Richard Dobbs was honored as the Veteran of the Month at the Kosciusko County Commissioners’ June 16 meeting.

Dobbs was drafted into the US Army in May 1951. He went through basic training at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas.

He was shipped to Korea in November 1951 attached to the 64th Tank Battalion, Third Infantry Division. “I was training in basic training in fire direction, which is artillery, it was almost a desk job. They ship me to Korea and moved me into the 64th tank,” said Dobbs, who stands quite tall. “They stick me as a driver. At that time, it didn’t make any difference what your job was.”

Dobbs saw action on Old Baldy, Big and Little Nori and Kelly Hills, located in Korea above the 38 parallel. In May 1952, he was shipped to Koje Island to help restore order after Korean prisoners of war staged an uprising and captured Gen. Francis Dodd. Following that, he was returned to the main line of resistance until rotating back to the U.S. and being discharged in May 1953.

Several years later he married his wife, Nancy. They were married for 52 years before her passing in 2008. The couple had four children: Deborah, Christine, Richard and Kurt.

Dobbs worked for AAA until retirement. He is also an avid golfer, hosting the Dobbs Warsaw Invitiational at Rozella Ford golf course for 32 years.

Dobbs currently lives in Warsaw near Crystal Lake.