Doug Jones did a special program for our club on May 30 to salute veterans.  May 30^th used to be Memorial Day.  It wasn’t until 1971 that Memorial Day was fixed as the last Monday of May. 

 

Doug has been in Rotary for over 60 years.  He was a member of Lynnwood Rotary Club and attended the Arlington Charter night in 1970.  He later purchased Darrington Hardware and transferred to our club.  He transferred to the La Conner Club after he sold the hardware store.

 

Doug, a U.S. Citizen living in Canada, joined the Canadian Air Force at age 17 during World War II, but did not see combat.  He fought in the Korean War in the U.S. Army.  He is a survivor of an eight day battle at Outpost Harry.  There were 1,300 Chinese, 105 American servicemen, and 7 MIAs from that battle, that is credited with the surrender of the Chinese.  Doug received a Bronze Star with Valor!  

 

Doug has been active in military groups since his service years. He is currently involved in the honor flight program taking Veterans back to Washington DC.  He had the honor of laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Korean war.

 

Doug has been in Rotary for 60 rewarding years.  30 years ago women were allowed in Rotary.

 

Our Veterans go back to 1776.  Doug has lost a lot of friends from the Korean War, both during the war and since.  Their reunions only have about 8-12 people left.  They used to have around 80.

 

Doug invited all of our club members who are veterans up to the front to be recognized, including Bud Compton who was a prisoner of war during WWII.

 

 

P.O.W.s have given more than any other living service member.  They were incarcerated and had to endure things people don’t want to even imagine.  Bud Compton said there are about 6 P.O.W.s still in the state of Washington.

 

Bud was part of a flight crew involved in a mission over Poland. When one of the engines of his aircraft was blown off, the captain panicked and ordered the crew to bail out.  Bud parachuted to the ground and avoided being captured for several days.  As it turns out, the co-pilot was able to get the aircraft to home base but absent its crew.

 

After WWII Bud continued his service in the Korean War, and later provided support for the Vietnam troops flying for a private company.

 

Less than 1% of Americans serve in the armed forces.  Over 400,000 service members have fallen.

 

Doug presented the club members that are Veterans with an enhanced Rotary Veteran's pin.

 

 

Pictured from left to right: Jonathon Ventura, Duane Rhodes, Tony Warner, Bucky Tart, Paul Abramowicz, and Bud Compton.  Doug had two fellow Korean Veterans from the LaConner Rotary Club helping him with the presentation.  To the right of Doug is David Rapella.  Not pictured is Don McKeehen.

 

Members were also asked to invite veteran guests to be recognized.  John Meno's guests included his father Don and Terry Byce.

 

 

Both Don and Terry are retired Army.  Both started together in Germany in 1976. 

 

Thank you for your service to all of the active service members and veterans!