Reflections of a Korean War veteran in anticipation of Honor Flight

Leon Sniegowski was 20 years old when he was drafted for the Korean War in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry division, 27th Regiment. This band of brothers was better known as the “Wolfhounds.”

“I prefer to remember the good times; the hard times I try to forget,” said Sniegowski. “I was shot at with artillery and had many close calls. I had a lot of friends who didn’t make it.”

Leon’s son, Ted, an employee at Port Washington Generating Station, says his dad never said much about his 14 months in Korea.

“He didn’t talk much about it, just about the weather and harsh conditions; he never talked about the fighting. He did tell me he would never eat lima beans again. ”

Leon and his fellow Korean War soldiers subsisted on C-rations from World War II. The main meal of the C-rations was beanies and weenies, which consisted of frankfurter chunks in tomato sauce. Sometimes, it was ham and lima beans – not to his liking.

Leon Sniegowski cooking his C-ration lunch.

“Our meals consisted of stale crackers, a chocolate bar and a main meal. We would use our knife to make slits in the can, use napalm that we would light with a match so we could eat it warm. However, it tasted better cold … well, it didn’t taste good at all,” he said. 

Leon, now 83 years old, received the call a few weeks ago that he was selected for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. The flight is the first of a group of flights and fundraising efforts dubbed “Operation Parallel,” a nod to the fact that the Korean War was fought over the 38th parallel. The flight is sponsored by We Energies.

Leon asked his son if he thought he should go on the flight. The humble veteran thought there were guys more deserving than him – a common response from many veterans contacted for the flight.

“We do hear often that our veterans feel that there is someone more deserving that should go on the flights. Every contribution has led us to where we are today; every contribution is important. It’s important that we thank them for it,” said Karyn Roelke with Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.

The Stars and Stripes Honor Flight begins early, with a 5 a.m. check-in at Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport for the approximately 180 Korean War and WWII veterans and their guardians. Once in Washington, D.C., they board coach buses and tour the WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Marine Corps/Iwo Jima Memorial and more. The day often ends with the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery before making the flight home.

“Today, through the prism of history, we understand much better the magnitude of the sacrifice and the valor of the men and women such as Leon who fought fearlessly for our freedom,” said Gale Klappa, We Energies chairman and chief executive officer. “Our company has long supported the Stars and Stripes program, and we are proud to sponsor the September 12 flight.”

Learn more about Stars and Stripes Honor Flight at starsandstripeshonorflight.org

Setting the record straight

We are setting the record straight about an article posted Sept. 3 in an online news site citing neighbor concerns with the We Energies Oak Creek Power Plant.

We are not “negotiating over health concerns” with the neighbors who live near the Oak Creek power plant. We do not believe coal dust is causing health problems for anyone living in that area.

We recently were made aware of some health concerns raised by neighbors of the Oak Creek Power Plant and are currently looking into the matter. Our discussion with the neighbors’ attorney concerns protocols for testing the homes in question.

As always, residents with any concerns about our facilities can contact us, and we will investigate those concerns.

Prior to this recent issue, the only health concern brought forward to us was from Bill Pringle.

In response to those concerns, we tested the Pringle family home numerous times and did not find any coal dust inside or outside the home. We also tested at locations near the Pringle home and did not find any evidence of coal dust in those areas. In addition, we offered to have a highly regarded, nationally known third-party conduct testing at the Pringle home. Mr. Pringle refused that testing.

As no evidence of coal or coal dust has been found in the Pringle home, we dispute the doctor’s concluding statement about the probability of coal dust affecting Mrs. Pringle’s health.

As for the coal storage expansion plans, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently issued an air permit after taking into consideration the views of the neighborhood. These requirements include video monitoring, reduced opacity limitation, improved wind break and use of crusting agents on the inactive portion of the south coal pile (the pile closest to homes). We also will submit a feasibility analysis for undertaking additional measures that include pre-planning for extreme weather events, use of additional water technologies for dust suppression, and additional shielding, wind curtains or other physical barriers.

Regarding the purchase of homes in the area, there were no health claims about coal dust or fly ash from any of the homes we purchased in the area. We did not approach or solicit any of the homeowners ourselves or through a broker. We only purchased homes that were put on the market by owners themselves. The contract agreement referred to in the article contained standard clauses requiring confidentiality and release of all claims, which are very common when businesses buy property from private homeowners.

‘Tis the season! Wait … what?

It may be August, but our 2015 holiday Cookie Book already is starting to take shape. We just wrapped up the photo shoot for this year’s book, and we promise it won’t disappoint.

Our designers and food photographer worked their magic like usual, producing many mouth-watering images. At right is a sneak peek.

The 2015 We Energies Cookie Book has a new twist this year. We’ve collected recipes from across the country under the theme, “Holidays across America.” As a result, this year’s book will be bigger than usual, giving customers even more delicious recipes. The book will include 51 recipes – one from each state, plus Washington, D.C.

Our distribution schedule is online, so check it out and mark your calendars now. Distribution starts in early November with signature events in Milwaukee and Appleton on Saturday, Nov. 7.

For more behind-the-scenes footage from our photo shoot, watch these stories from Fox 6 News and Today’s TMJ4:

Fox 6 - “Looking luscious:” We Energies gets its cookie book ready for holiday season

TMJ-4 – We Energies to release annual cookie book in November

Crews unearth piece of local history

Crews installing a new gas main on Wells Street in Wauwatosa are taking a trip down memory lane. Underneath all the layers of concrete, they’ve unearthed old railroad tracks. They date back to the late 1800s, when Milwaukee’s original streetcars ran down Wells Street.

Our crews are upgrading a natural gas main in Wauwatosa, installing a new main underneath Wells Street. Before they can install the new pipe, they have to tear out the old trolley tracks. One crew has been busy ripping out the old steel tracks and railroad ties, while another crew follows behind to install the gas line. The old streetcar pieces are being hauled away to a scrap yard, but at least a couple are being saved for posterity. We’re told the historical society may get one. 

We looked through our archives and found this picture of an old Wells Street streetcar (bottom photo at right).

According to John Gurda’s “Path of a Pioneer,” Milwaukee’s first electric streetcar, a Sprague model, made its triumphal maiden voyage down Wells Street on April 3, 1890.

Known as the Route 10 streetcar line, it was the first streetcar route in Milwaukee and the first route to leave the city for a suburb.

According to Wauwatosa Alderman Dennis McBride who serves on the Wauwatosa Historic Preservation Commission, the old Wells Street line was a key component to Wauwatosa’s rapid growth from town to village to city.

The old streetcars operated out of our headquarters building on Michigan Street, called The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company at that time.

Meeting customers at state fair's Energy Park

We've been having so much fun at Energy Park at the Wisconsin State Fair. We hope you've had fun with us too. There is still time to join us - the fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 16. 

The best part of Energy Park is meeting you and your families. We enjoy sharing our safety messages with you through our interactive displays and games, keeping your kids safe with safety wristbands, and teaching you a thing or two about birds, gardening and cooking. 

A mother reached out to us on Facebook to thank one of our employees for making her daughter’s day extra special.

“Going above and beyond at the Wisconsin State Fair - thanks for drawing Hello Kitty on my daughter’s hat,” said Melissa Graves.

Employee David Nestler was happy to make 4-year-old Mallory’s day. He said, “She reminded me of my daughter, so I thought I would draw something special on her hat.”

Graves says that her daughter has been showing off her custom hat ever since.

Graves brought her children to Energy Park for the first time this year. She said they loved learning what natural gas smelled like and what the inside of a gas meter looks like. They also enjoyed learning about our gardens.

If you have a story to share, feel free to direct message us on Facebook. We might feature your Energy Park story.

We're getting 'Cheesy' at Wisconsin State Fair

Our customers come from all walks of life. Some live in the city, and some live in the country. One of the best things about the Wisconsin State Fair is that it brings these two groups together to learn more about country life, especially our Wisconsin farmers.

This is the second year we participated in the Blue Ribbon Cheese and Butter auction hosted by the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board. The board is made up of individuals and organizations who promote Wisconsin’s $43.4 billion dairy industry. The auction features the sale of blue-ribbon entries into the fair’s Cheese and Butter contest.

2015 Blue Ribbon Cheese and Butter Auction

“Dairy farmers are important business customers, and we are happy to support them,” said Susan Crane, manager of our special projects.

The We Energies Foundation purchased a 12-pound block of blue veined cheese from Team Salemville of Saputo Specialty Cheese in Richfield and a 12-pound block of mozzarella from George Crave of Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese in Waterloo.

The money raised at the auction supports scholarships for students pursuing dairy-related careers and the board’s dairy promotion efforts at the Wisconsin State Fair.

“We have a real commitment to help youth,” added Crane. “Developing a skill set of dedication and hard work through participation at the fair will help them throughout their lives.”

We Energies Foundation, is a nonprofit corporation that supports initiatives that promote culture and education in the communities in which we do business.

Workers find furry friend in need of help

Two of our field employees came across an unusual sight today – a raccoon stuck in a sewer grate. They alerted their supervisor, who contacted the Wisconsin Humane Society.

The Humane Society sent someone to rescue the little guy, nicknamed “Walter the We Energies raccoon” by the workers who found him. We are told Walter is once again roaming the streets of Milwaukee.