By Bruce Urben, President
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s December 2018 Newsletter edition.
“Armistice Day” by Michael Sieve
I wrote this article on November 9th, 2018, two days before Veterans Day, also previously known as Armistice Day. A day to honor all of our veterans who have served our country so well! We are blessed to have those who serve and protect our rights in this nation, it is only fitting that we do this on this date. Thank you to our US veterans, those that served in honor as well as to those who gave their all for our freedoms we enjoy!
Armistice day brings another important memory to me as well. Although I was not alive during the Armistice day blizzard on November 11, 1940, I have been a student of the tragedy that it caused for many years. Joe Porten joined our board of directors almost four years ago and somehow, immediately, we both found out about each other’s interest in that Armistice Day weather tragedy in 1940. We swapped books written on the subject and frequently talked about how life was changed for many people in Wisconsin and Minnesota during those two days over 78 years ago.
The Armistice Day blizzard took place in the Midwest on November 11th and November 12th, 1940. That November 11th morning brought with it unseasonably high temps reaching the mid 60’s in the afternoon. A perfect “blue bird” day with mild winds to get out and do some waterfowling in the Midwest. Thousands of hunters in Wisconsin and Minnesota went out to enjoy the fall migration of waterfowl and harvest some of nature’s bounty.
Later in the day, however, the weather conditions rapidly deteriorated across most of the Midwest. Heavy rain, snow, a tornado and gale force winds were reported. Temperatures dropped sharply, winds picked up and rain, followed by sleet and snow, began to fall. Stories from those waterfowlers who survived tell us that the duck hunting just before that storm hit was phenomenal. Clouds of waterfowl were riding the stiff winds ahead of the storm and the sky was filled with birds seeking asylum from the blizzard. The best and worst was about to come.
A raging blizzard consumed them over the next 24 hours, snowfall of up to 27 inches, winds of up to 80 mph and a 60 degree temperature drop were recorded. Waterfowlers along the Mississippi in Minnesota and Wisconsin were stranded on the islands and back bays of the river. Survivors tell us that the cold was so severe it was difficult to breathe. A total of 145 deaths were blamed on the storm, over half were waterfowlers that drowned or froze to death during that blizzard. A number of books documented survivor stories of heroism and tragedy during this 24 hour period.
Joe was an avid waterfowler and each year spent Armistice Day on his boat on the Mississippi River waterfowling. In the past few years he told me he just enjoyed being out there and remembering those who were not so lucky in 1940, sometimes not even taking his gun out of the case! Joe Porten lost his battle with cancer on July 24th, 2018. This was the first year his boat was not on that stretch of the river on November 11th.
Joe was a wonderful man and sincerely cared about waterfowling, ducks and conservation in this State. He served WWA well with his passion for all things waterfowl. I know his family is missing him dearly, and I wanted to honor his memory and his tradition on Armistice (Veterans) Day.
We miss you Joe!