Kinch Honored As Veteran Of The Month
WARSAW — Thomas Kinch, Warsaw, was honored as the March Veteran of the Month at the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting held Tuesday, March 6.
Kinch, the son of Gene and Donna Kinch, was born and raised in Warsaw. After graduating from Warsaw Community High School in 1965, he attended the International Business School in Fort Wayne for two years.
In 1967, Kinch was drafted to the Army. He served in the Army Security Agency from 1967 – 1971. He spent two and a half years in Germany, then volunteered for duty in Vietnam. After one year in the Vietnam War, Kinch was discharged from service in 1971.
Once he returned home, Kinch was hired at Warsaw Plating Works, where he was employed for approximately forty years, until the company closed in 2001. He then worked at Everest Excavating until retirement.
Kinch, who currently resides on Pike Lake, is a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW, Disabled American Veterans and 40&8. Since his retirement, Kinch volunteers his time as a driver through DAV Transportation Network, driving veterans to their appointments. The organization serves St. Joe, Elkhart, Marshall, Kosciusko and Whitley counties, offering rides free of charge to veterans who have appointments at VA facilities in Fort Wayne, Marion and Indianapolis.
Kinch said volunteers are always welcome at VA facilities, adding that it’s a great help to our worthy veterans.
“As a veteran, it gives me great pride to help fellow vets in any way I can,” said Kinch.