Anglin Named Veteran Of The MonthJohn Henry “Jack” Anglin was named Kosciusko County’s Veteran of the Month during Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting.
Anglin was presented to the commissioners by Rich Maron, county veterans affairs officer.
The Clunette resident was born in Warsaw and grew up on a farm north of Etna Green. After marrying the former Bette Mikesell on New Year’s Eve 1941, and the birth of their first son in October 1942, Anglin was inducted into the Army in January 1943 at Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio. He went to basic training in Camp McCain in Grenada County, Miss.
Then, he went to Redding, Pa., to the 7th College Training Detachment of the U.S. Army Air Force for training as a pilot. Before he had completed the training, the program was discontinued. All pre-ground forces personnel were returned to Camp Pickett, Va., where Anglin was assigned to the Cannon Company of the 78th Lightning Division.
Anglin was deployed in the European Theatre. He was involved with the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge (where his brother Bill was wounded and later died from his injuries) and the Battle at Remagen.
“One thing that Jack said comforted him while in battle, was looking up at the moon from his foxhole or position at night. He knew it was the same moon that had shone the night before and would shine the next night over his brother Bill, who was in action ahead, and their parents and their wives around the globe in Indiana,” Maron said.
After the war, the family grew and Anglin and his brothers Wallace (“Monk”) and Dal founded Clunette Elevator in 1951. Jack and Bette Anglin bought a house west of Clunette to be near the elevator.
Bette passed away on Oct. 30, 2007, exactly 66 years after thier first date.
Many years later, Anglin attended the 50-year commemoration of World War II in Germany. He was the only member of his unit to attend the spring 1995 ceremony, which was attended by American and German veterans. While there, he visited his brother Bill’s grave.
Last November, a nephew made contact with a member of the family who decorated and cared for Bill’s plot. That person is the third generation of the family to care for that grave, which carries on a tradition by locals to honor the sacrifice of Americans there.
During Anglin’s Germany visit in 1995, a local took Anglin home for dinner and a tour of the area. The man, remembered only as Peter, said Anglin’s unit saved his family by providing them food.
About five years ago, Anglin received a letter from Diane Lancaster in California. Her father passed away, and she found a journal he wrote during his service. It had instructions to find Anglin, who brought him food every day on the ship ride home, and the man was too sea sick to leave his bunk. They remain in touch today.
Anglin received three standing ovations from those attending the commission meeting.
