A Moment in my Life

              A MOMENT IN MY LIFE
by Erv Siefkes
In 1953, I was in the U.S. Army, stationed at the United States Military
Academy, in West Point, New York. I had been selected to be on the Honor
Guard Team.
One week-end, another enlisted man and I were to guard a dignitary and escort
him to the reviewing stand for a parade of the Cadets. We did not know who
this important person would be, but he happened to be the President of the
United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Following the parade, we returned the President to the proper security. He
turned and thanked the other guard first for doing what we did. Also he asked
where the soldier was from. He then came over to me and repeated the
Thanks and asked the same question as he had the other guard--" And where
are you from, soldier?" I replied that I was from the Aberdeen, South Dakota,
area.
President Eisenhower said he remembered the town very well. When he had
been a General in the Army, he was with the troop trains that stopped at the
Milwaukee Depot, where they were served pheasant sandwiches. He said
they were the best sandwiches he had ever eaten.
President Eisenhower also told me that when I got home and saw any of the
ladies who had been involved in the pheasant sandwich meals, to be sure to
say, "Thanks, from Ike". It has taken me till now in 2005, to get that Thank you
done, but to you Canteen ladies, Thank you very much for everything that you
did.
Erv Siefkes
gMJ~~