Cerro Gordo County Iowa
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Fallen Heroes Remembered
Sacrifice Not Forgotten The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Iowa
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
by Dick Johnson for The Globe Gazette
MASON CITY — His name is etched on a black granite stone topped with a quote by President Calvin COOLIDGE:
"The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten."
Family and friends certainly have not forgotten Delbert Van GAMPLEARE of Mason City, whose name was among 60 added last month to the Mason City Area Veterans Monument in Central Park.
"He'd be very proud," said Van GAMPLEARE'S widow, Bernadette, of Mason City. "He probably would have said, 'What took you so long to put my name on there?'"
Sgt. Van GAMPLEARE was a paratrooper with the Office of Strategic Services — the predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency — during World War II. He earned the Bronze Campaign Star for the China Offensive campaign and parachute wings for his work in training the first unit of Chinese parachutists.
He died in 1992 at age 68.
Van GAMPEARE'S daughter, Angie DETERMAN of Mason City, said she's cheered to see the names of the many who served their country, "and how much it meant to them."
"I think it reinforces my patriotism," she said. "And I've got an uncle who I try and call every Veterans Day and thank him for serving, and I think if we just take the time to thank one veteran for serving, it's important."
The new names bring the total of veterans recognized on the Veterans Monument to 3,308, said Doug WAYCHUS, commander of VFW Post 733 and vice chairman of the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.
Applications were submitted by veterans, friends or family members of veterans.
Art MURPHY of MURPHY Sandblast Engraving in Rochester, Minn., added the names on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.
Names are added once a year before Veterans Day.
To add a name to the monument Applications and information about the Mason City Area Veterans Monument are available at www.masoncity.net and www.co.cerro-gordo.ia.us. ~ Or stop by City Hall or the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse.
Applications to add a name must be received before June 30 to be included in that year's addition. Applications received after June 30 will not be processed until the following year. Those considering adding a name to the monument are encouraged to wait until April or May to send the application in.
Here are the 60 new names engraved on the Mason City Area Veterans Monument in Central Park. Military branches are USA (Army), USAF (Air Force), USMC (Marine Corps) and USN (Navy):
John D. CHAMBERS, USA; Gordon MONAHAN, USN; Jason SQUIER, USA; James Robert FULLER, USA; Alexander J. STILLE, USAF; Lynn Edgar STRATFORD, USN; John D. VANCE Sr., USN; John D. VANCE Jr., USMC; Gerald L. JURASEK, USAF; Donald E. WHITE, USA; Don Jessie BRUNSTEIN, USN; Larry Joe BRUNSTEIN, USN; Gerald Lynn MEYER, USN; Henry ROMIG, USN; George C. PAPPAS, USA; Darrell NEWMAN, USA; Gene J. RODRIGUEZ, USMC; Paul L. HEINZ, USA; Edward Dennis JOHNSON, USN; William Joseph GARRARD, USA; C. J. "Bud" JOHNSON, USN; Bruce K. JOHNSON, USN;
Raymond ROLLEFSON, USA; Bradley Wayne FELTON, USA; Jason Scott FELTON, USA; Gary Karl Van HYFTE, USA; Terril L. WEYDERT, USN; Marvin L. WEYDERT, USN; Phillip K. WEYDERT, USN; Brian J. WEYDERT, USN; Kevin D. LOVEJOY, USA; Eric Michael TREANOR, USN; Delbert Van GAMPLEARE, USA; Leo F. JASPERSEN, USA; Ronald C. McMENIMEN, USA; Russell C McMENIMEN, USN; Patrick J. THOMAS, USAF; Eugene F. WHEELER, USA; George R. LUDEMAN, USA; Hans M. HANSON, USMC; Larry G. CHRISTENSEN, USA;
William Jennings LeDUC Sr., USA; William "Bill" Jennings LeDUC, USN; Norman F. MAIN, USA; Duane C. HANSON, USA; Gary L. HANSON, USA; Garold August KOOPMAN, USA; Merlin DEETS, USA; Maurice DEETS, USMC; James H. RISH, USA/USN; William H. GRANT Jr., USA; Howard F. ISAAK, USA; Loren Gene BITKER, USA; Marshall "Mike" E. LINDQUIST, USN; Patrick D. COOKMAN, USA; Ollie Manford Van FLEET, USA; George M. LITTLETON, USA; Marjorie A. "Maggie" EYLERS, USA; Larry P. HARRINGTON, USN; Donald W. RACHUT, USA.
Transcribed & Submitted by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2011