Tribute to a soldier

On Veterans Day we pay tribute to our veterans, those in our families, those who are friends and those who, we don't know or have not met. Our tribute is to both those who walk among the living and those who have gone on before us.

As Veterans Day approaches this year I think of a special veteran who meant so much to me and to those who knew him, Harry Schweigert. Harry gave me an even greater move for our veterans than that which I possessed before I met him. He shared many memories of his years in service to our country and of his deep admiration for the men who served under him. I was able to meet many other veterans as I attended the Veterans Day events at schools in the area at which Harry served as Master of Ceremonies.

Harry served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, much of it in the Phillipines. He told me of his boarding the ship at San Francisco and being asked where he was from. Harry said he was from Wisconsin. The man then told him to "take the top bunk." When he asked why, the man strongly repeated, "I said, take the top bunk." They no sooner passed under the Golden Gate Bridge and they hit the rough water, then it became apparent the man was doing him a favor. That's what it was when you have nine bunks high and those beneath are the recipients of the sea sick malady.

There are far too many stories for me to tell right here on this page. But I mention a few, I was told of the small food portions they received, and the limited correspondence they had from home - no "facebook" or internet, no furloughs home for brief stays. Harry described conditions of war that some cannot even imagine. He told me of receiving a package from his mother which contained cookies with a pretty green frosting atop, only to find out that during the length of time it took to arrive the frosting had changed from white to the pretty green. Harry spoke of how the enemy had taken our POW's dog tags and destroyed their records. He told of POWs who were put onto a Japanese ship and taken to Japan to help repair their war equipment. I learned that of two ships that were returning to the Phillipines one was sunk by the United States, killing our own men.

Harry said that as he served during the war, he saw both the best and the worst of humanity. He told me of losing his brother, David, in the Baton Death March. Years later Harry and his father returned to the Phillipines where a mass grave of our POWs remains was opened, piled one atop another - bones no longer intact. It was there that David was identified through dental records as having been among the remains.

Harry retired as Lt. Colonel after 34 years of service. He continued to serve his country in many ways, giving to his community in ways too numerous to mention.

Harry passed away on Easter of 2012. Days before he passed some of the men who served under him in Company A gathered around his hospital bed (Don, Pat, Bill, Jerry and others) telling of their stories, stories so familiar to me. Harry has taken a higher calling now. Harry, we miss you and I honor you and your service.