Our Dyer County hero

Rachel Townsend is General Manager/ Managing Editor of the State Gazette

My first encounter with the late Jack Claiborne was in 2019. In the years following, we had many more encounters, and, eventually, I began referring to him as Mr. Jack, and that is how I will continue to refer to him in this column.

I had asked to interview Mr. Jack about his trip to Normandy for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion. At the time, Mr. Jack was 95 years old. I remember him welcoming me into the home of he and his wife Evelyn with one of the warmest greetings I have ever received. Laid out on the kitchen table were countless photographs and artifacts from his travels, speeches, and time served in the United States Navy. I spent over 2 hours talking to him that day.

Right off the bat, I learned two things about Mr. Jack. He had the memory of an elephant and a heart made of pure gold. He was one of the most genuine people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and the sheer amount of recollections he had from serving in WWII was amazing. I left his home overwhelmed with information. I wasn’t even sure where to start. I was honored to share his story, and even more honored when, a few months later, he shared his story again for my son to hear.

Sharing his story with younger generations to preserve history was one of the most important things he valued. During his years, he attended numerous speaking events to share his tale. For someone who has to write everything down in a notepad or on an expo board on the fridge just to remember, I was blown away at how vividly he could recall even the smallest details. His life, his memories, and his sacrifices, as well as the sacrifices of all the men who fought in WWII, were made more real with every conversation.

If we could all take our worst experiences and mold them into something good that would help better our future and the future of others, what kind of world would that be? I will greatly miss Mr. Jack and all of his stories. The impact he had on everyone who knew him will last for years to come.

Despite the horrors of war, he was able to take his experiences and turn them into something for future generations to learn from—to grow from. Today, we share our thoughts and prayers with his family and everyone whose lives he touched during his 99 years. He was an exceptional person who lived an exceptional life.