Master Sergeant Aaron Locke, 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron, center, was welcomed home by his wife and coworker, Master Sgt. Matt Swandal, at Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., Oct. 19, 2021. Locke returned from a six-month deployment to southwest Asia. (National Guard photo by Chief Master Sgt. David H Lipp)
Happy Hooligans' Homecoming
Happy Hooligans were welcomed home by their families and friends at the Hector International Airport over the past few weeks. Over 100 North Dakota Air National Guard members deployed this year and are returning home after completing their scheduled six-month Air Expeditionary Force deployments, largely to southwest Asia. There will be more Hooligan reunions in the upcoming weeks. (National Guard story and photos by Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp)
Senior Airman Abdiqani Abdi, 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, right, is welcomed by coworkers upon his return to Hector International Airport after completing a six-month deployment to Africa, Oct. 20, 2021.
Technical Sergeant Cody Nordquist, left, and Tech. Sgt. Ken Ferguson, return home to Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., after completing a six-month deployments to southwest Asia, Oct. 17, 2021.
Veterans Stand Down
The North Central Veterans Stand Down was held at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Minot, Oct. 21, 2021. The event offers Veterans an opportunity to learn more about their benefits, connect with other Veterans and Veteran organizations, as well as the chance to receive flu shots and other services. This year, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations were also available. (Story and photos by Michaelle Gauvin-Panos, North Dakota Cares, executive director)
The North Central Veterans Stand Down at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Minot, Oct. 21, 2021.
Military Appreciation Game Performance
Chief Warrant Officer 3 James R. Landman, 188th Army Band commander, performed the national anthem at Mayville State University (MSU) Military appreciation football game, in Mayville, N.D., Oct. 16, 2021. (National Guard story by Officer Candidate Michaela C.P. Granger, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs)
Additionally, fans enjoying seeing a N.D. National Guard HMMWV (high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle) static display in support of MSU's game against Presentation College from Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 James R. Landman, 188th Army Band commander, performs the national anthem at Mayville State's Military appreciation football game, in Mayville, N.D., Oct. 16, 2021. (Photos courtesy of Judy Perttula)
Q-12 Survey kickoff
Brigadier General Jackie Huber, N.D. National Guard deputy adjutant general, spoke with full-time military and civilian employees at the 119th Wing in Fargo, about the upcoming Gallup Q12, an employee engagement survey, Oct 20, 2021. (National Guard story and photos by Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp)
Survey invitations will be emailed to members from Oct. 25 through Nov. 5, with results briefed late November through early December.
Brigadier General Huber, N.D. deputy adjutant general, left, renders remarks before presenting recognition coins at the N.D. Air National Guard Air Base, Oct. 20, 2021. From left to right, Huber; Chief Master Sgt. M.J. Filloon, the 119th Medical Group senior enlisted leader; Master Sgt. Roman Gaughan, 119th Medical Group Lab noncommissioned officer in charge; Ms. Annette Carlson, 119th Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group command support.
Retiree Advisory Board Meeting
Members of the N.D. National Guard (NDNG) Retiree Advisory Board (RAB) met at Fraine Barracks on Oct. 18, 2021. The RAB, chaired by the deputy adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, is chartered by the NDNG, and staffed by volunteers state-wide. (National Guard story and photo by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Among the topics discussed were last month's annual retirees reunion, ways to improve communication among retirees, retirees benefits and a discussion of topics for the N.D. National Guard retirees webpage. For more information or to volunteer for the RAB, please email 'retirees@midco.net'.
only Two 164th Infantry Regiment Guadalcanal Veterans Remain
The second battle for Henderson Field on Guadalcanal was fought on Oct. 25 to 26, 1942. Thanks to the actions of Soldiers of the 164th Infantry Regiment, N.D. National Guard, the Allies were able to retain control of this strategic airfield on the island of Guadalcanal. (National Guard story by retired Lt. Col. Shirley Olgeirson, N.D. National Guard historian)
Also known as the Battle of Coffin Corner in recognition of the thousands of enemy dead buried on site, it was these two nights of fighting that propelled the 164th Infantry Regiment into a significant place in World War II history. These heroic actions earned the regiment a Navy Presidential Unit Citation and the nickname “164th Marines”.
Seventy-nine years later, only two of these 164th Infantry Soldiers from that ferocious battle remain.
Vern Bogner, now 97, is the last original N.D. National Guard Soldier to mobilize with the 164th Infantry Regiment in 1941. He was a 15-year-old high schooler when he joined the Guard in Fargo for the dollar a week and a new pair of boots. When the unit was mobilized for a year of training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, he felt he had an obligation to remain with the unit.
Left. Vern Bogner, 2020. Above Sergeant Vern Bogner, circa 1944.
When the Japanese invaded Pearl Harbor before that year was over, Bogner, although only 17 years old, knew he had to go to war with his buddies. A field lineman with Regimental Headquarters, he served at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Leyte, and Southern Philippine Campaigns, earning the rank of sergeant. His awards and decorations included the Combat Infantryman Badge and a Bronze Star Medal for actions on the island of Cebu. After he was discharged in July 1945, he joined his family in Oregon who had moved from North Dakota during the war in search of work.
- Note: Doug Burtell, who passed away April 2021, was the last original National Guard 164th Infantry Soldier who was residing in North Dakota.
Richard “Steve” Stevens was a corporal with Company M, 137th Infantry Regiment of the Kansas Army National Guard, when he was transferred to Company M, 164th Infantry Regiment, just before the unit departed for the South Pacific.
Stevens, now 98, has very vivid memories of the 3rd Battalion (companies I, K, L, & M) when it was ordered from its reserve position along the perimeter of Henderson Field on the night of Oct. 25, 1942, to reinforce Lt. Col. Chesty Puller’s 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, against the attack from the Japanese Sendai Division. The 164th Soldiers joined the Marines in fighting positions. Armed with Army M1 Garand rifles, machineguns, and 37 mm cannons, the Guard Soldier helped repel waves of Japanese invaders.
Right: Corporal Richard Stevens in the gear during his WWII deployment. The unit didn’t get new helmets or equipment until they were in New Caledonia staging to go to Guadalcanal.
The next day, the Marines moved west, leaving the 164th Infantry Regiment to defend against an unexpected second night of attacks in the same area. Stevens served with the 164th Infantry Regiment until May 1945. He remained in the Army serving in Korea and Vietnam, eventually retiring as a colonel. Stevens resides in Colorado.
In October 2017, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the landing at Guadalcanal, five Veterans of the 164th Infantry Regiment were gathered together at Bismarck State College (BSC) campus, Bismarck, N.D. The event was hosted by then BSC president Larry Skogen and was focused on the Soldiers' roles during World War II.
The video of Chat with the Guadalcanal Guys is available online.
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