By John Montesano
The Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club Veteran of the Month henceforth will be named the Herschel Luckinbill Veteran of the Month, in memory of the man who was president of the Fox Valley Breakfast Club for 12 years and who was a continual friend and advocate for military veterans.
The September veteran is John Hodgson.
John Hodgson was born in Lakewood, Ohio February 17, 1947, and moved in 1959 to Boulder Hill in Kendall County. John raced go carts in Joliet and Sandwich at age 14 through the funds raised by his paper route earnings. Through high school and college, he drove a 1957 Chevy and even raced it at the Oswego dragstrip.
In 1965, John was graduated from Oswego High School. He attended Parsons College in Iowa. The Plano draft board had so many farm deferments, they were pulling kids out of college, and John received a draft notice in December 1966. Because his January 1967 college semester had been paid, he got a six-month deferment. John had lost a cousin and good friend in Vietnam. He was concerned about his fate and used his time trying to join any branch of service except the Army or Marine Corps. In July 1967, he joined the Navy Reserves.
Following boot camp, he returned home to Illinois on active reserve status. John went on active duty in September 1968 at Naval Station Treasure Island, San Francisco, Calif.. In October 1968, he was assigned to the USS Ft. Marion LSD22 and immediately shipped out to the Philippines and Vietnam. The ship’s responsibility was mostly transporting Marines and equipment to various points in Vietnam. Much of their time was spent offshore performing their duties. John’s ship was part of Amphibious Ready Group Alpha which received a unit citation, which read for “exceptionally meritorious service from May 5-20 1969 during combat operations against enemy forces.” In 1969, John was made the Engineering Department Yeoman, who handles administrative and clerical work.
John’s ship was scheduled to return to San Diego, Calif. in June 1969 but was extended. John had plans to get married 21 June in Illinois. He was permitted to fly back from South Korea to Illinois to attend his wedding. John and his bride, Robin, returned to San Diego. Later in June 1969, his ship went to Bremerton, Wash. and in February 1970, the USS Ft Marion LSD 22 was decommissioned. John said, the hardest he ever worked in his life was decommissioning that ship. He was rewarded with a letter of commendation for his: “Outstanding performance of duty as Engineering Department Yeoman, while the ship was involved in inactivation.” John had shore duty on the amphibious base in California. His job was to investigate those who were going to have nonjudicial punishment or court martials. “It was like being on vacation,” he said
John was discharged from active reserve July 17, 1970 and July 5, 1973 he received his honorable discharge from the Navy Reserves. Because of his time in Vietnam and his agent orange exposure, he is diabetic and recently had open heart surgery due to complications of agent orange. John is considered 70% disabled by the Veterans Administration (VA).
John earned a business/accounting degree at Aurora University on the GI bill in 1973.
He worked for numerous Pontiac dealers as parts, service, or sales managers.
In 1977, he joined Detzler Pontiac, progressing from salesman, to used car manager and to sales manager. He eventually bought the used car lot as Detzler and Hodgson Auto Sales. In 2005, he sold his portion of the business and continued working with the new owner until 2017, when he retired.
By 2010, John was married to Robin for 41 years with two children. An acquaintance from high school, Mary Ann Heitkotter, was married for 42 years with four children. A cruel twist of fate brought them together when each of their spouses died suddenly and unexpectedly. During this time of crisis, John and Mary Ann became reacquainted and bonded at grief counseling sessions. They have been together for nine years
Similar to many veterans, John has given back to the community. He is a fire commissioner of the Oswego Fire Department; chairman of the Oswego Fire commission; and is on the Oswego Township Cemetery Board.