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BP honors ‘true heroes’

David Bellis is used to presenting signs to the newest Purple Heart cities, but he clearly wasn’t familiar with the way Blooming Prairie does things.
“This is as impressive as can be,” he said Saturday. “We don’t usually present to a group; we normally go to a city council meeting and they read their proclamation and we make our presentation. This is absolutely fantastic.”
Bellis, the Minnesota Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, was in town with Terry Anderson, the Region 2 Commander of the MOPH, who oversees 10 states.
“The big thing is, you have the American Legion, the VFW and the city all going together – it’s just a wonderful combination,” Anderson said of the event that not only commemorated Blooming Prairie’s new status, but also recognized two dozen Purple Heart recipients from southern Minnesota.
“It’s good to find a community that wants to be involved,” Bellis told the crowd of nearly 150.
They brought four signs, which will be posted at the city’s entrances. The MOPH provided two; BP Mayor Curt Esplan bought two additional signs.
His brother, Ken Esplan, spearheaded the event – almost 52 years to the day he was injured by a mortar shell during his service in Vietnam. He tracked down the other area recipients through the help of the Veterans Administration.
According to the proclamation, “Blooming Prairie appreciates the sacrifices our Purple Heart recipients made in defending our freedoms, and believe it is important that we acknowledge them for their courage and show them the honor and support they have earned.”
Ken Esplan and Bryce Schlichter, both of Blooming Prairie, were honored. BP natives Steve Garness and David Hickman were also recognized, but were unable to attend. Hickman received three Purple Hearts during his service in Vietnam.
The rest of the veterans traveled from Owatonna, Austin, LeRoy, Rose Creek and Taopi.
“These people are true heroes,” Bellis said, “every one of them. They sacrificed themselves, and they all served the community, this state and our country, and they’re very appreciated.”
Each veteran was introduced by name, with their date and location of service. They all received a certificate; a Purple Heart coin – purchased by the service organizations and the city; a lapel pin and a hat that recognizes them as a Purple Heart recipient.
They were given the opportunity to speak, but most simply saluted and returned to their seat.
Ed Levene, of Owatonna, served in Pleiku, Vietnam, in 1967. Wearing a chestful of medals, he spoke quietly.
“It’s hard to believe that this day has come,” he said. “We need to pray for our troops and the lost servicemen, and those that haven’t come home.”
Robert Padilla, also of Owatonna, served in Vietnam in 1969-70; he paid homage to three of his “brothers that aren’t here,” including David Wencl, of Claremont, and John Schrom, of Owatonna – who were both killed in action.
“I’ll tell you a story, but it’s not a combat story,” said Randy Kurth, of Owatonna. “It’s about a drink called a mai tai.”
He told the crowd that on his way to Vietnam in 1965, he had a two-hour layover in Hawaii. Three days shy of his 19th birthday, he found a bar – and ordered the drink. Though the bartender thought he looked too young, Kurth told him he was on his way to Vietnam, and the bartender served him.
“At that time, I promised myself that the next time I came to Hawaii, I was going to stop and have my second mai tai,” he said.
He returned and served a year state-side and in Germany, then thought, “you know, if I go back to Vietnam, I might be able to get that second mai tai. So I did. But somebody had a different idea, because when I came back, I came back on a medevac. No mai tai.”
Kurth paused.
“Forty years later, to the month, my wife and I went to Hawaii,” he said, breaking down. “And I had my mai tai.”
 
BP Area Purple Heart recipients
Larry Rowe
Bryce Schlichter
Rodney Borg
Arnie Earl
Fred Harvey
Lloyd Johnson
Mike Littlefield
Matt Moritz
David Ree
Terry Warner
Greg Soderberg
Dan Stewart
George Struthers
Larry Wilson
Ed Levene
John McNulty
Gerald Meixner
Bob Mollenhauer
Robert Padilla
Gary Wandrey
Randy Kurth
Ken Esplan
Steve Garness
 
David Hickman

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