District 18 state representative Bernie Hunhoff said he was “honored” to give the keynote speech at the annual Yankton VFW Memorial Day program Monday, and he spoke of those who died for their nation with the highest honors.

Specifically, Hunhoff spoke about stories of the soldiers from South Dakota and the patriotism the state displays.

“This is a day we need to remember the soldiers that didn’t return home from war,” he told the crowd at Memorial Park. “During the battles South Dakota soldiers have fought in, the state has lost around 3,000 soldiers in wars.”

Hunhoff added that it’s up to the rest of us — teachers, family members, friends and community members — to tell the stories of soldiers who did not return home from war.

“There are no stories more telling about us as a people then the stories of soldiers who have served overseas,” he said. “George McGovern, for example, served in World War II as a bomber pilot and flew around 35 bombing missions. After the war ended, he could have come home immediately but he chose to stay abroad and continue to serve.”

Hunhoff also told the story of Sig Anderson, who was a war hero in the Navy and would go on to serve as governor of South Dakota from 1951-1955.

But, the District 18 lawmaker said his most memorable story of a soldier in South Dakota was about a Native American who served abroad.

Eagle Elk, who would be renamed Clarence Wolf Guts by his father, grew up speaking the Lakota language.

“He would join the Army in high school and became a code talker while serving (during World War II),” Hunhoff said. “He would translate language into the Lakota language and the Japanese were never able to crack the code of the language. He survived the war and said that the one thing he was most proud of was being able to defend the freedom of our country.”

Hunhoff added that every day Wolf Guts would pray he could come home to South Dakota after the war ended.

Hunhoff also told the story of Don Smith, who grew up in Belle Fourche and was a football star at South Dakota State University.

“Smith was a pilot when he served and decided, in order to complete a mission, they needed to strip the plane down of extras in order to add additional gas tanks,” he said. “After he dropped bombs in Japan, his plane landed in the water near China. He had to paddle all the way onto the Chinese mainland.”

Hunhoff added that when Smith arrived in China, he was cheered by the Chinese. He also ended up on the cover of Life Magazine for his heroism serving.

“Smith returned to South Dakota in April 1942, and his wife had a baby,” he said. “He went back to war in November of that year and his plane ended up crashing, and he passed away as a result of the accident.”

Hunhoff said that the stories he told are why it’s important that people gather on Memorial Day to remember fallen veterans.

“We need to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to give us our freedom,” he said. “This is something we can be proud of.”

The event also featured music by Haylee Heinemeyer, Mary Schmidt and Rachel Wood. Post Commander Rich Wright acted as the Master of Ceremonies.

“These ceremonies are very important,” Hunhoff said. “Soldiers should be remembered for their sacrifices and their stories tell us more about who we are.”

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