Norma Rawhouser, living a few miles from Fort McCoy, Wis., provided four sons and one daughter to fight in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, for a total of more than 50 years of service. In addition, during World War II, she worked as a nurse at Fort McCoy serving wounded veterans as well as German and Japanese prisoners of war. Four sons-in-law also served. One next-door neighbor friend became MIA in Korea on Nov. 30, 1950, his remains never yet returned. On the other side another neighbor died in the Korean War. After the Korean War, handicapped veterans were placed in her care in her home and some remained with her until her death at 83.

A son-in-law, a German whose father was a Russian POW during World War II, and Norma’s daughter established a restaurant in Camp Douglas, Wis., near an Air Force training base and served military men there for better than 50 years.

Then a number of grandsons, granddaughters and great-grandchildren have served during peacetime. Two sons worked as social workers in three different veterans hospitals and as a civilian social worker for the Army.

A lifetime true patriot, she disdained draft-dodger politicians and others who avoided what she taught us was our patriotic duty. A true hero who never sought or received recognition for her extraordinary life of devotion to country.