The April Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month is Paul C. Cleveland. The U.S. Navy veteran was recognized at the Kosciusko County Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, April 11, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom. From left: Kosciusko County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell, Kosciusko County Commissioner Cary Groninger, Cleveland, Kosciusko County Commissioners’ Vice President Bob Conley and Kosciusko County Commissioners’ President Brad Jackson. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The April Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month is Paul C. Cleveland.

The U.S. Navy veteran was honored at the Kosciusko County Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, April 11, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom. Kosciusko County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell presented Cleveland with a certificate and read biographical information on him, including the following.

Born in Cresco, Iowa, Cleveland had 10 siblings. He moved first to Minnesota with his family and then to La Crosse, Wis., in 1952.

He moved out when he was 13 to Mindoro, Wis., to work on a dairy farm. He then raised himself, with help from family he worked for. Cleveland graduated with the Class of 1965 from Mindoro High School.

He then studied machine repair at Ivy Tech. Due to having two older brothers already in the U.S. Navy, he joined in 1966.

Cleveland’s boot camp was at Great Lakes, Wis. He was assigned to USS ADE-69 and then USS Waldron DD-699 (destroyer), both stationed out of Norfolk, Va.

Cleveland was honorably discharged after several years, having the rank of machinist repair/second class (E-5). He went back to farming for the McRaes at the Black-Oak Dairy Farm in Mindoro, Wis.

Cleveland married Judy in July 1973, with them to mark their 50th anniversary this year. The couple has two children and three grandchildren.

In 1979, Cleveland and his family moved to Warsaw, where he worked at Union Tool. He then worked for DePuy and retired in 2010.

The Clevelands live in Plain Township.

“I just want to thank God for His mercy and grace for protecting me all the times through the service, and I thank my wife for 50-some years here soon, for being a loyal companion and support for me, and I want to thank all of you for giving me this honor,” said Cleveland following the presentation.

He said he initially questioned why he’d been chosen as veteran of the month, noting someone else may have deserved it more. However he spoke with McDowell and others and said he realized his military service was important as well.

“It doesn’t matter as long as you’re there to fill the gap and to do your part and your service no matter what position that it may be,” Cleveland said. “So thank you very much. I appreciate it.”