Local News

Georg’s Army service took him to Alaska

Jim Georg grew up on the south side of Fort Dodge, the son of a truck driver. He loved to play ball – both baseball and softball – and he played for the Butler Braves and the Fort Dodge Demons.

After graduation from Fort Dodge Senior High School, he worked as a brick tender for Bob Hewitt, a neighbor. He had no intention of joining the military.

But it was 1966 and he was drafted and inducted into the Army on Oct. 1. He was initially sent to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, but there were so many draftees at the time that he was sent to Fort Lewis in Washington for basic training.

He was transferred to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and trained as a heavy equipment operator. He stayed there 18 months.

During his time there, there was a full alert after the Navy spy ship USS Pueblo was seized by North Korea on Jan. 23, 1968. The ship is still there as a museum. Georg and his fellow soldiers were told they were going to war. Fortunately they didn't.

Georg found the people in Alaska friendly and he made friends that lasted for years. Two men he served with were from Fort Dodge, Mark Faiferlick and John Malloy. They were all drafted around the same time and were in different units.

Georg was discharged and returned home to Fort Dodge. He went to work for USG for 25 years and retired at 62. He lives in Coalville with his wife of many years. He occasionally plays cards with some real characters at the Community Tap.

Like many veterans he considers his service to his country as a good experience, meeting a lot of good people.