When World War II veterans returned from the war, they were treated as heroes, with parades and other celebrations.
Multiple federal and state government programs were created to help them return to life at home. Various veteran groups welcomed them to join.
This didn’t happen for Vietnam veterans. They came home to anti-war demonstrations and negative community sentiment. They were either ignored or blamed for the unpopular war.
“I didn’t want to join any veteran groups, mostly because of the way the Vietnam veterans had been treated,” said Bernie Burrack, a U.S. Marine veteran.
By the late 1970s, it was clear that veterans groups had failed to address the issues of concern for Vietnam veterans. So, in 1979, a group of Vietnam veterans founded the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). They pledged to advocate and provide help for Vietnam veterans.
This national veterans service organization is comprised of, and for, Vietnam veterans. It called for local chapters, just like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Chet Hanson and Val Johnson were instrumental in forming Shawano’s VVA Chapter 206 in 1984, according to Burrack, a Shawano resident and VVA member.
“This was even before the Green Bay local chapter started,” Burrack said.
Hanson and Johnson have since died.
Richard T. Nuske became president of the Shawano VVA in 1991 and served until his death in 2006, according to his wife, Virginia Nuske.
“VVA is very good in supporting vets in the community. They made a lot of sacrifices,” Virginia Nuske said.
She was very active in the Shawano VVA, supporting her husband with the many projects the chapter ran.
“The Shawano VVA chapter raises money for scholarships,” Virginia Nuske said. “One of the past fundraisers was operating a food stand at the Shawano County Fair.”
At the age of 90, Virginia Nuske has managed the scholarship program for the Shawano VVA for the last 15 years. Scholarship applicants must interview a Vietnam veteran and write an essay about the interview to submit with an application.
“Two $1,000 scholarships are now going to grandchildren of the VVA members, maybe even great-grandchildren,” she said.
Burrack joined the Shawano VVA in 2005 and became its president, serving until last spring. Bill Williams is the current president.
“The VVA used to do brat fries until about two years ago at Qualheim’s and Charlie’s Market,” Burrack said. “This was a good way for us to raise money.”
Another way the VVA raises funds is by selling orange blossoms, similar to the American Legion’s crepe paper poppy sales around Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
“We sell orange blossoms, using the colors of the South Vietnam flag,” Burrack said. “We do this on March 29 every year, which is National Vietnam Veterans Day.”
Burrack said that about two years ago, two local Shawano gas stations stopped letting the VVA sell the crepe flowers at their sites.
“This left us with Charlie’s market and Qualheim’s,” Burrack said. “Surprisingly, we made a couple of hundred dollars more last year, with two less locations to sell from.”
Shawano VVA donates money mostly to two special causes. Besides the scholarships, the organization gives to Old Glory Honor Flight.
When the Shawano VVA was first formed, the group met at the Lighthouse Bar and Grill. Then, it wasn’t too long before the VVA was welcomed to use the facilities at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Clubhouse at 202 W. Lieg Ave. When the VFW moved to its new location at 820 S. Olson Ave., the VVA was welcomed there, also.
VVA meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at the VFW, starting at 7 p.m.
The Shawano chapter has 40 active members. Ross Langhurst, a VVA member since 1985, has the longest tenure in the Shawano chapter.
“I remember marching in one particular Veterans Day parade in the early 1980s with Vietnam veterans,” Langhurst said. “We went down Main Street. and turned onto Fifth Street. There was a woman there who called out ‘thank you’ to us. For almost all of us Vietnam veterans, that was the first time we heard that.”
The aging of VVA’s population is a concern to the VVA, but mostly on the national level.
“I don’t see that as a big concern for us now,” Williams said.
Langhurst said that he knows there any many Vietnam veterans in Shawano County and they would be welcome to join.
The Shawano VVA Chapter 206 can be reached by mail at P.O. Box 639, Shawano, WI 54166-0639 or by phone at 715-526-2449.
