September Vet Of The Month Battling Leukemia

August 31, 2021 at 11:32 p.m.
September Vet Of The Month Battling Leukemia
September Vet Of The Month Battling Leukemia


A veteran of the Vietnam War is fighting another kind of battle.

David Allen Mann was recognized Tuesday as the September 2021 Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month at the County Commissioners meeting. The Army veteran was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in September 2018, according to David’s biography that Veterans Service Officer Rich Maron had prepared and read at the meeting. David went into remission in March 2019. The following September, the leukemia returned and David is still fighting the disease.

“But David proclaims, ‘I have a mighty God and I am trusting in Him for complete healing,’” Maron said.

David was unable to attend the ceremony Tuesday because of his leukemia, but Maron proceeded with it and recorded it for David to watch later Tuesday. Maron also had a card for everyone to sign at the Commissioners meeting, which he also was going to take to David.

David was born Oct. 19, 1945, in Warsaw, to the late Jack and Treva Mann. He went to elementary school in Mentone, and graduated from Warsaw in 1963.

David served in the U.S. Army, 4th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry. He was drafted Nov. 8, 1965, and was released from active duty Aug. 25, 1967. He was discharged as a specialist 5.

He departed to Vietnam in August 1966. After one year, he left Vietnam and was discharged Aug. 22, 1967, and headed back to Kosciusko County. David served in recon and heavy mortars.

On Feb. 14, 1970, David married Debra Levernier, of Milford.

He did four years of apprenticeship for tool and die at Sun Metal. He worked there until he started working at Zimmer in 1973, and then went to Royal Crown in Milford before retiring in 2005.

David and Debra Mann live in Warsaw and have a son, Tyrone (and wife Mary Ellen) Mann, who lives in Centennial, Colo. A daughter, Monica Purdy, lives in Parish, Fla. Grandchildren are Jackson and Preston Mann and Gavyn and Isabella Purdy.

David’s brother is Ken (and wife Diana) Mann. His grandparents were the late Swede and Eulalah Rydquist and Reuben and Cleo Mann.

David has been active at Warsaw Community Church, Maron said.

“He says he loves the Lord, his life, his family, fishing, hunting and muscle cars,” Maron said. “I jokingly added ‘in that order.’”

Maron, who also is a pastor, said David is a man of faith.

“My plans this morning, should he have been here, were to have a word of prayer with him here with all of you. So we’re going to send some prayers this morning if that’s OK. Can we just take a minute and pray for David and his situation?” Maron said before leading everyone there in prayer.

In the prayer, Maron thanked the Lord for every man and woman in the county who served “so faithfully. We know now that sometimes the outcome of that is the cost that affects their lives, affects their bodies, affects their families, their wives, their children. David is fighting a fight this morning that you are well aware of, and I’m joining with this group this morning, and we’re praying this morning God for your mercy and grace, that you would send that miracle healing touch to his body, and we promise you that we’ll give you the thanks and the praise in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Tuesday’s ceremony also was Maron’s last Veteran of the Month presentation as Maron is stepping away as VSO and his last day is Sept. 23.

Before the ceremony, Maron said, “This has been an honor for me.” He served in the position for 13 years. “Never dreamed it would be this great of a privilege.”

Commissioner Bob Conley thanked Maron for his service as well as what he did for David.

A veteran of the Vietnam War is fighting another kind of battle.

David Allen Mann was recognized Tuesday as the September 2021 Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month at the County Commissioners meeting. The Army veteran was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in September 2018, according to David’s biography that Veterans Service Officer Rich Maron had prepared and read at the meeting. David went into remission in March 2019. The following September, the leukemia returned and David is still fighting the disease.

“But David proclaims, ‘I have a mighty God and I am trusting in Him for complete healing,’” Maron said.

David was unable to attend the ceremony Tuesday because of his leukemia, but Maron proceeded with it and recorded it for David to watch later Tuesday. Maron also had a card for everyone to sign at the Commissioners meeting, which he also was going to take to David.

David was born Oct. 19, 1945, in Warsaw, to the late Jack and Treva Mann. He went to elementary school in Mentone, and graduated from Warsaw in 1963.

David served in the U.S. Army, 4th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry. He was drafted Nov. 8, 1965, and was released from active duty Aug. 25, 1967. He was discharged as a specialist 5.

He departed to Vietnam in August 1966. After one year, he left Vietnam and was discharged Aug. 22, 1967, and headed back to Kosciusko County. David served in recon and heavy mortars.

On Feb. 14, 1970, David married Debra Levernier, of Milford.

He did four years of apprenticeship for tool and die at Sun Metal. He worked there until he started working at Zimmer in 1973, and then went to Royal Crown in Milford before retiring in 2005.

David and Debra Mann live in Warsaw and have a son, Tyrone (and wife Mary Ellen) Mann, who lives in Centennial, Colo. A daughter, Monica Purdy, lives in Parish, Fla. Grandchildren are Jackson and Preston Mann and Gavyn and Isabella Purdy.

David’s brother is Ken (and wife Diana) Mann. His grandparents were the late Swede and Eulalah Rydquist and Reuben and Cleo Mann.

David has been active at Warsaw Community Church, Maron said.

“He says he loves the Lord, his life, his family, fishing, hunting and muscle cars,” Maron said. “I jokingly added ‘in that order.’”

Maron, who also is a pastor, said David is a man of faith.

“My plans this morning, should he have been here, were to have a word of prayer with him here with all of you. So we’re going to send some prayers this morning if that’s OK. Can we just take a minute and pray for David and his situation?” Maron said before leading everyone there in prayer.

In the prayer, Maron thanked the Lord for every man and woman in the county who served “so faithfully. We know now that sometimes the outcome of that is the cost that affects their lives, affects their bodies, affects their families, their wives, their children. David is fighting a fight this morning that you are well aware of, and I’m joining with this group this morning, and we’re praying this morning God for your mercy and grace, that you would send that miracle healing touch to his body, and we promise you that we’ll give you the thanks and the praise in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Tuesday’s ceremony also was Maron’s last Veteran of the Month presentation as Maron is stepping away as VSO and his last day is Sept. 23.

Before the ceremony, Maron said, “This has been an honor for me.” He served in the position for 13 years. “Never dreamed it would be this great of a privilege.”

Commissioner Bob Conley thanked Maron for his service as well as what he did for David.

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