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Army Days Over, City Family Spends Christmas TogetherBy DAVE CARLSON Last of Series“We’re going to have the biggest tree we’ve ever had in the 23 years we’ve been married.That’s how Mr. and Mrs. La Verne Ottum, 723 McDonough St., expressed their joys over the arrival of Christmas 1971.This Christmas, for the first time in four years, their entire family will be together.The past four years there have been empty plates and seats at their Christmas dinner table. One or more of their sons were in the service and away from home.Fred Ottum, 22, missed Christmas at home when he served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam two years ago. He has been out of the service for one year and drives a truck for Ed Phillips and Sons, Co.Sp. 4 Clayton Ottum, 19, is expected home from Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Illinois wherg he is being treated for an infection received while on duty with the Army in Vietnam.Involved in AmbushHe was transferred to Great Lakes from Japan after being involved in an enemy ambushon his armored car in which a close buddy was killed. He was in shock for 12 hours following the ambush, but is recuperating very well, according to his parents.The ambush occurred March 6, the day of his brother Fred’swedding.Sp. 4 Dale Ottum, 20, arrived home the past weekend from Ft. Sill, Okla., where he was training as a member of the National Guard. He was greeted by his wife Cindy and son, Matt, who was born 12 weeks ago while Dale was in Oklahoma.The three brothers, absent from Christmas celebrations at their homes at various times the past four years, are anxiously looking forward to this Christmas with their other brother Brian, 12; and four sisters, Diane, 26; Loretta, 21; Nancy, 16; and Darlene, 14, the Ottums said.Special RequestsAccording to their parents, Dale, Clayton and Fred have a few special “wants this Christmas.“When Fred was a little boy, he always called his grandma’smolasses cookies the ‘dirtycookies’,” Mrs, Ottum said.I“Well, he wants some ‘dirty cookies’ again this year. Clayton said all he wanted was some of my homemade bread. And Dale, he’s not too fussy. So long as there’s something to eat, he’ll be happy.Until this Christmas, Mr. and Mrs. Ottum confided, “Christmases were getting pretty dull”.“In fact,” La Verne said, “it didn’t even seem like Christmas. There was always one place missing.”No Regrets However, the Ottums say they hold no regrets about “losing” their sons.“The service has done them some good — except for the fact they had to go to Vietnam,” Mr. Ottum said.Mrs. Ottum, whose first husband was killed in Germany during World War H after they had been married only a year, said only, “All my prayers have been answered.”On Christmas Day, Mrs. Ottum will start out the family’s meal with a prayer of thanksgiving and then everybody will join in.“There will be 20 of us,” (Continued on page 2A)REUNION TIME - Mr. and Mrs. LaVerneOttum posed with pictures of three sons who have missed recent family Christmas celebrations because of military service. This yearthe Ottums expect all eight of their children to be present. The sons, from left, are Dale, Fred and Clayton.(Staff Photo)N
Newspaper Details
Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US
Thu, Dec 23, 1971
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
WI, USA 03 Feb 2019
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