August 25, 2009

World War II veteran Harry W. Eichman receives Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award

(MADISON) – In a ceremony during the August 21st meeting of the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs at American Legion Post 74 in Neillsville, Harry W. Eichman of Trempealeau was presented the Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award for August 2009.

Eichman, born in 1918 in Winona, Minnesota and raised on his family’s farm in Trempealeau County, volunteered for service in the United States Marine Corps on February 3, 1940. After successful completion of boot camp at San Diego, CA, he was assigned as a rifleman to Camp Elliot, CA.

Upon the declaration of World War II, Eichman was assigned to the newly formed 2nd Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, CA and deployed to America Samoa. While there, he participated in some of the bloodiest fighting in the Pacific Theatre, including landings and fierce fighting at Tulagi and Guadalcanal.

After the Division rested and reorganized in New Zealand, Eichman participated in the November 1943 invasion of Tarawa as a machine gun NCO and was one of more than 3,000 Marines that shed blood in the 76 hours of hellish action. He was treated for his wounds in Hawaii and then returned to the mainland for a series of follow-up operations. He was honorably discharged due to disability with the rank of sergeant at the San Diego, CA Naval Hospital on April 26, 1945

At the time he was wounded, he was a squad leader in a weapons company, an expert with both the rifle and the pistol, and was scheduled for promotion to the rank of staff sergeant and an assignment as a platoon sergeant. His military decorations include the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.

While on R&R with his unit, Eichman met Helen Mitchel, a native New Zealander, while roller skating and, after a short courtship, they were married on August 9, 1943. Following the war, after Helen had traveled to the United States aboard a “bride ship” with their eighteen month old son, they were rejoined in Milwaukee. Together they raised three more sons and are now in their 67th year of marriage. Helen now resides in a nursing facility at Galesville, but Eichman visits her every day. One of their sons made a career in the United States Air Force and another son served four years in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. They have two grandsons and a granddaughter-in-law who have served multiple tours in Iraq as members of the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Throughout his World War II service, Eichman sent his monthly allotment to his widowed mother back home on the family farm and continued that practice even after he married. Upon his return, he took advantage of VA educational benefits and trained as a farmer on the family farm that he ultimately bought from his mother. In addition to farming, Eichman has worked as a school bus driver and a custodian with the Trempealeau Public School system. Since his retirement, he has maintained a large garden and provides produce to family, friends and neighbors.

Eichman is a charter and life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1915, serving as Commander for five terms, as advisor to the local Boy Scout Troop, and as a member of the Funeral Honors Team. He was the recipient of the Post’s Distinguished Veterans Award in 1979 and he is also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and served a term as Aide-de-Camp to the DAV State Commander. Eichman is also an active member of the Trempealeau Lions Club, serving many years as Chair of the Mint Drive, a fundraiser for the purchase of books for the local library, and was selected by the organization as Lion of the Year in 1987 and Trempealeau Citizen of the Year in 1992. He was a member of the Trempealeau Village Board from 1949 to 1951 and is an active member of St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church, where he has been an usher for many years; and he is a member of Southern Trempealeau County Chapter of AARP, often serving as head fundraiser.

The Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes living veterans who have compiled a record of exemplary service as a military service member, a veteran, and a citizen during the veteran’s lifetime. Eichman is the tenth recipient of the Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Board, through a subcommittee consisting of three board members, appointed by the Board Chair, selects the recipients. Nominations are accepted from any Wisconsin resident and the Board especially encourages submissions from Wisconsin veterans, veterans service organizations, county veterans service officers and other veterans groups.

There are up to six annual awards. Nominations may be submitted at any time during the year, but no later than the 15th of the month preceding the month of a Board meeting at which the presentation is to be made. For more information about the award, to include previous recipients, go to www.WisVets.com/BoardAward or call WDVA toll free 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387).