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James L. Wolter was the only Vietnam War Veteran from Granada who lost his life during the war. He is also the very definition of the word Hero.  

The Short Range Reconnaissance Patrol set up their defensive position on January 7, 1969. The weather turned for the worse that evening. During the heavy rain and darkness, the enemy was able to cut the wires to the claymore mines the Patrol had set up earlier that day. Suddenly the team was pinned down under heavy fire which made it impossible for the patrol to return fire. During all the chaos the enemy approached Wolter and his comrades’ position. The enemy lobbed two grenades at them. Specialist Wolter saw the grenades and while warning the others he also shielded his buddies from the blasts. By this completely selfless act, Specialist James Lester Wolter saved the lives of his fellow patrol members. The President of the United States Posthumously awarded James Lester Wolter the Distinguished Service Cross.  

The above information was gathered and used by permission of Doug Sterner/www.homeofheroes.com. 

James Wolter was the seventh Martin County Minnesota Vietnam Veteran killed during that war.  

GOLD STAR BOYS of WWII

Captain Rollo C. Andross was killed in action on July 13, 1943 in the Southwest Pacific. An unidentified eyewitness gave this story of his death. Captain Andross and his company were ordered to take a hill under the command of the Japanese. Rollo and his orderly were well ahead of his company leading the attack. Suddenly they were confronted by three enemy soldiers. Capt. Andross took care of two soldiers while the orderly got the third Japanese soldier. Just as that was accomplished machine gun fire burst from the top of the hill. Capt. Andross suffered many gunshot wounds and died immediately. The orderly was extremely lucky that day, he only suffered two bullet holes to his clothing.  

Corporal Donald H. Abel was inducted on October 12, 1942. Donald came home twice on furlough while he was in training. During his second furlough is when he last saw his mother alive in March 1944. She passed away a few months later on September 22. His first action was during the Battle of Leyte and he credits his survival of that battle due to his disposal of five Japanese soldiers. Donald survived nine days of combat on Okinawa but he was killed in action on April 9, 1945. He achieved the rank of Corporal and was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. 

James Edward Carroll was at Iwo Jima when he was killed on February 22, 1944. He was a Private First Class with four decorations. 

Sergeant Ray Davison was in the Army Air Force and died in a plane crash in Texas on October 6, 1943. 

Harold Ellis Hefler was killed at Absuciler, Germany on March 18, 1945. He received two decorations during his very short service of 7 months. He is interred in the United States Cemetery at St. Avold, France. 

Carl Emil Melby was wounded on July 11, 1944 at the Battle of St. Lo. He was awarded the Purple Heart along with his entire squad. He returned to active duty but was killed in the proverbial "somewhere in France" on November 10, 1944. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and served 19 months. He received four decorations and is interred at Limey, France.  

Raymond L. Tonne was killed during the Battle of Hill 609 on April 8, 1943. He is buried at Le Kef, North Africa. 

George T. Winzenburg was born in Granada and moved to Fairmont at a young age. After a bombing raid over Muenster, Germany he was reported missing on November 5, 1943. He was listed as dead on August 25, 1945 and buried near Liege, Belgium in a United States Cemetery.  

GOLD STAR BOYS of WWI

The Flu Epidemic of 1918 was physically more disastrous to Granada Veterans than the war itself. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Rodewald were both in active duty when they both passed away from this epidemic. 

Ray William Robinson successfully enlisted on his third attempt. He was sent to Camp Grant and assigned to the 5^th Co., 161^st Depot Brigade. He died at Camp Grant on October 2, 1918 of influenza/pneumonia.  

Bert Dick Rodewald was inducted on June 25, 1918 and assigned to Co. C, 343^rd Infantry, 86th Division at Camp Grant.  He made it to Liverpool England and died at Paignton, England on October 3, 1918.  The first American Legion in Granada was named after him. 

I sincerely regret any errors or omissions from this list of Granada Veterans who died while in active duty. I don’t believe there were any Granada veterans who died in the Spanish-American War.  

Comments, additions, or corrections are most welcome; please send to the Granada Historical Museum, PO Box 115, Granada, MN 56039 or email me. 

Below is a partial and uncorrected list of veterans who at one time called Granada (or the surrounding area) their home. The Privacy Act prevents me from getting an accurate list. Please contact me to correct any errors.

WORLD WAR I VETERANS