TAPS
Bernard (Ben) Fenske, SGM (Ret) 78, went to his eternal home June 20, 2009 at VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN. He was born July 21, 1930. He married Sarah E. Cook on September 2, 1949 in Franklin, KY. SGM Fenske served 22 years in Special Forces and other airborne units, serving 11 years overseas in Korea, Japan, Germany, and Laos. SGM Fenske served with the 187th Regimental Combat Team (Abn) during the Korean Conflict, the 11th Airborne in Munich, the 10th Group in Bad Tolz, and in Laos, Operation White Star, with the Special Forces. He was an artilleryman prior to joining SF. During his military career he was an avid sport parachutist, as well as a military parachutist accumulating a total of 350 jumps. His military awards and decorations include the Master Parachutist Badge, Halo Jump Master Badge, Army Commendation Ribbon, 7 awards of the Good Conduct Medal, Army of Occupation (Japan), National Defense Service Medal, with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, The Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the United Nations Medal. Survivors include 3 sons, 2 daughters, 19 Grandchildren and
33 Great Grandchildren.
