A few months after my mother, Barbara, died in 2010 I discovered a time capsule—including my grandparent’s urns— locked in the chickenhouse on our old homestead in northern Minnesota. (I stopped calling her Mom the spring of 1962. In 1960 she had been committed to Fergus Falls State Hospital—we children had been sent to foster …
Read MoreAngie’s Story
“If it will save one widow from going through what I have experienced,” Angie told me recently, “People need to know.” Angie is a tiny, reserved lady. She speaks Ojibwa as a second language. Her goal is to pass traditional values on to her children and grandchildren. Angie and her family, 2014 Christmas. Two oldest …
Read MoreHonoring a Vietnam Veteran’s Memory
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/content/affield-donates-food-shelf The Mobile Riverine Force Museum visited Beltrami County Fair recently. 2014 marks the fiftieth anniversary of U.S. escalation in the Vietnam War, with the Tonkin Gulf incident on August 2, 1964. Over the course of five days, while signing books and helping at the Museum, I listened to hundreds of stories as men and …
Read MoreRemembering Deland
It was a poignant moment this evening as I stood holding this infant girl. Her grandfather, Deland, has been gone fifteen years now. How I wish he could be holding this new life, proud of his youngest daughter’s child. Baby Deeonna, her mother, Shelia, and Me. Deland was a Vietnam Veteran who died from Agent …
Read MoreMobile Riverine Force Museum Visits Beltrami County Fair
Legion Escort Riders Wendell Affield and Legion Rider organizer, Ken Kephart Studying the Past Over the course of five days, while signing books and helping at the Museum, I listened to hundreds of stories as men and women reminisced about the Vietnam War and that era. I’ve come to realize that as we move into …
Read MoreLegion Riders To Escort Mobile Riverine Force Museum to Bemidji
At 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 30, 2014, American Legion Riders will gather at the Super 8 in Little Falls, MN to escort the Mobile Riverine Force Association Museum to Bemidji. All riders are welcome to join. The escort begins in Little Falls, travels west on Hwy 10 to Motley, then turns north on Hwy 64. …
Read MoreGovernor Mark Dayton accepts Muddy Jungle Rivers
This past weekend I had the opportunity to do a book signing at the American Legion State Convention held in Rochester, MN. After Governor Dayton spoke to the Ladies Auxiliary members he stopped at my booth. We visited for a few minutes and I presented him with a copy of my memoir. He thanked me …
Read MoreMuddy Jungle Rivers Book Discussion Wednesday, April 23, 2014
(Written by Patt Rall, Bemidji Pioneer Previews, published Sunday, April 20, 2014.) •Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning continues their spring season of talks with “A Healing Journey with Wendell Affield,” who is the author of “Muddy Jungle Rivers.” Affield will talk about his life after publication of his book, and his speaking engagements when he …
Read MoreSearching For Sergeant Thomas: Two Clues This Week
The first clue, another picture of Sergeant Thomas at an awards ceremony. Picture taken by Army Veteran, Ray Pineau, sent to me by Loren Salzman. The second clue came from the sister of an army helicopter door gunner who went Missing In Action when his chopper was shot down during the Vietnam War. Donna Elliott’s …
Read More46 years Later: Finally, Clues to a Hero’s Identity, Sergeant Thomas
For more than four decades this man has haunted me. Few of us have the honor to witness actions of a true hero. I did. Yesterday I received my second clue to locating him and his family. Here is a message I just posted in a veterans chat room that is specifically for Army and …
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