VERMILLION, S.D. — For the second consecutive year, the University of South Dakota athletic department will honor a USD veteran for the annual Military Appreciation football game. This year, USD will honor the Associate Chair of Academic Programs in the Department of Nursing, Anne Kleinhesselink, a U.S. Army Veteran.
 
In honor of Kleinhesselink's service to the country – and for all current or former servicemen and women – the Coyotes will feature military-specific decals on the white helmet for the contest this weekend against Illinois State (Oct. 25).
 
On one side of the helmet, the Coyote flag paw decal will be in the U.S. Army colors. On the opposite side, "YOTES" in the South Dakota font featured inside a Pentagon-shaped emblem – highlighting her military service at the Pentagon - that also features the American flag, plus the wording Honoring our Heroes.
 
 
Kleinhesselink, who is also a Coyote football season ticket holder, has worked closely with the university's ROTC program to build a relationship between ROTC and the USD nursing program. A handful of years ago, the idea came to her to build the relationship between her past – the Army – and her current role in the USD nursing department. Because of that, the South Dakota ROTC program now has five guaranteed spots in the nursing program, always having one or two active USD Army ROTC members in the program – continuing to build the legacy of her own service to future Yotes who plan to serve their country.
 
"Being recognized by USD Athletics for my service to the nation is humbling and meaningful. After 17 years at USD, the university is not just a workplace to me, but a community that celebrates commitment, sacrifice, and pride; values that resonate with both my military career and my love for USD athletics," said Kleinhesselink. "So, to me, this recognition isn't just personal or about recognizing me. It's a tribute to all who have served. It's USD Athletics standing and saying, "We see you. We honor you." And that makes me prouder than ever to be part of this incredible university."
 
Kleinhesselink served in the United States Army from 1987-91. She joined the Army at the age of 17, graduating early to serve her country. Initially thinking she was going to head to Germany, she went to Fort Jackson (S.C.) for basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT).
 
"Looking back, I am filled with pride. Pride in the work I did, the people I stood beside, and the strength I discovered within myself. I joined the Army at just 17 years old—apprehensive, unsure of what lay ahead, but excited to prove myself and see the world beyond Iowa," noted Kleinhesselink. "The Army challenged me in ways I never expected, and I accomplished things I never thought I was capable of. That journey shaped me, and the pride I carry from my service is something that will stay with me forever.
 
Upon graduation from Fort Jackson, she stationed to Fort Myer (now Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall), a multi-service base. Her army career was spent at a 71 Charlie (MOS), an executive assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Carl E. Vuono, and she worked at the Pentagon her entire army stint (1987-91).
 
"Serving in the United States Army was one of the most defining chapters of my life. Working for the Chief of Staff of the Army at the Pentagon, I was immersed in a world that felt larger than life. Every morning, as I walked up to that iconic building, I was struck by a sense of awe, never fully grasping the magnitude of the decisions being made within those walls or the commitment of the leaders shaping our military," continued Kleinhesselink. "The most important thing I took away from working at the Pentagon for General Carl E. Vuono, Chief of Staff of the Army, was my appreciation for the weight of military leadership and the magnitude of decisions they made every day that shaped our military. Each day, I was struck by the sense of purpose and responsibility, and I gained respect for the leaders who committed their entire life to serving our country at the highest level."
 
She was born into a family with service in the U.S. Army and was inspired to join the Army because of her grandfather who served as a medic in the Army during World War II. Her family now has three generations in the Army, as her daughter joined the Army National Guard as a media specialist.