November 1, 2007-Eleven veterans will be honored on Friday, Nov. 9, 2007 in the Olpin Union Ballroom at the University of Utah. Special events and celebrations will be held around campus to commemorate their hard work and diligence in protecting our country. Beginning at 11:00 a.m., eleven Utah Veterans will receive honorary medallions in a full-dress military ceremony, followed by a 21-cannon salute. The honorees were selected from nominations submitted by Utah citizens and served in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Because of their advancing years and the enormous contribution made to their country, the University Veterans Day committee chose all eleven honorees this year from those Utah veterans who served during World War II.
Honoree Ora Mae Hyatt volunteered to serve with the Army Nurse Corps in the Pacific after Pearl Harbor. “Most of my friends, the young men I knew, had already volunteered for military service and I wanted to be able to help,” said Hyatt. She and one other nurse volunteered to go on detached service duty in Okinawa. After being on board ship for 57 days, Hyatt landed in Okinawa. “We worked with the doctors side-by-side. We worked 12 hour shifts and they did surgeries and they would clean the wounds and we would give penicillin. That was the wonder drug of that war and it was so useful.” Preceding the ceremony, a morning panel entitled They Also Serve Who Stay Behind, will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the Olpin Union Panorama East Room. Six panelists will discuss the challenges and support they experience when a loved one is called to serve.
Following the ceremony, at 1:00 p.m. in the Union Ballroom, the public is invited to experience the bygone musical era of the “1940’s Big Band USO Tours” with a special performance featuring Joe Muscolino and his band. This throwback to the classic Hollywood-style “canteen” tours of World War II features singers and dancers in period dress performing many of the well-known hits of the time.
A vintage military display is planned just south of the Olpin Union Building. Courtesy of Karl Smith, these vehicles can be viewed from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. An historian in an authentic period uniform will be available to elaborate upon the roles the vehicles played in battle and to answer questions.
On the following day, Saturday, November 10, the 52nd Annual Veterans Day Concert will take place at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Beginning at 7:00 p.m., the Utah National Guard 23rd Army band will perform an array of instrumental songs and melodies. A chorus of hundreds of students from nearby high schools will perform with the band. This performance is free and open to the public. It will be broadcast live on KUED, channel 7.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, November 10, 2006
8:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Panel: They also serve who stay behind
Panorama East, Olpin Union Building
11:00 a.m.
Full-Dress Military Ceremony
Main Ballroom, Olpin Union Building
Paying Tribute to 11 Utah veteran honorees
1:00 p.m.
Big Band USO Tour with Joe Muscolino and his band
Main Ballroom, Olpin Union Building
Throwback to the classic Hollywood-style “canteen” tours of World War II
Saturday, November 10, 2007
7:00 p.m.
Annual Veterans’ Day Concert
Huntsman Center
Presented by the National Guard 23rd Army Band
All events are free and open to the public.
DISPLAYS
Vintage Military Vehicles
Veterans Day, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
On the grounds just south of the Union Building, courtesy of Karl Smith.
A display of vintage World War II military vehicles
2007 HONOREES
Nelson T. Akagi, U.S. Army, WWII (Salt Lake City)
Like other Japanese Americans, Nelson Akagi was alienated by his own country when World War II broke out. He had to move with his family to Idaho, where he volunteered for the Army to prove his loyalty to the US. He served in the 522nd Artillery Regiment. Forward observers and forward echelon groups from the 522nd are credited with being among the first Allied troops to release prisoners from the Dachau concentration camp. For his service, Akagi earned a medal for fighting in four campaigns, a Good Conduct medal, an Army of Occupation medal, and a medal for fighting in the American Theatre of Operation.
Charles A Cooke, U.S. Army WWII (Salt Lake City)
Charles Cooke came to Utah from Mississippi as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was drafted into the Army, in which he served as a machine gunner with the 38th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. After 3 months in North Africa, he landed on Utah Beach on D+2. Cooke was never wounded in battle, and was discharged at Fort Douglas in 1946.
John H. Dinkelman, U.S. Army, WWII, Vietnam (Salt Lake City)
John Dinkelman volunteered for the Tank Corps in 1942. He landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day with the 741st tank battalion, which lost a total of 46 tanks in one month as it made its way through France. In Germany, the 741st was taken by surprise in the Battle of the Bulge. After weeks of nearly continuous fighting, Dinkelman’s unit was able to begin liberating Nazi death camps. Two decades later, Dinkelman volunteered for two combat tours in Vietnam. Through all of this, Dinkelman was unscathed. He was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service.
Don E. Hammill, U.S. Navy, WWII (Salt Lake City)
Don Hammill joined the Navy in 1942 and was assigned to a troop-carrier attack ship, which was part of the amphibious warfare task force, “The Green Dragons.” Hammill helped carry out 17 amphibious landings. In November of 1943, Hammill saved his ship from an apparent kamikaze suicide attack. He was awarded ten battle stars and a Navy Commendation medal. Hammill returned to Utah and went on to earn a law degree from the University of Utah.
Raymond S. Howarth, U.S. Army WWII (Salt Lake City)
Raymond Howarth protested a II-B classification for a heart murmur in order to get into the Army in 1943. He joined the 60mm mortar section of a rifle company in the 100th Infantry Division. After months of fighting in France, Howarth was wounded and captured in January of 1945. He spent the next three months in Stalag XIIA, Happenheim, Germany. Happenheim was called a prison “hospital,” but was really a death camp where Allied soldiers were starved and suffered horrendous living conditions while wounded. Liberated in 1945, Howarth received a Unit Citation, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and a Combat Infantry Badge for his service.
Ora Mae S. Hyatt, U.S. Army Nurse Corps, WWII
Ora Mae Hyatt volunteered to be an army nurse after Pearl Harbor was attacked. She started overseas in the 376th Station Hospital. Hyatt and one other nurse volunteered to go on detached service duty in Okinawa. After being on board ship for 57 days, Hyatt landed in Okinawa. Volunteering for duty seemed to be Hyatt’s norm. She was anxious to go on detached service even when it meant getting close to the front lines. She worked 12-hour shifts with surgeons and administered emergency care to soldiers on the front. After the U.S. bombed Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Hyatt served in Japan for six weeks before returning to Utah.
John L. Moore, U.S. Army Air Forces WWII, Korea (Salt Lake City)
John Moore joined the Army Air Corps Reserve in 1942. In May 1944, Moore’s crew, part of the 492nd Bombardment Group, began flying missions over Europe. After 26 missions, Moore was assigned to the clandestine 801 Composite Group, nicknamed Operation Carpetbagger. Moore also flew 25 night missions in the Korean War. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, five Air Medals, three European Campaign Medals, and two Korean Campaign Medals.
Jack Schade, U.S. Army Air Forces, WWII (Salt Lake City)
Jack Schade signed up to be a pilot in 1939. He was assigned as an apprentice mechanic and later started flying patrols to search for subs. After getting his wings, Schade trained in B-17 heavy bombers and flew 26 missions over the Japanese homeland. Schade’s last mission was the famous “Show of Force” as the surrender documents were signed in Tokyo Bay.
Luman P. Slagle, U.S. Army WWII (Salt Lake City)
Luman Slagle went into the Army in 1942. He served in the 60th Artillery of the 9th Infantry Division. On D+2, Slagle landed on Normandy. He was given the duties of radio operator on an artillery forward observation team. Slagle and company advanced through France and captured the Remagen Bridge, which was the only one over the Rhine left standing. Slagle was awarded the Silver Star for his service.
Lawrence W. Stimpson, U.S. Army WWII (Ogden)
Lawrence Stimpson was drafted into the Army in February 1942 and quickly volunteered for the 504th Parachute Regiment, 82nd Airborne, “All American” Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star for actions in Anzio in 1944 during weeks of relentless artillery bombardment, under which many of Stimpson’s fellow paratroopers suffered physical and psychological damage. By the time the company was withdrawn, only 13 men of the original roster were fit for duty. After Anzio, his company rested and rejoined battle at Nijmegen, Holland. Stimpson is the only original member of the 120-men B-Company to have survived unscathed.
Willard H. White, U.S. Army Air Forces, WWII (Salt Lake City)
Willard White enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1942 and was quickly selected to be a B-26 Marauder bomber copilot in the 397th Bomb Group. White and his crew flew their first combat mission over Normandy on D-Day. His most hazardous mission was during the Battle of the Bulge. For their bravery under heavy enemy fire without fighter escort protection, the 397th was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. White is credited with 66 bombing missions and was awarded the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters and European Middle Eastern Ribbon with six bronze stars.
For high resolution photos of the honorees and additional information on all Veterans Day events visit the following Web site http://www.veteransday.utah.edu/.