Hillstead reveals World War II contribution
In a way, Jim Hillstead’s story about military service is much the same as other veterans, but in another way, it is completely different. Hillstead, who is 103 and lives quietly with his son Kelly in Kenmare, took on a significant military role when he was drafted into the Army in World War II in […]
MSgt Ed Zilli US Army
It was June 6th 1944, D-Day…. As part of the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division (known as the Ivy Division), Sgt Edward John Zilli had crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary, landed in Scotland, rode a blacked out train to a small village in England, had several months of additional field training, and now […]
A Uniform Reality
Air Force members are part of the “uniformed services”, but everyone has a unique experience during their time of service. Specifically, for enlisted Airmen, we can all relate to our rite of passage at Lackland AFB, including our joyous march down the “Bomb Run” during graduation weekend. From that location, we all dispersed into our […]
Minot Bomber Alum: Col (Ret) Jeff Beene
Military service is both a sacrifice and a privilege. Service members of all branches and their families are honored every Veterans Day as a thank-you for keeping America protected against foreign invaders. The US Armed Forces technically erupted during the country’s birth in 1776; however, the US Air Force has been honoring its members since […]
Walter Parcells Survives Two Hair Raising Mid-Air Attacks – Comes Home!
Walter Parcells. Parcells was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Parcells born in 1922 and spent his youth at Oberon, until the family moved, ending up at Kingston, Washington. Parcells’ father, a Benson Co. native, served in the United States Army during World War I. Walter was quick to enlist in the Army Air […]
Someone’s Baby in the Battle
There are many tipping points in life. The one I’ve most recently reached is that funny point when youth doesn’t seem all that long ago, but upon looking at a teenager, you can’t help think, “What a baby.” Maybe you can relate.This is a strange thing to reflect upon for Veteran’s Day, but this is […]
It’s My Privilege
I often sit in line for a couple of minutes when entering Minot Air Force Base through the main gate. The few minutes gives me an opportunity to think back to the first time I entered this gate some 45 years ago, a young journalist working for a local TV station assigned to do a […]
Is outmigration the answer?…
We have some friends who grew up in northeastern North Dakota, went to college at the University of North Dakota, then worked in Grand Forks for many years. Then, the husband got a job in Minneapolis that paid far better than anything he could have ever imagined in Grand Forks or Fargo. The wife was […]
Those Darned North Dakota Winters
Fall. Thud. Winter. North Dakota just went from a very pleasant fall season to a heavy dose of winter in just a few hours. People who were riding bicycles or raking leaves, and children who were joyously jumping in them, turned to winter clothing and shoveling snow almost overnight. Tennis courts and golf courses closed. […]
Directors from National Laboratories immerse in Global Strike mission
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. —Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and Whiteman AFB, Mo., hosted senior officials representing national laboratories and academic institutions, providing them the opportunity to immerse with the mission and weapons systems of the nuclear enterprise, Oct. 17-19, 2023. Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, 8th Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center commander, […]
