 Throughout the day, veterans came and went through the doors, some
coming in groups, some coming alone and meeting friends. And some
came with only their memories and stories, ready to talk, ready to
share, ready to experience a bond with their fellow veterans that
only they can fully understand. In one corner of the restaurant
sat four men at two different tables. Two were veterans of World War
II and two were veterans of the Korean War. Around the corner sat
yet a fifth man, also a vet who served in Korea.
Harold Jeckel served in Korea in the "hourglass" 7th Division of
the 8th Army. He spent his military career first working on tanks
before being promoted to sergeant first class and put in charge of
the motorcade. He was stationed at Yon Chon Railroad, just five
miles from the front line. Jeckel said one thing he remembers about
being in Korea was that when it was hot, it was really hot, and when
it was cold, it was really cold. His dinner companion, Fred Detmers,
also served in Korea and was a member of the 7th Army.
Behind them, brothers Leonard "Whimpy" and Walter Lehner enjoyed
their meal. The two brothers are two of four siblings who served
their country. Leonard and Walter served in World War II as
instructors.
Leonard was stationed in Okinawa and was an instructor in small
arms weaponry in the Navy. He pulls out his wallet and shows a
picture of a handsome young man in his naval uniform, and then he
shows a second picture, of his wife. He explains that they met while
he was in the Navy, and during his tour she wrote him over 400
letters.
"I have each one, and they are gems," he said. "She would write
them backward or upside down. I'd have to use a mirror to read
them," he said, laughing. Obviously her efforts to lighten his day
while away from home can still do so all these years later.
Walter Lehner was also in the Navy, stationed at Norfolk, Va. He
explained he trained soldiers in diesel mechanics. As part of his
training program, he went out with sailors on ships, but as he put
it, "We went out on the ocean but never got all the way across."
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Around the corner sits Bob Shanle. Shanle is well known in
Lincoln. For years he served as a clerk with the Mike Maske Auction
Service, and he can be seen daily out and about in Lincoln, getting
his exercise.
Shanle served in Korea in 1951 and 1952. He returned home safe
and sound but later in life suffered an illness that took his legs
and put him in a wheelchair.
According to restaurant owner Brett Borst, the number of vets who
came in Monday and the wide variety of terms of service was quite
surprising. He noted that as he made his way around tables, speaking
to each person there, he found several vets from World War II and
Korea, but also those who defended our country in Vietnam and Desert
Storm.
For the Bonanza restaurant, this has been a year to say "thank
you" in a bigger kind of way.
"We did this in September, remembering 9/11, and it went very
well," Borst said. "We also wanted to do it in November for our
vets."
Bohrst said any time is a good time to say thanks to those who
defend our nation and assure us of the freedom to eat out, to own a
business and to be thankful to and for those who provided it for us.
He looks at it from a personal viewpoint, saying, "Without them,
we couldn't have a business here."
[By NILA SMITH]
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