Brasie

On May 25th, I will see if I can still squeeze into my Navy uniform and join Memorial Day tributes with Michigan’s 462,000 veterans.

Growing up in Alpena, my mind immediately reflects on Alpena’s Little Flanders Field.

Across northeast Michigan’s four-county region, fellow veterans, family members, and dear friends will pay homage at parades, tributes, picnics, and dozens of other venues.

The current Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties’ population is slightly over 62,000.

Since America’s Civil War to the Spanish American War, World War I and II, Korean War, Lebanon, Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan, during peace time and with the current conflicts, Michiganders have given their lives to support democracy. Many are from northeastern Michigan.

A Personal Tribute to an Alpena Military Member

Washington, D.C.’s Vietnam Memorial lists the names of those who perished inscribed on a 246-foot nine-inch granite wall.

The Vietnam war produced 58,281 casualties with over 1,600 military members still missing in action.

I know two of the names shown on the wall.

The most memorable name I recall is USAF Major Frederick J. Wozniak.

His final mission was with Major Gary B. Wright in a reconnaissance flight. Their aircraft was shot down in early 1967 near or over Thanh Hoa Province. Their bodies have yet to be recovered. Wozniak was a First Lt. posthumously promoted to a Major.

At this time, I was a cashier at the Kroger grocery store located in Alpena’s current Harborside Center

While at my register two uniformed USAF personnel entered the store. They were escorted by store manager, Bob Green to the meat department where Leon Wozniak worked. He was the father of Frederick, a ROTC graduate from Michigan Technological University.

I wasn’t in that area of the store but assumed learning of his son’s loss was devastating.

This is but one northeastern Michigan veteran’s story who reflects Memorial Day tributes.

A snappy hand salute to you fellow veterans.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. As a Vietnam-era veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He served on the public affairs staff of the secretary of the navy. He grew up in Alpena and resides in suburban Detroit.