06/15/2026
At a private family ceremony at the Elroy American Legion Hall, on Friday 12 June, the Elroy ALA QOV (American Legion Auxiliary Quilts of Valor) group awarded a Quilt of Valor to retired Army Captain Kirk B.
Kirk provided the following information about his service that was shared at his awarding. After missing out on the Vietnam War because of my high draft number (256) during the 1969 lottery, I was compelled to volunteer for service when the hostages were taken by Iran in 1979. I joined the 32nd Maintenance Battalion as an electronic technician and was awarded the rank of PFC because of my formal training at the Wisconsin School of Electronics. I went to Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, where I got to enjoy a winter in the Kentucky snow. I decided to become an officer and started the Wisconsin Military Academy in August of 1980 where I graduated as a Second Lieutenant with highest academic honors with Class 23.
One of my first assignments was as an Armor Officer in Reedsburg at the 105th Cavalry unit after returning to Fort Knox, Kentucky for the Armor Officer Basic Course where I learned Armor tactics and how to drive and shoot an M60 tank. This opened the door for becoming an attack helicopter pilot with the 1/147 Aviation Battalion in Madison. I ended up in Fort Rucker, Alabama for a year’s worth of learning aviation tactics and how to fly military helicopters. I started out as a Platoon Leader, flying Hueys, and eventually worked my way up to commanding Charlie Company and flying the Cobra Gunships. As a pilot and Company Commander, the one weekend a month was usually one weekend a month off, if even that.
General Dick Braund (Elroy) was a great mentor throughout my career and advised me to diversify and get more than an aviation career which I took to heart. I took military courses and attended schools, eventually obtaining seven Basic Officer Branch Qualifications in Infantry, Quartermaster, Armor, Aviation, Ordinance, Medical Service Corps, and Military Intelligence. I did short stints as the Battalion S1 (Personnel Officer), as a CW2 (Chief Warrant Officer Pilot) and volunteered to be the small arms trainer in all of the units that I served in. I also volunteered to fly multiple missions every year, such as Medevac support of the Air Force at Volk Field, ADSW Drug Interdiction missions with local Law Enforcement, Operation Brim Frost in Alaska, and taking part in the annual Governor’s Pistol Match. My military career was extremely rewarding as I proudly served my state and country.
On behalf of all QOV members, Kirk was welcomed home and thanked for his service. His family wrapped him in his quilt.
Kirk’s quilt was pieced and bound and presented by Barb Schnurr and long-arm quilted by Joanne Wopat.
If you know an active duty service person or veteran who would be comforted by receiving a homemade quilt, nominate them at www.qovf.org You do not have to live near the nominee. There are Quilt of Valor Chapters in all 50 states.
