Hide Article Text (OCR)
rainerd’s Welcome to MenI92lth Made City HistoryBrainerd welcomed home Col. Ernest B, Miller, hi* officers unci men of the 1941 h tank battalion Saturday in what will go down in history as the greatest celebration in the annals of thiscommunity.llcadcHl by Gov. Edward J. Thyo and Maj. Gen. Eilard C.'iValwh, Minnesota's adjutantgeneral, more than *10.000 people' crowded into the city to witness the parade and to participate in a program In the armory which was directed toward expressing; the pride and appreciation of ihis community in the men of the gallant National Guard organization that fought so well In the Philippines and on Bataan and then suffered the tortures of the damned in Japanese prisoncamps through the years of thewar.Medal to Commander Highlighting the day’s events was the presentation of Minnesota's Medal of Valor, the first ever bestowed upon a Minnesota war hero, to Col. Miller. The presentation was made by Maj. Gen. Walsh and pinned 011 Col. Miller’s uuiiorm blouse by Gov.Thye.Sharing the honors of the day with men of the 194th was MajorHortense McKay, another Brainerd war hero who served on Bataan and was the last army nurse to be evacuated from Coiregidor before the surrender.Men of 194thWith Col. Miller as guests of honor were Major Edward L. Burke, Lt. Russell Swearingen, Sgt. Kenneth Porwoll, S/Sgt. Lee McDonald, Sgt, Kenneth Gordan, Sgt. Robert Swanson, S/Sgt. James McComas, Cpl. Clifford Rardin, Cpl. Melvin Ahlgrim, Cpl. Joseph Lamkin, Cpl. Warren Kerrigan and Lt. Glen Nelson.Probably the most colorful parade in the history of Brainerd opened the day’s celebration. The parade was formed in front of the Miller home on Holly street and marched through the business district of the city to pass in review before Gov. Thye, Maj. Gen. Walsh, Col. Miller, his officers and men who viewed the marching troops, bands and other units from a reviewing stand in front of the armory.Long Line of MarchersThe parade, headed by massed colors, was composed of dignitaries in cars, Col. Miller, the man of the hour, rode with Gov. Thye and Maj. Gen. Walsh in an open car. Then came the First Service Regiment with is band, long lines ofmotor equipment from Camp Ripley, the Brainerd Ladies Drum, and Bugle Corps, Brainerd, Crosby-Ironton and Little Falls high school bands. Boy and Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, school children, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and veterans of World WarXLH At thearmory the Brainerd Ladies Drum and Bugle Corps gave a musical drill and massed bands played the Star Spangled Banner.Thousands in ArmoryThe program in the armory, witnessed by more than 5.000 people while 10.000 more crowded the streets and were unable to get seats or in the building, opened with an Invocation by Capt. Edward G. Barrow, chaplain of the First. Service Regiment. Archie Falconer, as general chairman of the arrangements committee introduced Walter F. Wieland, who served as master of ceremonies, and Major Frank B. Johnson, mayor of Brainerd, delivered a short address of welcome to Col. Miller and hi? men.Struggling to keep himself under control and with tears hard to withhold. Col. Miller expressed his appreciation of the welcome accorded him and his men.NiardAnir ton, to h Shmas. wi1OlWasprec ing clotl he (nishWsomlt;1clotlnearChunks from Commander“I find it hard to find words to properly express myself 011 this occasoion,” said the colonel. In behalf of my officers and men I can only say thank you.”The men of the 194th present were presented and introduced amidst the cheers and applause of the crowd which rocked the large building.Maj. Gen. Walsh after a short talk in which he greeted the 194th in behalf of the Minnesota military force, then presented Col. Miller with Medal of Valor.Standing at attention before the adjutant general, Col. Miller received the citation while a hushed throng looked on and then roared its praise of this commander of the 194th. The medal was pinned on Col. Miller by Gov. Thye.Obla rs safe out thematlt;FIGold Star MothersIn a talk which portrayed the heroism of the mothers of the 194th, Mrs. J. F. Sarrinen, a former missionary in the Philippines and mother of Paul Sarrinen, who died in a Japanese prison after the infamous March of Death, spoke of the work of the Brainerd-Bataan Relief Organization in its help to families and to men who were war prisoners during the long campaign. Similar units composed of families of Men of Bataan served throughout the nation, she said, wherever troops were contributed to the 194th tank battalion and other units on Bataan.Major McKay and Charles A. Zweiner, who represented the American Legion and who Is adjutant of the Minnesota department. made short talks. Major McKay called upon the nation to carry on the work of caring for service men and women and to promote and support proper hospitalization for those, some of whom for which the war will never end.monerel,headLkthethenow Sc bird tinui of it port nect thro tact.SIcom on 1 late 1 thesoldSIat atheBrighaulfortaanfronD1Thelt;Adjutant Zweiner spoke ir. behalf of the Legion and its welcome to Brainerd’s lost battalion.”Welcome from State'MininortWorTheer o ton. Mrs. treaiThe program closed with a brief talk by Gov. Thye in which the state’s chief executive expressed the state’s welcome home to Col.Miller and his men and in appreciation of the heroism shown by thisBrainerd unit, both in battle and inprison camps.STregicivilplacvetemaddistiDI
Newspaper Details
Brainerd Daily Dispatch
Brainerd, Minnesota, US
Mon, Oct 29, 1945
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 14 Apr 2022
Other Publications Near Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd Dispatch
Brainerd Daily Dispatch
