He served two years in the United States Navy, where he was one of many servicemen who suffered a life-threatening exposure to toxic chemicals while he worked to maintain and repair crucial aircraft and support active soldiers: April's Jefferson County Veteran of the Month is John Chaput.

Born in Oregon in 1950 and raised around Seattle, Chaput was a part of his high school's Sea Cadet Program, which allowed him to enlist in the Navy without needing to complete Basic Training - which he called "a pretty good deal."

Chaput served in the Navy from September 1969 to December 1971, where he served as a machinery repairman, supporting squadrons that worked on helicopters and OV-10 aircraft, gunships that supported riverine forces. During his first 12-month tour of duty in Vietnam, he was exposed to the pollutant Agent Orange and was hospitalized for a long time - he is still recovering from those ailments today.

“Veterans are usually a little shy, so I feel real awkward, but I am thankful for this honor – and I do consider it an honor," Chaput said Tuesday. "Anytime I get to speak for a minute I like to comment on the way Vietnam veterans were treated, which was not the best – but I don’t want to dwell on that other than to say...I like to use that as an example for how we should treat veterans that are coming back home these days, and I think we are doing a better job of making them feel at home when they do get back.” 

Chaput's time in the Navy took him to California, Vietnam and Australia, earning him a handful of medal and commendations. In his post-Naval career in government service he worked in Washington and Alaska and spent 12 years as a medic in the Army National Guard.

Following his service John returned home to Washington where married his wife Janet in 1981. They have been together ever since, even through a move to Fairbury, and, now, Beatrice, where John is rehabilitating at Good Samaritan. They were joined at this week's ceremony by their son Scott, who is a Deputy Sheriff in Jefferson County, and their four grandchildren.