Pictured, from left, Rich Maron, veteran affairs officer, Bob Conley, commissioner board vice-president, Carl Ritchison, veteran of the month, Marilyn Ritchison, wife of Carl Ritchison, Ron Truex, commissioner and Brad Jackson, commissioner board president.

WARSAW — Carl E. Ritchison, Warsaw, was honored as Veteran of the Month at the Kosciusko County commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Ritchison entered the Army in 1952. He attended basic training at Camp Atterbury in Indiana and then was sent to Ft. Lewis, Washington to await shipment to Korea. Ritchison was sent to Japan and then on to Korea. While in Korea, he achieved the rank of motor pool sergeant for the 24th division.

Ritchison delivered food, ammunition and equipment to troops. On June 25, 1953 Ritchison was sent to pick up supplies for his unit. Upon reaching the supply tent, he heard an announcement being made that the war would be over the following day. Ritchison returned to his camp and relayed this information to the members of his unit, who all thought he was joking.

Ritchison drove the company commander to the front lines to pick up dog tags of three soldiers who had gone AWOL and lost their lives. Ritchison and his commander were the only soldiers in their unit to see the front lines.

Ritchison was shipped back to the United States four months after the war ended.

After his return to the United States, Ritchison worked for Farm Bureau for fifteen years. Following that, he worked as a field manager for Penguin Point for thirty years.

Ritchison and his wife, Marilyn, have been married for 57 years. They have one son, Rock (and spouse, Jennifer), and two grandchildren.