Soldiers reunite 50 years later in Wapello on former drill sergeant's birthday
Lee Eutsler trained more than 800 recruits in his time as a drill sergeant back in the 1970s. With 50 years passing this spring, members of a platoon he trained visited him this week in Wapello for his birthday to pay their respects. They found each other online, having lost contact when Eutsler started going by his middle name.
'I had posted my old drill sergeant picture and they had recognized it right off and different guys started contacting me, and then they start planning,' Eutsler told Our Quad Cities News.
Two members of the platoon came by a few days before, one traveling from as far away as Virginia, to catch up with their drill sergeant.
'My old thing I used to say to when I got them all off the cattle car: 'Trainees, I am your father, I am your mother, I am your preacher. I am everything to you,'' said Eutsler.
Little did he know that he wasn't far off.
'He had a huge impact on me, because every time I saw him, I was just like impressed with the way he looked and always the uniform was always perfect,' said Bill Burns, a former member of a platoon Eutsler trained. 'I was living in orphanages and foster homes at the time, so I was looking for some guidance and some training and teaching of that nature. I got lucky, I got the best.'
Burns spent 22 years in the Army, and says he couldn't have done it without Eutsler's help. Another member of the same platoon says Eutsler taught him skills he uses every day.
'The things he's taught me that helped me in my business going forward, (included) how to treat people, the leadership, who you want to emulate and be like, and I always hoped we'd be able to make contact again someday,' said Kevin Leonard, a member of the same platoon.
Both Burns and Leonard say they've spent years trying to reconnect.
'I had actually been looking for him for years,' said Burns. 'I wanted to give him a thank you back then, (but) really couldn't. Didn't know that last time I saw him when we had duty together the night before graduation, I didn't know that would be the last time I would see him.'
Eutsler was surprised and honored when they contacted him.
'I made a big difference in their lives and I didn't know that,' said Eutsler. 'I always wondered how much of a difference (I made.)'
Eutsler says after 50 years, the emotions ran high.
'We just hugged each other for probably five minutes,' said Eutsler. 'It was hard to be the drill sergeant anymore and keep my composure.'
To make it special, the platoon celebrated his 74th birthday, something Eutsler says he isn't used to.
'I haven't had a birthday or a birthday party all my life,' said Eutsler. 'I had a birthday cake from a German friend 40 years ago.'
Eutsler says it was the best birthday he's ever had.
'I love this day, not because it's my birthday, but because these guys remembered me.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
22News Notebook for June 10th
The 22News Notebook is Working for You with a look at these upcoming events in our western Massachusetts area: Polish Food Sale All your favorites available! Saturday, June 14, 9AM-1PM Immaculate Conception Church 25 Parker St., Indian Orchard Bottle & Can Drive To benefit Belchertown Cub Scout Pack 507 Wednesday, June 18, 10AM-1PM Belchertown Common Main Street We're happy to help spread the word about your non-profit event. Email details at least 2 weeks in advance to: notebook@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
New fully accessible playground opens in Scranton
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A new place to play is now in Scranton. The city celebrated the grand opening of the Butterfly Playground, a fully accessible space inside Nay Aug Park designed for children and adults of all abilities. What used to be a parking lot is now a place where everyone can play. 'Oh, I've already seen the kids in here playing, and it makes you really happy. You put a smile on your face to see them enjoying it,' said volunteer Doris Koloski. The Butterfly Playground in Nay Aug Park is Scranton's newest inclusive play space, featuring accessible ramps and a merry-go-round built into the surface, so kids of all abilities can ride. 'This project has equipment that's totally handicap accessible, which we don't see enough of in our region,' said Thom Welby, vice chair of the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority. 'I think the idea was that they could all intermingle and I'll enjoy the stuff together and not have them separated out, and just so the kids could socialize,' said Koloski. The nearly $400,000 project was funded through a state casino grant, administered by the city, with support from lawmakers and local volunteers. PHOTOS: Wilkes-Barre mural causes controversy 'The volunteers up here, they've been having donut sales, just basket raffles, bingos, anything to raise money,' explained Welby. That extra money added activity panels throughout the playground. This is just phase one. City leaders say future phases will include additional age-specific areas, all part of an all-inclusive discovery corridor. 'We added paved ADA parking spaces to the adjacent parking lot here and then added an ADA accessible route to the playground, and the pour and play system is actually a granular rubber that's bound,' said Mike Lachman, landscape architect at Barry Issett & Associates. Making it wheelchair accessible and cleaner. 'Playground projects are always the fun ones because you get to see the kids enjoy it after the fact, it's not so much the ribbon-cutting after all that's done. It's coming back out and seeing the kids run around and play on the playground,' explained Lachman. The Butterfly Playground is now open to the public at Nay Aug Park. With this ribbon cutting, Scranton sends a clear message: Play is for everyone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fauquier County Public Schools giving out free summer meals to kids
FAUQUIER COUNTY, Va. () — Fauquier County Public Schools will be giving out free meals to children during the summer. The Summer Food Service Program is offering free to-go meal kits to children who are two to 18 years old. Meal distribution will be from Monday to Thursday, starting on June 10 until July 24. Meals will not be offered on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. PHOTOS: Black bear travels to Herndon after traversing Maryland The kits will include breakfast and lunch for the day. On Thursdays, the kits will have meals for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Meals will be given out on a first-come-first-serve basis at these three locations: Salem Avenue (Townhomes), Marshall – 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Frost Street cul-de-sac (Marshall Townhomes), Marshall – 11:20 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. Marshall Community Center Library, Marshall – 11:40 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. Children are encouraged to attend in person to receive meal kits. Parents or guardians picking up meals without their children present need to show proof of eligibility. Acceptable documents for proof: A student ID A report card A health insurance card with the child's name and date of birth Any other document that reasonably identifies the child's name and age No invasive questions will be asked. The process is designed to be respectful and simple. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
