Honoring 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 …

Mobile 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 …

Legion 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. …

Muddy 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 …

Searching 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 …

46 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 …

Mobile Riverine Force Museum To Visit 2014 Beltrami County Fair

David Quam, a local Bemidji, MN, resident, has a mission: to document on film World War II veteran’s stories. David’s home page: http://www.ww2bji.org/ I felt honored when he asked to record my Muddy Jungle Rivers experience. David recently learned of my plan to bring our Mobile Riverine Force Museum to Beltrami County Fair. He has …

Muddy Jungle Rivers Book Discussion: A Healing Journey——April 23, 2014

Sponsored By: Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning (NELL) Program will be in Gonvick Community Center: Coffee at 9am, program at 9:30 and wrap up around 11 or so. depending on questions. Open to the public (From NELL Newsletter) In January 1968 Wendell Affield went to Vietnam as the cox’n of Armor Troop Carrier 112-11 with …