Articles by Josh Lange

Published June 6, 2024.

In Battell Park, there is a new war memorial, an eternal flame to represent the everlasting soul of soldiers who fought to protect our freedoms. On the sides of the new memorial, are inscribed the names of every Mishawakan who died in wartime. America would not exist if it were not for our armed forces, as Americans fought in the Revolutionary War to free our country from British tyranny. Leading to the memorial from the original Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a brick paved path. The bricks have names of Mishawaka veterans who are being honored through a program between the City of Mishawaka and Troop Town. Troop Town is a non-profit currently being built next to VFW Post 360 in Mishawaka to help struggling homeless veterans get back on their feet.

This partnership was created to help raise money for this great program, while also giving Mishawakans a way to honor any of their loved ones who were in the armed forces from Mishawaka. This new memorial is actually two. The brick path represents Veterans Day as it is honoring all Mishawaka veterans, and the eternal flame represents Memorial Day and the fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. With these two new additions being added to the Soldiers and Sailors monument, it has created a military plaza honoring every aspect of the armed forces.

One such brick on the path has the name of my great grandfather, Jack Darwin Biggs. He was born on October 25, 1925, in Mishawaka to Lloyd Biggs Sr. and Jessie (Bushong) Biggs. Jack was one of nine children (four sons and five daughters) and grew up in the city. His father, Lloyd, retired from Ball-Band after working there from 1920 to 1953. His mother, Jessie, was a stay-at-home mom who raised all the children but was also active in the community. Jessie participated in the Just for Fun Bunco Club and helped out with P.T.A. meetings at Roosevelt School. The Biggs family were active members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

My Great Grandpa Jack went to Mishawaka High School during the beginning of the Second World War but dropped out sometime before his junior year to work at Ball-Band. He wanted to volunteer for the military because he felt it was his duty to contribute to the war effort; however, he had to wait until after he turned 18 as his parents did not feel comfortable giving consent for him to enlist at the age of 17. He enlisted in the United States Navy shortly after his birthday and was sent off to basic training at USNTS Great Lakes on December 27, 1943.

After graduating boot camp in early 1944, Jack served on U.S.S. General G.O. Squier (AP-130) for the duration of his service in World War II. General G.O. Squier was the lead ship in its class and was brand new, being commissioned on October 2, 1943. The ship and its crew participated in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters, delivering vital supplies, acting as troop transport, and taking the wounded back home. On the ship, he served as a Fireman 1^st Class (F1C), and his job was to maintain the engines, the boilers, and any other equipment below deck.

Between October 14, 1944, and June 18, 1946, General G.O. Squier made sixteen round trip voyages (ten during the war and six as part of Operation Magic Carpet to bring troops home). Jack was brought home on one of these Magic Carpet trips, being honorably discharged on April 22, 1946. General G.O. Squier was decommissioned on July 10, 1946. Jack was awarded the American Area Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon, the World War II Victory Ribbon, and the European African Middle Eastern Area Ribbon with one star.

Shortly after returning from the war, Jack married my great grandmother Betty McCulley, who was an LPN at St. Joseph Hospital. Jack wanted to start a family; however, he still wanted to serve his country. He knew he could not rejoin as active duty, so the compromise came in the form of the Naval Reserves. On June 23, 1947, he re-enlisted in the Navy through the reserves for a 4-year period. On July 25, 1947, my grandma Linda was born, the first of three daughters of Jack and Betty. On November 29, 1950, Jack was briefly called back into active duty. He was stationed on U.S.S. Wedderburn (DD-684) out of San Francisco. He completed his service, being honorably discharged again on February 23, 1951.

After the Navy, Jack never felt fully adjusted to civilian life but eventually was able to find a home and camaraderie at VFW Post 360 in Mishawaka. Post 360 was his second home, where he went many days out of the week. He was a member of their Drill Team that won at least 13 consecutive state championships and a national championship in New Orleans. Jack was on the three-year club committee and participated in many other events throughout the decades like volunteering for 21-gun salutes. He eventually became a lifetime member of VFW Post 360, he was diagnosed with cancer in the 1980s. Jack sadly passed away on July 24, 1988, at age 62.