UW student John Oncken often hitchhiked home to Stoughton to help with dad with farm work

My Dad and I had often talked about expanding our small 80-acre, 15-cow dairy farm during my high school days. But when my graduation came about and I brought up the subject, my dad said he had second thoughts about the expansion. He had been in debt for most of his life and now that our Stoughton farm was paid off it was good to be debt–free.

To begin with, he was only 16 (his brother was but 18) when his father died, leaving them with a big mortgage amidst the Great Depression. The brothers worked hard as partners for many years until finally going their separate ways with my Dad buying the farm near Stoughton and finally paying it off years later. 

I didn't blame him then or now for not wanting to borrow money again.

Oncken's academic future was cloudy at best

My future was cloudy at best until I remembered a scholarship given to me at graduation by the local Legion that paid my University of Wisconsin semester fees for two years. True, I had never considered the U.W. before but my future choices seemed limited – so off to college I went.

Mine was an unusual college experience: I returned to the farm every Friday afternoon – hitchhiking as a freshman, and later using my own used car. The idea, of course, was to assist my father with farm work. My younger brother was studying full-time at Carroll College in Waukesha, competing in track and basketball. Dad needed help with chores and fieldwork, which meant that I was the farm's hired man and didn't join any clubs or organizations that met regularly on weekends.

Korean War raised the question of enlistment

Several of us ag students were talking one day after class about the Korean War and perhaps we should enlist in the Air Force (it seemed like a safer place than in the Army infantry). The next day we got together and traveled downtown to the recruitment office at the Madison Post Office. We were heartily greeted by the enlistment officer and told to take a chair and he'd be right back.

After about a half hour we decided to leave thinking he must be on a long coffee break and didn't want us very badly, so off we went.

On the way back to our rooms it hit me that if I stayed in ROTC my final two years in school, I'd be paid a fairly good salary and spend two years as an Army officer – much better than going in as an enlisted man. 

My dad suggested that I attend, with my cousin George, the 1953 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, traveling on the special UW-sponsored train for students. We did and got to enjoy partying, singing and meeting new student friends.

In addition to the Tournament of Roses Parade and football game – USC beat Wisconsin after my friend, Harland Carl from Greenwood, dropped what might have been the winning pass. He went on to play in the NFL with the Bears. (Note: Carl died recently on July 28, 2023.)

Strangely enough, our California hosts took us to a city park to view the many homeless people sleeping on benches and in tents, something new to us Wisconsinites at the time.

Upon graduation, I went home to work with my parents and wait for my call to active Army duty.

Contact John Oncken at jfodairy2@gmail.com