Allen L. Vennink

In 2013 Allen let me go through his scrapbook and I scanned around 70 pictures.
I will only show some samples below but here is a thumbnail view of some of those scans I made. You can see that Al wrote on the backs of a number of his photos so I also scanned the backs of many of the photos so I have the information/captions for those pictures.

Below is the information he provided about his service.

Allen L Vennink, 23, son of Louis and Selma Vennink was drafted into the U.S. Army from Crawford County January 14, 1957. He was inducted at Fort Omaha, Nebraska and completed his basic training at Fort Ord, California. From there Allen was transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado, in the field artillery division. Allen went on a troop train to Chicago, Illinois, which went right through his dad's farm place at Botna. Then he took a fast train to Fort Dix, New Jersey.

In August of 1957 Allen boarded the USNS UPSHUR for overseas where he became a tractor driver for the 538 Field Artillery Battalion Battery near New Ulm, Germany.
His job involved pulling the 155 mm Howitzer.
February of 1957 Allen went on a three-day pass to meet up with his old neighbor and buddy, Larry Witt, who was stationed at Landstuhl, Germany.
While there, he and Larry went to the EM Club for an evening of refreshments and entertainment.

Allen Vennink, Larry Witt
This is the only picture I have of Larry connected to his service.

During October 1958, Allen came back to the states on the ship to Fort Dix, New Jersey. Allen recalls seeing the Statue of Liberty was one of the greatest sites he remembers. He rode the train to Chicago, a bus to Sheridan, Illinois, and on to a train ride headed for Omaha…however Allen talked to the conductor about slowing down when coming through Manning so he could jump from the train. The conductor convinced the engineer in doing just that and at that time Allen jumped and walked to the home of Hugo Vollstedts. Hugo told his wife to fix Allen a big breakfast and that she did.
From there he walked to his sister, Ann Wegner's place and Ann took him out to his dad's farm.

Allen was honorably discharged at Fort Sheridan on October 14, 1958, after obtaining the rank of E4.
He was placed on inactive duty due to an early release to help his dad on the farm.

Allen's military service consisted of a six-year term, with two years active duty and four years in the Iowa Guard. His final discharge from inactive status was on January 31, 1963

We won't be able to use all of Al's pictures in the Veterans' book but I want to scan as much that I can for each Veteran so a more complete story will be preserved in the Manning historical database I'm working on.

Al pulling motor stables maintenance.
They pull motor stables every afternoon.

Assistant driver, Ronald Anderson, Al Vennink on the wash rack.
Just returned from the field - had to clean up the vehicle so it is spotless.

"This is the Navy. Boy some beds they are!
They don't call them beds, it's the racks."

Mess hall in Neu Ulm, Germany.
They can feed the whole battalion at one time

Boarding trucks at Fort Carson, heading to the train