Faces of Freedom

Stories and photos by Mike Richeson

Take a good look.

They are giants masquerading as regular guys, men who survived the unimaginable and now joke about peril over a couple of beers.

The few men on these pages are part of a large number of soldiers who defined their respective generations. They stood in the gap between freedom and slavery for people they didn't know and often didn't understand.

Most of the time they did what they were told to do to complete a mission. They always did what they had to do to survive. To make it home. To see their families again.

Even the most talkative downplays his role in the midst of war stories.

These are a handful of lifetimes that changed the world.

Because we so easily take for granted that which deserves the most gratitude, we say thank you, thank you, thank you.

Albert McLane

United States Army

1957-59

McLane grew up in Anaconda and watched as his brother made the rank of Sergeant in the Army, and he followed in his brother's footsteps. McLane joined the National Guard against the wishes of his parents.

"My folks didn't want me to do it, but I said 'Heck with it. I'm going to join anyway,'" he said.

McLane served as a radio operator with an engineering outfit after completing basic training in Ft. Ord, Calif. He finished his service as a corporal.

McLane now lives at the Lake View Care Center.

Walt Lowney

United States Navy 1960-68

Lowney served with the Naval Special Forces performing counter-insurgency, pacification and combat missions. He served with Task Force 16 and often provided support for PBR gunboats.

Thanksgiving night, 1967, his barge was attacked by North Vietnamese soldiers who attached a magnetic mine to the ship, which carried fuel, ammunition, medicine and other support provisions for U.S. soldiers.

"Charlie blew a 40-foot by 60-foot hole in the side of the barge," Lowney recalled. Many of his fellow soldiers died, and Lowney himself was wounded in the explosion.

Lowney first served from 1960-64 after signing up with the Navy. He was home for three days after his discharge when he was recalled.

"That hurt, I tell ya," he said.

His second stint sent him to multiple naval schools, and he eventually became a qualified Naval Instructor.

Jim Poole

United States Navy 1974-95

Poole served for 21 years with the Navy, and retired as a Petty Officer First Class. He started his career in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic, beginning with prop-engine planes and working up to jets.

He served five years "off and on" in Vietnam, working on helicopter gunships with the Helicopter Light-Attack Squadron Three.

"I was shot out of the sky two times," Poole said.

The second time his chopper came under attack, Poole was the lone survivor. North Vietnamese soldiers blasted the crew out of the sky with a ChiCom (Chinese/Communist) missle. With a broken body he walked 14 miles out of the jungle until he was rescued.

When he wasn't in the air, Poole worked as a bow gunner in PBR boats.

William Downey

United States Marine Corps 1972-76

Downey served with the 1st Marine Brigade Air Wing in a variety of jobs including Intelligence, Support and as Provost Marshall. Although he spent most of his time in Hawaii, he served a short tour in Vietnam just as the war was ending.

"We helped pull troops out," he said.

Downey, who finished his service as a Sergeant, said he didn't stay in the military as a career because of the way soldiers were treated during that era.

"The civilians would spit on us, call us names," he said. "I was afraid to wear my uniform on leave."

Bob Erickson

United States Navy

World War Two

Erickson served as a flight instructor for the Navy during World War Two. He spent his time in Pensacola, Fla., training fighter pilots. Although he was always putting in to serve as a war pilot, the Navy kept him at his station.

When the war was over, Erickson left the Navy, having achieved an officer's rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. His service as a flight instructor continues to be a great source of pride for him. He now resides at the Lake View Care Center.

Russell Chapman

United States Army 1963-69

Chapman, a Bigfork native, served as a Heavy Maintenance Specialist after joining the Army in 1963. He performed his basic training in Fort Ord, Calif., and then served at Ft. Sill, Okla., and Ft. Lewis, Wash. Chapman also served 11 months and 27 days in Vietnam.

"It was muddy, rainy, sloppy," he said. "And we got no sleep. They were always bombing something."

Chapman was located with his unit near the base of a mountain range that received heavy bomber attacks.

Chapman joined the Army with the intent of making a career in the military, but Vietnam changed his plans.

"After seeing all that in Vietnam, I didn't want no more," he said.

Michael Stone

United States Navy and Army

Colonel Stone first began his military career in the Navy as an E-1, the lowest rank. He retired just this year from the Army as a full Colonel. After serving in the Navy, he went through the ROTC program at the University of Montana. He was employed as the principal of a school when he went back in and joined the Army.

Stone's career as an Armor and Military Intelligence officer took him around the world, especially the Middle East.

One of his most memorable moments was Sept. 11, 2001. Stone was working at the Pentagon that day.

"I'll never forget the day the plane hit the building," he said. Thankfully, Stone wasn't in the Pentagon - he was across the street for a briefing.

Once the War on Terror began, Stone worked as the Director of Mobilization. He called units across the United States and informed them of deployment dates.

Stone finally got the post of his choice for his last position - Chief of Staff for the Army National Guard of Montana at Fort Harrison in Helena.