Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Honoring Our Veterans: History of Vietnam Veterans Memorial in New Rockford dates back 30 years

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Hwy. 281 is one of New Rockford's most recognizable landmarks.

Today, it's flanked on either side by an M-47 tank and a HUEY helicopter - two impossible-to-miss relics that bring well-deserved attention to the memorial and the veterans it honors.

The tank and helicopter are joined in the middle by three flags: the American flag, the flag of North Dakota and the POW/MIA flag. In front of them sits a large stone with a plaque that reads "Vietnam Veterans Memorial; Honoring All Vets."

Many today have never experienced New Rockford without the distinctive memorial, and more still can't imagine the town without it.

The history of how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial came to be is integral to the story of New Rockford, and it all began in the minds of Joe Schmaltz and Erling Rolfson, two Vietnam vets who've dedicated much of their lives to honoring the memory of every veteran that risked everything and sacrificed so much.

"Back several years ago, Joe Schmaltz and I got the idea of putting a Vietnam veterans park there, but for all veterans," recalled Rolfson. "That's why on the stone there it says it's for 'all Vets.'"

He added that memorials like the one in New Rockford are necessary because they recognize the ultimate sacrifice risked, and all too often suffered, by America's veterans.

"You can go to just about every community in North Dakota and there's some kind of veteran's memorial, or something to remember and commemorate the sacrifices that the veterans of our country made to keep our country strong and free," Rolfson said.

In the summer of 1993, the memorials' first eye-catching feature rumbled into New Rockford.

The American Legion Post #30 (American Legion) had received a Korean War era M-47 tank, which had previously been used for training at Camp Grafton in eastern Eddy County.

That July, members of the American Legion pushed the roughly 50-ton tank into position, exactly where it still rests today.

The tank has gone on to stand proudly and prominently in New Rockford in the decades since, an enduring reminder of the men and women who've earned year-round recognition for their service and sacrifice.

In its position on the north end of town, the tank looks as if it's standing guard - protecting the residents of New Rockford just as so many veterans have done for American citizens and the freedoms we enjoy.

In the fall of 2000, the memorial's latest addition made its way to New Rockford: a famous UH-1H "HUEY," the helicopter that became a symbol of U.S. combat forces in Vietnam.

The HUEY, unlike an M-47 tank, was especially unique to the Vietnam War. The jungles of southeast Asia aren't suited for large, lumbering vehicles, and so flight became the best way to transport just about everything - especially fallen soldiers.

Rolfson, who flew medevacs in a CH-46 tandem engine helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, said the addition of a helicopter to the memorial was special for both he and Schmaltz.

"Vietnam was a helicopter war," he said. "... Helicopters saved numerous lives quickly. I flew medevac missions all the time, and it was a game changer as far as getting soldiers out of battlefields and into the hospitals quickly."

Before making its way to New Rockford, the HUEY was housed in Fort Rucker, Alabama. Rolfson said he'd been told the helicopter's engine was blowing up and that they were looking to get rid of it.

The U.S. Army handed the helicopter over for free, and it was eventually brought to North Dakota by another New Rockford resident, Duane Duda. Duda hauled the HUEY more than 1,500 miles from southern Alabama to Camp Grafton, where it was restored before making its way to its current location.

It now stands on the north end of town as yet another reminder of the sacrifice so many veterans made in Vietnam - a war that cost the lives of nearly 60,000 Americans - but also the thousands of lives saved by helicopters in Vietnam and in every war since.

The memorial went through yet another transformation just recently, albeit much smaller than adding a new helicopter or large tank, but by no means less important.

Over a period of time, the memorial had become somewhat neglected, so earlier this fall, locals Kevin Johnson and Ronnie Cook spent a couple of days bringing the memorial back to life.

"The Legion Auxiliary were the ones that really wanted to get it cleaned up," said Johnson. "They just said it had a lot of neglect and just wanted to get the trees all trimmed up so you wouldn't be walking around getting hit in the face, and especially those evergreens all they do is collect trash and leaves."

Thanks to the recent "spruce up" from Johnson and Cook, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will stand as beautifully as ever this Veterans Day.

Schmaltz' and Rolfson's vision roughly 30 years ago has given New Rockford residents a landmark to be proud of, as well as a place to honor those that sacrificed the most for our freedom.

Rolfson said he's proud of the memorial, and credits much of its creation to Schmaltz.

"Joe donated the land, and he's a good guy and he did a great job," Rolfson stated. "It was a team effort and together we completed the mission."

While celebrating Veterans Day, visitors and residents are encouraged to stop by the memorial and remember America's veterans.

A Veterans Day breakfast will also be taking place on Nov. 11 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the New Rockford Eagles Club. The breakfast is open to the public, and all veterans eat free. They'll be serving pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee.

The Eddy County VFW Auxiliary of Sheyenne will host a Veterans Day supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the VFW Clubhouse. The supper is open to all veterans as well as their spouse or guest.

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served, and thank you for your service.

 
 
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