TULALIP – At 98, Charter “Red” Sheldon still gets around pretty well. He dances at the VFW, goes to Mariners games, attends activities at the Tulalip senior center and plays bingo.
“He’s busy,” said his daughter, Karen Sheldon.
Tuesday, Nov. 11, he attended the Veterans Day event at the Hibulb Cultural Museum. The World War II veteran was honored as the oldest-living veteran on the reservation.
When he was in the service, he was stationed in Paris during the war. He would help the paramedics with wounded soldiers. “I helped the poor people,” he said.
His daughter added, “He did whatever he could to help.”
Karen said he also was a cook. “He taught us always to be nice to the cooks,” said Karen, herself a combat unit veteran. “I never complained about the food.”
Karen said it’s always been hard to get her dad to talk about the war.
“Like real warriors they don’t talk about what happened,” she said. “They are true gentlemen. They keep it deep down inside.”
Red, who is also a Seahawks fan, keeps active thanks to his daughter and his caregiver, Briana Cordova. They were planning to go to a USO dance later Tuesday.
“The ladies used to line up around the table” to dance with him, Karen said.
As for the event itself, the highlight was a roll call of veterans. Each one gave their name, rank and serial number and spoke briefly about when they served.
Maria Hernandez opened with a prayer about how veterans sacrifice their time and lives for each and every one of us. Later on she said, “All too often we don’t get a chance to thank our vets.”
Cy Hatch III of Tulalip said he was in the Marines from 1971-91, when he retired as an E-7 gunnery sergeant. He said he joined up because: “I wanted to do something with myself. It was one of my best moves.”
Prior to the event, he said he came to gather with fellow veterans to “honor our service, past and present.” He said he can’t believe how fast time has gone by. “I’ve been retired longer than I served,” he said with a laugh, then added seriously, “I want to thank my fellow vets – here and not here.”
Other vets also spoke.
Nick Brown was in the Navy from 1941-43. He was wounded in the Philippines. “I survived. Thank God for that,” he said.
William McLean Sr. was a Marine from 1985-88. “I’m proud to be a vet, and follow all my comrades. I’m glad you’re all being recognized.”
Nick Cook was in the Army. “It’s an honor to be here,” he said.
Bill Topaz said, “It was my duty and honor to serve this country.”
Cheryl Fryberg served from 1977-79 and was a Specialist 5, and Louis Hernandez was on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier from 2001-05. Mike Gobin was in the Navy from 1974-78 and again from 1980-85 on the USS Kittyhawk. Art Charles was a Marine in Vietnam.
Many other vets also were recognized. After the ceremony, many looked at the Veterans Wall at the museum. Some, including Hatch, have their pictures on the wall, in their younger days. The center then fed the vets and visitors.
David and Linda Erickson of Bellingham came to support the Tulalip Tribes because of the recent shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
“We wanted to be here to show support for the community,” said Linda, herself a school teacher. David’s dad was in World War I, and he has five brothers who are vets so they go to Veterans Day events every year.
“There are so many vets who are Native American,” she said. “I wasn’t aware. They have a love of our country, and we appreciate that.”
David Fryberg, who served from 1959-65, including a stint in Vietnam, said many veterans who see the horrors of war wonder why they get to come home. He called it “survivor syndrome.” He asked for prayers for a young Tulalip man who may be going through that now as the only survivor of the shooting at M-P.
“Nate (Hatch) may have that. Keep him in your prayers,” Fryberg said.
