Albert Henry McClelland is the January Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month. Pictured, left to right, are County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell, Middle District County Commissioner Cary Groninger, McClelland, Southern District County Commissioner Bob Conley and Northern District County Commissioner Sue Ann Mitchell. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — Before reading his prepared biography of the Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month for January on Tuesday, Jan. 28, County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell made it clear it wouldn’t be an all-inclusive biography.

“In no way will I ever touch the entire career of this gentleman,” McDowell said of Albert Henry McClelland. “Many of you may just know him as the Warsaw bail bondsman. Many don’t know that he spent 20 years in the Coast Guard, serving this nation.”

McClelland was born in 1934 in New York City, N.Y., to Dudley and Marjory. He attended HB Plant High School in New York and joined the Coast Guard in 1951. His basic training was at Cape May, N.J., followed by additional training at Groton Training Station.

“Following the training completion, certifying his next job, he was assigned to the United States Coast Guard Cutter 83435 … out of Norfolk, Va.,” McDowell said.

McClelland served 20 years proudly in the Coast Guard during the Korean and Vietnam eras. According to a copy of the April 22, 1971, Congressional Record on McClelland, provided after the commissioners meeting by McDowell, subsequent to serving on the Coast Guard Cutter, McClelland served on the Winter Quarter Light Ship, operating out of Chincoteague, Va., and the Cutter Winnebago, stationed at Honolulu, Hawaii.

In 1960, following assignment with the captain of the port office in New York City, McClelland became an instructor in gunnery at the Coast Guard Training Station, Groton, Conn. In 1961, he was assigned to the Intelligence Unit in San Francisco, Calif.

As part of his first five-year tour of duty in intelligence, McClelland completed the U.S. Treasury Department’s Law Enforcement School and rose to the rank of chief petty officer. McClelland returned to sea duty in 1966 aboard the Cutter McCulloch, operating out of Wilmington, N.C.

Early in 1969, he began his assignment with the Intelligence Unit of the Ninth Coast Guard District. Throughout his career, McClelland was interested in the preservation of his country’s natural beauty and resources, the Congressional Record states.

He took an active part in the task force to save the Grand Canyon and organized the North and South Carolina group of the Sierra Club.

When he was assigned to Cleveland, McClelland continued his conservation activities by organizing the Northeast Ohio Group of the Sierra Club. After returning home, McDowell told the commissioners Tuesday, McClelland had a stint in Colorado, but when he moved to Kosciusko County, he was honorably discharged in 1972.

He became a bail bondsman in Warsaw and continues to fill that job today as he’s not retired. McClelland married Deborah in 1980 and they have five children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“Albert has spent most of his time serving his community, devoting time, effort and resources to family and friends as needed,” McDowell concluded.

Upon receiving his framed certificate, McClelland said, “My goodness. What an extraordinary event. I’m really humbled today to be here in this piece of land in this city.”

He talked about how the county was named after Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish general, military engineer and revolutionary who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

“And here we are, in a county, with his name on it. In a town, which is one of the capitals of Poland. I feel that’s rather incredible to be here doing that,” McClelland said. “This is overwhelming and I really appreciate this. And it’s really, really nice. Thank you very much. Thank you.”