VFW Department of Minnesota
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(l-r) Jeff McArthur and Joe Erickson. Our thanks to "Crazy Joe" Erickson for hosting a practice for the Brainerd VFW shooting team.
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March 28, 2026: VFW Post 5145 in New Prague, MN, held a pistol shooting competition. The date conflicted with the annual Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration so most Brainerd shooters could not attend. Congratulations to Daniel "Dan" Holmes from Brainerd who took 1st place in the .22 caliber class, 2nd place in open sights and 2nd in the optical sites class.
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March 14, 2026: The Department of Minnesota 2026 Pistol Shoot was held in Sauk Rapids, MN. The Brainerd VFW sent eight marksmen to compete.
(l-r) Tim Brastrup, Dan Holmes, Jon Kolstad, Mike Williams, John Pietruszewski, Kent Glass and Don Lohse. Front and center is Jeff McArthur
Coordinating the Brainerd team were Mike Williams and Jeff McArthur. Good work on the shirts!
The results are in: All of the Brainerd participants shot in the upper 50 percent. Dan Holmes took home the Trophy for the .380 and above Iron Sights class and John Pietruszewski placed 3rd, earning him a nice medal.
May 17, 2025: The 2025 competition was hosted by Sauk Rapids VFW Post 6992 at the Firing Line. The event drew eleven competitors in the .22 Class, fifteen in Open Class and five competed with optical sites. The Brainerd VFW has been well represented at this event since 2018 and brought seven contestants this year.
Brainerd contestants. (front row l-r) Dale Ray Thiesen, Gunnar Kolstad, Jon Kolstad and Mark Persons. (back row l-r) Mike Willians, Asher Borle, and Brainerd VFW Commander Chip Borle.
It was a great event, but none of the Brainerd team won a prize. Better luck next year!
The winners and their trophies.
February 13, 2022: The Brainerd VFW sent four people to the annual Minnesota VFW Pistol Shooting Competition in Osseo, MN. In the .22 class, Quartermaster Pat Wing was first in women's shooting. Jr. Vice Commander Mike Williams took second place. Guest Dale Ray Thiesen, a Navy veteran, took third. Chaplain Mark Persons tied for last place.
(l-r) Brainerd VFW Chaplain Mark Persons, Jr. Vice Commander Mike Williams, Quartermaster Pat Wing, and guest Dale Ray Thiesen, a Navy veteran.
22 Class (l-r) Post 3915 Post Sr. Vice Commander Janet Schaak, John Metzdorff from New Prague taking first, Mike Williams from Brainerd took second and Dale Ray Thiesen from Brainerd was in third place.
Open Class (l-r) Post 3915 Post Sr. Vice Commander Janet Schaak, John Metzdorf from New Prague was in first place, Shawn Woods from Redwood Falls took second and Gabriel Thomas from Minneapolis was third.
Optics Class (l-r) Post 3915 Post Sr. Vice Commander Janet Schaak, Mike Leonard from Hastings took first, John Montague from Palmer Lake was second and
John Giesen from New Prague took third place.
February 6, 2022: The Brainerd VFW Pistol Shooting Team practiced at Bill's Gun Shop and Range in Brainerd, getting ready for the state VFW pistol shooting competition on February 13th.
(l-r) Brainerd VFW Chaplain Mark Persons, Jr. Vice Commander Mike Williams, Quartermaster Pat Wing, and guest Dale Ray Thiesen, a Navy veteran.
