By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — John Mort of Warsaw was honored by Kosciusko County Commissioners as Veteran of the Month at a special commissioners meeting Tuesday, Dec. 15. 

Mort was born on Dec. 15, 1955, to Dan and Betty Mort in Denver, Colo.  The family later moved to California. When he was 14, the family moved to Indianapolis, where he completed school. 

Mort’s family later moved to Pensacola, Fla., where he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 26, 1974. He was processed through MEPS station Montgomery, Ala., and then sent to Orlando to start his recruit training. Mort enlisted with a guaranteed assignment to be an Aviation Ordnanceman and was sent to the Naval Air Technical Training Command in Millington, Tenn., for advance infantry training. 

He completed FRAMP training on the VA-128, an attack squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed the Golden Intruders, using the (A-6 Intruder aircraft) located at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. Mort’s first assignment was on the VA-115 called the Arabs (A-6 Intruder aircraft ) located aboard the USS Midway, ported in Yokosuka, Japan, for three and a half years. 

After only three months on board, they received a call to head to Vietnam for Operation Frequent Wind. Saigon was falling to the North Vietnamese. 

Mort’s unit and other ships were sent to help evacuate the embassy.  

They were on station for 30 hours and managed to evacuate over 3,000 American and Vietnamese allies. 

Mort climbed to the rank of E-5 Second Class Petty Officer. As his first enlistment was coming to an end, he planned to leave but was talked into re-enlisting.

Mort was assigned to Naval Air Station in North Island, Calif., for aircraft intermediate maintenance training where he met his future wife Georgia and her three daughters: Rachelle, Cheryl and Carla. 

Mort’s shore duty took him to the NAS Miramar (Top Gun) for two years, working the ordinance equipment from the F-14 Tomcat Fighter aircraft. He and Georgia got married during that time. 

His next assignment was in San Diego, Calif., where he was promoted to E-6 First Class Petty Officer and was selected as Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Ranger Man of the Year. He was also nominated for Aviation Ordnanceman of the Year. 

Next, he had shore duty on HSL-33 Seasnakes H-2 Seasprite Helicopter as the senior instructor. He was later assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk CV-63, home-ported in San Diego, Calif., as part of the bomb assembly crew. After only a year on board, Mort was promoted to E-7 Chief Petty Officer and became the chief in charge of bomb assembly.

In 1987, the Kitty Hawk was sent to Philadelphia, Pa., for SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) to add 15 years to her life.  To get to Philadelphia from San Diego, the ship had to make a world cruise.  

Mort returned to San Diego to get his family. They settled in Wilmington, Del., until they were able to get on the naval shipyard base. Mort was assigned as liaison between the ship and the shipyard.

Mort’s next assignment was at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.  

He was promoted to E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer and was assigned as enlisted detailer. One of the more notable things that happened during Mort’s time there was a call from George W. Bush.  

“From time to time, we would get congressional inquiries from servicemen and women or concerned parents. These had to be answered,” Mort said. “He (Bush) knew the answer but just wanted to confirm. We mostly talked about our time in the military.”  

Being the one in charge of assignments, Mort detailed himself back to the Kitty Hawk for a second tour as the leading senior chief in charge of bomb assembly, which by this time was back in San Diego.  

After two years he was at the 20-year point and decided to retire. At that time, the family moved to Oklahoma where they bought a farm. Mort got a job as a mill operator and  Georgia worked as a 911 dispatcher. The area they were in was not the most friendly to veterans, Mort said. There were no active Legions or VFW’s and no military rites for veteran funerals.

In 2007, Georgia was diagnosed with a failing liver and was told she would need a transplant. Over the next year, her kidneys failed and she was put on dialysis. She was fortunate enough to receive a liver/kidney transplant in December 2008.  Mort retired for the second time to help take care of Georgia.  

In 2011, Georgia was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. After a two and a half year battle, she passed. The couple shared a loving and wonderful 36 years of marriage.  

Mort returned to Indiana in 2015 where a pleasant surprise awaited him. According to Mort, it was like being in a different country — one where veterans are honored and celebrated.  

He worked at Menards in Warsaw for three years; first as the assistant plumbing manager then as the electrical manager. Mort described it as a very rewarding experience where he met many wonderful people.  

He soon found that working and trying to support the activities he felt drawn to was not going to work.  

Retiring for the third time, he became more involved in the American Legion and VFW. He started out as trustee and quickly became more involved in trying to make a difference for local veterans. 

Mort and his girlfriend, Kathy, enjoy working with veterans and their families in many different ways. Kathy is the president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 49 in Warsaw. Mort is the Commander of the American Legion Post 49 in Warsaw. He is also the Vice Commander for the American Legion Department of Indiana Second District.  

James W. Sittler Post 1126 Commander Bob Dockery said Mort’s leadership “is without question.”

“As the commander of the local American Legion Post, he ensures all veterans are taken care of by working with the leadership of Warsaw. He also ensures the honor guard is available for the needs of our passing veterans,” Dockery said.

Kathy describes Mort as “a warm, loving person with a good heart, especially for his veterans — and a great dancer, too. ”

Mort is involved in numerous organizations, including American Legion Post 49 / VFW Post 1126 joint Honor Guard, Vice Commander Sons of the American Legion Squadron 49, Life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America St. Joseph County Chapter 1027, Life member VFW Riders Post 1126, Member American Legion Riders Post 286, Ride captain northeast region Indiana Patriot Guard and American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, Region 1.