Polio didn’t stop Jacob J. Ament Jr. from serving his country during World War II.
Polio didn’t stop Jacob J. Ament Jr. from serving his country during World War II.
A flag will fly in honor of the Wisconsin man’s service at 9 a.m. Friday in front of the Richard I. Bong Veterans Heritage Center.
Ament was born March 26, 1923, in a logging camp in Lincoln County, Wis. Paralyzed by polio as a teen, he became the first person to survive an experimental operation that allowed him to stand and walk again.
During his senior year, the principal of the high school called an assembly to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor. Ament tried to enlist in the Army, but was ruled 4F — not fit for service — so he went to the University of Wisconsin Madison.
In 1944, he heard of the American Field Service — unpaid civilian volunteers who drove ambulance for the British army in combat.
The American Field Service sent each man an equipment list to buy out of his own money — shirts, pants, ties, coveralls, sleeping bag and blankets and Army boots. Each volunteer had to supply a silver identity bracelet with his name, blood type and religion.
The men had to sign a statement requiring them to serve 18 months without pay and released the service from liability for damages, compensation, medical costs and death benefits if they were injured. Drivers who were shot or injured were sent home.
Ament found a way to serve. After a week of training in Italy, he was sent to the front lines. He drove ambulance in Italy, picking up soldiers on the battlefield and bringing them to the aid station. Jake was awarded British citations. One was for bravery for loading and driving his Dodge ambulance through the shooting. When the war in Europe ended, he served in India and Burma.
When Jake got back to the States he continued classes at the University of Wisconsin. He married Edith Selner; 11 months later their first son was born. Without the G.I. Bill, he worked as a cab driver and washed dishes to put himself through law school.
After graduation, they moved to Merrill, Wis. In Merrill, he was elected district attorney and started his private practice. He was actively involved in the Republican Party most of his life. His law practice grew with his work suing insurance companies for people hurt in accidents. He was asked and did take office for the American Trial Lawyers Academy. He served with distinction as a board of directors for the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers. The Wisconsin Bar Association honored him in his 50th year of practicing law.
In addition to his legal work, Ament coached semi-pro football, seventh, eighth and grade school football and drove high school players home after practice, in addition to coaching Little League.
In the 1960s, Jake was told by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) he would not be able to be a pilot because of his medical condition. After putting him through a flight test, the FAA backed down when the examiner gave him high marks. He loved flying, and worked hundreds of hours on the Merrill Airport Committee.
In 1984, Ament met a man in a night club in 1984, and discovered he was an ambulance driver for the American Field Service he had replaced.
Ament always honored veterans, and went to every funeral service for veterans in Lincoln and Marathon counties. He wanted to be buried as a veteran.
President George Bush ordered the Army to accept the American Field Service ambulance drivers as veterans. Ament was given an honorable discharge, credit for his time served; Good Conduct medal, European, African and Middle Eastern Campaign medals; two Bronze Stars; Army of Occupation medal, Germany and World War II Victory medal.
Ament was buried March 11, 2005, in the National Cemetery at Bushnell, Fla., complete with taps and a 21-gun salute. His wife Edith, children, and spouses were all present.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment