2004 Veterans Issue - UAW-Chrysler.com

NOVEMBER 11, 2004
LOOKING AHEAD AT THE UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
www.uawdcx.com
VETERANS DAY
SPECIAL ISSUE
Band
of
Brothers
WE HONOR THE FAMILY TIES THAT
STRENGTHEN OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN

Side by Side
Honoring Service Families
“From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains
of Kosovo, DaimlerChrysler workers have a long
and proud history of serving our country.”
— Tomorrow magazine
Nov. 11, 1999
WITH THIS INTRODUCTION, we published our
first Veterans Day Special Issue, nearly two years
before the 9/11 terrorist attacks changed our lives forever.
Those attacks and subsequent events in the
DaimlerChrysler Senior Vice
Middle East have been a sobering reminder of the need
President John Franciosi (left) and
for a strong military — and the importance of recognizing
men and women in the U.S. Armed Services.
UAW Vice President Nate Gooden
In 2004, we’re proud to publish our sixth annual Veterans Day issue to honor
DaimlerChrysler employees who have donned uniforms of the various military branches,
including those now serving in the National Guard and Reserves. Most Americans aren’t
called to military duty, let alone asked to put their lives on the line to defend freedom.
Since it was first published, this Veterans Day issue of Tomorrow has hit close to home
with readers. This year, the response was overwhelming as we sought new
people to feature. We regret that space does not permit us to include all the employees
who responded. But we salute you for your service. The first-person accounts of the men
and women in the following pages are representative of countless other UAW members
and management employees who have made similar contributions. Additional stories
also are available online through a new issue of Tomorrow Extra at www.uawdcx.com.
For the first time, we pay tribute to families, the mothers and fathers, husbands and
wives, sons and daughters, who are affected by military service — whether they’re on the
battlefield or back home supporting loved ones who are. In many cases, family members
are unsung heroes who make sacrifices of their own and struggle to lead lives disrupted
by events far from home. For a patriotic mother whose son is in Iraq, life becomes an
emotional roller coaster, every TV newscast a cause for anxiety, every phone call potentially
the one she dreads most. The stories contributed by UAW-DaimlerChysler family
members (see pages 4, 8 and 30) offer a powerful and sometimes overlooked perspective
on the true meaning of service to country.
We’re proud to again salute dedicated members of veterans committees at UAW locals
(see pages 18–19). They work throughout the year to support our troops on active duty
and to assist veterans who have fallen on hard times. In many ways, they serve as our
conscience, never letting us forget that freedom has a price, and those who pay it deserve
our respect, gratitude and recognition.
UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER
NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
2211 East Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, MI 48207
313.567.3300
Fax: 313.567.4971
E-mail: rrussell@ucntc.org
www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org
JOINT ACTIVITIES BOARD
NATE GOODEN
VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR
DAIMLERCHRYSLER DEPARTMENT
UAW, CO-CHAIRMAN
JOHN S. FRANCIOSI
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EMPLOYEE
RELATIONS DAIMLERCHRYSLER
CO-CHAIRMAN
DAVE MCALLISTER
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO
VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR
DAIMLERCHRYSLER DEPARTMENT UAW
KEN MCCARTER
VICE PRESIDENT, UNION RELATIONS AND
SECURITY OPERATIONS DAIMLERCHRYSLER
JAMES DAVIS
CO-DIRECTOR UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER
NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
FRANK L. SLAUGHTER
CO-DIRECTOR UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER
NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
RON RUSSELL
COMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR
BOB ERICKSON
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
TANISHA PEREZ
STAFF WRITER
MICHAEL BULLER
EDITOR
KAREN ENGLISH
SENIOR EDITOR
MEGHAN LITTLE
SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR
TIMOTHY MAHER
COPY EDITOR
JAMEE FARINELLA
ART DIRECTOR
CATHERINE KORN
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Nate Gooden
John Franciosi
This magazine is printed by a union
printer on union-made recycled paper.
2 www.uawdcx.com

LOOKING AHEAD AT THE UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
✮ ✮ ✮
VETERANS DAY
SPECIAL ISSUE
www.uawdcx.com
Volume 8 • Number 3
Special Issue: Veterans Day 2004
4
12
2 Side by Side
We salute our veterans and their
steadfast families.
6 Holding Down the Home Front
Chrysler’s role in World War II.
7 Journey of Remembrance
Veterans visit World War II Memorial.
17 A Memorial Mural
There’s nothing small about Clobert
Broussard’s tribute to veterans.
18 Wall of Honor
Veterans committees join forces
to create a lasting tribute.
26
World War II page 4
Family members recall the sacrifices of the
Greatest Generation.
30
Fighting on New Frontiers page 10
The hardships of defending freedom in far corners of the
globe will never be forgotten by veterans and their families.
War on Terror page 20
Citizen soldiers and their loved ones face the challenges of
this unprecedented struggle.
Back Cover
Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Photo: Getty Images
THIS ISSUE ONLINE
One Mother’s Story
Gina Courter shares more of her experience
of sending her only son off to war.
An American Hero
An expanded version of Eric Johnston’s
tribute to his father’s service in World War II.
Strong Support
Circle of Life Programs help all workers,
including veterans and their families.
Know Your Military
Test your knowledge of the ranks, the
medals, the jargon.
EXTRA
www.uawdcx.com
Front Cover
Photo courtesy of Mary Eilertson, story on page 4
Tomorrow (ISSN: 1096-1429) is published four times yearly with two special issues in spring and fall by Pohly & Partners, Inc., on behalf of the UAW-DaimlerChrysler National
Training Center. Pohly & Partners, Inc., 27 Melcher Street, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02210, 800.383.0888. Periodicals postage rates paid at Boston, Mass., and additional entry
offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tomorrow, 2211 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48207. © 2004 by UAW-DaimlerChrysler National Training Center.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

BAND of
★★★★★
WORLD WAR II
1941–1945
BROTHERS
One family’s legacy of service
When I think about my family, my heart always goes
back to my grandparents’ farmhouse in the rolling hills
of Punxsutawney, Pa. There, on my grandmother’s
bedroom bureau, stood a wonderful photograph of my
father and four of his brothers. Every time I went to
visit, I climbed the stairs and stood in front of that
photo. It shows our family’s World War II “band of
brothers.” Three in Army and two in Navy uniforms
— they look so young, so handsome and so proud to
serve their country.
My grandmother Mary Havrilla kept
that portrait on her dresser. It stood as
a proud reminder that she and my
grandfather had five sons in the service
at the same time. And more important,
it stood as a reminder of how
blessed our family was to have those
five men return home safely.
My father, Fred Havrilla, was in
the service for five years. When World
War II broke out, he was sent to
Europe, where he spent two years
with the 8th Armored Division, 88th
Cavalry. Known as the “Thundering
Herd,” they advanced across Germany
to Holland, where they met with the
Russian army.
Dad and Mom delayed their wedding
because of the war and wrote
constantly while he was away. They
were married in February 1946, after
he returned from Czechoslovakia. I
love their wedding portrait: My dad
looks handsome in his captain’s uniform,
and my mom is a radiant bride.
Dad stayed in the Reserves and, not
long after I was born, our country
called again. This time it was the
Korean conflict, and Dad was sent
to Seoul. He spent six months as a
STORY TOLD BY MARY EILERTSON,
who works in global communications
at DaimlerChrysler Technology Center.
captain with the 3rd Infantry Division.
Mom always said that when he left for
WWII it was hard enough, but when
he left for Korea it was almost too
much to bear. He came home safely
from Korea just in time to celebrate
my second birthday.
In addition to my dad, my Uncle
Bill served in WWII as an Army sergeant
with the 71st Signal Service
Battalion. Because he was in the
Photographic Division, many of his
photographs were in the Army newspaper,
Stars and Stripes. Uncle Bill
was in Tokyo during the Japanese
peace treaty negotiations. One exciting
moment came on June 14, 1946,
when he met and photographed Gen.
Douglas MacArthur.
After the photo session, Uncle Bill
was told to get Mac’s hat off the hat
rack and take it to him. With all the
braids and metal on it, the hat was
unexpectedly heavy and my uncle
almost dropped it. Later that day,
Uncle Bill stood in the back of the War
Crimes Trial Building and witnessed
some of the historic proceedings.
My other uncle, Bert, was drafted
into the Navy on Valentine’s Day
1945, just three weeks after marrying
4 www.uawdcx.com

COURTESY OF MARY EILERTSON
Above (from left): John, George, Fred, Bert and Bill Havrilla; top
center: Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Father Flanagan in 1946,
photo taken by Sgt. Bill Havrilla; bottom center: Bert and Marge
Havrilla; right: wedding photo of Capt. and Mrs. Fred Havrilla
his hometown sweetheart, Margaret.
He served as seaman first class on the
aircraft carrier USS Long Island in the
Pacific during the war.
The other two members of our
“band of brothers” were Uncle John,
stationed with the Army in Hawaii,
and Uncle George, who was in the
Navy and served in the Pacific Theater.
After serving their country and
returning home to their families, my
dad, Bert and Bill left the coal mines of
Pennsylvania and went to Michigan.
They, like so many men returning
from war, were looking for a better life
for their families — and hoped to find
it in the auto plants of Michigan.
Chrysler became part of the family.
Uncle Bert worked at Warren Stamping
as a machinist earning $2.12 per
hour. He raised seven children on his
Chrysler paycheck. As his career progressed,
he transferred to the Sterling
Stamping Plant, retiring as tool room
superintendent in 1979. His son-inlaw,
Mike Chapoton, now works at
Sterling Stamping, and Mike’s son
also works for DaimlerChrysler.
Uncle Bill started as an electrician
and made his career at Warren
Stamping, retiring as superintendent
“After serving their country
and returning home to their families, my
dad, Bert and Bill left the coal mines of
Pennsylvania and went to Michigan.”
of the second and third shift in
1979. This summer, he made contact
with a man he served with in Japan,
and flew to Boston for a much anticipated
reunion.
My dad started his career with
Chrysler at the Nine Mile Press Plant
in 1952. In 1957, Chrysler transferred
our family to Huntsville, Ala.,
so Dad could take a job in the
Chrysler space program. We moved
back to Michigan in 1960, and Dad
worked at the Chrysler Missile Plant
in Sterling Heights. As the space program
wound down, he transferred
to Highland Park. When he retired in
1980, after 28 years with Chrysler,
he was a safety engineer in the
Corporate Safety and Industrial
Security Office.
Today, Dad is an active 85-yearold
living in Florida with my mom.
He doesn’t talk much about his war
experiences, but the recent dedication
of the World War II Memorial in
Washington, D.C., has stirred his
memories. He wants to see the
memorial for himself, so we’re planning
a trip there soon. I expect that
standing there at the memorial will
probably bring back a flood of memories
for both my parents.
I’ve always said that I have
Chrysler in my DNA. Following the
family tradition, I joined Chrysler in
1971 and have been with the Information
Technology Division for the past
33 years. My husband, Garey, his
father and his grandmother also
worked for Chrysler.
It would be fun to add up all the
years of service my family has logged
with Chrysler Corporation. What’s
impressive to me, though, is how
Chrysler actually became part of our
family. We’ve all been proud to work
here, proud to drive the products we
make. Together we share a rich heritage,
and hopefully we’ll continue to
share a bright future. ★
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 5

Holding
Down the
HOME FRONT
Chrysler’s role in World War II
Surprise attacks call for a swift
response. In fact, the initial success
of any war effort depends
on how quickly a country’s military
can mobilize.
Some 60 years ago, in the years
leading up to World War II, our
nation’s level of preparation for an unexpected
attack was dramatically different
from today. As Germany and
Japan grew more menacing, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered a general
assessment of the country’s military
capabilities. In May 1940, the U.S.
Army had only 28 new tanks on hand.
Roosevelt’s “Arsenal of Democracy”
desperately needed to be restocked.
When the Army tapped Chrysler
to help with the buildup, the company
already had contributed about
25,000 trucks and the preliminary
design of a HEMI-powered V-16
fighter aircraft. Groundbreaking on
the massive 113-acre Detroit Arsenal
Tank Plant in Warren, Mich., was
authorized, and the company was
poised for the design and production
of a conceptual M-3 tank. In April
1941, the first M-3 pilot tanks left
the drawing boards, and in July of
that year the first tank rolled into the
Army’s ranks.
Chrysler delivered 500 tanks
before the United States was spurred
into a declaration of war by the
bombing of Pearl Harbor. Overall,
between 1941 and 1945, the Detroit
Tank Arsenal turned out 22,234
tanks, including the M-4 Sherman
and Pershing tanks, along with fuselage
sections for the Martin B-26B
Marauder Bomber.
The company’s contribution to
World War II went beyond tanks and
planes. Consumer car production
shut down from 1941 to 1945 so that
Chrysler’s resources could be focused
on supporting military efforts and, in
total, 66 projects were completed.
But more than any other piece of
hardware, the Jeep was arguably the
automotive industry’s most significant
blow for victory or, as Gen. George C.
Marshall put it, “America’s greatest
contribution to modern warfare.”
Willys-Overland delivered the first
two pilot models of the four-wheeldrive
vehicle to the Army in 1940, and
from 1942 until the end of hostilities,
produced more than 368,000 Jeeps —
that’s an average of one every two
minutes — at its Toledo plant.
In December 1941, the UAW International
Executive Board promised
that the union would not strike for
the duration of the war. Workers projected
a can-do spirit that was reflected
in this unified action, and UAW membership
surged to 1.2 million by the
war’s end. Overwhelming support
came from men and newly working
women across America. Without saying
so, they put out their own cry of
“bring it on” and, in those five years,
set a standard of commitment and
efficiency to which our country and
current military are indebted.
— Meredith Singer
6 www.uawdcx.com

★★★★★
WORLD WAR II
1941–1945
A Journey
of Remembrance
World War II veterans make a pilgrimage to their new memorial
Veterans pay a visit to the new
National World War II Memorial in
Washington, D.C., thanks to the UAW
Local 1183 Veterans Committee.
TOP: COURTESY OF AL LAWLER; RIGHT: AL GARTZKE
Al Lawler’s visit to the National
World War II Memorial last
May was no small occasion —
he made sure of that. As the veterans
committee chair for UAW Local 1183
at Newark Assembly, Lawler organized
a bus trip to the monument from
Delaware to Washington, D.C., for
45 area World War II veterans and
wives and widows of veterans. But
even Lawler had no idea how moving
the experience would actually be.
“It was really emotional,” says
Lawler, whose brothers Edward and
Joseph, both deceased, served in
World War II.
Lawler carried a photo of Edward
sitting on a B-24 Bomber in the hope
of finding someone who had served
with his brother in the 8th Air Force.
Many of the WWII veterans who had
accompanied him did the same.
As they wandered among the
memorial’s arches, representing the
fronts in Europe and Asia, and its
pillars, which stand for each of
America’s states and territories, they
mingled with other veterans in the
hope of finding an old friend.
Though he didn’t meet anyone
who remembered his brother,
Lawler says it was these interactions
that made their visit unforgettable.
“The conversations were good,”
Lawler says. “People just intermingled
and talked about their
experiences. Some of these guys
just cried.”
Witnessing the memorial and
veterans’ reactions to it also made a
big impression on Lawler’s 19-yearold
grandson, Michael, who had
come along for the ride. Taking in
elements of the memorial, such as
the wall of 4,000 gold stars — one
for every 100 Americans who died
in combat in World War II —
sparked for Michael a new interest
in history. It’s one that Lawler, a
veteran of the Korean War, hopes
will continue.
“That was the best part — having
him there seeing [the memorial] and
understanding why it was built,”
Lawler says. And his only complaint:
“It should have been built sooner.
That was pretty much the consensus.”
— Deblina Chakraborty
A Final
Salute
Remembering Erwin Borowski
The Greatest Generation lost another
valiant member last May 28, when
Erwin “Red” Borowski died at age
78. The veteran of the Battle of the
Bulge was one of the the oldest veterans
in the active UAW-represented
workforce, with 60 years’ seniority.
Drafted at age 18, Borowski served
in the U.S. Army in the 90th Infantry
Division. He fought alongside his
twin brother, Raymond, and earned a
Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
Ironically, Borowski died on the eve
of the dedication of the National
World War II Memorial.
Borowski was a member of UAW
Local 75 at the Milwaukee National
Parts Distribution Center, where he
was a checker-packer. He was on
medical leave at the time of his death.
Borowski’s story was featured in the
1999 Veterans Day Special Issue of
Tomorrow magazine. ★
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 7

An
American
Hero
★★★★★
WORLD WAR II
1941–1945
A proud son
remembers his father
This has nothing to do with the NBA Championship
won by the Detroit Pistons. But it has everything to do
with being an American hero. While the underdog Bad
Boys were battling the Lakers for champion status, I
was with my family in Denver, for my father’s funeral.
Dad was a quiet man who worked hard and did
whatever it took — as many hours, as much sacrifice
or as many years. It didn’t matter whether he was
being a father of five, being a husband for 60-plus
years, serving in World War II for his country or working
long hours to support our family, Dad always
carried the load. He had a sense of duty that went
beyond his military service.
But the impact of Dad’s experience as a
young husband and father thrust into
the horror of war on Okinawa stayed
with him throughout his life. As the
sergeant responsible for a .30 caliber
machine gun squad, Dad’s chances of
not being killed or wounded were next
to nil. The 7mm slug that blew his arm
bones apart just below his right shoulder
would rob him of use of that hand
for the rest of his life. The doctors at
that time could take bone from his leg
and bolt together the missing section,
but muscle and nerves were gone.
Dad overcame that. Another 7mm
slug that tore through the side of his
ribs and lodged in his heart muscle
came within a fraction of an inch of
ending his life. But God was kind.
Dad’s heart was strong, and with his
mangled arm pressed against his side,
the hole in his lungs was plugged so he
STORY TOLD BY ERIC JOHNSTON
senior manager in the Facilities Group
at DaimlerChrysler Technology Center.
could breathe as he made his way to
aid. They cleaned his arm and bound
it tightly to his side, the chest wound
unnoticed under his bloody GI shirt.
On the hospital ship, doctors
began reconstructive surgery on his
arm and, upon discovering the chest
wound, decided to repair the lung
damage and leave the slug buried in
his heart muscle. Since it hadn’t
killed him, they weren’t going to
risk disturbing it. There it stayed for
almost 60 years.
Dad met God during that neardeath
experience, and God decided it
wasn’t time for Dad’s journey to end.
From time to time, a small bullet fragment
in Dad’s arm would work its
way to the surface, and a doctor
would remove it if it became irritating,
another small burden to carry. The
trauma of that war never left Dad.
When a door slammed or a coffee cup
dropped, the unexpected noise would
make Dad duck in a reflex that I never
saw as a scar from war, but another
thing that was special about Dad.
Dad’s funeral was June 14, 2004,
at Fort Logan National Cemetery. We
drove through field upon field of white
marble stones honoring fallen soldiers.
8 www.uawdcx.com

LEFT: BILL SCHWAB; RIGHT: COURTESY OF ERIC JOHNSTON
We stopped where a seven-man squad
of veterans stood at attention with M1
Garand rifles. A lone Army bagpiper,
wearing the plaid kilt of the Black
Watch stood off a short distance away
and began the mournful tones of
“Amazing Grace.”
In a small shelter amid the white
stones, we sat facing the dark marble
urn of Dad’s ashes. The urn was
etched with a mountain scene as the
backdrop for an eagle flying free with
wings spread wide. Dad loved the
mountains. It was warm and sunny.
The deacon gave comforting words,
and then the retired and active-duty
volunteers began military honors.
They spoke of the bond shared by all
soldiers and offered the thanks of a
grateful nation. It was solemn and
sincere. Feeling pride and sadness, I
thought about what Dad had been
through and how he had quietly
shouldered the burden as a father and
as a soldier.
Lost in memories, I experienced the
first report of the 21-gun salute as a
physical and emotional shock. The
first report cracked; we all flinched at
the sharp assault of the gunfire. But
for the first time in a very long time,
Dad was perfectly calm. The sevenman
squad squeezed off two more
salutes with flame at the muzzles and
respect in their every movement, then
“For the first time in a
very long time, Dad was
perfectly
calm.”
the vets presented arms. A short distance
away a lone bugler began taps.
There is nothing more mournful and
gut wrenching than those long, solitary
notes. I broke, but I felt Dad put his
good arm around me and I felt peace.
A young active duty sergeant and
an enlisted man approached. The
Stars and Stripes were crisply folded
into a triangle of blue, blazed by
Eric Johnston (left) pays tribute to his father, Sgt. James
Johnston, shown here before he went into combat.
white stars. The sergeant turned and
marched up to my mother, bent
stiffly and looked directly into her
eyes as he extended the flag to
her and thanked her for Dad’s sacrifice.
He stood, and with all possible
respect and perfection, executed
a salute. The ceremony ended. We
were completely drained.
One of the vets picked up the spent
cartridges from the trimmed green
grass, and with visible pride in his
eyes, he distributed them to the family.
We each touched the urn and said
our personal goodbyes. Dad’s earthly
duties were finally complete. ★
To read an expanded version of Eric Johnston’s
story, click the Tomorrow Extra link at the bottom
of the NTC homepage, www.uawdcx.com.
EXTRA
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 9

✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪
NEW FRONTIERS
1950–2001
As international politics shifted in the wake of World War II, America’s
fighting men and women found themselves facing challenges in farflung
corners of the globe. The fall of the Iron Curtain and the emergence
of “Red” China raised the threat of the spread of Communism to free countries.
As Cold War clashes escalated, U.S. military forces were called to fight
for democracy in places like Korea and Vietnam. When aggressive forces
threatened the peace in other regions, such as the Persian Gulf, Africa and the
Balkans, our forces went there as well. Here are the stories of some veterans of
the conflicts of this era.
As told to Molly Rose Teuke
The first four months of
my tour in Vietnam were
spent as part of a line combat
troop. After I received my third
wound, I was removed from field
combat and placed in charge of
base camp perimeter security for
Charlie Company-22. I remained
in that job until I was wounded
again in mid-August 1968. During
my tour in Vietnam, I was awarded
the Bronze Star for Valor, four
Purple Hearts and the Combat
Infantryman Badge.
Just like many other Vietnam
vets, I attempted to bury the memory
of my Vietnam experiences in
the furthest reaches of my mind.
Yet the cold sweats and nightmares
kept occurring. That is, until I
attended my first reunion of the
22nd Infantry Regiment Society in
October 1997. They have been a
tremendous help to me in dealing
with my experiences in Vietnam.
Almost immediately, the nightmares
stopped. It was quite a relief.
Men who serve together in combat
form a bond that is unlike any
other bond among the human
species. They are brothers, and they
have a common mother — and that
mother’s name is Combat. In other
words, when we were fighting over
there, we weren’t fighting for a
political cause or for some ideal, we
were fighting for each other.
Through the years, I have talked
lightly about the instances when I
was wounded, describing them
with humor and little detail. I
don’t know why this was. It could
be that full recall of the deadly and
serious nature of the situations
was too horrific for my mind to
deal with until recently. Or it
could be that the Vietnam vet was
unique. We came home in shame.
Because of that, we just crawled
into a shell.
The reunions are a super-potent
medication that finally helped me
on the road to closure. After seeing
several of the men I served with in
Vietnam and learning that we all
had the same problems, it became
apparent to each of us that our
problem was the suppression of the
memories. The real healing is in the
talking. I can remember vividly the
first time I came face to face with
the enemy, eyeball to eyeball, and I
shot first.
To make a long story short, today
I freely talk about my Vietnam experiences
and can on occasion become
totally defiant with someone who
takes issue with the average soldier’s
role in Vietnam. Please indulge me
and let me close with some defiance.
On four different occasions, the
enemy in Vietnam scored hits on me.
I lived. They did not. ✪
10 www.uawdcx.com

Norm Nishikubo
U.S. Army, 1967–1968
Sergeant
2nd Battalion
22nd Infantry Regiment
Senior Specialist
Vehicle Emission Regulatory
Planning and Compliance
DaimlerChrysler West Business Center
“Men who serve together in
combat form a bond that is
unlike any other bond
among the human species.”
BRIAN DAVIS
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 11

✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪
NEW FRONTIERS
1950–2001
As told to Molly Rose Teuke
January 6, 1973. “Dear Reggie …
It’s been so long since I’ve heard
from you … Here is a picture of
our [new] house … I know you will
like it if you ever get home …
Love, Mother”
Just about everybody from my senior
class got drafted, so I joined the
Navy because my father was in the
Navy in World War II. The main lure
of the Navy was you were able to get
✪“That’s when you realize
training in specific jobs. I finished my
propulsion and engineering training in
1970 and was assigned to the USS
Midway, an aircraft carrier out of
Alameda, Calif., with 4,200 men.
During 1972, negotiations with
North Vietnam had broken off, and
we were ordered to leave early for our
second cruise. We were part of four
battle groups on the gun line in the
Tonkin Gulf during round-the-clock
bombing of North Vietnam. We were
out for more than a year. I couldn’t
get letters out, but I did get letters
from my mom, and she knew more
about what was going on than I did.
I ended up getting news about
what was going on over there
from her.
January 23, 1973. “… the
president was just on TV … the
peace pact would be drawn up
tomorrow and signed Thursday,
so I guess there are a lot of happy
people tonight … Love, Mother”
The thing about being in the Navy,
it was routine but every day something
happened. Somebody got seriously
hurt or a fire broke out, or something.
It wasn’t scary, because you knew it
wouldn’t happen to you — it was
always on some other part of the ship.
But we had one incident in late 1972
that affected everybody aboard ship.
We lost more than 30 men at one time.
That’s when you realize this is for
real. People are dying. An A-6 Intruder,
this is for real.”
Reginald Thurman
U.S. Navy, 1969–1973
Petty Officer Third Class
Wastewater Treatment
Operator
Indianapolis Foundry
UAW Local 550
Shown with his mother,
Catherine Marie Thurman
a bomber, came in and when he
landed, his landing gear broke. It
slammed his aircraft into the readylaunch
aircraft, fully loaded with
bombs and men. The thing that struck
me the most, working all night to
clear up debris, were the body bags.
You get a dose of reality then. You
knew these were shipmates, but you
didn’t know who they were, whether
they were friends of yours. I’ll never
forget that. It’s etched into your memory
for the rest of your life. I haven’t
told that story in 30 years.
January 23, 1973. “I imagine you
will be coming back soon now … call
me as soon as you get to the States …
I will be glad just to hear your voice …
Love, Mother”
✪
12 www.uawdcx.com

LEFT: TOD MARTENS; THIS PAGE: JOHN SOBCZAK
Clockwise from top: Laurine Garner,
Brandon Garner, Karen Woods, V. Jean
Garner and Anthony Garner.
As told to Molly Rose Teuke
Laurine: I liked being in the
Army. I actually miss it. I liked
experiencing different things,
not doing the same job every day. My
first job was materiel control and
accounting specialist; my second job
was track vehicle repair, repairing
tanks. Then I worked in the office,
taking care of a company of soldiers,
ensuring they got paid and their families
got taken care of. I loved it.
I didn’t want to be known as
Karen’s sister. I didn’t want to follow
her through college. I joined the Army
so I’d have a name for myself. My
family didn’t understand why I went
in, because I don’t like being told
what to do. But if you do what you’re
supposed to, you won’t have anybody
Laurine Garner
U.S. Army, 1986–1992
U.S. Army Reserve, 1992–1994
Sergeant
31st Maintenance Company
USAR Control Group
Color Prep Sander/
Health and Safety Alternate
Warren Truck Plant
UAW Local 140
Karen Woods
Business Process Analyst
DaimlerChrysler Technology Center
telling you what to do, because you’re
already doing it. When you first get
to boot camp, you ask, “What have I
got myself into?” Then you get used
to it, and it becomes fun. There’s a lot
of exercise and a lot of discipline.
I had a newborn when I was
deployed to Korea. He was three
“As
✪her
sister, I am
thankful for people
like her who serve
for causes that are
bigger than they are.”
months old when I left, and when I
came back he was 15 months. I missed
his first everything. My sister kept my
son for the first six months while I was
gone, then my parents took over.
My dad was supportive, but in our
last phone conversation, he wanted
me to come home and take care of my
mother. I said that she doesn’t need
me, she’s got you. He wanted me to
come anyway, and then he died of a
heart attack. So I guess he knew. I got
out a year later, and my two boys and
I still live with my mom.
Karen: Laurine’s my baby. She’s
my younger sister by six years. I’m
the prissy one; she’s always been the
tomboyish one. I remember the first
time she came home, right after
basic training. She had changed —
her body definition was all sculpted.
She looked like a different person,
but she was still my sister. I knew I
wasn’t going to go crawling on dirt.
She was my hero.
We were so close, it was traumatic
just being away from her. I missed the
little secrets we would tell one another,
the girl talk, hugging her, going shopping,
doing those girl things.
We were a close family. There was
the fear that she wouldn’t come back,
that something would happen. That
was always in the back of your mind.
You never said it, but you knew
anything could happen. We accepted
that she needed to do this, and we
supported her in it. We told her, “We
don’t understand, but we accept it.”
As her sister, I am thankful for
people like her who serve for causes
that are bigger than they are. It is a
tremendous sacrifice. ✪
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 13

Michael Gracey
U.S. Army, 1966–1968
Sergeant
1st Aviation Brigade
83rd Medical Detachment
CHAMPS/Container Management Analyst
DaimlerChrysler Technology Center
UAW Local 889
“We thought it would be
the right thing to do, and
we were right.”
As told to Molly Rose Teuke
Ivolunteered for the draft. I was
living at home, playing basketball
and going to school — I was
the first one in my family to get a
degree — but I had two buddies who
were going. We thought it would be
the right thing to do, and we were
right. We were very patriotic. I
ended up in the Mekong Delta as a
medic. I was a body bagger. This
was during the Tet Offensive, and it
was traumatic, taking people off the
dust-offs [helicopters] under fire.
I was brought up to believe that
everyone was good. It was hard,
changing your attitude, especially at
21 and me being from an Irish
Catholic family. You have kind of a
cosmic view of the real world — that
14 www.uawdcx.com

✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪
NEW FRONTIERS
1950–2001
Susan and Tom Faison,
shown with their granddaughter,
KeyAnna Bronn
LEFT: ROY RITCHIE; THIS PAGE: JOHN SOBCZAK
the world you live in is good — and
then you get a DI [drill instructor]
in a smokey hat saying, “They’re no
good. They’re going to try to kill
you, and you have to stick up for
yourself.” [Today] you realize that
that’s not right, but then you
believed it. I’m still getting help.
I had four older sisters and a
younger brother who was 13 or 14.
He was in the hippie generation.
When I was in Vietnam, there was a
riot in Detroit, and I thought “Why
am I over here fighting a war when
we’re having a war back home,
where I should be helping my family?”
I’m supposed to be the older
boy — that was excruciating. It was
tough for my family, tough for my
sisters, tough on my parents.
My dad was proud of me, but he
was very worried about me and he
was kind of mad. He’s thinking, “I
want you to be the guy who stays
here and takes care of our lassies.”
It was very tough on my little
brother, having big brother leave.
He had to show Dad that he was
capable of being the oldest boy.
Later, when my sister got leukemia,
we all went in for bone marrow
matching, and it was my brother
who was a match. That was good,
because where I had always been
the strength of the family, this
helped him to see that he was
strong, too.
The good thing is that my family
was proud of me. I was a little
goofy when I came back, but
it meant a lot to my sisters and
brother that I served, and I remain
very close to them. ✪
As told to Molly Rose Teuke
Military marriages are really
tough. My husband, Tom,
and I were in Army recovery
school together at Aberdeen
Proving Grounds in Maryland —
recovering tanks, trucks, any vehicles
that had either been shot up, burned
up or otherwise disabled — but we
didn’t even talk in school. When we
went to Germany, we were stationed
in the same unit. We worked together
for a couple of years before we
started dating. In the military,
it’s easier to get stationed
together if you’re married. But
back then, if you were on
active duty and you wanted to
have kids, you had to give
guardianship to somebody because
you had to be ready to
go off to war at any time, so
we decided one of us had to get out.
I had our first baby here in the
States, then went to Germany to be
with Tom. He wasn’t here for two
out of the three babies, which is
probably par for military families.
Tom retired from the military in
1997, but we were separated a
bunch of times. I don’t think I could
have done it if I hadn’t been in the
military myself. I had a better
understanding of the demands. The
kids just knew that Daddy was
gone; they didn’t know how bad it
was for him wherever he was. They
learned how to write letters, and
their dad would write them. People
can write things that they can’t say.
Do I regret getting out? Not for
my kids’ sake. But part of me, yeah.
Susan Faison
U.S. Army, 1978–1982
Specialist Fifth Class
Parts Handler
Marysville National Parts
Distribution Center, UAW Local 375
✪“I wouldn’t be the
same person without
the military.”
I loved the military, the camaraderie
and togetherness. Unless people were
in the military, they don’t get that —
that you trust each other. It instilled
a lot of discipline and pride in me. I
wouldn’t be the same person without
the military. Everybody should join.
Many people take their jobs and
lifestyles for granted. They don’t
appreciate what we’ve given up for
it. When my husband called from
Somalia, it was 127 degrees. I could
hear gunfire in the background, and
he said, “I gotta go.” That’s when
you get chills. We need to get more
active with our veterans committees
and support our troops a lot more.
We need to get behind our veterans
and show them that we support
them, too.
✪
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 15

✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪
NEW FRONTIERS
1950–2001
As told to Molly Rose Teuke
Robin: My first few weeks, we
were in port and you could
look at the sky anytime and
could see land. Then we went to sea,
and you’d walk by the closed hatches
and look at them and that would be
an eerie feeling. It was the separation
of you from the world.
I served on two submarines, the
USS Sam Houston and the USS
Casimir Pulaski. Our longest cruise
was 70 days, in the boomer subs
that cruise around the ocean, waiting
for orders to deploy their missiles.
That one was a deterrent mission.
To combat the loneliness and separation
from family, every week or two
you got family-grams, which were
written messages radioed out to
the ship. The Navy made me value
Robin Robinson
U.S. Navy, 1982–1986
Third Class Petty Officer
Submarine Service
Dyno Mechanic
Powertrain Labs,
DaimlerChrysler
Technology Center
UAW Local 412
my family time very much.
I enjoyed the Navy. We had to be
prepared because if something happened,
we couldn’t just pull over to the
side of the road. We drilled for fires,
flooding, collisions and any problem
they could think of. All the naval
training helped me to keep a cool head
and make decisions in time of crisis.
The Navy made me grow up a lot,
but I missed being with my wife at
the birth of my son, Ryan. I missed a
lot when he was a baby. My son was
✪
“My son was close to two months
old when we came in from sea, and
that shaped my
decision to get out.”
close to two months old when we
came in from sea, and that shaped
my decision to get out.
Kathy: We were planning to get
married in February 1983, then Robin
called in mid-September to say he
got his orders for a six-month cruise,
and he wouldn’t be returning until the
next June. He got a two-week leave,
and we got married on Oct. 9.
We packed up all we had, got a
trailer and moved to Washington.
My first year being a military wife
was pretty traumatic. I just had to
tough it out. My daughter, Shannon,
was born the following year, up in
the naval hospital. After a couple of
runs, they put his sub in dry dock,
then it was a normal day job and I
had Robin with me for two years.
He got assigned to another sub
when I was expecting Ryan, who
was born in July 1986. I couldn’t
talk to Robin until mid-September.
Robin’s commanding officer told
him Ryan was born. ✪
Robin and Kathy Robinson
shown with family-gram (inset)
16 www.uawdcx.com

LEFT: JOHN SOBCZAK; THIS PAGE: COURTESY OF CLOBERT BROUSSARD
A Memorial Mural
UAW Local 110 member creates
a different kind of memorial wall
Clobert Broussard III stood back from his mural.
He studied his 85-foot-long, 8-foot-high creation,
looking for places that needed touching up before
it was displayed last summer at the National
Veterans Wheelchair Olympics in St. Louis.
As the 44-year-old Broussard eyed his
expansive tribute to veterans, he saw
his faces of vets: black and white,
women and men, famous and anonymous,
khaki-clad. To Broussard, a
production worker at St. Louis South
Assembly, the images — even the
battle scenes — are not pictures of
horror but of honor. “I wanted to
raise these people up,” he says softly.
For the last nine years, Broussard
has worked at the plant painting cars.
In 1997, when UAW Local 110 held
a contest for a concrete way to celebrate
Memorial Day, Broussard’s idea
for the mural was the winner.
For four months, he worked on
the mural, beginning with a base
coat, then adding several gallons
of acrylic airbrush paint, and topping
it with a preservative coating.
The result is a mural that rolls in
waves of oranges, greens and blues
with neutral contrasts, and one that
honors veterans from World War I
to the present day.
The famous Tuskegee Airmen of
the 99th Pursuit Squadron from
World War II are there. So, too, are
Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Dory
Miller, a Navy cook who was the
first black man to win the Navy
By Martha K. Baker
Cross when he operated a machine
gun at Pearl Harbor and shot down
a Japanese fighter.
“Doesn’t he have a great look?”
Broussard asks of MacArthur.
Gens. Colin Powell and Norman
Schwarzkopf are also there, but
marching with all these men of
history are women in khaki and a
list of names from the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in Washington,
D.C. (Broussard tucked in a few
additions of his own).
“The mural was my labor of
love,” says Broussard. “It does not
glorify war — it shows my respect
for veterans. I wanted to honor the
disciplined men and women who put
their lives on the line.”
For several months, Broussard’s
artwork was on display at St. Louis
South. Charles Lewey, chair of the
UAW Local 110 Veterans Committee,
says the local had donated
its mural to the Jefferson Barracks
Veterans Medical Center in South
St. Louis. Unfortunately, the mural
remained in storage until Lewey
arranged for Broussard to touch it
up for display at the Wheelchair
Games this year. Lewey, who served
in the Air Force from 1966–69 with
a year in Vietnam, has worked on
the motor line at St. Louis South
since 1995. He says the veterans
committee continues to seek a permanent
home for the mural.
Meanwhile, it lies rolled up in
Lewey’s garage.
“I built a shelf just to store
it,” he says, “but the best way to
take care of it would be to hang
it permanently.”
✪
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 17

AWall of
✪ ✪
✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪
NEW FRONTIERS
1950–2001
H N R
VETERANS COMMITTEES JOIN FORCES TO CREATE A LASTING
TRIBUTE AT THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER TECHNOLOGY CENTER
When it comes to honoring vets, Bob Longlois
knows exactly what he wants. “It can all be
summed up in one word, and that’s
respect,” says the 47-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran,
who also has served 18 years in the Air Force
Reserve. So when his proposal to mount a Veterans
Wall of Honor at the DaimlerChrysler Technology
Center (DCTC) hit snags, the cost analyst and cochair
of the UAW Local 412 Veterans Committee
wouldn’t be deterred. Even as the necessary
approvals lagged, and as the memorial’s creative
direction shifted, Longlois pressed on. “It seemed to
take forever,” he says. “But we got authorization.”
The 8-by-12-foot, metal-andglass
Veterans Wall of Honor is slated
to be unveiled on Veterans Day,
Nov. 11, in a spot that gets a lot
of foot traffic, near the escalators
on DCTC’s third floor. It will display
tall action photos from every
branch of service to create a powerful,
respectful image. For example,
the Navy panel will show an
aircraft carrier, submarines and
destroyers, while the Air Force
panel will picture three F-16s — all
with the Michigan “MI” on their
tails — refueling in flight.
“It makes good sense for us to
have [the memorial] here,” says
Carlton Pace, an Air Force veteran
who works in mail services at
DaimlerChrysler headquarters and
is chair of the UAW Local 889
Veterans Committee. “The things
veterans learn in the service — loyalty,
dedication, to be the best —
run with the same ideals that the
company has.”
The concept for the wall, a joint
project of Locals 412 and 889, was
inspired by conversations with
members of veterans committees
from other union locals during a
STORY BY STEVE KNOPPER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN SOBCZAK
18 www.uawdcx.com

Joining forces to pay tribute are (from left) Bob
Longlois of UAW Local 412, Carlton Pace of UAW
Local 889 and Gordon Segal of UAW Local 412.
UAW National Veterans Conference
at the Walter and May Reuther
UAW Family Education Center at
Black Lake (Mich.).
Longlois, Pace and their coworkers
initially planned to etch veterans’
names onto the wall itself. But
the style of the famous Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in Washington,
D.C., proved too complicated, so
they conceived a complementary
computer kiosk equipped with a
searchable name, rank and serialnumber
database.
When that became too costly, the
committee decided to post 1,283
names of veterans who are active
workers at DaimlerChrysler facilities
throughout the United States,
including managers and longtime
contractors, on the DaimlerChrysler
Web site.
Although the wall-and-Web site
approach isn’t the committee’s original
vision, members are enthusiastic
Front
Back
In a fund-raising effort,
the veterans committees
are selling a commemorative coin.
about the results. “If I have to do
anything cheap and not make
it look nice, I don’t want to do
anything at all,” says U.S. Army veteran
Gordon Segal, chair of the UAW
Local 412 Veterans Committee and a
test driver.
Segal, who also credits UAW
Local 412 President P.J. Carr with
helping to move the project forward,
says, “I’m really tender about
our veterans. They deserve the best
— nothing shabby, and nothing
held back.”
✪
A Place of Honor
Two volunteers
mark Veterans Day
at their plant
When Jim Shook returned home from
the Vietnam War in 1972, the first
young woman he encountered called
him a baby killer. “I said, ‘You know
what? You may be right,’” recalls the
U.S. Navy veteran who served on the
USS Myles C. Fox. “But to tell you
the truth, I was just glad to be back
in one piece.”
Shook, now 54, knows what it’s like
to put your life on the line for your
country and come home to a public that
doesn’t understand or appreciate what
you went through. So it’s no surprise
that the lift truck mechanic at Warren
National Parts Distribution Center and
UAW Local 1248 member has been
pushing to make sure veterans at the
plant are recognized on Nov. 11.
Shook and his coworker, new veterans
committee member and picker
Delores Prantera, have organized lowkey
Veterans Day ceremonies at the
plant since 2002. The first year it was
a small gathering with coffee and
cake, but it soon grew into a luncheon
where they read the names of each of
the plant’s 45 veterans and set a table
with empty seats representing those
missing or killed in combat.
“Hell, one of them was crying
all over Delores’ shoulder, because
no one ever said anything before,”
Shook says.
In addition to helping to organize
the luncheon, Prantera, whose brother
was a Marine in Vietnam, is raising
funds to send holiday boxes to U.S.
troops. And she has another goal. She
wants to erect a flagpole, including an
MIA/POW flag, between the plant’s two
buildings. But, she says, “You’ve got to
do more than just wave the flag. You’ve
got to follow up and make sure you
honor these people.” — S.K.
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 19

“My wife makes
me want to be the
best
American
I can be.”
Glynn “Hoss” Power
U.S. Navy, 1982–1994
Indiana Army National Guard, 1996–2000
Delta Company Air Assault Unit
U.S. Army Reserve, 2000–Present
Sergeant First Class
7th Infantry Division
Kokomo Casting
Power Plant Engineer
UAW Local 1166
LARRY LADIG
20 www.uawdcx.com

✮✮✮✮✮✮
THE WAR ON TERROR
2001–PRESENT
Perhaps more than any previous conflict, the war on terror
involves families. There are the families of the men and
women in uniform, the families of public safety personnel and, because
terrorism strikes indiscriminately, the families of ordinary citizens — all
potentially on the frontlines. Many of our coworkers, and many more
of their family members, have put on uniforms to keep our country
safe. The stories told here of some of the men and women of DaimlerChrysler,
and their families, are a salute to everyone who has answered the call to
defend freedom in a perilous new era.
As told to S.C. Biemesderfer
Ienlisted in the Navy in 1982
when I was 19, and learned my
trade as a power plant engineer.
My first ship was the USS Cape
Cod — which is where I met my
wife, Terri. We got married in
1987, and she finished her four
years with the Navy in 1988.
We started our family and
moved from base to base — to
Great Lakes, Ill., where I worked
as a Naval Training Center instructor
for three years, then to Kings
Bay, Ga., where I was assigned to
the USS Canopus. I left the Navy
in 1994, and we moved to Indiana,
which is my wife’s home. I worked
at a local power plant until my
father-in-law — a machine repairman
at Kokomo Casting — told
me about a job where he worked.
I started with DaimlerChrysler
in 1995.
My father-in-law is the one who
named me Hoss. The first time I met
him, 18 years ago at Thanksgiving,
I ate half a turkey and two pies. He
said that I ate like a “Hoss” — and
it just stuck. I started calling him
“Boss” — and that stuck, too. (His
real name is Richard Holt, and he
retired in 2002 after 31 years with
the company.)
After years of going to different
places around the world — including
three deployments to patrol
the Persian Gulf — I missed the
military. In 1996, I signed up with
the Indiana Army National Guard.
Then in 2000 I moved over to
the Army Reserve, where they promoted
me to sergeant first class.
I’m part of an Individual
Mobilization Augmentation program,
which means I spend up to
two months at a time on assignment
every year. My job is handling
classified communications at the
Emergency Operations Center at
Fort Carson, Colo. I returned from
six weeks of duty at Fort Carson
this summer, which is when I
learned that I could be deployed
to Iraq next year.
Terri and I have two daughters,
Summer, 17, and Heather, 14. They
are old enough to understand war
and to worry about me going to
Iraq. Fortunately, their mother
is extremely supportive. It’s harder
on her when I go away than it
is on me — she does all the work
it takes to keep a family going, all
on her own. But she’s probably
the most patriotic person I know.
My wife makes me want to be
the best American I can be — and
during times like this, that’s what
keeps me going.
✮
Hoss Power was voted Kokomo
Casting’s Employee of the Year
in 2003.
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 21

THE WAR ON TERROR
2001–PRESENT
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
As told to S.C. Biemesderfer
Right after 9/11, I volunteered
to go on active duty.
I’ve been with the Missouri
Air National Guard for more than
28 years, and I knew I had to do
something. In the weeks and
months after the attacks, I served
with the St. Louis unit of the 131st
TFW [Tactical Fighter Wing] Military
Police. I performed search and
security duties at Lambert International
Airport and was responsible
for fighter jet security. I also
assisted the Secret Service on security
Jefferey Cluster
Missouri Air National Guard, 1976–present
Master Sergeant
Security Forces
571st Air Force Band of the Central States
Production Worker,
St. Louis North Assembly
UAW Local 136
when President Bush came to St.
Louis in 2002.
During the president’s visit last
August, I played honors with the
Scott Air Force Band. I’ve been a
member of the Air Force Band of
the Central States since 1976, working
as a woodwind repair specialist,
mission support specialist and supply
specialist, and playing the clarinet.
Over the years, I’ve performed
in concerts all over the country. Our
band’s mission is to provide support
and uphold morale for all our
troops, as well as their friends and
families, and it’s a mission I take to
heart. Being part of the band is
something I always wanted to do,
ever since I was a kid and the Air
Force Band came to play at our
junior high school.
I also serve with the Honor Guard
at Jefferson Barracks National
Cemetery. We conduct full military
funeral honors, which include
weapons firing, flag folding and
presentation of the flag to veterans’
loved ones. I’ve assisted in as many
as seven funerals a week. Sometimes
I get home from work at 2 a.m., then
I have an 8:30 or 9 a.m. funeral, then
I try to catch a quick nap before
heading back to work again.
My commitment to the military
has meant many scheduling adjustments
for me and my family —
which includes my wife, Sandy, my
son and daughter and three grandchildren.
I’ve had my share of
missed birthday parties, vacations,
weddings and other family functions.
But it’s been well worth it,
knowing that I am serving my
country and making a difference in
people’s lives. When I’m folding the
flag, getting ready to hand it to a
family member, I feel like it’s my
“thank you” to the people who
served before me.
I also want to say “thank you” to
DaimlerChrysler for being so supportive
of my military career. I had
employers in the past who weren’t as
respectful of my commitment to the
military, so I really appreciate the
company’s patriotism — and this
chance to talk about my service. ✮
MARK KATZMAN
22 www.uawdcx.com

“I’ve been with the
Missouri National
Guard for more than
28 years, and I knew
I had to do
something.”
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 23

THE WAR ON TERROR
2001–PRESENT
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
As told to S.C. Biemesderfer
Both times I came home from
the Middle East, the first thing
I noticed was the air: how
clean it is here. Over there, the smell of
oil is so thick, it hits you right away.
I was in Saudi Arabia in 2001.
My unit arrived on Sept. 10. We were
about to begin our assignment on
Sept. 11 when we saw the attacks on
television. They issued us chemical
warfare gear, and we stayed with our
Joe Stevens
U.S. Air Force, 1981–1985
Staff Sergeant
57th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
Michigan Air National Guard
1985–Present
Master Sergeant
127th Maintenance Squadron
Manufacturing Planning
Study Engineer
DaimlerChrysler Technology Center
UAW Local 212
mission — maintaining jets on patrol
over southern Iraq.
I was in Iraq from February
until June 2004.
The Guard created
a special unit, the
107th Expeditionary
Fighter Squadron,
to fly and
maintain F-16s —
and I volunteered right away.
We were stationed in Kirkuk, in
northeastern Iraq, and we were under
fire a lot, up until the moment we left,
actually. On the night we were supposed
to go home, an enemy rocket
✮
“... fireworks on the
Fourth of July
will never be the same.”
landed nearby and started a fire that
spread to a storage area with confiscated
Iraqi munitions. The munitions
fired off and exploded for hours, and
they had to close the airfield. Somehow,
no one in my unit was hurt. And
we left for home the next night —
with a 110 percent mission accomplishment
rate. But fireworks on the
Fourth of July will never be the same.
I did my best to stay in touch with
my family while I was gone. Most
of us live in and around Casco
Township, Mich., where I grew up —
my mother, whom I called when I
could, and my sister and two brothers,
whom I e-mailed. In fact, my brother
Chris also serves with the 127th Wing,
in the Logistics Resources Squadron.
I have 23 years in the military
now: I enlisted in the Air Force when
I was 18, then joined the National
Guard four years later. And it’s
something I never questioned. Casco
Township is in the landing pattern for
Selfridge Air National Guard Base, so
I grew up with the sound of fighter
jets in the air all the time. And I
always knew that, somehow, I would
be a part of it someday. When I hear
that sound, I know I’m home. ✮
24 www.uawdcx.com

As told to S.C. Biemesderfer
I’ve been in the National Guard for
24 years and married for 25, so I
guess my wife, Joyce, is used to me
being sent into combat. She says it
never gets easier. But I wish it would,
Rudy A. Santibanez
U.S. Marines, 1972–1976
Corporal, First Marine Division, Combat
Engineer Unit, Ohio Army National Guard,
1980–present, Staff Sergeant
because I’m 50, and I’m not about to
retire from the military.
I’m a staff sergeant in the 323rd
Military Police unit of the Ohio Army
National Guard. Before joining the
Guard, I was a corporal and combat
engineer in the Marines. I guess you
could say I’m an old soldier. I’ve definitely
seen my share of conflicts.
Most recently, I was deployed to
Iraq. My unit mobilized a week after
9/11 for almost a year. I was back at
home and work for about three
months, then we were in Iraq from
the beginning of 2003 to the beginning
of 2004. We served as escorts
for supply convoys and troops going
in and out of Baghdad. We were
responsible for security patrols along
the border of Iran and Iraq. We were
under fire a lot. We lost two men
✮
Production Worker, Warren Stamping
UAW Local 869
from one of our battalions.
MPs are in demand these days, so
my unit has been very busy. I served in
Central America in the late ’90s;
before that, we supported Operation
Joint Endeavor in Germany. In 1991,
during Desert Storm, we were deployed
to Frankfurt, Germany. Over
the years, between training drills and
police duties, we’ve been sent everywhere
from Europe to Panama, from
Jamaica to the Middle East.
We’re scheduled to go back to Iraq
on Nov. 15. I know that every time I
go away, Joyce wishes I would retire.
I’m not even close to thinking about
retirement, even though I’m more than
twice the age of some of the kids in my
unit. I’ve got a job to do. And I’m
doing what I believe in, for a country
I believe in.
✮
LEFT: BILL SCHWAB; THIS PAGE: TOP: BILL SCHWAB; BOTTOM: BLAKE DISCHER
As told to S.C. Biemesderfer
Stephen is my namesake and
my only son out of five children.
When he told me he was
joining the Marines, I knew that he
would probably be put in harm’s
way, but I also knew that he would
make a great Marine. I was right.
He enlisted in 2002, and he’s a
lance corporal now in a special
✮Marine air and ground task force.
He’s doing a very difficult job, and
I’m proud of him.
I told my son that being in the military
would give him a chance to serve
his country and to become a better
man. Looking back, I think that’s
what it did for me. I enlisted in the
Navy in 1967 and worked as a ship
welder for two years. My brother
was in the Army, and my sister is
in the Army Reserve. So I know
about being in the military, and
about having family members who
serve. But there’s nothing like having
one of your own go into combat.
Stephen told me that he’s going to
Iraq in January. I understand that he
has a job to do, but I’ll also worry
about him. He was deployed to
Haiti earlier this year, and at one
point, I didn’t hear from him for
almost two months. His unit is
highly specialized and they get sent
on a lot of missions, so it’s not
always easy for him to stay in contact.
I did what I could to keep in
touch — sent him care packages,
that sort of thing. But I sure was
glad to hear his voice again.
Hopefully, I’ll see him before they
send him over to the Middle East.
He’s getting married in December
before he leaves, and he says that he
just doesn’t want to think about
going to Iraq — right now. I understand
that; I don’t like to think about
it a whole lot, either. In fact, I don’t
like it that he’s going over there, but
I know that it’s the right thing for
him to do. We’re fighting a war and
he made a commitment to serve. And
sometimes that means doing the
things that are hardest to do. ✮
Stephen J. Pettus
U.S. Navy
1967–1969
Seaman
Quality Inspector
Warren Stamping
UAW Local 869
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 25

Annie Drain
Furnace Operator/
Quality Action Team member
Detroit Axle
UAW Local 961
Roy Drain, son
U.S. Army, 2000–2004
Specialist Fourth Class
HAC3158 Aviation Regiment
As told to Molly Rose Teuke
Annie: I was proud of my son,
Roy. I did not agree with his
decision to enlist at first, but I
told him, “If that’s what you want to
do, I’ll support you.” He’s responsible.
He has good leadership skills.
He always has been that kind of kid.
After the Iraq war broke out, I
could never be sure where he was,
and I was worried to death. I kept
CNN on. Once when he was in
Kuwait, a chopper went down and I
didn’t know if he was on it. But he
called, and when I heard his voice, I
was so happy I was crying.
The chair of the veterans committee,
the PQI trainer and facilitator, my
coworkers, everyone here at Detroit
Axle was very supportive. They raised
money and sent care packages. In the
hallway, they put blown-up pictures of
all the employees’ sons and daughters
and loved ones who were active members
of the service.
Roy’s had asthma all his life, from
when he was three months old, but
he was very athletic. And then he
insisted on going into the
military. You wouldn’t
believe the severity of
this kid’s asthma. He’s
got a medical record
that’s out of this world.
But he loves being active;
he just wouldn’t give up.
I never got used to it. There were
nights I wept and cried on my knees,
and said, “Please, bring my baby back
home safe.” I prayed for everyone,
and I still do. They are all out there
doing a job.
Roy: I have family members in the
military, my grandfather and my
uncles, so I decided to give it a shot.
I loved basic training. There was
a different challenge every day. In
Germany, I was what you call a
petroleum specialist, a gas man. I
filled up the Black Hawks and the
Chinooks. We went to different
“Please, bring
my baby back
home safe.”
countries on missions: Africa, Italy,
Kuwait, Poland. I never felt in
danger. I believe ✮we have the necessary
training to survive. I understand
things better now, and I’m glad I’ve
seen another half of the world.
I ran on the track team in
Germany; they have a big meet [the
U.S. Forces Europe MWR (Morale,
Welfare and Recreation) Track and
Field Championship]. I did pretty
good. I got out to go to school full
time and see about my track career.
Those medals are my credentials.
I like the military, and I might
go back in. I told my mom that I
want to find a job that I like, like
in the military.
✮
26 www.uawdcx.com

THE WAR ON TERROR
2001–PRESENT
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
LEFT: BILL SCHWAB; THIS PAGE: BLAKE DISCHER
As told to S.C. Biemesderfer
I’m a sergeant in the Michigan
Army National Guard. We repair
everything from generators to
“Humvees” — just about anything
associated with the vehicles you need
for combat. We’re the only unit in our
battalion that hasn’t been deployed to
Iraq, and I wonder if we’re next.
The war is on my mind a lot lately
because my 18-year-old son, Derrick
Lee, is in advanced individual training
to become a communications specialist
right now. He enlisted in the Army on
the fifth of July.
I’ve been in the military longer than
he’s lived — for 23 years. I served in a
lot of different places, with a number
of different units. The first three years
I was based at Fort Campbell, Ky.,
with the 158/160th Aviation Task
Force; then I served three years in
Germany with the 656th Air Defense
Artillery. After that, they assigned me
to the 505th Signal Company based at
Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
In 1990, I was assigned to an aviation
unit in the 3rd Infantry Division
and was deployed to Iraq for six
months during Operations Desert
Shield and Desert Storm. My job was
to help set up communication systems
in the desert — running cables and
wiring telephone systems and switchboards.
Then, in 1992, I was assigned
to the 158th Aviation Battalion based
in Fort Bragg, N.C. From there I went
to Maryland where I was retrained as
a quartermaster. In 1993 I went to Fort
Campbell, Ky., and was there until
1996, when I retired
from active
duty as sergeant.
I enlisted in the
National Guard,
and in 1997 I
started to work at
DaimlerChrysler.
If I get orders
to go back to Iraq, I’m ready to go.
I have four children — the oldest is 24
and the youngest is 10 — and I suppose
they’ll worry if I’m deployed. But
they also know that their father is
Kenny Robinson
U.S. Army, 1981–1996
Sergeant
158/160th Aviation Task Force;
656th Air Defense Artillery;
505th Signal Company; 3rd Infantry Division;
385th Signal Company
Michigan Army National Guard, 1996–Present
1072nd Maintenance Company
Small Parts Packager
Center Line Parts Distribution Center
UAW Local 1248
✮
“... they also know that
their father is
committed
to serving.”
committed to serving. Derrick Lee is
the one I’m going to be worrying
about. But if they send him to the
Middle East, I’ll understand. Just like
me, he’s got a job to do. ✮
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 27

THE WAR ON TERROR
2001–PRESENT
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
As told to S.C. Biemesderfer
Bonnie Blunt
Production Worker
St. Louis North Assembly
UAW Local 136
Shown with photo of their son Brandon
Jim Blunt
Repairman
St. Louis South Assembly
UAW Local 110
Jim: When our son Brandon told
us he wanted to be in the Air
Force, I have to say, it didn’t surprise
me. It’s something he really
wanted to do. He’s 24 years old and
he has a job to do now, even if that
takes him to Iraq. He works hard
at whatever he does — in fact, he
worked part-time at the South plant
for three years before he went into
the Air Force.
Brandon’s wife, Sarah, gave birth to
their second child, Ethan, on Sept. 13.
I’m proud of him. Very proud.
Our son-in-law, Jason, is an
Army specialist stationed at Fort
Irwin, Calif. He is up for deployment
to Iraq this fall. Shanna, our
daughter, is pregnant — their second
child as well. She’s due in
January, so Jason probably won’t be
there when the baby comes. This is
his second tour in the Army — he
reenlisted in June. So he knew what
might come next.
Bonnie: Jim’s late father was in
the Navy, and so was his brother.
Jim’s Uncle Hack joined the Navy,
too — and Hack’s son, Butch. In
fact, Jim’s father drew a picture of
the ship he served on, the USS Henry
A. Wiley, and it’s been passed on
from generation to generation. On
my side of the family, my sister’s husband,
Pat, is a retired Navy officer.
And four of my uncles were in the
Army: Uncle Dale served during the
Vietnam era and in the Korean War;
my Uncle Bob was a corporal in a
THIS PAGE: MARK KATZMAN; RIGHT: COURTESY OF THE BLUNT FAMILY
28 www.uawdcx.com

✮
“Some people just
don’t realize the
sacrifices made by the
people
who serve.”
demolition engineering unit. Uncle
Joe was in World War II, and so was
Uncle Clifford — he was a cook.
During World War I, my grandfather
was in the Army and literally on the
train to ship off overseas when they
got word the war had ended. They
stopped at the next station and let all
the soldiers off the train. There they
were, all set to go to war.
Here we are in Cuba, Mo., a very
small town west of St. Louis, and
we have all these connections to
people who’ve served our country
around the world. I’ve been going
through the pictures, and I feel so
much pride. Some people just don’t
realize the sacrifices made by the
people who serve.
It’s almost a tradition in this
A Blunt family heirloom: the picture Jim’s father,
James (above) drew of the ship he served on.
family, I guess — serving, and being
ready to go where your country
needs you to go. I worry about
Brandon and Jason, but I understand
this is what they’re willing to do for
our country. And it’s an honor to tell
this family’s story.
✮
Supporting Our Troops
Department of Defense salutes the UAW and the Chrysler Group
When it comes to supporting
workers who serve in the
Reserves and National
Guard, the UAW and Chrysler Group
go above and beyond. Because they
do more than the law requires, the
union and company received special
recognition from the National
Committee for Employer Support
of the Guard and Reserve, a branch
of the Department of Defense, at
the 2004 UAW-DaimlerChrysler
Annual Meeting.
Bobby G. Hollingsworth, committee
executive director, praised
the union-management cooperation
that has preserved the pay and
benefits of workers called to active
duty. The committee’s recognition,
he said, “is a public manifestation
of what you’ve always done in
your hearts.”
To show their continuing commitment
to workers serving their
country, UAW Vice President Nate
Gooden and John S. Franciosi,
DaimlerChrysler senior vice president
of employee relations, signed
a statement of support.
UAW-DaimlerChrysler workers on
active duty receive extended payment
of short-term military duty pay, health
care benefits and group life insurance
benefits. Workers on active duty
also can take advantage of UAW-
DaimlerChrysler National Training
Center Circle of Life Programs, which
are open to all UAW members, as well
as other NTC joint programs.
Other benefits for all military personnel
are available through the
Service Members Civil Relief Act
of 2003. The act protects military
families from financial hardship by
enabling them to make certain
financial adjustments, like reducing
interest rates on loans and credit
card debt and forestalling certain
financial-related civil proceedings,
such as evictions.
— Emily Raymond
For more information on the Circle of Life
Programs, click the Tomorrow Extra button
on the NTC homepage, www.uawdcx.com.
EXTRA
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 29

Gina Courter
Administrative Assistant
Center Line National Parts
Distribution Center
Gina and Kevin Courter
shown with photos of their
son Cpl. James Courter
My husband, Kevin Courter,
and I are the very proud
parents of Cpl. James H.
Courter of the 327th Infantry, 101st
Airborne Division based at Fort
Campbell, Ky. Jim is our youngest
child and only son.
The evening of Sept. 11, 2001, Jim
said, “Mom, I want to help protect
our country from such evil people.”
The next week, he contacted an
Army recruiter, and in January 2002,
one week before his 19th birthday,
Jim left for basic training.
Jim wanted infantry and was
assigned to the 101st Airborne
Division, the Screaming Eagles. But
first, we could take him home for a
20-day leave. The time passed so
quickly, and we had to say good-bye.
In November, word went out that
the 101st would be deployed to Iraq.
Things were heating up, and Kevin
and I were getting more nervous. Then
the inevitable happened — President
Bush declared war. With tears rolling
down my cheeks, I headed
off to church.
Jim’s birthday is Jan. 24, so we
went to Fort Campbell. Jim’s friends
greeted us with hugs, and I couldn’t
help thinking, could this be the last
time I would ever see these boys?
One told us, “Don’t worry, I have his
back.” I held my composure and
answered, “I’m counting on it.”
STORY TOLD BY GINA COURTER
The next day, Jim asked Kevin to
purchase a couple of knives. He
wanted to be prepared for anything.
I kept thinking, I can’t believe this is
happening. On the last night before
Jim shipped out, he told us that if
this was a chemical war and he
should be killed, his remains would
not be sent back to us. I can’t express
the emotions we had.
Jim was deployed on March 2,
2003, and we were glued to the
news. Once, CNN showed members
of the 101st getting off a plane on
their way to Iraq. The fourth soldier
grabbing his gear and running to a
truck was Jim! Next was a view of
him in a briefing. My mind was at
ease a little bit.
ROY RITCHIE
30 www.uawdcx.com

THE WAR ON TERROR
2001–PRESENT
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
On March 6, Jim called from
Kuwait. He said, “We’re heading
to Baghdad. This could be the last
phone call I ever make to you. I
haven’t always been the perfect
son, and I haven’t always cut the
grass or picked up the dog messes,
but I want you to know that I love
you. I want you to be proud of
me because I feel I am doing the
right thing.”
My heart began to sink. I knew
that this was it and he shouldn’t
worry about us. I replied, “Jim, I
will keep all the dog messes for
when you come home.” He was a bit
upset with me, but he didn’t understand
what I was going through. I
hung up the phone in slow motion,
then broke down.
On Mother’s Day, I
turned on the news
and heard that three
soldiers from the 101st
had been killed that
morning. Then the phone rang, and
it was Jim. After we hung up, I
started crying. I knew there were
three mothers who would never
hear from their sons again on
Mother’s Day.
You can’t imagine what it is like
to run through the house and jump
over furniture to make it to the
phone. Wherever we went, we
would forward calls to our cell
phone so we wouldn’t miss any.
No one could understand what we
were feeling. Friends would say,
“I know what you are going
through.” How could they? Their
sons and daughters were safe at
home. What gave them the right to
tell us they knew how we felt? We
would feel angry and hurt.
You don’t know what it’s like to
stay up all night, waiting for any
news and not knowing if you would
get a visit. We would try to prepare
ourselves for whatever would come,
then have to go to work the next
morning. Ask me how much gray
hair I got, how much weight I put
on or how much I’ve aged in a year.
No parent should have to experience
what we went through!
The first week of November, two
Black Hawks were shot down. One
was a helicopter attached to Jim’s
unit. A few days later, Jim called and
said the men on this helicopter were
ones he had flown with. I cried hard,
because it really hit home.
In mid-November, Jim came home
for two weeks. The first evening, he
was reaching for his gun every few
minutes and it wasn’t there. The
second night he had a panic attack,
and I was up all night talking to
him. But the worst was when we
went to the mall, where he ran into
some guys from school. One said
he thought he was seeing a ghost
because he had heard that Jim was
killed in Iraq. I wanted to punch this
kid, but Jim just laughed it off.
Thanksgiving came, and we celebrated
all the holidays in one. We
were so thankful to have our son
home, but Jim couldn’t wait to go
back because he was worried about
his friends. One of the worst things I
ever had to do was send my son back
to war. How much longer would he
have to be there?
In February, the soldiers finally
came home. When Jim came off the
plane carrying his machine gun, all I
could think of was this was my little
boy who is now a man.
I am very proud of my son. And
when he brings his Class A uniform
home and hangs it on his door, I have
to stop and look at it. I am so honored
to have it in my house.
✮“We would try to prepare ourselves for
whatever would come…”
Every time I see a flag flying
at half-staff, I know someone
sacrificed themselves for our freedom.
I stop in front of it and say
a prayer that they will never be
forgotten. I pray that their family
will have peace in their hearts and
that, maybe someday, we will have
peace all over the world. This is a
mother’s prayer.
✮
For an expanded version of Gina Courter’s story
with Kevin’s poems, click the Tomorrow Extra
button on the NTC homepage, www.uawdcx.com.
EXTRA
TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2004 31

“The good thing is that my
family was proud of me.”
— Michael Gracey
Army Medic, Vietnam
Story on page 14