By Kaitlyn Kuehl-Berns

For eight of the 47 graduates in Clayton Ridge High School’s Class of 2019, life after graduation included a commitment to serving their country in the United States military.

Seven years later, all but one have returned home, each with their own experiences, challenges and lessons learned along the way.

For some, the decision to enlist was influenced by family members who had served before them. Hayley Kann, who served in the United States Army as a combat medic, put it simply: “Military service runs in my family.”

Chance White also pointed to his family’s history of military service, particularly his grandfather, Robert Moser, who served during the Vietnam War.

“I always admired the pride my grandfather Robert Moser took in his military service,” White said. “Growing up, he was actively involved with the VFW and Eagles Club, participated in military funerals and parades, and continued to show his support for fellow veterans and the military community.”

White, who served as a military police officer in the Army, said completing his training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, was especially meaningful because his grandfather had trained there years earlier. His sister, father, uncle, grandmother and cousin have also served or are currently serving.

Colton Lawrence, who is currently serving on active duty in the Army as an infantryman stationed in Washington state, also comes from a family with a history of military service, including his older sister, Cora Lawrence, father, Brian Lawrence, and grandfather, Edward Lawrence.

For others, the military offered an alternative to college and an opportunity to gain experience while finding direction in life.

Kann said she was unsure what she wanted to do after high school and saw military service as an opportunity to do something meaningful. Conor Strader shared a similar perspective, explaining that he didn’t have a clear plan after graduation and wasn’t interested in spending a significant amount of money on college. His father, who served in the Army National Guard, encouraged him to consider the military.

Josef Von Handorf also knew college wasn’t the path he wanted to pursue. Instead, he was drawn to the military by a desire to serve a higher calling and the influence of Americans who had served before him.

For Eric Craft, who served four years in the Marine Corps with a light armored reconnaissance (LAR) unit, his interest in enlisting began during his sophomore year of high school. Visits from military recruiters, growing interest among his peers and a desire to make his family proud all contributed to his decision, along with the opportunity to begin adulthood on a positive path.

Despite their different motivations, a common theme among the classmates was the desire to be part of something bigger than themselves and serve.

Their military experiences took them in different directions, from training across the United States to assignments overseas.

Craft said some of his favorite parts of serving were the friendships he developed with fellow Marines, many of whom he remains in contact with today. He also enjoyed the physical training, competitiveness and finding ways to make the less exciting moments enjoyable.

Two familiar faces were fellow Clayton Ridge graduates Josef Von Handorf and Tristan Meyers, who also joined the Marine Corps.

Craft recalled arriving at training before his classmates and initially not recognizing them when they crossed paths. With everyone’s heads shaved and appearances looking similar, it wasn’t until he heard someone calling his name that he recognized their familiar voices.

Having arrived earlier, Craft also spent a period of time serving as their squad leader, something the former classmates were able to have some fun with.

While friendships were a highlight of his service, Craft also faced personal challenges, including the sudden loss of his grandmother during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because her services were postponed, he did not return home until they were held several months later.

Among the lessons Craft took away from his time in the Marines were the importance of patience, taking ownership of responsibilities, paying attention to small details and learning from mistakes.

Since returning to northeast Iowa, Craft has started a family with his girlfriend, Viktoria. Their son, Weston, will turn two in January. Craft works at Wille Construction and enjoys spending time outdoors.

Von Handorf served five years in the Marine Corps, including two and a half years in Bangor, Washington, conducting nuclear security for the Navy. He later served with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, in Twentynine Palms, California, as part of a heavy machine gun platoon and completed a seven-month deployment to the South Pacific.

Among his most memorable experiences were opportunities to train alongside military personnel from around the world, exchanging information and knowledge. He also valued the friendships developed through difficult experiences.

Operating in environments ranging from deserts and jungles to snow required Von Handorf and his fellow Marines to continually adapt and work together. Those experiences also reinforced the importance of leading by example.

“If you are going to ask someone to do something, always be willing to do it with them,” he said.

Since returning to northeast Iowa, Von Handorf has worked for Yellow Iron Equipment and CJ Moyna and Sons in Elkader. He is also preparing to marry his fiancée, Leah, in May 2027.

Following his training, White was stationed at Camp Humphreys in South Korea for a year and later at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

His time in South Korea coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing restrictions and uncertainty while he was thousands of miles from home.

Although the experience wasn’t what he originally expected, White said it taught him perseverance, patience and how to make the best of difficult circumstances. He also received the Army Achievement Medal for his service and contributions during his assignment in South Korea.

White said one of his biggest lessons was recognizing the importance of teamwork and the different strengths people bring to a group.

“Not everyone approaches a task the same way, and I’ve learned that recognizing and utilizing those differences is what makes a team successful,” he said.

Since separating from active duty in June 2024, White has returned to northeast Iowa, where he works as a mechanical technician at Zero Zone in Dyersville. He has also purchased his first home in Guttenberg and enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Kristen, and their two dogs.

Strader served in the Air Force as a cyber transport systems specialist. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and technical school at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. His first and only duty station was Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The COVID-19 pandemic began during his technical training, extending his time there and limiting what he was able to learn. Despite the setbacks, he remained focused on completing his training and reaching his duty station.

Among his accomplishments, Strader was coined by Gen. Mark D. Kelly in 2021 and received the Air and Space Achievement Medal in 2023.

Strader said the opportunity to travel, explore new places and make lasting memories was a highlight of his service. Just as rewarding was knowing his work was always helping someone, somewhere.

His experience also taught him the importance of adapting to change, problem-solving and making decisions during difficult situations. Today, he works in the automotive field and enjoys hunting and spending time outdoors.

Kann completed basic training in Oklahoma and medical training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before being stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, for four years. She later served another three years in the Army Reserve with a unit in Wisconsin.

Among the highlights of her service were the friendships she developed with people from across the country. Outside their military responsibilities, Kann and her fellow soldiers enjoyed playing basketball after work, hiking and finding events to attend on weekends.

“It’s fun to see how different our lives and our definitions of ‘normal’ are now compared to when we were in the military,” she said.

Despite those experiences, being away from home was difficult. Describing herself as a homebody and family person, Kann said homesickness was her greatest challenge. She sometimes sacrificed sleep during four-day weekends to make the trip back to Iowa.

Her military experience also gave her a different perspective on life and the importance of appreciating the people around her.

“Life can be taken from you so quickly,” she said. “Enjoy what you have, appreciate the people around you, and be thankful for the opportunities you’ve been given. There is more to life than your job.”

Today, Kann enjoys spending time with her husband, Colton and three children. She works as the nursing home administrator at Guttenberg Care Center and helps manage Fritz’s Farmhouse and Barn Venue outside Guttenberg.

Sam Brimeyer served in the Army as an unmanned aircraft systems operator, flying the RQ-7BV2 Shadow for four years. He also served as a door gunner aboard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

Brimeyer completed training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Fort Huachuca, Arizona. He also served with the 101st Airborne Division, spending time in South Korea and Iraq during his military career, which totaled six years and eight months.

Brimeyer said serving as a door gunner was the most enjoyable part of his military career, along with opportunities to receive training and meet people.

His challenges included demanding training requirements and working with different personalities. Brimeyer said perseverance and continued effort were important in overcoming those difficulties.

His service also taught him the responsibility that comes with leadership, particularly caring for the soldiers under his command and setting a positive example.

Since returning home, Brimeyer has begun using his GI Bill to attend college with the goal of becoming a pilot.

Despite taking different paths through the military, the eight graduates share a connection that began long before their service.

Looking back seven years after graduation, several said having eight members of their 47-student class choose military service is something they have come to appreciate even more with time.

“At the time, having eight students from our graduating class go on to serve in the military didn’t seem like such a big deal,” White said. “However, after completing my own eight-year military commitment, I can look back and truly appreciate what that means. I couldn’t be more proud of my classmates.”

Craft also expressed pride in being part of the group, saying he believes it reflects positively on their generation and the changes they can make in the world.

Strader appreciated having classmates who understood the experience and could communicate with one another throughout their enlistments, while Von Handorf said their service reflected the dedication and selflessness of people from their small community.

For those considering military service, the graduates encouraged taking advantage of the opportunities available while recognizing the challenges that come with the commitment.

Craft encouraged future service members to have confidence in their abilities and learn from their fellow Marines. He also recalled one of the best pieces of advice he received during his service: “You’re a man before you are a Marine – so to be a good Marine you have to be a good man first.”

Kann encouraged those considering enlistment to speak with people who have served recently, prepare themselves physically and embrace the challenges that come with the experience.

White emphasized that military service offers opportunities and experiences that can continue to benefit people after their time in uniform.

“The opportunities don’t stop when you take off the uniform,” he said.

For Brimeyer, seeing so many of his classmates choose to serve also says something about the community they grew up in.

“I’m thankful our community cultivates its next generation with the desire to be a part of something greater than themselves,” he said.