Waterville – Richard “Dick” Feusse has been to many Roche de Boeuf Festivals over the years, and loves watching the Marching Generals in the parade. But this year, the 100-year-old Browning Masonic Community resident will lead the parade, as one of 20 area veterans who will be honored as grand marshals.
A World War II veteran, Feusse was 18 when he signed on with the U.S. Navy shortly after graduating from Hemlock High School near Saginaw, Mich. in 1943.
“World War II was on, so I went almost directly from high school to the war,” he said. “That was the way it was. I was willing to go to the war and most of my friends were too.”
After getting his physical exam in Detroit, Feusse was given a choice between joining the Army or the Navy. He chose Navy, figuring he’d be safer. After boot camp, he was assigned to the medical corps, despite no medical experience.
“I think it was because I wasn’t used to shooting guns…and I think because I’m a caring person,” Feusse said.
His first year was spent training at the San Diego Naval Hospital. During that time, he was assigned to take care of Evans Fordyce Carlson, a Marine Corps officer who led a daring raid on Japanese-held Makin Island in the Pacific Ocean in 1942 – inspiring the 1943 movie Gung Ho!
President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to the hospital to visit Carlson, who he considered as a friend.
“It was just the four of us: me, Col. Carlson, the president and his driver, in the car. They talked for about a half an hour,” Feusse recalled, adding that they spoke about the war and about Roosevelt’s sons, who were also serving.
From San Diego, Feusse was shipped to Adak, one of the largest islands in the Aleutian Island chain that stretches from Russia to Alaska. American forces had fought from 1942-43 to reclaim that territory from Japan. This was before Alaska became a state in 1959. On Adak, Feusse was in charge of the X-ray division, doing scans on everyone injured in the Pacific Theater.
In his spare time, Feusse spent a lot of time in the gymnasium.
“I had never been into drinking or smoking. I went to the gym and exercised and shot hoops. My whole life, I’d always been sports, sports, sports,” he said, explaining that he was the short stop on his high school baseball team all four years, in addition to playing basketball, golf and tennis.
While the war ended Sept. 2, 1945, Feusse remained in the Navy until 1946, then headed to Central Michigan University to earn a bachelor’s degree. It was there that he met his wife Virginia (Ginny). He also earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan, and spent 32 years teaching high school and business classes, coaching several sports and serving as athletic director in schools in and around Dearborn, Mich.
When his daughter, Laurie Wimmer, moved with her family to Waterville, he and Ginny joined them in 1990.
“It’s been a great town to live in,” Feusse said, adding that he and Ginny got involved with Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and Luther Home of Mercy, where they funded a new kitchen for the Williston Road facility that was named Ginny’s Kitchen in her honor. She died in 2014 after 64 years of marriage. An avid reader, Feusse has frequented the Waterville Branch library so many times that the staff knows what types of books he’ll like, and sets them aside. He considers the Waterville Library staff to be the best.
Feusse now calls Browning Masonic Community home, and he enjoys getting books out of the library, playing euchre and following his favorite teams: Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and University of Michigan Wolverines. But living in Waterville, he’s also become a big Generals fan, watching his grandchildren, Brad, Jillian and Maddy Wimmer, play sports.
“Now that I’m 100, I don’t go to games all the time like I used to,” he said, pointing to the walker he now uses.
He’ll turn 101 on Nov. 17. Last year, his hosted a 100th birthday party and over 150 people showed up.
“It was unbelievable,” he said.
His family now includes seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
“I’ve had a wonderful life. I am a Christian, and I know that God controls everything. God kept me safe,” he said, noting that he was never in danger during his time in the Navy.
Less than .2 percent of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II are still around. Feusse said most would be about his age. In 2001, his son Tom came up from Dublin, Ohio to accompany him on an Honor Flight trip from Toledo Express Airport to Washington DC to see the war memorials. It was his first and only trip to the nation’s capital, and one he’ll never forget.
“I’m really proud to be a World War II veteran,” he said.
