ADRIAN — Bill Arnett knew something was up when he looked out into the audience from the Lenawee County Fair bandshell stage during the annual veterans program and saw his family there.
Arnett was about to be announced as the 2024 Lenawee County Veteran of the Year.
“It means a lot,” the past commander of Durkee-Seager American Legion Post 550 in Onsted said after the ceremony. “It really is a pretty good honor.”
The award is presented by the United Veterans Council of Lenawee County, said UVC commander Dave Loop.
Arnett, 75, served in the U.S. Army from 1966-69, including during the Vietnam War in 1967. As a truck driver, he delivered everything from ammunition to beer to outposts throughout South Vietnam. He started out at the large bases at Cam Ranh Bay and Da Nang before spending eight months at the Duc Pho base camp. He left Vietnam just before the Tet Offensive in January 1968.
He joined the Legion 13 years ago. He’s been a veteran service officer (VSO) all that time and has also served on the honor guard. Along with being post commander, he’s served as the Legion’s Lenawee County commander.
VSOs help veterans make sure they’re getting their benefits and meet whatever other needs might come up, such as rides to medical appointments.
“That’s the best part,” Arnett said, “because you can take care of your veterans. All they have to do is ask.”
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Being on the Legion's honor guard and serving at veteran’s funerals gives him a sense of pride.
“We’re just proud people, proud to stand up for the country,” he said.
Arnett grew up in Adrian after his family moved from Tennessee to Michigan in 1953. He enlisted just before his 18th birthday.
Along with Vietnam, he served at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Riley, Kansas, and in Germany.
“Other than Vietnam, I enjoyed the military,” he said, adding that the structure of military life appealed to him. “I was going to reenlist until my wife talked me out of it.”
He married Linda in 1968, and they have three daughters, many grandchildren and a few great-grandkids. After the Army, he worked for 50 years as a mechanic, including 14 years at Poe’s Towing in Adrian.
Now he does what he can to help other veterans.
— Contact reporter David Panian at dpanian@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @lenaweepanian .
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Bill Arnett named Lenawee County Veteran of the Year for service to veterans
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