Veterans Day Observance 2023

Dubois Co.- The annual Veterans Day Observance of the Dubois County Veterans Council will be held on Saturday November 11th on Veterans Day.  

Clint Reuber, President of the Dubois County Veterans Council and Commander of Marine Corp League, announced activities will begin with an 8:00 AM mass at St. Joseph Church Jasper with all Veterans post and organizations posting their colors.  VFW Post #2366 Huntingburg will be this year’s host for this year’s Veterans Day Observance beginning at 10:00 AM.  Jim Anderson, Post Commander, will be the master of ceremonies.  Jim Potter, Post Chaplain, will give the opening prayer.  Daryl Hensley of DAV Chapter #77 and American Legion Post #147 will perform the POW/MIA Ritual remembering our prisoners of war and our missing in action Veterans.  

David Chinn, Senior Pastor of Huntingburg United Methodist Church, and a Veteran will be the guest speaker.  Pastor Chinn served in the United States Air Force from 1977 thru 1981 attaining the rank of Senior Airman.  His duty stations were SAC (Strategic Air Command) Loring Air Force Base in Maine, Air Force Base K-2 in Korea, and Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.  Pastor Chinn is married to Robin and has 4 children and 5 grandchildren.

This year’s Living Veteran to be recognized is Louis Schmidt of Jasper.

Louis (Louie) Schmidt was born on November 21, 1923 to Adam and Caroline (Burke) Schmidt.  Louie attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Jasper High School in 1941.  Louie enlisted in the US Army on March 8th, 1943.  Staff Sergeant Schmidt commanded a rifle platoon in combat in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and in the Philippines and Korea.  

His platoon made attacks upon enemy machine gun nests and pill boxes.  Made day and night patrols to determine location and strength of the enemy.  Fired the M-1 rifle and machine guns in combat.  Staff Sergeant Schmidt was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army on January 4th, 1946 as testimonial of Honest and Faithful service to this Country.

Staff Sergeant Schmidt was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Bronze Arrowhead Device for the assault on New Guinea and Luzon, the WWII Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with1 Bronze Service Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge, Distinguished Unit Citation, Army Occupational Medal with Japan Clasp, and the Republic of the Philippines President Unit Citation.

Louie married Mary Ann Theising on October 12, 1948 and recently celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary.   Louie is a charter member of Precious Blood Church, charter member of the Precious Choir where he sang for 55 years, past president and secretary of the Precious Blood Men’s Society, served on the Precious Blood Church Council for 3 years and is a Member of the Brute Society.  Louie retired from the Jasper Desk company after 33 years of building desks.

Louie and his wife Mary Ann are the parents of Marilyn Padgett and Judy Houtsch, grandparents of Andrew Houtsch and Michelle Durcholz, and have 6 great grandchildren.

The observance will conclude with a rifle volley and taps played by the VFW Post #2366 Honor Guard and a closing prayer.

A lunch will be served for all in attendance.