Not long ago Vi Kycek suggested that I should contact a fellow veteran named Sylvester Donald Singlestad who wrote a book about his military service during World War II. Vi also gave me his telephone number.

I had a strong hunch Vi wanted me to do a book review so Singlestad could possibly sell some of his publication copies. Also, she emphasized that there was a strong area connection.

A few days later I called this number and was answered with one of those recorded “leave a message” replies. I told the recording that a copy of this new book would help with the creation of a possible future column.

Within a week a copy of his book, “A Fighting Foo: A Decorated Veteran Remembers World War II,” arrived in the mail. This book was published earlier this year by Arrow Printing of Bemidji and written by S.D. Singlestad, D.S.C., of Park Rapids. (Those D.S.C. initials will be explained later.)

Vi’s comment about an area connection was certainly right. The author of this book was born on May 9, 1917, the son of Sever and Ida Dahl Singlestad in Emmons. His mother was a school teacher and his father owned a meat market, furnished ice (likely from State Line Lake) for the town, and made cement blocks as a sideline.

Singlestad’s memories of life in Emmons are based in part on skiing, riding a horse, helping his father at the meat market and using kerosene lamps for home lighting. There was also a sad time when he was five and his older brother, Gilbert, died of a ruptured appendix at Naeve Hospital.

In 2007, Singlestad visited Emmons and commented that two small trees he and Gilbert planted over eight decades ago now have four-foot girths. Also, on page 13 of the book is a photo of his family’s original home which is still a part of Emmons.

However, the meat market in Emmons ceased operations and the family moved to Garner, Iowa, for a few years, then moved again to Waseca.

He joined Company F. 135th Infantry Regiment, of the 34th “Red Bull” Division in Owatonna during September 1940. (Company G of Albert Lea was at that time a part of this same famous regiment.) Singlestad’s intention was to avoid the military draft by serving for two years with the 34th Division of the Minnesota Army National Guard. By that time he would be 25 and could continue on with a trucking business with his father. The Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, and Nazi Germany declaring war on the U.S. several days later resulted in the 34th Division being activated for federal duty. Thus, he wouldn’t get out of the U.S. Army until August 1945.

During his more than three years of active duty, Singlestad became involved in a real series of combat encounters with the enemy in North Africa, and especially in Italy.

Yet, his first real battle action resulted in him being captured by a German soldier in Algeria. Thus, he became a prisoner of war in 1942. For some odd reason, the Germans turned their American prisoners over to a French unit supposedly on their side. After a few days later the French changed sides and the POWs were released to a British unit and Singlestad rejoined his unit.

He participated in several brutal battles at the Rapido River, Monte Cassino Abbey and Salerno. For his war service Singlestad was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (the D.S.C. mentioned earlier), the nation’s second highest decoration, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle East Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon (six bars). He is also one of the very few Americans to receive the Italian Military Medal of Valor and the Italian War Merit Cross. This last honor came from his service with a group of Italian Partisans (patriots) to help keep Rome and the Vatican City from being destroyed during World War II.

For this last action he was personally blessed by Pope Pius XII, despite the fact that Singlestad told the pontiff he was a Lutheran.

There’s even more in this new book, plus some very interesting wartime photos.

In a personal note, Singlestad said he remembers a Gunnar Norris, a fellow soldier from Albert Lea. Maybe someone has more information we can pass along for our readers about Gunnar.

To order this book, send $25 to S.D. Singlestad D,S.C., P.O. Box 643, Park Rapids MN 56470.

Ed Shannon’s column has been appearing in the Tribune every Friday since December 1984.