Navy veteran Carolyn Gunder of Syracuse is the Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month for June. She serves as the commander of American Legion Post 223 of Syracuse. Gunder was honored at the Kosciusko County Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, June 7. From left: Kosciusko County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell, Commissioners’ Vice President Brad Jackson, Gunder, Commissioner Bob Conley and Commissioners’ President Cary Groninger. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — American Legion Post 223 Commander Carolyn Gunder is the Kosciusko County June Veteran of the Month.

Navy veteran Gunder of Syracuse was recognized by Kosciusko County Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday, June 7.

Kosciusko County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell presented her with a certificate and read a biography on her.

According to the information, Gunder has lived in Kosciusko County since 1987. She was born to Robert and Kathryn (Keasey) Gunder in Noble County and grew up in Ligonier.

She was a member of the Ligonier Class of 1959 and joined the Navy on Jan. 4, 1960. She trained in Bainbridge, Md., to be a personnel specialist.

Gunder served for 20 years, being honorably discharged on May 28, 1980. She retired from the Navy as a petty officer first class, equivalent in pay to an Army or Marine staff sergeant or Air Force technical sergeant.

During her service, she received a National Defense Ribbon and Navy Good Conduct Medal.

Gunder would live in Norfolk, Va., for seven years, working at a bank and the military base auto hobby shop. She then moved to Syracuse. She lived with her sister and worked, retiring in 2002.

She would un-retire after a year and then spent a five-year stint at Walmart.

Along with being the commander at Post 223 in Syracuse, she also is part of the American Legion Honor Guard and American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary Unit 223.

McDowell noted after he read Gunder’s biography that she is also going on an Honor Flight tomorrow.

The flights allow veterans to tour for free war memorials in Washington, D.C. American Legion Post 223 Service Officer Chris Longenbaugh is to escort her on the flight.

“This is a great honor. I didn’t expect it because they’ve been basically doing all gentlemen veterans,” said Gunder after she received the certificate. “But this was great. … I appreciate this. Thank you very much.”

Kosciusko County Commissioner Bob Conley, who started the program in the county, later noted that Gunder was the third female veteran commissioners had honored as a veteran of the month.

Conley added that anyone was welcome to nominate a veteran for the designation by contacting any of the commissioners. The only requirements to be nominated are that the veteran has been honorably discharged and lives in Kosciusko County.