'I'm Very Proud of My Father'

Leslie Jancar of Monroe brought black and white photos of her late father, LeRoy M. Gudgel, to the Veterans Day lunch at the Easton Senior Center on Monday afternoon. Taken in 1967, the pictures show her father receiving special recognition from President Lyndon B. Johnson at the Pentagon.

LeRoy Gudgel, who served in the Air Force for 30 years, rising to the rank of master sergeant, was one of only 27 people honored that day for saving the country money.

Conveyor belts used to load equipment and supplies onto cargo planes during the Vietnam war. When a bearing broke, the entire belt needed to be replaced. That was until Jancar said her father designed a tool to remove the broken part and replace it.

"He saved the U.S. government hundreds of thousands of dollars," Jancar said proudly.

Gudgel died from Agent Orange in 1994 at age 76, according to Jancar. He was married to Marjean, his wife of 57 years, and the couple had two daughters, Leslie and Sydney.

Both LeRoy and Marjean Gudgel grew up in Oklahoma and served in the Air Force. Their military careers caused them to move around a lot. As a result, Jancar was born in Texas and her sister, Sydney, was born in Wyoming. 

Gudgel's military service spanned the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Proud to Serve

Jancar said her father became ill in 1993.

"The military would not let him be admitted at the hospital at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma," Jancar said. "I got a hold of all of our state senators and Congressmen and women — and even called the President to help get him in. The reason why they would not admit him to the hospital was that his illness was not war related, however he died of Agent Orange."

Jancar said Sen. Joseph Lieberman eventually got her father into the hospital.

"People at the hospital came out to meet the VIP," she said. "My daddy died a few months later, but was very proud to have served our country and to be recognized at the hospital. Thanks to Joe for getting him in."

Every Veteran's Day, Jancar said, "I think about my father and all that he did. And all the veterans out there who came out of Vietnam and were never recognized, but are now recognized as they should be. I'm very proud of my father. Very proud."