A VETERAN’S VIEW

WASILLA — Like many U.S. veterans, military service changed Gary Kurpius’ life.

Hailing from the small mining town of Babbitt, Minn., Kurpius was introduced to the Army through the draft. It was 1967 and Vietnam was a hotbed of unrest. Over the next few years, Kurpius would learn first-hand about the sacrifices many have made to defend the country he loves.

“I think there’s a common bond in all individuals who put the uniform on,” he said. “There’s a love of country, a love of family, that goes a little deeper in veterans. They appreciate it much more because they have seen when they are serving in other parts of the world the conditions that are there.”

During his tour of duty in Vietnam, Kurpius saw much of the country and was a target for communist ambushers protecting large truck convoys. Getting needed supplies to the front lines was vital, he said.

“I provided convoy security throughout the central highlands,” he said. “If you go online and look at the accomplishments, with the tonnage (transported) and the distance, there really wasn’t a road system over there that you could call a road system. We hauled everything from jet fuel to the ammo to the food.”

They built their own gun trucks, Kurpius recalled, by adding metal plates and filling vehicles with sand “to get ourselves a little bit of protection.”

That protection would become life-saving when enemy soldiers tried to ambush the convoys, he said.

“There could be a lot of boredom for many, many hours, but if there was an ambush, that’s when it would get crazy,” he said. “You could go days and days without anything, then an ambush would make things very exciting from anywhere from five minutes to 15 minutes, then it was over.”

It’s been more than 40 years since Kurpius finished his duty in Vietnam, but his time there helped shape a life of service for veterans.

Commander-in-chief

Shortly after returning to the states, Kurpius did what a lot of veterans do — he joined his local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He worked as a community volunteer in Minnesota until he landed a full-time job with the state organization. In 1985, he learned of a VFW job in Alaska, so he jumped at the chance to move to the Last Frontier.

From 2006-09, he was the organization’s top official, commander-in-chief, a post that took him to all 50 states and many foreign countries.

Asked how his own service influenced his career path, Kurpius said it was life-changing.

“I think it had a major impact on me,” he said. “Coming back (from Vietnam), I understood there was an awful lot of need out there with our veterans. There were so many of our veterans at the time who didn’t know about these conditions (post-traumatic stress disorder) and didn’t know about the benefits.”

His four-year term as commander-in-chief is over, but he still works as the state adjunct for the VFW. Although he feels Americans today show much more appreciation and support for veterans, there are many vital issues he continues to work to resolve.

There’s too much red tape at the Department of Veterans Affairs, he said, which leads to veterans either not getting the benefits they’ve earned or extra hardship from extensive delays.

“Timelines within the VA is a real problem right now,” he said. “People are waiting way too long to receive their entitlements.”

He also is mindful of American prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action.

It’s never too late to recover a soldier, he said.

“The POW/MIA issue is a real issue still today,” he said. “We want to bring closure to our families. I don’t think that window ever closes. We are still getting remains from World War II and identifying them and bringing closure to those families, which is the right thing to do.”

America’s best serving now

Another generation of U.S. military carries on the mission of protecting America’s freedom and interests, and Kurpius said the mission couldn’t be in better hands.

“I think there are some exceptional individuals serving today,” he said. “Anybody who serves our country, if you put that uniform on, if you step forward and raise your right hand and swear that you’re going to defend our country, I think that puts anybody one step ahead. The young people serving today are doing an outstanding job.”

The tours of duty in the war on terror are considerably longer and multiplied when compared to Kurplus’ generation.

“And keep in mind, they’re all volunteers,” he said.

In his role as commander-in-chief for the VFW, Kurpius visited American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. There, he saw wounded soldiers missing limbs and suffering from other wounds who would only ask when they could get back to duty.

“It’s hard to put into words” what he felt hearing that dedication in the face of great bodily harm. “Their desire to continue is second to none, and it’s humbling.”

It’s also humbling when he sees people walk up to those in uniform and thank them for their service.

“Thank you, that’s the best,” he said. “And every day is Veterans Day, not just once a year.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.

WASILLA — Like many U.S. veterans, military service changed Gary Kurplus’ life.

Hailing from the small mining town of Babbitt, Minn., Kurplus was introduced to the Army through the draft. It was 1967 and Vietnam was a hotbed of unrest. Over the next few years, Kurplus would learn first-hand about the sacrifices many have made to defend the country he loves.

“I think there’s a common bond in all individuals who put the uniform on,” he said. “There’s a love of country, a love of family, that goes a little deeper in veterans. They appreciate it much more because they have seen when they are serving in other parts of the world the conditions that are there.”

During his tour of duty in Vietnam, Kurplus saw much of the country and was a target for communist ambushers protecting large truck convoys. Getting needed supplies to the front lines was vital, he said.

“I provided convoy security throughout the central highlands,” he said. “If you go online and look at the accomplishments, with the tonnage (transported) and the distance, there really wasn’t a road system over there that you could call a road system. We hauled everything from jet fuel to the ammo to the food.”

They built their own gun trucks, Kurplus recalled, by adding metal plates and filling vehicles with sand “to get ourselves a little bit of protection.”

That protection would become life-saving when enemy soldiers tried to ambush the convoys, he said.

“There could be a lot of boredom for many, many hours, but if there was an ambush, that’s when it would get crazy,” he said. “You could go days and days without anything, then an ambush would make things very exciting from anywhere from five minutes to 15 minutes, then it was over.”

It’s been more than 40 years since Kurplus finished his duty in Vietnam, but his time there helped shape a life of service for veterans.

Commander-in-chief

Shortly after returning to the states, Kurplus did what a lot of veterans do — he joined his local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He worked as a community volunteer in Minnesota until he landed a full-time job with the state organization. In 1985, he learned of a VFW job in Alaska, so he jumped at the chance to move to the Last Frontier.

From 2006-09, he was the organization’s top official, commander-in-chief, a post that took him to all 50 states and many foreign countries.

Asked how his own service influenced his career path, Kurplus said it was life-changing.

“I think it had a major impact on me,” he said. “Coming back (from Vietnam), I understood there was an awful lot of need out there with our veterans. There were so many of our veterans at the time who didn’t know about these conditions (post-traumatic stress disorder) and didn’t know about the benefits.”

His four-year term as commander-in-chief is over, but he still works as the state adjunct for the VFW. Although he feels Americans today show much more appreciation and support for veterans, there are many vital issues he continues to work to resolve.

There’s too much red tape at the Department of Veterans Affairs, he said, which leads to veterans either not getting the benefits they’ve earned or extra hardship from extensive delays.

“Timelines within the VA is a real problem right now,” he said. “People are waiting way too long to receive their entitlements.”

He also is mindful of American prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action.

It’s never too late to recover a soldier, he said.

“The POW/MIA issue is a real issue still today,” he said. “We want to bring closure to our families. I don’t think that window ever closes. We are still getting remains from World War II and identifying them and bringing closure to those families, which is the right thing to do.”

America’s best serving now

Another generation of U.S. military carries on the mission of protecting America’s freedom and interests, and Kurplus said the mission couldn’t be in better hands.

“I think there are some exceptional individuals serving today,” he said. “Anybody who serves our country, if you put that uniform on, if you step forward and raise your right hand and swear that you’re going to defend our country, I think that puts anybody one step ahead. The young people serving today are doing an outstanding job.”

The tours of duty in the war on terror are considerably longer and multiplied when compared to Kurplus’ generation.

“And keep in mind, they’re all volunteers,” he said.

In his role as commander-in-chief for the VFW, Kurplus visited American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. There, he saw wounded soldiers missing limbs and suffering from other wounds who would only ask when they could get back to duty.

“It’s hard to put into words” what he felt hearing that dedication in the face of great bodily harm. “Their desire to continue is second to none, and it’s humbling.”

It’s also humbling when he sees people walk up to those in uniform and thank them for their service.

“Thank you, that’s the best,” he said. “And every day is Veterans Day, not just once a year.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.