Don Singlestad, 92, doesn’t need Red Bull energy drink.  He’s a real Red Bull, the most decorated non-commissioned officer of the 34th Division of the Red Bull Infantry.  In September, our customer at Heritage Manor in Park Rapids will travel to Vernio, Italy, for the dedication of a road honoring the Red Bulls.

Jean Ruzicka of the Park Rapids Enterprise newspaper wrote a great article about his role in ensuring Rome was “preserved, rather than falling victim to the ravages of combat.”  Technical Sergeant Singlestad received the Italian Military Medal of Valor Gold Cross – a citation equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honor – for his role in operating with partisans behind enemy lines.  He was one of five persons (3 Americans) to be recognized with this honor during World War II.  He’s also a Distinguished Service Cross recipient

Don participated in the first U.S. invasion of Africa and was captured by the Germans.  He was sent to a French prison camp and wasn’t released until the French joined Allied forces.  Following Africa he went to the British Isles to train as an Army Ranger, but he was declared ineligible after his captain learned he was married.  Don rejoined the 34th Red Bull Division in General Patton’s Fifth Army until the war’s end.  

On Feb. 4, 1944, Singlestad’s platoon was attacked by the Germans. He and one of his squads were surrounded and cut off from the rest of the company.  He fought his way free by moving forward, throwing hand grenades in his advance.  Expending his ammunition he used his rifle as a club against the enemy who surrounded him.  He felled two soldiers, dived over a rock wall, seized another rifle and continued his advance to the company command post.   He provided valuable information to his commanding officer and reorganized his platoon in repulsing enemy attack.

Don later entered Rom three days before American troops arrived. He helped set up communications in to direct air and artillery to protect the Vatican and other ancient buildings.  His heroics led to a personal tour of the Vatican by the Pope.  As Don readies for his return trip to Italy, he’s also writing a book on his experiences called Fighting Fool.

We salute you and thank you, Don.

Don Singlestad, 92, doesn’t need Red Bull energy drink.  He’s an original Red Bull, the most decorated non-commissioned officer of the 34^th Division of the Red Bull Infantry.  In September, our customer at Heritage Manor in Park Rapids will travel to Vernio, Italy, for the dedication of a road honoring the Red Bulls.

Jean Ruzicka of the Park Rapids Enterprise newspaper wrote a great article that is archived here about his role in ensuring Rome was “preserved, rather than falling victim to the ravages of combat.”  Technical Sergeant Singlestad received the Italian Military Medal of Valor Gold Cross – a citation equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honor – for his role in operating with partisans behind enemy lines.  He was one of five persons (3 Americans) to be recognized with this honor during World War II.  He’s also a Distinguished Service Cross recipient

Don participated in the first U.S. invasion of Africa and was captured by the Germans.  He was sent to a French prison camp and wasn’t released until the French joined Allied forces.  Following Africa he went to the British Isles to train as an Army Ranger, but he was declared ineligible after his captain learned he was married.  Don rejoined the 34^th Red Bull Division in General Patton’s Fifth Army until the war’s end. 

On Feb. 4, 1944, Singlestad’s platoon was attacked by the Germans. He and one of his squads were surrounded and cut off from the rest of the company.  He fought his way free by moving forward, throwing hand grenades in his advance.  Expending his ammunition he used his rifle as a club against the enemy who surrounded him.  He felled two soldiers, dived over a rock wall, seized another rifle and continued his advance to the company command post.   He provided valuable information to his commanding officer and reorganized his platoon in repulsing enemy attack.

Don later entered Rom three days before American troops arrived. He helped set up communications in to direct air and artillery to protect the Vatican and other ancient buildings.  His heroics led to a personal tour of the Vatican by the Pope.  As Don readies for his return trip to Italy, he’s also writing a book on his experiences called Fighting Fool.

We salute you and thank you, Don.

Our Gratitude to the Next Generation's Heros:

Last Thursday, Daniel Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury, Minn.; James Wertish, 20, of Olivia, Minn.; and Carlos Wilcox, 27, of Cottage Grove, Minn.; were killed in a missile attack in Iraq. All three National Guard specialists were members of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division.

On Sunday, as several hundred people gathered in Stillwater, Minn. to honor those three, we learned that two more Minnesotans had lost their lives as the result of injuries suffered in Afghanistan. Ben Kopp, 21, of Rosemount, died Saturday at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he had been in a coma due to wounds received on July 10. The day before, Air Force Capt. Thomas J. Gramith, 27, a St. Paul native who had moved his family to North Carolina, was killed when his fighter jet crashed.

Our gratitude to them for their sacrifices for us and our country.  May they rest in peace.