VETERAN HONORED — A nice crowd of supporters gathered in Lloyd Klutts’ front yard in Troy Tuesday to honor the 102-year-old (seated, second from left) who is said to be the last World War II veteran living in Obion County. He was feted in a ceremony instigated by Baptist Hospice and organized by Jones-Walker Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4862 and Auxiliary. It included pinnings, presentations and words of respect by Baptist Hospice’s Melody Pafford, who serves as the local We Honor Veterans coordinator, and registered nurse Christy Hensley; Dan Haw of the VFW and Combat Vets Motorcycle Association; Monte Belew of U.S. Rep. David Kustoff’s office; Robbie Barkley, VFW Auxiliary Ninth District president and Department of Tennessee VFW Auxiliary junior vice president; Northwest Tennessee Eagles Riders chaplain Barry Sowell and captain Terry “Big T” Dunn; and American Legion 55 commander and Ninth District commander Tonya Launsby. Klutts was drafted into service during World War II on Aug. 27, 1942. He actively served with the 149th Engineer Combat Battalion from Sept. 10, 1942, until Nov. 28, 1945. He was among the first wave of soldiers on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day June 6, 1944.
