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Show Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 11 Gunnison, UT ECRWSS Volume 3 • Number 13 Thursday, March 29, 2007 Copy Price • 75 cents New address for Veteran Legion Member by ALAN PETERSON H. Dean Malmgren, a longterm resident of Centerfield who retired as postmaster there after 30 years, has announced he is re-locating to Enoch, Utah, to be closer to his daughter’s family. Dean was honored recently for his tireless contributions to the Centerfield American Legion Post at a dinner held March 22 at the Legion Hall. As one of the chapter members of the post, Dean has served in many capacities since joining in 1946, when the post was established. At one time, following World War II, the Centerfield Post had 67 members, according to Dean. Asked how the Legion has changed since those early day, Dean replied “They [Legion] want more money today.” Dean paid annual dues for membership for about 40 years, and then, “…20 or so years ago, they came up with a pretty good deal on a lifetime membership…” Dean’s departure from Centerfield will interrupt 61 years of continuous membership/service he has delivered to the Post. Only a few weeks ago he turned over his assignment in connection with the Legion Oratory Contest. In doing so, he delivered a manila envelope containing all the rules, procedures, names of judges used in past contests, and a small bundle of pencils to the individual who will try to maintain the standard he set. It was indicative of how Dean has performed his assignment over the decades; no loose ends. The Post and local community would like to thank Dean for all he’s done during his lifetime in Centerfield, and wish him good health in the days ahead. You are appreciated, Dean. The following story was written by Tanner Malmgren, Dean’s grand-nephew. On March 27, 1941. Dean Malmgren was drafted by the U.S. army. He had his physical and induction on the 28th, at Fort Douglas. He was part of the first draft in Sanpete County. After his induction, he was sent to Fort Lewis by train. Dean was part of the 41st Division. His division was in training at Fort Lewis until Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. They were afraid that the Japanese would come and attack the coast, so they were scattered all along the coast in Washington and Oregon. After guarding the coast for awhile, on April 18, 1942, Dean and his division loaded on a ship and was sent to Australia. It took about a month to get there. They were sent to Australia because Australia’s troops were in South Africa fighting the Germans. They arrived in Melbourne, Australia on March 10, 1942 and they stayed in a big empty warehouse. This was the only time Dean had stayed in a building during his whole military career. The rest of the time, he stayed in a six man tent. The Japanese were already in New Guinea, so Dean and his division were guarding making sure the Japanese didn’t attack Australia. Dean’s group was part of Battalion Headquarters in the message center, which was part of the communication section. Members of the GVHS Drama Department. Dean Malmgren in his World War II days. He was responsible for using and safeguarding the battalion code machine. Later he served as the squad leader. In Australia, tea was rationed. The crew working around the camp would take a break at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for tea. One man would build a fire and put on the can of water. Each one had to furnish their own tea. They saw a lot of koala bears in Australia. The eucalyptus trees were everywhere. In January of 1943, he was moved up to Buna, New Guinea. His job there was to clean up after this area was taken from the Japanese. In October of 1943, Dean’s group was moved back to Rockhampton, Australia where they practiced for beach landings. From there they were shipped back to New Guinea to help chase the Japanese from the coast and cut off supplies for those that went further in land. Next the Division, minus The Gunnison Valley High School Drama Department traveled to Moab, Utah March 21st and 22nd for its annual Region Drama Competition. Representing the department this year were 22 students, 5 adults and one very supportive bus driver. The first day of competition was for individual events. In the area of pantomime Ben Boore and Sam Brown performed “Bunny Bashing Four Our Redneck Plea- one regiment, was sent to land on Biak Island. The Japanese had one air strip in use and another under construction, which the U.S. Air Force needed to be closer to their work. The landing was more complicated than planned as the Japanese were using some deep caves overlooking the air strip. The ship’s guns and air force bombs could not penetrate the caves. They had to be taken with flame throwers. With this accomplished, the group could move forward gain. One night while marching across the island to secure the unfinished air strip, a group of Japanese tried to use the same trail. They were met with heavy machine gun fire. The next morning about a hundred Japanese needed burial. After about six months on Biak, the 41st Division was shipped to the Philippines. While there, Dean found he had been chosen for rotation back to the States. Just Mark Henline/Gunnison Valley Gazette Dean at the Legion dinner with the plaque and hat presented to him by Legion Post 105. one catch, he had to follow the troops in on two more island invasions and unload supplies. On the island of Zambowango, the Japanese dropped a bomb on a pile of gasoline drums, just unloaded from the ship next to his. As soon as the unloading was finished, they left. Dean was on his way home when President Roosevelt died. He left the ship in San Diego on April 18, 1945, three years to the day from loading to go over seas. During the two weeks he Christi Garff/Gunnison Valley Gazette Bulldogs attend Region Drama Competition by CHRISTI GARFF Courtesy Photo sure.” Ben and Sam received superior ratings and will move on to the state competition in April. Casey Yardley and Stacey Mellor performed “Love Stinks.” In the category of mono-acts B.J. Starks portrayed the character of Arnold from the play “The Boys Next Door.” B.J. also received superior ratings and will move on to the state competition in April. In the category of Dramatic Interpretation Megan Jensen performed a scene from “St. Joan,” where she portrayed Joan of Arc. For the category of Humorous Interpretation Ethan Young performed the black knight scene from the Monty Python’s “Holy Grail.” Ethan received superiors and qualified to move on to the state round. The Drama team also performed three separate scenes for the competition. Phoenix Guy and Natasha Watson played two sisters in a scene taken from Horton Foote’s “Courtship.” Zach Watson and John Warren presented a scene from Larry See DRAMA, Page 5 was home, he got married. By then, the Germans had surrendered. Dean had enough points during his four year career that Sergeant Henry Dean Malmgren was discharged at Fort Douglas on June 6, 1945. Dean was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Service Medal with three Bronze Battle Stars. Courtesy Photo/Marilynn Sorenson GVES students in preschool through the third grade were visited by Dr. Frandsen last week. He talked to the students about dental hygiene, showed them the proper way to brush their teeth and gave them all a toothbrush. Centerfield celebrates with the “Old Folks” See page 8 for all the pictures! |
