Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - U.S. Army veteran Charlie Garner has received many honors in his 102 years, from the medals he earned while serving in World War II to having his name read into the Congressional Record by Second District U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym.
However, the Sagamore of the Wabash Garner received from Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Thursday, Oct. 23 was presented to him a little differently than the other awards. Braun presented it to Garner in Garner’s Syracuse home.
Former County Commissioner Brad Jackson had told Garner in advance Braun was coming to his house, and Braun’s father was in World War II.
“I had the impression that he was coming only just to talk about World War II. So I sat here for about 30 minutes, loading him up with World War II information and he was wanting to get out of here and go eat, I think,” Garner recalled Monday afternoon to local media, Jackson and Jackson’s son Sam. “He was so very patient and everything. I was so impressed with him.”
Jackson said they were at Garner’s house Thursday for about 45 minutes.
When Braun is in town, Jackson said he and Braun get together. Braun was going to have dinner with the Jacksons Thursday night, and Jackson asked Braun to arrive an early hour if possible so he could introduce Braun to Garner. Braun agreed.
When Jackson met with Garner in advance to make sure it would be OK to bring Braun by, Garner jokingly said, “What’s he going to do, give me a Sagamore of the Wabash? I never done nearly enough to deserve that in my lifetime.”
Originally, there was no intention for Braun to do that and they only give out about a dozen Sagamores a year. However, Braun’s team looked into Garner and it was decided Garner would get a Sagamore of the Wabash.
When Braun presented Indiana’s highest honor to Garner, Jackson, Garner’s son and daughter-in-law also were present. Jackson found out about the Sagamore the day before and had to keep it quiet.
“I thought he had come just to talk to me about my World War II experiences. I had no idea,” Garner said.
When Braun presented the Sagamore to Garner, Braun stated, “In this case, you get it delivered to your home by the governor.”
Born in July 1923, Garner had enlisted in the Army Reserves on Oct. 5, 1942. On Jan. 1, 1943, he married his first wife, Maybelle. In April 1943, 10 from the same college - including Garner - were called up and went to Fort Harrison for training. After serving in Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge, Garner got out of the service in 1945.
After the war, Garner became a teacher, starting in 1947 at Syracuse teaching biology, physics and math. Two of his first 18 students are still living at Paddock Springs, he said.
He then became principal at Leesburg School and was there from 1960 to 1967. He was then assistant principal at Warsaw Community High School for 11 years.
Garner and Maybelle were married for almost 54 years before her death. He was then married to Priscilla for about 21 years before her passing.
He said he had “almost 75 years with two good women. I tell them good night every night and good morning every morning.”
On his life as a whole, Garner stated more than once that he’s been blessed.
