Wayne Dunlap,
83, remembered how John H. Clegg Jr. helped him file for disability benefits
for his feet and hearing. He missed his friend at the American G.I. Forum
banquet on Saturday after the Veterans Day parade.
Everyone
knew the former Calhoun County veterans service officer as the veteran
who helped veterans.
Dunlap, who
served in the Army during World War II, served in the color guard for
Clegg's funeral.
"You
could depend on him," Dunlap said. "He was always there ...
until the very end."
John H. Clegg
Jr. died on Oct. 10 at age 91 after an extended illness.
Clegg Jr.
served as Calhoun County's first veterans service officer for nearly 50
years.
He even called
out the bingo numbers for more than 20 years, Dunlap said. He remembers
when Clegg, a quartermaster in Veterans of Foreign Wars, actually brought
in a helicopter to attract newer members.
His son,
John H. Clegg III, remembers that incident all too well. His dad said
the VFW was struggling to get Vietnam veterans to participate, so he told
his dad to try to change the organization's image. He suggested putting
a piece of equipment in front of the building.
"Not
very long after that, he says, 'I got a helicopter and you need to go
to New York and get it," Clegg III said, smiling at the memory about
15 years old.
His father
wanted the helicopter specifically mounted and everyone in Port Lavaca
came out to help. Clegg Jr. knew how to get things done.
"So
when you drive by the helicopter in front of the hall, you know how it
got there," the son said, hurt still in his eyes from his dad's death.
Clegg III
always thought his dad a role model who taught him how to be independent
with a strong work ethic. He couldn't believe his dad's stories about
serving in the battle of Guadalcanal, when Japanese troops blew up the
American supply ships. Clegg Jr. survived on scant rice.
Robert E.
Clegg remembers receiving Japanese souvenirs as a 12-year-old boy. He
couldn't believe Uncle John thought enough of his nephew to take the time
during a war to package a canteen and other mementos a boy his age would
like.
"I was
in tall cotton," Robert, the family historian, said. "In other
words, I was one happy boy."
Joe Pena
from Port Lavaca, a Vietnam veteran, took over as the second veterans
service officer. He learned a lot about serving veterans from Clegg Jr.,
including keeping them up-to-date on the issues.
Pena knew
Clegg would search out every benefit he could find for his fellow men
and women.
"His
contributions to this community are immeasurable," Pena said, adding
he has "might big shoes" to fill. "He'd go out of his way
to help other people."
