cmyr
11-05-2009, 04:26 AM
Quite an honor
De Pere veteran cherishes special visit to Washington
By Todd McMahon • The De Pere Journal • November 5, 2009
He has been a nursing-home operator, an auto salesman, a volunteer fireman, even served a term as mayor.
Yet, the greatest act of service by Les Krug occurred well before he settled into his multifaceted professional life.
"I was glad to serve my country," Krug said.
The 88-year-old De Pere resident spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, the majority of which was on active duty at the height of World War II in the early 1940s.
"World War II, if we wouldn't have won, this would have been entirely different," Krug said of the U.S. landscape today.
The victory by the Allies, which included 16 million Americans, has been immortalized in the country that maintained the independence on which it was founded 233 years ago.
The World War II Memorial, which opened in 2004 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is a modern-day symbol and reminder of the sacrifices and contributions made by so many. More than 400,000 American troops died in the war.
Krug has been a frequent visitor to the nation's capital, but his most recent trip there carried the most meaning.
He joined about 100 fellow World War II veterans, many from Northeastern Wisconsin, on a specially arranged, all-expenses-paid Old Glory Honor Flight on Oct. 27.
The vets, accompanied by guardians, were treated to a whirlwind day of flying to Washington, visiting several prominent sites and flying back to Wisconsin.
Organizers of Appleton-based Old Glory Honor Flight — one of four Wisconsin hub outfits of the Honor Flight Network — contacted Krug less than two weeks before the departure date. He was a replacement for an invited veteran who had to cancel for this particular flight.
Krug had originally submitted an application with Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, another state hub, to go on a future flight, but its waiting list is upward of a thousand veterans.
Krug jumped at the chance to go aboard last week's honor flight.
Mike Bonfigt, 59, of De Pere, a stepson-in-law of Krug, went as Krug's guardian.
Randy Hansen of De Pere VFW Post 2113 said the post partnered with Green Bay Country Club to pay for the $500 traveling expenses for Bonfigt, which covered airfare, and bus transportation and meals in Washington.
The chartered Sun Country Airlines Boeing 727 left in the early morning from Outagamie County Regional Airport in Greenville.
The honored veterans received numerous mementos, including a World War II medallion, a coin, an "In Honor of An American Hero" tag with chain and an Old Glory Honor Flight jacket.
The latter came in handy as rain fell in Washington for most of the day, but that didn't dampen the mood and spirit of the traveling party from Wisconsin.
"They went all out to show us a wonderful time," said Krug, who rode in a wheelchair during the sight-seeing journey.
The tour included stops at the World War II Memorial, where retired U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen of Appleton greeted the veterans, and other monuments; going past the White House on a bus ride along Pennsylvania Avenue; and a culminating visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
The veterans and their chaperones witnessed the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the cemetery.
"That was very impressive," Krug said. "Those guards have got to have a waist of no more than 30 inches."
The significance of his inclusion on the honor flight really hit Krug when the VIPs of the day returned to the Appleton-area airport. A throng of family members, other supporters and fellow veterans welcomed them back as they came out of the terminal.
"It was a tear-jerker," Krug said.
The ceremony included a military color guard as well as a band that played marches, which was near and dear to Krug.
Krug was a corporal in the Marines, and his duties while stationed on various Pacific islands during World War II included guard duty and playing bass in a ceremonial band.
"I was proud of the Marine Corps," said Krug, a 1939 graduate of East De Pere High School.
Not long after being discharged in October 1945, Krug wound up spending 50 years in Orangeville, Ill., near the Wisconsin-Illinois border.
He and his first wife Dorothy owned and operated a nursing home.
Les also went into the automobile business there and spent 42 years as a volunteer for the fire department. He was mayor of the small town of 500 people for four years.
Krug returned to his childhood roots of De Pere in 2000 after his wife died the previous year.
He married his current wife Arleen in 2001.
Krug is an active member of the De Pere VFW post and serves on its honor guard.
He appreciates local residents who come up to him and thank him for his service to the country, but Krug doesn't consider himself a hero.
"It was just doing your duty," he said.
Time Out with ...
Les Krug
Age: 88
Residence: De Pere
Family: Wife, Arleen; one son and one daughter; four grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; six stepchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; five step-great grandchildren
Hobbies: Bicycling, traveling, being active in the VFW
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911050321
De Pere veteran cherishes special visit to Washington
By Todd McMahon • The De Pere Journal • November 5, 2009
He has been a nursing-home operator, an auto salesman, a volunteer fireman, even served a term as mayor.
Yet, the greatest act of service by Les Krug occurred well before he settled into his multifaceted professional life.
"I was glad to serve my country," Krug said.
The 88-year-old De Pere resident spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, the majority of which was on active duty at the height of World War II in the early 1940s.
"World War II, if we wouldn't have won, this would have been entirely different," Krug said of the U.S. landscape today.
The victory by the Allies, which included 16 million Americans, has been immortalized in the country that maintained the independence on which it was founded 233 years ago.
The World War II Memorial, which opened in 2004 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is a modern-day symbol and reminder of the sacrifices and contributions made by so many. More than 400,000 American troops died in the war.
Krug has been a frequent visitor to the nation's capital, but his most recent trip there carried the most meaning.
He joined about 100 fellow World War II veterans, many from Northeastern Wisconsin, on a specially arranged, all-expenses-paid Old Glory Honor Flight on Oct. 27.
The vets, accompanied by guardians, were treated to a whirlwind day of flying to Washington, visiting several prominent sites and flying back to Wisconsin.
Organizers of Appleton-based Old Glory Honor Flight — one of four Wisconsin hub outfits of the Honor Flight Network — contacted Krug less than two weeks before the departure date. He was a replacement for an invited veteran who had to cancel for this particular flight.
Krug had originally submitted an application with Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, another state hub, to go on a future flight, but its waiting list is upward of a thousand veterans.
Krug jumped at the chance to go aboard last week's honor flight.
Mike Bonfigt, 59, of De Pere, a stepson-in-law of Krug, went as Krug's guardian.
Randy Hansen of De Pere VFW Post 2113 said the post partnered with Green Bay Country Club to pay for the $500 traveling expenses for Bonfigt, which covered airfare, and bus transportation and meals in Washington.
The chartered Sun Country Airlines Boeing 727 left in the early morning from Outagamie County Regional Airport in Greenville.
The honored veterans received numerous mementos, including a World War II medallion, a coin, an "In Honor of An American Hero" tag with chain and an Old Glory Honor Flight jacket.
The latter came in handy as rain fell in Washington for most of the day, but that didn't dampen the mood and spirit of the traveling party from Wisconsin.
"They went all out to show us a wonderful time," said Krug, who rode in a wheelchair during the sight-seeing journey.
The tour included stops at the World War II Memorial, where retired U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen of Appleton greeted the veterans, and other monuments; going past the White House on a bus ride along Pennsylvania Avenue; and a culminating visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
The veterans and their chaperones witnessed the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the cemetery.
"That was very impressive," Krug said. "Those guards have got to have a waist of no more than 30 inches."
The significance of his inclusion on the honor flight really hit Krug when the VIPs of the day returned to the Appleton-area airport. A throng of family members, other supporters and fellow veterans welcomed them back as they came out of the terminal.
"It was a tear-jerker," Krug said.
The ceremony included a military color guard as well as a band that played marches, which was near and dear to Krug.
Krug was a corporal in the Marines, and his duties while stationed on various Pacific islands during World War II included guard duty and playing bass in a ceremonial band.
"I was proud of the Marine Corps," said Krug, a 1939 graduate of East De Pere High School.
Not long after being discharged in October 1945, Krug wound up spending 50 years in Orangeville, Ill., near the Wisconsin-Illinois border.
He and his first wife Dorothy owned and operated a nursing home.
Les also went into the automobile business there and spent 42 years as a volunteer for the fire department. He was mayor of the small town of 500 people for four years.
Krug returned to his childhood roots of De Pere in 2000 after his wife died the previous year.
He married his current wife Arleen in 2001.
Krug is an active member of the De Pere VFW post and serves on its honor guard.
He appreciates local residents who come up to him and thank him for his service to the country, but Krug doesn't consider himself a hero.
"It was just doing your duty," he said.
Time Out with ...
Les Krug
Age: 88
Residence: De Pere
Family: Wife, Arleen; one son and one daughter; four grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; six stepchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; five step-great grandchildren
Hobbies: Bicycling, traveling, being active in the VFW
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911050321