Carl surmised that when the Emperor announced the war was over, the Japanese honored this fact and accepted the troops in peace.Īt age 84, Carl says he'd jump at the opportunity to rejoin the military if he could. They had no idea what to expect from the Japanese people, but they were pleasantly surprised to find the Japanese military and civilians to be quite friendly. One of Carl's most memorable moments during wartime was when the troops were traveling by ship toward Japan at the end of WWII after the atomic bombs had been dropped. It didn't take long before sparks began to fly and they remained married until she passed away a few ago. Jenness was a reserve warrant officer and Carl was an active duty advisor to her reserve unit (an NCO). A standing joke between them was that she "outranked him" when they met after the Korean War. As in any people-intensive occupation, Carl learned the fundamentals of interpersonal communication during his Army experience: what to say, how and when to say it, and who to say it to.Ĭarl proudly told me about the love of his life, Jenness, who he met on the Love Boat (really!). Ultimately, it was the young officer who was transferred. Perhaps his most difficult interpersonal challenge was working with a new officer who had no humility whatsoever, and Carl was prepared to request a transfer if things didn't change. Higher ranked officers generally recognized this as well, and told Carl to "straighten out" his boss on more than one occasion. He didn't hesitate to counsel soldiers to "get out" if they didn't like it, and mentored more than one of his less experienced ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) supervisors.Ĭarl recounted one such Second Lieutenant, right out of college, who bluntly told him, "Sergeant, I'm depending on you because I don't know a darn thing." Now that takes real courage on the part of the officer! Of course, Carl also worked with some inexperienced officers who thought they "knew everything" (and maybe they did-on paper at least), but in any vocation it's also wise to recognize the value of experience. He was devoted to his men, but also considered himself "one of the guys" rather than anyone special. Serving his country in the US military has become an important part of who Carl Ordwan is today. Serving in the US Army taught him how to respond in the moment to whatever presents itself. First, he was older and wiser, and second, instead of simply following orders, he was now in charge of other soldiers (his highest rank was that of Master Sergeant). Carl Ordwar, who was born in 1925, is a retired career Army veteran who represents these veterans: drafted at age 18, served in the Philippines during WWII, joined the National Guard a few years after returning to the mainland, served again in combat during the Korean War, and worked with civilian components after the war.īy the time Carl served in Korea, his perspective had changed significantly. Someone who served our country in times of both war and peacetime. Tweeten Eldercare Advisors provides their service at NO COST to the senior or their family.An interview with Carl Ordwar of Santa RosaĪs Veteran's Day approaches, I chose to seek out a career veteran for my November column. He provides a high level of personal service, emotional support and satisfaction during a difficult family transition. He then personally tours the senior or family members to each community to assure that they have a complete understanding of the care options. He meets with the client and family, access the senior’s needs and begins the search of local care homes, assisted living communities and/or memory care within the county. Maddox’s uses his extensive skills with senior care to match the physical, mental and financial needs of a senior with the best possbile care situation available. Our Napa advisor, Kelsey Maddox, has been a hospice volunteer since 1977, has a master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis on aging, and has managed two retirement communities in the North Bay. Our placement service helps transition elders from their home to a higher levels of care with a broad knowledge of senior care options and costs. Since 2007 Tweeten Eldercare Advisors, a privately owned senior placement service, has served Marin, Napa and Sonoma Counties.
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