Veterans Council to honor Huntingburg veteran

The Dubois County Veterans Council will host the annual observance of Veterans Day on Saturday, November 10. All veteran organizations from Dubois County will be represented for this event and recognized. The public is invited to attend and participate.

The day will begin with an 8:00 a.m. mass at St. Joseph Church Jasper to honor all veterans living and deceased. All veterans groups will join in the procession of posting their colors in the front of church.

American Legion Post 147, 1220 Newton Street, is the host for this years DCVC observance of Veterans Day.  Post Commander and Master of Ceremonies Pat Moriarty stated the program would begin at 11:00 am with the N.E. Dubois High School Band performing some patriotic songs and playing the National Anthem.   An opening prayer will be given by Chaplain Kerry Heichelbech.

Guest speaker for this Veterans Day Observance will be Marine Corps and Army Veteran SFC Anthony Hurst. SFC Hurst has excelled during his military career and has been recognized numerous times for his outstanding service, like being the platoon “Honor Grad” and receiving the “Leatherneck Award” during his time at Marine Corps Boot Camp in P.I., also being the Army Basic Honor grad and receiving the “Draper Leadership award” and finally the United States Armor Association awarded SFC Hurst the “Order of St. George”

SFC Hurst retired after 23 plus years of active duty on January 26, 2011, with a total of thirty Awards and Decorations including Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Army Achievement Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children, Shawn, Anthony and Hailey.

DCVC President Chris Fleck will present  the Living Veteran Award to this year’s recipient Marvin Boeglin.

Marvin was born on Febuary 6, 1933 to William and Viola Boeglin of Huntingburg.

Marvin enlisted in the Air Force in January of 1952 with basic training at Stead Air Force Base near Reno, Nevada. After basic training he was sent to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia to train to be a gunner on the B-26 aircraft. During January of 1953, he was assigned to the 8th Bomber Squadron as the gunner of the three man crew on the B26 in Korea.

His aircraft flew 50 missions from January through July of 1953. After his tour in Korea, Marvin was transferred to Randolph base as an instructor for the four engine B-29 bomber and was promoted to staff sergeant.  Marvin was honorably discharged in 1956 being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a night mission on July 1, 1953 where six enemy trucks were destroyed. Marvin was also awarded the National Defense, Good Conduct and Korean Service Ribbons, and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

Upon returning home Marvin attended photography school in Warsaw, Indiana and went to work for Chase Studio eventually purchasing the studio. He retired after 42 years of taking photos of weddings and other events almost every weekend.

Marvin was very active in the Huntingburg Community as a member of the Huntingburg Volunteer Fire Department for 42 years. He served as chief for 14 years. Was elected city councilman-at-large for four terms.

He is a member of St. Mary’s Church in Huntingburg where he has served on the church council, the Eagles and YMI of Huntingburg, National Rifle Association of America, Dubois County Museum and Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio.  He is a past member of the Jaycees and Optimist Club serving as president for one year.

Marvin served his veterans by driving the DAV van transporting them to the VA Clinics and hospitals in Louisville and Marion, Ill. He is a member of the Holland American Legion Post 343  and the Huntingburg VFW Post 2366 serving on the House committee and is a member of the Memorial Detail Honor Guard.

Marvin married Jeanette Pfaff in December of 1952 and they are the parents of three sons, Denny, David and Jay. They have seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The Veterans Day Observance will close with a prayer given by Chaplain Kerry Heichelbech and a Salute to our Departed Veterans by the Color Guard of Post 147.

A reception will follow for the family friends of Marvin Boeglin and those who participated in the observance hosted by Post 147.