DAV podcasts shed light on important topics and challenges facing America’s veterans while sharing veteran stories.

Pod-cast co-hosts Trent Dilks and Mike McElhiney interviewed Paul Wojahn, George “Skip” Ebenhoe, Herb Brunner and Greg Peterson.

World War II Veteran Paul Wojahn, talked about how he reached 103 years old and still enjoys hunting and fishing.

“The good Lord keeps me going. One day at a time,” Wojahn said.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Korean War Veteran Herb Brunner of New Ulm is interviewed by DAV Veterans of the North podcast co-host Trent Dilks Tuesday.

His advice to young veterans after their service time is “go home and do the best you can.”

Wojahn participated in the Battle of Peleliu, called “the bitterest battle of World War II for the Marines,” by the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

“They told us before we landed on Peleliu that the island was too small for all of us and the Japanese,” Wojahn said.

Nearly 11,000 Japanese died in the battle of Peleliu. Navy ships fired nearly 6,000 tons of shells, Navy and marine aircraft dropped at least 800 tons of bombs. In their month on the island, the marines expended nearly 16 million rounds of ammunition, including 16,000 hand grenades. At least 1,600 Americans died on Peleliu.

After the war, Wojahn came home, farmed for a while, drove a bulk oil truck for a year then worked as a Minnesota Game Warden for 25 years.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Korean War Veteran and retired Sleepy Eye Fire Chief George “Skip” Ebenhoe is interviewed by DAV Veterans of the North podcast co-host Trent Dilks Tuesday in New Ulm.

George “Skip” Ebenhoe said he was busy building truck bodies when he was drafted in 1952.

“I was working for my dad, playing in the Sleepy Eye Drum and Bugle Corps, living at home before I entered the Army.

He wound up in Korea with the 1st Field Artillery Regiment Observation Battalion that used surveying techniques to find where enemy guns were shooting from, then directed return fire of U.S. artillery to silence them.

The Korean Armistice Agreement was signed July 23, 1953, ending war hostilities.

“We couldn’t leave until we taught Koreans our job,” Ebenhoe said.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Cold War Veteran and Brown County Service Officer Greg Peterson is interviewed by DAV Veterans of the North podcast co-host Mike McElhiney Tuesday.

“I went home, worked for my dad building truck bodies and got married. We built the first Schwan’s ice truck body. I also built rescue trucks,” he said.

Ebenhoe served on the Sleepy Eye Fire Department for 32 years, 10 years as fire chief. His dad, cousin and uncle were all Sleepy Eye firefighters.

“In the Army, I learned how to handle people and treat them fairly,” he said.

“I married a local farm girl and we had five wonderful children. They’ve turned out unbelievable. Just excellent,” he said.

His advice for young veterans: “Take life as it comes. Be nice to people. You want friends, not enemies. Be involved in the community,” he said.

Ebenhoe sure has. He’s been an American Legion member 65 years, 47 years with the DAV and 45 years with the VFW.

Herb Brunner of New Ulm said his Army service during the Korean War was valuable throughout his life.

“I learned that you can’t always get everything you want. I wasn’t great with guns so they told me to take care of the officer barracks at Fort Hood, Tx.” he said.

“I disappointed a general once. I was told to clean up a trailer and that the general liked coffee. I cleaned up the trailer but didn’t make him coffee right away and got in trouble,” Brunner said.

“We all got along fine at Fort Hood except one guy who wouldn’t take a shower. We later found out he had bed bugs. We were told to give him a GI shower with brushes. That took care of the it,” he said.

After the war, he returned to New Ulm and worked as a New Ulm Cemetery caretaker for more than 30 years,

A 1980 New Ulm High School graduate, Greg Peterson said an Air Force recruiter told him he could become an aircraft loadmaster. Loadmasters supervise aircraft cargo loading and unloading.

“I told him I wanted to ride airplanes and they recruited me,” he said.

Peterson said he had second thoughts about joining the Air Force and called his parents while in boot camp. He said his recruiter visited him and gave him a pep talk in Texas while he was there for a conference.

Peterson said Air Force loadmaster training included survival school where he learned how to navigate at night, feed himself in the wild and survive sleep deprivation.

Participating in the Granada Invasion, Peterson retired in 2003 with 23 years military service.

“My advice to young veterans is get involved. Join a church, the American Legion and other organizations and you’ll find work and camaraderie. Ask questions. Don’t get wrapped up on what’s on the Internet.

A podcast air date has not been set yet. DAV Veteran podcasts can be heard at https://www.dav.org/news-media/podcast/