Garrett Fisher
Lance Corporal Garrett Fisher is the son of Sheer Determination Racing team member Larry Fisher. He is currently serving in the Marines in Afghanistan. We are very proud to watch as another of our sons grows up, moving from helping the race team to serving our country.

Rodger Sorenson
1931-2012
Navy 1951-1955
E-6 Machinist Mate
Airplane Mechanic

Rodger was a very un-assuming man who was loved by all that knew him. He shared with me his many travels while in the Navy. Some of his favorite ports were, South Africa, Morroco and Gibralter. He passed from a long fight with cancer in 2012. The doctors would ask him how he was, he would always say Good! While filling out paperwork at a doctors office in the middle of his battle with cancer, they asked him about his quality of life on a scale of 1-10, he replied a 10! Even though we all knew he was in pain but he would never let it show, he was the toughest man I have ever met. We think of him everyday.

Kevin

Commander Jim Charno

It is funny how lives will intertwine and how you can stumble upon a hero and not even know it. Navy Commander Jim Charno is just such a person. I have walked around our neighborhood for years and always try to wave at everyone I see. I happened upon a gentleman that would sit out in his folding chair in front of his garage. I would wave as I walked past and he was always smiling and waving back. Over time we began to talk more and more. It wasn’t long before I found out that Jim was a retired Navy pilot that flew in the Korean War.

Jim was always modest, but you could still see the fire in his eyes and I knew he was a true hero. He was one of those crazy pilots that landed on a floating runway, and aircraft carrier. Over time I managed to persuade Commander Charno (Ret) to send me some pictures so that I could put him on this web site. He eventually sent me photos, which are posted below, and gave me this clear and concise write up of 28 years career as a Naval Aviator:

" 1950 - started flight training, Pensacola, Fl. - 3 months of ground school, then started flying - got my wings in Dec. 1951. Reported to my squadron at Quonset Point, RI - VC-12 - made several cruises on aircraft carriers - whooppeeeeeee. Signed my final discharge papers in 1978. Spent many years flying in the Naval Reserve at these bases - NAS Olathe, Ks., NAS New Orleans, La., and NAS Mpls, Mn."

One of the best parts - Jim has a great sense of humor: the gentleman (below right) is a derelict that Jim and his fellow Navy avaitor buddies picked up off the street, cleaned up, and dressed in an Air Force uniform to get the photo.

It is a tremendous honor to have him part of the teams web site.

Thank you Commander Jim “Jimbo” Charno for your service!

LT Rick Massie

• Bassmasters Article About Rick

On 22 Mar 2011, Wendy was told that a fellow injured police officer from Georgia was trying to get in contact with us after he had read a story about what we have gone through.

Rick Massie, a Lieutenant with Troup County in Georgia. On 8 October, 2009, he was involved in a head on collision while driving his squad car. The crash was so violent that it over 30 minutes to remove Rick from the wreckage. The entire time of the extraction, Ricks right foot was laying on the floor mat net to his leg. His foot was severed during the accident and he has undergone numerous surgeries since the date of his injury.

The unbelievable part to Rick’s story is not the fact that he lived, or his foot was severed, but rather his department fired him due to the fact he was out of work for over a year while rehabbing. This is truly one of the most heart breaking accounts of bureaucracy that I have heard. Rick has taken things in stride, no pun intended, but would give anything to be back on the job. He had a great 24 year career that ended way to soon.

Rick exemplifies the Warrior spirit and has refused to be beaten. It is with great honor that we can honor him through Sheer Determination Racing. Officially we appear to be a race team. However, our focus has been, and will always be, to honor the men and women who serve our nation and who keep us safe. Rick, thank you for contacting my family. I know our friendship will grow throughout the years. You are a special Brother in Blue/Brother in Arms, along with Allen Williamson. Thank you guys for all you do and all you have done. God Bless.

Deputy Chris Dewey, and his wife, Emily

On February 18, 2009 Deputy Christopher Dewey was shot in the head and abdomen while on duty in Mahnomen County, Minnesota. Chris always wanted to be a cop, and even after being critically injured, and left for dead, he was still trying to get up and continue his pursuit of the two people who attacked him. After a long battle to recover from his injuries, Chris passed away on August 9, 2010. Emily was there, steadfastly, by his side. Both Chris and Emily are heroes.

Emily maintains a journal of their experiences on Caringbridge. We urge you to take some time to read the journal, and also post comments of support. The guestbook also includes notifications of fundraisers, and you can make donations at any time to:

Deputy Chris Dewey Fund
First National Bank of Mahnomen
P.O. Box 378
Mahnomen, MN 56557

1LT David T. Wright II

Lt. Wright was killed in the line of duty on September 14, 2009. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington, and was serving in Afghanistan. Enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Shortly before the attack, Lt. Wright had mailed a letter to his parents. They received it two days after he died. In the letter, he said, "These people deserve a better existence and hopefully my efforts, in some small way, will provide that to them."

Lt. Wright's father, Tim, is a lieutenant with the Moore, Okalhoma police department. David was the only child of Tim and Michele Wright. In honor of their son, the Wright family has established the David T. Wright II Memorial Scholarship at the University of Oklahoma.

Our prayers are with his parents in their loss, and we are grateful for his service to our nation.

Glenn Johnson
Rheinlander resident Glenn Johnson is pictured here, with his wife, just after the end of WW2.

Glen epitomizes the warrior spirit. As a member of the 101st Airborne Division, he parachuted into France on D-Day. He was separated from his unit, but linked up with a group of other soldiers to fight with. He eventually ran out of ammo and food, and was captured by the Germans. Glen was taken to a Prisoner of War camp and survived solitary confinement, and the punishment of working in the quarries breaking rocks. He escaped from the camp with two of his fellow prisoners during a blizzard - he convinced them to make a break for it when they were gathering wood. Everyone was told that he had been captured and shot. They survived for months,not knowing where they were, but finding food where they could.

They saw a British plane get shot down, and rescued the two member crew. Fortunately, the crew knew where they were, and when the group came to a river, they dug a old wooden boat out of the mud, and the five of them made their way down the river. They made it to the American lines, and after three days of interrogation (to convince the US soldiers that they were really Americans), Glenn was taken to Hot Springs, Arkansas to recuperate - he had lost half his body weight.

When in the camp, Glenn saw the photo of one of his fellow prisoner's sisters, and said he would like to marry her some day. After the war, he went to visit that friend from the camp, and found out that everyone thought he was dead. Glenn and Annie were married for 62 years before she passed away.

COL Timothy Wulff

My brother Tim (pictured at right), is a Colonel in the U.S. Army. He is now serving at Redstone Arsenal, after completing a tour in Afghanistan. This is one of many deployments he has had while fighting in this war against terrorism. I am proud to call him my brother and I know our father is looking down on him with great pride as well.

MAJ Ty Lewis

My brother Ty is captain in the Air Force, currently serving as an Intelligence Officer, and stationed in Virginia. The picture at left is from one of his tours in Iraq.

Louie LiVecche

This is my good friend Louie LiVecche who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was assigned to the air base in Nakhon Phenom in Thailand.

The irony of our friendship was that during his tour in Thailand, I was living just across the border in Laos, as my father was working for the U.S. Government in Laos. Louie has helped me through many hard times since I was hurt. We are huge baseball fans and he manages the Lakeville Lobos, men's over 35 baseball team. The team is full of very special friends.

Norm & James Heckimovich

The Hecimovich family and Wulff family have known each other for years. My father and Norm (Hecky) worked in Vietnam at the same time, while our families lived in Bangkok, Thailand. Years later our families lived 20 miles apart in southern Minnesota.

James: June 1981- 1985 10th Special Forces, 79th MP Co., Desert Storm Plt SGT, 1SG 4245 MP Co, Iraqi Freedom 2001-2002, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, Command SGT Major 2008-

Norm: Korea - 1952-53, OCS 1953, Military Intel, Airborne Ranger, 187 Cmbt Rg Team, Austria, Germany, Vietnam 1965-1969, Mil Intel., Panama, Desert Storm 1990-91.

Robert (Spud) Wulff and Ted Wulff

The proudest moments in my life have been when I had the honor to swear my sons into the Army.

Spud served in Afghanistan for a year. He and Megan were married in 2009. He completed his active duty tour, and is serving in the MN National Guard.

Ted is a bomb tech, and is stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

Jack Treese

Louie Livecce, a great friend, has ties to a close friend/brother in law to actor Gary Sinise. Jack Treese is pictured at the Medal of Honor Ceremony last year, with the Commandant of the Marine Corps (left), and served in the Army from Vietnam through the Cold War. He served within the medical community for the US Army during his service.

Gary Sinise

Actor Gary Sinise is well known to the military as a very strong supporter of the troops. His service to the men and women serving in our armed forces is truly inspirational. It is with great honor that we are given permission to display these photographs and to thank both Gary Sinise and Jack Treese for their service to our nation. Mr. Sinise was also so kind as to sign our team posters and wish us well.

Rob Clatterbuck

Rob Clatterbuck is a graduate of Lakeville High School in 2006. Rob was on the swim team with my son Spud. Rob joined the Navy right out of school, serving as an ABH (Aviation Boatsmanmate Handler) on the flight deck on the USS JOHN C. STENNIS. It is with great honor to thank him for his service and to acknowledge him on our site. Thanks Rob, Stay safe!

LTC Mike Baumann

LTC(ret) Mike Baumann graduated one year group ahead of me at the Univ of MN in ROTC. Mike not only fought for our nation, but also fought to save the life of his interpreter while he was in Iraq. He wrote about his experience as a commander in Iraq, www.adjustfirebook.com. It is a honor to have know Mike back in ROTC and to have made contact with him after all these years. He truly exemplifies the warrior spirit!

Sgt. Mark Sletta

Sgt. Mark Sletta of the Minneapolis SWAT team, was my street partner for years. We worked a very busy area of Minneapolis as patrolmen and then went to the Gang Unit together. He and I have been through a lot together and we are still close. He is pictured just to the right of the guy wearing the black jacket. The rest of the guys in the photo are from the Sniper Team. It is an honor to call these guys my friends and I must say, I miss working with them and especially miss the camaraderie. So when you go to bed at night, be thankful that folks like these are keeping you safe at night.

The full SWAT Team is pictured below.