The American Legion is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2019. Profiles of St. Joseph-area veterans will be published in each Newsleader during 2019. The Newsleader is joining with Post 328 to recognize veterans and Legion members who served during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other theaters of conflict and Cold War tensions.
by Tom Klecker
Judith Ann (Scholten) Hansen, 72
U.S. Army – Vietnam Era
Judy was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was the oldest girl of 14 siblings (five brothers and eight sisters). She grew up on a 160-acre “hobby farm” in Lyon County – the most northwestern county in Iowa. As the oldest girl in the family, Judy, was called upon to help care for her younger siblings as well as help with homemaking chores such as cooking and cleaning.
Judy says that she was raised in a “strong traditional Catholic family.” She recalls the wonderful adventures of being raised in the country on a farm as also transporting younger brothers and sisters to school over ice and snow packed roads.
Judy did well academically in school. There were only 11 members of her high school class. In spite of her father’s discouragement, Judy was the first in her family to attend college. Briar Cliff was a small Catholic Franciscan Liberal Arts College in Sioux City, Iowa.
Judy paid her way through college by grants, work studies and one summer as a nanny/housekeeper for four teenage boys and their father.
Over one summer Judy joined her college roommate Erna and traveled to New York City. She lived with Erna’s Puerto Rican family. Judy‘s cultural immersion was further enhanced by working in a dress factory in the garment district).
Judy traveled 1½ hours to work each day. While in New York City, she availed herself of Broadway shows and the Puerto Rican night club scene.
In Judy’s junior year of college, she signed up for the Women Army Corps junior course. It was a program in which young women are invited to go for a trial enlistment of a month and in so doing become familiar with a military career. Prior to making a final commitment and still in school, Judy would receive an allowance comparable to an E-4/corporal’s pay and a housing allowance.
After the WAC military orientation course at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Judy signed off on a two-year commitment.
On May 24, 1969, Judy graduated from college with a degree in English. That same day she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. For many Americans, 1969 was a time of intense debate over this country’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
From May 24, 1969, until Judy’s discharge from the Army in June of 1976, she experienced several assignments and duty stations. Basic training at Fort McClellan was the beginning of a rewarding career. All of her assignments involved personnel and personal affairs administration.
One particular somber duty was coordinating the notification of a soldier’s death to the next of kin in Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota. She also monitored the Survivor Assistance Program.
Constantly availing herself of educational opportunities and experiences that honed her competences, Judy completed the Adjutant General Office Advancement Course. She was promoted to captain.
While there, Judy met Norm, also an Army officer (April 12, 1975). Their first date involved taking in the Indianapolis 500 time trials.
After a short courtship, Norm and Judy married. Judy became pregnant, resigned her commission as an Army officer, gave birth to a healthy daughter (Renee) and became a stay at home mom. A son, Eric, was born shortly before Norm was assigned to Aschaffenburg, Germany (12-20-1977).
Norm was already in Germany looking for living arrangements for his growing family while Judy remained back in Iowa.
Picture the scenario. It is March 17, 1978, St. Patrick’s Day, and it is a very busy and congested LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. Judy gets in from a flight from Sioux Falls. She is carrying Eric, 2 months old, in a front pack. Renee, 15 months, is in a backpack and she is hauling three large suit cases. They transferred across town to Kennedy Airport for the last leg on this 24-hour plus odyssey.
While stationed in Germany, Norm, Judy and their children toured much of Europe, met life-long friends and welcomed another child, Kara, into the Hansen House.
After 3½ years Judy and family, returned to the United States (1978-1981).
With Norm’s assignment now at the Pentagon, the family settled in Bowie, Maryland, where they remained for eight years. Son Brett was born in 1981. Now the Hansen’s have lived 30 years in a residence just north of St. Joseph.
Norm and Judy have five children, including an adult adopted daughter, Jennifer, and her family. They have ten grandchildren. “They all come home for the holidays, for upward of five days.” Everyone is encouraged to help in the 1,000-piece puzzle. Judy, the consummate host, takes hospitality to a new level of appreciation. She makes any guest feel special and welcome.
Judy and Norm have been married for 44 years. For 29 years they have been active in World Wide Marriage Encounter. They are active in their faith. Their volunteer work is most evident to many particularly the St. Joseph Catholic Church community. Not unlike those of us facing the minor inconveniences, limitations and infirmities of aging, they do so with courage, hope and dignity.
Judy’s profile is an appropriate story to share during the holiday season. Being far away from home and extended family, Judy took it upon herself to create life-long traditions and memories for her family – particularly during the Christmas-New Year’s holidays.
While in Germany, Judy started making cookies. Judy has continued to bake Christmas cookies – more than 30 different varieties, most of which Norm and Judy give away to friends and neighbors.
The Hansen house is decorated for Christmas – a large tree positioned conspicuously. The tree is decorated with ornaments from places visited and memories captured in time. The first Christmas away from home was emotionally hard for Judy. Her mother surprised her with a ceramic nativity scene that she herself had made. And to this day it holds a place of prominence in their home “evoking memories of being loved.”
While in Germany, Judy and Norm started writing a Christmas letter which they continue to do annually.
Also while in Germany, Judy was introduced to the pretzel tradition, Neujahrsbretzel, which is a traditional welcoming in the New Year. A very large pretzel is shared with friendship and hopes for the New Year.
One particularly memorable occasion was when Judy, Norm and friends celebrated Christmas Eve near Salzburg, Austria. It was about 200 years ago that the Christmas carol, “Silent Night,” was first played there.
Another memory Judy recalls were the big dances in the German town plaza as a way of welcoming the New Year. Music, beer, food, fireworks and friends.
Judy’s efforts to create a joyful Christmas celebration for her family and friends one might suspect emanated out of a very giving heart and the conviction that Christmas is really about family, fellowship and the uncompromising belief in the hope found in the birth of Jesus.