Veteran items donated to American Legion

—Jack Wheeler memorabilia saved
CRESCO - To honor and respect the service of John (Jack) Wheeler, some of the items from his short time in service of only six months and 29 days in 1942-1943 will be preserved by the Cresco American Legion #135. Wheeler was an Ammunition Carrier in Washington, D.C. on the roof of the White House. 
The items were donated by John’s daughters, Gert Wheeler and the late Ruth Nelson. She kept copies for herself, but gave the originals to the Legion.
In recent years Gert has purchased veteran items, including uniforms or parts of a uniform, hats and miscellaneous military items at auctions. She says it is wrong those items were put on an auction, and they should be saved to show honor and respect to veterans.
“If a family doesn’t want the items, they should be donated to local veteran clubs and groups and not sold for cash. So when she was able to buy the items, she did. Two of the veterans she knew as church members at the First Baptist Church. There were no family members to return them to, so those items were taken to Howard County Veterans Affairs staff.
Another military uniform was given to a family member who had split from the rest of the family. Ms. Wheeler said, “She was proud to get the veteran’s uniform.”
She wants to be sure her veteran hero and dad’s veteran items don’t end up on an auction.
American Legion Commander Cindy Yslas was proud to accept the donation and said, “I love this kind of stuff. It will be safely stored until a proper display area can be arranged.”

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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