Nearly 58 years ago, a quiet moment on a rural Winneshiek County farm turned into one of heartbreak. Darlene (Olson) Wennes was at home east of Hesper, looking out the window, when she saw a military vehicle turn up the driveway. In that instant, she knew the war in Vietnam had come home.
Her son, Robert Allen “Bob” Wennes, was a casualty of the Vietnam War.
Born on February 14, 1947, in Spring Grove, Minn., to Alden and Darlene Wennes. He graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1966. He enlisted in Minneapolis, and entered the service on September 13, 1966. He arrived in Vietnam on February 24, 1967. LCPL Wennes lost his life in Quang Nam, Vietnam, on Saturday, December 2, 1967, just two months before he was scheduled to come home.
A local newspaper clipping from July 13, 1967, reported that Marine Private First Class Wennes was in An Hoa, Vietnam, with the Second Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, First Marine Division. His unit had completed seven major operations since leaving its base near the Demilitarized Zone. In addition to search-and-destroy missions, they ran day and night patrols and ambushes to disrupt the enemy. The battalion also took part in civic efforts, offering medical and dental care and helping with village redevelopment.
Greg Wennes described Bob as a brother. “We played baseball on Sundays and went to the first Twins game together – he lived and died Minnesota Twins.” Bob was generous, often lending his glove if you did not have one. After he died, his mother gave Greg his two first basemen mitts. Bob would let Greg bat first, always putting others ahead.
Bob was a couple of years older than Greg and after Bob graduated high school they went their separate ways. Greg was surprised to learn he had joined the Marines, describing him as a soft-spoken, shy, and kind person. Yet, he referred to Bob as brave and courageous – a strong fighting Marine.
His two sisters, Judy and Lynette, proudly shared stories of their brother. Lynette confirmed that he loved baseball, “With dad’s help, they built a baseball field in our pasture. They even built a dugout. The neighborhood boys came and played on that field.”
Bob was also a member of the high school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) group and participated in track during high school. The sisters remember him exiting the school bus and running the rest of the way home, and training for track by running in the pastures and fields on the family farm.
Lynette remembered her mom telling her that when Bob was in elementary school, he was eating breakfast cereal one morning and told his mom, “Someday, my name will be engraved in granite in Washington, D.C.” Then he added, “and in Des Moines.” She laughed, but he replied, “Sure, you laugh now, but you just wait and see.” Today, Bob’s name is engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., on Panel 31E, Line 27 in D.C. He is also memorialized at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa; at the Houston County Courthouse in Caledonia, Minn., Spring Grove, Minn. monument, and the new veterans memorial in Decorah, Iowa.
He was known for his practicality in the field. In letters home, he asked for the usual things, like cookies, brownies, candy and peanuts. He also asked for cans of Chef Boyardee, some “real nice stationery,” a pen, shampoo, oil For his rifles, and leather shoelaces because they didn’t rot away so fast. He also asked for car magazines. He was suppose to come home in February or March 1968 and he wanted to order a car so it would be there when he got home, either a new Mustang Fastback or a Pontiac GTO convertible.
If you visit the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. or see the traveling wall when it is in the area, take a moment to find Robert A. Wennes’ name on Panel 31E, Line 27. Pause, take a photo, or leave a token of remembrance.
Bob Wennes is not forgotten. His sacrifice is remembered by his family, his community, and his country.
Semper Fi, Marine (Always Faithful, Marine)
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