August's Veteran Of The Month: Raymond 'Bud' Temme

Tech Sergeant Raymond "Bud" Teme was drafted into WWII in 1943 and chose to serve in the Army.

He began his training in Camp Howze, Fla., where he was quickly promoted to squad leader. His unit was reassigned to Camp Pendleton, Calif. where they trained for amphibious operations at the Marine Corps' base.

They were preparing for combat in Japan, but were needed in Europe after the Battle of the Bulge.

With less than one month before his first child was born, on Feb. 22, 1945, Bud and the rest of his 86th Infantry Division were shipped to LeHavre, France. There they began a whirlwind three-month combat.

Bud would earn a Bronze Star with the fighting that took place in Cologne, Germany. He was also part of operation that spearheaded General George Patton's 3rd Army Division over the Danube River near the end of the war, as well as witnessed firsthand the horrors at Auschwitz.

Shortly after, when the 86th Infantry reached Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, the European war ended. Bud also earned the Purple Heart.

Bud's unit was shipped back to New York and was one of the first to make it back after Victory in Europe Day.

Although qualified for a discharge, Bud was sent to Camp Gruber, Okla. for more training in preparation of the final battles in Japan. He made it as far as the Philippine Islands before finally being discharged and sent back home.

He was joined on the voyage home by liberated prisoners of the Bataan Death March.

Back at home in thesStates, Bud and his wife Trudy, they were married while Bud was on leave in February 1944, went on to have another child.

Bud and Trudy grew up in St. Paul and went to Harding High School as well as church together.

Bud worked for 3M after the war. He and Trudy are now blessed with two children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

When asked what thoughts he'd like to share about the war or what he learned about life?

Bud said, "I'm just so glad that the war ended and I could return home. I've been happily married for 70 years."