Soldiers who be remembered at the annual Northport Memorial Day observance are:

The life of Civil War veteran Samuel
McClelland will be reviewed at the North-
port Memorial Day observance.

• Civil War, Samuel A. McClelland. In July 1858, McClelland and his family arrived on the propeller Michigan. According to family history, McClelland had gone west in the Gold Rush and later owned a flour mill in Kalamazoo. The mill burned and he used the insurance money to open a store in Waukazooville. According to the diary of the Rev. Nelson Smith, McClelland was among the first volunteers from the township who left the area on the Evergreen City on Aug. 30, 1861 to fight in the Civil War. He enlisted with the 1st New York Light Artillery for three years and was wounded in the Battle of Malvern Hill in Virginia on July 1, 1862. He was commissioned 1st Lieutenant on Sept. 16, 1862, and as captain on Sept. 16, 1862. He mustered out of Elmira, N.Y., in June 1865 after 43 months service.

• Spanish American War, Jonas Shawandase. One of many Native American veterans, published reports state that Shawandase fought with Teddy Roosevelt in the Battle of San Juan Hill. He returned to Leelanau County and became a leader in the Native American community in which he was recognized as an elder from 1930-1950. During the 1969 Memorial Day observance, the 90-year-old Shawandase raised the flag. He was among the last of soldiers who fought with Roosevelt to die.

• World War I, Oscar M. Middleton, 2nd Lt. Gunnery, U.S. Army Field Artillery. Returned from service and established a successful business in the Bay City area.

• World War II, Gilbert A. Deibel, 86. As a member of the Army Air Corps’ 5th Air Force, Deibel served as a co-pilot on a B-24 bomber that flew missions in the western Pacific theater primarily based in the Philippines. He successfully flew 16 sorties targeting Japanese military installations.

• Korean War, Alan Middleton, 74. Served from 1952-54 as a member of the Army’s 3rd Division, 58th Field Artillery Unit. Returned to Northport to raise a family.

• Vietnam War, William J. Brendel, 75. Served as a helicopter pilot for the Army’s 5th Special Forces Group in 1966. Flew special forces and reconnaissance patrols in Vietnam.

• First Iraq War, Reginald C. (Clayton) Dean. Enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after graduating from Northport School in 1979. Served in the First Gulf War in 1990-1991. Dean also served in Iraq where in 2005 he earned a Bronze Star for his actions following a suicide-bomb attack at Fort Tal-Afar in which 10 people were wounded. Dean came to the aid of an injured 4-year-old boy and remained with the youngster until a medical evacuation flight arrived, which greatly enhanced the boy’s chance of survival. Master Chief Dean has served in the Navy for 26 years and is currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan working as a medical administrator. He is married to the former Wendy Brow, a 1980 Northport graduate.

• Present conflicts, Brian Porter. The Air Force pilot is stationed at the Florida Air National Guard Headquarters, Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, Fla.