 |
Quote of the Day: "Some people try to turn back the odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved." Will Rogers |
 |
| Home Biography Contact Info House Activity Supporters How You Can HelpIn The News Photo Gallery | A Brief History Military Service I was then assigned to Air-Anti Squadron 23 (VS-23) attached to the CVS 10, USS Yorktown. While serving as an aircrewman with VS-23 we were deployed to the South China Sea to fly reconnaissance and gun fire spotting missions off the coast of Viet Nam. On January 23, 1968 while replenishing our supplies in Japan, the Yorktown went to general quarters. The USS Pueblo had been illegally seized in international waters by the North Koreans. We immediately proceeded to the North Sea of Japan. I believe that we were the first carrier on station and began flight ops in sub-zero weather. We were on station for approximately 40+ days. There were two events in this time period that instrumental in shaping who I am. The first was the Escape and Evasion school that I completed in Warner Springs. The school was run by the US Navy. The school was for combat pilots, aircrews and Navy Seals. The school was run by an old Navy Commander whose name I have forgotten. He had been a POW during the Korean War. All the instructors had been POW's. It was a very tough school to get through, but what it taught me; is what some people take for granted: FREEDOM. How quickly we can loose our freedom. Freedom is not an inherent right that we have at birth, rather a responsibility of every American. It has been paid for with the ultimate price. Thank the Creator whomever that is for you (because FREEDOM gives you the right to choose) for being a proud American and bearing the responsibility of FREEDOM. The other life shaping moment took place in December 1969. After being held for 11 months by the North Koreans, Captain Bucher and his crew including one dead were released. They were sent to North Island Naval Air Station, San Diego for de-briefing. I was going through my discharge check-out in January 1969 at North Island. I went to the chow hall to have lunch. All of a sudden the chow hall went silent. I looked up and there were the crewman from the Pueblo. They came in for lunch. They were skin and bone. Their eyes were sunk back in their sockets. They would not look up, they looked at the floor. I cannot tell you the shame I felt and still feel today. They were not prisoners of war. They were illegally pirated from international waters. Exactly one week after the capture of the Pueblo the Tet offensive was launched. So in all reality it was a publicity stunt by the communists. With the Vietnam War going full tilt I can only assume that this was not a priority by the administration to secure the release of the ship and crew. In my opinion WE FAILED AS AMERICANS. I never want to feel that I let my fellow Americans down. I am a Viet Nam Veteran and am proud of my service. I was discharged from the Navy in January 1969. Starting a family and heading north... My father, Glen Ankney, was employed by the BIA. He had recently been transferred from Idaho to Crow Agency. He talked me into coming to Montana in November of 1969. On my way from Billings to Hardin on that first trip, as I took in the landscape, looking at the scrub hills, I asked my dad, “What in the world do you see in this country”. He answered simply, “Duane, if you stay in Eastern Montana for 90 days you will never leave”. He was right. The country, the people, there is no place like it. I had an occasion few years back to with a group of folks gathered in the Elks in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Every time that I introduced myself and told where I was from they immediately took on a sympathetic tone. Finally I had had enough. I told the group how much I appreciated their hospitality, however I would not trade 40 acres in Eastern Montana for that whole county. That is a fact. There is no where I would rather live than Eastern Montana. My oldest son Christopher was born in September 1970. I worked at various jobs including feed mills, working on ranches, construction. Through the 70s I lived in Hardin and Lodge Grass. In 1979 I married Carol Schillinger who was teaching school in Lodge Grass. Carol is a native Montanan, born and raised in Billings. We had two sons, Peter born 1979 and Nicholas born 1983. We have another son who came to us at the age of 16, Kevin. The Colstrip years Politics I believe in the youth of today. Over the years I have tried to mentor many down the right path. Always talking about the fact that where you came from is not important but in fact where you are going and what values are going to get you there is what is really important. Who I am I believe passionately about our freedoms, and that our actions today effect what chances our youth have at making a better tomorrow. Honor and Loyalty are not just words but rather the fuel that you should run your life on. |
Wife: Carol Schillinger Ankney, runs an accounting business out of our home Daughter: Dusti (36) a "soccer mom" living in Laurel raising two boys and a girl, Logan (Buster) 7, Dante (5), and Danae (5) Son: Kevin (35) served in the Army from '91 to '94 a veteran of Desert Storm, currently living and working in Colstrip with Wife Margaret and two children, Katlin (4) and Cadin (Beans) (2) Son: Christopher (35) served in the USMC from '90 to '94, currently living in Sandpoint, ID with wife Cassandra and working with "at-risk" youth Son: Peter (24) 1st Lt. USMC 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, served in Afghanistan and is currently deployed to Iraq Son: Nicholas (22) currently working construction in Billings |
 |
|
