by Jeff Olsen

It's possible that Roseau's Wendell Hamerl, a gunner in the U.S. Army Air Force, was one of the more publicized local World War II veterans.

He was shot down twice, escaped capture the first time, and then spent many months in a POW camp after being shot down the second time.

Oh, and he was shot in the lower leg the second time after he parachuted out of a Flying Fortress B-17 bomber.

Few heard of his exploits after the war because he seldom said anything.

Recently, Pat Magness, one of the five daughters of Wendell and Fern Hamerl, was asked about his exploits.

She is second t...