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The Avon December Veteran of the month is Charles Bryan. Bryan is a Veteran of the Korean War. He began his service February 26th of 1952 serving two years until being honorably discharged February 9th of 1954. Charles did both his basic training and artillery training at Ft. Bliss in TX. Bryan was trained as a cannoneer. After completing his training, Charles left Fort Bliss for a two-week rest and recuperation (R & R). In the two weeks that he returned home, he used his time wisely and married his beautiful wife, Joanne (Fry) before he was sent overseas to Germany. After his R & R, Bryan was sent to Fort Sheridan in IL before being sent to Germany on a troop ship. During the Korean War, Fort Sheridan was being used as a regional induction and training center. The troop ship took three to five days to travel to Europe. The ship took port in Bremerhaven, Germany off of Germany’s North Sea Coast. Once the ship landed at port, the soldiers were dispersed onto trains to travel to various bases. Bryan was stationed at the Coleman Army Airfield in Mannheim, Germany. He was a battery commander while stationed in Germany. Because the couple was married, Charles requested permission to have Joanne come live with him off base during his time in Germany. Their time in Europe made for the perfect honeymoon for the couple. The couple visited many countries including Norway, Sweden, Rome, Denmark, Italy and France. Visiting Norway was extra special for the couple. Joanne’s grandfather was born and raised there. The couple traveled by train, boat, taxi and walked in order to reach her grandfather’s homestead in northern Norway. There they met many of her cousins, and great aunts and uncles. During his service in Germany, Bryan was also an assistant supply Sergeant and was assigned to drive a ton and half supply truck around Germany. Charles also engaged in live firing drills to train should the need arise to shoot down air craft. These target drills took place on the North Sea. A plane carrying a ten-foot-long sock would fly out and the artillery crew would fire at the sock. When his service in Germany was completed, Charles was sent back to the United States where he returned to Pierre to be discharged from the military. During his years of service, Bryan received an Occupation Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. Bryan was born and raised in the rural area of Mellette. Charles had 11 siblings. He was from a family of ranchers and worked the ranch before he began his military service. During the paperwork phases of his service, the military personnel did not know what a rancher was so on his DD214 form his main civilian occupation is listed as “cow puncher”. After returning to South Dakota from G er many, Charles utilized his G.I. Bill and went to college. In 1958, Bryan received his diploma in auto mechanics and then went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in vocational education from Southern State Teachers College in Springfield in 1960. Charles finished his formal education in 1961 after receiving his Masters of Science in Industrial Education from Stout State College in WI. Charles was a master of his craft and held several teaching and instructor positions in the mechanical field including instructor in high school autos program, Instructor in Auto Mechanics Program at Southern State College, Department Head and Instructor in Diesel Department at Southern State College and Director of Mechanical Technology at the University of South Dakota at Springfield. Charles and Joanne have four children Brenda, Bradly, Christine and Corinn. They have five grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Over the years, Bryan has enjoyed many hobbies including restoring and collecting antique engines, going to engine shows, fishing and doing water sports. He has been a very active member of the communities that he has lived in. Charles has been the President of the USD University Senate, President of the USD Faculty Association, charter member of the Springfield Community Pool, Springfield Zoning Board member, Charter member and President of the Bon Homme Co. 4H Clubs, church trustee, Masonic Temple Master, Avon Mayor, Eastern Star Grand Patron, a Shriner, an Avon American Legion member and a member of the Yankton VFW. Thank you, Charles, for your service and for being Avon’s November Veteran of the Month.