Veterans Share Their Stories
Darrin Alderson (left) listens to Delbert Brackney tell his story of service to the United States.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Veterans Day in Oskaloosa includes the free breakfasts from area restaurants. Veterans then gather at the American Legion Hall before the high school holds their assembly to honor veterans.
At the American Legion Hall on Monday, Commander Darrin Alderson encouraged veterans to share their stories.
By virtue of your attendance today, it’s clear that you hold the nation’s hero with the highest esteem. How many of you know their story?” asked Alderson of those gathered.
Alderson then called upon several veterans in attendance to share their stories of service. “We want to hear your story.”
Alderson asked Delbert Brackney to come forward to share his story of service during World War II, and the time after the war.
Brackney has been a member of the American Legion for 60 years. For many of those in attendance, this was the first time they had heard his story.
Brackney’s service started in January of 1945. He then spent 16 weeks of “wartime infantry basic.”
When he completed the basic training, the war had ended with the surrender of Japan. He was ultimately assigned to the States, where he helped with the influx of troops returning from Germany.
Brackney then became the squad leader of a recoilless rifle squad, and then later becoming a communications Sargent.
Brackney was then discharged from the Army in November of 1946.
“It’s a hell of a wonderful country, and I hope everybody appreciates it,” said Brackney. “I do.”
“I’m not a hero,” Brackney continued. “Most of the heroes are gone. There’s still some left, but I’m not one of them. I just did what my country asked me to do, and truthfully I’m damn proud of it.”
The crowd then gave Brackney a standing ovation for his service to his country.
Several other veterans then stepped forward to tell their stories of service in the armed forces.
Tim Hadley was the guest speaker at the service to honor veterans at the Oskaloosa High School on Monday.
Hadley is a Chaplin 2nd Lieutenant from the 185 CSSB Iowa Army National Guard Headquarters in Camp Dodge.
He serves units from around southeast Iowa, including units from Oskaloosa and Knoxville. ” We have six different units underneath our battalion, and I get the pleasure of serving them as their chaplain.
When Hadley first started, he thought he might be leading a church service out in the woods somewhere, or out in combat. “Really, those things do happen, but the bulk of it really is counseling one on one.”
“Whatever our soldiers are doing, I’m in the mix, and I’m there encouraging them,” explained Hadley.
Those things he’s there to help soldiers with can be how to handle financial issues or deployment challenges, family, family dynamics. “Anything related to life inside or outside the military. I’m there to help facilitate and bolster our readiness for our soldiers.”
Hadley said his goal with the students was to help them become active participants in their community. “My goal is not to try and recruit every student. If that’s in their heart to do, bless them. I hope they do. But every student should serve their community at some capacity. We all have the ability to spread kindness. To help a stranger.”
For the veterans in attendance, Hadley wanted to simply honor veterans’ service “and the service of their families, and the many sacrifices that they’ve made.”
