WWII Heroes Honored: Nebraska Veterans Receive 80th Anniversary Tribute

They're known as The Greatest Generation.

On Friday, six Nebraskans who served in World War II were recognized at the Holt County Courthouse annex in O'Neill. Each received a medal and certificate marking the 80th anniversary of WWII's end, part of a program introduced by Gov. Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Bernard Hoffman, of Chambers, and John Schultz, of O'Neill, attended the ceremony.

John Hilgert, NDVA director; Scott Menish, O'Neill mayor; and Ken Stenka, Holt County Veteran Service Officer presented the awards.

Schultz, 98, an Army veteran from 1945 - 1947, served as a military policemen and clerk/typist in New Jersey. He credits his typing skills with keeping him stateside.

"I was just getting out of high school in Atkinson when I enlisted," he said. "When I came back, I became a rancher."

Hoffman, 96, served in the Navy from 1946 to 1947, aboard the U.S.S. Doyle as fire patrol.

After Friday's ceremony, Hoffman said he was awestruck.

"I really hadn't heard anything about the program until a month ago. It's very nice."

While enlisted, Hoffman traveled and protected the coastline of California.

"I've been under the Golden Gate Bridge seven times. Never was over the top of it," he said, chuckling.

Six weeks before he was discharged, the ship Hoffman served on was scheduled to go overseas. He had a choice to make: "Either re-up or be transferred to another ship."

"I thought about re-enlisting, but I had a girlfriend back in Nebraska, so I decided to come home. It turned out pretty good," he said.

He married his high school sweetheart, Jean. They were married 76 years before her death in December 2024.

Other veterans recognized included Allen Hargens, Spencer, who served in the Navy from 1945 - 1947. He served on a submarine and worked as a carpenter; George Mellor, Spencer, who served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946; and Laurance Slaymaker, 100, of Atkinson, who served in the Army from 1944 to 1946, a section leader in the 161st Infantry Regiment.

The late George Keyes, who served in the Army from 1946 to 1949, received the award posthumously. Keyes, who resided in Inman, was a member of Battery C, Ninth Infantry Division.

Stenka said Friday's ceremony was the result of a 2024 proclamation signed by Pillen declaring May 8 as Victory in Europe Day. The goal of the initiative is to recognize living WWII veterans for the 80th anniversary, in 2025, of the end of WW II.

"A special recognition medal was made available for these living veterans who served in the armed forces between Dec. 1, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946," Stenka said.

To be eligible, veterans must be a current legal resident of the state or demonstrate residency at the time of entering service. Additionally, veterans must have discharged honorably.

Hilgert told an audience of approximately 50 guests, it was important to commemorate the end of WWI and pay tribute to those who served. As part of the National Association of Veterans Affairs, Hilgert knew recognition of the 80th anniversary wasn't planned on a national level.

"That wasn't good enough," Hilgert said. "In Nebraska, we decided to do something ourselves."

The custom-designed medal features a rainbow on the side, reminiscent of the WWII Victory Medal, and is inscribed with "Celebrating 80 Years of Victory, 1945 World War II 2025. The flip side features Lady Liberty holding a laurel wreath, set against the stars and stripes. The inscription states, "On behalf of a grateful state, thank you for your service."

"This is 80 years of victory and we chose this method, this way, to commemorate the 80th year of victory," Hilgert said. "We hope with today's celebration, the word may get out and other people may know people who served."

According to the state director, 144,000 Nebraskans served in WWII.

"It was an all-effort campaign. Tens and tens of thousands of Nebraskans never wore a green uniform. They wore blue overalls in agriculture because they were needed to help the war effort," Hilgert said. He praised efforts of ordinary citizens, like his neighbor from the Omaha neighborhood where he grew up, who planted roses the day the Japanese "gave up," Hilgert said.

"Everyone participated, everyone came together."

The director noted the outcome of the war wasn't a foregone conclusion. Shortly before WWII began, Congress instituted the draft.

"It passed by one single vote. We had the 40th largest military. Poland had the ninth and lasted just a few months. It was not a foregone conclusion. Everyone came together because they did it for victory," Hilgert said.

For more information about the World War II Veteran Recognition Program, visit veterans.nebraska.gov/WW2.