Veteran Of The Month Served His Country & His Community

Thomas “Tom” L. Anglin not only served his country in the Navy for four years, but he also served his community as a member of the Kosciusko County Council for over 40 years.
Tuesday morning, Anglin was recognized by the Kosciusko County Commissioners and Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell as the August 2026 Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month.
Tom was born in January 1932 in Argos to Dallas and Doris Anglin. He was one of six children and attended Etna Green High School, McDowell said at the commissioners’ meeting.
On Feb. 20, 1952, Tom answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Navy. Following his initial training at Great Lakes, Ill., he was stationed in San Diego, Calif., where he was assigned to machinery repair aboard the USS Ajax.
The Ajax was a Vulcan-class repair ship that served as a floating repair base in Japan. During the Korean conflict in 1952 and 1953, the ship worked around the clock repairing destroyers, patrol vessels, minesweepers and other ships, helping keep the United States Seventh Fleet operational, McDowell stated.
In 1954, the Ajax also played an important role in Operation Passage to Freedom. The ship provided vital logistics and repair support to the U.S. Navy vessels involved in the evacuation and resettlement effort that transported thousands of refugees from the Hanoi area of Communist North Vietnam to Saigon, South Vietnam.
“For those of you whose mind is going, ‘hey, we weren’t in Vietnam that early,’ it shows you that we weren’t the headliner at that time, the French were but we were still assisting,” McDowell said.
After four years of honorable service in the United States Navy, Tom was honorably discharged in February 1956 with the rank of Petty Officer Third Class.
Following his military service, Tom returned to Kosciusko County and went to work for the Clunette Elevator Company, a family business established in 1951 by three brothers, one of which was his father, Dallas.
In December 1995, Tom married Rita Franks Anglin. Today, McDowell said, Tom remains a valued part of his family and continues to support the family-owned Clunette Elevator Company, a business that has proudly served the community since 1951
“Tom’s story represents a lifetime of service — not only to his country through his four years in the United States Navy, but also to his family, his community, and a family business that has been part of Kosciusko County for generations,” McDowell said.
After receiving his framed signed certificate from the commissioners, Tom said, “This is quite an honor and I did not expect this, but I’m grateful for it, and I’m grateful for the service I got. I enjoyed it. It was not a lost four years, I tell you. In fact, I wish I had stayed 20. It was great, but I’m thankful for all of you, what you’ve done for me. Thank you very much.”
County Commissioner Sue Ann Mitchell said, “I believe there is one other major thing that some of you may not realize. That this fine man had served many, many years as a county council member - 41 years. What a great example he was when he came home to become a public servant, and he was one who truly served the public. Thank you, always, for your support and the service you gave our community.”
Commissioner Bob Conley said that when he first got elected as a commissioner, he got together with Tom and Tom taught him how to say no. “That helped me out a lot to get started. I appreciate that,” he said.