Joe Jessie is Veteran of the Month

Joe Donald Jessie, District 1, is Choctaw Nation’s Veteran of the Month.

Jessie was born May 13, 1940, in Garvin, Okla., the youngest of nine children. At age five, his family relocated to Wright City where his father worked in a sawmill. In 1952, the family moved to Broken Bow, and Jessie graduated high school there in 1959.

After high school, Jessie moved to Houston, Texas to work part-time in construction and attend junior college. Dissatisfied with an instructor, he returned to Broken Bow and enlisted in the U.S. Army and was inducted on Oct. 14, 1959.

Jessie attended basic training at Fort Hood, TX and was assigned to Fort Eustis, Virg., before becoming stationed in Schleissheim, Germany, near Munich. Trained as a helicopter repair and maintenance technician, he served in the 571st Aircraft Maintenance Battalion, repairing helicopters, including the Sikorsky H-34 transport helicopter, and created metal molds for repairs. He credits the Army with helping him develop a strong work ethic. Though he volunteered for service in Vietnam, his enlistment was nearing its end, and he remained in Germany. He spent most of his military career there but was discharged a few months early to return home to care for his ailing father. His only leave during his time in the service was for Christmas, shortly after his enlistment. He was honorably discharged from Fort Sill, Okla., in 1962, having attained the rank of E-4.

After returning to civilian life, Jessie attended college in Wilburton, Okla., before moving back to Houston to work as a crane operator, traveling throughout Texas and Louisiana. He worked as a crane operator as well during the construction of the paper mill in Valliant, Okla. Jessie returned to Houston, but later moved back to Valliant as crew lead operator for Weyerhaeuser, overseeing inventory management in the Chip Yard for 18 yards. He retired after 34 years of service in 2006.

Jessie was married to Estalene for more than 50 years until her passing. He and Pat Owens have been married for the past eight years. He wishes to congratulate other veterans and thank them for their service, time and sacrifices.

The Choctaw Nation holds our veterans in the highest esteem and appreciates their sacrifices and contributions to preserve our freedoms and the way of life we hold dear.