American Legionnaires Jerry Brearton, Terry Jones, Kenneth Petersen, and Post #328 Commander Dale Usterbowski delivered holiday gifts to 31 local veterans, on Monday morning, December 18, 2017. Those recipients reside at Pleasant View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 500 N. Jackson Street (8 men); Resthave Home, 408 Maple Avenue (one woman, Mary Renkes–at left–and ten men); Windsor Manor Assisted Living Community, 403 Scenic Street, (12 men) in Morrison, IL.
Brearton stated he “has been doing [the “Gifts to Yanks Who Gave” program] four or five years at this Post.” He did so at his previous posting. Usterbowski reported Morrison Post #328 has participated “for at least ten years.” Jones and Petersen have done the honors for three years. This annual American Legion service project is through the Department of Illinois.
In October, veterans received a pamphlet of gift options and recorded their choice and size, if necessary. “Every year they [American Legion] change one thing” on the gift list, noted Usterbowski. Merchandise was delivered to the Legion, put into Christmas bags, tagged, and sorted for delivery. Male and female veterans chose between the following:
- fleece blanket
- sweater
- jogging suit
- nylon jacket
- cloth satchel to fit a walker or wheel chair.
Inside the satchel were two pairs of socks; gloves; hat; deck of cards; word puzzle book; pen; pad of paper. The bag bears the American Legion logo.
Shown at Resthave Home are, left-to-right, Brearton, Jones, Commander Usterbowski, and Petersen.
Mary Renkes, age 95, is shown with Commander Usterbowski and Petersen. She served two years in Washington, D. C. with the Navy during World War II. In 1943 she completed “boot camp in New York, City, NY, at Hunter College. At Oklahoma A & M University,” Renkes “studied Business Training; [she] then was transferred to Washington, D. C. It was so crowded! Buses were loaded. Every military branch was there. We lived on Pennsylvania Avenue in a new building, six in the apartment, all Bureau of Ordnance women.”
She was a 3rd Class Yoeman at the Bureau. Renkes was responsible for procurement, storage, and deployment of all naval weapons in the storeroom under her charge. “Civil Service people taught us” office skills. “There was all kinds of ordnance” with which she dealt. “It was shipped from everywhere in WWII.”
Due to breathing difficulties that continue today, she “was in the hospital in 1945, waiting to be discharged, when President Franklin Roosevelt died” on April 12. She came to live in Rock Island, IL, and worked at an ammunition plant.
Mary’s husband, “Henry, was an aerial photographer during WWII, covering the Pacific and Iwo Jima” in particular. His sister, “Helen Renkes, was a nurse on the US Hope. She was a Captain, but still didn’t get any respect” from military men.
Henry and Mary had four children: the late Whiteside County Judge Robert Renkes died in 1981; John Renkes of Wisconsin is retired; Becky Riley, Cincinnati, OH, continues teaching after 50 years; Patrick Renkes lives in Michigan. “They come as often as they can,” said Mary Renkes. She expects Christmas visits from her children.
Ralph Huss was a Navy 1st Class Shipfitter. Legion member Brearton, left, was a Navy Engineer. Huss recalled his service during WWII all over the South Pacific. “We had a good time. I lucked out–I didn’t have to carry a gun.” He ordered a windbreaker.
Donald Smith, like Jones, at right, served in the Air Force. He ordered a green windbreaker. “I was stationed in Denver[, CO,] all the time; I was an instructor in electronics.” After the service, Smith worked in Rockford, IL, at IBM for 35 years. He did not enjoy “when the railroad called at 2:30 in the morning, with three feet of snow,” to have him make a repair. “And they don’t take ‘no’ for an answer!” Next, he worked six months at the Sterling Wire Mill. Finally, he returned to IBM in Morrison, at GE. His duty was to service mainframe computers. Smith is flanked by Jones, Brearton. Commander Usterbowski, and Petersen.
Frank Ward served from 1944 to 1946 in the Navy, as a 3rd Class Machinist Mate, aboard USS California BB-44. He “earned six Battle Stars while in combat in the Pacific [Theatre.] Californa was sunk at Pearl Harbor,” December 7, 1946. He is flanked by American Legion members Petersen, Brearton, Commander Usterbowski, and Jones. Ward chose a navy blue, fleece cardigan.
Like all gifts, it is tender sentiment and respect for the recipient that makes all the difference in it’s value. Each veteran survived one of our Country’s darkest hours, helping to bring about peace on earth for a time.