Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
----Surnames: Nauertz, Bayuk
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark, Co) 4/25/2018
American Legion to Honor Nauertz (Military Service – May 2018)
American Legion to Honor Gary Nauertz
Gary Nauertz
Gary Nauertz is Neillsville American Legion Post 73’s latest honoree for his military service.
Nauertz was born in the old hospital on State Street in Neillsville.
He attended St. Mary’s Catholic Grade School and graduated from Neillsville High School in 1964.
After high school, Nauertz worked at Weyerhauser and later at Shorts Fur Farm until he was drafted into the U. S. Army in January of 1966.
He went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and was sent to Fort Sill, OK, for advanced individual training on the artillery’s 105mm and 155mm Howitzers.
He was transferred to Munich, Germany. Nauertz said that during that time, the Army was undermanned in Germany because of the war in Vietnam; according to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreements, they had to keep the quota up in Germany.
Nauertz was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division, First Battalion of the 35th Artillery Regiment.
There were five different batteries that would go out on alerts with the Howitzers, and Nauertz received an ankle injury on one of those missions.
He then worked in supply, which included inspecting and issuing rifles.
Nauertz received an early discharge in December of 1967. He returned to Neillsville and worked at Shorts Fur Farm and then, in March of 1971, he was hired at Nelson Muffler.
He worked at Nelson for 35 years, retiring in August of 2006.
Nauertz works part-time on the city of Neillsville’s parks and cemetery.
The veteran married Mary Bayuk in August of 1971. They have children: Al, Alison, Brian, Ben, Beth and Christopher. They also have grandchildren: Mark, John, Andrew, James, Luke, Joseph, Abigael, Owen, Henry, Aubrey and Emma.
Nauertz said he enjoys hunting, fishing, making maple syrup and year-round feeding and watching the birds.
The honoree has been a member of Post 73 for 47 years, serving for 12 years as its adjutant. He’s on the firing squad and has volunteered for many years at the Legion’s fish fries and steak feeds.
