Bill was in the U.S. Navy and part of his military service was spent at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was on patrol with a horse named Wing in this photo according to what he wrote on the back for us, but there was no date recorded on it. 

   Austin Willard Sweeney passed to his final reward on August 7, 1997.

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Austin Willard Sweeney was married to Lois Fladstol Ruseling-Bock-Sweeney. Lois was born in Lisbon, North Dakota on the 23rd of Dec, 1918 and the Adoptive daughter of Fred Follette Ruseling and Grace Miller Ruseling. They lived in Eleva, Wisconsin. During WWII she entered the Army as a nurse. Lois entered the Army Nurses Corp the 29th of July, 1943 as a general duty nurse and she was shipped to New Guinea 19 Feb, 1944. It was on the trip Austin Willards ship was an escort ship for the S.S. America cruise ship which during the war was re-designated the U.S.S. West Point AP-23.

   During her term of service in the New Guinea Campaign, Lois  earned 1 Bronze Medal Star and an Asiatic Pacific Ribbon. She was relieved from active duty on the 15th of Dec, 1945 as a 1st Luetenant in San Francisco, California. Lois passed 12 March, 1996.

    Lois was my Aunt and a wonderful and beautiful woman. Bill and Lois came to our home frequently and spent a lot of time with our family. They were great people and will be with me for ever.