News : Remembering Vince Blank, one of Vinton\'s \'Freedom Men\'

Vince Blank was the first Party in the Park Parade Grand Marshal, in 1993.

Vince Blank, a vet of three wars and former Iowa Legion Commander and Vinton Mayor, has died.

Vince and his caregiver return from the Honor Flight in the summer of 2010.

     The stuff that hangs on my office wall is way more than just art -- it consists of things given to me by friends I have met during my years in journalism.

    The most recent addition this collection was a large glass picture frame. There is no picture, however. Just words.

     These words: "I Know You Believe You Understand What You Think I Said, But I'm Not Sure You Realize That What You Heard Is Not What I Meant."

    The gift was from Vince Blank.

     I had written a column about the things on my wall, and I mentioned that quote. Vince read it and realized that he had the same quote, and wanted me to have it.

     You probably heard by now that Vince died on Thursday. He was 84, a former Vinton mayor and Iowa Department Commander of the American Legion, and a frequent officer of Post 218. I am pretty sure he was the Legion Commander in Vinton when I arrived in Vinton in 2003.

     Vince was one of the first people I met when I came to town, and someone I called often for stories about veterans and military issues. If you found those articles worth reading, thank Vince. 

    He enjoyed the work, and he enjoyed sharing what he knew about soldiers and sailors. 

     He showed me much of the history in the old Legion Hall; even that back room in the basement. Then after the 2005 fire that destroyed way too much of that priceless memorabilia, Vince joined the other Legion members in moving, rebuilding and adding to the new collection.

     Vince's family and Legion friends can tell his story much better than I can. They can tell you how he grew up wanting to be in the Navy, how he left school as a sophomore to join the Merchant Marines and ended up serving in three wars.

     Vince was also a family man. During his visit to Washington, D.C. for the Honor Flight last summer, he made special arrangements to visit a very special grave at Arlington National Cemetery -- that of his infant daughter. And he must have been very proud when one of his grandsons served in the Middle East after 9/11.

     Vince was always a proud Navy man. The next time you see the anchor at the new Veterans Park, think of Vince. He donated it in honor of his Navy comrades.

     I know this tribute is pathetically in adequate; there are so many more people who could tell you so much more about Vince Blank the sailor, Vince Blank the Legion leader, and Vince Blank the father and grandfather.

    But tonight I think of a tribute spoken to another American sailor in the early 1980s, around the time that Vince was helping to leading Iowa's Legion.

    A group of refugees was in a tiny boat in the South China Sea, fleeing the oppression in Indochina and hoping to find freedom from the U.S. The boat came across a Navy ship, the U.S.S. Midway. One of the English speakers on the ship spoke to the American sailors with these words: "Hello, American Sailor. Hello, Freedom Man."

     It's not hard to imagine Vince Blank hearing those words now as he sails the ships of heaven.