above and beyond

1 A TRIBUTE TO VETERANS november 11, 2015

CHroniCling tHe stories of loCal veterans

above anD beyonD

MONTROSE

DA

ILY

PRESSA publication of the

2 november 11, 2015 ABOVE AND BEYOND

BY dennis andersondaiLY Press adVertising director

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I moved to Delta, Colo., when I was entering my sophomore year of high school. Attend-ing a new school was not a foreign experi-

ence for me. I was the son of a 21-year Army Veteran and moving every three years was normal.

When you start a new school it is much like starting a new job. Some people are very friendly and open while others not so much. One of my earliest friends at Delta High School was Shelly Roberts. She was very well liked in our class, a person that could be counted on as a friend. She proved that in her actions time and time again. We were in the high school band together and attended the same local youth group. She was and is very important to me.

We both graduated in May of 1981. I had no particular aspirations. The job market was bleak then, especially for a high school gradu-ate with no real tangible skill set. So I fl oun-dered around Delta applying at different local businesses and since I was only 17 years old I couldn’t apply at the local mines. There were no job prospects for me.

One night my mother and my sister Leone met me in my parent’s kitchen and convinced me that there was no immediate future for me in Delta and I should join the military. It was not a short conversation, but I knew deep down they were right. A couple of days later I was in Grand Junction and checked in with each of the major branches before settling on the Army. As my dad would later say in his dry humorous way, “He chose my alma mater from the school of hard knocks.”

Shelly’s plans were to attend the University of Northern Colorado. She was a great stu-dent and very talented musician which landed her in the ‘Up with People’ cast. There was no doubt that she had a bright future and would be successful no matter which avenue in life she would take. Probably about the time that Shelly was settling in her dorm room at UNC, I was arriving at Fort Knox, Ky., for basic training. I’m sure she was nervous about leaving home and beginning classes, while I was wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into with my decision.

Immediately when I stepped off of the bus that shuttled my fellow recruits and I from the Louisville airport to Fort Knox, I knew I was no longer in my comfort zone. My hair was long so I was a target. “Yeah sweetheart, wait ‘til the barber gets you tomorrow,” our welcoming drill instructor told me. It was one of a series of events over the next six weeks that would tear me down. The only part I enjoyed was qualify-ing with an AR15 and the hand grenade train-ing. The days would start at some ungodly hour, waking up to metal trash cans thrown down the middle of the barracks, and if we did not get out of our bunks in time, we were helped out.

The unfortunate ones would go from a deep sleep to on the fl oor with their mattress and sheets on top of them. For the top bunk sleep-ers that was quite the fall. Breakfast, lunch and supper had to be consumed in about 5 minutes or you missed out. We were called every politi-cally incorrect name you can imagine. Ten-mile, full gear hikes, bivouac in a down pour of rain and the obstacle course in full NBC gear – Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare- com-plete with full gas mask were brutal.

Speaking of gas mask- we were led into a chamber with our gas masks on, then the ser-geants released tear gas that fi lled the chamber. Then we removed our gas masks and had to state our full name, rank and social security

number before we could exit the chamber. I don’t think I was past my fi rst name when the brutality of the gas hit me. There were fl uids coming out of my eyes, nose and mouth that I didn’t know were in me. It took us about an hour to fi nd a poor fellow recruit in the Ken-tucky woods because he just ran and became disorientated. When we found him, he was sit-ting next to a pine tree having a mental break-down and just wanted to go home. No sympathy was given to him, we picked him up and helped him back to the company and carried onward.

Correspondence from home was always welcomed. Of course there was no social me-dia at that time, so letters and the rare phone call was all we had. My fi rst phone call home I only spoke with my mother briefl y, she just was too emotional. She handed the receiver to my father who asked, “How’s it going?” “It’s not easy,” I told him. “The mind games are the hardest part.”

“Well it’s the weakest part of your body. You’ll be fi ne, once you get through basic the rest is gravy,” he said. I explained to him how on this particular Sunday they decided to remove all of our toilet paper and replace it with newspaper. “Well the new Army is soft then, in my day they replaced our toilet paper with broken glass.” My dad’s sense of humor was one of a kind. I received a steady stream of letters from my mother and they were always a welcome sight. One day my name was called during mail call and I didn’t recognize the stationery as being from mom. I looked at the return address and it was from Shelly. I was excited to hear from my dear friend. I went up to our part of the barracks, (We were on the top fl oor of three) and sat on the fl oor at the foot of my bunk and read her letter. In true Shelly fashion the letter was briefl y about her, even though the changes in her life were very exciting. She focused on encouraging me and that she was proud of me. Her letter could not have been timed better. It was the shot in the arm I needed. It was as if she picked me off of the ground and said- I’m proud of you. You can do this. Don’t let them discourage you. It made an impact and helped me through the fi nal weeks until I graduated. Dad was right the rest of my time in the army was pretty much gravy.

I thanked Shelly at our 20th class reunion, but I still don’t think she realized the impact her letter had on me. I don’t think I could ever explain it in words. Now, Shelly and her hus-band live in the San Diego area and have two children, while my wife Melissa and I live in Delta have raised three children and celebrated our 29th anniversary last June 21. She is with-out a doubt my best friend.

I believe that I have seen Shelly in person maybe twice since we graduated, but that has no effect on the fact that she is still one of my favorite people I have ever met and some 34 years later her kind gesture has not been for-gotten. Thank you to all who have served and happy Veterans Day. l

Publishervincent laboys

Managing Editorpaul Wahls

ContributorsKatharhynn Heidelberg

richard reedernate Wick

allison nadellance bohalls

Advertising Director

Dennis andersons

AdvertisingHeidi gofforthrebecca KellnCarrie baless

Graphic Designershaun gibson

insiDe tHis seCtion

A LETTER FROM HOME…by Dennis anderson, page 2

M’HERO…… M’DADby lance bohall, page 3

DOING A GOOD TURN FOR VETERANS

by Katharhynn Heidelberg, page 4

COMMEMORATION THROUGH COLLABORATION

by Katharhynn Heidelberg, page 6

A PLACE FOR VETS TO CALL HOMEby Katharhynn Heidelberg, page 8

PRESTON BRYANT- GRAND JUNCTION, CO

by allison nadel, page 11

SERVICE IN WACS CHANGED MCKINNEY’S LIFE

by richard reeder, page 12

MONTROSE

DA

ILY

PRESS

a letter froM HoMe…

Dennis Anderson

3 A TribuTe To VeTerAns November 11, 2015

A • M • O • N • G U • S

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M’Hero……………… M’DaDBY Lance BohaLL

s

The dawn broke murky with patches of fog left over from the rain that had drizzled in the past few days.

The forecast had been for partly cloudy, not good news for the 485th/464th B-24 bombing group stationed near Venosa, Italy in November , 1944, because the ru-mor was a very dangerous mission was planned if the weather permitted.

For missions that were considered extra hazardous, the crews that returned were awarded credit for two sorties to-ward the total number of missions to fly to get a discharge.

This mission would be number three for our crew and we needed 43 to reach that hallowed benchmark. The average number of missions a crew survived was 8.

We filed in for breakfast that morn-ing with little conversation knowing that we were likely faced with a 10 hour flight, mostly over enemy territory.

We then went to the briefing room where the curtain covering the wall map came down to reveal the target. The groans were audible… we were bombing the heavily, flak gun fortified city of Ploesti, a source of petroleum products for the German war machine.

No one looked at the other crews as we solemnly left because we knew some of us would not be returning.

We took off into the overcast morn-ing and got into our formation boxes with us as the lead plane.

Our escort fighters stayed with us un-til their fuel gauges required them to turn around. We were then on our own and I with my expansive and precari-ous view from the nose gunner position would be able to spot the enemy planes and flak bursts first hand.

We got into heavy enemy fighter ac-tion en route followed by nearly impen-etrable flak around the target.

We were able to drop our bombs but not without serious damage to our 24, Lil’ Gal. Two of our engines were shot out along with our undercarriage. We limped home and our pilot made a gear-up crash landing that we all walked away from. We later counted 174 flak holes in the fuselage.

(As interpreted by me from narrative provided by Staff Sargent Jack Bohall, who survived through all 43 missions and made it back home.)

The courage and valor of these men and these selfless acts are indeed hero-ic. My dad did his part like thousands of others. He never thought of himself as any special hero, and never did he want to talk about this part of his ser-vice to his country that he loved.

Thanks Dad, miss you. Your son,

Lance Bohall Jack Borhall was a bomber crew member in Italy during World War II.

4 November 11, 2015 Above And beyond

BY KatharhYnn heideLBergdaiLY Press senior Writer

s

At first glance, the canes local woodworking and woodturning groups create might seem like simple shafts of wood, ending in an interesting eagle’s head.

They’re more than that.For the veterans these eagle-head canes are intended to honor, they

are a tangible acknowledgement of their service.“Sometimes, there’s a lot of emotion. It’s the first time they’ve been thanked for their service,” said Bob Hampton, a member of the Wood-workers Guild of Western Colorado. Hampton, himself an Army vet-eran, engraves each honoree’s name, branch of service and rank onto the cane shaft.

Fellow veteran Gary Gratton carves the eagle heads that top the canes, working from the same patterns as others so that when Hamp-ton makes the cane shafts, the pieces fit and won’t come apart.

“I was always a woodworker. When I got older, I couldn’t make houses and sheds anymore. I had to go smaller. You might say I have a bit of artistic talent to make it really look like an eagle head,” Gratton said.

The eagle-head canes hail from a long tradition. They were first cre-ated for Civil War veterans.

“It was communities taking care of their veterans who had amputa-tions. They would carve an eagle-head cane,” Gratton said.

But the practice fell away until about a dozen years ago, when people in Oklahoma saw an article about the canes and decided to create them. Through word of mouth, the idea caught on nationwide, he said.

The practice spread to Montrose much the same way.“Grand Junction started making canes. They called the woodwork-

ers guild (in Montrose) and said they were getting applications from Montrose,” Gratton said.

The Grand Junction group asked for help meeting the local need.“We said, ‘We’ll do better than that. We’ll make the canes,’” Gratton

said.The local efforts have evolved over the past few years. In addition

to the Woodworkers Guild of Western Colorado, the Montrose Area Woodturners and Black Canyon Woodworkers’ members work to cre-ate the canes. The design itself has expanded to include more realistic features, such as glass eyes, ordered from a taxidermist, for the eagles.

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Doing a gooD turn for veterans

Woodworkers deploy skills for eagle head canes

Top Gary Gratton begins work on a new eagle head for canes that are given to veterans. BoTTom Gary Gratton shows what an eagle head looks like as it begins to take shape. (Richard Reeder/Daily Press)

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“That’s what we do. There are three groups that come together to make this happen,” Gratton said.

Individuals make an application to receive an eagle-head cane, and on the paperwork, they include the details that are to be engraved on the cane’s shaft.

To apply, veterans should visit the Warrior Resource Center, 11 S. Park Ave., and request a cane application. Proof of service documenta-tion is required.

While in other areas, the canes are simply delivered to the recipi-ents, in Montrose, formal presentations are made at 1 p.m. the first Thursday each month at the Warrior Resource Center, part of Welcome Home Montrose, which works to eliminate barriers for veterans.

Since the program’s inception here, more than 300 canes have been created, Gratton said.

“This year is our busiest year,” he said: the creators were approach-ing 100 eagle-head canes in late October.

Eagle-head canes are also being taken to Nucla, Hampton said.“It (making canes) is something I can do. I enjoy it,” he said. “… I’ve

had touching moments with a lot of history. It’s just touching to do it. Most people who see it for the first time are amazed.” l

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The eagle heads from beginning to end as they are prepared to be placed on canes for veterans. (Richard Reeder/Daily Press)

Gary Gratton shows a finished eagle’s head that is ready to be placed on a cane for veteran. (Richard Reeder/Daily Press)


CoMMeMoration tHrougH Collaboration Veterans organizations team up for final rites


s

When a serviceman or woman dies, Montrose veterans’ organizations see to it they are sent off with hon-

ors and thanks from a grateful nation.“One of the things veterans feel is that

there is a comradeship. There is no age limit, no ethnic limit,” said Gary Gratton, a Vietnam veteran and the commander of the Disabled American Veterans’ Moore-Demor-et Chapter 17 in Montrose.

“This guy may have been a World War II veteran, but we know what he had to do. A lot of times, when the family tells us the story, we are in awe. It is an honor to do this,” Gratton said.

When a veteran dies, the local honor guard is notified by funeral homes as to whether his or her survivors want military honors. The DAV teams up with the American Le-gion Post 73 in Montrose and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4663 in Montrose.

“I think we’ve got something really good here going here in Montrose. The VFW does the service, the prayer. The American Le-gion is the color guard,” Gratton said.

The DAV performs the rifle salute; addi-tionally, a member of the National Guard unit in Montrose comes in full Army uni-form to ceremoniously fold the flag and pres-ent it to the deceased veteran’s survivors.

“All three of the veterans organizations, we get together and do veterans’ memorial services,” veteran and VFW member Bud

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Johnson said. Johnson is also a former post commander and chap-lain, who served 26 years in the Navy.

“It involves a presentation by the post commander, a prayer by the post chaplain. We present the flag to the next of kin,” Johnson said. “It’s not only for the veterans; it’s a way to honor families, too. It’s a way of laying to rest the veterans with honors.”

Each service uses a script to honor the decedent and at it are said the words “May he (or she) be an example to the rest of us when our time comes,” Gratton said.

The service organizations have both a bugler who plays Taps, and a bugle with a programmable insert that enables a recorded version to sound out from the brass.

Gratton’s granddaughter and a friend of hers enjoy taking care of that duty, Gratton said.

He calls the DAV rifle squad to attention, turns them half left, and they raise their rifles. The seven members shoot three volleys for what is generally called a “21 gun salute.” Sometimes, 21 shots are reserved for high-ranking servicemen or women, but in Montrose, all deceased veterans receive it, Gratton said.

“We give everyone the highest honor, the 21-gun salute,” he said. “We have done services for young kids who were killed in Afghani-stan. We did one where a kid got killed on a motorcycle and he had only been in the service eight months. But he stood up and served, so we honor him.” l

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Members of the local Disabled American Veterans chapter perform a three-volley salute at the Memorial Day service at Cedar Creek Cemetary last year.

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When Joe Miller walked through the doors of what is now called The Warriors Rest, he saw not just people

with problems, but the opportunity to help them.

“I was a few hours from being homeless,” said the Navy veteran, who now manages the boarding home for other veterans. “They took me in. The house was (then) full of drug addicts and drunks. I decided when it came time, I better step up, or I’m going to have to live in that environment until I get on my feet. I did, and I haven’t been able to step down yet. I don’t know how to stop.”

Miller himself did not have a substance abuse problem, and not everyone who is homeless does, he said.

What began as Serenity House on North Cascade Avenue has been rechristened The Warriors Rest and is devoted exclusively to helping homeless veterans. Founded by veteran Eric Goff about four years ago, The Warriors Rest is now a clean and sober environment.

It is now at capacity, with 10 men, who must abide by house rules and pay about $300 for all-inclusive room and board.

Goff changed the name to provide the

correct impression, as the house is now strictly drug- and alcohol-free.

Goff ran Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at the Montrose County Jail.

“I got tired of watching these guys cycle

through the jail because they didn’t have an address. Being a disabled vet myself and a recovered alcoholic … (I would be) seeing a guy get out of jail and really want to get his life back together, but have no address. You

The Warriors Rest house sits on the corner of North 2nd and Cascade where you can always see the flags flown with pride. (Nate Wick/Daily Press)


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can’t get a job or ID,” Goff said. “Basically, it came down to, not only were we working with alcoholics, but with veterans too. Veterans are our preference. We give priority to them. We basically help any homeless vet if he wants to follow the rules.”

The house tries to help the veterans address the issues that spurred their

homelessness.“We help them get back on their feet and understand they don’t have

to live like that anymore,” Goff said.Compassion drove him, Goff said.“I had a mentor who helped me understand how to get back on my

feet. I feel it’s my responsibility to do the same,” he said.“I just felt like I needed to give back to the community.”Options are severely limited for single men without housing in

Montrose County, he added.While there are transitional places for women with children and

for families, the closest option for a single male is the Abraham Connection in Delta, or Grand Junction’s homeless shelter.

“A lot of these guys don’t want to go down there. They want to stay in Montrose,” Goff said.

There are many hurdles for homeless veterans to clear. Veterans can qualify for Section 8 housing through Housing and

Urban Development programs administered by the Montrose County Housing Authority.

The process can take a number of months, though, and in the interim, the veteran might not have anywhere to go.

Other programs and community organizations have helped with temporary shelter, but Goff said there is no long-term place for homeless male veterans other than The Warriors Rest.

“Between walking in the door and (receiving) the Section 8 housing (voucher), they’re pretty much put to sleeping down by the river. Some people want to do that and that’s their prerogative, but the guy who comes in and wants help … it’s pretty hard to place a single male in Montrose County,” Goff said. (Continued on page 10)

Top Split wood crowds the front porch and the smell of smoke from the chimney of the Warriors Rest house hints of the warmth behind the front door.BoTTom Piggy sits on the coach by the fire and welcomes people as the enter the livingroom of the Warriors Rest house. (Nate Wick/Daily Press)

Shelves stacked full of healthy food and treats provide the residents with basic needs. (Nate Wick/Daily Press)

‘the camaraderie of working together brings these guys to where they’re not

overwhelmed.’ the Warriors rest founder eric goff


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your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.

Thank you, Veterans,Thank you, Veterans,Thank you, Veterans,for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.for your service.

Dustin SeeversU.S. Army 2000-2001

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to all veterans who have served our country

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Grand Junction • Glenwood Springs • Basalt • Eagle-Vail • Frisco

Brad CoxArea Manager

USMC (Active Duty), Staff Sergeant, Desert Storm Veteran

Gerome Bernal General Manager

21 years in the National Guard, 157FA unit, 1st Sargent, 3 deployments including 9/11

Matt McDonald Assistant Manager Montrose

Marine Corp and Army June 1995 – April 2013

Gary SaundersU.S. Navy 1955-1957

Brian AtwoodU.S. Navy 2002-2006

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WWW.BIGOTIRES.COM

Big O Tires would like to recognize our employees and say

Veterans have to go through an application process for placement at Warriors Rest. The current residents discuss whether the prospective new tenant would be a good fit; so far, no one has been turned away as a result, Goff said.

“It’s kind of like boot camp, to a

degree. The more you spend time with these people, the more you kind of work together,” he said. “In boot camps, you were taught that you had to watch your brother’s back. That’s what we’re trying to do. The camaraderie of working together brings these guys to where they’re not overwhelmed.”

When Goff took over the house, he did find some residents with substance abuse problems who did not want to change. But this led to some success stories, including a man on whom Goff would not give up.

“Right now, he’s in a very good place. He’s been sober for over a year. He’s picking up the program. He’s helping others. He has a job. He’s kind of a miracle,” Goff said.

“I’ve seen that with several people at the house. Unfortunately, all don’t make it.”

Even a number of those people have since told Goff how influential the house was, regardless.

“Recovery is a progressive thing, just like the disease of alcoholism or drug addiction. The more you use, the worse things get for you,” Goff said. “But recovery is the same way. I have seen many people come through the program who have made progress.”

He credits Miller with the smooth running of The Warriors Rest house, and the heavy lifting.

The Warriors Rest gave Miller a place to stay, but it gave him something else, too.

“And it’s given me a purpose,” Miller said. “When you know you helped somebody, it’s very rewarding. Sometimes it’s frustrating, but it’s very rewarding. I know I helped a lot of guys. I’m not going to say I helped all of them, but I’ve helped a lot.” l

How to help The Warriors RestThe Warriors Rest is a self-supporting program funded by its residents’ rent, but also by donations and in-kind contributions.It is a designated nonprofit, so donations are tax-deductible. All funds are spent directly on efforts to help veterans and house upkeep, not on admin-istration fees.“If every person in Montrose County would give a dollar once a month, we wouldn’t have a problem with homeless veterans,” founder and executive director Eric Goff said. “It doesn’t take much if everyone participates.”Donations may be mailed to The Warriors Rest, 137 N. Cascade Ave., Mon-trose, Co., 81401.

‘When you know you helped somebody,

it’s very rewarding. sometimes it’s

frustrating, but it’s very rewarding.’

the Warriors rest house manager Joe Miller

Resident Joseph Miller sits on the couch and warms himself by the fire on a cool fall day. (Nate Wick/Daily Press)


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Valley Manor Care Center • The Homestead at MontroseSenior CommUnity Care PACE • Senior CommUnity Care Meals

Horizons Health Care • Home Health of Western Colorado

Con� dential Toll Free Help Line: 1-844-VOA-4YOU

VISIT US AT WWW.VOAHEALTHSERVICES.ORG

� ank You to all Veterans for

serving our country with

honor, courage and commitment.

to all Veterans for to all Veterans for to all Veterans for to all Veterans for

preston bryant - granD JunCtion, Co tank commander and Honor guard (e4)

BY aLLison nadeLsPeciaL to the daiLY Press

s

Preston Bryant is charged with the maintenance of our Grand Junction location and the buildings 30 plus tenants spread across 10 floors. Preston spent 3 years in the Army as a Tank Commander

and Honor Guard, both in the states and overseas. During his service from 1971-1974, he was located in California, Kentucky, Panama and Texas for various amounts of time.

The most difficult period of serving for Preston came during his time in Panama. This role came after going through basic training in Fort Ord, Calif., as well as Fort Knox, Ky.

Preston spent two months in jungle training and rescue in order to prepare for being deployed to Vietnam. While there, he and his platoon would have to travel 20-30 miles per day through diverse terrain with leeches, boas, crocodiles and other wetland creatures to get to their destination. During that time in Panama, he was ordered to go to Vietnam three separate times, but the records got sent to the wrong location.

On one of these orders, he was supposed to be deployed along with seven other men; however, only five ended up going due to an error of records. He later found out that all of those men died on the battlefield in Vietnam. “God knew it wasn’t my time to go,” Preston says.

The most memorable period serving for Preston was right after his stint in Panama, where he was in the Honor Guard at Fort Hood, Texas. Although the job was difficult at times due to the protesting of the Vietnam War, it was a great honor for him to be a part of the honoring of soldiers who had lost their lives in battle and the comforting of their loved ones.

When looking back, one of the few things Preston misses about being in the military is the bond he had with his fellow soldiers. He enjoyed coming together with lots of different types of people for one common goal. Preston sees this similarity with the culture of his job at Alpine Bank. Throughout his work day, he gets to interact with a variety of different people and is working to help serve all of them in one way or another.

Preston still remains active in the military community through annual donations to organizations like Disabled Veterans and the Wounded Warrior Project. He believes these organizations are a good start to recognizing the sacrifice given by the men and women of our armed forces.

Alpine Bank thanks Preston Bryant for the service he has graciously given to his country, his community and our organization. l

LefT Preston Bryant now works for Alpine Bank in Grand Junction.RighT Preston Bryant in his dress uniform during his time in the Army, 1971-74.

(submitted photos)


serviCe in WaCs CHangeD

MCKinney’s life

Delta native met husband during service in panama

BY richard reederdaiLY Press neWs editor

sAs the United States went to war in Korea, one Western Slope native

did her part to help the nation.Phoebe McKinney joined the Women’s Army Corps in 1951.“I joined the WACs on Feb 21, 1951, and was on active duty until Dec.

23, 1953,” McKinney said. “I was living in Delta and signed up, then they sent me to Denver and did basic training in Fort Lee, Va.”

McKinney said she joined the WACs because she wasn’t finding many opportunities after graduating Delta High School in 1946.

“I attended Blair Business College, but I quit because they didn’t have any teachers,” she said. “I worked as an accountant in Denver and then for the Colorado Poultry Association, but I needed something more.”

McKinney was stationed at Fort Lee until 1952.“I was in the personnel division, I handled AWOL veterans,” she said.

“Basic was hard to start with. There was only me and one woman from Grand Junction and we had to clean the entire barracks and make all the beds for people coming in.”

In 1952 McKinney was sent to Panama and Fort Clayton in what was then the Panama Canal Zone.

“We got on a ship and traveled to the canal zone,” she said. “It was different from Fort Lee, but we were doing our part to help the war effort.”

At Fort Clayton, McKinney worked in the educational center.“I was in charge of giving and recording tests for veterans returning

from Korea to the U.S.,” she said. “I was helping them with GEDs and other things they needed to come home and getting acclimated to civilian life.”

In Panama she met Admiral “Mac” S. McKinney, who was stationed in Panama. The couple was married, but had to have the ceremony performed twice.

“We got married the first time in Panama, so it wasn’t recognized,” she said. “So we had a second ceremony so the U.S. would recognize we were married.”

Neither ever was deployed to the combat zones in Korea, but Mac almost made it to the war zone.

“He was on the ship being sent to Korea, but then the orders were changed and they turned around and came back to Panama,” she said. “Then the war ended, and we came home to the Western Slope.”

Once home Mac settled into his career that included a stint as the Montrose County Building Supervisor. Phoebe worked a couple different jobs.

“I worked at the vet hospital in Delta as a general clerk taking care of small animals,” she said. “Then I became a housewife. I volunteered at Montrose Junior High School while my daughters went there.”

Those daughters are ArnettaKay Braeathwaite, who lives in Clifton, and Celina Lee King of Montrose.

McKinney joined the American Legion, and in recent years has worked with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

“I have worked with RSVP keeping track of everyone’s hours,” she said. “A lot has changed as many things have moved to Region 10. I have also worked in the gift shop at Memorial Hospital.”

Mac passed away in 2013.“He kept telling the doctor he had to make it until we celebrated our

60th anniversary,” Phoebe said. “But he came up a few days short. We had a wonderful life.” l

Please mentio this and recieve Any Purchace!

SPECIALIZING IN VEHICLE WRAPS & DECALS DIGITAL PRINTS & ART DESIGN FABRICATE - INSTALL

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Veterans, THANK YOU for our Freedom!

Top Phoebe and Admiral “Mac” McKinney in their uniforms during their time at Fort Clayton in Panama. BoTTom Phoebe McKinney joined the Women’s Army Corp in 1951 as the U.S. was fighting in Korea. (Richard Reeder/Daily Press)

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