Veteran was proud to serve when country called

Published by admin on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:21am

Weiser resident and veteran Steve Scrivner was the recipient of a Quilt of Valor for his service in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971. Scrivner was trained as a radio operator and stationed in Thailand during his one-year tour of duty overseas. The quilt was handmade by a group of local women who call themselves the ‘Sewl Sisters.’ Scrivner stands next to the quilt with his wife Rhonda and two of their grandchildren. Scrivner received the quilt on Friday during a short ceremony at the Weiser Senior and Community center. Photo by Steve Lyon
By: 
Steve Lyon
Weiser veteran Steve Scrivner can still recite his military draft number nearly 50 years later.
 He was a young man living in Long Beach, Calif., when he received his draft notice from the federal government. His first stop was Fort Ord, Calif., where he did his basic training and also completed AIT schooling as a radio operator.
 He served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 with the 809th Engineer Battalion. During that time, he did a one-year deployment to Thailand in support of an Air Force base from 1969 to 1970. The location was about 300 miles from Hanoi, the capital of North Vietnam, and not far from the Cambodian border. 
 As a Spec. 4, Scrivner said he worked in a communications center as a typist and clerk. During his time in Thailand, Scrivner won an award for soldier of the month and came in runner-up in the entire country. 
 Nobody who was drafted into the military during the Vietnam War necessarily wanted to go, Scrivner said, but those that went did what was asked of them. 
 Scrivner's dad, who was born in Kuna, instilled a love of his country in his son. His dad did not get to serve in World War II because of his asthma but worked in the defense industy on the homefront.  
 His brother was married and had children and also was not able to serve in the military during the Vietnam War.
 “I'm very proud to have been able to serve,” Scrivner said.
 Scrivner's military service was recognized with a Quilt of Valor presented to him at the Weiser Senior and Community Center on Friday. The quilt was made by a local group of quilters who call themselves the “Sewl Sisters.” The members include Jan Owens, Rhonda Plummer, Judy Scott and Sue Wait.
 A total of 56 handmade quilts have been presented to Washington County veterans since May of 2014. The Quilts of Valor is a nationwide effort that has given away 199,371 quilts to veterans since it started in 2003.
 When he got out of the Army, Scrivner went to college and earned a degree in music at Cal State Longbeach. There were not a whole lot of jobs at the time so he ended up working in the grocery business. He made a career out of it and worked a total of 40 years, with 30 years working for Albertson's. He was also a substitute teacher for 13 years.
 Scrivner and his wife of 44 years, Rhonda, moved to Weiser in January of 2015 to be closer to family members. For Scrivner, it was coming back home. His family moved to California when he was 10 years old.
 A major hobby for Scrivner is lapidary work, cutting and polishing rocks and semi-precious gemstones and creating unique art and jewelry. He does local craft shows and will have a table at the big one coming in November at the Vendome.
 He also likes to fish. A few favorite locations to drop a line include the Snake River, Mann Creek and Brownlee Reservoir.
 Donations are welcome by the Quilts of Valor project in Weiser and 100 percent of the money goes to purchase fabric and materials. Anyone who would like to make a monetary donation or contribute red, white and blue, 100-percent cotton fabric can bring it to the Weiser Senior and Community Center at 115 E. Main St.
 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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