Witte, Misel presented Quilts of Valor

Two Iowa County veterans were presented Quilts of Valor Saturday, Aug. 5, in a ceremony at the Iowa County Freedom Rock at Gateway Park, Marengo. Jeanette Peirce and Karen Joseph presented quilts to Kenneth Witte and Allen Misel on behalf of the Iowa County Heartland Quilters as a thank you for their service and sacrifice to this country.

Kenneth Dean Witte

Kenneth Dean Witte was born Sept. 21, 1941, in rural Williamsburg. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1959 and enlisted in the U.S. Army on Nov. 10, 1959, at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, with Bill Behrens. They were assigned to Camp Carson, Colorado, for basic instructions and Kenny was then sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, for basic training.

Before completing the 10-week basic combat training at Fort Riley, Kenny was sent to Fort Benning, Ga., where he was assigned to the U.S. Army Infantry School. He graduated from the infantry mechanics course on April 15, 1960, qualified as 631.10 Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. He was assigned to Fort Gordon, Ga., where he was in the HQ Detachment 40th Signal Battalion (Cons.). His two-year term was extended because of the Berlin Crisis.

He was discharged after two years, three months and seven days on Feb. 16, 1962, with the rank of SP4 (T) E-4 at Fort Gordon, Augusta, Ga.

Kenny also participated with the Army personnel from the 40th Signal Battalion, providing communications support for Lucky Foxtrot, a command post exercise at Fort Gordon, for U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard troops from the seven-state 3rd Army area ending April 16, 1961.

He served in the Army Reserves until his honorable discharge on Oct. 31, 1965. He has been a member of the American Legion since.

After returning to civilian life, he held various jobs before employed as a mechanic with the state of Iowa Department of Transportation, retiring after 25 years in 2003. He works part-time at Capper Auto Group, Williamsburg.

Kenny and his wife Sarah have two daughters, Janice and Kathie; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

His quilt was pieced by Barb Wardenburg and quilted by Jo Ellen Carter, both members of the Iowa County Heartland Quilters.

Clarence Allen Misel

Clarence Allen Misel was born Dec. 12, 1934, in Marengo. He graduated from Marengo High School with the class of 1954. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on Jan. 12, 1955, at Marengo. He received his basic training at Camp Chaffee, Ark., and was later stationed at Camp Hanford in the state of Washington during the Korean conflict.

His duties included serving as a guard at the atomic energy plant located in that area. He was awarded a sharpshooter award during his service. He was discharged with a rank of PFC on Jan. 12, 1957, at Camp Hanford, Wash.

Allen and Betty Bell were married May 14, 1955, on base at Camp Chaffee. He returned to civilian life in Marengo, where he worked at Simmons Motor and later for the City of Marengo, until retiring. The couple have a daughter, Sari (Raymond) Hacker, Marengo, and a son, Todd (Robin), Ankeny, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His quilt was pieced by Iowa County Heartland Quilters members and quilted by Karen Joseph.