Ronald Bales Is July Veteran Of The Month

By Doug KapkeRonald R. Bales was honored as Jefferson County’s Veteran of the month for July of 2023 at a meeting of the Jefferson County Commissioners on Tuesday, July 11. In addition, Bales was presented with a Quilt of Valor, a Vietnam commemorative lapel pin and a hand made Wreath made and presented by Marley Rosener.Bales was born in Fairbury and attended K-12 in the Fairbury Public School system full time except for a short period of time when the family moved to Arlington, where Bales’ father worked for Omaha Public Power, before moving back to Fairbury to work in construction. Bales remembers that when he was a junior in high school, the wrestling program began. The program took off full time in his senior year and he qualified for state in the 133-pound class.After graduation in 1966, Bales worked for the Fairbury Creamery hauling large cans of milk for his uncle prior to milk being hauled in bulk tanks. He also worked for Lally Manufacturing, now a part of Barber Furniture, as a sewing machine repairman. He was later transferred to the shipping department. The company produced under clothing for the military. At age 20, he received his draft notice and was told to report to Omaha for his military physical. He was also told to pack a bag, because he would be going directly to Basic Training. Basic Training was at Fort Lewis, Washington, for an eight-week period. Advanced Individual Training was at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in Artillery. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was 13A10. They learned to shoot big guns, mostly 105-millimeter and 155-millimeter howitzers.Bales’ first assignment was a trip to South Vietnam by way of California and Alaska. His first impression of Vietnam upon arrival was a row of seven body bags waiting to be returned to the United States. His first duty station in Nam was a service battery, 2nd Battalion, 35th Artillery near Tay Ninh South Vietnam. This unit had been hit hard by North Vietnamese forces recently and was short personnel. Private First Class (E-3) Bales was able to keep his MOS, but was needed in S-4 Supply. He stayed busy in supply by transporting numerous items such as sand bags, concertina wire and food supplies to the front lines. One day back at base camp he and three other men were building a fence perimeter around the unit’s supply items. They decided to get a drink of water and had just left the immediate work area when an incoming rocket struck near their work site. Had they not been thirsty, at the least, they would have been covered with shrapnel. Being close to the underground bunker where they slept in three-high bunk beds helped prevent any injuries. Even with concertina wire perimeters guard duty personnel who failed to stay awake throughout the night duty would likely be found with slit throats in the morning, courtesy of the enemy.Later, Bales was assigned to drive a Battery Commander to various locations and always on pay days. The Captain had a 60 caliber machine gun mounted on their jeep and was always looking to see action. Private Bales had more of an attitude that danger would find them without going out of one’s way to find it. One day a chopper that had just taken off had a mechanical malfunction and crashed near their location. They were able to take both men to safety and transport one soldier to a hospital.Payday was always an opportunity to join some of his friends at a Chinese restaurant and attempt to eat with chop sticks. Bob Hope and Connie Stevens shows were also a bright spot while serving in Vietnam. But for Bales, the best time in Vietnam was sometime after being transferred to Long Binh. One day, Bales was asked by a Convoy Commander to accompany his convoy to Tay Ninh. Being familiar with the area, Bales agreed. The next day after arriving in Tay Ninh a General arrived in a chopper and stated that he had orders for Bales to be returned to the United States. The General’s chopper took Bales to Long Binh and in a few days, he was back home. While serving his Country in South Vietnam Specialist E-4 Bales earned: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.Back in Fairbury, Bales worked for his uncle for a while hauling bulk milk, married his wife, Linda, in April, 1971, and worked about 10 years for Garber Honda from 1972 to 1982. In 1982, he began a 33-year career working for the City of Fairbury and retired in 2015. He is a past member of the Elks, a long-time member of the VFW and now enjoys fishing and spending time with his wife, Linda of 52 years, his kids, grand kids, and great grand kids.

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