NEW GLARUS - Jules Florey, New Glarus, looked at the World War II memorabilia at the New Glarus township hall and thought about his days in the army, he said.
Florey, 86, didn't serve with the United States Army during the World War II, however. He served with the Swiss Army. In 1939, he was drafted into the Swiss Army when the war began.
Although Switzerland was neutral in the war, people were concerned that either the Germans or the Italians would violate the country's neutrality and cross the border. Florey spent time guarding the Italian border.
"You had to be ready day or night," he said.
Besides guarding the boarder he spent time bringing supplies to the other soldiers. They used horses in those days, he added.
He served in the Swiss Army until the war ended in 1945.
In 1968, he moved to New Glarus, he said.
Florey came to the museum to see the German and Japanese uniforms, the medals and the weapons.
In some ways he came to honor the soldiers who left their homes in New Glarus to fight overseas.
There were about 225 soldiers from New Glarus who fought in World War II, said Kim Tschudy, local historian.
"Their stories are incredible," he said. "They did what they had to do. They didn't think twice about it."
Some New Glarus families, such as the Mauer and Yaun families, sent four sons to the war.
"It speaks highly of the people. There was a strong sense of patriotism," he said.
New Glarus' tradition of service to the United States dates back to the Civil War, he added. During the Civil War, New Glarus had a population of about 650 people. There were 120 soldiers from New Glarus who fought for the Union during the war.
Florey, 86, didn't serve with the United States Army during the World War II, however. He served with the Swiss Army. In 1939, he was drafted into the Swiss Army when the war began.
Although Switzerland was neutral in the war, people were concerned that either the Germans or the Italians would violate the country's neutrality and cross the border. Florey spent time guarding the Italian border.
"You had to be ready day or night," he said.
Besides guarding the boarder he spent time bringing supplies to the other soldiers. They used horses in those days, he added.
He served in the Swiss Army until the war ended in 1945.
In 1968, he moved to New Glarus, he said.
Florey came to the museum to see the German and Japanese uniforms, the medals and the weapons.
In some ways he came to honor the soldiers who left their homes in New Glarus to fight overseas.
There were about 225 soldiers from New Glarus who fought in World War II, said Kim Tschudy, local historian.
"Their stories are incredible," he said. "They did what they had to do. They didn't think twice about it."
Some New Glarus families, such as the Mauer and Yaun families, sent four sons to the war.
"It speaks highly of the people. There was a strong sense of patriotism," he said.
New Glarus' tradition of service to the United States dates back to the Civil War, he added. During the Civil War, New Glarus had a population of about 650 people. There were 120 soldiers from New Glarus who fought for the Union during the war.