WWII, Vietnam Veterans Receive Honors At Country Christmas Concert
December 15, 2024 at 3:55 p.m.
Two days before the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, a 101-year-old World War II veteran was one of two U.S. heroes recognized Saturday at the Country Christmas with Susie McEntire.
Griffin Nate, Second District director for U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym, presented a copy of the Congressional Record honoring WWII veteran Charles Garner to Garner. Nate then presented a flag flown over the U.S. Capital to Vietnam veteran Gary Roe. Roe is entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge, which had not arrived as of Saturday’s presentation to be given to Roe, so the flag was given to Roe as an additional honor.
In the presentation to Garner on the Lakeview Middle School stage before a near-capacity audience, Nate said, “One of the great honors we have serving in Congress is there’s something called a Congressional Record and historians have been keeping track of the Congressional Record since our country’s founding. And, when historians are looking to see what was going on during a certain period of time, the first thing they look at is our Congressional Record.”
Second District Director Griffin Nate (L) for U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym reads the Congressional Record on World War II veteran Charles Garner (R) Saturday night at the Country Christmas concert. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.He said they thought there was no more fitting honor than a WWII veteran being entered into the Congressional Record. Nate then read the Dec. 9, 2024, entry into the Congressional Record about Garner.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and offer my praise and gratitude to World War II veteran, American hero and 101-year-old Kosciusko County resident Charles Garner. Born in Fulton County on July 3, 1923, Charles Garner is a decorated veteran who honorably served our nation in uniform, and who has shown his commitment to making Kosciusko County an even better place to live, learn, work and raise a family after he returned home from battle,” Nate said reading the Congressional Record.
“Charles enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1942 during the height of World War II while attending Indiana Central College in Indianapolis. Charles' service in uniform saw him serve in a mortar battalion, once digging five foxholes in two days while being surrounded by the German Army during the Battle of the Bulge, and it took him across Normandy, northern France, central Europe and the Rhineland during different campaigns and battles. After his service in Europe, Charles was on his way to fight in the Pacific Theater in Japan when he and his fellow service members learned that the war was finally over.
“Because of his honorable and valorous service, Charles was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, one service stripe, two overseas bars and a European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with five bronze stars.
“Upon returning home, Charles attended Indiana Central College and received a master's degree from Indiana University, which he used to launch a career in education that took him from a teacher to Leesburg School principal to Warsaw Community High School assistant principal over the course of 38 years.
“After more than a century, and still going, of living life to the fullest, I am happy to join countless Hoosiers, including his three sons and dozens and dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, in commending Charles Garner for his brave military service and thanking him for the many contributions he has made to Kosciusko County, Indiana's Second District, and our country. May God bless Charles Garner,” he concluded.
As Garner took his seat back in the audience, Nate explained one of the services the Congressman’s office offers.
“If you went to war and you were awarded a medal, and you did not receive that medal, we’ll go to work on your behalf and try and track that medal down and then we happily present it to you,” Nate said. “And so, one of those individuals who was awarded a medal and never received it is here with us tonight.”
Gary Roe then joined Nate on stage, with Nate noting that Gary’s daughter, Amy, tracked all the information on her father down for Yakym’s office.
Second District Director Griffin Nate (L) for U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym shakes the hand of Vietnam veteran Gary Roe (R) after presenting Roe with an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capital in Roe’s honor. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.Gary was born on Nov. 23, 1947. He graduated high school at 18 in May 1966, and on Dec. 6 received a draft letter to report to Fort Knox, Ky. He trained there about two months and then was sent to Fort Polk, La., for further training, specific to fighting in Vietnam.
Gary was sent to Cam Ranh Bay in Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. After landing at the U.S. military installation in May 1967, Gary was then stationed with the 1st Cavalry Division, which is “an air mobile division of the U.S. Army,” Nate said.
“This division used helicopters for troop transport, cargo, medevac and arrow rocket artillery, allowing infantry to attack from the air instead of being limited by the terrain,” he said.
The 1st Cavalry Division was stationed at Camp Radcliff, located near the town of An Khe, in the Central Highland Region of Vietnam.
Gary was promoted from private first class to corporal.
In 1968, the 1st and 5th Cavalry Divisions were sent to Khe Sanh in April and May to assist besieged Marines. During this time, Gary was promoted again to sergeant E-5. He was given the position of directing fire for the 81 mm mortar.
“During this time in the Battle of Khe Sanh, he describes an incident where he incurred a wound from an incoming artillery fire in which something hit his lower back, causing severe pain and paralysis of his left leg for approximately two hours. He crawled into a type of foxhole and received wound care from a medic,” Nate said. “This incident was never recorded. After fighting for approximately two months, Gary broke his glasses while under artillery fire. He was sent to get new glasses, however, a superior recommended that he should be sent home instead of going back because he only had 10 days left in his assignment. He completed his tour, in Georgia, and received an honorable discharge in December of 1968.”
Since that time, Gary had not been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge that he was entitled to. Amy worked with Yakym’s office to get her dad that badge.
The 11th Annual Country Christmas with Susie McEntire featured McEntire, Linda Davis, Keenie and South Whitley’s own Janie Fricke, along with their husbands.
Pictured (L to R) at Saturday night’s Country Christmas are Janie Fricke, Keenie, Linda Davis and Susie McEntire. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.Rob Seewald, pastor of Leesburg Methodist Church, welcomed the hundreds of people to the concert which benefits Toys for Tots.
“Tonight, I just want to brag on you. The entrance today was an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. You all filled those boxes 2-1/2 times,” he said to applause. “They gave us nine boxes and they said we’re somewhere around 23 boxes of toys that you all filled. So thank you for what you’ve done. There’s going to be a lot of children that are going to have a great Christmas because of you. So I want to thank you for that.”
American Legion Post 49 Color Guard posted the Colors after Seewald offered a word of prayer. Ali Lafferty sang the national anthem.
Ali Lafferty sings the national anthem at the start of A Country Christmas. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.County Councilwoman and Northern District County Commissioner-elect Sue Ann Mitchell offered some comments, welcoming the crowd to the show, to Warsaw and to Kosciusko County.
“I’m honored to be asked to be the welcoming committee to all of you to this great event,” she said. “... I want to welcome you all to Kosciusko County and more specifically to Warsaw, Indiana.”
She asked for a show of hands of how many people actually live in Kosciusko County, then how many do not live in the county. As many people, or more, attending the concert were from outside of the county as were from the county.
“That’s our goal: To bring people to town to enjoy what we so enjoy here in our community. Thank you all for making the trip tonight for this event. We certainly hope that you will come back to visit many of our exceptional community amenities and many of our lake activities, festivals, ski shows, bicycle races and so many more attractions. We’re a land of many challenges and we’re a land of many assets,” Mitchell stated.
Shown in boxes and collected along the wall are the hundreds of toys donated to Toys for Tots at Saturday’s Country Christmas. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.
Two days before the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, a 101-year-old World War II veteran was one of two U.S. heroes recognized Saturday at the Country Christmas with Susie McEntire.
Griffin Nate, Second District director for U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym, presented a copy of the Congressional Record honoring WWII veteran Charles Garner to Garner. Nate then presented a flag flown over the U.S. Capital to Vietnam veteran Gary Roe. Roe is entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge, which had not arrived as of Saturday’s presentation to be given to Roe, so the flag was given to Roe as an additional honor.
In the presentation to Garner on the Lakeview Middle School stage before a near-capacity audience, Nate said, “One of the great honors we have serving in Congress is there’s something called a Congressional Record and historians have been keeping track of the Congressional Record since our country’s founding. And, when historians are looking to see what was going on during a certain period of time, the first thing they look at is our Congressional Record.”
Second District Director Griffin Nate (L) for U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym reads the Congressional Record on World War II veteran Charles Garner (R) Saturday night at the Country Christmas concert. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.He said they thought there was no more fitting honor than a WWII veteran being entered into the Congressional Record. Nate then read the Dec. 9, 2024, entry into the Congressional Record about Garner.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and offer my praise and gratitude to World War II veteran, American hero and 101-year-old Kosciusko County resident Charles Garner. Born in Fulton County on July 3, 1923, Charles Garner is a decorated veteran who honorably served our nation in uniform, and who has shown his commitment to making Kosciusko County an even better place to live, learn, work and raise a family after he returned home from battle,” Nate said reading the Congressional Record.
“Charles enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1942 during the height of World War II while attending Indiana Central College in Indianapolis. Charles' service in uniform saw him serve in a mortar battalion, once digging five foxholes in two days while being surrounded by the German Army during the Battle of the Bulge, and it took him across Normandy, northern France, central Europe and the Rhineland during different campaigns and battles. After his service in Europe, Charles was on his way to fight in the Pacific Theater in Japan when he and his fellow service members learned that the war was finally over.
“Because of his honorable and valorous service, Charles was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, one service stripe, two overseas bars and a European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with five bronze stars.
“Upon returning home, Charles attended Indiana Central College and received a master's degree from Indiana University, which he used to launch a career in education that took him from a teacher to Leesburg School principal to Warsaw Community High School assistant principal over the course of 38 years.
“After more than a century, and still going, of living life to the fullest, I am happy to join countless Hoosiers, including his three sons and dozens and dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, in commending Charles Garner for his brave military service and thanking him for the many contributions he has made to Kosciusko County, Indiana's Second District, and our country. May God bless Charles Garner,” he concluded.
As Garner took his seat back in the audience, Nate explained one of the services the Congressman’s office offers.
“If you went to war and you were awarded a medal, and you did not receive that medal, we’ll go to work on your behalf and try and track that medal down and then we happily present it to you,” Nate said. “And so, one of those individuals who was awarded a medal and never received it is here with us tonight.”
Gary Roe then joined Nate on stage, with Nate noting that Gary’s daughter, Amy, tracked all the information on her father down for Yakym’s office.
Second District Director Griffin Nate (L) for U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym shakes the hand of Vietnam veteran Gary Roe (R) after presenting Roe with an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capital in Roe’s honor. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.Gary was born on Nov. 23, 1947. He graduated high school at 18 in May 1966, and on Dec. 6 received a draft letter to report to Fort Knox, Ky. He trained there about two months and then was sent to Fort Polk, La., for further training, specific to fighting in Vietnam.
Gary was sent to Cam Ranh Bay in Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. After landing at the U.S. military installation in May 1967, Gary was then stationed with the 1st Cavalry Division, which is “an air mobile division of the U.S. Army,” Nate said.
“This division used helicopters for troop transport, cargo, medevac and arrow rocket artillery, allowing infantry to attack from the air instead of being limited by the terrain,” he said.
The 1st Cavalry Division was stationed at Camp Radcliff, located near the town of An Khe, in the Central Highland Region of Vietnam.
Gary was promoted from private first class to corporal.
In 1968, the 1st and 5th Cavalry Divisions were sent to Khe Sanh in April and May to assist besieged Marines. During this time, Gary was promoted again to sergeant E-5. He was given the position of directing fire for the 81 mm mortar.
“During this time in the Battle of Khe Sanh, he describes an incident where he incurred a wound from an incoming artillery fire in which something hit his lower back, causing severe pain and paralysis of his left leg for approximately two hours. He crawled into a type of foxhole and received wound care from a medic,” Nate said. “This incident was never recorded. After fighting for approximately two months, Gary broke his glasses while under artillery fire. He was sent to get new glasses, however, a superior recommended that he should be sent home instead of going back because he only had 10 days left in his assignment. He completed his tour, in Georgia, and received an honorable discharge in December of 1968.”
Since that time, Gary had not been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge that he was entitled to. Amy worked with Yakym’s office to get her dad that badge.
The 11th Annual Country Christmas with Susie McEntire featured McEntire, Linda Davis, Keenie and South Whitley’s own Janie Fricke, along with their husbands.
Pictured (L to R) at Saturday night’s Country Christmas are Janie Fricke, Keenie, Linda Davis and Susie McEntire. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.Rob Seewald, pastor of Leesburg Methodist Church, welcomed the hundreds of people to the concert which benefits Toys for Tots.
“Tonight, I just want to brag on you. The entrance today was an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. You all filled those boxes 2-1/2 times,” he said to applause. “They gave us nine boxes and they said we’re somewhere around 23 boxes of toys that you all filled. So thank you for what you’ve done. There’s going to be a lot of children that are going to have a great Christmas because of you. So I want to thank you for that.”
American Legion Post 49 Color Guard posted the Colors after Seewald offered a word of prayer. Ali Lafferty sang the national anthem.
Ali Lafferty sings the national anthem at the start of A Country Christmas. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.County Councilwoman and Northern District County Commissioner-elect Sue Ann Mitchell offered some comments, welcoming the crowd to the show, to Warsaw and to Kosciusko County.
“I’m honored to be asked to be the welcoming committee to all of you to this great event,” she said. “... I want to welcome you all to Kosciusko County and more specifically to Warsaw, Indiana.”
She asked for a show of hands of how many people actually live in Kosciusko County, then how many do not live in the county. As many people, or more, attending the concert were from outside of the county as were from the county.
“That’s our goal: To bring people to town to enjoy what we so enjoy here in our community. Thank you all for making the trip tonight for this event. We certainly hope that you will come back to visit many of our exceptional community amenities and many of our lake activities, festivals, ski shows, bicycle races and so many more attractions. We’re a land of many challenges and we’re a land of many assets,” Mitchell stated.
Shown in boxes and collected along the wall are the hundreds of toys donated to Toys for Tots at Saturday’s Country Christmas. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.