8 Jul 2023 - DeWitt Classmate Kent Behr and Cruise on the Lake with Mike and Nancy Albrecht

 

Many ask why we like to travel around the country in our fifth wheel.  Of course we like to see the sights, discover cool things to see and places to go; sample the beer, the wine, the bourbon and the food.  But one of the main things we love is reconnecting with friends, family and military comrades.  I have military connections in virtually every state.  Since we have been traveling we have reconnected with long "lost" relatives we have not seen since 1968.  Today we reconnected with a classmate from DeWitt Iowa which I call "home".  Tomorrow I will connect with a relative I've never met!  And so goes the journey, and we love it!

Today I reconnected with Kent Behr. a neighbor in DeWitt Iowa.  I moved to DeWitt from Denison Iowa in 1960 when my dad Lefty was promoted to Lieutenant with the Iowa State Patrol and was put in charge of District 12.  Then, we move from DeWitt to Cedar Falls in May 1970, the last day of my freshman year of high school when my dad was promoted to Captain and put in charge of the northeast quarter of the state.  When I say the last day, we literally hopped in the car after my last final test of my last day of my Freshman year, and we drove to Cedar Falls. So Kindergarten through Freshman year - that is why I call DeWitt "home".  I grew up in DeWitt.  I played baseball in DeWitt... all... the... time!  I mowed yards in DeWitt for $2.00.  There were a lot of firsts in DeWitt for me, but it was "home".  

In our neighborhood in DeWitt we made friends, and we played outside.  The boys in the neighborhood played "Army" and we played baseball, and we were in the Boy Scouts. 

  

Kent Behr is on the far left in the front row, and I am carrying the flag 

second from the right in the front row

We were always outside, unless the street lights came on then we had to report home.  So anyway, one of those friends was Kent Behr.  Kent and I were both baseball pitchers and we lived within a block of each other.  Somehow with social media we reconnected online a few years ago, and our 2023 RV travels brought us here in Sioux City and allowed Kent and I to get together again, today! 

Kent drove to our campground and we sat inside and talked for several hours.  We reminisced about DeWitt and our other neighbors and friends.  We both described our lives and where we had been and of course we bragged about our kids and grandkids!  

 

I presented Kent with one of my retirement challenge coins.

Childhood friends back together after 53 years

Kent has been keeping me informed about another one of our friends and DeWitt neighbors, Bill Weber, who was recently put under hospice care near Iowa City with throat cancer.  Our prayers are with Bill and his family. 

This afternoon we reconnected with the 185th Air Refueling Wing Fire Chief Mike Albrecht.  I have known Mike for many years and always tried to visit his fire station when I traveled up here during my Command Chief visits.  Mike and Nancy own a beautiful property on McCook Lake which is located just into South Dakota in North Sioux City.  They live there while they are building their home in the same location.  It is a beautiful home with large windows facing the water!  

After the tour we headed down to his boat and we cruised  the lake.  I failed to take any boat pictures!  There might have been an adult beverage or two involved, but it was slow and scenic.  They pointed out several of the prominent houses along the shore.  

Nancy, Mike, Doreen and me.

Tonight after we returned back to the RV we grilled some more of the meat that our kids bought us for Christmas along with some other meat we had.  We typically grill "ahead" and as we travel we can microwave some previously grilled for sandwiches, so we included some turkey burgers and brats. 

 

While we grilled Liberty enjoyed some fresh air and rested, knowing her mom was home!

Tomorrow I will connect with a cousin on the Fett side (my grandmother on my dad side was Freda Fett).  We are having lunch together!

7 Jul 2023 - Sioux City Public Museum and Sioux City Police Department Museum

 

A beautiful dot art of the Sioux City Police Department, created by the Police Chief!

Today we woke up to heavy rain, so we decided to visit indoor venues, starting with the Sioux City Public Museum.  This museum is about the history and culture of Sioux City, Iowa. "Displays include a video about the city's history, Native American artifacts, pioneer artifacts, historic transportation vehicles, agriculture, industry, geology and fossils."  As with other museums and sites we have visited here, there is no entrance fee but donations are willingly accepted.

  

As we entered, we were guided to a 12-minute orientation history video about Sioux City.  Neither Doreen nor I knew how Sioux City was starting in the 1800's as it was compared with Chicago.  Some of the highlights were the connection with Lewis and Clark Expedition, the significance of the stockyards here, the corn palace that started here, the impact of the rivers and steam boats, the various industries that called Sioux City home over the years.  Just a few of the many pictures I took:

The stockyards and meat packing industry

1918 Mack "Bulldog AC-3.  This aerial was not used here but similar ones were.

Local sports

Local industries.  I owned several Gateway 2000 computers!

I did not know that Jolly Time popcorn originated here.

Information on Lewis and Clark Expedition

Loess Hills, named for the fine particles of wind blown silt (loess) as glaciers retreated north at the end of the last Ice Age. Today, the 650,000-acre Loess Hills landscape rises 200 feet above the Missouri River valley and extends along the western side of Iowa.  

Early Sioux City history as archeologists unearth artifacts.

We thoroughly enjoyed this museum and could have easily spent much more time here, but we had made plans to meet up with Val Rose, who we had dinner with last night, as she offered to show us the second floor of the Sioux City Police Department where she works.  

The Sioux City Police Department and Fire Department Headquarters

We arrived at the Sioux City Police Department which is just a few blocks from the Public Museum, and were greeted by Officer Val Rose, or known as Chief Master Sergeant Val Rose at the Air National Guard base!  Val has served on the police department for the past 16 years.  As we entered the building she pointed out the artwork the adorned the vestibule, which was all done by the Police Chief!  One of the Chief's degrees is in art and his work is evident throughout the building, starting here!  

These were all done by the Chief!

We headed up to the second floor where the museum is located, and all the way down the hallways the Chief's artwork is displayed.  It is amazing, as is all the work that went into creating the various displays. The museum was dedicated in 2012.

Val showing us the various displays.

A history of the different badges used by the department over the years.

Some history and a great picture of the original headquarters

With my dad's law enforcement career, and my work with the Iowa Department of Public Safety Communications, and Doreen's employment with the Norwalk Police Department, we took a keen interest in the museum displays.  

A tribute to the Sioux City Police Department S.W.A.T. Team

A 12 gauge Remington pump-action shotgun and some vintage ammunition.  

00 buck was a common load for these in squad cars

Some beautiful, historic firearms.  The top one my dad carried in World War II - A Thompson sub-machine gun .45 caliber with a rotary magazine.  This middle weapon is a Reising .45 caliber sub-machine gun and the bottom one is a .223 caliber Ruger Mini-14. Awesome!  Also, to the left, a tear gas riot gun, several revolvers along the bottom, and a 37mm multi-launcher on the right.

  
Here is a picture of my dad and my uncle on the left in World War II with their Reising's with a folding stock,  and another on the right with his Thompson with a stick magazine rather than a rotary.  He carried this into the South Pacific where they fought the Japanese.

A tribute to the Sioux City fallen officers

The Honor Guard which Val serves both here and the Air Guard base.

Sioux City has had K-9 officers since the 1960's.

We continued down the hallway and entered the Fire Department headquarters area.  Of course with my 25 years on the Norwalk Fire Department, and our son serving on the Norwalk Fire Department followed by the Des Moines Fire Department for 13 years and now the Ankeny IA Fire Department as Deputy Chief, we have a sincere interest in all things fire!

Sioux City Fire Department began as a volunteer Fire Protection Organization  in 1869. It was formally organized in 1876.

Sioux City Fire Department organizational chart

They operate eight stations plus headquarters.  They now do both fire and Emergency Medical Services (ambulances).  

Their displays include many historic fires and apparatus pictures.  

We finished up on the second floor and said goodbye to our friend Val Rose and her mom who had joined us.  On our way out of the building we stopped to look at the eagle that overlooks the building entrance.  This same eagle has been on each headquarters building since the original one was built.  It is so cool they have preserved it and it remains a part of their history today!  

 Before we departed Val gave us some "presentos" from the Sioux City Police Department including a beautiful challenge coin, a pink patch, SCPD koozie, a coffee cup and glass; a pen and some other items, but most importantly a scarf for Liberty and a foam "stress" car that Liberty snatched up right away!  She thought that was great fun chasing around!  

Liberty showing off her new scarf!  She was even featured on the Sioux City social media page today!  

How fun is this?!

A couple trading cards with our favorite Sioux City Police Officer featured!

We are so very proud of this young lady with not only her service to the citizens of Sioux City, but her service to our nation, both home and overseas.  Thank you Val!
 

Tomorrow will be exciting as I reconnect with a neighborhood friend from DeWitt Iowa, the place I call home.  We also plan to visit the Air Museum and the Sgt Floyd Monument.