Pictured, from left, Brad Jackson, Ron Truex, Rich Maron, Veteran of the Month, Duane Gable, and Bob Conley.

Kosciusko native, and World War II veteran, Duane Gable was honored by the Kosciusko County Commissioners as the December Veteran of the Month.

“He’s a Kosciusko County kid,” said Kosciusko County Veteran’s Affairs Officer Rich Maron. “Born in Sidney on a farm.” Gable graduated for Warsaw High School in 1939 and was drafted to the coastal artillery school.

He was sent to Dutch Harbor and was part of the Aleutian Islands campaign in May of 1943. He was reassigned to the 66th Infantry and sent to Europe.

Gable was stationed at Camp Lucky Strike, and was one of the brave men who crossed the Rhine with Gen. George Patton to advance US forces into Germany. He also had the honor of meeting President Dwight Eisenhower.

Gable exited the military with the rank of staff sergeant. He holds the Combat Infantryman Badge and was awarded medals from both the Pacific and European theater.

After the military, he worked as a general contractor for 50 years. He and his wife, Barbara, have been married for 73 years.