John A. Jeren Jr., who grew up in Campbell, poses next to a military Jeep at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he spent most of his military career as a commissioned officer.

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POLAND — Young men and women find their way into military service in a variety of ways.

For John Anthony Jeren Jr., his involvement in the military came about when he went to college at The Ohio State University from 1964 to 1968.

Jeren had a cousin in ROTC who told him, “If I was you, I would do two years of ROTC and get your commission as a second lieutenant.”

That is exactly what Jeren did before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from OSU.

Jeren attended basic training for six weeks at Indian Town Gap in Lebanon, Pa., where he went through every phase of military activity. He chose the Adjutant General’s Corps branch of the U.S. Army, which was a personnel management branch.

He was asked where he would like to serve, and he chose the midwestern part of the U.S. He was then asked when he would like to go, and he told them the fall of 1968, which he did.

“Like the genie, I was granted my three wishes, which all came true,” Jeren said.

He entered active duty at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Ind., where he was a part of a 10-week Officer Basic Course for Adjutant Corps personnel. His permanent duty station would be in Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he became an assistant commanding officer. He was promoted to first lieutenant and eventually became commanding officer and remained there during his two years of service, where he dealt with performing the necessary functions when a person leaves military service.

“Two enlisted men who worked in my office requested a weekend pass during July of 1969,” Jeren said.

“I asked them where they were going, and they said to New York for an outdoor rock concert. Nobody knew what it would eventually turn out to be. Those two guys went up to the concert on a motorcycle. When they returned, I asked them how the concert was. They were ecstatic about their weekend trip to Woodstock, New York.

“I didn’t serve in Vietnam, which was the luck of the draw. I called the Pentagon and found out that I was not part of the allocation of officers being selected to go. After that, I wasn’t sent because I had less than a year left to serve,” he said.

He reflected on a fraternity brother who served in the infantry, went to Vietnam and survived the war.

“He was walking down a trail and heard a bullet come at him. He saw a Viet Cong soldier down the road and shot him. Here I am stateside in Fort Knox, Kentucky, running an office and he’s over there dodging bullets,” Jeren said. “For whatever reason I remained at Fort Knox after basic training. I had friends who went over to Vietnam and didn’t come back. Those who did come back, I don’t know how some of them survived.”

He entered Ohio Northern law school in 1970, where he met his wife, and then worked as an attorney at an Austintown law firm for 45 years before retiring. He has four children and seven grandchildren, including one who died.

“My military story sounds like a plush job. Out of college, I was running an office. It was a good experience, and I was very fortunate,” Jeren said.

John Anthony Jeren Jr.

AGE: 77

RESIDENCE: Poland (Campbell native)

SERVICE BRANCH: Army

MILITARY HONORS: Distinguished Military Student, National Defense Service Medal

OCCUPATION: attorney (retired)

FAMILY: wife, four children and seven grandchildren (one deceased)