Clinton Quintana honored as Veteran of the Month by Jefferson County Commissioners

FAIRBURY - Fairbury resident Clinton Quintana was honored as the Veteran of the Month by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday.

In May 1955, Quintana volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army at age 17 while living in Encampment, Wyoming. In October 1955, he was assigned to the Army Combat Engineers in Korea.

From 1957-59, Quintana was assigned to Fort Riley, KS to the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st division. His unit built the Fort Riley Golf Course and several other parks in the area. Upon discharge in 1959, Quintana married his wife, Zona, and the two moved to Laramie, WY, where he worked construction and joined the National Guard.

The Guard was then promptly activated to Fort Lewis, WA, where Quintana reenlisted in the Army for an additional six years. He was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, where he spent 14 weeks attending Tank Automotive School before being assigned to Nuremberg, Germany, where his unit provided support battalion maintenance to units in the area.

The assignment lasted from 1962-67. In '67, Quintana was sent back to Aberdeen Proving Grounds where he was in charge of the School Motor Pool for eight months. His next assignment was Battalion Motor Pool Sergeant for the 175 Artillery Unit in Babenhausen, Germany for six months.

Soon after being promoted to E-7, Quintana received orders for South Vietnam where he was an advisor on an advisory team, while living full-time with the Vietnamese.

Quintana eventually retired at Fort Riley, KS in November 1978. He and his family moved to Fairbury in 1977. Clint joined his family and worked for a little while at the Heritage Care Center before going to work for Gail Southwick at the Conoco Station.

The Conoco Station, which is now Maatsch Oil, is where Clint worked until 2000, when he fully retired. Quintana has been a life member of VFW Post 3113 since 1978, and has been a member of American Legion Post 349 in Steele City for 41 years.

During 24 years of service, Quintana served in Korea, Vietnam and Germany. Some of his decorations include Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters and many more.

Quintana still lives in Fairbury with his wife, Zona.