Michelle Bergh

I have such an appreciation for veterans and service members!   So many family members and friends have served--even my mother.  She served in the Minnesota Army National Guard as an Adjutant General (human resources & administration) officer for 28 years, retiring as a Colonel.  She actually wore combat boots and a battle dress uniform the day she met my father!    I think he likes having a trained killer protecting our family!

My Godfather, Don Fett, served for over 30 years in the MN Army National Guard as a JAGC (lawyer) officer, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.  One of his assignments was doing free legal pre-deployment planning and estate planning for soldiers.  In civilian life, he specializes in pre-nursing home asset protection and legal senior estate planning like trusts and wills, some of it very similiar to what he provided for the soldiers. 

My cousin in Norway is currently one of the most highly-decorated officers in the modern Norwegian Army. 

But the two most important service members I've known were Gunnar Sonsteby and my Grandfather, Paul Woelfel.  Gunnar was the leader of the Oslo 9, a Nazi Resistance group, in Norway during WWII.   He risked his life more times than any other resistance fighter, and he was named a Top 10 spy in the world.  Gunnar earned the greatest appreciation and friendship of the Norwegian Royal Family and was THE most highly decorated person in Norway EVER. 

I am a huge WWII history buff, and I was so lucky that Gunnar and his wife, Anna Karin, stayed at our house for 9 days when he was 92.  He came here for the opening of a film festival that featured a film called "Max Manus", which was a true story of the Oslo 9.  He gave interviews and talks about his group while he was here.  Despite his many achievements and honors, he was an extremely humble man.  I'm so sad that he passed away a couple of years after I met him.

The other service member I'm most proud of was my Grandfather, who was a Korean War vet.  He told many stories of the grim conditions of the war and of some of the atrocities that occurred there.  He risked his life countless times, remained calm under fire and was an excellent marksman, which caused him to be the most-requested gunner of his unit.  He often used two machine guns at a time.  He was on the front lines, was shot at extensively and suffered a permanent disability from his service. 

My Grandfather had enormous respect for the VA Hospital and insisted on getting all of his care there.  He had congestive obstructive pulmonary disease (lung disease), congestive heart failure, and many other life-threatening conditions.  So, in the last three years of his life, he was in the VA emergency room frequently and probably spent more days and months in the VA Hospital than out of it.  He died of lung cancer while in their care. 

Because my Grandfather spent so much time in the VA Hospital, I also spent a lot of time at the VA Hospital, visiting him.  My mom is convinced that because of their diligent care, especially in their congestive heart failure unit, he was given a few extra years of life.  I'm very grateful for the good care he received, and I very much appreciate everything that our veterans have done for our country.

Though my Grandfather passed away in 2010, there is a special place in my heart for the VA Centers, and for all veterans and service members.

I had the pleasure of giving a 30-minute performance in May 2013 to the VA Adult Day Care Center.  I could not believe what an interactive and enthusiastic group they were.  It was truly one of my favorite performances ever because of the interaction with all of those great veterans. 

I hope they invite me back to sing for them again, because I truly enjoyed my time with them!

Below:  Interacting with the veterans at the VA Adult Day Care

Below:  My Grandfather, Paul Woelfel, when he served in the Korean War.  Doesn't he look like a movie star?

Below:  Another photo of my Grandfather during the Korean War.