This tribute was submitted by a reader as part of our Veterans Week initiative, brought to you by VFW Post 291, Agent of VFW Ohio Charities. If you’d like to celebrate a veteran in your life, click here to share your tribute. Together, let’s recognize these heroes and ensure their contributions are not forgotten. 

Don Alan Jaenke

Submitted by Marsha H. aenke

Branch of service: Army

Don who recently passed from this life Oct. 23,2024 at 86 years of age was stationed in Ft. Dix, NJ , in the Medics, most of his three enlisted years. ( 1960 – 1963) We met when he was training new recruits at Ft. Drum in Watertown, NY, and came to visit his vacationing family at Big Moose Lake, NY. It wasn't until he was about to die that he shared with his family that he witnessed tragically wounded soldiers returning from Vietnam Nam without limbs, burned beyond recognition and dying before his eyes. When he returned home to Rocky River he was greeted with yard signs that called GIs pigs and other derogatory insulting names. He felt that if they'd seen what he saw they wouldn't display those signs. But Lexington schools had a tribute to vets and currently serving military when our grandkids were there and he went. It was a welcome parade through the school halls and nice reception where you could meet others who had served that made Don finally feel appreciated. He was thrilled with that caring gesture. Don appreciated the opportunity to attend Kent State for his dedication BS degree and Westminster college for his MA in guidance counseling both thanks to the GI bill. Don used those degrees to teach at Mohican Youth Camp,Loudonville, and at Fields High School, first at the Mansfield Reformatory ,then at MANCI. In his last weeks of life the VA generously provided him with home health aides to enable him to die at home with his family surrounding him.

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