Paul Reuter and Don Reuter Sr., two cousins that served in World War II, were honored for their service as commanders in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Around 30 friends and family gathered Sunday at the International Falls VFW Peter Graham Post 2948, to reminisce and enjoy cake and ice cream in honor of the two past commanders.
Present post and District 8 Commander Terry Randolph presented the two with certificates from the VFW and U.S. Army for meritorious and distinguished service, which were also signed by Stan Kowalski, state VFW commander.
“They were both instrumental in the VFW and I hope that I can carry on and do half as well as these guys,” said Randolph.
“Both were WWII soldiers and are very well known as active VFW members,” said Linda Chezick, Post 2948 and District 8 Women's Auxiliary president.
Don Reuter served as the Falls post commander in 1962 and as District 8 commander in 1969. He continued serving on the post color guard until just last year.
His service was with the Army Air Corps working on C46 transport planes as they hopped from island bases around the South Pacific. His longest stop was on the Indonesian island of Biak. He was discharged in 1946 after serving in the occupation of Japan.
Don recalls after the war there were around 300 or more veterans that formed the Falls chapter. “We had 520 at one point,” he added.
His brother, Carl Reuter, served in the U.S. Navy in WWII. He was also active in the post and passed away in 1993.
Reflecting on the day in his honor, Don said his thoughts were of all the past commanders and veterans that have since passed away over the years. “It would have been nice to have them all here,” he said.
Paul Reuter served as Falls post commander in 1961 and as District 8 commander in 1966. He was also the state commander in 1975.
He served with the U.S. Army in the Pacific as a lead scout. He has painful memories of combat and losing buddies while on patrol.
Paul said that as a lead scout, he had more experience and had to caution his men often to keep their distance for safety. Once, when he spotted a Japanese machine gun nest, he gave the signal to hold up. His buddy was already too close and was killed.
Don said he regrouped and removed the machine gun but that it was no conciliation.
“That was the worst thing that ever happened to me, losing my buddy,” said Don. “You’ve got to know what you’re doing.”
Don said coming home was a terrifying experience. His nerves were shot and he did not know how to pick up the pieces of his life.
“I couldn’t do a thing,” he said. “I was so scared; I didn’t want to work.”
He recalls that Rudy Erickson kept after him to work at his Falls hardware store. He gave him a big cash advance and didn’t mind when he needed to disappear in the basement when his nerves got to him.
Don got into the VFW right away. He became a commander, he said, most likely because he was popular among the veterans.
“I just wanted to do it,” he said. “I was very active.”
One of his disappointments was losing two of his three commander rings and his gun collection after a break in. They were never recovered.
Don Reuter Jr. and Karen Etienne, daughter, said the event comes as the two men are recovering from recent health scares. Another daughter, Char, lives in Florida.
“Dad is 85 and Paul is 84,” said Karen.
They said the event commemorates 100 years of combined service the two have given to their country and the VFW.
“It is great just to see them both here together,” said Don Jr.
“They were good commanders,” said Joe Doris, another WWII veteran who is currently in charge of the color guard.
Doris, who recalls being recruited by the late Bill Anderson in the late 1940s, said the post was much different in those days. With so many members, they organized a New York strip steak dinner night and would serve up to 250 people at a time. He said the aging veterans decided to stop the dinner when the old post burned down.
Another past commander, Martin Steinbach, was also present.
