Wisconsin's People

Badger F-16 "Vipers" off to Iraq. Fourteen F-16C/D "Fighting Falcons," also known as "Vipers," from the 176th Fighter Squadron, 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard, launched from Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin during the early morning hours of September 22, 2009, bound for Iraq. They are part of the USAF's Air Expeditionary Force rotation. They are known as the "BAM," the Badger Air Militia. The mission is to fly, fight, destroy targets and win. And that's what these pilots and crews aim to do. That they wear the Badger red stripe on their vertical stabilizer gives a shiver of pride. Our prayers are with all 200 members who are going to defend America's national security. On Wisconsin! Be proud, Badgers. We've got a little photo album for you courtesy of the 115th FW so you can get a good look at the "Bad Boys."

Power guys respond to line down --- not a trivial challenge. We've all lost power in our homes, for a wide variety of reasons. Most of the time, we don't have a chance to see the power company crews go to work to repair what's wrong. I recently had the chance to do that after a tree fell on electrical wires in my residential neighborhood in Wausau, Marathon County. The force of the fallen tree on the wires snapped an electrical wire-telephone pole, our neighborhood lost power, and the "Power Guys" clicked into action. Luckily, it was a wonderful spring day. Try to imagine them doing all this in below zero temperatures and blinding snow! It was fun and uplifting to see these professionals at work, and I learned a lot. I'll walk you through what I saw. By Ed Marek, editor. May 22, 2009.

The story behind SSgt Zach Rhyner, USAF, Air Force Cross in Afghan's Shuk Valley. Remember that kid from Medford, he lived next door? On March 10, 2009, SSgt. Zachary Rhyner, USAF, of Medford, Wisconsin, received the Air Force Cross from Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF), in the presence of General Norton Schwarz, Chief of Staff, USAF (CSAF), at Pope AFB, North Carolina, adjacent to Ft. Bragg, for his role in employing air power to support the ODA 3336 special forces and their Afghan allies on April 6, 2008. The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. March 24, 2009.

America's heroes come from us. I was driving through Amherst in Portage County on January 4, 2009 and spotted several flags in front of a home on Main Street. The American flag was half-mast. There was a card displayed in the front window, that of Gold Star Mothers Inc., an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the military service of our country. Such was the case here. Spc. Eugene A. Uhl, III, USA, 21, of Amherst was killed when two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters crashed in Mosul, Iraq, November 15, 2003. War comes home quickly when you see something like this in a small town in Wisconsin. Our heroes, our real heroes, come from us. January 6, 2009

Tom Uttech, in Wisconsin's Northwoods, "absorb and observe." Tom Uttech is among the most admired art teachers, painters and photographers in Wisconsin. Having learned a little about him, however, I am overwhelmed by his understanding of going into the wilds of the state and its near environs, and connecting emotionally with Nature. He talks of "the power of the place," of using your eyes to "absorb and observe" what's there. Most important, I think, he has this advice for us: "Get up out of your chair, lock up your doors and go out into the woods and see it afresh and join the adventure." I think he's a terrific philosopher. By Ed Marek, editor. November 24, 2008.

The late Dr. Edwin L. Overholt, an American hero, the "Colonel". As you bump into and brush elbows with people on the street, at work, or while seeing a professional, one thing to keep in mind is that you don't always know that you might be bumping into an American hero, often an ordinary person who has done the extraordinary. He played some basketball and acted in a play in high school, became a doctor, was sent to the front lines of the Korean War just days after the invasion began and only two years after becoming a MD, part of a task force of 500 against over 30 world-class tanks and thousands of infantry, and saved lives without regard for himself. He was only a captain then. He would give the US Army a career, and then another career to Gundersen Lutheran Health System in La Crosse. Throughout his civilian career, they affectionately called him "Colonel." You'll see why. By Ed Marek. March 6, 2008.

Gardner and Rodden, two Wisconsin WWII nurses, a kamikaze found their ship. Lts. Dorris "Dorrie" Gardner and Mary Rodden, both Wisconsin girls, both Army nurses, were aboard the USS Comfort hospital ship when she was struck amidships by a Japanese kamikaze during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. They both survived, but 28 died, including six nurses, and 48 were wounded. Some say the numbers were higher. These two courageous women represent many thousands, some 59,000 Army nurses who served in WWII, abroad and in the US. This story is dedicated to all those American military nurses, then and now, who cared for their "boys," their "guys" in combat the world over. By Ed Marek, editor. December 25, 2007.

Thank you for your service, Reid Carpenter of Mauston, Wisconsin. Sgt. Reid Carpenter, USA, Mauston, Juneau County, Wisconsin, is a flight medic with Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Iraq, the "Knighthawks" of the "Rock of Marne" 3rd Infantry Division. On September 12, 2007, he flew aboard Medicine Man 42, a medevac flight.

You'll need to read the story and we're pretty sure you'll want to thank him, and his colleages throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, for their service and sacrifrice. September 17, 2007.

Home builder to City Builder, The Wergin Company of Wausau. Every city needs master-builders from the private sector. Wausau, Wisconsin, has had its share of good ones. This story is about one of those, the Wergin Company, a company that helped transform the Wausau of 1900 to the Wausau of today. Young Gerald Wergin had just graduated from Wausau High School and was immediately faced with WWII. He joined the Army and became a fighter pilot. He came home in 1945, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.When Gerald got home, he found his father in ill-health. He took over the business and helped build Wausau. You'll get to see what he and his workers did, and learn some about WWII's China-Burma-India Theater, the CBI. February 1, 2007.

One guy making a difference in Pine River. JFK once said, "One person can make a difference and every person must try." We'll introduce you to one guy in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, in the small town of Pine River, at a small park called Pine River Park, who is trying to make a difference and is succeeding. His name is Roger Williams, and his goal is to rehabilitate this park, even if he has to do it himself. We've met him a couple times, and viewed his work. We're excited by his work and determination, and motivated by his commitment. July 23, 2006.

Highlights from Feingold interview with Washington Post. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) was interviewed by Chris Cillizza and Dan Balz of the Washington Post on May 24, 2006 as part of an ongoing series of conversations with potential 2008 presidential candidates. We wish to highlight his main points. The full transcript of the interview is available at washingtonpost.com and we link you to it.This report highlights his main points. June 6, 2006.

From Wausau High to fighter pilot wailing a Banshee over Burma. Gerald P. Wergin, Wausau High School Class of 1940, by all accounts was smart as a whip, a court jester in home-room, and a "pest" to many of the young lassies at whom he probably winked a few times. By February 1944 he was a lieutenant in the US Army Air Corps, a fighter pilot with hard-earned silver wings, and a "Burma Banshee" of the 90th Fighter Squadron at Jorhat, India. His P-40 "Warhawk" had a bloodthirsty skull on its nose, and by the time it was over, Captain "Junior" Wergin had tucked 156 combat missions under his skinny belt. How does a young man from next door get there from here? That's the story we'll try to tell. December 15, 2005.

Darrel Massman, the stuff of fun air shows in Wisconsin. Darrel Massman of Ogdensberg, Wisconsin has been an air show and aerobatic pilot for some 31 years, turned on to flying when he was 16. Originally from Decorah, Iowa, Darrel says, "I like anything that flies," and he has logged flying time in some 65 different models of aircraft. We saw one of his aircraft parked at the Waupaca Airport, a "Goonie Bird," and became intrigued. November 20, 2005.

Mary Roddis Connor, first woman in Wisconsin Forestry Hall of Fame. Mary Roddis Connor (1909-2000) was inducted into the Wisconsin Forestry Hall of Fame. She is the first woman. She and her husband, Gordon R. Connor (1906-1986) are the only husband and wife to be so honored. October 9, 2005.