Joe Wiegand has performed at the White House, in foreign countries and all 50 states and in probably his most famous venue, Medora, as TR, Teddy Roosevelt the 26th President of the United States.
The 91st Missile Wing dates back to 1968 when Minot Air Force Base was the last base to activate the Minuteman I in 1968. Just 3 short years later, in 1971, the 91st was the first to convert to the new Minuteman III, and the now famous Roughrider insignia became synonymous with the 91st, and Teddy Roosevelt became their mascot.
On Tuesday the 91st MW was able to host Joe Wiegand, a.k.a. Teddy Roosevelt and treat him to a V.I.P. mission briefing, tour of a Missile Alert Facility, November 1 just outside of Mohall, ND, host an official meet and greet with 91st MW Commander Col. Jimmy Schlabach, and finally top it off with a personality driven speech to the 741st Missile Squadron where he did not disappoint as he portrayed Teddy Roosevelt, giving the airmen in the room a 1-hour historical and sometimes light and comical rendition of Teddy and his life all the way from New York to the cattle and hunting ranges near Medora, North Dakota.
The trip to the control capsule some 60 feet below the surface gave Teddy a perspective of the intricacies of building, operating and maintaining a Missile Alert Facility on the plains of North Dakota. After the tour, VIP guests are asked to sign the wall of the structure that encases the underground capsules. As the first blast door was swung open, Roosevelt was quick to acknowledge the ease of movement, much like the locks of the Panama canal which he was instrumental in getting constructed.
Back topside, we were treated to a great lunch cooked in the MAF, and soon we were headed back to Minot to rendezvous with Col Schlabach at 91st MW Headquarters. From Schlabach there came an immediate thanks for take time to visit with the troops “you made their day special” said Schlabach “something they can talk about and share.”
The final stop for Teddy was the 741st Missile Squadron, which was a packed room which immediately responded “Bully” when Teddy entered the room. Teddy quickly talked about the origin of the “Walk Softly and Carry A Big Stick” statement that is now famous and most often defines the how Roosevelt led the nation. He referred to Minot Air Force Base as one of the nation’s “Big Sticks”. He said that he proudly received a “Bully Stick” back in 2014, which has a special display area in his home.
Teddy was quick to give credit to the men and women in the room who keep America on guard 24/7, even though we all know “it takes a lot of sacrifice” according to Roosevelt. As his address was drawing to a close, Teddy began his now famous Man In The Arena quote.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
“The challenge for all of your is not to accept criticism, because you know what you do is worthy of the task. We thank you, I thank you, for what you do…BULLY!”
