New Richland resident Dr. Albert G. Flor represented WWII veterans as the Flag Pole Honoree at Target Field Sunday, May 19 at the Twins–Red Sox game. He was accompanied at the stadium by 130 family and friends. Prior to his raising of the flag and simultaneous singing of the national anthem, Dr. Flor’s military biography was read to the fans. His military bio, slightly edited by the Twins for time considerations, read as follows:
“As a third-year dental student at the U of M, I enlisted in the Medical Administration Corp Reserves as a 2nd Lieutenant in July 1942. I was inducted into active duty as a private in the A.S.T.P. program in July 1943.
“I graduated from U of M Dental School and was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Dental Corp on Dec. 16, 1943. I was ordered to Camp Grant, Illinois on Jan. 19, 1944 to serve in the Medical Training Battalion until July 31, 1944.
“On Aug. 7, I was ordered to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma to help prepare the 42nd (Rainbow) Division for overseas duty.“I was then ordered on Oct. 30, 1944 to serve at the POW camp at Monticello, Arkansas.
“I received my Captains rank on Aug. 23, 1945. I was then ordered to Army-Navy General Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas to serve as the Commanding Officer of a dental clinic. Our clinic treated returning POWs from Japan, some who were on the Bataan Death March.
“I terminated my military service at the Separation Center at Fort Sheriden, Illinois, Nov. 12, 1946. I was awarded the WWII Victory Medal and the American Theatre Ribbon.
“I have one son who served as a Navy dentist in the Vietnam War, and another who retired Lieutenant Colonel from National Guard after almost 20 years of serving. Three grandchildren are serving or have served during recent war campaigns. One, as a National Guard man, flew Blackhawk helicopter, and served in Iraq. Another is a ship doctor in U.S. Coast Guard, stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. The third is a flightier pilot flying the F18 Superhornet presently flying off Carrier George Washington based out of Japan and the Pacific.”
After the reading, a huge applause was heard from the Target Field fans. Dr. Flor was deeply honored.