Thank you to our Veterans and your willingness to come and share stories at George S. Mickelson Middle School! Thank you for your service!
Phil Keller: MSG in the SD Army National Guard, Deployed in Iraq & Kuwait in 2004, Section Chief for Recruiting and Retention Battalion
Gary Olson: Navy corpsman (medic) was with a Marine Corps unit in Vietnam. Gary was a Navy Medic assigned to a Marine Co. in September of 1969. He was assigned to the H&S Co. 2nd BN 4th Marines and was in Vietnam until February 1970. As a medic, he was in charge of taking care of the wounded. He took care of a lot of Vietnamese wounded as well as Americans.
Bill Flippo: US Army from 1998 through 2020. His highest rank was that of 1Sgt. He was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Eastern Africa. He was a Paratrooper and Infantryman.
Major Waylon Skelton: SD Army National Guard. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 and to Iraq in 2019. He is now the Administrative Officer for the 152nd CSSB in Brookings.
Lyle Bowes: Drafted in the US Army in January 1968 and served until October 1969. He was stationed in Vietnam from June 1968 to June 1969. He received a Bronze Star with a V.
Rusty Brandsrud: Army National Guard. He was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Loren Hanson: He was in the Army from 1961 through 1989. His highest rank was Captain. He served in Vietnam from 1971 through 1972.
Vietnam Veterans of America
#1 Ranked Chapter in the Nation 2021
Brian DeBoer served four years in the US Navy. He completed 3 tours in Vietnam loading bombs, missiles, and rockets on aircraft. He had a Secret Clearance to load nuclear weapons during his service.
Gordy West served in the US Army from 1969 to 1973, Quad 50 Battery in Vietnam.
Ed Timm served in the Coast Guard in 1969 to 1973 on the USCGC Planetree. He worked in the LORAN Monitor Station Udorn in Thailand. USCG MIO Cleveland, Ohio
Jerry Denman served from 1968-1972 in the squadron VF21. Jerry was in Vietnam from Oct. 1970 to June 1971.