Clark County Press, Neillsville, Clark Co. WI

September 15, 2010, Front Page         

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Polenz honored for supporting Fields’ family

By Peter Spicer

The U. S. Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) honored Neillsville Memorial Medical Center (MMC) CEO Scott Polenz for supporting MMC Physician Assistant Dave Fields – who is serving the country in Afghanistan with the U. S. Army Reserve – by presenting him with the ESGR Patriot Award Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, at Neillsville American Legion Post 73.

Fields’ wife Corliss – who was on hand at the Legion Thursday evening with her children, Ben and Sarah – nominated Polenz for the award for supporting her husband while overseas.

The ESGR provides free education, consultation and if necessary, mediation for Guard and Reserve employees.  ESGR’s goal is to “support America’s employers who share their employees with the nation to ensure our national security.”

Dave Fields, who is a Neillsville resident and has worked at MMC since 2004, has been serving in Afghanistan as a physician assistant for nearly one year after he left Neillsville for one month of training at Fort McCoy at the end of August last year.

Field’s good friend and former supervisor Rod Hickman traveled from Montana to take his place at MMC until Fields’ returns.  Hickman decided to take Fields’ place in order to support Fields’ desire to serve his country and all the troops serving overseas.

Hickman served as a physician assistant in the U. S. Army and served in Vietnam for one year from 1970 into 1971 as an infantryman.

When Fields temporarily left MMC, he knew MMC and Polenz would support his efforts to serve the country; he stated before leaving Neillsville, “Scott’s been behind me from the very beginning.”

Corliss stated it can be lonely for troops overseas and explained it means a lot to “Dave when people let him know what’s happening back home.

Each time Dave e-mails Polenz, he knows Polenz will send a reply, which means a lot to Dave, said Corliss, who added, simple things like responding to an e-mail mean a lot to troops overseas.

Corliss stated she feels comforted “just knowing [MMC is] there.”

An MMC employee’s spouse helped clear trees at the Fields’ residence this summer when a storm came through the area and strong winds blew over trees in their yard.

“I knew [MMC] would be there for support,” Corliss stated.

ESGR area representative Lee Kurasz, who retired from the Wisconsin National Guard after 34 years of service and presented Polenz with the award, stated it’s nice knowing “[Fields] has a job when he comes back.”

Polenz was honored by receiving the award and praised the Fields family. 

“This is a wonderful surprise and an award I’m proud to receive,” said Polenz.  “It is an honor to know and support Dave, Corliss, Ben and Sarah during this time.  I have to say, though, that they are the ones who deserve our honor and praise for doing and sacrificing so much.  I can’t imagine how difficult this has been for them, and we all hope for his safe return home.”

Sarah (from left), Ben and Corliss Fields, along with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) area representative Lee Kurasz (right), present Neillsville Memorial Medical Center (MMC) CEO Scott Polenz (second from right) the ESGR Patriot Award Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010.  The presentation was made at Neillsville American Legion Post 73 and recognizes support MMC provided MMC Physician Assistant Dave Fields – who is the husband of Corliss and father of Ben and Sarah – while he is serving the country in Afghanistan with the U. S. Army Reserve.  (Photo by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)