News: Neillsville - Am. Legion To Honor Wayne Short (2018)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

----Surnames: Short, Ehlers

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark, Co) 10/31/2018

American Legion to Honor Local Veteran (Wayne Short - 2018)

Local veteran Wayne Short will be one of gout people recognized by the Neillsville American Legion Post in November.

Short was born in Neillsville and attended Kurth Grade School in Pleasant Ridge. He graduated from Neillsville High School in 1965. Short attended the University of Wisconsin-Wood County-Marshfield and St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in aircraft maintenance engineering in 1969.

Short then worked at the Martin Marietta Corporation in Denver, CO, as a systems engineer in the NASA Skylab program. He enlisted in the 3650th Maintenance Company of the Colorado Army National Guard at Camp George West Golden in Colorado in 1970. He attended basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey and wheel vehicle mechanic school at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He also attended track vehicle mechanic school at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He served as a wheel and track mechanic, and later a section sergeant, until 1975.

After that Short moved to Granton and worked at Short’s Fur Farm. He joined the 108th Maintenance Company of the Wisconsin Army National Guard in Mauston. He served as a section sergeant in the direct support maintenance platoon.

In 1977, the unit was ordered to state active duty by the governor for a state employee strike. Members of the unit went to Waupun to man the prison in place of the guards. In 1980, the unit was sent to Manheim, Germany to help in Army work down a backlog of maintenance work orders.

In 1982, Short was appointed as warrant officer one as an engineer equipment repair technician to his former unit.

In 1983, the unit was sent to Kaiserslautern, Germany to help again with a maintenance backlog.

In 1985, Short was transferred to the 106th Supply and Service Company in Black River Falls and assigned the unit maintenance officer.

In 1992, the unit was sent to Panama to support 426th Engineer Battalion in rebuilding roads and schools as a part of Operation Fuertes Caminos after President Manuel Noriega was ousted by the U. S. Government.

“We left New Year’s Day at negative -10 degrees and the next week at base it reached 113 degrees,” Short said.

In 1966, the 106th was decommissioned and the colors retired.

Short was transferred to the 10120th Field Artillery of the 32nd Brigade and assigned to the service battery at Neillsville. He retired in October 1998, after more than 28 years of service. Short married his wife, Bonnie, in 1968. They have a daughter, Stephanie, and two granddaughters.

Short enjoys flying his plane and working in and around the shop. He also volunteers at the Legion Hall.

The recognition will be Nov. 5, at the American Legion Post 73, 6 Boon Boulevard. Short will be recognized with his cousin Tom, and LaVern and Kevin Ehlers. There will be a social hour at 4:30 p.m. with a potluck at 5:30 p.m.