Legion honors past leaders

By Nancy Spencer, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (3 months ago)
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American Legion Post 268 Commander Larry Grothouse, left, thanks William Rekhart for his 60 years of continued membership.DELPHOS - He can say he invented the Internet and it would be true. Van Wert native Samuel J. Worthington was the guest speaker at the American Legion Commemorative Post 268 72nd annual post banquet Saturday evening, that honored the post’s 51 past commanders and 38 past auxiliary presidents.
Worthington worked on many highly classified projects and was part of several that we now use in every day life, including the Internet and bar coding.
Worthington retired from the military and federal civil service after 39 years, 11 months and 28 days, and served under nine presidents from Eisenhower  through Clinton. His highest rank was senior executive service level 4, equal in rank to a three- or four-star general. He served as director of information technology in the Office of Secretary for all of the Department of Defense for weapon and non-weapon systems and worked on our satellite system for GPS.
Worthington has joined the ranks in a book of the “Blacks who served their country” alongside General Colin Powell, Dorey Miller and Colonel Charles Young and received a number of medals, awards, citations and promotions for jobs well done. He was involved in the planning and support for military operations such as Vietnam, the Iran hostage rescue, Grenada and the Gulf War.
He also worked with the Civil Rights movement beginning in 1957 until retirement in 1998. He personally met and worked with many of the name Civil Rights leaders including Andrew Young, Jessie Jackson and James Farmer. He also spoke to Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis Jr. when they addressed several of the young Civil Rights movement groups.
During the Afghanistan War, Worthington’s department supplied Saddam Hussein with technology and other equipment.
“We were not at war with Iraq at the time. Hussein was on our side. But, we bugged all the equipment and when we did go to war with Iraq, we turned the bugs on and all that equipment failed. When England found out about it, they wanted to give back everything we had given them,” he said with a chuckle.
Worthington’s team also came up with the idea to use seismograph machine monitors in the ground to detect Vietnamese soldiers moving down the Ho Chi Min Trail during that war.
When Worthington looked out into the crowd Saturday, he addressed the young people in the audience as he closed.
“My career has been a phenomenon. The greatest thing about completing a project is the opportunity to do the next one,” he said.
Commander Larry Grothouse spoke to the more than 60 members and honored guests, noting the American Legion was formed in 1919 in Paris, France, and has since grown to 15,000 posts worldwide and laid out the rich history of the military service club.
Three members were recognized for continuous years of membership including Drs. Earl Morris and Ed Laman, 50 years; and William Rekart, 60 years. Rekart was the only recipient in attendance.
Auxiliary President Sharon Smith welcomed two special guests. American Legion Department of Ohio President Carol T. Robinson and District 2 President Mona Shipley attended the dinner.
Smith gave an update on the auxiliary, whose membership goal of 109 was nearly met with 104. The group’s flag corp. will march in the Memorial Day Parade and Poppy Days will be held May 16 and 17 in various locations in Delphos.
Other guests included local Americanism Test winners. All four students were from St. John’s. Chad Jettinghoff, son of Robert and Sue Jettinghoff; Dana Martin, daughter of Jeff and Linda Martin; Carrie Honigford, daughter of Pam Hickey and Chuck Honigford; and Michael Clement, son of Mark and Chris Clement scored the highest of 230 tests given at St. John’s.
Many of the 2007 Buckeye Boys and Girls State delegates were also on hand.
The evening concluded with a dance.

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