Two veterans were honored with Quilts of Valor at Clearwater Polk Electric's annual meeting.
The first veteran to be honored with a Quilt of Valor was Robert "Bob" Johnson, a lifelong resident of Clearwater County.
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Johnson graduated from high school at age 17 in the class of 1956. Knowing that he would be drafted once he turned 18 and wanting to have a say in his branch of service, his parents signed for him to enlist with the United States Air Force in 1957.
Johnson completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas. His military training for Radar Operator occurred at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss.
The longest 15 months of his military service took him to Fire Island Air Force Station in Alaska during peacetime. Johnson was discharged with a rank of Airman Second Class, Lufkin Air Force Base in Texas.
He worked in Davenport, N.D., right out of high school and met his wife Elaine. They reconnected when he was out of the service and married in 1962. The couple has three daughters, three grandsons and one granddaughter.
In 1965, the couple was able to buy Johnson's parents’ dairy farm and ran it until 1996. They continued cash crop farming until they started renting the land out. The couple still lives on the farm and enjoys visits from their family.
Johnson continues to serve his community as a trustee and handyman at Faith Lutheran Church, a member of the American Dairy Association, Soil Conservation, Bagley Co-op for 23 years and Clearwater Polk Electric for 37 years.
Johnson also has a paver stone at the Clearwater County Veterans Memorial site.
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The second veteran to be honored with a Quilt of Valor was Douglas Lindgren, a lifelong resident of Clearwater County and a graduate of the class of 1968.
Doug enlisted in the United States Navy on March 7, 1969, completing four years of service before being discharged in 1973 with the rank of Radioman 2(E-5). His military career began with boot camp in San Diego, followed by his training in Radioman A حلحلآ». His military occupation was communications.
Lindgren served at the US Naval Radio Station on the Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico; on board the USS WASP CVS 9; and on the USS Intrepid CVS-11 Aircraft Carrier, now harbored at the Air Space Museum in New York City.
He received the National Civil Defense Service medal and a Petty Officer Academy Accommodation during his time in the service.
Lindgren's father, F Alvin Lindgren, better known as Swede, served during World War II. They both have paver stones at the Clearwater County Veteran Memorial in Bagley.
When he was a teenager, Lindgren showed his leadership skills as one of four teens who started the youth center in Bagley in 1965.
He was a scout leader, chairman and volunteer for Clearwater County Hospice; served as a supervisor for Copley Township for 15 years; and served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for a term beginning in 2002.
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He currently serves on the board for the Bagley Senior Center, the Farmers Independent board, as a Deacon in church and as a driver for veterans' transportation. When an opening came up on the board of Clearwater Polk Electric, Lindgren readily stepped into that position.
He has been married to Colleen Smith for 51 years and has three children. Lindgren retired from Harwood Oil as owner/operator for 25 years. He was known as the muffler man and could bend pipes to fix any exhaust system.
Lindgren is also a member and current commander of the Bagley American Legion, Irvine Blix Post 16.
Funds from Operation Round Up through Clearwater Polk Electric helped fund the project.
The Trust Project
