Chief Warrant Officer, USN (Ret) James Kvam to present this year's Memorial Day address in Waukon

Chief Warrant Officer, USN (Ret) James A. Kvam will serve as featured speaker at the 2014 Memorial Day Observance Program being held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon Monday, May 26. He is the husband of the former Ann Sivesind of Waukon.
Monday’s program at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon will commence following the traditional parade that begins at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Allamakee County Courthouse and marches its way to the cemetery. In the event of rain, the program will be held at the Waukon Banquet Center.
All Veterans are encouraged to participate, a ride will be provided for those Veterans unable to walk the parade route to the cemetery. Anyone wishing to enter a unit in the parade or seeking more information on the Memorial Day program in Waukon should contact Heather Homewood at the Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Office at 563-568-6135.
Volunteers are also needed to help set up the Avenue of Flags Saturday, May 24, beginning at 7 a.m.

FEATURED SPEAKER
Chief Warrant Officer, USN (Ret) James A. Kvam was born in Dubuque and was raised in Cresco.  He enlisted in the United States Navy in July of 1969 and completed his recruit training in San Diego, CA. He rose from the rank of Seaman Recruit (E1) to Master Chief Petty Officer (E9) prior to his commissioning as a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO3) in November of 1993. While on active duty, Kvam completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Education and Work Force Development from Southern Illinois University.
His overseas duty stations included the Naval Weather Station, Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines; Naval Training Center, Kenitra, Morocco; and Naval Communication Station, Keflavik, Iceland. His shore duty stations were Service School Command, Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA; Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, FL; Service School Command, Great Lakes, IL; and Commander Mine Squadron Two, Charleston, SC. Kvam’s sea duty stations were on the USS Hawes (FFG53), USS Vicksburg (CG69), and the USS O'Bannon (DD987).
During Jim’s 27-1/2 years of service, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), Good Conduct Award (six awards), Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards), National Defense Medal (two awards), Southeast Asia Medal with Bronze Star, Overseas Service Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (two awards), Philippine President Unit Citation, and Coast Guard Unit Commendation (operations).
Since his retirement from the Navy, Kvam has taken positions with Nielsen Electronic Training Institute as a platform instructor; Montgomery Wards as a sales associate; and since 1998 has been employed as a Government Contractor for VT Milcom in Charleston, SC. As an employee of VT Milcom, he has held the position of Alteration Installation Director for various projects that installed equipment on Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. Kvam was also assigned as the Submarine Department Coordinator directing over 120 personnel on various installations ensuring that all manning was correct and all trades were covered for a smooth installation.
He is currently assigned as the Facility Security Officer for the Charleston Division. In this capacity, Kvam is responsible for the personal security clearances for all personnel and that all policies are followed for the correct handling of security matters. He is also responsible for the coordination of travel orders for personnel traveling overseas in support of the deployed troops of the United States Armed Forces.
Kvam has been a member of the American Legion for 24 years, joining while on active duty and maintaining a continuous membership. Kvam is currently on the Executive Committee for the American Legion Post 166, Goose Creek, SC. He assists with visits to Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center with fellow Legionaries and Voyageurs delivering books/magazines, diet soft drinks, sugar free cookies and bananas twice a month.
Currently, Kvam holds the position of Chef de Gare for Voiture 1067 in the Forty and Eight Organization. In the past, he has held the position of Correspondant and Chef de Train. Kvam also is the Sous Grande Directeur of Youth Sports du South Carolina and is also a local and national member of the Tin Can Sailors Association of America.
Kvam is married to the former Ann Sivesind of Waukon. They are parents of two sons, Brian J. (Shannon) Kvam and Timothy A. (Barbara) Kvam, and they all reside in Columbia, SC. They are proud grandparents of four grandchildren.

GRAND MARSHAL
John Curtin of rural Waukon will be recognized this year as the Grand Marshal of the annual Memorial Day parade. John, son of the late Bob and Anna Mae Curtin, is a 1966 graduate of St. Patrick High School in Waukon.
February 1, 1968 he reported to Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX for Army Basic Training. Following Basic Training, Curtin was transferred to Fort Polk, LA for Infantry Training. He was subsequently transferred to Fort Benning in Georgia for NCO School. December 21, 1969 he left the United States for Vietnam.
Upon arrival in Vietnam, Curtin was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry. According to the Charlie Company history, “The 1st Cavalry Division's mission in 1969 was to interdict enemy supplies and soldiers as they crossed into South Vietnam from Cambodia using the Ho Chi Minh Trail. For Charlie Company, that meant moving around the western side of III Corps, usually near the Cambodian border.
"Charlie Company began near Quan Loi near the Parrot's Beak area, then moved into Tay Ninh Province. The company even operated in IV Corps, making it one of the 1st Cavalry units that had operated in all four corps areas of South Vietnam. Names such as LZ Jesse, LZ Ike, LZ Rita, Quan Loi, Tay Ninh Base Camp, and Phouc Vinh became part of our vocabulary."
All these names became familiar to Curtin, as he noted that his Company moved to 16 different locations while he was there. Curtin first went into the field January 4, 1969. He served as a Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant. He went on patrols in the mountains, the rubber plantations, rice paddies, and the jungle. Typically, his unit would be at a landing zone (LZ) for three nights, then move into the bush on patrol for 15 days. At one point, they were in the field for over six months, had one stand down day, and returned to the field.
Curtin was wounded three times during his tour of duty, twice by shrapnel and the third time by an AK-47 round to his hip. After his third injury October 4, 1969, he was evacuated by helicopter to the 45th Surgical Hospital at the Tay Ninh Base Camp. He was there for a week, and subsequently spent a month in a hospital in Japan. He was then transferred back to the United States, and got home Christmas Eve, December 24, 1969.
Curtin was discharged as a Staff Sergeant. In addition to other awards and citations, he was awarded the Purple Heart on three occasions.
April 27, 1974, John Curtin and Eileen Whittle of Harpers Ferry were married at Wexford. They have three children, Kelli, Brian and Brad, and six grandchildren. Curtin is a life member of the VFW, and is active in Veterans events. For many years he has served on the Veterans Funeral Detail and carried the American flag for parades and other ceremonies.