Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Eddy, Zank, Schutz
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/31/2019
American Legion to Recognize Veteran (Edgar “Bud” Eddy - 2019)
Edgar “Bud” Eddy will be one of three veterans, and one of two members of the Eddy family, to be Honored for military service by the Neillsville Legion on Monday. Photo submitted.
Eddy was born in Sparta. He graduated from Neillsville High School in 1967 after attending Riverside Grade School for grades one through six and Pineview Grade School for grades seven and eight.
After graduation, Eddy worked at Midwest Equipment Sales as a welder.
Eddy was drafted in February 1970. He then had basic training at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He was the top shooter of his company. He had advanced training at Fort Knox in Kentucky, in reconnaissance.
After training, Eddy was sent to the 1/10 Calvary attached to the Fourth Infantry – Charlie Company in Vietnam in Pleiku and Tx. An Khe in the North Central Highlands. His work consisted of minesweeping the main highway, foot patrols, reactionary force to support military firefights and driving personnel carriers.
The last month Eddy was there, he was a track commander. He served one year in Vietnam and was transferred to Fort Carson in Colorado in 1971. He received an early out in October 1971 as a specialist fourth class.
Eddy returned to Neillsville and worked at the farm of Frank Zank, his father-in-law.
In April 1972, Eddy worked at A. O. Smith in Elkhorn. He worked there for 15 years. After that, he was transferred to DeKalb, IL, where he worked for six months. He then went to Dan Dee in Honey Creek as a welder in 1987.
Following that, Eddy worked in the East Troy School District as a custodian, bus driver, and grounds and maintenance worker.
Later, Eddy worked at Jim Bolton Farms as a semi driver and at Elkhorn High School.
Eddy then worked again in East Troy, this time for the village in the wastewater, water and streets departments. He worked there for 15 years. He retired in August 2015.
Eddy married LuAnne Zank in 1969. They have two children, Todd and Travis, and four grandchildren.
Eddy enjoys gardening, small engines and lawnmowers. He likes to hunt and golf and watch his grandchildren.
For his time in service, Eddy received the Good Conduct, Combat Infantry National Defense and Vietnam Service medals with two Bronze Stars, Vietnam Campaign and Expert badges with auto rifle bar and Sharpshooter with rifle bar.
Eddy will be honored, along with his brother Dennis, and Charles Schutz this Monday, Aug. 5, at the Neillsville Legion, 6 Boon Boulevard. There will be a social hour at 4;30 p.m. and a potluck at 5:30 p.m.
