News: Neillsville – Am. Legion Honor James Wasserburger (Aug 2018)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

----Surnames: Wasserburger, Brugger, Wagner

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark, Co) 8/01/2018

American Legion to Honor Local Veteran (Wasserburger - 2018)

Legion to Honor Local Veteran


 

James Wasserburger will be honored during a potluck at the Neillsville Legion Post Monday, Aug. 6 at 5:30 p.m. (contributed photo)

James Wasserburger will be one of three local veterans recognized during a potluck at the American Legion Post 73, 6 Boon Boulevard, Neillsville.

Wasserburger was born in Marshfield. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Neillsville and graduated from eighth grade in 1957. He graduated from Neillsville High School in 1961.

From 1961-1963, Wasserburger studied political science at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He joined the U. S. Navy in 1963 and attended basic training at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes in Illinois. While there, he received electronic technician training.

Wasserburger was then transferred to the USS Frank Knox DDR-742, a radar destroyer ship, where he worked as an electronics technician. He had three search-and-destroy missions while in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam. His home port was at Yokosuka, Japan.

In 1966, the USS Frank Knox ship sank in the Pratas Reef in the South China Sea.

Wasserburger then attended signalman school in San Diego, CA, and was transferred to the USS Prairie AD-15, a tender ship. Later, he was re-assigned to the commander Cruisers Destroyers Pacific as a top admiral staff and signalman.

After being discharged in 1967, Wasserburger moved to Milwaukee where he went to school to study computer programming. He then worked in Two Rivers and Kaukauna.

1n 1970, Wasserburger moved to Neillsville and worked in underground telephone construction. He was also a Neillsville Police officer from 1973-1978. He purchased, and then operated, a tavern from 1979-1984. Wasserburger was also a truck driver for a year. Later, he was a child-care counselor and a house parent in treatment centers. In 2011, he became a taxi driver and retired in 2016.

Wasserburger married Ana Marie in 1972. Together, they have five children including: William, Sandra, Joseph, Lisa and James; 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Wasserburger enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, chess and playing cards.

The potluck is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 6 at 5:30 p.m. Wasserburger will be honored along with Kevin Brugger and Richard Wagner.