Washington County, WI – On Saturday, May 20, 2023, Army veteran Gerald “Rosie” Rosenthal, 86, of the Town of Addison, WI, will be joining 14 other Washington County vets on the Stars & Stripes Honor Flight to Washington D.C.
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Gerald Rosenthal enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 20 along with two of his buddies from West Bend, Ray Brinkman and William From. He went to boot camp and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Ft. Hood, Tx, and emerged from his schooling as a tank gunner.
“After AIT our whole division went to Germany. We were in the 4th Armored Division,” said Rosenthal.
“I spent 28 months in Germany. Mostly we had to take care of our tanks, go to the range, and practice shooting. I also spent a couple of months in demolition school in Oberammergau,” he said.
Rosenthal was an E4 upon his honorable discharge from the Army.
Rosenthal and his wife, Louise, celebrated their 55th anniversary on May 4. They met “when my cousin married her cousin. We were both at the same wedding.”
Together they have two adult children, Kirt and Margaret, and two grandchildren. Rosenthal’s grandson, Dayn Hefter, of Fond du lac, WI, will be his chaperone on the Honor Flight.
Following his time in service, Rosenthal was employed by Gehl Company in West Bend for 45 years, which includes the time he worked there before he entered the service.
Upon retirement, Rosenthal and his wife spent time traveling. “We’ve been out to every state and on numerous cruises. We did some farmer’s markets. I’ve got fruit trees; mostly apple, but I had some cherry trees. We would sell some veggies once in a while, too.”
Rosenthal is a member of the Allenton American Legion Fohl-Martin Post 483 and was Treasurer for the Kohlsville Fire Department for 42 years. He was also a church officer and a delegate of Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School.
“I’ve seen [DC] already so I’m mostly looking forward to the comradery on the trip. I’m also really looking forward to going on the Honor Flight with my grandson.”
Rosenthal is one of 15 veterans from Washington County, WI
that are traveling on the May 20 Honor Flight
While 15 veterans from Washington County, WI are on the May 20, 2023 flight, two have asked that their names not be published.
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is the Milwaukee area hub of the Honor Flight Network. Founded in 2008, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight has flown more than 7,600 WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans from southeastern Wisconsin on a one-day, all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C.
