Local Heroes Honored
LOCK HAVEN – Saturday was a special day at the J. Doyle Corman Amphitheater as Clinton County held its fifth Hometown Hero Celebration.
There were many stories of sacrifice and service, including for five Vietnam veterans who had their banners unveiled atop the amphitheater after special recognition from program speaker Rear Admiral Craig S. Faller, Chief of Legislative Affairs for the Secretary of the Navy.
Those recognized included a North Bend family with three generations of service to their country. The late Herb Probst Sr., Herb Probst Jr. and Herb Probst III all served in the military; the two younger Probst family members were present for the Saturday ceremony, joining more than a hundred other veterans and local first responders present for a thank you from the community.
Herb Jr., now 68, served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War where he was a Radioman Seaman onboard the USS Turner Joy DD-951. As related by Rear Admiral Faller while participating in operation Sea Dragon off the coast of Vietnam in the Tonkin Gulf, his ship took on enemy fire from North Vietnamese gun boats and sustained a direct hit to her fantail. Seaman Probst was reporting to his battle station when he stopped to bend down and tie his shoe just as an enemy shell exploded peppering shrapnel all along the compartment he was adjacent to. He credits that untied shoe for saving his life, as the Rear Admiral said, “there’s a lesson here about tying your shoe, about taking time for life.”
Struggling now with health issues and wheelchair-bound, Probst was able to attend the ceremony and with assistance from his son was able to stand when the program concluded with Elaine Barth singing God Bless America. A family member said at the end of the ceremony Probst held his fist high and said, “Go Navy.”
Herb Jr. and Herb III are both on an amphitheater banner, Herb III served in the U.S. Navy during the Cold War where he was a 3rd Class Petty Officer onboard the USS Sacramento AOE-1. His service included a 6 month deployment to the Western Pacific as part of Battle Group Delta where he was part of the crash and salvage rescue team during helicopter operations in the Persian Gulf.
Herb Probst Sr. was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during WWII where he was a half-track commander for the 8th Armored Division. During the Battle of the Bulge; the half-track he was in hit a land mine severely injuring him to include the loss of an eye. Quick actions performed by a Medical Unit in the area saved his life. He earned the Purple Heart for those injuries. He passed away four years ago at the age of 94.
A family member said, “It was a proud day for all of us. The patriotic roots run deep.”
Saturday was a proud day for all of Clinton County where for many patriotic roots do run deep.
Others with special mention from Rear Admiral Faller included:
The late Rev. Fred J. Fields who served at the Danang Air Base;
Sgt. Jerry L. Whitman with 22 years of service in the Marines;
Coast Guard member Allan Ray Yufer recognized for his response to a major ship fire off the Maine coast;
Sgt. Larry Gingerich who served in the US Army during the Vietnam conflict.
