Dubois County Honors Local Korean War Veteran at Ceremony
The Dubois County Veterans Council named Sgt. Harold J. Van Winkle the 2025 Living Veteran during a public ceremony at St. Anthony American Legion Post 493 on Nov. 9, 2025. The recognition highlights Van Winkle's military service and local contributions, and calls attention to the county's ongoing obligations to support aging veterans and preserve community memory.
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The Dubois County Veterans Council presented Sgt. Harold J. Van Winkle with the 2025 Living Veteran honor at a ceremony held at St. Anthony American Legion Post 493 on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. The program, open to the public, featured patriotic music, a plaque presentation, remarks by the honoree and his family, and a light lunch provided after the formal portion of the event.
Van Winkle has deep roots in the county. He was born Nov. 21, 1931 in Adyeville and was drafted into the U.S. Army on Sept. 8, 1952. He served with the 7th Infantry Division during the Korean War as a half track driver and rose to the rank of sergeant. His decorations include the Korean Service Ribbon with two bronze service stars, the National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.
After his military service Van Winkle returned to Dubois County, where he raised a family and became a local business owner. He operated Van Winkle Sporting Goods and continued to farm with family members, maintaining a visible presence in community life. The Veterans Council framed the Living Veteran honor as recognition not only of battlefield service, but also of long term civic and economic contributions in the county.
The event took place amid a broader schedule of local veterans observances. The American Legion post reminded residents of a countywide veterans church service planned for Nov. 8 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper. Such gatherings serve both as memorial observances and as opportunities for civic institutions, faith communities, and veterans organizations to coordinate outreach and services.
Honoring individual veterans has practical implications for county policy and civic planning. As the local veteran population ages, public officials and service providers will face growing demand for health care navigation, benefits outreach, and community based supports. Local recognition programs help draw attention to those needs, but they also underscore the importance of sustained investment in veteran specific services, transportation to medical appointments, and support for veteran owned small businesses that contribute to the local economy.
The Veterans Council and American Legion continue to play a central role in preserving veteran history and connecting residents to post service resources. By spotlighting Sgt. Van Winkle, the county recalls a period of national service and highlights the work that remains in ensuring veterans and their families receive timely information and assistance. For Dubois County residents the ceremony reinforced the community value of remembrance, local stewardship, and public engagement with veterans issues.
