Widow of Navy veteran receives a special gift

Published by admin on Wed, 10/03/2018 - 11:26am

Weiser resident Stanley Wilson, left, wore his dress uniform to present Pat Culley with a display case he made for her late husband’s World War II medals, a flag and photo. Wilson works with wood and Culley had seen a shadowbox he made for Jim Grunke, right, and said she would like to have one too. Wilson was more than happy to build the display for her. Wilson and Grunke work together restoring vintage military vehicles. Grunke is a Navy veteran. Photo by Steve Lyon
Stanley Wilson presented an appreciative Pat Culley with a shadowbox he built to display World War II medals, a flag and a photo of her late husband, who passed away in 1994.
 The two had not previously met before. It all started when Culley saw a display case that Wilson had made for Jim and Judy Grunke. Culley mentioned to the Grunkes that she would like to have one to display the military mementoes of her husband Ralph Culley. 
 “I liked it so much that I asked Judy (Grunke) about it,” Culley said.
 That was all Grunke needed to hear. He arranged for Wilson to make Culley a display case for the medals her husband earned during his World War II military service in the Navy. 
 Wilson makes the shadowboxes out of the same finished wood that is used as trim in homes. It takes about a week to make one in his woodworking shop, depending on how busy he is at his daytime job. He works with Grunke restoring vintage military vehicles and jumped on the project.
 Wilson said he was happy to make the display for Culley, knowing she would like it and it would mean a lot to her. 
 “She can see it and enjoy it and so can others like her kids and grandkids,” he said.
 The display case houses a photo of a smiling Culley in uniform when he was 26 years old, along with his medals and a folded flag. The medals represent Culley’s service in World War II, including the Philippine Occupation, Pacific War victory, good conduct and others. 
 “This is just gorgeous,” she said.
 Culley was a Seaman First Class in the Navy and served from 1942 to 1945 as a radioman. He was on the beaches the day of or the day after American forces stormed beaches in the Pacific Theater to set up radio communications.
 Pat Culley told the story of how her late husband got into the Navy in the first place. He was living in Baker City, Ore., at the time.
 In 1941, after the war started, two of his brothers were drafted into the military. Culley waited for his turn, but he never received a draft letter, so he went to the local draft board and asked why he didn’t get to go. He owned a trucking company at the time with two trucks and was told he was needed to stay home and work. 
 According to Pat, the same day he was told that he sold his trucks and enlisted in the Navy.
 Pat and Ralph were married in 1954 and had 40 years together. They lived in Weiser since 1971, except for three years they spent in Baker City, Ore. During his working life, Ralph was a logger in Oregon and also worked for Champion Homes. He retired in 1982.
 Five of Pat’s children have served in the military, including a son who went to Vietnam, she said. 
 Wilson is also a veteran and spent 27 years in the U.S. Army and National Guard. He wore his uniform to present Culley with the display case and mementoes of her late husband.
 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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