08/23/2026
TWO VIETNAM VETERANS AWARDED QOV
AT ELROY AMERICAN LEGION HALL
An hour before Friday night euchre, on 21 August, 2026, at the Elroy American Legion Hall, two regular euchre players were awarded Quilts of Valor for their military service during the Vietnam War. They were joined by their families, friends, other regular euchre players, and members of the Elroy ALA QOV that constructed and presented the quilts.
After graduating from New Lisbon High School in 1966, Richard S. went to work milking cows and driving a milk truck. He soon grew tired of the low wages and the knowledge that there was not much room for advancement. A good friend and neighbor of Richard’s, Jack, enlisted in the Navy and Richard decided to follow in his footsteps.
Richard packed his duffle bag and headed to Naval Station Great Lakes for Boot Camp, AKA Basic Training. Naval Station Great Lakes is located near North Chicago on over 1,600 acres overlooking Lake Michigan and includes 1,153 buildings with 39 on the National Register of Historic Places.
The mission of Naval Basic Training is to transform civilians into smartly disciplined, physically fit, basically trained sailors who are ready for follow on training and service to the fleet, while instilling in them the highest standards of honor, courage, and commitment.
Richard remained at Naval Station Great Lakes for his AIT, Advanced Individual Training. His MOS, Military Occupational Specialty, was Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (AB)
AB Mates are responsible for launching, recovering, and handling aircraft, operating and maintaining related equipment, and performing safety and emergency operations aboard ships or at airbases. AB Mates play a critical role in ensuring the safe and efficient operations of naval aircraft. Their primary duties include aircraft handling and movement, launch and recovery operations, and operating and maintaining machinery used for moving and hoisting aircraft. AB Mates are trained to respond to emergencies and maintain safety on the flight deck. Keep in mind that Richard performed these duties on the deck of a moving ship.
After his training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Richard headed to Seattle to serve on the USS Ranger, an Aircraft Carrier, a CVA 61. The USS Ranger was a Forrestal-class super carrier. It was the first class of super carriers that combined high tonnage, deck-edge elevators and angled decks. She served extensively in the Pacific, especially during the Vietnam War.
The USS Ranger headed off shore at Da Nang, Vietnam, where they provided planes for support in the war effort. They had A4s, F4 Phantoms, and A6 vigilante spy planes. After a six month tour, they returned to San Francisco for refurbishing and picking up new people. Richard served a total of three tours. While on duty, the Sailors enjoyed some R and R (Rest and Relaxation) in Sasebo, Japan, Subic Bay, Philippines, and Hong Kong China.
The USS Ranger took a 60 day detour from Da Nang to go off shore of North Korea when the US Spy Ship Pueblo was attacked and captured in 1968. The taking of the Pueblo and the abuse and torture of her 83 crew members during the following eleven months became a major Cold War incident, raising tensions between western and eastern powers.
One Pueblo crew member died during the attack, but the US got the other men back. The Pueblo was never returned. Richard received the Bronze Star for his contributions in support of the Pueblo crew.
Richard enlisted in the Navy in 1967 and was discharged three years and nine months later. Richard headed home a few months earlier than his original sign up because the Vietnam War was winding down and he was recuperating from a car accident he had while on leave. He was recovering from injuries received in the car accident at a naval base in Illinois.
Richard earned the National Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with the one Bronze Star, Navy Unit Commendation, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea).
Richard’s quilt features a panel commemorating America’s 250th Birthday and the 2026 Quilt of Valor Block of the Year entitled Echoes. Richard’s quilt was pieced by Kay Stanek and long-arm quilted and bound by Joanne Wopat.
Ever since he was a young boy, Randy R. wanted to be a Marine. His parents insisted he finish high school before he joined, so after graduating from Tomah High School in 1970, he packed his duffle bag and headed to Marine Recruit Depot San Diego for basic training, AKA boot camp.
Marine Recruit Depot’s main mission is to transform civilians into Marines through a rigorous 13-week training program emphasizing physical fitness, marksmanship, combat skills, and Marine Corps values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
After boot camp, Randy stayed in San Diego for his AIT, Advanced Individual Training, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Randy’s MOS, Military Occupational Specialty, was Infantry. From Camp Pendleton, Randy headed to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, also known as Twenty-Nine Palms, for Gunner School.
Randy’s last duty station in 1970 was Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. When stationed at Cherry Point, Randy served in Marine Air Support Squadron – Second Marine Aircraft Wing (MASS 2). In 1971 Randy took a cruise on the Mediterranean to Turkey for three months and then returned to his duty station at Cherry Point. While serving overseas, Randy was in Marine Air Support Squadron – First Aircraft Wing (MASS 1).
In 1972 Randy served three months at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, a significant U.S. Military installation that played a crucial role in supporting operations throughout the Asia-Pacific region. He then spent three months in Okinawa, Japan where the U.S. has a significant presence. He then spent three months on the U.S.S. Guadalcanal Amphibious Assault Ship on the China Sea. Helicopters took off and landed on the U.S.S. Guadalcanal and she could refuel other vessels. Randy’s last three months of 1972 were spent in the Philippines.
In 1973 Randy returned to his duty station at Cherry Point before taking another Mediterranean Cruise. This time he spent three months in Norway before completing his service in the Marines at Cherry Point. Randy earned the Good Conduct Medal twice and the National Defense Service Medal while serving in the Marines.
Randy then joined the Army National Guard, serving with the 132nd Support in Madison. Randy participated in a lot of two week trainings at Fort McCoy, along with REFORGER, which stands for Return of FORces to GERmany, two times.
For his eleven years of service in the National Guard, Randy earned the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Achievement Medal, and two Army Reserve Components Achievement Medals with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
When asked if he had any stories to share, Randy said “In 1972, I got to Bob Hope’s USO show when I was overseas in Japan. I really liked the show. There were lots of women, and four thousand guys were hootin’ and hollerin’ because there were women in the show.
When I was flying through Washington, D.C. airport, I was on standby and half asleep when Bob Hope came up to me. He said. ‘Hey, Marine, how’s it going?’ and shook my hand. We talked a little bit, but he was greeting all the military personnel, so he had to move on.”
Thank you Randy for raising your right hand and agreeing to serve to protect our freedom. Welcome Home.
Randy’s quilt also features a special panel commemorating the 250th Birthday of America and pinwheel blocks. The quilt was pieced by Kay Stanek and long-arm quilted and bound by Joanne Wopat.
Both Richard and Randy received Vietnam Commemoration Lapel Pins. Thank you Richard and Randy for raising your right hand and agreeing to serve to protect our freedom. Welcome Home.
To nominate an active duty service person or veterans for a Quilt of Valor (QOV), go to www.qovf.org and complete the online nomination form. You need not live near the nominee. There are QOV groups in all 50 states.
