An Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam is the January 2024 Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month.
In introducing David Chris Oberg, of Leesburg, as the Veteran of the Month to the county commissioners, Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell said Oberg was born May 18, 1949, in Wolf Lake, to Opal and Wallie Hoover. He had one brother, four half brothers and two half sisters.
In 1967, Oberg graduated from Ligonier High School, joining the Air Force that December. He was first stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to the 57th Munitions Maintenance Squadron. Once he finished his training, Oberg was sent off to Phan Rang, Vietnam, assigned to the 435th Munitions Maintenance Squadron.
He was honorably discharged in 1971 as a sergeant. His service awards include the Air Force Commendation, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and others, McDowell said.
On June 27, 1970, Oberg married Jean Sheley at the Ligonier Church of Christ.
After getting out of the service, Oberg returned to Ligonier to work at Johnson Controls in Goshen as a tool designer.
They moved to Kosciusko County in 1982. Oberg worked with DePuy and later Medtronics as a senior tooling engineer. He currently works from home for Chase Manufacturing as a designer of Class A motorhome woodwork.
They have two sons - Mike Oberg, Warsaw, and Chris Oberg, South Bend; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren plus two on the way.
In his free time, David Oberg enjoys woodworking.
“The other thing of note for him is that he and his son Mike were able to participate in the Honor Flight (of Northeast Indiana in April 2023), which there’s three a year out of Fort Wayne. That’s a great reflection and opportunity if veterans have that opportunity to go to Washington, D.C., to look at that,” McDowell said.
After receiving his framed certificate, David Oberg said, “I want to tell you how much of an honor it is to be here today with you and my family, and thank you so much for this award. Thank you.”