Trempealeau County veteran, Ralph Rindahl, served with the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945.

But, the Osseo-native’s time in the Army started with a solo-trip to Chicago when he was 16.

"I ran away from home,” Rindahl said. “Walked to Fairchild. Got on a freight train that was loaded with trucks made by Ford in Minneapolis for the Army."

Ralph Rindahl spent his time in the windy city making shoes for the Navy. Until, “when I got to be 17-years-old, I told the draft board I was 18. These didn't ask for any papers, they just signed me up, and I went."

The now 81-year-old served with the infantry during World War II.

"I was a first scout, in the 2nd infantry division."

And his most vivid memories are from the morning of March 24th, 1945.

"We were in the process of crossing the Rhine River," Rindahl remembered. "And, just as we stepped off of the bridge onto the ground on the other side is when I got shot the first time. Then I got up and started running towards the back and I got shot through the foot. Then the medics came. He looks at me and he says you've got the million-dollar wound. And I remember telling him, I'll sell it to you for 10 cents!"

Lucky for Rindahl, a German doctor knew how to best fix that million-dollar wound.

"He put me in a cast, but with the arm straight with something here that would pull on it. And my arm, to this day, is as straight as it was the day I was born."

Now, 63 years later, Rindahl is back in his hometown. And, he says he couldn’t be happier.

"This is where I wanted to be. And that's where I came,” he said. "I've got one acre of heaven."

Before coming back to Osseo, Rindahl owned a restaurant in Chicago for 25 years.

His wife, Rita, is a Marine Corps veteran. One of his daughters is in the Air Force.

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