Malcom Legion honors 70-year member

MALCOM — Norman Schroeder, a 94-year-old Korean War Veteran, was recently honored by the Malcom American Legion with a 70-year membership plaque.

Spearheaded by John McCammant, commander, and members of the Malcom American Legion Post 733, the event to honor Schroeder was held Sunday at the Malcom American Legion Hall.

Schroeder was joined by about 25 family members, including some of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A meal of pork chops, steak and chicken with all the fixings was served to all in attendance. The meal was prepared by Legion members.

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Cake, ice cream and cookies were also served.

Schroeder, who grew up in Malcom, having moved there at age six, is a 1949 graduate of Malcom High School.

Following high school, Schroeder worked briefly for the Malcom Locker (Dayton Meats), which offered him a full-time position. He opted instead to enlist in the Navy and served four years, 1950-1954, during the Korean War.

“I enlisted instead of being drafted because I wanted to be in the Navy,” he said.

Before heading off to war, Schroeder got engaged to his high school sweetheart, Mildred Beck, who also graduated in 1949.

Schroeder spent two years at the Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines, where he did electrical work on ships. He returned to the states where he spent his last two years in Stockton, California.

At Stockton, Schroeder was put in charge of operating humidifier machines used to preserve old World War II ships. He called them mothball ships.

When asked about his service in the military, Schroeder said, “I never had to dodge bullets.”

“I made a lot of good friends in the Navy,” he said.

Schroeder married Mildred about a year before completing his military service. The couple lived in Malcom in a two-story white house on the east side of Highway 63 near the railroad tracks.

Schroeder joined the Brooklyn American Legion in 1955. Malcom didn’t have a Legion at the time.

Schroeder transferred his membership to the Malcom American Legion in June 1990 when that Legion was chartered. He has remained faithful to both Legions for 70 years.

Schroeder spent his life butchering meat for local farmers and farming. He and his wife raised six children — three boys and three girls.

In 1975, Schroeder built a new slaughter plant where Dayton’s Meats is today.

Before that time, Schroeder butchered on the farm for area farmers and hauled the meat to the local locker plants.

In 1994, Schroeder sold the slaughter house to the Dayton’s, retired from butchering and moved to Grinnell. He still owns the family farm ground.

Mildred passed away in 2011. Schroeder remarried and, after the passing of his second wife, he said he’s not getting married again.

Schroeder has 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren (seven boys and seven girls) with two more on the way.

Someone said it would neat if they were a boy and girl.

Two of Schroeder’s children live in the Malcom and Brooklyn area. One lives in Chicago and the other three are in Newton, Humeston and Cedar Falls.

In his spare time, Schroeder enjoys dancing and playing cards. He remains in his own home in Grinnell.

“These kids take good care of me,” he said of his children. “I really appreciate this gathering.”