| Wassmuth
presented Quilt of Valor
Virgil Wassmuth was in the army from 1960 to 1962 and volunteered for overseas duty. He was in stationed in Stuttgart, Germany with the 34th Signal Corp. when the Soviet government oversaw the completion of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961, closing the border around West Berlin. He was working in security the night of October 27, 1961 when the coded message came in of a possible outbreak of war. He and his comrade decoded the message and then woke up the commanding officer. The officer reportedly stated "Wassmuth, this better be good", Then the officer verified the message and then walked over and pressed the button for all of Germany to be on alert. The situation escalated into a standoff with the United States and Soviet Union having tanks on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall. After communicating back and forth, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and President John F. Kennedy of the United States, agreed to reduce tensions by withdrawing the tanks, and eventually backing down to avoid a war. Virgil's Quilt of Valor was made by Jeanne Arnzen and Donna Wassmuth. Each family member stitched a blue and red square because they love you. We, the family of Virgil, join everyone here present in thanking him for his service to his country. 
Virgil Wassmuth was presented a Quilt of Valor at the Summit Veteran’s program. He is shown with his wife Donna and 14 of his 17 grandchildren. |
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