Staff photo by Fritz Busch 101-year-old World War II Marine Corps veteran Paul Wojahn of New Ulm, front row, right; poses with New Ulm Disabled American Veterans member Jerry Nachreiner, front row, center; and Chuck Spaeth Ford New Ulm Sales Manager and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Mike Krueger, front row, right. Wojahn and several dozen veterans' names were drawn for the 2022 Warriors & Walleyes Outdoors Lake of the Woods fishing trip July 21-24 sponsored in part by Chuck Spaeth Ford.

NEW ULM –U.S. Marine Corps and World War II combat veteran Paul Wojahn recently celebrated his 101st birthday, but he has other things to be excited about later this month.

Wojahn joined New Ulm Disabled American Veterans member Jerry Nachreiner and Warriors & Walleyes President Lance Peterson of Wood Lake and the staff at New Ulm Chuck Spaeth Ford to celebrate the July 21-24 Lake of the Woods fishing trip with 60 other southwest Minnesota veterans whose names were drawn for the all-expense paid trip.

It’s already been an exciting year for Wojahn. On May 3, he was chosen by the Minnesota DAV to represent veterans at the St. Paul Saints game as the 2022 Hero of the Game. Later this summer, he plans to participate in a family vacation in Alaska.

In World War II, Wojahn made a combat beach landing in New Guinea and was involved in the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa.

Returning home, he worked as a farmer and tracked excavator before he became a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation Oofficer, enforcing hunting, fishing, trapping, recreational vehicle laws at state parks for 25 years. He also taught gun safety classes.

Wojahn also volunteered with the New Ulm DAV chapter for many years.

The idea of creating veterans fishing trips to Lake of the Woods began in 2015 when Lance and Tammy Peterson of Wood Lake began discussing the idea of creating a nonprofit organization to give back to veterans.

“It all started one night as I was watching the stars,” Peterson said. “It’s really grown since then. It’s a lot of work but worth it. This is a great time for veterans to be by themselves and have a good time. It costs about $60 a day for each veteran on the fishing trip. Donations make it go.”

On Nov. 6, 2021, an event fundraiser at the Wood Lake Community Center included smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet corn, pumpkin pie and a beverage. All veterans ate free.

A program included Belview history teacher and two-time Purple Heart recipient Dan Rohman and David Ose, who talked about what boat drivers do when they are out of the water.

The fishing trips have been featured on The Midwest Angler Podcast: Episode 176 (Lance Peterson — Warriors & Walleyes) on Apple Podcasts. The fishing trips can also be found on Google Podcasts and Spotify. On Feb. 13, 2022, Warriors & Walleyes were aired on the PBS Prairie Sportsman.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.)