

“Sergeant Floyd’s service shows a

precursor to the National Guard today,”

Staff Sgt. Tim Schorn, band member of the

147th. “His service shows a constant

lineage that exists between the Guardsmen

of then and the National Guardsmen of

today.” 

The expedition then traveled to Elk Point

for Lewis & Clark Heritage Days Aug. 21

and 22. Members from the 727th

Transportation Company of Elk Point,

supported the event by assisting with a

“Then and Now” display. Featured in the

display were artifacts, uniforms and a

comparison of military history from the

early to today. The 727th also displayed

their unit’s Palletized Loading System

(PLS).

The highlight of the Heritage Days event

was a re-enactment of the election of Sgt.

Re-enactors make historic journey

Photo by Spc. Mark Watson

(above) The Corps of Discovery prepares to re-enact a meeting with the Teton

Sioux along the Missouri River at Fort Pierre. (below) The 1742nd Trans. Co.

conducts portaging operations of the 55 ft. keelboat around Oahe Dam in Pierre.

Continued Lewis and Clark pg. 9
Page 9 Fall 2004

Patrick Gass to replace Floyd’s leadership

role. Immediately following the reenactment election of Gass, members of the

727th held a Non-Commissioned Officer

Induction Ceremony. The two events

demonstrated then-and-now of how the

U.S. Army promotes to the rank of sergeant.

The Expedition continued on to

Vermillion to re-enact the Spirit Mound

walk Aug. 25. Members from Co. B, 109th

Medical Battalion, of Vermillion, were on

hand to provide medical support for the

event. Spirit Mound was a site that early

Indian tribes believed to be inhabited by 18-

inch tall devils armed with arrows. The

original expedition didn’t find the devils,

but did find its first herd of buffalo. It is also

where Joseph Field killed the exploration’s

first buffalo. 

The journey continued on to Yankton for

the 7th Annual Lewis and Clark Festival at

Lake Yankton Aug 26 and 27. The festival is

held every year to remember the moment

Lewis and Clark met the Yankton Sioux

Tribe. The Expedition’s first meeting with

one of the great Sioux tribes took place at

Calumet Bluff, near the present-day Gavins

Point Dam and city of Yankton. 

South Dakota National Guard Brig. Gen.

Raymond W. Carpenter welcomed the

Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery to South

Dakota during the festival at Yankton. He

also wished them well as they face

challenges on the journey ahead. 

Members from the 200th Engineer Co.

Multi-Role Bridge provided boat rides on

the Missouri River to the public. Also,

members from Battery C, 147th Field

Artillery, of Yankton, displayed their

HEMTT, (Heavy Expanded Mobility

Tactical Truck) and rocket pod equipment.

They also supported a climbing wall for

visitors. Medics from Company B, 109th

Medical Battalion provided medical

support.

Portage of the 55-foot long keelboat and

the two smaller “pirogues” over dams and

inaccessible areas along the Missouri, was

left to elements of the 88th Troop

Command. Three 915 tractors and

personnel from the 727th, 1742nd and

740th Transportation Companies provided

support.

The Guard continued to assist the

expedition by other

conventional

means.

A UH-60

Blackhawk

helicopter from the

1085th Medical

Company (Air

Ambulance) of

Rapid City, assisted

the Expedition Aug

31, as it re-enacted

the search for Pvt.

George Shannon. 

An aerial search

for Shannon - from

a Blackhawk

helicopter - around

the Snake Creek

area near Platte

offered a modern

convenience to the

search for Shannon

that was done on

foot 200 years ago.

The Guard

continued to

provide support as

the Expedition portaged around Fort

Randall, Big Bend, Fort Thompson, and

Oahe Dams, making stops in Chamberlain

and Fort Pierre/Pierre. The Expedition’s

next stop will be in Mobridge October 8-11.

The expedition is scheduled to leave the

state from West Pollock Oct. 15. Brig. Gen.

Raymond W. Carpenter will wish the

Expedition farewell as it leaves the state.

The Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery

Expedition will continue its journey across

the northwest over the next several years

and return through South Dakota in 2006.

The South Dakota National Guard will be

there again to support the expedition on its

journey home.

Lewis and Clark and the Guard

Photos by 1st. Lt. Anthony Deiss

(above) The 147th Army Band performs

at the 200th Commemoration of Sgt.

Charles Floyd of the Lewis and Clark

Corps of Discovery Expedition in Sioux

City, Iowa. (below) The 200th Engineer

Co. gives boat rides to the public at the

Lewis and Clark Festival in Yankton. 

Photo by Sgt. Wes Nowitzki

(left) Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Pope,

left, presents Larry McLain, middle, and

Scott Mandrell with a proclamation

welcoming the Expedition to South

Dakota.

Continued from pg. 8
Page 10 Fall 2004

The flags flutter again in the steady

breeze, and his eyes once again leave the

soldier to the black flag lofted above the

rest. On the flag is the silhouette of a man,

the words POW and MIA, and beneath the

image, the words You Are Not Forgotten.

This is the flag of the Prisoner of War and

the Missing in Action.

For this day, Sept. 10, was dedicated to

him. The speaker at the podium, Maj. Gen.

Michael A. Gorman, the adjutant general,

dedicating a memorial on Camp Rapid said

this memorial will be here to honor all

American POWs and MIAs.

“From this day forward, this POW/MIA

Memorial and flag will be here to honor

the service and memory of all American

POWs,” said Gorman. “It will also be a

constant reminder of those who still

remain missing as a result of their faithful

service to this country.”

More specifically, the newly erected

memorial, located at the west end of Camp

Rapid, is dedicated to members of the

South Dakota National Guard who were

captured and held as a POW.

Several former members of the 109th

Engineer Battalion who are also former

POWs helped unveil the memorial and the

two pedestals with the names of the South

Dakota POWs.

The memorial has been more than a year

in the making. It began in the spring of

2003 when Steve Fousek, state commander

of the American Ex-POWs, approached

Gorman and asked why the POW/MIA

flag was not flown at Camp Rapid. That

changed on Sept. 19, 2003 when a flag

pole was dedicated at the memorial site

and the somber flag was raised.

“It is only fitting that we dedicate this

memorial on this date,” Gorman said.

“September 10th has been set aside in

South Dakota this year as a day when we

remember the service of our Prisoners of

War and as a day when we remember those

that are still missing.”

Then addressing the former POWs he

thanked them for their service.

“Without your sacrifices, and without

the sacrifices of all the brave men and

women who have served this country over

the years, and continue to serve as we

speak, the citizens of this country would

not be able to enjoy the freedoms that we

do today in this great nation.”

Gorman also asked the public to review

the names of the soldiers who will be

memorialized in bronze to check for

discrepancies in spelling or soldiers not

listed. The names are of only South Dakota

National Guard soldiers who were held

captive. If you find an error, please contact

Darald McElroy at (605) 737-6299 or

Duke Doering at (605) 390-5421.

Memorial serves as constant reminder

Veterans remembered

Continued from pg. 1

POW/MIA MEMORIAL

Bizerte, Tunisia, 1942

Leroy O. Anderson

Le Roy C. David

Richard P. Griffin

Robert J. Hackett

Bataan, Philippines, 1942

Theodore I. Spaulding

ava, 1942

Roy E. Stensland

Kasserine, Tunisia, 1943

Leo T. Baker

Richard M. Behrens

Kenneth W. Brandon

William H. Caton

Esquipula C. Gallegos

Owen M. Gorman

Kenneth P. Gourley

Harold R. McGregor

Wayne M. Hannant

Royal I. Lee

Robert J. Lodge

Francis G. Murray

Gordon J. Tjomsland

William C. Weimer

Cassino, Italy, 1944

Kenneth K. Kalberg

Richard Kiefer

Raymond T. Martin

Anzio, Italy

Warren R. Evans

Robert E. Turner

Ponenuri, Italy

Edward J. Graf

Bartley W. Tillotson

Germany

Robert W. Lievan

LaVerne F. Reynolds

John F. Stephens

France

John M. Lukens

South Dakota Adjutant General Michael

A. Gorman welcomed the veterans and

their families to the ceremony. 

Presentations during the dedication

included the Lakota Korean Honor Song,

singers Layne Larson of Pukwana and

Joan Mercer of the U.S. Army Soldier’s

Chorus, and the award-winning El Riad

Chanters of Sioux Falls.

Governor Mike Rounds then gave the

keynote address and announced the

unveiling of the Korean War Memorial

sculpture.

The ceremony concluded with a

fireworks display, a modern military

aircraft fly over, and the release of more

than 26,000 red, white and blue balloons,

one for every South Dakota Korean War

veteran. 

Elden Garrett, a member of the 147th

Field Artillery Brigade from 1948 to 1956,

said he was pleased with the ceremony and

felt the memorial did justice for honoring

the Korean War veterans.

“It’s nice just to be recognized,” Garrett

said. 

Still sitting in his camp chair, the older

man wearing the VFW cap looks up at the

sky when the balloons are released. He

places his program under his seat, and as

the sky becomes a mass of red, white and

blue, he finally rises in an attempt to catch

just one.

Continued from pg. 1