Army Lieutenant Colonel Calvin C. Jeo (retired) who served in World War 2, the Korean Conflict and two tours in Vietnam, passed on October 6, 2015 after a brief illness. He was 87. He recently celebrated his 62nd wedding anniversary with Hildegard, his wife.
Born in Rexburg Idaho, the son of first generation Japanese immigrants, Dad, the quintessential farm boy, grew up doing things like “topping beets”, harvesting lumber in the remote mountains and working the irrigation ditches. He loved to play basketball, was the outdoorsy kid that was a Boy Scout, loved fishing and apparently, yearned to see the world outside of Idaho.
Drafted into the Army, he was first assigned to the veterinary services and was part of the Army of Occupation of Japan. At the onset of the Korean Conflict, he was reactivated from his ROTC unit and started what was to become a long career as an Army officer. He met Mom and they married on one of his tours to Landshut, West Germany. He was in the first graduating class of the Army Commissary School in Chicago, attended Quartermaster School and became a logistics and contract specialist. He later attended the US Army Command and General Staff College as well.
While serving in Vietnam, Dad was instrumental in the establishment of the Cam Ranh Bay Post Exchange system. Of the more than 33 years he spent serving his country, more than 19 years were spent overseas. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, and the Joint Service Commendation medals among several others. He also has the distinction of being awarded the Navy Unit Commendation ribbon. He retired from the Army in 1979, at Fort Lewis, Washington, the very same place where he had started his Army career.
Dad went back to school and finished his college degree that he was working on when called up for the Korean Conflict, earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puget Sound and a Master’s degree from the University of Southern California. He came out of retirement and was employed a decade with Boeing Computer Services in Seattle but found the time to spend with his friends salmon fishing in Puget Sound.
Even though a career Army officer, Dad never brought his work home. He was the dedicated husband that gave unyielding love and support to his wife. He was the father who showed his love to his sons by spending time fishing and camping; building character and teaching by his own example. He had a quick wit, loved his books and crossword puzzles, and had infallible patience and an assumptive trust that all people are good. He had a special gift with animals, all of which loved him as soon as they met him.
Dad is survived by his wife, Hildegard, son Bob (Paula ?) of McKinney TX, son Ted (Kathryn) of Woodbury MN, his grandchildren Lindsey and Ryan, his siblings, sister Leona Hasagawa, brother Frank, brother Herbert (Donna) and sister Lucy (John) Kano, brother in law Joseph Nishimoto, sister in laws Nada and Aiko, numerous nieces and nephews as well as Haley the cat.
Preceded in death by his parents, Tome and Yoshiko, brothers, Washington, Idaho, Junior, Tom, Jack and sister Eleanor, daughter in law Paula as well as an un-named sibling.
Opa, forever missed, never forgotten, always loved.
Full military services will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial donations may be directed to:
Japanese American Veterans Association: In memory of Calvin C. Jeo, Mr. Mark Nakagawa, Treasurer, 9455 Park Hunt Court, Springfield, VA 22153. In the check memo line note “Museum of the US Army Fund”
The Humane Society of the United States, (866)-MY-FRIEND
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the Gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the mornings hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.
-Mary Elizabeth Frye