Nebraska
Veterans club in NE's oldest prison is saluted at Vietnam vet reunion • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — Every year, a wreath is placed on the grave of Beryl Zich.
It has been a solemn tradition since her death in 2005, a way to pay tribute to her love and dedication for her son, Larry, a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, who was listed as missing in action until his remains were identified in 2022.
The flowers aren’t from a traditional veterans organization, but from a group of inmates at the Nebraska State Penitentiary.
For more than 40 years, a “veterans club” has been among the betterment groups allowed to form at the state’s oldest prison.
Her boys
Along the way, the 25-40 inmates/veterans who gather twice a month behind prison walls got interested in the MIAs and prisoners of war from the Vietnam War. Eventually, they connected with Beryl Zich, the mother of an MIA, who began coming to the State Pen for their meetings.
She eventually referred to the veterans club members as “my boys” as the years passed, and as her son — who disappeared during a mission in 1972 — remained missing.
“Sometimes, I think those boys are the only ones who care,” she once remarked.
Jaime Obrecht and Roy Schoen, two long-time volunteers for the inmate club, related that story and others about the prison veterans organization at the 39th annual Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Reunion held this past weekend at the Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln.
The first motto for the State Pen veterans’ organization was “Forgotten and Disowned,” which, Schoen said, was how a lot of veterans felt back in the 1980s.
“We had a chip on our shoulder for quite a few years for how we were treated,” said Schoen, an Army veteran and a retired counselor with the veterans center in Lincoln.
He and Obrecht, a retired Lincoln teacher, first began volunteering with the prison group back in 1984, shortly after it was formed.
A war that ended 49 years ago
The Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Reunion began in 1985, Schoen said. It was organized by a group of vets who felt that a gathering would be helpful, not only to share stories and common experiences, but learn more about veterans benefits and organizations.
“There wasn’t much going on back then for (Vietnam) veterans,” he said. “Things have changed quite a bit. Slowly.”
About 300 veterans and their spouses registered for this year’s reunion, which included presentations about the State Pen’s Veterans Club, Agent Orange, a book about fallen veterans from Norfolk (see sidebar) and the evacuation from Afghanistan. The state office of Veterans Affairs also offered remarks.
There were a lot of dark-blue “Vietnam Veteran” ball caps among the participants, as well as MIA/POW shoulder patches and veterans’ reunion T-shirts. Some aging vets used canes to walk, or carried small tanks of supplemental oxygen, a testament to the advancing age of soldiers who served in a war that ended 49 years ago.
The reunion serves many of the same needs as the veterans club at the State Pen, said Schoen and Obrecht — bringing those with common experiences, and challenges, together.
The State Pen’s club has several projects besides the annual wreath on the grave of Beryl Zich, said Obrecht.
Club members have made more than 511,000 red, paper poppies for the American Legion Auxiliary, which distributes them as a tribute and fundraiser on the Friday before every Memorial Day, he said. More recently, club members have been crocheting hats and scarfs for residents of the state veterans home in Kearney.
Special housing unit
But club members have also served as mentors that “police themselves” in the sometimes challenging world of prison, Obrecht said. At times, they’ve served as informal counselors for inmates/veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress syndrome, Schoen said.
I can’t imagine what it’s like to live (in prison) … but the club gives them something to take pride in.
– Jaime Obrecht, volunteer with the veterans club at the Nebraska State Penitentiary
In 2016, the state corrections department established a special housing unit exclusively for military veterans, which the two volunteers said has been greatly appreciated by the inmates who live there.
“It really was a remarkable change,” Schoen said. “They were more relaxed, they didn’t have to deal with all the craziness in the rest of the prison.”
Obrecht said the club meetings at the State Pen are much like the meetings held by the Legion or VFW — there’s a business meeting, followed by reports on projects and then an hour for visiting.
The club holds annual programs on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and purchased the black MIA/POW flags that fly on the flagpole at the State Pen. They also helped obtain new headstones for inmate/veterans buried at the State Pen’s cemetery outside the prison walls atop Grasshopper Hill.
He said they especially like contributing to causes that help veterans on the outside, such as the annual wreath for Beryl Zich.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like to live (in prison) … but the club gives them something to take pride in,” Obrecht said.
Not just names on The Wall
Research into the military service of his father and other relatives helped inspire retired social studies teacher Keith Walton to write about the nine soldiers from his hometown, Norfolk, who died in Vietnam.
Walton, now 71 and living in Montana, gave a presentation this weekend on his book, “The Last Full Measure: From America’s Heartland to the Battlefields of Vietnam. Remembering the Fallen from one Nebraska Town.”
Walton, who taught 27 years at Chadron, said that he’s always admired the way documentary film producer Ken Burns presented history — through the eyes of “average people,” not the generals or presidents.
So after producing papers on his father, a World War II medic, and a couple of other relatives, Walton embarked on telling the stories, in separate chapters, of the nine fallen soldiers Norfolk, “so they’re not just names on The Wall.”
He said he knew the names of a couple of the nine, but like many residents of Norfolk, didn’t know all of them — Jerry Allen, Dennis Anderson, Jerome Chandler, Roger Hunt, Jerold Meisinger, Thomas Scheurich, Steven Strube, Claude Van Andle and Michael Wemhoff.
Walton uncovered some remarkable, as well as understandably sad, stories.
Two soldiers were “enlisted by judges” who told them if they didn’t enlist, they would be going to jail for offenses.
One soldier’s mother drove weekly from Norfolk to the ordinance plant in Grand Island to put in a week of work producing bullets for war before commuting back. She continued to work even after her son perished.
Scheurich — who realized a life-long dream of being a pilot — is still listed as missing in action, although the remains of his bombardier were identified a few years ago after exploration of the 1968 crash site on an island off the coast of North Vietnam.
Nebraska
Remains of missing Nebraska mom found 18 months after she vanished in ‘suspicious circumstances’
The remains of a missing Nebraska mom have been found nearly 18 months after she vanished, with a suspect in her homicide already in custody on unrelated charges, according to authorities.
Jerica Hamre, 30, was reported missing in July 3 last year when she failed to pick up her two daughters, now age 9 and 10, from her parents in Lincoln.
Police quickly declared that she was missing under “suspicious circumstances,” and carried out a massive, “unwavering” search “over 1,000 square miles of timber, lakes, rivers, and farmland,” Lincoln police Captain Ben Miller said at a press conference.
However, her body was finally found by accident when someone preparing a farm for sale found a body in one of its sheds in Furnas County, near Oxford, nearly a 3-hour drive southwest of Lincoln. The remains have since been confirmed to be the missing mom.
“Our hearts break for Jerica’s family and friends, who for the past 18 months have been searching for answers,” Miller said, confirming it is being investigated as a homicide.
The body “had been there for quite some time,” the police captain said, while stressing that the owners of the farm are not tied to Hamre or suspects in the case.
“We do have a person of interest in custody on unrelated charges,” Miller said, stressing that there was no further threat to the community.
He did not identify the suspect nor give details on what they were currently in custody for, beyond repeating that the other charges are “totally unrelated to this case.” He also did not elaborate on how they became a suspect nor a motive or cause of death.
“It’s not the outcome any of us wanted — our hearts are broken for her family and loved ones,” the department said on Facebook.
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A grandfather was killed just days before Christmas in what officials have described as a “freak accident” at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Nebraska.
Michael Dickinson, 69, was crushed to death after he was pinned between his vehicle and the payment window on Tuesday morning in Grand Island.
He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to Grand Island police.
Police said the victim’s next of kin were notified of his death.
USPS WORKER FOUND DEAD INSIDE MAILING MACHINE IN MICHIGAN: ‘DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE LOSS’
A grandfather was killed in what officials described as a “freak accident” at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Nebraska. (iStock)
Police Division Chief Dean Elliott told KSNB-TV that the incident was “100% a freak accident.”
“It appears the deceased opened the door to further reach out of the window for payment purposes,” he said.
“We’re not sure if the vehicle lurched forward or what happened, but he became pinned between the door frame and the drive-thru window counter,” Elliott added.
GRANDFATHER ALLEGEDLY ‘BOILED ALIVE’ AFTER 136-DEGREE SHOWER SCALDS SKIN AT CALIFORNIA HOTEL
Michael Dickinson, 69, was crushed to death after he was pinned between his vehicle and the payment window. (iStock)
A McDonald’s employee attempted to save the man by vaulting through the passenger side of the car, but was unsuccessful in the effort to free Dickinson, Elliott told KSNB. The employee was also injured in the rescue attempt.
The incident remains under investigation.
Dickinson’s right leg was amputated in 2021, his daughter wrote on Facebook, adding that he was fitted with a prosthetic a few months later and re-learned how to walk. She did not say why his leg was removed.
His family remembered “his love” on their first Christmas without him, recounting his willingness “to help and be there when it mattered most.”
Grand Island Police Division Chief Dean Elliott said the incident was “100% a freak accident.” (Getty Images)
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“A skilled and hardworking mechanic, Michael took pride in his work and had a gift for fixing what was broken. It reflected who he was – reliable, practical, and dedicated,” his family wrote.
“Though his life was cut short, Michael’s love, loyalty, and kindness will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. He will be dearly missed and always remembered,” the post added.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Nebraska and Husker sports fans!
The HuskerOnline team has put together a Christmas Wishlist for Nebraska Athletics for this upcoming year. This list includes hopes for Husker football, basketball, volleyball, and recruiting. In between opening gifts and spending time with your family, dive into our wishes.
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Some wishes might require more magic than others, but Christmas time is the best day to dream.
Now, onto the wishes.
Sean Callahan’s Christmas Wishlist
Portal QB help that fits Nebraska’s needs: It’s clear what Nebraska will be looking for in the transfer portal. The Huskers want a dual-threat veteran quarterback that can help bridge the gap, potentially between TJ Lateef and Trae Taylor.
Finding the right guy ranks right up there at the top of my list.
A win vs. a ranked opponent: Nebraska has not beaten a ranked team since 2016, when it took down Oregon.
I would love to see the Huskers figure out a way to get that done in 2026. Heck, even on Dec. 31 in Las Vegas would do.
Offensive line growth: After four years of Donovan Raiola, Nebraska will turn the page on its offensive line to the Geep Wade/Lonnie Teasely era.
My wish list includes improved offensive line recruiting and development. There’s no way NU will take a step forward as a program without improvement in this area.
Clear answers to the future of college football: This is a big “if,” but my wish is to come up with clear answers to the rules of NIL and rev-share. As we sit here today, we still don’t know.
Also, hopefully, we get a modified College Football Playoff system and a season start date that might shift the calendar up by at least one week.
A March full of happiness: Finally, Fred Hoiberg has set the table so far with what will most likely be a 13-0 start heading into January.
Now, take care of business in conference play to put yourself in a position to be seeded high enough that getting the school’s first NCAA tournament win won’t be decided in an 8 vs. 9 or 7 vs. 10-type game.
Steven Sipple’s Christmas Wishlist
Joyful Novembers ahead for NU football: November is an inherently tough month in college football. The season begins to feel long for many people involved in it. In many places, the weather turns cold and nasty.
November can tell you a lot about a player. Does he fully embrace the challenges associated with big-time football? You tend to find out in this month.
November can tell you a lot about a program. The best programs often improve as the season progresses and begin playing their best this time of year.
Matt Rhule is 2-10 in November as Nebraska’s head man. Here’s hoping all of his changes in the program begin to reap more rewards in the hardest month on the schedule.
Some form of relief for Nebraska on its 2026 schedule: It’s hard not to think about how daunting Nebraska’s 2026 Big Ten football schedule appears.
One can always hope that a few of those teams experience a drop-off.
Heavens that could help Rhule in his plight to build Nebraska’s program.
Granted, it’s not a strong or confident way of thinking – it’s just realistic.
To be sure, Rhule will enter his fourth year as the Huskers’ head coach preparing to face a schedule that is sort of ridiculous. How treacherous is it? Well, it would be hard for an NU fan to look at any of the nine games and say, “Oh, that’s a surefire win.”
My advice: Embrace the pain while hoping for the best.
More All-American-caliber players for Rhule: We all saw how much impact an All-American-level player can have on a program.
Thank you, Emmett Johnson, for all you did for Nebraska’s program in 2025.
Now, Husker fans, imagine what it’d be like to have two or three or more players of All-American caliber – or at least first-team All-Big Ten caliber – on the same team. That’s what it takes to win big in the Big Ten.
Without that sort of firepower, you’re just an eternal underdog. An also ran, as it were.
Merry Christmas to all.
Robin Washut’s Christmas Wishlist
Yeah, you guessed it: A Nebraska NCAA Tournament win: Just like every year, my No. 1 wish for Nebraska Athletics this Christmas is for the men’s basketball program to finally get that elusive first NCAA Tournament win. The thing is, I actually truly believe it will happen in 2026.
The Huskers have all the makings of a team that can win in March. This is the year it happens. Speak it into existence, from our lips to Santa’s ears.
A renewed NIL commitment to Husker men’s basketball: Fred Hoiberg’s squad has become the talk of the college basketball world through the first half of his seventh season. Nebraska’s 12-0 start has been nothing short of miraculous, especially considering how Hoiberg and his staff had to construct this roster.
NU’s revenue share payout is supposedly between $3-3.5 million. That puts them roughly in the middle of the pack of the Big Ten. However, its NIL budget still ranks toward the bottom of the league. This team deserves more support through external NIL opportunities, especially if fans want these good times to keep rolling.
An elite PBA for Michigan State: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s spring semester doesn’t begin until Jan. 12. That means many students won’t be back in town yet for the Huskers’ massive Friday night showdown vs. Michigan State on Jan. 2. In a game that could be yet another signature piece to NU’s NCAA Tournament resume, Pinnacle Bank Arena needs to be rocking – students or not.
You couldn’t help but be impressed with the fan turnout for Sunday night’s win over North Dakota. PBA is already sold out for the Spartans, so it should be another packed house. This will be the first time Nebraska has hosted a top-15 matchup since No. 15 NU faced No. 10 Kansas back on March 3, 1991. Husker fans need to bring the juice and make The Vault as electric as possible.
Abby Barmore’s Christmas Wishlist
Nebraska volleyball to finally get it done: Husker volleyball had its third straight season end in heartbreak. The legendary program hasn’t won a national title since 2017. After a record-breaking first season, Dani Busboom Kelly will continue to feel great pressure for national title No. 6. My wish for the Huskers is that they finally get it done in 2026.
A smooth and successful renovation and reseat: Nebraska volleyball is going through its first-ever reseat. The John Cook Arena will undergo construction in April to increase its capacity to 10,000 and implement several other significant changes. I hope the reseating and renovation go smoothly.
More Husker volleyball in PBA: I would love to see Nebraska volleyball play a match or two in Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2026. The 2025 AVCA First Serve showed that PBA is a great volleyball venue. Husker fans will sell out any arena, in Lincoln or otherwise.
For Natalie Potts to return soon and strong: Nebraska women’s basketball forward Natalie Potts is nearing the end of her ACL rehab. The redshirt sophomore has been practicing with the Huskers, but there is no timeline for her return. She had a great freshman season, winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, and is projected to come back strong.
A Nebraska softball trip to WCWS: Husker softball was one win away from the 2025 Women’s College World Series. They have one more season with the outstanding Jordy Bahl, who proved herself as a threat all over the field last season. Head coach Rhonda Revelle has put together a great group. Can they make a run to Oklahoma City in May?
Bryan Munson’s Christmas Wishlist
Nebraska finds what it’s looking for in the portal: It starts with a quarterback, but it doesn’t end there. Nebraska could take two quarterbacks, a running back, a tackle, a guard, a wide receiver, an interior defensive lineman, a linebacker, and a safety. The Huskers have a lot to shop for this offseason.
A top-10 recruiting class: This is a tall order, but Nebraska is doing a great job right now. There are several other top recruits the Huskers are well-positioned to land, including Ahmad Hudson, Xavier Bala, Cooper Terwilliger, and others. Husker Nation would love to see a top-rated class after 2026.
Rhule gets a top-25 win: Yes, it’s coming. Nebraska needs to step out of some of these long, dark shadows and into the light. The Huskers need to shed some of the negative streaks. Speaking of…
Hoiberg gets a tournament win: I am doubling down here. Hoiberg is coaching a really fun team to watch. They are talented and selfless. It would be great to see Nebraska secure its first tournament win.
Is it too early to think about baseball?: One thing I look forward to is going to Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas, when Nebraska is playing baseball. The Amegy Bank College Baseball Series begins February 20 and will feature Florida State, Kansas State, Louisville, and the Huskers. Nebraska opens the next weekend away at Auburn.
I am hopeful Nebraska can find consistency throughout the season, identify the right starters for a three-day series, win another conference tournament, and return to the CWS.
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