JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNIS: THE MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER IN CHISHOLM IS CHARTING A NEW FUTURE AS IT EMERGES FROM THE PANDEMIC, WE'LL FIND OUT HOW THE SPRAWLING CENTER IS EVOLVING.

JULIE: WE'LL TALK WITH MINNESOTA AUTHOR BILL STRUSINSKI ABOUT HIS BOOK “CARE UNDER FIRE ”, THE STORY OF HIS TOUR OF DUTY AS A MEDIC IN VIETNAM.

DENNIS: AND MARSHALL HELMBERGER FROM THE TIMBERJAY NEWSPAPER IS THIS WEEK'S GUEST ON “VOICES OF THE REGION.

” JULIE: IT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY, LOTS OF FOLKS WERE OUT ENJOYING THE WARM WEATHER ON OUR NATION'S BIRTHDAY.

DENNIS: WE HAD TEMPERATURES IN THE 90'S ALL OVER THE AREA.

I LIKE THAT BUT I GOT A LITTLE OVERBEARING.

JULIE: I FOUND MYSELF AT THE LAKE.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SIGNED THE STATE BUDGET INTO LAW THIS WEEK, WHILE USING HIS VETO POWERS ON PORTIONS OF THE BILL.

EVERS SAID VETOING THE ENTIRE REPUBLICAN-CRAFTED BUDGET WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION, BECAUSE IT WOULD ENDANGER OVER $2-BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL COVID RELIEF.

THE GOVERNOR PLEDGED TO ADD $100-MILLION DOLLARS OUTSIDE THE BUDGET TO INCREASE SCHOOL FUNDING.

JULIE: THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UNVEILED MAPS THIS WEEK THAT SHOW COVID VACCINATION RATES ACROSS THE STATE.

THE MAPS CAN BE VIEWED BY TOWN, ZIP CODE OR SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

THE BREAK DOWN SHOWS TAYLOR COUNTY IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN HAS THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATE IN THE STATE, WHILE BAYFIELD COUNTY IS AMONG THE HIGHEST.

DENNIS: PROTESTS OVER THE CONSTRUCTION OF ENBRIDGE'S LINE 3 PIPELINE ESCALATED THIS WEEK, AND MORE ARRESTS WERE MADE.

THE AITKIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ARRESTED SIX ON TUESDAY, AS PROTESTERS BLOCKED PUBLIC ROADS TO DENY WORKERS ACCESS TO THE JOB SITE.

THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS SO FAR AS CONSTRUCTION ON THE CONTROVERSIAL PIPELINE CONTINUES.

JULIE: AND THE TWIN PORTS SAID GOODBYE TO THE COAST GUARD CUTTER ALDER, WHICH SAILED UNDER THE AERIAL BRIDGE FOR THE LAST TIME WEDNESDAY.

THE ALDER IS BOUND FOR AN EAST COAST SHIPYARD FOR MAINTENANCE AND THEN WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO ITS NEW HOME PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO.

THE ALDER WILL BE REPLACED BY THE COAST GUARD CUTTER “SPAR ” WHICH WILL ARRIVE AT HER NEW HOME NEXT SPRING.

DENNIS: THE MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER IN CHISHOLM ISN'T WASTING ANY TIME GETTING BACK ON TRACK FROM COVID.

IT'S REDHEAD MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL LAUNCHED DURING THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR AND IS NOW OPEN FOR ITS SECOND SEASON.

OFFICIALS SAY THE TRAIL HAS HAD A BIGGER IMPACT THAN ANYONE EXPECTED.

THE DISCOVERY CENTER AND THE CITY OF CHISHOLM COMMISSIONED A MINI-DOCUMENTARY ON THE TRAIL TO SHOW HOW IT HAS TRANSFORMED THE AREA.

HERE'S A CLIP FROM THAT VIDEO: ♪ >> I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT REDHEAD IS THE STORY THAT IT TELLS.

IT TELLS THAT STORY OF THIS AREA OF THE IRON RANGE AND WHAT HAS WROUGHT US SUCCESS IN LIFE AND BUSINESS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, BUT NOW HOW WE CAN REUSE THAT AND REPURPOSE IT TO STILL BRING US LIFE AND BUSINESS AND FUN.

>> I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE GETTING INTO.

I KNEW THE REDHEAD SITE WAS FOCUSED ON A NUMBER OF OLD IRON PITS THAT WERE FLOODED.

I KNEW WE HAD A LAKE BUT WHEN I STEPPED ONTO THE SITE AND SAW ALL THE VERTICAL RED WALLS AND WHITE TRUNKS OF THE BIRCHES, MY JAW DROPPED AND I THOUGHT THIS IS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING.

IT'S SO MUCH MORE.

>> MOUNTAIN BIKE DESTINATIONS TYPICALLY TAKE 15 OR 20, 30 YEARS TO DEVELOP.

LAST YEAR, THERE WAS NOT A MILE OF TRAIL AND THIS YEAR, THERE'S 25.

EVERY FOOT OF THIS TRAIL, EVERY INCH OF THESE TRAILS IS LITERALLY CAREFULLY DESIGNED, PURPOSE BUILT, CONSTRUCTED TO MAXIMIZE THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE WRITER AND THE TRAIL.

AND IT WILL BE MAINTAINED TO MAKE AN ABSOLUTE EXPERIENCE, FULL IMMERSION.

>> THIS ISN'T LIKE A LITTLE RINKY-DINK TRAIL SOMEONE SCRATCHED INTO THE DIRT.

IT'S UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU'VE WRITTEN.

>> IT HAS FEATURES THAT LOOK LIKE THE BLUFFS IN ARKANSAS OR CANYONS IN UTAH BUT THEY WERE ALL MADE BY REALLY BIG MACHINES DIGGING A BUNCH OF OR OUT OF THE GROUND.

DENNIS: JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THE SUCCESS OF THE REDHEAD MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL AND THE FUTURE OF THE CENTER IS DONNA JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER.

AND JORDAN METSA IS FUND DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING COORDINATOR AT THE CENTER.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THIS WILL BE AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE TRAIL AND WHAT IT HAS MEANT FOR THE CENTER AND THE CITY OF CHISHOLM?

GUEST: IT HAS MEANT SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT BROUGHT PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT COME TO OUR FRONT DOOR INTO OUR PARKING LOT.

LAST YEAR, WE SAW CLOSE TO 20,000 WRITERS AND THEY WANT TO VISIT THE DISCOVERY CENTER AND LEARN ABOUT HOW THAT LANDSCAPE WAS CREATED AND WHY IT'S THERE.

FOR DOWNTOWN CHISHOLM, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF INCREASED LODGING AND EATING AT RESTAURANTS, NEW BUSINESSES POPPING UP, SO IT HAS BENEFITED EVERYBODY.

JULIE: HAS THIS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AS PEOPLE LOOK AT THE IMPACT OVER THE LAST YEAR?

GUEST: ABSOLUTELY.

WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE WHAT TO EXPECT BUILDING A MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL OF THIS CALIBER.

IT'S A NEW THING FOR US, BUT THANKFULLY, FOLKS LEAD THE WAY AND WE KNEW WE WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

BUT TO SEE THE RESPONSE AND SEE 15,000, 20,000 WRITERS SHOW UP WAS AN INCREDIBLE THING AND THAT LET'S US KNOW THAT WE HAD SOMETHING.

DENNIS: THIS IS THE SECOND SEASON FOR THE TRAIL.

ARE THERE PLANS IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE SOME DIFFERENT IMPROVEMENTS?

GUEST: ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE LOOKING ALREADY TOWARD THE FUTURE IN PHASE TWO BUILDOUT.

WE JUST COMPLETED 25 MILES OF TRAIL, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE TO GO FROM ZERO TO 25 MILES IN JUST OVER A YEAR.

NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT PHASE TWO WHICH WOULD EXPAND THE PARKING ADDITIONAL 14 MILES.

WE WOULD BE ADDING AMENITIES LIKE PAID PUMP TRACKS.

THEY ARE REALLY COOL BECAUSE THEY ALLOW EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE THE PARK FOR FOLKS WITH WHEELCHAIRS OR ADAPTIVE CYCLES, SCOOTERS, ROLLERBLADE OR'S FULL TOPIC ADDS TO THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE.

A SKILLS COURSE, WE ARE HOPING TO BUILD CONSTRUCTING AROUND SOME HISTORIC MINING EQUIPMENT AND ENHANCING USER AMENITIES TO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE SHADE SHACKS, A CHANGING STATION AND BY CLOCK STATIONS.

JULIE: SOUNDS PRETTY AMBITIOUS AND ALSO SOUNDS EXPENSIVE.

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IS GOING TO BE AND WHERE WOULD THE MONEY COME FROM?

GUEST: THE NEXT PHASE IS ABOUT $1.9 MILLION IF ALL GOES WELL AND WE GET EVERYTHING ON THE LIST WE WANT.

WE DID APPLY FOR LCC FUNDING, WHICH WE WILL FIND OUT AT THE END OF AUGUST IF WE ARE ACCEPTED INTO THAT PROGRAM.

JULIE: THERE'S ALSO A WEBSITE BEING DEVELOPED?

GUEST: WE JUST DEVELOPED GO REDHEAD.COM.

IT LAYS OUT OUR VISION THAT INCLUDES THE 14 MILES I SPOKE OF AND LAYS OUT THE COST OF WHAT WE ARE BUILDING.

IT'S RIGHT AROUND 1.9 MILLION DOLLARS IN FOR A SMALL TOWN LIKE CHISHOLM, THAT'S A BIG LIFT.

IT IS A PUBLIC PARK, IT'S OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND WE THOUGHT WHY NOT TRY DOING A PUBLIC CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN?

WE'VE SEEN AN AMAZING DEMAND FOR THESE NEW SPACES NOT ONLY IN CHISHOLM BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC BUY-IN ON THESE PROJECTS AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A SHOT AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH IN RAISING A PORTION OF THAT $1.9 MILLION.

DENNIS: THE DISCOVERY CENTER IS MORE THAN A BIKE TRAIL.

THERE A 1700 SEAT AMPHITHEATER.

LET'S PLAN FOR THE SUMMER?

GUEST: WE HAVE A LOT PLANNED FOR THE SUMMER.

WE HAD A SHOW WITH THE ICONIC GROUP, THE SUBURBS.

WE HAVE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS MUSIC FESTIVAL, THE CINDERELLA OPERA AND ORCHESTRA ON JULY 16 AND 17TH AND JUST A LOAD OF SYMPHONIES AND ORCHESTRAS, PLAYS AND ACTS AT THE AMPHITHEATER.

IT'S A REVIVAL OF THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE THAT WE HAVE.

JULIE: HOW CAN COVID-19 PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND THE OTHERS TO REIMAGINE THE FACILITY AND ITS MISSION IN THE FUTURE?

GUEST: THE CLOSURES GAVE US TIME TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, NOT JUST OUR NORMAL ROUTINE AND FILLING OUR CALENDARS AS USUAL.

IT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK OF WHAT CAN WE DO TO ALIGN WITH REDHEAD AND BRING THE MUSEUM TO THE PARK AND THE PARK INTO THE MUSEUM AND OTHER WAYS WE CAN GROW THE RECREATIONAL USES AND EXPAND BEYOND JUST BEING A MUSEUM.

BUT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE AND FACILITY WE HAVE.

DENNIS: IF A VISITOR COMES TO THE MUSEUM, WHAT CAN THEY EXPECT TO SEE?

GUEST: WE HAVE A HISTORICAL TROLLEY THAT TAKES US TO AN OLD MINING LOCATION WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE OLD STRUCTURES THERE.

WITHIN OUR FACILITY, WE HAVE A MUSEUM THAT FOCUSES ON IRON RANGE HISTORY, IMMIGRATION, LABOR, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.

WHEN YOU GO TO ANCESTRY.COM YOU GO INTO OUR DATABASE WHICH WAS REALLY POPULAR DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN PEOPLE WERE HOME.

THEN WE HAVE AN OUTDOOR PARK, MINI GOLF -- WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.

JULIE: IT HAS BEEN OVER 10 YEARS SINCE THE NAME CHANGE, BUT I STILL HEAR PEOPLE SAY YOU KNOW, THE OLD IRON ROAD.

IS THERE STILL AN IDENTITY CRISIS?

ARE THERE EFFORTS TO MAYBE EMBRACE THAT AND BRING IT BACK IN SOME WAY?

GUEST: I STILL HEAR IRON WORLD -- IT IS AN IDENTITY STRUGGLE TO HAVE THAT AND TAKE OVER THE NEW NAME, BUT LIKE A LOT OF THINGS, WE ARE RANGERS AND WE HOLD ON TO THINGS.

IT HAS BEEN A GOOD 10 YEARS AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE NEW BRAND REALLY DEVELOP AND BLOSSOM INTO SOMETHING GREAT ALONGSIDE THIS PARK.

DENNIS: THE VETERAN CENTER IS ALSO LOCATED THERE.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

GUEST: WE HAVE THE VETERANS MEMORIAL RIGHT OUTSIDE WHEN YOU COME INTO THE DRIVEWAY.

WE LEASE THAT LAND TO THE LOCAL CHAPTER, SO THAT WAS OPEN IN 2000 BUT IT WAS A UNIQUE FUN AREA.

DENNIS: I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING OUR GUEST.

♪ ♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR “VOICES OF THE REGION.

” EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN THE AREA ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK MARSHALL HELMBERGER FROM THE TIMBERJAY NEWSPAPER IN TOWER IS OUR GUEST.

♪ >> THIS WEEK, WE TALKED TO TWO OF OUR AREA LAWMAKERS TO GET THEIR TAKE ON THE JUST COMPLETED LEGISLATED SYSTEM.

SOME OF THE HIGHER PROFILE ISSUES DID NOT GET RESOLVED.

BOTH SENATOR TOM BOCK AND TOM -- RON BECKMAN WERE EACH ABOUT WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

AT THE TOP WAS FINANCIAL INCENTIVES EXPECTED TO BRING A NEW ORIENTED STRAND BOARD PATTERN TO THE IRON OR RANGE.

THE PLANT IS EXPECTED TO BRING 150 DIRECT JOBS TO THE AREA AND CREATE SUBSTANTIAL NEW MARKETS FOR AREA LOGGERS WHO STRUGGLED IN THE WAKE OF THE SLOWDOWN.

THE DEAL INCLUDES FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF IRON RANGE RESOURCES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS UP TO $3 MILLION OF ANNUAL PRODUCTION INCENTIVES OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

THE INCENTIVES REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO PURCHASE AT LEAST 80% OF ITS RAW WOOD FROM MINNESOTA SUPPLIERS.

MEETING THAT TARGET WILL REQUIRE MORE LOGGERS IN THE WOODS, SO THERE WILL BE A PUSH WHILE THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO ENCOURAGE MORE LOGGING AND MORE LOGGERS TO SET UP SHOP.

THE HUBER COMPANY IS EXPECTED TO BREAK GROUND ON THE PROJECT NEXT SPRING.

MEANWHILE, BROADBAND WAS ANOTHER WIN FOR THE AREA.

THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED $70 MILLION OVER THE BIENNIUM FOR THE BORDER TO BORDER INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS THE LARGEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THAT PROGRAM EVER APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

THE CRAY LAKE AREA DID WILL -- DID WELL WITH $6 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR A NATIONAL PARK VISITORS CENTER.

THEY'VE NEVER HAD A VISITOR CENTER FOR THE PARK, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A HEAVILY USED POINT, SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ADDITION TO THAT AREA.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE ATV CLUB WAS AWARDED APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION FOR TRAIL DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.

THAT WENT TO THE PROSPECTOR TRAIL CLUB.

SO QUITE A BIT OF FUNDING WILL BE MOVING UP OUR DIRECTION AS A RESULT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR A LOT OF THE FRONT PROJECTS, SO THAT IS GOOD NEWS.

WE ALSO CHECKED IN ON PROGRESS ON THE MESABI TRAIL.

FOLKS MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT -- THE BIG BIKE TRAIL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY RUN FROM GRAND RAPIDS TO ELY.

IT HAS BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR ABOUT TWO DECADES NOW AND SOME OF THE FINAL UNBILLED SEGMENTS, MOST OF WHICH ARE IN THE ELY AREA ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

AN EIGHT MILE STRETCH THAT RUNS TO ABOUT FIVE MILES SOUTH OF TOWER HAS BEEN PAVED AND IS READY TO RIDE.

I WAS WALKING ON IT JUST THE OTHER DAY AND IT LOOKS GREAT, SO I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BIKE THAT STRETCH GET OUT THERE.

IT WILL ALSO BE GREAT FOR ROLLERBLADING.

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO OTHER SECTIONS UNDER CONSTRUCTION THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETED THIS SUMMER.

THE FULL TRAIL SHOULD BE DONE BY NEXT SUMMER.

THERE ARE LITTLE SECTIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE NEXT YEAR, BUT THAT HAS BEEN A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SECTION AND SHOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC PORTIONS OF THE TRAIL.

HOPEFULLY BY NEXT SUMMER, WE CAN DO THE WHOLE LENGTH WITHOUT ANY BREAKS AND THAT WILL BE GREAT.

I TALKED TO THE TRAIL DIRECTOR AND HE SAID THE FINAL LINK IN THE CHAIN, THERE IS ABOUT A FIVE MILE STRETCH AND THAT SHOULD BE READY TO GO BY THE SUMMER OF 2023.

WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GO ON THAT ONE.

ONCE DONE, THAT WILL CAP A MORE THAN 20 YEAR TRAIL BUILDING PROJECT, BUT THAT WILL NOT END THE WOR.

SOME OF THE OLDER SEGMENTS OF THE TRAIL ARE IN NEED OF REPAVING OR RECONSTRUCTION, SO I GUESS YOU CAN SAY THE WORK NEVER ENDS.

BUT THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE IT IS A VERY POPULAR TRAIL.

ALSO, WE ARE REPORTING ON THE AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL TOURNAMENT, THE ANNUAL MIDSUMMER CLASSIC, WHICH WILL BE HAVING ITS 20TH ANNUAL SESSION THIS WEEKEND.

IN FACT, SOME GAMES GOT UNDERWAY ON FRIDAY, BUT ALSO THEY HAVE A FULL SLATE OF GAMES SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

THERE ARE SO MANY GAMES THAT THEY HAVE TO PLAY SOME OF THEM AT THE BASEBALL FIELD IN SEDAN.

TEAMS FROM AS FAR AWAY AS ST. PAUL WILL BE COMPETING AND IT PROMISES TO OFFER BASEBALL FANS PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT, PARTICULARLY SINCE THIS EVENT HAD TO BE CANCELED LAST YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

SO BOTH FANS AND PLAYERS ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE BACK IN ACTION.

AND THE WEATHER IS SUPPOSED TO BE NICE.

IT SUPPOSED TO BE MID 80'S.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: IT'S BEEN OVER HALF A CENTURY SINCE THE WAR IN VIETNAM, BUT MANY OLDER VETERANS ARE STILL DEALING WITH FALL-OUT FROM THAT CONFLICT.

A MINNESOTAN WHO SERVED AS A COMBAT MEDIC IN THE WAR ALL THOSE YEARS AGO HAS A NEW BOOK HE HOPES WILL HELP VETERANS.

JOINING US NOW IS BILL STRUSINSKI, AUTHOR OF “CARE UNDER FIRE.

” WELCOME BILL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU YOU GAVE TO THE COUNTRY.

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR WAR EXPERIENCE?

GUEST: THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS, BUT THE FIRST IS I WAS ASKED TO BE A GUEST SPEAKER, A KEYNOTE AT THE MINNESOTA AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

I HAD TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND I SAID I'LL DO IT BECAUSE IF ANYBODY UNDERSTOOD WHAT I WENT THROUGH, IT IS EMT AND PARAMEDICS.

SO I PREPARED SOME MATERIALS AND STARTED WRITING MY BOOK AND DELIVERED MY SPEECH AND I GOT A STANDING OVATION AND IT BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES AND THEY GAVE ME THE STARS OF LIFE AWARD.

SINCE I HAD A GOOD START ON SOME MATERIAL, I THOUGHT I SHOULD COMPLETE MY STORY.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS AND I WANTED MY FAMILY TO KNOW WHO I AM AND HOW I MAKE DECISIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

JULIE: TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE AS A 20-YEAR-OLD TO GO TO WAR.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHAT YOUNG SOLDIERS ARE BEING ASKED TO DO AND WHAT THEY GO THROUGH.

GUEST: IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE.

I WAS A MEDIC AND NEVER SAW A HOSPITAL OUTSIDE OF MY TRAINING.

I WAS ASSIGNED TO INFANTRY AND SPENT MY WHOLE YEAR IN THE FIELD ON PATROLS EVERY DAY.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

IT WAS VERY HARD.

I ENDED UP LEARNING HOW TO PUT AWAY THE THINGS OF A TEENAGER AND PICKING UP THE INSTRUMENTS OF WAR AND LEARNING TO DEAL WITH TRAUMATIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND PROCESSING ALL THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES THE REST OF MY LIFE.

IT WAS REALLY CHALLENGING TO DO THAT.

DENNIS: YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY, NOR SHOULD THEY BE, HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH THEMSELVES.

WHICH BRINGS UP WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION YOU WANT READERS OF YOUR BOOK TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE BOOK?

GUEST: I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS TO REALIZE HIS FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

YOU HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME BUT THESE VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THE WAR, THEY GAVE UP A LOT OF THEIR LIVES VAL TO GIVE THEIR LIVES AND THAT'S TRAUMATIC ENOUGH BUT THEY SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES DEALING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF COMBAT AND WAR.

I DIDN'T SERVE JUST TWO YEARS IN THE ARMY, I'VE BEEN SERVING SINCE THE DAY I GOT OUT OF THE ARMY FOR OVER 50 YEARS WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOW REMEMBER THE VETERANS.

PARAMEDICS AND EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO THESE THINGS.

IT'S ABOUT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS.

I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND COMING HOME AND DEALING WITH THAT, YOU HAVE VETERANS WHO HAVE RETIRED.

THEY WORKED AND RAISED A FAMILY THERE WHOLE LIFE AND NOW THEY ARE HOME AND RETIRED.

THERE ARE 100 VETERANS THAT COMMIT SUICIDE YEAR IN MINNESOTA.

WE NEED TO HELP THEM.

IF YOU RECOGNIZE SOMEONE NEEDS SOME HELP, ASK WHAT THEIR STORY IS AND GET THEM TO PROCESS THINGS THEY SHOULD HAVE PROCESSED YEARS AGO.

DENNIS: YOU DID WORK ON GETTING STATE FUNDING FOR TELEVISION DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT VIETNAM AND PART OF THAT HELPED SHAPE YOUR DECISION TO TELL YOUR STORY.

GUEST: IT HELPED A LOT BECAUSE I WORKED WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND TESTIFIED A NUMBER OF TIMES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THAT MONEY TO DO A MINNESOTA REMEMBERS VIETNAM PROJECT FOR A YEAR.

THAT WAS AROUND THE KEN BURNS SERIES, THE VIETNAM WAR.

I TESTIFIED A LOT AND PEOPLE STARTED ASKING LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND I PRESENTED MY OWN EXPERIENCES AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS DOCUMENTARY WOULD BE FOR MINNESOTA REMEMBERS VIETNAM, SO THAT HELPED A LOT AND THAT WAS THE OTHER CATALYST THAT PROMPTED ME TO WRITE MY STORY.

JULIE: THE TITLE OF THE BOOK -- "CARE UNDER FIRE" NAVY SHARE A STORY ABOUT AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT WAS LIKE TO PROVIDE CARE UNDER FIRE.

PROVIDING CARE AT ANY POINT IS STRESSFUL, ANY EMT CAN TELL YOU THAT, BUT YOU ARE ACTUALLY UNDER FIRE.

GUEST: THE MOST DRAMATIC EXPERIENCE I HAD IS THE FIRST PERSON ON MY WATCH KILLED IN ACTION.

YOU MOVED INTO AN AMBUSH PATROL ONE NIGHT.

YOU WAIT FOR THE ENEMY TO COME DOWN TO YOUR TRAIL AND YOU ATTACK THEM, BUT WE WERE LATE AND WE WERE GOING PASS THIS VILLAGE AND WE WERE IN THE OPEN AND THE FELLOW NEXT TO ME, THERE ARE 10 OF US ON PATROL, HE SAW A MACHINE GUN ON THE BERM ABOUT TWO MILES AWAY AND SAID HIT IT DOCK.

WE ALL GOT ON THE GROUND AS A MACHINE GUN BURST HIT IN FRONT OF US AND THROUGH DIRT INTO MY FACE AND ONE OF THE BULLETS RICOCHETED AND ONE OF THE BULLETS HIT HIM AND HE DIED SEVERAL HOURS LATER, BUT HE WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN.

WE ARE STILL GETTING SHOT AT AND HE'S TRYING TO MOVE AND I'M LAYING ON TOP OF HIM TO GIVE HIM MORPHINE AND THAT INCIDENT HAS ALWAYS STUCK WITH ME MY ENTIRE LIFE.

THAT MAN SAVED MY LIFE BUT I COULDN'T SAVE HIS.

DENNIS: POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS -- WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOUR PEOPLE STILL EXPERIENCING POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS?

GUEST: I THINK VETERANS, EMTS, YOU SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT WITH OTHER PEOPLE, WITH OTHER VETERANS AND SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IF YOU NEED IT, BUT AT LEAST START TALKING ABOUT IT SO YOU CAN PROCESS IT.

ALL OF US WANT TO HELP YOU GET THE HELP YOU NEED.

COURAGE UNDER FIRE IS ONE THING WHERE YOU ARE PROTECTING YOUR FRIENDS OR DEFENDING FREEDOM, BUT THERE IS ALSO FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT ADJUSTING THESE ISSUES.

DENNIS: THANK YOU, BILL, FOR SERVING IN THE WAR.

JULIE: THAT'S OUR TIME FOR THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POSTS BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, UPCOMING EVENTS AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS AND PAST EPISODES OF ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNY, LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER NICE WEATHER WEEKEND TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

DENNIS: MORE YET?

KEEP IT COMING.

WINTER ARRIVES EARLY.

JULIE: IT DOES DISAPPEAR TOO FAST AROUND HERE.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO!

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I'M JULIE ZENNER, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪