Veterans Way Honorees

Roger served in the Army 116th Infantry Division and honored for gallantry in action against the enemy. On 28 February 1945 when the advance of his unit met intense fire from the enemy machine guns, Staff Sergeant Schaefer worked his way forward and neutralized weapons with hand grenades. Undaunted by enemy fire, he continued forward single-handedly destroyed the second weapon. At this time a group of riflemen surrendered without further resistance. His actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Military Serviceman serving from Iowa. This was the report prepared by Louis G. Smith, Colonel, GSC – Chief of Staff. He served in the following theatres: Campaign “Nothern France”, Campaign “Rhineland” and Campaign “Central Europe”. He was a Carbine M-1 qualified Sharpshooter – 16 July 1947 He received the following Decorations and Citations: Bronze Silver Star for “Campaign Northern France” – 01 December 1944 Bronze Silver Star for “Campaign Rhineland” – 25 June 1944 Bronze Silver Star for “Campaign Central Europe” – 21 June 1945 Silver Star – 14 April 1945 EAMET Ribbon – 01 January 1943 Good Conduct Medal – 15 November 1944 Combat Infantry Badge – 18 January 1945 American Theatre Ribbon He was honorably discharged so he could enlist in the Regular Army, WD Circular 310 in 1945.

Rolland was born on October 3, 1923 in La Porte City, Iowa. Rolland lived in La Porte City with his parents and five siblings until he joined the Navy at the age of 17 years old in March of 1941. Rolland served on the USS Long Island and the USS Card as a Seaman 1st Class. Rolland was injured and was in the hospital for six months in San Diego, CA. He was honorable discharged in March, 1943. When Rolland returned home he met Frances Kemp and married on May 8, 1943. They raised six children in the Waterloo area. Rolland retired from the Iowa State Highway Commission in 1973. Rolland’s sons Ronald and Randy followed in their father’s footsteps and served in the Navy.

Rod was born in Utah and moved to Waterloo, where his mother and siblings were living, after his honorable discharge, Rod has lived in Waterloo for over 45 years. He married in 1978 and raised 2 children in both the Waterloo and Cedar Falls school districts. He is a member of the Newhall Iowa American Legion and the Waterloo Iowa Disabled American Veterans. He has a blended family of 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Over the years he has worked throughout the community to help his fellow veterans, but is humble when asked about his own service. Bases he has served on include Camp Pendleton, CA; Quantico, VA; Okinawa, Japan; Camp Lejeune, NC; and Puerto Rico, plus being on the USS Cayuga and the USS Mobile. When asked if he was a Marine, he answers “I’m still a Marine”, and when someone thanks him for his service he replies ” it was my honor”. Rod firmly believes in God and Country, service, church and family.

Milton was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on Feb. 11, 1945. He came to Waterloo at age 3. Joined the Army on 1/31/63. Was stationed in Germany. He earned the Good Conduct Medal and Expert Rifle. He received an Honorable Discharge on 3/8/66. He lived in Germany a few years after discharge, then moved back to Waterloo. He was very proud of his military service and it made him very patriotic. He loved the flag and always had one flying. He married Cheryl and had 3 daughters – Traci, Nikole, and Michele and 4 granddaughters -Shabbrea, Briana, Temiah, and Najya (who he never got to meet). He also never met his 2 great grandsons, Makai and Messiah. He would have been so happy to have them as he always hoped for a boy but it was all girls until then. However, his daughters and granddaughters were his world. He was so happy with them he didn’t miss having a boy. He would do things like buy matching hats and bandanas for himself and the girls. When the granddaughters lived out of state and the leaves turned color in the fall, he sent them each a card with a pretty leaf in it. Family was everything. He was an avid fisherman spending most of his free time at a lake or river. He also loved to travel with the red rocks of Zion and Bryce National Parks being one of his favorite places. He worked at the Highway Commission as a surveyor, Rath Packing, bus driver for Headstart (which was his favorite!), then Met Transit until he became too ill to work. He passed away on August 1, 2007. He is missed.”

Major John G. Temeyer was born January 19, 1941, in Independence, Iowa, one of 11 children born to Tillie and Chuck Temeyer. After graduating from Don Bosco High School in Gilbertville in 1959, John enlisted in the Army in 1959 and served 20 years. He served as company commander and Huey helicopter pilot while in Vietnam, receiving the Bronze Star; Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in an aerial flight emergency extraction of 3 soldier recon patrol endangered by the Viet Cong; and Air Medal for Heroism (Sixteenth Oak Leaf Cluster) while participating in the extraction of the 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry while under enemy fire. He went back to college and graduated from the University of Dubuque. In 1980, he retired and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida with his then wife (Susan) and 2 children (Thomas and Leah). He was a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association after his retirement. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida with his daughter and granddaughter in 1997. He remained in Jacksonville until his death on December 4, 2012.

A proud Vietnam vet, union man with 36 years a telephone tech with Northwestern Bell, retiring from Century Link in 2015. I have stayed active as treasurer of three union organizations and with the BlackHawk County Democrats. I have been an election official for 8 years. I am a member of the American Legion Post in Waterloo and the Cedar Falls Amvets. I enjoy living in Waterloo.