Clark County Press, Neillsville, Clark, WI

May 25, 2011, Front Page  

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Beyer and Erpenbach visit WWII Memorial

World War II veterans and longtime Neillsville residents Harold Beyer (above, left) and Gill Erpenbach (right) pose in La Crosse Saturday, may 14, before leaving for a Freedom Honor flight to Washington D. C. to view the World War II memorial and other monuments.  Erpenbach (below, right) poses in D. C. with former Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole (left), who helped bring the World War II Memorial to Washington D. C.  (Contributed Photos)

By Peter Spicer

World War II veterans and longtime Neillsville residents Bill Erpenbach and Harold Beyer were honored for their service to the country with a well-deserved trip with other WWII veterans to Washington D. C. Saturday, May 14.

Freedom Honor Flights give World War II veterans the chance to view the World War II Memorial and other important monuments in Washington D. C. during a one-day-trip.

Erpenbach and Beyer received a 4 a.m. wake-up call at a La Crosse motel the morning of Saturday, May 14, for a busy day, which included flights on a 747 jet to and from Washington D. C. and visiting many sites in the city, including the World War II Memorial. 

Many “well wishers” and some school and university bands gathered at La Crosse airport to send the veterans off with inspirational words and music to thank them for their service before an 8:30 a.m. flight to D. C., said Beyer, who added one hour and 45 minutes later, he flight landed in D. C.

When the flight landed, volunteers lined up to greet the veterans, who ten received a police escort everywhere they went that day and made their first stop at the World War II Memorial.

“[The memorial] is just an awesome structure,” said Beyer, who added, “The Wisconsin pillar meant something to us [Wisconsin World War II veterans].”

The veterans viewed the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Vietnam Wall, Air Force Memorial, the Changing of the Guard, and Laying of the Wreath ceremony and made other stops, as well. 

“The whole trip was just awesome,” said Erpenbach.

Guardians accompanied both Beyer and Erpenbach throughout the trip; Beyer thanks his guardian, Mike Anderson, and joked Anderson “vowed he would get me home even if he had to carry me on his back.”

“I never thought I’d get to [Washington, D. C.],” remarked Beyer, who added the trip was a “dream come true.”

Erpenbach, who had never been to D. C. either, stated, “It was the trip of a lifetime.” 

While in D. C., former 1996 Republican presidential candidate, U. S. Senator and World War II veteran Bob Dole greeted veterans.  Dole helped make the World War II Memorial possible, said Erpenbach, who added it was an honor to meet Dole because of those efforts.

Erpenbach and Beyer, who knew each other from their years in Neillsville before the trip, met other veterans on the flight.

“We had something in common,” said Beyer, who joked those on the flight were an easy crowd to get along with.

Both Beyer and Erpenbach are looking forward to a June 12 reunion in La Crosse for those who were on May 14 Honor flight.

Beyer was born and raised in Neillsville and is a 1940 Neillsville High School graduate; after high school, he worked at a Black River Falls factory for two years before entering the service.

Beyer served in the U. S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945 and spent his six weeks of basic training in Little Rock, AR, before spending two years stationed overseas in several countries, including England, France and Germany.

Beyer worked with artillery and was honored with a Purple Heart award for his service. 

After returning home, Beyer spent 38 years with Nelson Muffler in several locations, beginning in Neillsville in 1946. After a few years in Neillsville, he became the office manager in Black River Falls from 1949 to 1951, was a manager in Mineral Point from 1951 to 1960, worked in the purchasing department at Stoughton from 1960 to 1980 and returned to Neillsville in 1980 and was the plant manager until 1985, when he retired.

Beyer’s son lives in Madison and his daughter in Lake Mills.  Beyer’s wife, Helen, passed away approximately two and one-half years ago.

Erpenbach served three years in the U. S. Air Force during World War II; he completed his basic training in Harlington, TX before training to become an airplane and engine mechanic in Mississippi.  Erpenbach then received jet training in Illinois before being shipped to Arizona, where he served for two years.

 Although Erpenbach was trained to work on planes, he joked he didn’t know the front of a plane from the back of one before serving in the military.

When Erpenbach returned from World War II, he went to school to become an automobile and diesel mechanic and then began working at Urban Sales in Neillsville.

Erpenbach began working at Neillsville’s Fel Gross Motors in 1961 and retired in 1993 after a long career as a service manager.

Erpenbach and his wife, Cecelia, have five children – Sylvia, Bill Jr., Paul, Jim and John.

Neither men view themselves as heroes, but the Freedom Honor Flight recognized the importance of their service during an important time in American history.

Beyer and Erpenbach let those who made the flight possible know their gratitude.  Beyer praised the businesses, including Kwik Trip, for getting the program started and the many volunteers who donated their time and money to make the trip a reality.

“All we can say is what a day we had on the 14^th [of May],” concluded Beyer.