Commissioners Honor Jefferson County Veteran Of The Month

FAIRBURY Neb -- The Jefferson County Commissioners honored a United States Army Veteran as their June Veteran of the Month, a part of their continued recognition to the service men and women of the county. 

Jim Schmidt was drafted into the Army in August of 1966. He attended basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  A year later, Specialist Schmidt received orders for South Vietnam, but the section commander requested that he needed his specialist with a secret clearance to remain at Fort Hood where Jim remained until an early out on June 3, 1968, for grain harvest back in Nebraska.

While on active-duty Specialist Fourth Class Schmidt received: The National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Expert Rifle Medal.  Jim also spent four years in the inactive Army Reserves.

Today Jim and his wife, Janice of 56 years, live in rural Jefferson County and spend as much time as possible with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

On Tuesday, the commissioners awarded Jim with a framed Veteran of the month award.   In addition, Jim was presented a Quilt of Valor, A Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin, and local youth Marley Rosener of Fairbury presented Mike with one of her handmade wreaths she makes for veterans.

 

 

 

 

FULL SUBMITTED BIO

Jim Schmidt was born May 30, 1947, into a farming family with 11 children at Nelson, Nebraska. Shortly after Jim was born his family quit the farming business and moved to Fairbury where Jim’s dad worked for a while at the Fairbury Cemetery and later became the Park Superintendent at Crystal Springs. Jim attended grade school in Fairbury and graduated from Fairbury High School in 1965. He immediately began working for the Mahaska, Kansas Elevator, which was part of the Reynolds, Nebraska Elevator operation.

Jim continued working at the Kansas Elevator until he was drafted into the United States Army August 22, 1966. He attended basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Jim’s training was different than what most recruits experience in their first few weeks of military life. One day while he was on “kitchen police” in the mess hall, he was approached to haul water to various areas around the base. Jim mentioned that another trainee also had a license to drive 2 ½ ton trucks. Jim ended up with a better driving job. He spend the majority of his basic training hauling meals to trainees around the base most of the time throughout weekly training, which gave him a fair amount of free time and was able to avoid most of the unpleasantries of basic training.

After Jim’s initial military training he spent two weeks in a reception station at Fort Hood, Texas. Eventually Specialist Schmidt was assigned to Company Headquarters & Headquarters 2nd Armor Division. The unit prided itself in its motto: “Hell on Wheels.” Fort Hood was also noted for a large simulated Vietnamese village where training was conducted night and day. His primary duties were clerical in nature, but he also spent a larger portion of his time driving commanding officers to locations to observe training. After a course in projector training he spent some time showing training films to the Commanding General.

In April, 1967, Specialist Schmidt received orders for South Vietnam, but the section commander requested that he needed his specialist with a secret clearance to remain at Fort Hood where Specialist Schmidt remained until an early out in June 3, 1968, for grain harvest back in Nebraska. While on active duty Specialist Fourth Class Schmidt received: The National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Expert Rifle Medal. (Jim also spent four years in the inactive Army Reserves).

Jim and his new bride, Janice, moved to Reynolds, Nebraska where Jim began working for the grain elevator. In 1972 Jim became the manager until his retirement in 2014. Over the years Jim and his family have practiced the Judeo-Christian values that this Great Nation was founded on. Jim has been a 45 year member of Fairbury Elks Lodge 1203, a 27 year member of Fairbury American Legion Post 24, serving as commander one year, and also served approximately 20 years on the Reynolds, Town Board.

Today Jim and his wife, Janice of 56 years, live in rural Jefferson County and spend as much time as possible with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.