embodying patriotism For love of country

Two area men embody the definition of a patriot in “Webster’s New World Dictionary:” “A person who loves and zealously supports his own country.”

William E. Bletso

Age: 84.

Occupation/work history: Certified public accountant. He got a job with Ernst & Ernst, where he became a CPA. He was comptroller for GF (General Fireproofing Co.) and is semi-retired.

Education: Jackson-Milton High School, 1944; Youngstown College, bachelor of science degree in business administration, major in accounting, 1950.

Military: Navy, November 1943 to April 1945 and February 1951 to February 1952. Rank, radioman 2nd Class.

Veterans activities: Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; member of the Lake Milton American Legion; life member of Tin Can Sailors, the National Association of Destroyer Veterans; and has attended all 12 of the USS Gregory reunions.

Family: Wife, Martha Hanko.

Children: James of Boardman; Thomas of Austintown; Diane Libbey of Boardman; and John of Boardman; and two grandchildren.

Patriotism quote: “When you can’t say the Pledge of Allegiance or show respect for the flag in school, I think the younger generation is not being made aware of patriotism. What you learn as a child stays with you.”

Daniel E. King

Age: 87.

Occupation/work history: U.S. Steel McDonald Works, before and after the war; after college he worked a year in Akron before coming back to the engineering department at U.S. Steel’s Ohio Works. He was general foreman of open-hearth maintenance and foreman of central shops before he retired in 1978.

Education: Jackson-Milton High School, 1941, Youngstown College, bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.

Military: Army Air Corps, October 1942 to December 1945; in Army Reserve until December, 1945. Rank, 1st lieutenant.

Veterans activities: He is a life member and commander of the Mahoning Valley Chapter of Ex-Prisoners of War and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter in Warren.

Family: Wife, Shirley Davis King.

Children: Marthajane Knapp of Berlin Center, Jacquelynne Salmon of Alexandria, Ohio; Dan Jr. of Lake Milton; Robert of Milton Township (Newton Falls); William of Lordstown; David of Freeland, Mich., and Timothy of Lordstown; 18 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Community activities: Chief of the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department from 1954 to 1976; former scoutmaster of a Boy Scout Troop in North Jackson; and former treasurer of the Jackson Federal Credit Union.

Patriotism quote: “We don’t have enough people willing to make sacrifices of any kind to get government spending under control. It has to happen so our kids and grandchildren aren’t paying out debts.

Source: The Vindicator