Spirit of Freedom 2011
On November 11, 2011, seventeen Idahoans were honored for their efforts in military service and volunteering through The Spirit of Freedom: Idaho Veterans Service Award. Please review the short bios regarding each of the recipients to learn more about their significant contributions to our country and its veterans.
Veteran Honorees:
Jimmy R. Berkley, Twin Falls: Jimmy Berkley’s outstanding, continuous service to our country and fellow veterans has earned Spirit of Freedom Award recognition two years in a row. With family members who served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War, Jimmy has fulfilled a family tradition of serving our country. Jimmy Berkley’s untiring and diligent efforts as an Air Traffic Control Radio Repairman for the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War were commended as enabling air operations at all times under the most adverse weather and combat conditions at the combat base where he was stationed. He was also recognized for “performing the work of two skilled personnel in a cheerful professional manner.”
Following his military service, for which he earned numerous awards, Jimmy returned to the place of his birth, Twin Falls, where he was employed at Amalgamated Sugar Company for more than thirty years. He is an active member in veterans service groups, including serving as Adjutant for the Marine Corps League, a Trustee for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States and a board member for the Rock Creek Cemetery. He maintains the Rock Creek Cemetery, and he is a member of the Magic Valley honor guard, spending hundreds of hours performing Military Rites at veterans’ funerals in the Twin Falls area. Jimmy Berkley continues to carry out outstanding and dedicated service, including participating in Toys for Tots and Eagle Scout events. Jimmy has simply done so much for his fellow veterans and community, and it is an honor to present Jimmy Berkley with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award for his unyielding service.
William Thomas Cole, Pocatello: Unfortunately, William Cole, also known as WT and Bill, is unable to personally accept this award, as he passed away in August. However, it is a privilege to recognize his contributions to our country. During his military service for which he received numerous awards, WT braved enemy fire a number of times, including in the North Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II, in Korea and in Palestine.
WT grew up during the Great Depression in a family with ten fellow siblings. Working at a cotton mill after school, he demonstrated a strong work ethic at a young age. At the age of eighteen, WT joined all of his six brothers in serving in the U.S. military when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. While in the Navy, he was a gunner’s mate aboard two cargo and personnel transport ships before joining the U.S. Army, to which he was recalled to serve during the Vietnam War. With a specialty in artillery armament and expertise in all manner of large and small gunnery weapons, WT devoted 27 years to military service, and was often called on to train U.S. and foreign troops. WT’s civilian work included working for the Citizens and Southern Bank and as a building supervisor for a building contractor in Macon, Georgia.
WT is remembered as engaging, sincere, generous, encouraging, charming and supportive. I am proud to honor William Thomas Cole’s devoted service and remarkable life through the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Michael L. Grigsby, Boise: Michael Grigsby served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. For his remarkable service, he earned a number of recognitions, including a Purple Heart with Gold Star, a Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, a Combat Action Ribbon, a Presidential Unit Commendation Ribbon and a Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation. Michael has devoted considerable time to assisting his fellow veterans through his extensive volunteer work and service in many veterans organizations. For more than ten years, he has assisted with the Stand Down for Homeless Veterans program and provided services and support, including medical services and meals, to homeless veterans. He has also organized Toys for Tots events and Christmas parties for local veterans.
Since his military service, Mike has been an information technology professional. He has served as Adjutant finance officer for twenty years with the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), for which he also served as Regional Commander for two years, Idaho Department Commander and maintains a lifetime membership. Michael also served as Adjutant for the VFW, and he has lifetime memberships of the VFW, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Marine Corps League. He and his wife Nancy, whose service to veterans is also being honored this year through the Spirit of Freedom Award, have three children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. It is an honor to recognize Michael Grigsby’s devoted service through the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Joseph Michael Murphy, Boise: Joe Murphy served our nation bravely during the Korean War, and he continues to devote many hours to serving fellow veterans. Joe’s notable service in the U.S. Navy was recognized through a number of military service honors, but his commitment to his fellow veterans did not end with the conclusion of his military service. Joe volunteers as a Disabled American Veterans driver every week, helping fellow veterans get to and from medical appointments. He also helps fulfill the Idaho State Veterans Home—Boise’s mission of “Caring for America’s Heroes”, through assisting with many programs and activities, including serving lunch to veterans, Bingo and a shopping program. Joe is known as being dedicated, loyal and a pleasure to work with, and he always has a joke to share.
Following his military service, Joe worked as an electrical lineman in Montana, Wyoming, Washington and Oregon. He is a member of the VFW. Joe’s wife, Janet, his four children and ten grandchildren have much to be proud of, as Joe has dedicated many years of his life to noble service to our nation and veterans. It is a privilege to present Joe with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Cliff Morris, Boise: Born in Wheatland, North Dakota as an only son, Cliff was not required but chose to serve his country through enlisting in the U.S. Navy. Cliff’s five years of service in the Navy, included service during the Korean War, and his military service honors include the Korean Service Ribbon and United Nations Ribbon. Cliff continues to devote many hours to serving his fellow veterans through his volunteer work at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, where he assists veterans and their families during services. Cliff is known as an outgoing volunteer who is always willing to help.
After his military service, Cliff took over his father’s farm, worked on the railroad as a telegraph operator and worked as an auditor and underwriter in the insurance industry. Cliff and his wife Marian have two sons who carried on the family tradition of military service. They are both Majors in the U.S. Army. It is an honor to recognize Cliff Morris’ continued exemplary service through the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
George G. Nickel, Boise: George Nickel epitomizes selfless service. Despite having already served our nation, after learning of a local deployment to Iraq, he reenlisted, and took on the task of clearing explosives in Iraq. For his sixteen years of military service, Staff Sergeant Nickel received many awards and decorations that include a Bronze Star, Air Force Commendation and Achievement Medals, Army Commendation and Achievement Medals and the Purple Heart, and he continues to serve beside his fellow veterans.
George grew up in Youngstown Ohio, and he was off to basic training with the U.S. Army a month after his high school graduation. His military specialties included serving as a parachute rigger and rigging heavy cargo for airdrop. In 1997, he left active duty and moved to Boise, where he enlisted with the Idaho Air National Guard and gained employment as a correctional officer with the Idaho Department of Corrections. During his six years of service with the Air Guard, George was deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Southern Watch and Oman for support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
George was honorably discharged from the Idaho Air Guard in 2003. However, just two years later when he learned that the 321st Engineer Battalion would be deploying to Iraq, he enlisted in the Army Reserves and was trained to be a Combat Engineer. In 2006, George deployed with the 321st Engineer Battalion to Iraq to clear improvised explosive devices in and around Ramadi and Fallujah. George returned to Boise and his job in corrections after being wounded in action.
George is majoring in Social Work at Boise State University, and he indicates that he has chosen to pursue this profession because he has a desire to assist other veterans in readjustment to post-combat life and due to meeting professionals in the field that assisted him in his recovery. In addition to his studies, George cofounded and belongs to the Idaho Veterans Network, through which he has assisted in peer mentoring of veterans, participated in the creation of the Idaho Veteran’s Court and aided the Boise Police Department in the implementation of their critical incident team’s veteran’s intervention model. George has nobly served our nation time and time again, and he continues to support his fellow veterans. I am honored to present George with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Clarence Wassmuth, Lewiston: Throughout his life, Clarence Wassmuth has demonstrated a commitment to family, hard work and our country. He was born in Greencreek, Idaho in 1918 into a family of twelve children. He attended school through the eighth grade, and then went to work with his father and brothers on the family farm. In 1942, Clarence joined the U.S. Army, and he served for three years during World War II in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and other locations in Europe. His service awards include a European African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, a Good Conduct Medal and a Victory Medal. After returning from service, he began working in a sawmill in Grangeville, ID. He later married Rita Wessel, and this year they celebrated sixty-two years of marriage. During their marriage, they purchased and worked their farm near Ferdinand, ID and raised eleven children, while Clarence also worked at the mill and as a carpenter.
Clarence sold the farm to his eldest son, and during his retirement, continued to make fine cabinetry for his children. He loves to visit and tell stories. Clarence is admired by many, including his family that includes thirty-six grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren (with another expected in January 2012), as a man who has worked hard to take care of his family and protect our freedoms. It is an honor to recognize Clarence’s lifetime of accomplishments through the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Volunteer Honorees:
Richard Cesler, Medical Lake, WA: Richard Cesler was nominated for this award due to his tireless service to veterans and their families. Richard, a Vietnam Veteran, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970, provides assistance to hundreds of veterans via his work in numerous veterans organization across Idaho, Washington state and the nation. As a director for two state veterans cemeteries, he also works to ensure that veterans and their spouses receive the burial they are promised. Richard’s many efforts on behalf of veterans include his creation and founding of the Missing in America Project, an initiative to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans. This year, Richard was elected to serve the VFW Department of Idaho as the State Senior Vice Commander, and he will serve as the State Commander next year. He is also currently the Commander of the VFW Post 889, Coeur d’Alene, and Past All American Post Commander for VFW Post 63, Boise, and he serves in many other veterans organizations.
Born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, Richard commenced his career as the Director of the Idaho Veterans Cemetery after moving from an assignment as the Veterans Service Officer/ Trainer at the Idaho state Veterans Service, Office of Veterans Advocacy in Boise, where he counseled veterans and their families in obtaining entitled veterans benefits. Before joining the Veterans Administration, Richard completed an eighteen-year career as a Customer Service Supervisor for the Delta Airlines Air Freight Facility in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Mr. Cesler and his wife, Joyce, have six children, eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Richard’s unselfish dedication to his fellow veterans and their families warrants recognition, and it is honor to present Richard Cesler with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Rick Fairley, Clarkston, WA: Rick Fairley has been a dedicated volunteer at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston for more than ten years. His volunteer work includes helping with special veterans’ ceremonies and holiday activities. He also performs bookkeeping for Idaho Veterans Assistant League—North, and he is working to computerize the bookkeeping activities. Rick has also served on the veteran home’s board, as a board member, Chairman and currently as treasurer. He assists with any activity, including Christmas activities, veterans Olympics, fishing trips and monthly black jack games sponsored by the Marine Corps League.
Rick was born in Orofino, and he graduated from Clarkston High School in 1966. Rick joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967, and he served in Vietnam and Washington, D.C. He has been married to his wife, Judy, for forty-one years. In 2007, Rick retired from Qwest Communications after thirty-five years of service, and the veterans home is among the many entities at which Rick has devoted his time. Rick is known as being very kind and caring to veteran residents and helpful to other volunteers and staff at the home. He enjoys playing black jack, and there are several residents that want only to sit at his table during the games. Rick Fairley’s service to our nation and his fellow veterans is commendable, and it is an honor to present him with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Ron Gray, Clarkston, WA: Ron Gray was nominated for this award due to the ongoing assistance he has provided to veterans. He is recognized for his unsurpassed loyalty and devotion to the Marine Corps League and his professionalism, dedication, honesty, integrity and valor. He performs his duties in an exemplary manner, and he is always willing to do more. He volunteers most of his time at the veterans home in Lewiston, and his activities include taking veterans on fishing trips, playing card with veterans and entertaining them with singing and live shows. Just knowing that the veterans really appreciate someone spending quality time with them is what he enjoys about volunteering.
Ron Gray was born in Cincinnati, and he grew up in Ohio, Show Low, Arizona and Farger Lake, Washington. After High School, Ron joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served honorably from 1960 to 1966. After an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps, he went to work as a deckhand on ocean vessels and river tow-boats. He obtained a Masters License and served as Captain for most of his forty-two-year maritime career. After retiring, he got restless for life aboard vessels and returned for a couple of years as a Captain on cruise ships. He retired again, but went back for one last trip before finally calling it quits with the urging of his wife, VJ. He joined the Marine Corps League in March 2006, and has been reportedly busier volunteering than he was working. It is an honor to recognize Ron Gray’s exemplary service through the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Nancy Grigsby, Boise: Nancy Grigsby has been volunteering in support of veterans for ten years. Meeting many veterans and enjoying being with them inspired Nancy’s service. She enjoys spending time with the veterans and their families and being of service to them. Since 2007, Nancy has been volunteering at the Boise VA Medical Center. Her volunteer work includes volunteering at the print shop, where she assisted with the printer setup, helps with printing, copying and assembly of print materials, and she has filled in when the main print manager was on vacation and in the hospital. She also volunteers in the Endoscopy Department, where she works weekly to help process patients, carries out cleaning duties and escorts patients around the hospital.
Nancy is retired from the Idaho State Department of Education. She has been married for forty-two years to Michael Grigsby, who is also receiving the 2011 Spirit of Idaho Award. This husband and wife team is providing commendable service to veterans. I am sure their three children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild join me in admiring Nancy and Mike’s commitment to veterans and the community. It is an honor to present Nancy Grigsby with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award for her exemplary service.
Loretta and Richard Hanft, Pocatello: Husband and wife team, Loretta and Richard Hanft, were nominated jointly for this award due to their cooperative volunteer work at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Pocatello. Seeing the veterans smile is what they enjoy about volunteering.
At the veterans home, Loretta runs the canteen and always has a smile for the veterans who are buying candy and doughnuts. Loretta’s brother has been a resident of the home for six years. Loretta frequently visited her brother when she was asked if she would like to volunteer. She accepted the invitation and has been a steady figure in the canteen for the past two years.
Richard is using his accounting and organizational skills in the capacity of assistant treasurer for the Idaho Veterans Assistance League (IVAL)—East. Richard tracks donations to IVAL, and donations are accepted on behalf of the veterans in the home to be used to make their lives better. Richard prepares financial reports for the IVAL Board of Directors and attends the board’s meetings.
Loretta and Richard are recognized as dependable, hardworking, excellent volunteers, who bring smiles to the faces of veterans. It is an honor to pay tribute to their exemplary contributions through the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Derrick Hawkins, Idaho City: Derrick Hawkins is considered to be one of the most valuable volunteers at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise. Even though his residence is some distance from the home, the home can always count on his support. He can always be relied on to assist with the home’s mission of “Caring for America’s Heroes.” Derrick started volunteering with the home a little more than one year ago. Since that time, he has dedicated more than 600 hours serving veterans. The military service of Derrick’s family members, including his mother who is a veteran, inspired Derrick to volunteer with veterans.
Derrick enjoys helping veterans, making their days more enjoyable and listening to their stories. In fact, he cites an experience after he was unable to come to the home for approximately one week as a volunteer activity that stands out for him. He went to the room of a resident with whom he often played cards, and the resident was very sad. The resident looked up and said, “Oh, my pinochle partner is here!” and started smiling, and they played pinochle all day long. Derrick has also been instrumental in helping to organize and sustain the home’s cribbage program, and he helps with shopping trips, the Friday card parties and other special programs and activities, including bowling, fishing, bingo and attending the local fair. I am proud to honor Derrick with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award for his caring service to veterans.
Sheila King, Garden City: Sheila King has volunteered at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise for the past three years. During this time, she has withstood a range of weather conditions, from the hottest days to rain, snow, sleet and hail to assist visitors in the cemetery. Sheila always has a smile on her face and is eager to help veterans and their families with questions and directions regarding their services. Cemetery staff appreciates the time, effort and attention she gives as a volunteer.
Sheila’s husband Bernie King’s placement at the cemetery in July 2008 inspired her volunteer work there, and she enjoys helping others. A particular volunteer activity that stands out for Sheila occurred when she was going to visit her husband Bernie’s grave, as she often does after finishing with her volunteer duties. A cat nicknamed “Tom Cat” that regularly visited the cemetery jumped into the golf cart Sheila uses as a volunteer. She told Tom Cat she was going to visit Bernie’s grave. Tom Cat jumped out of the golf cart, ran to Bernie’s grave and waited for Sheila. Sometimes just being there is most important for veterans and their families, and on this particular day, Tom Cat provided a service to a favorite volunteer and spouse of a veteran. Sheila King’s service to veterans is commendable, and it is a privilege to present her with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
John D. Lamont, Boise: John Lamont is recognized as one of most trusted, reliable volunteers at the Boise VA Medical Center, where he has volunteered more than 4,500 hours since March of 1999. John currently volunteers in escort and messenger services and serves as Lead Volunteer. His office provides a courier service and escorts visitors within the VA campus. He utilizes his natural leadership ability to train other volunteers and provides useful ideas for improvement in his area. He says he enjoys the good feeling that comes with volunteering and working alongside staff and fellow volunteers.
John, born in Bakerton, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school in 1954. He served as an aircraft mechanic and crew chief on fighter aircraft for ten years, and he was assigned to the wing safety office at various bases during his last ten years in the military. John retired from the Air Force in 1974 after twenty years of service, and he was employed by the U.S. Postal Service for twenty-three years. John has a history of helping others. While working for the Postal Service, he helped rescue two stroke victims, and he has spent time visiting with Alzheimer patients. He also volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank for ten years, the Optimist Club for nine years, and he hands out programs at Boise State University football games. He has been an usher at his church for twenty-eight years, and received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement award in 1999 and 2010. He is also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the VFW. John and his wife Claire have been married for forty-five years, and he has three daughters from a previous marriage, while Claire has five sons and one daughter. Together, they have fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
John’s devoted service to veterans and our country is extraordinary, and it is an honor to present him with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
Janie Schaut, Emmett: Janie Schaut, who served as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, has a captivating story of her own wartime and post war experiences, and she has worked to research and preserve historical information pertaining to all Gem County veterans, living or deceased. Her considerable work on behalf of veterans and their families enables current and future generations to better understand the sacrifices made for our country. Janie has devoted significant time and resources to identifying and cataloging information about 1,145 veterans interred in the Emmett cemetery and 56 veterans in the Sweet-Montour cemetery. Completed biographies are housed in the Gem County Historical Museum. In nominating Janie Schaut for the award, Tom Butler, Commander of American Legion Post 49 in Emmett, wrote, “Mrs. Schaut has used her considerable knowledge of military history to forge a wider historical context surrounding each veteran’s particular service…Were it not for her effort these stories would not be available and would be lost to time.”
Janie Dresser Schaut grew up in Emmett. She attended St. Alphonsus School of Nursing in Boise and joined the Army Nurse Corps before completing a post graduate course at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, California. She volunteered for service in Vietnam and served at the 93rd Evacuation Hospital in Long Binh. When she returned from Vietnam, she was stationed at Fort Belvior, Virginia until honorably discharged with the rank of Captain in 1968. She then attended Idaho State University and later worked as an operating room nurse at hospitals in Florida, Idaho and Washington until retiring in 2006. She and her husband Paul returned to Emmett in 2008.
Janie’s reflections on her experiences serving in Vietnam included the following, “I would have to say that every nurse that has ever been in a war has experienced the same thing. When you help a wounded man they always say, ‘Thank you ma’am, you’re an angel.’ You never forget looking into the eyes of an 18 year old kid that is mortally wounded and you know he’s going to die and he knows he’s going to die. And, more often than not, these kids would always say, ‘Ma’am, could you help my buddy? He’s on the stretcher ahead of me and he’s hurt a lot worse than I am.’” Janie Schaut’s continued service to our nation and veterans is admirable. It is a privilege to present Janie Schaut with the 2011 Spirit of Freedom Award.
