Carl Dehling of Chadron enjoyed all the years he was in the Army and the Army National Guard, and he still enjoys serving today as a member of the American Legion in Chadron
PHILIP ECKERBERG
For Nspire Today!
CHADRON – Carl Dehling of Chadron is retired from the Nebraska National Guard, but that is not where he started his military career.
Dehling grew up in West New York, New Jersey and describes his enlistment in the Army as “a crazy story.”
He said, “I had a good friend that wound up joining the Army. I really didn’t believe him when he said he was joining the Army. We used to hang out all the time, and then he disappeared off the face of the earth.”
Dehling went to look for his friend.
“His family was Peurto Rican and didn’t speak much English,” Dehling said. “I went to their house to look for my friend. The first time I went they were trying to explain it to me, and I really didn’t understand. The next time I went to his house they showed me his picture in his Army uniform. I was like, ‘My buddy really did it, he joined the Army. Cool. I am going to join the military, too.’”
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