Rex Allen Yarian, of Mentone, was honored as the Kosciusko County October Veteran of the Month during a special presentation on Thursday, Oct. 13, at Java Jacks in Mentone. From left: Yarian’s wife Diana Yarian, Yarian and Kosciusko County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — The October Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month is Rex Allen Yarian.

U.S. Army veteran Yarian, of Mentone, was honored in a special presentation on Thursday, Oct. 13, at Java Jacks at Mentone. The presentation, which would originally be held during a Kosciusko County Commissioners’ meeting at the Kosciusko County Courthouse, was moved to the special time and place to accommodate Yarian.

He’s battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for 12 years due to having been exposed to Agent Orange while in Vietnam. He and his wife, Diana Yarian, were also in a car accident recently.

Kosciusko County Veteran Service officer Darryl McDowell presented Yarian with a certificate. During the commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 11, McDowell read a biography on Yarian, which contained the following information.

Born on Jan. 28, 1948, at Murphy Medical Center, Warsaw, Yarian was the son of Donald and Doris Yarian. He was raised in Kosciusko County, graduating from Mentone High School in 1966.

Yarian lived in Mentone until he was drafted into the Army at age 20, inducted on Feb. 14, 1968. He completed basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, then advanced infantry combat training at Tiger Land in Fort Polk, Louisiana.

On July 21, 1968, Yarian arrived in Vietnam towards the end of the Tet Offensive as a “boots on the ground” combat soldier. He served in the III Corps southern area that covered Tay Ninh, Cu Chi and Saigon. That was where the majority of the Agent Orange spraying took place.

Yarian received various decorations and awards for his service including: a National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Army Commendation Medal with “V” device – with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm; Valorous Unit Award; Combat Infantryman Badge; Marksman (Rifle M-16); Expert (M60 MG); and Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14).

He came back from Vietnam on July 18, 1969, being stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, to finish out his military service. Yarian then headed back to Mentone.

He and Diana are to celebrate their 50th anniversary next month. The couple has two children, Mariah and Wesley, and eight grandchildren.

“It’s a nice thing,” Yarian told media members before the presentation. “I’d never thought I’d be Veteran of the Month.”

He mentioned that he and others he served with still try to see each other once a year.

“I think he’s pretty proud to be recognized,” said Diana Yarian. “The Vietnam veterans have been a group of veterans that were pretty much overlooked. … They were ridiculed.”

“It’s probably been the last 10 years that he’s been able to talk about it at all,” she added, mentioning that visiting with those he served with has helped.

Along with presenting Yarian with an award, McDowell spoke about Operation Green Light. During Nov. 7-13, the Kosciusko County Courthouse will be lit in green in honor of those who’ve served in the military and their families.

McDowell said businesses and individuals are welcome to lit their buildings or homes green as well during that time.