News-Record.com

Was that a tear Dick Behrends saw trying to escape former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole's eye?

Behrends, a retired public relations and advertising executive who lives in Greensboro, is president of the 86th Blackhawk Division Association. The division fought in World II in Europe and holds a reunion annually.

The speaker at this year's event, which ended Sept. 9 at the Fairviw Marriott in Falls Church, Va., was Dole, a World War II hero who suffered critical wounds fighting in Italy. He lost the use of an arm.

Behrends had read Dole's book, "One Soldier's Story,'' and was deeply moved.

"The unusual thing about this is that after reading (the book), I took a wild chance and invited him to speak, clearly pointing out that there would be no honorarium," Behrends says in an email. "To our suprise, he accepted."

Behrends, however, thought the association should give Dole some token of appreciation. He went to work in the studio. In retirement, Behrends has become an accomplished sculptor. He specializes in western scenes that are remindful of Frederic Remington's work.

He spent about a month and half working on a sculpture depicting Dole on April 14, 1945, going up Hill 913 in Italy. The second lieutenant in charge of Dole's unit had just been killed. A sergeant gave Dole, also a second lieutenant, the dead officer's field glasses, map case and other items. Dole was now in charge. He was wounded soon afterward.