Veterans Way Honorees

Born Waterloo, IA, June 17, 1960. His parents are Junior Brooks (Army Veteran) and Shirley Joyce.

Born October 24, 1929, Chuck Haaf grew up near Britt, IA. Chuck entered the U.S. Navy after graduating from High School in 1948. He was stationed in San Diego, CA for his one year of service. He graduated from the Navy’s Metalsmith program specializing in welding. Chuck married Marion Prohaska in 1949 and raised 8 children. The family moved to Waterloo in 1961 where Chuck finished out his career as a trained machinist for John Deere. Chuck passed away October 20, 1995 at the age of 65.

James “Russ” Walker served in the United States Army during the Korean War 1951-1953. He was stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. He then transferred to the Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in April 1953. Born and raised in Sumner, Iowa. Lived and worked in Waterloo at the Altstadt & Langlas Baking Co. 1948-1986.

Jim Sullivan joined the United States Navy at the age of 17. He served actively from 1958 to 1962 and served in the Navy Reserves from 1985-1991.

Artillary in Vietnam, disability due to agent orange

Arthur was born 1928 in Denver, Iowa. He married Daphine Staack in 1950. He was drafted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1953. Arthur and Daphine lived in Waterloo their whole lives. Arthur retired from Waterloo Wood Bearing after 43 years in 1990, and was a lifetime member of Legion Post #138. He loved to hunt, fish, and play cards. He passed away in 2007, his wife preceded him in death in 1998.

Robert Hibbs was a graduate of Cedar Falls High School. He was the first (now) UNI graduate and Iowan to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. Recipient of the United States military’s highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War. Hibbs joined the Army from Des Moines, Iowa in August 1964, and by March 5, 1966, was serving as a second lieutenant in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He had earned his commission thru the US Army Officer Candidate School OCS, Fort Benning, Ga. On 5 March 1966 during Operation Cocoa Beach, at Don Dien Lo Ke in the Republic of Vietnam, his patrol spotted a Viet Cong force approaching the 2nd Battalion’s position. Hibbs led his small group in an attack on the enemy force and, with another soldier, volunteered to rescue a wounded comrade. After reaching the wounded man, Hibbs stayed behind to provide covering fire and was mortally wounded while attacking an enemy machine gun emplacement. For his actions during the battle, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor a year later on February 24, 1967.