Veteran Second Interviews
In late 2021, Jean Miller of the Bell Tower Memorial, conducted second interviews with WWII Army Veteran Harry Baker, WWII Navy Veteran Bill Kosky and WWII Navy Veteran John Eskau.
Veterans In The Classroom
On Friday, January 3, 2020, Korean War Veteran Walter Hogan spoke at Pewaukee High School to teacher Sharon Straub's history class about his time in Korea. Hogan served in the army as a squad leader and was shot on October 24, 1952 during the Battle of Chorwon Valley. He spent three days in a MASH unit before being shipped to Yokohama, Japan. He ended up at Walter Reed hospital in Washington D.C. The injuries he sustained caused him to lose his leg, but that didn't stop him from living his life, eventually becoming a (now past) National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
To hear more of Walter Hogan's story, stay tuned for our Veterans Oral History Project coming in Spring of 2020.
Veterans In The Classroom
On Friday, January 3, 2020, Korean War Veteran Walter Hogan spoke at Pewaukee High School to teacher Sharon Straub's history class about his time in Korea. Hogan served in the army as a squad leader and was shot on October 24, 1952 during the Battle of Chorwon Valley. He spent three days in a MASH unit before being shipped to Yokohama, Japan. He ended up at Walter Reed hospital in Washington D.C. The injuries he sustained caused him to lose his leg, but that didn't stop him from living his life, eventually becoming a (now past) National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
To hear more of Walter Hogan's story, stay tuned for our Veterans Oral History Project coming in Spring of 2020.
Veterans Oral History Project - 2021
In 2021, the Bell Tower Memorial featured 11 Veterans from WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Cold War along with 11 students from Pewaukee, Waukesha South and Lake Country Lutheran High Schools.
Veteran Participants:
Howard Hadley, Air Force, Vietnam; Dean Larsen, Navy, Korean War Era; Dale Stark, Air Force, Korea; Lee Murry, Army, Korea; Walter Hogan, Army, Korea; Terry Inda, Navy, WWII; Richard Kuenn, Air Force, Korean War Era; Ron Sowinski, Navy, Cold War; Craig Arellano, Air Force, Vietnam War Era; Rollie Crandall, Navy, Vietnam; John Arnold, Army, Vietnam War Era
Student Participants:
Drew Sonderman, Erin Esser, Tony Carrillo, Anna Brandl, Roman Olvera-Jeramillo, Anika Woelffer, Alyssa Myers, Lily Swanson, Tiara Tran, Taylor Casey, and Nick Seidl
Veterans In The Classroom
On Thursday, February 17, 2022, WWII Navy Veteran John Eskau spoke at Pewaukee High School about the true happenings during the war while he served in Okinawa, Japan and elsewhere. John was first interviewed during the Veterans Oral History Project in 2017. He's a very active supporter of various community projects and loves construction work.
Veterans Oral History Project Award Ceremony & Luncheon - 2018
Veteran Participants:
Jack Eleyet, Air Force, Korea; Jo Helgeson, Army, Korea; John Jadel, Army, WWII; John Miller, Navy, Korea; Charlie Payne, Army, WWII; Alvin Rohde, Army, Korea; Ralph Simoneau, Marines, WWII; Robert Smith, Marines, Korea; Jerry Stern, Navy, WWII
Student Participants:
Chloe Brossman, Andrew DeMaster, Nokolas Denzien, Jake Gonzalez, Katherine Hearden, Carolyn Miller, Amaya Seidl, Stevie Ward, Emily Willis
Veterans Reunion 2019
The Bell Tower Memorial (BTM) held a reunion for the Veterans interviewed for the 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 Veterans Oral History Project. Kirkland Crossings in Pewaukee hosted the event on August 15, 2019.
Veteran Attendees:
Don Peterson, Army; John Miller, Navy; Forrest Gunderson, Army Air Corps; Marge Behlen, Army; Tom Heaton, Navy; Earl Davison, Marine; Eugene Schulz, Army; Bill Vaitl, Army; Wayne Iverson, Navy; Bill Kosky, Navy; John Bosch, Army; Mike Weigl, Army; Jerry Stern, Navy; Al Exner, Navy; John Eskau, Navy; Phil Baird, Navy
Veterans Reunion 2019
The Bell Tower Memorial (BTM) held a reunion for the Veterans interviewed for the 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 Veterans Oral History Project. Kirkland Crossings in Pewaukee hosted the event on August 15, 2019.
Veteran Attendees:
Don Peterson, Army; John Miller, Navy; Forrest Gunderson, Army Air Corps; Marge Behlen, Army; Tom Heaton, Navy; Earl Davison, Marine; Eugene Schulz, Army; Bill Vaitl, Army; Wayne Iverson, Navy; Bill Kosky, Navy; John Bosch, Army; Mike Weigl, Army; Jerry Stern, Navy; Al Exner, Navy; John Eskau, Navy; Phil Baird, Navy
Veterans Oral History Project Award Ceremony & Luncheon - 2019
On Sunday, May 19, 2019, The Bell Tower Memorial (BTM) and St. John's Northwestern Military Academy (SJNMA) hosted their fourth annual Award Ceremony and Luncheon at SJNMA, honoring the completion of their Veterans Oral History Project (VOHP) and it's participants.
Sponsored by Habush Habush & Rottier, WaterStone Bank, Circle Electric, Vice Admiral Dirk and Terry Debbink, USNR (ret.), and John Fleckenstein to Honor Veteran Jerry Stern, students, Veterans, their families, and members of the community enjoyed lunch and the inspirational words of our guest speaker, Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow. Veterans and students received award acknowledgments for their work on the project.
Veteran Participants:
Earl Davison, Marines, Korea; Arnold Fuerstenberg, Army, WWII; Forrest Gunderson, Army Air Corps, WWII; Thomas Heaton, Navy, WWII; Bill Kosky, Navy, WWII; Michael Krebs, Navy, Vietnam; Don Peterson, Army, Korea; Norm Poberezny, Merchant Marines/Coast Guard, WWII; Bill Rheingans, Air Force, Vietnam/Iraqi Freedom; Eugene Schulz, Army, WWII; William Vaitl, Army, Cold War; Bob Winchell, Army Air Corps, WWII
Student Participants:
Alan Cameron, Andrew Drazy, James Homann, Ellie Kaczkowski, Douglas Kirkhofer, Hailey Kiser, Zoe Klett, Robert Kubiak III, Alyssa Labs, Sara Laszkiewicz, Elisabeth Prudlo, William Tuttle
Watch Bill Kosky's second interview: CLICK HERE
Watch Harry Baker's second interview: CLICK HERE
Watch John Eskau's second interview:
CLICK HERE
Veteran Second Interviews
In late 2021, Jean Miller of the Bell Tower Memorial, conducted second interviews with WWII Army Veteran Harry Baker, WWII Navy Veteran Bill Kosky and WWII Navy Veteran John Eskau.
Veterans Oral History Project - 2022
In 2022, the Bell Tower Memorial featured 12 Veterans from various conflicts and eras with 12 students from Pewaukee High School, Waukesha South High School, University Lake School, and St. John's Northwestern Academy.
Veteran Participants:
Daniel Driscoll, Navy, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan; Jeff Ellenbecker, Army, Gulf War Era; Mark Gilbert, British Army, Northern Ireland, Iraq; Larry Graham, Army, Korean War Era; Wayne Graves, Army, Vietnam Era; Patrick Holloway, Army, Vietnam War; Robert Jacob, Army, WWII; Tom Lemmer, Navy, Vietnam War; Bob Scanlan, Air Force, Vietnam War; Steve Schweiss, Air Force, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom; Cliff Wallenfang, Air Force, Cold War; Dennis Ziebell, Army, Vietnam War
Student Participants:
Jaden Liermann, Bryce Denzien, Ashleigh McCarthy, Georgios Bofiles, Brian Thometz, Khadijah Dhoondia, Erin Loeschmann, George Park, Kailyn Jackowick, Will Smyczek, Kate Buerger, Erin Berg
Check out our videos!
Veterans Oral History Project Award Ceremony & Luncheon - 2017
Veteran Participants:
Phil Baird, Navy, WWII; Harry Baker, Army, WWII; John Eskau, Navy, WWII; Al Exner, Navy, WWII; Al Hansen, Army, WWII; Edmund Mies, Army, WWII; Charlie Myers, Air Force, Vietnam; Ed Tyre, Army, WWII; Mike Weigl, Army, WWII
Student Participants:
Lauren Baylor, Alan Cameron, Luke Dykowski, Jinda Guidinger, Douglas Kirkhofer, Tyler Kiser, Kaleena Montez, Nik Portz, Jordan Varghese
Veterans Oral History Project - 2023
In 2023, the Bell Tower Memorial featured 16 Veterans from various conflicts and eras with 16 students from Pewaukee High School and Waukesha South High School.
Veteran Participants:
Harry Baker, Army, WWII; Dan Buttery, Army, Iraq; Chris Cook, Army, Iraq; Colin Dewey, Army, Navy, Marines, Afghanistan; Walt Edinger, Marines, Korea; John Farrow, Navy, Cold War; Bonnie Gluth, Army, Vietnam Era; Chuck Hocking, Navy, WWII; Mark Millard, Army, Vietnam; Richard Mitchell, Air Force, Korea; Murry Mitten, Air Force, Desert Storm/Desert Shield; John Schultz, Army, Vietnam; Donald Teffer, Marines, Korean War Era; Bob Teska, Army, Post WWII; Steve Wilkiewicz, Air Force, Vietnam; Jason Young, Marines, Army, Iraq
Student Participants:
Makayla Block, Litzy Gorostieta, Josey Wiggins, Grace Roncke, Kennedy Gonzalez, Sarah Jacobs, Sarah Bogie, Ariel Mora, Erin Berg, Sid Shah, Eleanor Anders, Ava Babler, Connor Liermann, Pelham Hasler, Faith Hudson, Jade Castillo
Check out our videos!
Veterans Oral History Project - 2021
In 2021, the Bell Tower Memorial featured 11 Veterans from WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Cold War along with 11 students from Pewaukee, Waukesha South and Lake Country Lutheran High Schools.
Veteran Participants:
Howard Hadley, Air Force, Vietnam; Dean Larsen, Navy, Korean War Era; Dale Stark, Air Force, Korea; Lee Murry, Army, Korea; Walter Hogan, Army, Korea; Terry Inda, Navy, WWII; Richard Kuenn, Air Force, Korean War Era; Ron Sowinski, Navy, Cold War; Craig Arellano, Air Force, Vietnam War Era; Rollie Crandall, Navy, Vietnam; John Arnold, Army, Vietnam War Era
Student Participants:
Drew Sonderman, Erin Esser, Tony Carrillo, Anna Brandl, Roman Olvera-Jeramillo, Anika Woelffer, Alyssa Myers, Lily Swanson, Tiara Tran, Taylor Casey, and Nick Seidl
Watch Bill Kosky's second interview: CLICK HERE
Watch Harry Baker's second interview: CLICK HERE
Watch John Eskau's second interview:
CLICK HERE
Veterans Oral History Project - 2021
In 2021, the Bell Tower Memorial featured 11 Veterans from WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Cold War along with 11 students from Pewaukee, Waukesha South and Lake Country Lutheran High Schools.
Veteran Participants:
Howard Hadley, Air Force, Vietnam; Dean Larsen, Navy, Korean War Era; Dale Stark, Air Force, Korea; Lee Murry, Army, Korea; Walter Hogan, Army, Korea; Terry Inda, Navy, WWII; Richard Kuenn, Air Force, Korean War Era; Ron Sowinski, Navy, Cold War; Craig Arellano, Air Force, Vietnam War Era; Rollie Crandall, Navy, Vietnam; John Arnold, Army, Vietnam War Era
Student Participants:
Drew Sonderman, Erin Esser, Tony Carrillo, Anna Brandl, Roman Olvera-Jeramillo, Anika Woelffer, Alyssa Myers, Lily Swanson, Tiara Tran, Taylor Casey, and Nick Seidl
Veterans Oral History Project Award Ceremony & Luncheon - 2019
On Sunday, May 19, 2019, The Bell Tower Memorial (BTM) and St. John's Northwestern Military Academy (SJNMA) hosted their fourth annual Award Ceremony and Luncheon at SJNMA, honoring the completion of their Veterans Oral History Project (VOHP) and it's participants.
Sponsored by Habush Habush & Rottier, WaterStone Bank, Circle Electric, Vice Admiral Dirk and Terry Debbink, USNR (ret.), and John Fleckenstein to Honor Veteran Jerry Stern, students, Veterans, their families, and members of the community enjoyed lunch and the inspirational words of our guest speaker, Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow. Veterans and students received award acknowledgments for their work on the project.
Veteran Participants:
Earl Davison, Marines, Korea; Arnold Fuerstenberg, Army, WWII; Forrest Gunderson, Army Air Corps, WWII; Thomas Heaton, Navy, WWII; Bill Kosky, Navy, WWII; Michael Krebs, Navy, Vietnam; Don Peterson, Army, Korea; Norm Poberezny, Merchant Marines/Coast Guard, WWII; Bill Rheingans, Air Force, Vietnam/Iraqi Freedom; Eugene Schulz, Army, WWII; William Vaitl, Army, Cold War; Bob Winchell, Army Air Corps, WWII
Student Participants:
Alan Cameron, Andrew Drazy, James Homann, Ellie Kaczkowski, Douglas Kirkhofer, Hailey Kiser, Zoe Klett, Robert Kubiak III, Alyssa Labs, Sara Laszkiewicz, Elisabeth Prudlo, William Tuttle
Check out our video and photo gallery!
Veteran Second Interviews
In late 2021, Jean Miller of the Bell Tower Memorial, conducted second interviews with WWII Army Veteran Harry Baker, WWII Navy Veteran Bill Kosky and WWII Navy Veteran John Eskau.
Watch Bill Kosky's second interview: CLICK HERE
Watch Harry Baker's second interview: CLICK HERE
Watch John Eskau's second interview:
CLICK HERE
Bell Tower Memorial on WISN
On Sunday, December 12, 2021, Jean Miller and Steve McNeal from the Bell Tower Memorial joined Jeff McCarthy and Becky Miller from Bank Five Nine on their weekly radio show, That's So Money. Discussing the updated project, Jean and Steve described the history of the organization and the steps we're taking to bring this memorial to life. Take a listen!
Veterans In The Classroom
On Thursday, February 17, 2022, WWII Navy Veteran John Eskau spoke at Pewaukee High School about the true happenings during the war while he served in Okinawa, Japan and elsewhere. John was first interviewed during the Veterans Oral History Project in 2017. He's a very active supporter of various community projects and loves construction work.
Veterans Oral History Project - 2022
In 2022, the Bell Tower Memorial featured 12 Veterans from various conflicts and eras with 12 students from Pewaukee High School, Waukesha South High School, University Lake School, and St. John's Northwestern Academy.
Veteran Participants:
Daniel Driscoll, Navy, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan; Jeff Ellenbecker, Army, Gulf War Era; Mark Gilbert, British Army, Northern Ireland, Iraq; Larry Graham, Army, Korean War Era; Wayne Graves, Army, Vietnam Era; Patrick Holloway, Army, Vietnam War; Robert Jacob, Army, WWII; Tom Lemmer, Navy, Vietnam War; Bob Scanlan, Air Force, Vietnam War; Steve Schweiss, Air Force, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom; Cliff Wallenfang, Air Force, Cold War; Dennis Ziebell, Army, Vietnam War
Student Participants:
Jaden Liermann, Bryce Denzien, Ashleigh McCarthy, Georgios Bofiles, Brian Thometz, Khadijah Dhoondia, Erin Loeschmann, George Park, Kailyn Jackowick, Will Smyczek, Kate Buerger, Erin Berg
Check out our videos!
Bell Tower Memorial on WISN
On Sunday, December 12, 2021, Jean Miller and Steve McNeal from the Bell Tower Memorial joined Jeff McCarthy and Becky Miller from Bank Five Nine on their weekly radio show, That's So Money. Discussing the updated project, Jean and Steve described the history of the organization and the steps we're taking to bring this memorial to life. Take a listen!
Veterans Oral History Project - 2022
In 2022, the Bell Tower Memorial featured 12 Veterans from various conflicts and eras with 12 students from Pewaukee High School, Waukesha South High School, University Lake School, and St. John's Northwestern Academy.
Veteran Participants:
Daniel Driscoll, Navy, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan; Jeff Ellenbecker, Army, Gulf War Era; Mark Gilbert, British Army, Northern Ireland, Iraq; Larry Graham, Army, Korean War Era; Wayne Graves, Army, Vietnam Era; Patrick Holloway, Army, Vietnam War; Robert Jacob, Army, WWII; Tom Lemmer, Navy, Vietnam War; Bob Scanlan, Air Force, Vietnam War; Steve Schweiss, Air Force, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom; Cliff Wallenfang, Air Force, Cold War; Dennis Ziebell, Army, Vietnam War
Student Participants:
Jaden Liermann, Bryce Denzien, Ashleigh McCarthy, Georgios Bofiles, Brian Thometz, Khadijah Dhoondia, Erin Loeschmann, George Park, Kailyn Jackowick, Will Smyczek, Kate Buerger, Erin Berg
Check out our videos!
Veterans Oral History Project Award Ceremony & Luncheon - 2016
Veteran Participants:
Marge Behlen, Army Nurse, Korea; John Kent, Army, WWII; Harry Boehler, Navy, WWII; John Bosch, Army, Korea; Wayne Iverson, Navy, Korea; Fritz Krause, Army, WWII; Dallas Kobriger, Coast Guard, WWII
Student Participants:
Liana Jackson, Kyle Turba, Lydia Heinen, Kendall Schoenike, Aidan Nordquist
Veterans Oral History Project Award Ceremony & Luncheon - 2019
On Sunday, May 19, 2019, The Bell Tower Memorial (BTM) and St. John's Northwestern Military Academy (SJNMA) hosted their fourth annual Award Ceremony and Luncheon at SJNMA, honoring the completion of their Veterans Oral History Project (VOHP) and it's participants.
Sponsored by Habush Habush & Rottier, WaterStone Bank, Circle Electric, Vice Admiral Dirk and Terry Debbink, USNR (ret.), and John Fleckenstein to Honor Veteran Jerry Stern, students, Veterans, their families, and members of the community enjoyed lunch and the inspirational words of our guest speaker, Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow. Veterans and students received award acknowledgments for their work on the project.
Veteran Participants:
Earl Davison, Marines, Korea; Arnold Fuerstenberg, Army, WWII; Forrest Gunderson, Army Air Corps, WWII; Thomas Heaton, Navy, WWII; Bill Kosky, Navy, WWII; Michael Krebs, Navy, Vietnam; Don Peterson, Army, Korea; Norm Poberezny, Merchant Marines/Coast Guard, WWII; Bill Rheingans, Air Force, Vietnam/Iraqi Freedom; Eugene Schulz, Army, WWII; William Vaitl, Army, Cold War; Bob Winchell, Army Air Corps, WWII
Student Participants:
Alan Cameron, Andrew Drazy, James Homann, Ellie Kaczkowski, Douglas Kirkhofer, Hailey Kiser, Zoe Klett, Robert Kubiak III, Alyssa Labs, Sara Laszkiewicz, Elisabeth Prudlo, William Tuttle
Check out our video and photo gallery!