HONORING OUR VETERANS
Duty, service, and a perfect brew
By Sarah Novak
sarah.upnorthv@gmail.com
OSCODA COUNTY- Mio resident, Richard Hoffman retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2015 as a E7 Chief Petty Officer. He served just over 20 years in active duty and was a Chief Machinery Technician. After meeting with recruitment officers in high school, Hoffman was eager to join the military. At the age of 17 he needed his parents’ approval to begin the recruitment paperwork. He graduated from Mio-AuSable Schools in May 1995 and began boot
camp that July.
Over the years serving in the Coast Guard, he was stationed in various locations along the East coast and Michigan. His first duty station was in Maine, and then later transferred to Massachusetts where he was sent on drug and border patrol missions to Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico. He worked search and rescue missions while he worked on the Cutter Acacia in Charlevoix, MI. His final station before retiring was on Belle Isle in Detroit.
▪ See DUTY, SERVICE, AND A PERFECT BREW on page 14
Ogemaw County Veteran of the Year
By LuAnn Zettle
Becoming a Veteran of the Year is a prestigious honor for a veteran whose life is filled with service, to both the U.S. military and their community.
Randy Alan Huyck was born on January 04, 1955, and raised in East Tawas. Randy enjoyed school until his high school days became filled with bullying. In 1971, when Randy had had enough bullying, he quit high school and headed to the Army recruiter’s office.
He had told the recruiter he wanted to be a driver but soon found out he’d have to work his way into that position as he didn’t know how to drive a stick shift at the time.
At first, he was told because he was only 16 years old his mother would have to sign a waiver for him. No problem there. He officially joined the Army on January 07, 1972.
Randy was off to basic combat training in Ft. Knox with a clean-shaven head and his assigned clothes and boots. There he learned shooting, marching, did bivouac, and learned to make a bed military tight.
After basic training was complete, Randy headed to St. Leonard Wood, MO. Randy learned to drive an Army Jeep; stick shift, four-on-thefloor and a Duce-and-a-½ (2 ½ ton truck). The Duce was a big White
▪ See VETERAN OF THE YEAR on page 14
Richard Hoffman is co-owner of Deer Camp Coffee Roasting Company in downtown Mio.
Ogemaw County Veteran of the Year Randy Huyck and his wife Karen.
Duty, service and a perfect brew
Continued from page 13
In retirement Hoffman returned to Mio with his wife of 29 years and their 2 daughters. He is dedicated to serving the community that he grew up in and currently holds position as Secretary for the Oscoda County Veteran’s Affairs Board and Vice President of the Board of Education for the Mio-AuSable School District.
coffee roasting company in downtown Mio. Their coffee shop serves up delectable beverages with their fresh, in-house roasted coffee. Deer Camp also offers a wide variety of Michigan made products.
Hoffman served in the United States Coast Guard for 20 years.
In 2023 Hoffman and his business partner Brian Gadowski opened up Deer Camp
“I thank 17-yearold me for making the decision of joining the military. I enjoyed my experience in the Coast Guard; it gave me the confidence to embark on becoming a business owner and start something from scratch.”
Duty, service and a perfect brew
Continued from page 13
built, general purpose truck, with a 5-speed transmission and 6-wheel drive.
In June 1972, Randy was sent to Ft. Ord, CA, to drive an ambulance.
“Wounded, mostly from Vietnam, would be flown into Monterey Airport and I’d transport them to Silas B. Hayes Hospital,” recounted Randy.
Next up was Ft. Bragg. Randy would finally be near family as his brother, Jim, was nearby at Camp Lejeune.
“At Ft Bragg I learned Secondary MOS (Military Occupational Skill). Which means I was here, there, everywhere, and listed as TD4, (Temporary Duty). That means I was loaned out to other units because I could read a map, not get lost and get somewhere quicker than most drivers. Because of my skills Special Forces wanted me, but I didn’t want them, wanted no part of that, so I went AWOL for 10 days.” said Randy.
“During that 10 days the Special Forces unit picked up Randy Hayes out of my unit thinking they were getting me. So, by the time I got back, Special Forces had dropped interest in me.”
Randy was taken off the TD4 list and was put working in a motor pool, learning how to be a mechanic.
He met and married Diane (she
was in service too) and they had their first born, Randy Jr., in Fayetteville, NC.
In December of ’75, Randy was sent with the 590 Transportation Company to Mannheim, Germany, where he was mechanic and driving truck. He drove over 26,000 miles accident free near Munich, hauling everything from decommissioned Ack-ack guns (anti-aircraft guns) to atomic bombs, moving them all over Germany.
Randy and Diane’s second son, Douglas, was born, during Randy’s two-tours (5 ½ years) in Germany. January 10, 1985, after his 2nd tour, Randy got out of service. In 1987, Randy and Diane divorced.
In 1997 Randy, living in Whittemore, married Karen Weaver from Hale. Nowadays they make their home in the Sage Lake area. He has served as the 2002 Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Ogemaw Hills #73, and served 17 years as Commander. He has been a member of the 370 American Legion for 15 years, participating in various activities, such as fundraising for helping brethren vets.
Thank you Randy Huych, for your dedicated service and we give recognition to the honor you were awarded as the 2025 Ogemaw County Veteran of the Year.
Honoring our local heroes
▪ Austin Romancky, Jennifer, U.S. Navy, 1999-2003, St. Helen
▪ Balhorn. Kenneth M., U.S. Navy. 1971
▪ Bauman, Josh, U.S. Coast Guard, 2020
▪ Bramer, Corey, Marine Corps, 2021
▪ Brinn, Joseph A., U.S. Army, CW3, Vietnam 1968, A Trp, 7/17 Air Cavalry, Huey Crew Chief and Gunner, retired 1987, Oscoda
▪ Brinn, Joseph, Vietnam, 1968
▪ Callahan, Isaac, Mosul 2004 1/23 INF 3/2 SBCT (sideburns just barely hanging onto regs)
▪ Carrick, Craig, FRG in 80-84, Wurzburg, FRG, HHC 3rd Infantey Division Headquarters in Wurzburg Germany. G4 Plans and Operations. “It was an amazing time in my life.”
▪ Cole, Sean, U.S. Army, 2010
▪ Constance, Mark, 82nd Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army, 12B, Bamberg, Fort Leonard Wood, Missour, 1982, Roscommon
▪ Constance, Gordon, US Army, 1959, 2T492, FRG Germany
▪ Crittenden, Michael L., Retired Air Force Master Sergeant E-7, Jan. 1975 – Oct. 1995, Mio. Pic taken at Clark AFB in the Phillipines. MOS 46670 (Entomology), or “The bug shop.”
▪
, U.S. Air Force, 1962
▪ See LOCAL HEROES on page 16
Dixon, Jack
Jennifer Austin Romancky
Joe Brinn
Isaac Callahan
Craig Carrick
Mark Constance
Mike Crittendon
Dominic Bartholomew
A man among men
By Mark Constance
With another Veteran’s Day approaching, I’m reminded of a man I knew while serving in the U.S. Army.
It was 1982 and I was trying to hustle a few extra bucks to supplement my Spec. 4 pay. So I took a part-time job bailing hay near Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (or ‘Lost in the Woods’ for the initiated).
Four of us bounced a few miles down an overgrown two-track in the back of an old Chevy pickup. I met with a grizzled old farmer dressed in weathered bib overalls and a white t-shirt.
After a brief discussion. We agreed on a rate of three cents a bale, shook hands and went to work.
He lived a simple life. His home was modest. It had one large room and was heated with a wood stove. He had electricity, but didn’t use it for lights, preferring gas lamps.
He told us he had the power turned on a few years earlier to operate a hay elevator because his knees bothered him “a bit.” Some of the best water I ever drank was drawn from his hand well.
His only other modern convenience was a small, black and white TV with aluminum foil on the antennae.
Over the course of a few days, I could tell this farmer was the kind of guy who had good friends and a solid reputation. He was the guy who would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it.
And he didn’t speak much. But when he did, people listened. Everything he said had a purpose.
After the first cutting was finished, I sat at a wood picnic table in a buddy’s yard with him and a few other guys. It was a stifling,
muggy day. The air smelled like a thunderstorm was coming.
We grilled burgers and had a few beers and talked about our experiences in the service – Where we had been. What we had done.
He told us a few stories about his sergeant in basic training, and we all laughed. Every vet has a story about “that bastard.”
He also said the only thing he ever regretted about being in the service was that he never got to have a family.
A young man without kids, I didn’t think anything of it at the moment.
After the farmer left, one of the older men explained he’d been in the “Bataan Death March” during WWII.
After American troops were surrendered by Major General Edward P. King in the Philippines, Japanese troops marched 76,0000 prisoners of war from Mariveles, on the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula, to San Fernando, 55 miles away, and ultimately to “Camp O’Donnel” in Mukden.
If prisoners couldn’t make the trek and fell down, they were dragged to the side of the road and shot, bayoneted or beheaded. Others were made to dig their own graves and buried alive.
Just 54,000 men reached O’Donnel. Thousands more died afterward from malnutrition and disease before the camp was finally liberated in August 1945.
He survived the march itself. But while in captivity at O’Donnel, in what we might call a war crime today, his Japanese captors cut off his testicles.
Decades later, I am still humbled and honored by the experience
▪ See A MAN AMONG MEN on page 16
Local heroes
Continued from page 15
▪ Edwards, Dallas, Army National Guard, 1992
▪ Elgert, Walter, U.S. Navy, 1975
▪ Emry, Kenneth, U.S. Air Force, Civil Engineer, 1981-2004
▪ Faust, Donald, U.S. Army, IHO, Sergeant, Honorably Discharged 1965
▪ Foster, Larry, U.S. Army, 2005, 95B, Formerly Houghton Lake
▪ Frank, Dennis A., U.S. Army, Vietnam, 1970
▪ Goodman, Gene N., U.S. Air Force, 1962
▪ Gordert-Jones, Tina, U.S. Navy, Hospital Corpsman, 1984
▪ Harmon, Tom, U.S. Air Force, Jet Fighter Crew Chief, 1962-68
▪ Headland, Ron, U.S. Army, 1983
▪ Herblet, Troy, U.S. Army, 2021, Germany, Georgia and North Carolina, from Grayling
Donald Faust
Larry Foster
Robert Hicks
▪ See LOCAL HEROES on page 17
Frank Dennis
Local heroes
Continued from page 16
▪ Hicks, Robert, 379th Bombardment
▪ Hock, J.D., U.S. Army, 26V Signal Corps, 1984-88, Oscoda
▪ Holland, Michael, US Army, 1970, Vietnam, East Tawas
A man among men
Continued from page 17
of having met him. He asked for nothing from any man. He accepted no pity from anyone. And he lived life on his terms.
So, whenever I hear “Taps” being played, I think of this man and what he gave for his county.
And the many veterans who were just glad to make it back home –alive.
▪ Holland, Thomas, USAF, WWII.
▪ Hughes, Lillian, U.S. Navy, 1993
▪ Hunt, Alan, U.S. Army, 1969, 11th CAV, Vietnam,
▪ Hus, Roger, U.S. Air Force, 1967-1998. CMSgt. Duty stations: Colorado, Florida, Texas, Greenland, Saudi Arabia, Michigan, Germany, California.
▪ Ingle, Barbara Ann, U.S. Navy, 1966-1969
▪ Irwin, Bradley, U.S. Army, Vietnam
▪
▪ Johnson, Josh, Active Duty, U.S. Navy, Hale
▪ Johnson, Matthew, U.S. Marine Corps, formerly of Hale
▪ Johnston, Alan, U.S. Air Force, 576th FLTS/30th MXS, 1992 –1997
Johnson, Darryl, U.S. Navy Seabees, retired, Hale
William Hochstetler
J.D. Hock
Roger Hus
Bradley Irwin
Darryl Johnson
▪ See LOCAL HEROES on page 18
Josh Johnson
Local heroes
Continued from page 17
▪ Jones, Kenny, 1976-1980, U.S. Air Force, 754th Radar Sq, Port Austin AFS, MI; 1983-1985, 1438th Engineer Det., Camp Grayling; 1985-1993, 127th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance, Weapons Branch, Selfridge ANG Base, MI; 2000-2017, Ammunition Supply Point, Camp Grayling, MI
▪ Jordan, Gary, U.S. Navy, 195761. Machinist Mate. USS Cotten, USS O'Hare and the USS New, St. Helen, MI
▪ Kirkendall, Cecil, 1944. Glandorf, Ohio. Was a casualty of World War II on Nov.17, 1944 at the age of 29. Second Army Division. Landed on Omaha Beach June 9, 1944. He is buried at the American Cemetery and Memorial Margraten in the Netherlands. He is honored and remembered by the people of Michigan and Ohio.
▪ Klatt, Lilly, USMC SGT- July 1998-Oct 2005 Mio
▪ Klatt, Andrew, USMC SGTMAJ ret. - Jan 1998-Jun 2022, Mio
▪ Luck, David, Missile Technician Second Class (E5), MT2/SS, U.S.S George C. Marshall, Discharge 1/20/94, Was Stationed at Groton, CT, Roscommon
▪ Mathews, Gerald, U.S. Army, 1967
▪ Mayhew, Leonard, U.S. Navy, Korean War
▪ Lovell, David Howard, USMC, 1972, Vietnam, SGT, Door gunner.
Matthew Johnson
Andrew Klatt
Lilly Klatt
Cecil Kirkendall
Richard Ladd
David Luck
Andrew & Lilly Klatt
Gary Jordan
See LOCAL HEROES
Local heroes
Continued from page 18
▪ McKuen, William, U.S. Marine Corps, 2020, Prescott
▪ McIsaac, Stacy, 2010-2012, U.S. Army, 14E Patriot Missile Operator and Maintainer, Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX
▪ Melvin, Ken, U.S. Air Force, 1967, Basic Training, Roscommon
▪ Nieman, Marilyn, U.S. Army, Journalist, 1973
▪ Norgan, Dale, U.S.M.C. 77-83, Retired from U.S. Post Office 2024
▪ Pallas, Peter, USAF. Retired 1989. Volunteer in support of the Michigan National Guard as State Ombudsman director. Team mediates misunderstandings between active Guard members and their employers.
▪ Peltier, Branden R., U.S. Army, 2023
▪ Plohg, James, U.S. Army, Honorable discharge 1977
▪ Priest, Roger, 1st Marines, 3rd Division, Amphibious Amtrak Tractor Division, discharge date August 28, 1968. 2 tours; 2019 to current, Vol. Driver DAV for Crawford County
▪ Raymond, Daniel, U.S. Air Force, 1975
▪ Roberts, Dave, U.S. Army, 19731997
▪ Robertson, Ralph, U.S. Army, 2007-13; Afghanistan, 201202013, Mio
▪ Robinson III, Steven, U.S. Marine Corps, 2020
▪ See LOCAL HEROES on page 20
Ken Melvin William McKuen
Leonard Mayhew
Dale Norgan
Jessie Luttrell
James Phlog
Roger Priest
Branden Peltier
Local heroes
Continued from page 19
▪ Rollison, James C., U.S. Army, 101st Airborne, 1967
Area schools hold veteran events
NORTHEAST MICHIGAN –
High schools in the Up North Voice coverage area a celebrating our veterans in a variety of ways.
Events include:
Fairview Area Schools
Annual Veteran's Day Celebration Nov. 11. Doors open at noon; lunch at 12:30 p.m. and program at 1:15 p.m. Info: 989-848-7045.
Hale Area Schools
Hale will have its annual veterans ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in the school gym. The ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and will include at
flag folding ceremony led by Jordan Barclay, assisted by students. Refreshments will follow.
Mio-AuSable High School
Breakfast 8:45 a.m. at ceremony at 9:45 a.m. Meo Mio Stitchers presenting for Quilts of Valor. Student presentations.
Traditional events are also held at: Roscommon High School – 989275-6675
Ogemaw Heights High School –989-343-2020
Grayling High School - 989-3443508
▪ Serens, Michael A., U.S. Navy, 1986
▪ Shay, Robert A., U.S. Navy Seabees, 1970
▪ Shearer, Loren, U.S. Army, 2015, Navy, 1989, Houghton Lake
▪ Shilling, John, U.S Army, 1988
▪ Shilling, Rachele, U.S Army 1986, U.S Navy, 1992
▪ Shurtz, Jon, Specialist, U.S. Army, Active 2011-2014, 7th Engineer Battalion 642nd Engineer Support Company, Fort Drum, NY, Afghanistan 2012
▪ Smith, Suzette, U.S. Air Force, MBT 1981, 190th ARW, KSANG, Communications, retired 2011
▪ Stanaway, Logan, Active-duty U.S. Army, Korea, Roscommon
▪ Stopczynski, Stanley, U.S. Army, 1957-58
▪ Stutesman, Warren, U.S. Marine Corps, E-4, 1980-84, Mio
▪ Sutter, John, 1974, Vietnam, U.S.M.C., St. Helen
▪ Turrow, Denny, U.S. Army, Spec. 4, 1961-64, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Armored Division, Rose City.
▪ See LOCAL HEROES on page 22
Ralph Robertson
Steven Robinson III
Loren Shearer
Stanley Stopczynski
Denny Turrow
Local heroes
Continued from page 20
▪ Urek, Gabriel, USAF, 2023, SSG, Remote sensor operator, 2017 graduate of Houghton Lake.
Gabriel Urech
▪ Venable, Robert D., U.S. Marine Corps, 1958
▪ Vittitow, Ron, U.S. Marine Corps, 1969, West Branch
▪ Waltz, Glenn, U.S. Army, Spec. 4, 1958-1960 at Ford Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Communications Engineer. Dec. 2024.
▪ Woods, Mike, 2nd of 3 tours at Clark AB, Philippines; Civil Engineering Squadron 'Prime Beef' Team.
▪ Witherspoon, Calvin R., U.S. Army, 1974-1976, Michigan Army National Guard 1982-2009, SFC Retired Deployed Iraq/Kuwait 2004-05, Roscommon
Meet with fellow vets
NORTHERN MICHIGAN –Communities across the region host “coffee hours” for vets to get together.
Coffee Hours are a simple but meaningful way for those who’ve served to come together, swap stories, and enjoy some good company over a warm cup of coffee. It’s less about formal meetings and more about friendship—just a chance to sit down, relax, and catch up with folks who truly understand what it means to serve.
Events include:
Otsego County
1st Wed– Otsego Co. Veterans Coffee hour Gaylord Regional Airport, located at 1100 Aero Drive, Gaylord, MI 49735. 9 a.m. Info: 989731-7575
Ogemaw County
1st Wednesday at Ogemaw Commission on Aging at 1528 S. M-33 at 9 a.m. Ogemaw County Veterans Commission members are in attendance and hold board meeting afterward. Info: 989-345-5170.
Roscommon County
1st Thursday - Roscommon County Veterans Coffee hour at 9-10 a.m. at Blodgett Airport, located at 5218 E Houghton Lake Drive. 989366-7660.
2nd Thursday, Good Shepherd Methodist Church, 149 West Robinson Lake Road, Roscommon, 9-11 a.m. Personal care pantry available. Info: 989-275-6047.
Alcona County
1st Sunday of month 2-4 p.m. at Lincoln-Alcona High School, 51 North Varlow Road in Harrisville. Info: (989) 724-9510. (Schedule varies).
Crawford County
2nd Thursday - Crawford County Veterans Coffee, 10-11 a.m. at American Legion Post 106 in Grayling located at 106 S James Street in Grayling, Info: (989) 3443861
Oscoda County
3rd Tuesday – Oscoda County Veterans “get together” at office in Mio, at 205 East 11th Street in Mio. Hours alternate between morning and evening. Info: 989-826-9500.
Cheboygan County
4th Wednesday - Veterans Coffee at Great Lake Grill in Cheboygan at 817 East State Street in Cheboygan. 9 a.m. Info: (231) 627-8833
Alpena County
Fourth Thursday at Art from 9-10 a.m. in the Loft in the Center Building at 109 Second Ave, Third Floor; 989-354-9671.
Iosco County
3rd Thursday —Iosco County Veterans Coffee, American Legion Post, 211 located 900 E. Lincoln St, East Tawas, 9-10 a.m.; Info: 989362-6571 rwhitney@ioscocounty.org.
3rd Wednesday – Oscoda VFW located at 240 Chrysler in Oscoda, 9-10 a.m.; 989-739-3128.
Mike Woods
My time in the service
By Denny Turrow
I enlisted at age 17, with my mother's signature, right after I graduated from West Branch Public High School in June 1961.
I took my first train ride from Detroit to Fort Knox, Kentucky. Basic Training is a 8-week process. but we were cut short to six weeks because of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
I was shipped to Fort Riley, Kansas and into the 'Bloody Red One' 1st Infantry Division. We were to be Combat Ready by Dec. 1. The Berlin Wall began construction on Aug. 13, my birthday.
Dec. 1 came and went and I was then transferred to the 3rd Armored Division in Germany. I was stationed in a small town, Kirch Goens, 35 miles north of Frankfort, Germany. It was about the size of West Branch.
Every month we would conduct a “Readiness Test” and it come at any time day or night. We called them 'alerts' and it was to see how fast we could clear our post with all
of our armament; tanks and artillery. Our main defense position was the Fulda Gap because that was the route that every attack from Russia came through that gap. (Think Cumberland Gap)
My first alert was early morning, pitch black out. We drove East for over an hour and took our defensive position. A bit after daylight I asked my commander what we were doing and how long would we be here.
He answered, "Our assignment is to slow down a Russian invasion. If we hold this for three minutes we've accomplished our mission." That was a eye opener! Luckily Russia didn't move on us. We were in the midst of the Cold War and continued harassment from Russia.
I did get a opportunity to travel to West Germany and West Berlin. I'd never witnessed oppression before and it left a unforgettable memory.
My time in Germany was up in June 1964 and I was discharged on June 5. I was 20.
