CHAMOIS  — US Navy veteran Dave Steffen, a 1975 Chamois graduate who lives in Jefferson City, told students at Friday’s Veterans Day assembly that his service was important to him.

“My dad was a WWII veteran under the guidance of General Patton,” said Steffen. “When he moved back to Chamois, he was elected mayor and served in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Either he did a good job, or no one else wanted the job.”

Steffen grew up with Chamois R-1. “I had the honor of having Beulah Malin as my first-grade teacher,” he said. “And I’m sure many others in the crowd had her as her first-grade teacher. We spent 1968-69 in the classroom, watching them build this wonderful building.”

In September 1975, Steffen went to boot camp and then electronics school before being assigned in 1977 to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which is today serving off the coast of Israel. He also took part in a Mediterranean cruise in 1979. “We served off the coast of Israel and actually got to visit Israel,” said Steffen. “I don’t think these guys will get to go to Israel. In 1980, we were stationed off the coast of Iran during the hostage crisis. After they were released, we got to come home, and I was honorably discharged from the Navy.”

Steffen shared a silent video he and his friends made in 1975 for Miss Fleming’s Geography class. From bombing the Germans to Adolph Hitler being executed, hand-to-hand combat, and other elements of the teens’ imagination, Steffen and his buddies clearly had fun making the video.

When asked what grade he received on the movie, Steffen replied, “I think it was an A.”

The second part of the movie featured planes and helicopters taking off and landing on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“Helicopters on the ships were the first ones to take off and the last to land,” said Steffen. “Here’s an F-14 Tomcat, the kind of airplane that Tom Cruise flew in Top Gun, and it’s loaded down with missiles. We were off the coast of Iran at the time. It’s been almost 50 years, and most of those planes aren’t in service anymore.”

Steffen worked in radar, but he often had the opportunity to watch and record activity on the deck.

He explained the aircraft carrier has four catapults to launch as many planes at once. However, each aircraft landed alone. “They’re going over 100 miles an hour, maybe 200 miles an hour, when they land within a football field’s distance,” said Steffen.

American Legion Post 506 presented and retired the colors, and Max McKague played Taps.

Steffen thanked Chamois R-1 for breakfast before the assembly and reminded folks that the American Legion is looking for members. Additionally, the group has a project to place a 40-foot flagpole with an eight-foot by 12-foot flag. He asked for suggestions on where people might want the flag to be placed in honor of Chamois area veterans.