Editor’s note: Jerry Brearton took the photographs.
Petty Officer 1st Class Builder Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist (SCW) Dennis R. VanZuiden, Morrison, IL, reenlisted for six years in the U. S. Navy Reserves, on Saturday, January 23, 2021.
He is Senior Vice Commander of American Legion Post 328, in Morrison, IL.
VanZuiden is shown onboard the U. S. Army Rock Island[, IL,] Arsenal, with the Atomic Cannon in the background.
His brother Brent, a U. S. Army Reservist, administered the Oath of Enlistment.
A Commissioned Officer of any service branch may administer the Oath to an enlisted person.
Having originally enlisted November 29, 2006, Dennis VanZuiden is 14-year Veteran and Career Reservist. He had one deployment/tour for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan, in 2012-2013, with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 15 (NMCB-15.) He is currently attached to Naval Construction Group 1 in Pt. Hueneme, CA, but drills locally at Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Rock Island, located on the Rock Island Arsenal. The NOSC is a tenant of the Arsenal.
Born and raised in Fulton, IL, Petty Officer 1st Class VanZuiden resides in Morrison, IL, with wife Kelly and two children. He is employed as an Estimator and Project Manager by Sterling Commercial Roofing, of Sterling, IL.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3) Brent T. VanZuiden originally enlisted February 13, 2001; he went from the Enlisted ranks to the Chief Warrant Officer program in 2007. Brent was selected for the rank of CWO4. He has been in the U. S. Army Reserves his entire military career. He has had three deployments: two in Iraq, 2003-2004 and 2010-2011, and one in Romania in 2017. His current Duty Station is 416th Engineer Company, located in Darien, IL.
Also born and raised in Fulton, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brent VanZuiden resides in Burlington, IA, with wife Michelle and three children. He is employed as an Engineer at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, IA, by the Department of Defense.
Three Brothers, three Generations, two Branches of Military Service
Dennis’s and Brent’s brother, Jeff M. VanZuiden, served in the U. S. Army for four years Active Duty, from 2001 to 2005. He served several tours in Iraq.
Their uncle, William “Bill” Balk of Fulton, IL, served in U. S. Army.
The men’s grandfather, Marvin “Mike” Balk of Fulton, served as Storekeeper 2nd Class Petty Officer (SK2) during WWII. Dennis always carries the small Bible his grandfather carried during his service years. It was in his pocket during his Reenlistment ceremony on January 23.
