Vernon Henry Walentiny
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Vernon Henry Walentiny served in World War II and in the Korean War.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy.
He had basic training at the Naval Training Center in Farragut, Idaho, and was assigned to the Navy Hospital in Bremerton, Washington. He was then sent to the Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
Subsequently, he served on several different ships: the USS YMS-201, the USS LST-737, USS Brevard, and the USS Benevolence. Mr. Walentiny was a Hospital Corpsman.
During the Korean War, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Guam, where he served for fifteen months.
Mr. Walentiny was decorated with the Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“My name is Vern Walentiny and I don’t believe my story is a lot different than the other Americans that were drafted and served our great country in the 1940’s. I would do it again in a heartbeat, as it was an experience I will never regret nor forget.
“I was drafted in February 1943 and reported to Fort Snelling. I requested to be a Navy man because I had heard you got to sleep in a cot and not on the ground. Shortly after, I reported to the Military Training Center in Farragut, Idaho, and then to Ewa, Hawaii, and served in the Marine Corps Air Station. The rest of my service in WWII was service on three different ships as a Hospital Corpsman.
“While I was home on furlough, it was apparent that my elderly parents were not doing well and needed my assistance. I applied for a ‘dependency discharge’ to care for them, but hadn’t heard an answer by the time my leave was up, so I followed my orders and reported to San Francisco and boarded the USS Benevolence as a service ship medic.
“While I was on the USS Benevolence, I was informed that my dependency request had been granted, so I went home to assist my elderly parents. I knew that at some point, I would be called back to complete my enlistment.
“By the time the Korean War was declared, I had made living arrangements for my elderly parents, taken additional medical training, and had gotten married. When I received my new orders, I knew nothing would be more difficult for me than to tell my young bride that I had to leave her for a three-month stint. My personal fear was that there was a possibility that I may not return at all.
“I was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Guam and served there for fifteen months. Although my tour was scheduled to be for only three months, the Navy extended it for a year. When I received notification that my enlistment had finally been completed, I was ecstatic to go home to my wife and family.
“My wife and I moved to Silver Bay shortly upon my return, where we raised our four children. I worked for Reserve Mining Company in the clinic as a medical and x-ray technician until my retirement. We have been married for 62 years. Our 4 children and their spouses have blessed us with 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. The training I received in the Navy allowed me to provide a nice life for my wife and children, and I will be forever grateful.
“I would consider it a great honor to be selected to go to Washington, D.C., to see the WWII Memorial. I am so proud to be a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and I have instilled that American pride in each of my children. Every Veterans Day, I receive phone calls from my children and grandchildren with a special message saying, ‘Thanks, Grandpa, for serving.’
“I extend my best wishes to all the WWII veterans who have been and will be selected to see the memorial constructed in their honor. I would also like to personally thank every veteran that has served, alive and fallen. The fallen will never be forgotten.”
