News: Loyal Am. Legion Honors Brian Duell (May 2018)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Duell

Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, WI) 30 May 2018

Loyal American Legion is honoring Brian Duell this week. Brian was born in 1975. He grew up in Loyal and graduated from Loyal High School in 1994. In 1993, Brian enlisted in the Army National Guard and the summer of 1993 he went to Fort Leonard Wood for eight weeks for basic training.

Shortly after returning from basic training, Brian enlisted into the active army. In August 1994, Brian returned to Fort Leonard Wood for ten weeks of training as a heavy equipment operator. In October 1994, Brian was stationed in Fort Drum, New York, with the 10th Mountain Division, operating heavy equipment for 1 1/2 years. He was then transferred to Germany and assigned to the 54th Engineer Battalion and was deployed to Bosnia, Herzegovina, in support of Operation Joint Endeavour for 11 months. Brian was assigned to supporting combat engineers enroute and mine clearing, security and then constructing protection structures at base camps. Brian was a part of the armed forces coming together to use the largest fl oat bridge to cross the Sava River into Bosnia from Hungary. His unit also utilized a remote control 60-class tank for mine clearing, which endured a mine strike while clearing an area on the banks of the Sava River. Brian returned to Germany in December, 1996, and was there for two years. Brian returned home and stayed in the Army National Guard while attending Wisconsin Technical College and earning a degree in civil engineering and later on in supervisory management. In 2001, Brian started working for Clark County as an engineer technician. In 2003, he moved back to the Loyal area. In 2005, he married his wife Amy. Brian currently continues to work for Clark County as the highway commissioner. Brian has one step-daughter and two sons. Brian is an active member of the American Legion, is on the American Legion Honor Guard and has been a Legion member for 21 years.

The Loyal American Legion and Auxiliary are always looking for new members to help our local veterans and our Loyal community.