T-L Photos/ROBERT A. DEFRANK St. Clairsville American Legion Commander Larry Barnes, left, recognizes post member Gene Kieffer as Veteran of the Month for September. Kieffer served stateside at the Naval Security Group Headquarters.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — While Americans recognize the sacrifices made by military members each Nov. 11 with Veterans Day, the St. Clairsville post of the American Legion celebrates one local veteran each month.

The most recent Veteran of the Month award recipients served in uniform decades ago, and they continue to help and represent veterans as members of their respective American Legion posts.

September’s veteran of the month, Gene Kieffer, joined the U.S. Navy at about 17 years old under the “Kiddie cruiser” program and was discharged at age 21.

He served from 1956-60. He was originally from Nutter Fort, West Virginia.

“I was excited to leave the small town in the foothills of West Virginia to travel and see the watery part of the world. As it turned out, I was never over 260 miles from home,” he said.

While at boot camp, he was selected to join the Naval Security Group Headquarters. He was given top secret cryptographic clearance.

“When I was in the service, all of the guys were from small towns,” he said. “In my mind, they wanted a good, small town kid, apple pie and all that. It turned out the FBI wanted guys from small towns so they could do security checks in a day.”

Afterward, he was stationed at the Naval Security Group Headquarters in Washington, D.C., now the location of the Department of Homeland Security. He said because he started at a young age, at 18 he was the youngest petty officer second class at one time.

Keiffer recalled driving through Arlington Cemetery, over the Lincoln Bridge and past the National Cathedral daily.

“I would like to take that trip again. If I do, I will pause for a prayer in Arlington for those who paid the ultimate price for our liberty,” he said. “I served my country. I went where they told me to go, did what I was supposed to do. I grew, matured under discipline, guidance and friendships which set the pace for my life. … Every journey has a secret destination which the traveler is unaware.”

He now resides in St. Clairsville.

October’s Veteran of the Month is Lew Delbert, a Bellaire native. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1964-68.

“Straight out of high school,” he said. “I went to Vietnam. … I was over there for about 17 months.”

He recalls being in combat, but the most horrific incident occurred off the battlefield.

“I saw some combat over there. I saw a lot of stuff. The worst thing I ever saw, I was walking guard on the flight line … (an Air Force member) was loading sidewinder missiles. … I don’t know what happened, but somewhere, someone along the line, the plane’s system wasn’t shut down, and when he slid it in, it fired.

“Your natural reaction when something gets away from you, you grab it. I heard him scream, and I watched (his arm) melt and drop on the ground. This was nothing but bone,” Delbert said. “That got me because it was an accident. … They had to take both his arms off.”

He noted that Thursday marked the 247th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps.

“When I was in, I’ll tell anybody, the average person, physically, can make it in the Marine Corps. They’re either going to build you up or tear you down. … Where they get you is mentally. Back in my day, they worked on you mentally. They do that so you just become a machine to them. They work on you to get you in their state of mind,” he said. “Back in them days, the drill instructor could get right in your face and call you anything he wanted. You can’t do that now.”

The bonds formed during service are strong. Delbert said about eight months ago he was able to get in touch with Ed Donhoff, a friend and fellow serviceman from Pennsylvania.

Delbert was also stationed at Marine Camp Lejeune, the subject of a lawsuit due to contaminated drinking water. He said he has had no ill effects so far.

Since their service, both men have been extensively involved with the American Legion.

Kieffer has been part of the St. Clairsville post for about 20 years. He has set up 105 veteran of the month interviews, adding that the post never missed a month, even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also serves in the Honor Guard during veterans’ funerals, participating in about 120 yearly. He has been a trustee and commander at the post.

Delbert was commander of the Bellaire American Legion six times and has been the District 11 commander and earned the Robert T. Secrest Award. He said the legion has been active in area events, but he that added more membership and involvement would be welcome.