In honor of Veterans Day, the Lake Minnetonka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution awarded Quilts of Valor to four deserving Minnesota veterans whose lives were impacted by war. During socially-distanced ceremonies conducted at the Wayzata City Hall, Chapter Regent, Gigi Hickey, and Mayor Ken Willcox delivered remarks and congratulated the honorees.
Each of the 2020 Quilt of Valor recipients currently resides in the Lake Minnetonka area and is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart medal is awarded to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy.
- Michael McElhiney of Independence, MN
- Andrew Ellerbrock of Mound,MN
- David Peterson of Minnetonka, MN
- Donovan Nash of Deephaven, MN
Mr. McElhiney and Mr.Ellerbrock received their Quilts of Valor during an event on November 11. To accommodate their personal schedules, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Nash were awarded their quilts at a similar ceremony on October 25.
The Lake Minnetonka Chapter DAR has a long history of supporting veterans. In addition to Quilt of Valor presentations, the chapter has hosted public Veterans Day programs in prior years. Chapter members have also donated hand-crafted face masks, scarves and hats to veterans at the VA Medical Center. Most recently, the chapter hosted a lunch for 41 members of the Cyber Security Unit of the Minnesota National Guard upon their deployment.
2020 DAR Quilt of Valor Recipient Biographies
Michael McElhiney
Mr. McElhiney joined the United States Army shortly after graduating from high school in 1989. Between 1990 and 1994, he was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division where he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and the position of Squad Leader.
Mr. McElhiney attended the Special Forces Selection and Assessment Course and was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course, attend Airborne School, and attend the Persian Farsi Language School at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Upon successful completion of this training, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Airborne Group at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where he served as the Junior Weapons Sergeant for Operational Detachment Alpha 573, Battalion Assistant Operations Sergeant, and Senior Weapons Sergeant for Operational Detachment Alpha 574.
Shortly after the attacks on 9-11, Mr. McElhiney was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. His unit was the first group to infiltrate and lead the insurgency in the southern region of the country. The group brought with them Hamid Karzai, who was soon to become president of Afghanistan.
On December 5, 2001, Mr. McElhiney was engaged in a conflict north of Kandahar. Every member of his unit was either killed in action or sustained near fatal wounds. Upon healing from the wounds sustained in this conflict, Mr. McElhiney remained with the 5th Special Forces Airborne Group, serving in Rochester, Minnesota where he applied his experience and expertise in roles such trainer, advisor, First Sergeant, and battalion asset to the Minnesota Army National Guard’s 2-135 Infantry Battalion.
In 2010, Mr. McElhiney retired from the United States Army following over 21 years of active duty service. Among many other well-deserved decorations during his distinguished career, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
Now a resident of Independence, Minnesota, Mr. McElhiney currently serves as Chief of Staff at the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
Andrew Ellerbrock
Mr. Ellerbrock entered the United States Army in 2008 at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He participated in Operation Enduring Freedom between 2008 and 2011. Responsible for the health and welfare of 40 infantry soldiers, he served as a Line Medic attached to Bravo Company 2/327 Infantry 1st BCT. His duties included treating wounds and administering proper medications, as well as evacuating and treating critical patients. In addition to the direct medical care he provided to his patients, Mr. Ellerbrock was responsible for delivering hands-on training to both American and Afghan soldiers, preparing them to properly treat themselves and others when wounded.
Mr. Ellerbrock currently serves in the Minnesota Army National Guard where he continues to use his extensive medical experience and expertise. He is a member of the Treatment Platoon with the 204th Marine Corps Air Station at Cottage Grove, Minnesota and is in charge of treating casualties with serious injuries and overseeing the medical supply inventory. Additionally, he serves the people of the state of Minnesota with COVID-19 support and participated in Minneapolis riot control this past spring. He actively engages in continued medical training in preparation for future duty obligations.
Mr. Ellerbrock has earned numerous awards and recognitions throughout his military career. Among his is many well-deserved decorations are the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Purple Heart, the NATO Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Defense Service Medal.
Mr. Ellerbrock currently resides in Mound, Minnesota.
David C. Peterson
Mr. Peterson grew up in the Excelsior area and graduated from Minnetonka High School with the class of 1965. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1967 and was deployed to Vietnam.
Mr. Peterson served in Delta Company, 2/12th, 25th Infantry Division from June 1967 through January 1969. He courageously fought in such dangerous conflicts as The First Battle of Loc Ninh in November 1967, the Tet Offensive in Winter 1968, and The Horseshoe in April 1968.
A natural leader, Mr. Peterson assumed the treacherous role of Company Point Leader and Navigator because, in his words he, “wanted to have some control of his destiny.” In this role, he was responsible for setting the pace and scrutinizing the surroundings for danger as his company trekked through the Vietnamese jungles.
Mr. Peterson related the story of one of these expeditions in his own words recalling, “One day in the dark, dense, triple canopy jungle, I saw something out of place. It was shimmering in the dappled light, shiny and bright red and yellow. I took my time trying to determine whether it was a very appealing booby trap. Churchill, my back up man Friday, quietly asked about the situation. I told him to back off and be patient, as with one little misstep we could be blown to smithereens. Was the object real, a gift from heaven, or diabolically deadly? I grabbed the shiny packet with shaking hands. I peeled the wrapper and took a bite. Oh, sweet Jesus! Returning to Churchill, I reported, ‘We’re SAFE!’ Puzzled, he looked at me and said, ‘You smell like garlic.’ Smiling from ear to ear, I handed him the Slim Jim wrapper and said, ‘Somebody up there loves me!’”
Mr. Peterson, known to his colleagues as “Sergeant Pete,” currently resides in Minnetonka, Minnesota, where he opens his home and heart to support other Vietnam veterans as they “share each other’s struggles.” While he is too modest to share that he was awarded a Purple Heart himself, he is quick to say that most of his best friends are Purple Heart recipients. He states, “Vietnam and the army framed my life. Most of us young men of draft age growing up in the 1960’s didn’t have many choices. Patriotism and the call to serve was our coming of age story.” He feels both lucky and humble to have survived his ordeal in Vietnam. He proudly says, “To have bled and survived for your country is an honor.” And remembering his 32 compatriots killed in action he adds, “To have died for one’s country is the ultimate act of patriotism.”
Donovan Nash
Mr. Nash hails from a family who valued military service to their country. Following the example of his father and other family members, he voluntarily enlisted in the United States Army in 1966. After completing advanced inventory training and receiving his security clearance, he was sent to Vietnam in December at the age of 20.
Immediately upon his arrival on New Year’s Day, Mr. Nash was transported by helicopter to join his unit which was already engaged in combat. Despite having just arrived, he secured a truck and drove straight into the middle of the conflict to rescue the wounded. The friend accompanying him in the truck declared that he must be crazy to drive directly into the line of fire, but Mr. Nash selflessly replied, “Not at all. We have to go out there and save our comrades or they won’t survive!” The comrades he saved survived to express their heartfelt gratitude for the rare combination of compassion and courage Mr. Nash displayed on that dreadful New Year’s Day.
Having so nobly performed his first mission, Mr. Nash participated in many maneuvers in formerly French controlled areas of Vietnam as part of a special unit called the “Black Scarf Battalion.” Ultimately, he was assigned to the Long-Range Reconnaissance group. As part of this special group, Mr. Nash was secretly helicoptered in to explore remote areas of jungle. These missions resulted in identifying and securing places to set up new base camps. The men participating in these highly dangerous missions were dropped off alone for several days and instructed to avoid all communication with each other – and with the enemy – until they met again at the landing strip designated as their rendezvous point. If they did come into contact with the enemy, they were ordered to “run like heck out of there!”
Due to his exposure to the elements on those missions, Mr. Nash developed pneumonia. On what would become his final mission to explore old North Vietnamese bunkers, he and his unit were caught in an ambush. Tragically, 47 of the 50 men on that mission perished. Mr. Nash was shot by enemy fire and fell unconscious into a bunker, out of sight of the enemy. Though gravely wounded, he experienced incredible peace and what he describes as “a perfect light in a tunnel full of beautiful angels floating around.” But he also recalls learning that this was not his time to die.
His next memory was waking up in a Japanese hospital 30 days later. He has no memory of his rescue. He was subsequently sent to several hospitals in the U.S. to treat his near fatal wounds.
Though in excruciating pain from injuries sustained on his last mission to those North Vietnamese bunkers, Mr. Nash was determined to continue his service. Fighting through his pain and never feeling sorry for himself, he bravely served at Fort Leavenworth in Missouri where every two weeks, he oversaw the development of a new platoon of recruits.
Mr. Nash now resides in Deephaven, Minnesota.
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