Mazeppa Daze 2014
Photo's from: Sheree Van De Walker, Amber Mehrkens, Christian Monsrud,The Mazeppa Lions club.
Photo's from Larry and Sheree Van De Walker
A great tribute to our military Chaplains and a reminder of our need to promote the Military Chaplains Program.
A Congressional Medal of Honor for a saint. Inspiring Video of Catholic Priest During Korean War
You do not have to be Rambo to be a hero. When the story of human history comes to a close, death and violence don't get the final word. The love of God does. That love, burning bright in the heart of Emil Kapaun in the darkness of in the Korean war, made him a hero.
A Congressional Medal of Honor for a saint. Inspiring Video of Catholic Priest During Korean War
You do not have to be Rambo to be a hero. When the story of human history comes to a close, death and violence don't get the final word. The love of God does. That love, burning bright in the heart of Emil Kapaun in the darkness of in the Korean war, made him a hero.
See video here
In Uncle Cal Buck's Lenten devotional, he recounts his fear during the Korean War and a call to knock out an enemy machine nest. For his courageous action, Sergeant Calvin Buck received the Silver Star Medal, the third highest military decoration for valor. He sees his miraculous survival as a call to a life-long commitment to his Christian Faith.
Day Forty
Cal Buck
In Deuteronomy 31:6 prior to Moses' death, he told Joshua
to be strong and courageous. "Do not be afraid or terrified
because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you."
Then why should we be afraid or have fear? He is always
with us. He looks over us and guards us.
There were many times in my combat experiences that I
was fearful. On October 19, 1951 around 3:00am, we were
told we would be taking Hill 443. We had to cross a small
river, which was waist deep. We laid on the river bank for
some time while the tanks softened up the enemy. We
received the order to go forward. I was the squad leader of
the 57 Recoilless Rifle Unit, which included a gunner,
assistant gunner, and two ammunition bearers. When we
came forward, we found some of the riflemen and some of the automatic weapons men pinned down by machine
gunfire. They asked us to knock out the machine gun nest. At the time, fear did set in. I knew it was our duty to knock out this machine gun nest. For some reason, I don't know if it was fear or panic that set in, but my gunner took off and retreated and my assistant gunner wasn't in sight. I turned to my two Korean ammunition bearers and motioned for help, as they couldn't speak English. They helped me load the 57 Recoilless Rifle while the men who weren't pinned covered me as I stood up and fired. We did this three or four times until the enemy was silenced. When I look back at this
incident, I know it was truly by the mercy of the Almighty God that my life was spared. As I grow older, I now know there was a reason for Him saving me. Now it is up to me to keep the legacy of Christian faith going in our family. God has a reason for each of us. The faith of Joshua carried him to the Promised Land. Then we too, with our faith, can have the promised land.
See you in the New Jerusalem.
"Buck. Calvin M.J.
Sergeant Calvin M J Buck, US 55037730, Infantry, US Army, a member of Company C, 5th
Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by courageous action
near Y ongon-ni, Korea, on 19 October 1951. While attacking enemy positions, a group of
riflemen from his company was pinned down by devastating enemy machine gun fire. With
complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Buck, Squad Leader of a 57mm Recoilless Rifle
Team, moved into a forward and exposed position. Firing with deadly accuracy, he destroyed the
enemy machine gun nest, thus enabling his comrades to secure their objective with a minimum
of casualties. Sergeant Buck's courageous action, unswerving determination and selfless
devotion to duty reflect the highest credit on himself and the United States Infantry. Entered
military service from Goodhue, MN. "
Cal Buck
In Deuteronomy 31:6 prior to Moses' death, he told Joshua
to be strong and courageous. "Do not be afraid or terrified
because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you."
Then why should we be afraid or have fear? He is always
with us. He looks over us and guards us.
There were many times in my combat experiences that I
was fearful. On October 19, 1951 around 3:00am, we were
told we would be taking Hill 443. We had to cross a small
river, which was waist deep. We laid on the river bank for
some time while the tanks softened up the enemy. We
received the order to go forward. I was the squad leader of
the 57 Recoilless Rifle Unit, which included a gunner,
assistant gunner, and two ammunition bearers. When we
came forward, we found some of the riflemen and some of the automatic weapons men pinned down by machine
gunfire. They asked us to knock out the machine gun nest. At the time, fear did set in. I knew it was our duty to knock out this machine gun nest. For some reason, I don't know if it was fear or panic that set in, but my gunner took off and retreated and my assistant gunner wasn't in sight. I turned to my two Korean ammunition bearers and motioned for help, as they couldn't speak English. They helped me load the 57 Recoilless Rifle while the men who weren't pinned covered me as I stood up and fired. We did this three or four times until the enemy was silenced. When I look back at this
incident, I know it was truly by the mercy of the Almighty God that my life was spared. As I grow older, I now know there was a reason for Him saving me. Now it is up to me to keep the legacy of Christian faith going in our family. God has a reason for each of us. The faith of Joshua carried him to the Promised Land. Then we too, with our faith, can have the promised land.
See you in the New Jerusalem.
"Buck. Calvin M.J.
Sergeant Calvin M J Buck, US 55037730, Infantry, US Army, a member of Company C, 5th
Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by courageous action
near Y ongon-ni, Korea, on 19 October 1951. While attacking enemy positions, a group of
riflemen from his company was pinned down by devastating enemy machine gun fire. With
complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Buck, Squad Leader of a 57mm Recoilless Rifle
Team, moved into a forward and exposed position. Firing with deadly accuracy, he destroyed the
enemy machine gun nest, thus enabling his comrades to secure their objective with a minimum
of casualties. Sergeant Buck's courageous action, unswerving determination and selfless
devotion to duty reflect the highest credit on himself and the United States Infantry. Entered
military service from Goodhue, MN. "
Below is the Veteran's Memorial Plaque information Pamphlet
Please click on image to show a larger image
Please click on image to show a larger image
