UW-Platteville honors fallen service members, shares stories

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of alumni, faculty and staff, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is sharing the stories of the more than 70 fallen service members who attended UW-Platteville. Mac Kolar, a 1969 graduate of UW-Platteville and retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel, spearheaded this project, researching and writing the biographies and stories of the fallen.

This newest initiative followed a large project that Kolar and fellow alumnus Dr. James Lawton undertook several years ago, to honor the 12 UW-Platteville students and alumni who were killed in action in the Vietnam War. On Nov. 11, 2022, UW-Platteville dedicated a Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Nearly 300 people attended the dedication ceremony, including next of kin and friends of the 12 veterans being honored.

During this ceremony, Kolar committed to go further and research and write the stories of all UW-Platteville students whose names are on various memorials across campus, which include those killed in action in World War I, World War II and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The biographies and stories of all the fallen service members who attended UW-Platteville are now published on the UW-Platteville website. The more than half a dozen memorials across campus now include a QR code that allows visitors to access the service members' stories online.

"The installation of these signs is the culmination of a tremendous effort by some of our treasured alumni," said Greg Tremelling, coordinator of UW-Platteville's Wright Center for Non-Traditional and Veteran Students. "Their efforts will make certain that those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice are remembered in a way that honors their memory. As we approach Veteran's Day, we also want to take a moment to recognize the value of the sacrifice that our student and alumni veterans and servicemembers make on behalf of all of us, and to express our gratitude to them. The Wright Center for Non-Traditional and Veteran Students is committed to understanding their needs and providing services and supports for these students that enhances their experience at UW-Platteville and in the community."

The memorials include a World War I memorial, located on the grounds of the former Rountree Hall (Platteville Academy). Several individual World War I markers are located between Ullrich Hall and the Center for the Arts. A World War II memorial that includes two plaques honoring former students from the Wisconsin Mining School and Platteville State Teachers College is located in UW-Platteville's Memorial Park. A memorial remembering the former UW-Platteville ROTC program and Major Christopher Splinter is located between Warner Hall and Royce Hall. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located at the base of the flagpoles outside Ullsvik Hall.

More information on the memorials and the stories of the fallen servicemen can be found at www.uwplatt.edu/department/wright-center/memorials.

The World War II stories are linked to a project known as "Stories Behind the Stars," for which Kolar volunteers to help write the stories of the more than 421,000 World War II fallen U.S. servicemembers.

"We should never stop saying their names," said Kolar. "But, not only can we recall their names, but as importantly, know the stories of their sacrifice."