25-03-2025
Hometown Heroes: Menasha's Medal of Honor recipient Kenneth E. Stumpf
MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – Local 5 News is honoring local Medal of Honor recipients on the eve of National Medal of Honor Day on March 25.
Menasha has the distinction of having two recipients. Only one other city, Pueblo, Colorado, shares the same distinction.
Hometown Heroes: Menasha's Medal of Honor Recipient Elmer J. Burr
In the peaceful surroundings of Smith Park stands the Isle of Valor. It is a space dedicated to the area's veterans, those who never made it home, and those Medal of Honor recipients.
1st Sgt. Elmer Burr, who died after throwing himself on a grenade during World War II, and Staff Sgt. Kenneth E. Stumpf, a Vietnam veteran who rescued three fallen soldiers amidst North Vietnamese gunfire, carrying them one by one to safety.
'I'm not sure many people know Medal of Honor Day is on the 25th of March,' acknowledged VFW Post 2126 Commander David A. Mix. He was part of the team effort to see the Isle of Valor become a historical landmark.
Mix grew up in the same circles as Stumpf and often heard the highly decorated combat veteran speak.
'He was friendly,' recalled Mix. 'If he was out somewhere and somebody wanted to talk to him, he'd tell them what he wanted to know.'
Mix said Stumpf didn't go around telling everyone about his medals but didn't shy away from it either.
'A lot of people would go up to him and say 'thank you,' and he didn't do it for himself. He did it for the country. I know that for sure because he said that many times.'
Stumpf's heroics that day included single-handedly destroying a third enemy bunker after leading his squad in the destruction of two others—all while taking enemy fire.
Post 2126 headquarters at 3rd and Appleton streets has several of his keepsakes.
'We have Kenny's flag,' Mix said. 'We have to put it in a case now because when he died, you cannot fly it or take it anywhere because he's not there.'
Hometown Heroes: Jesse Augustine of Saint Nazianz soared up the ranks of Wisconsin Army National Guard
Now, in Kenny's honor, the post serves the community.
From honor guards at veterans' funerals, brat fry fundraisers, and a big food drive in September, they honor those who served with honor.
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