Portraits of Valor

Military Medals hang in a frame. — Robert Holmstrom's medals from World War II.
Evan Frost | MPR News

2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Most of the 326,000 Minnesotans who fought in the war — waged in the Pacific, Asia, the Mediterranean and Europe from the land, sky and sea — have died, taking their knowledge of a different America with them.

As of Sept. 20, 2019, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimated there were 7,347 WWII veterans living in Minnesota, many of whom are approaching 100 years old.

MPR News photographer Evan Frost sat down with some of those veterans to document their memories and their hopes for America. These are their stories.

December 30, 2020 7:00 AM

Portraits of Valor: Doris, 97, and Richard Edge, 96. Navy and Army

Doris and Richard Edge were both called to service during World War II. As Richard fought his way across Europe, Doris rose through the ranks in one of the military’s first programs for women.

by Evan Frost

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September 28, 2020 4:00 AM

Portraits of Valor: Joe Stephes, 99, Navy

Joe Stephes served the entirety of World War II in the Navy, sailing in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters with the USS Wichita. He guarded supply ships, shot down enemy planes and saw the destruction of atomic bombs firsthand.

by Evan Frost and Britta Greene

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May 22, 2020 4:00 AM

Portraits of Valor: Dick Kern, 94, Army

Flying has always been the passion of Dick Kern’s life. He started with model airplanes, then manned the tail gun of a B-24 bomber in World War II.

by Evan Frost

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May 8, 2020 4:00 AM

Portraits of Valor: Bob Holmstrom, 94, Army

Bob Holmstrom was sworn to secrecy for 40 years after World War II, where he flew secret nighttime mission over Europe dropping spies, supplies and propaganda to resistance fighters.

by Evan Frost

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April 29, 2020 4:00 AM

Portraits of Valor: Warren High, 99, Army

High was glad to be serving his country overseas and thought it was the right thing to be doing with his life, but wanted more out of his service. “I was frustrated sometimes because I didn’t feel like I was doing something worthwhile,” he said.

by Evan Frost

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April 15, 2020 4:00 AM

Portraits of Valor: Dan Cylkowski, 94, Army

The son of a World War I veteran and with a brother in the Air Corps, he was proud to join the Army: “…I’m going there to serve my country.”

by Evan Frost

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