Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@shawanoleader.com
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Shawano County Highway Commissioner Grant Bystol presents Casey Beyersdorf with a plaque of appreciation from the county for his military service during Wednesday’s County Board meeting. Beyersdorf serves in the Wisconsin National Guard in addition to his duties as the county’s assistant highway commissioner.
The assistant highway commissioner for Shawano County got a hero’s welcome earlier this week.
The County Board unanimously approved a resolution thanking Casey Beyersdorf for his recent tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Wisconsin National Guard. Beyersdorf took a leave from his county job in August 2012 when he was called to active duty.
Beyersdorf received a plaque and a framed copy of the resolution and said after the presentation that he has been receiving nothing but praise from people since he returned to Shawano in August.
“It’s been overwhelming since I’ve returned from my most recent deployment with the amount of support and appreciation from my family and folks at the Highway Department,” Beyersdorf said.
In Afghanistan, Beyersdorf, a staff sergeant, was in charge of engineering and heavy equipment operators who built infrastructure for the military. Beyersdorf said he has at least another 3 1/2 years left with his commitment to the National Guard, so it is possible he may be called back to active duty.
Beyersdorf is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Highway Department, according to Highway Commissioner Grant Bystol.
“I would like to think his schooling and work experience benefits him in his military operations, just as his military background benefits Shawano County,” Bystol said.
The resolution was endorsed by the Highway and Parks Committee, and its chairman, Rick Giese, told the County Board that Beyersdorf jumped back into the job right away.
“When we had him back at our first meeting (since his return), he didn’t miss a beat,” Giese said. “He informed us that he would always go online and check our committee minutes. That’s the dedication he had when he left here.”
Beyersdorf also received high praise from County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann, a Vietnam veteran who always starts County Board meetings with a request to think about the members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in the United States and in foreign countries.
“I know, as others know, what you’ve gone through over there,” Erdmann said. “You have done some fine work here and abroad.”