Joseph L. Meyne

It's that time of month, Center Point Legion Veteran of the Month. As always, special thanks to Chilled for providing meals to our Veterans.

Joseph L. Meyne grew up as an Iowa Farm Boy bailing hay with his brothers and working on the Meyne Family Farm in Bremer County. Joe graduated from Oelwein High School in 1982, and joined the US Army in the summer of 1983. He completed his Basic Military Training (BMT) at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and his Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) at Fort Gordon, GA; known as “Home of the Signal Corps, with the MOS of 36-Gulf. His initial duties in communications included being a telephone lineman (pole climber) along with establishing radio communications for the command staff.  

His military assignments include being a part of the 133rd Infantry Battalion at Kirch-Gons Army Base in Germany known as the “Top of the Rock” and then to Fort Campbell Ky where he joined the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles”; whose mantra is “All the Way or Stay at Home:” He completed his Air Assault Training and honed his skills in repelling from helicopters. A skill he used throughout his military career by training many fellow soldiers. He separated from active duty in 1986 and joined the Iowa Army National Guard and served in the 133rd Infantry out of Oelwein, Iowa.  

During his time in the National Guard Joe completed Winter Survival Training in Alaska and Desert Survival Training in California. He also deployed 2 more times to Germany with one trip being a joint task force deployment with Swedish and Danish Soldiers. He utilized his skills and taught active-participation courses in repelling to local high school students and was a platoon Sergeant with the responsibility for overseeing 30 fellow soldiers. Joe left the service in 1999 after serving 16 years with an honorable discharge with the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6).   

Sergeant Meyne’s Medals and Awards include 2 Army Commendation Medals, 3 Good Conduct Medals, American Defense Medal, National Defense Medal, Air Assault Badge, Oversees Tour and Marksmanship Ribbons. 

After His miliary service he completed schooling at NIACC and received an AA Degree in Automated Systems Technology. He has spent the past 30 years working at several manufacturing plants in the Electrical Mechanical Maintenance field with 20 plus years as a supervisor.

Joe is married to his wife Sally and the father of two adult daughters (Nicole and Brittany) and the grandfather of (Addy and Harli) all of Orange County, TX. During his free-time he enjoys, fishing, bike riding, reading, a good movie and is a true-blue John Wayne fan. 

He feels humbled and honored at being selected as the Veteran of the Month for September 2023 and thanks his fellow Legionnaires for this recognition. Joe is a proud Army Veteran and has been a member of Post 297 for the past 15 years.