World War II veteran receives Sagamore of the Wabash

Ned B. Kent, a 104-year-old World War II veteran, was celebrated at an event in Washington where he received the highest honor the Governor of Indiana can bestow, the “Sagamore of the Wabash”.

Indiana State Police Superintendent, Doug Carter, presented Kent with the award on behalf of Governor Eric Holcomb. Superintendent Carter helped petition for Kent to receive the award after they met during memorial services at the State Police Post in Jasper.

Retired Trooper Gordon Hochmeister has brought Kent to the memorial service on several occasions. 

Kent was born in 1920 in Greene County and is the fifth of seven children in his family. Kent graduated from Sandborn High School and from Lockyear Business College before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941. Mr. Kent served four years and nine months in the US Army. During that time, he fought in the European Theater of War in Africa and Italy. 

When Kent returned home after World War II, he bought a small business selling agricultural lime to farmers. Later he sold the lime business and bought a flower shop and greenhouse in Sandborn, Ind., which he ran for 27 years. 

On December 19th, 1948 Kent married Adelyne Benham. They were married for 71-and-a-half years and had two sons, Mark and Jeff. Mark and his wife, Marilyn, live in Sandborn and Jeff and his wife, Mary, live in Chicago, Ill. Kent also has five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  

“I’m very honored to receive this award. It came as a total surprise,” Kent said.

Mr. Kent assured Superintendent Carter that he would be at the Jasper Posts Memorial Service next May.

“I’m very grateful to be able to present this award to Mr. Kent and am looking forward to seeing him at the next Memorial Service at the Jasper Post,” Carter stated.