VanderMolen joins ranks of the OCS Hall of Fame

Col. Kathryn Siverling VanderMolen (right) stood with her husband, Rick, at the induction to the Offi cer Candidate School Hall of Fame, March 28, at Fort Benning, Georgia. She was recommended by a fellow colleague, for a lifetime of service and volunteering. Submitted Photo

By Ginna Young

She may be retired, but Col. Kathryn Siverling Vander-Molen has never stopped lifelong service and volunteerism to veterans. Which is why she was inducted, March 28, in the Officer Candidate School (OCS) Hall of Fame (HOF).

VanderMolen served in the U.S. Army for three years, after graduating from Cadott High School in 1975, then attended UW-Eau Claire, for a bachelor’s in science, before joining OCS to become a transportation officer.

She finished OCS in April 1986, 50th Company, 5th Student Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia, with her first duty assignment as platoon leader, for the 1098th Medium Boat, Ft. Eustis, Virginia.

After spending most of her life away from her hometown, having numerous educational degrees and service medals, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass, Army Commendation Medal and Southwest Asia Service Medal, VanderMolen returned to Cadott.

There, she serves as the Commander of Cadott American Legion Post 159 – the first female to join and first female commander. She’s also a Cadott American Legion Auxiliary member, member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6005, a member of the Community for Veterans Board, is active with the Wisconsin Veterans Tribute and American Legion Department Board Member for Camp American Legion.

Recognizing that, VanderMolen was recommended by Lt. Col. Alex Bendyna, one of her fellow instructors, for induction into the OCS HOF and in December 2024, VanderMolen received notification that she had been selected for induction at Fort Benning, Georgia. There, March 28, VanderMolen, her husband, Rick, sons, Andrew and Adam Katz, brother, Duane Siverling, and several friends, attended a reception at the Infantry Museum.

There were only 24 inductees this year, and VanderMolen was the only female inductee.

“It was really nice,” said VanderMolen, who has no intention of slowing down her service to veterans any time soon.

She’s even been extended invitations to preside over events, as word of her induction spreads. For VanderMolen, it’s not the prestige, it’s the camaraderie at the induction that really hit home.

“It was a tear-jerker,” she said. “The stories were absolutely wonderful. Very humbling.”