Terry Grammer Is Veteran Of The Month For January

By Doug KapleTerry Grammer is Jefferson County’s first Veteran of the month for 2026. He was honored at the start of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioner’s meeting Tuesday morning, January 13. He was also presented with a patriotic wall hanging created by Rory Rosener.Grammer was born in Jefferson County in 1940. He started grade school in Fairbury and a couple of country schools. With his father working at Endicott Clay Products Company, it was only natural the family moved to Endicott. This is where Grammer attended the second grade through the eighth grade and high school. In high school Terry was a four-year athlete competing in basketball, track and softball. He placed fifth in the 100-yard dash his senior year in the state track meet. After graduation in 1958, Grammer worked a few weeks for the Rock Island Railroad, worked a short while for an Omaha freight hauling business and ended up working on a pipeline on the Missouri River during the hottest part of the summer. Since the pipeline project was soon to be completed and the work was hot and miserable, Grammer and a friend decided it might be a good time to join the Army on the Buddy Program. They both went to Omaha for their physicals. His friend did not pass his physical, but Grammer passed his. Upon finding out he would likely be drafted in short order, Grammer went ahead and joined the Army without his friend.In June, 1959, Private Grammer attended Basic Training at Fort Carson, Colorado. His Advanced Individual Training was at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri where he was eventually assigned to an Engineer Transportation Unit. After three months of transporting military personnel and supplies, Private Grammer was assigned to Germany in early 1960.Initially, duties consisted of providing transportation to the 24th and 7th Infantry Divisions. The Berlin Wall, constructed in 1961, was a physical barrier that encircled West Berlin, separating it from East Berlin and the surrounding East German territory. Though alerted to be sent either Vietnam or Cambodia three times, Grammer and his fellow soldiers were never deployed to either location, but rather had their tours of duty extended to combat potential Soviet aggression in Europe at the time. Grammer served 25 months in Germany. There was little time off due to the amount of ammunitions they transported in support of the 24th and 28th Infantry Divisions along with the almost nonstop field training exercises. On one rare occasion the 24th Infantry Division had a competitive track meet with one of the German Divisions. Grammer represented the Unites States well by coming in second in the 100 yard dash.While serving in the Army SP4 Grammer received the Expert Badge with the M-1 Rifle and the Good Conduct Medal. Grammer was released from active duty in June, 1962, and immediately returned to a freight hauling job in Omaha. In 1965 Grammer married Joleen Zabokrtsky, and later that year moved back to Fairbury. He supported his family by working 14 years for Rhodes Packing, six years for Stanton Farm Services and 21 years for Endicott Clay Products. Prior to retiring in 2006 he enjoyed raising English Pointers and English Setters, along with the excellent upland game bird hunting of years past. He has been a long time member of the American Legion, VFW and the Elks.In retirement Grammer is a part-time driver for Twin Rivers transporting vehicles and fishes whenever possible. He and his wife, Joleen, of 60 plus years, enjoy time with family including two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

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