Photos
from the
Dedication
of the
Robert J. Dole
Institute of Politics
A picture of the Dole Institute of Politics building dedicated on Bob Dole's 80th birthday.
World War II veterans turned out from far and wide to attend the dedication ceremonies, tell their stores, and walk through the encampment. Below are pictures of some of the veterans members of the 10th Mountain Division Living History Display Group had the pleasure of meeting during the three day event.
10th Mountain Division veteran Eddie Vale of Austin, Texas
visits the 10th Mountain Division LHDG encampment. Eddie Vale was a member of
the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. A veteran of campaigns in Kiska,
Alaska and Italy, Eddie Vale entertained members of the 10th LHDG for over an
hour. His story telling and jokes kept everyone laughing. Click
here to read about how Eddie Vale finally received his medals after more than 50
years!
Dwight
Gwaltney of B Company, 126th Engineers, 10th Mountain Division. Dwight Gwaltney
told the story about digging a demolition hole and having Colonel William Darby
(Famous for Darby's Rangers), who was then the Executive Officer of the 10th
Mountain Division, order him to dig the holes faster. Col. Darby turned away and
walked about 100 yards and was then killed by an artillery shell.
Terri Little stands outside of the aid station and takes a
picture with a Comanche Code Talker. While the marines used Navajo Code Talkers
in the war against Japan, the Army used Comanche Code Talkers in Europe. This
Code Talker offered to chase Terri around his teepee while he tried to corner
her. He paused, and delivered the punch line, "Teepees don't have
corners!"
Congressional Medal of Honor winner Desmond Doss visits the
10th LHDG encampment. Desmond Doss earned the Congressional Medal of Honor as an
aid man on Okinawa. Desmond Doss is a Seventh Day Adventist. His beliefs made
him a conscientious objector to the war, yet he found a way to serve his country
by saving lives.
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John Oliver of the 19th Bomb Group. As a B-17 pilot, John
Oliver commanded the flight of remaining B-17s flying from Manila to Mindinoa.
One of those B-17s later flew General Douglas MacArthur to Australia.
Unfortunately, John Oliver became a prisoner of the Japanese. He currently heads
the survivors of the Pacific Islands captured by the Japanese veteran's
organization.
First Sergeant Len Lomell of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. On
D-Day, Sgt. Lomell was wounded as he exited his landing craft below Point du
Hoc. Several companies of Rangers scaled the cliffs at Point du Hoc in order to
take out several large gun emplacements which possibly could fire on Omaha
Beach. After scaling the cliffs the Rangers found the concrete bunkers empty.
Sgt. Lomell and Jack Kuhn went on a patrol and found the guns inland. Len Lomell
and Jack Kuhn destroyed all five guns with thermite grenades. Len Lomell was
awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for these actions.