fnewell

Sgt. Fred Newell

Contributed by Stephen Newell-May 2006

The majority of Fred Newell's military career was with the Illinois National Guard stationed at Cairo, Il. After serving in WWII, he joined the Guard Jan 7, 1947 and served till Oct 3, 1951, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. By this time the Korean War was beginning and he chose not to re-enlist. He had already served in WWII and he now had a family to take care of. The government was sending the National Guard units into the war. The war lasted from June 1950 until July 1953. On Oct 1, 1956 he re-enlisted and received an appointment as a Administrative Supply Technician. This appointment meant that he had a full time job taking care of the equipment and facilities of the Cairo unit. In 1960 he was promoted to Master Sergeant Illinois National Guard Armory in Cairo, Il. and later to his highest rank of First Sergeant. He had offices in different parts of the armory building but for about his last 20 years there he used an office on the front of the building on the second floor. On June 26th 1980 at age 60 Fred retired whereupon he received an honorable discharge with the rank of 1st Sergeant E-8.
Each year the National Guard unit went to summer camp where they would renew their basic training. Some years they went to Camp Ripley located at 15000 Hwy 115 in Little Falls, Minnesota and some years they went to Camp McCoy, Northeast of Sparta, Wisconsin on La Crosse State Trail.

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