World War II veteran shares stories from the frontlines
Drafted during World War II, Don Tietz found himself a long way from his hometown farm.
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Drafted during World War II, Don Tietz found himself a long way from his hometown farm.
Many of the soldiers on the front lines in World War II are no longer with us. But one of those veterans, born and raised in south Minneapolis, turned 102 on Feb. 24.
Technical Sergeant Don Halverson celebrated 102 years of life with his fellow soldiers on Monday.
Feb. 10 marked a huge and happy milestone for one veteran in Excelsior.
A special birthday was held in Excelsior for World War II veteran and Twin Cities native Ralph Peebles.
It is believed the area where the playground was initially built was used as a Home Guard training ground and the bombs were buried at the end of the war.
Survivors of the Nazi's notorious Auschwitz death camp are taking center stage at the memorial service to mark 80 years since its liberation by Soviet troops.
Reynolds Tomter recalled spending the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France.
On this Veterans Day, we're sharing the story of the oldest World War II veteran to spend the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. Reynolds Tomter lives in western Wisconsin and as John Lauritsen found, the 107-year-old couldn't wait to get back to France.
A few months ago, Les Schrenk, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, made his first trip to Normandy, France in June. Earlier this month, he shared his thoughts on what he's calling a "once in a lifetime" experience.
A 101-year-old soldier helped win World War II, but more recently he's taken his talents to the internet.
The ceremony caps off several days of remembrance and reflection at Normandy. Minnesotans have been a big part of it — that includes 100-year-old Jim Rasmussen of East Bethel.
People from around the world gathered today in Normandy for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. That invasion put America on the path to victory in the second World War and changed the course of history. WCCO's John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles joined Minnesota veterans, and active service members, for the ceremony to mark this milestone.
After training at Fort Des Moines, Florence Cecere became a nurse's aide at Northington General Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, taking care of the men severely injured on the front lines.
All week on WCCO, we'll be sharing stories from that day as reporter John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles make their way through France, experiencing history along the way.
One-hundred-year-old Les Schrenk doesn't have time for his usual morning water aerobics or afternoon bike rides this week. That's because the World War II veteran is more than 4,000 miles from his Bloomington home, making his first-ever visit to Normandy.
All week, WCCO's John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles are in Normandy, France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. They’ve been talking with World War II veterans from Minnesota who made the trip overseas. Among them is 100-year-old Les Schrenk from Bloomington. We caught up with him at Omaha Beach where the former POW honored the sacrifice of so many American soldiers who never made it home.
Virgil survived the Allied invasion, but just eight days after arriving in France, he was killed by Germans while trying to rescue a fellow soldier from a burning truck.
Virgil Tangborn is a soldier from northern Minnesota who never made it home. But as John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles share, he left a lasting impression on the people he helped liberate.
This week marks 80 years since the D-Day invasion. It's a day many Minnesota World War II veterans will never forget. To share their stories, WCCO's John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles traveled to France to meet up with some local veterans making the trip to Normandy 80 years later.
American paratroopers played a key role in the D-Day assault 80 years ago. Now, some U.S. congressmen are preparing to honor their sacrifice in a high-flying way.
This week marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, a turning point in World War II that helped bring victory to the allies in Europe. All week, reporter John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles will share stories from that day as they make their way through France, experiencing history along the way.
Three C-47 transport planes, a workhorse of World War II, dropped three long strings of jumpers, their round chutes mushrooming open in the blue skies with puffy white clouds.
All this week, John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles will be in France, bringing us stories of Minnesota veterans who took part in World War II. Some of those veterans will be taking part in the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion on June 6. John Lauritsen gives us a preview of the type of stories we can expect.
A group of World War II veterans flew out of Wisconsin this week on their way Normandy, France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Thursday will be slightly warmer in the Twin Cities under mostly sunny skies.
Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. His collection got so big that, two years ago, he moved everything into an old toy store near downtown Lanesboro and opened the Hammarama Museum and Gift Shop.
Miles, who used to explore abandoned places himself, believes social media has changed the motivation for some people, with many chasing views and clicks and not necessarily caring about their safety.
Michael Massey led off the seventh inning with a go-ahead home run, Noah Cameron had nine strikeouts in eight innings of one-run ball and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Cyclospora cases have been reported in at least 47 states total this year, and investigators have continued to probe how many could be linked to a common contaminated source.
Miles, who used to explore abandoned places himself, believes social media has changed the motivation for some people, with many chasing views and clicks and not necessarily caring about their safety.
Law enforcement arrested an individual late Wednesday evening, bringing an end to an hourslong standoff in Isanti, Minnesota.
Every item at Radish features the name and location of the farm or producer. They are also encouraged to go a step further, providing education on how they make their products and why their farms are special.
Throughout Operation Metro Surge, tear gas was used at several standoffs across the Twin Cities metro. They're sites and scenes that an assistant University of Minnesota geography professor says could have long-term health effects.
A Minneapolis man charged in a string of business burglaries across the city has pleaded guilty to three of five counts against him, court documents show.
Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. His collection got so big that, two years ago, he moved everything into an old toy store near downtown Lanesboro and opened the Hammarama Museum and Gift Shop.
One of the most competitive races in next Tuesday's Minnesota primary election is for who will be the nominees for U.S. Senate. And Tuesday, Senate candidates battled at Farmfest in Redwood County over benefit cuts that could shrink your grocery budget.
An 11-year-old boy is in custody after he allegedly stabbed a teenager he did not know inside a business in St. Cloud Tuesday evening.
Nearly a month after a lightning strikes sparked wildfires in northern Minnesota, officials say conditions have started to ease and are starting to focus their efforts towards recovery.
The mother of a man charged in the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy in southern Minnesota is now facing criminal charges herself after allegedly helping her son evade arrest.
A Dane County judge ruled Tuesday that Wisconsin's paper-only absentee ballot system denies disabled voters the equal opportunity to vote privately and independently, though a trial on electronic voting as a remedy is still ahead.
The Milwaukee mosque leader's former Israeli attorney testified in immigration court that Sarsour was coerced into confessions and was never convicted of any charge linking him to a terrorist organization.
Two people were injured when a small plane crashed in western Wisconsin early Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.
According to the Eau Claire Fire Department, Bryce Jungbluth, 27, suffered a medical emergency after his shift on July 26.
A judge sided with the Wisconsin Elections Commission Wednesday, ruling that state law does not allow absentee voters to change their ballot after it has been returned — a setback for Democrats amid a scrambled governor's primary field.
Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, are clearing out the city's largest encampment on Wednesday.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
A Republican hasn't sat in Minnesota governor's office in 15 years. Who will give the GOP the best chance to change that? Today, that debate moved to western Minnesota for Farmfest. Esme Murphy has the Farmfest fireworks before voters decide next week's primary.
One of the most competitive races in next Tuesday's Minnesota primary election is for who will be the nominees for U.S. Senate. And Tuesday, Senate candidates battled at Farmfest in Redwood County over benefit cuts that could shrink your grocery budget.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the DFL-endorsed candidate, sat next to the three Republicans who are fighting each other to win next week's primary for the chance to run against her.
The leading candidates from both major parties debated at FarmFest near Redwood Falls.
A Dane County judge ruled Tuesday that Wisconsin's paper-only absentee ballot system denies disabled voters the equal opportunity to vote privately and independently, though a trial on electronic voting as a remedy is still ahead.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
A lottery player in Minnesota won a jackpot of more than $34 million last week, a record for the Lotto America game in the state.
The lawsuit accuses Loon of using "kid-friendly characters" to promote its vapes in flavors such as Cotton Candy, Strawberry Popsicle, Banana Taffy and Blue Razz Slushy.
A Wisconsin family lost their ten-month-old daughter after she swallowed a water bead. They blame Target and the water bead manufacturer for her death.
An 11-year-old boy is in custody after he allegedly stabbed a teenager he did not know inside a business in St. Cloud Tuesday evening.
A Minneapolis man charged in a string of business burglaries across the city has pleaded guilty to three of five counts against him, court documents show.
The Milwaukee mosque leader's former Israeli attorney testified in immigration court that Sarsour was coerced into confessions and was never convicted of any charge linking him to a terrorist organization.
The mother of a man charged in the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy in southern Minnesota is now facing criminal charges herself after allegedly helping her son evade arrest.
Police say two people were injured, one of them critically, during a shooting Tuesday afternoon in south Minneapolis.
The system uses light tracing and more than 1,500 data points to create a personalized treatment plan.
Two Michigan residents who had "significant underlying health conditions" have died after contracting cyclosporiasis, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.
Researchers are studying whether GLP-1s could help veterans living with alcohol use disorder. The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is one of 18 VA sites across the United States participating in the new clinical trial testing semaglutide as a potential treatment for AUD.
Since May, more than 11,000 cases of illness caused by the parasite cyclospora have been reported in 41 states. This comes after the Trump administration drastically cut FDA and CDC staff, prompting one expert to call this summer's outbreaks "a national wake-up call."
The CDC will not renew a federal grant that provided the Aliveness Project roughly $450,000 a year for HIV testing, PrEP referrals and community outreach across Minnesota.
Ariana Grande had been due to star alongside her "Wicked" co-star Jonathan Bailey in a production of "Sunday in the Park with George" in 2027.
Vincent Pastore played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on all six seasons of "The Sopranos," which aired from 1999 to 2007.
WWE's SummerSlam will have two nights of bouts and matches inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday and Sunday. But before that, SummerSlam is setting up shop inside the Minneapolis Convention Center.
It's another action-packed weekend in Minnesota, with wrestling, county fairs, beagle races and more on the schedule.
Academy Award-winning Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard has died in a motorcycle crash.
Michael Massey led off the seventh inning with a go-ahead home run, Noah Cameron had nine strikeouts in eight innings of one-run ball and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Wednesday night.
In July, Miles averaged 20.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6 assists in nine games. She shot 44.9% from the field and 44.7% from three-point range.
Bobby Witt Jr. had three hits and two RBIs in his return to the lineup, leading the Kansas City Royals to an 8-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
The Minnesota Twins have joined fellow Major League Baseball teams like the Mets and the Brewers by adding an official dance team.
Rookie Olivia Miles spearheaded an efficient offense with 28 points, Courtney Williams added 27, and the Minnesota Lynx won their 10th-straight game with a 108-100 win over the Indiana Fever.
Minnesota's ban on AI "nudification" became law and Elon Musk isn't happy about it. He is suing the State of Minnesota, claiming the law violates free speech laws.
While the law is in effect, this issue is not over. The judge has set a preliminary injunction hearing for Aug. 19.
Earlier this month, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher prompted backlash when he said the Twin Cities has a Somali youth gang violence problem. Among his critics: Minneapolis City Council Vice President Jamal Osman.
Earlier this month, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher prompted backlash when he said the Twin Cities has a Somali youth gang violence problem. Fletcher played videos of what he said were Somali gunfights at a July 7 news conference and on his "Live on Patrol" Facebook page, which has over 140,000 followers.
In the past few years, one of Minnesota's fiercest primary battles has been in the 5th Congressional District, which has been held since 2018 by Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. His collection got so big that, two years ago, he moved everything into an old toy store near downtown Lanesboro and opened the Hammarama Museum and Gift Shop.
Passing trains and scenic bluffs are a big part of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, but in the middle of it all is a garden where creativity and flowers grow together, all courtesy of a man named Herman Rusch.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
There's a certain elegance to the common loon. Its black and white plumage carries a gentle sheen of green as though dressed for a formal affair. Subtle colors that allow its piercing red eyes to steal your gaze.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Minnesotans have become quite familiar with drought in recent years. Not only how it affects the water supply, but also the rules that can come with it.
The issue is a major talking point ahead of the midterm elections. Do gas prices actually impact elections?
The U.S. House just voted to make daylight saving time permanent. In Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains how that could impact Minnesota and why our last attempt at getting rid of it failed.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new foods for 2026.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
Thursday will be slightly warmer in the Twin Cities under mostly sunny skies.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Thursday will be slightly warmer in the Twin Cities under mostly sunny skies.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says the wind will pick up tomorrow with highs approaching the mid-80s.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says it'll be another pleasant evening.
Thursday will be slightly warmer in the Twin Cities under mostly sunny skies.
Former Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara says a passenger got aggressive on his flight this morning from Newark to Fort Lauderdale.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says the wind will pick up tomorrow with highs approaching the mid-80s.
It’s one of the most iconic beers in our state. In this week’s Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shows us how the Hammarama Museum in Lanesboro captures the refreshing history of Hamm’s Beer.
A tense start to encampment clearings in St. Paul. Now, another site is growing rapidly as the city struggles to get people out of encampments and into shelters. Ashley Grams is here to break down the effectiveness of the city's plan on day one.