Special people, special places: The soldiers among us

Southeast Missouri is defined by its special people and special places. One of the special people in our region is John "Jack" Waggener, a man of distinguished past and reassuring presence.

A conversation with either him or his wife, Mary Ella, over lunch in the Saxony Village lunch room will shed little light upon either the career or achievements of this quiet and unassuming gentleman. But, a quick examination of military records at Carlisle Barracks, U.S. Military Academy, Fort Leonard Wood and the Pentagon will lead to an understanding that here, in Southeast Missouri, is an individual of special talent and dedication.

Jack Waggener was born in Gideon, Mo., in 1925 and at the age of 5 moved with his parents, Richard Garnett Waggener and Alma Thompson Waggener to Charleston, Mo.

As a student in the Charleston schools he came under the influence of two remarkable women: Mattie Henry, one of the great and memorable teachers in Southeast Missouri history, who taught him English and encouraged his interest in things academic, and Mary Ella Drake who encouraged his interest in family and a lifetime relationship (they married in 19480.

A musician (trombone) and athlete (football, basketball, track) and salutatorian of his 1943 graduating class, 16-year-old Jack Waggener was motivated to seek a college education, but saw the U.S. Military Academy as his best opportunity. At age 17 he enlisted in a World War II military reserve program and through the help of teachers and Congressman Orville Zimmermann, in 1944 he received an appointment to U.S. Military Academy where he graduated 10th in the class of 1948.

Over the next 29 years, Jack Waggener's intellect and leadership skills elevated him in military rank from Second Lieutenant to Major General and to military assignments in Korea, Vietnam, Peru, Argentina, Germany and the Dominican Republic, and key command posts at Fort Bragg, N.C.; Ft. Belvoir, Va.; Carlisle Barracks, Pa., the Pentagon and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Gen. Waggener received a graduate degree in civil and nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and in 1960 graduated No. 1 in his class of more than 500 military officers from the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. He served as the director of the U.S. Army's Nuclear Power Plant Operators' Course School, was the U.S. adviser to the Peruvian Army Corps of Engineers; was the Commander of the U.S. Military Group for Argentina in Buenos Aires; and was the Commanding Officer of the 45th Engineer Group in South Vietnam's I Corps region at Phu Bai and Da Nang, from 1968 to 1969. These are distinctive accomplishments.

Gen. Waggener's final military assignment was as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Engineer Training Center and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. It was from that position that he retired in 1976.

His many awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (with four oak leaf clusters), the Air Medal (with three oak leaf clusters); the Distinguished Service Medal, the Military Order of Ayacucho (Peru), the Vietnam Service Medal (with three campaign stars) and the Army Commendation Medal with an oak leaf cluster. And he continues to receive awards.

In 2006 the United States Army Engineer Association recognized the contributions of Gen. Waggener's engineering career by awarding him the de Fleury Gold Medal, a high award in the world of military engineering. He is an inspiration to many, including his grandson, J. Peyton Waggener, who was recently inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy.

On May 30, 2003, U.S. Congressman Ike Skelton of Missouri dedicated a new entrance to the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center at Missouri's Fort Leonard Wood as "The Waggener Gate and Entrance."

Today thousands of young men and women in the U.S. military pass through the "Waggener Gate" at Fort Leonard Wood. As they do so they honor, and are honored, by one of Missouri's -- and one of America's -- great soldiers. Clearly, General Jack Waggener is a special person who now lives gently among us, and helps define us.

Frank Nickell is the Director of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University. He studies the history of Southeast Missouri and the people in it. You can also hear his award winning program, "Almost Yesterday" at 7:49 a.m., Wednesdays on KRCU, 90.9 FM and KSEF, 88.9 FM, Farmington.