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Today's Featured Biography

 
Jack Roth

As you all know I did graduate from Columbus North High School. I did! Myself and six others from North all went into the United States Marine Corps in August of 1966. I became an Ontos crewman. An Ontos is a 9 1/2 ton tank designed for the Army to use in Korea. Google it. It will amaze you. The Ontos or "Thing" in Greek came off the production line late and ended up with the Marines instead. I got sent to Hawaii and was planning on spending the rest of my two year hitch in paradise. President Johnson then decided he needed to send another division of Marines to a wonderful tropical location called South Vietnam. When I got there I went to the beautiful city of Hue. Hue, is the old Imperial Capital of South Vietnam and sits along the Perfume River. I spent three months guarding a pontoon bridge that crossed the river heading for places like the Rockpile and then on to famous Khe Sanh. For some reason the Corps decided to get rid of the Ontos and I ended up in the 3rd Recon Battalion. Just before reporting to my new assignment the North Vietnamese regular army and a few of their friends Chinese, Russian and Vietcong forces decided to attack many of the cities in South Vietnam. It seems they forgot the Christmas and New Year's truce and ended up south of the DMZ. As you all know this major assault of South Vietnam was called the 1968 Tet offensive. At this time I started running many 4 to 10 man patrols all around the northern part of Nam as we called the country. I participated in the battles to retake Hue City and relief of surrounded Khe Sanh. My recon team assisted in many other operations in the northern "I Corps" zone. Our job was to find the bad guys and call in support like artillery, jets and my favorite buddy "Puff". Bobby Nixten and I operated in the same area. He was a Force Recon Marine. A lot crazier than me. We actually got our early training in Glen Echo ravine where we used to snoop and poop playing war as kids. We were very lucky and made it home. I have spent the last 38 plus years as a Columbus police officer. I worked SWAT for 11 years and road the big Harleys for 8 as a Motorcycle Officer. It's been fun. I have been a sergeant for 22 of those years and I plan to retire in January of 2013. The love of my life Debra and I have been married for almost 37 years. Our children are doing well. We have an 11 year old granddaughter Kylie who dances, plays basketball, softball and cheer-leads. Our 6 year old grandson Michael is going to be the best ball player of the Roth clan unless his little brother John, 1 1/2, passes him up. I love animals and should have been a Vet. We have a Golden Retriever, a cat and a duck. Debra and I are looking forward to retiring and spending our time watching the grand-kids do their things. We also plan on doing some traveling and partying with friends and classmates, especially on a few more cruises. We now have a new Grandson. He was born in July of 2015. His name is Jack. Yes another Jack ( Jackie Roth ) is out there. I am retired now as of January 2013. DEBRA will do the same this July. Time to Party.

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