In Memory Of
Csm (Ret.)Jackl. Elliott
1931
2016
Csm (Ret.)Jackl. Elliott
February 9, 1931 — February 25, 2016
CSM (Ret.) Jack L. Elliott, 85, passed away Thursday, 25 February 2016, surrounded by his family at his home in Topeka, KS.
Jack was born 9 February 1931, in Topeka, KS, to Alonzo C. and Etta M. (Lutz) Elliott. He graduated from Topeka High School.
He began his military career on 1 December 1948 when he enlisted in Company B, 174th Military Police Battalion, Kansas Army National Guard. He served as a Military Policeman and Squad Leader prior to being mobilized with the 174th Military Police Battalion for service in Korea.
On 18 June 1949, Jack married the love of his life, Betty J. Richardson.
CSM Elliott was ordered to active duty on 20 October 1950 as a Corporal with an initial assignment at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. His duties included training other soldiers to become Military Policemen. He was then assigned to the Republic of Korea from July 1951 through June 1952 where he served as a Military Policeman and Military Police Investigator in the 58th Military Police Company. He was released from active duty on 21 June 1952.
He reenlisted in the 174th Military Police Battalion upon release from active duty serving at the rank of Sergeant and later becoming company First Sergeant effective 11 July 1956. With the reorganization of the Kansas Army National Guard in 1959, he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Infantry Division as an Operations Sergeant. He was promoted to Master Sergeant on 19 October 1961.
Effective 1 April 1963 with another reorganization of the Kansas Army National Guard, he was assigned as the First Sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 69th Infantry Brigade (Sep). On 13 November 1967 he was assigned as Chief Operations Sergeant and promoted to Sergeant Major on 20 November 1967. He was assigned as the Brigade Sergeant Major on 1 April 1968. CSM Elliott was again ordered to active duty with the mobilized 69th Infantry Brigade on 13 May 1968 as a result of the Pueblo Crisis and conflict in Vietnam. CSM Elliott served as the Brigade Command Sergeant Major at Fort Carson, Colorado from 13 May 1968 through 12 December 1969 when the Brigade was released from active duty.
Upon return to state status, CSM Elliott was again appointed as the 69th Brigade Command Sergeant Major. He served in that position until 1 June 1985 when he was appointed Command Sergeant Major for the Kansas Army National Guard. He retired effective 8 February 1991 with over forty one years of military service. CSM Elliott was awarded the Legion of Merit upon his retirement. CSM Elliott has the distinction of having served as Command Sergeant Major for seven General Officers.
With the support and guidance of MG Phil Finley, the Adjutant General of Kansas, CSM Elliott recruited, trained and established the Governor's Adjutant General Ceremonial Platoon.
Beginning in 1993, two years following his retirement, CSM Elliott spent continuing time leading the volunteer effort to construct the Kansas National Guard Museum and continued as Museum Curator and President of the Museum Board of Directors to preserve the Kansas National Guard heritage.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal W/2 OLC, Army Commendation Medal W/3 OLC, Army Achievement Medal W/OLC, Good Conduct Medal W/Clasps, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal W/3 OLC, National Defense Service Medal W/Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal W/3 Battle Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/3 Hour Glass Devices, NCO Professional Development Ribbon W/Numeral 4, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal, Kansas National Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon, Kansas Emergency Duty Service Ribbon W/Sunflower Device, Kansas National Guard Service Medal W/2 Sunflower Devices and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
CSM Elliott was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame on 5 November 1995.
He is survived by his three daughters, Cheryl Gilmore, Judy (Richard) Harmon, and Denise (Steve) Wodtke; five grandchildren, Stephanie (Matt) Grubb, Matt (Heather) Harmon, Jackie Wodtke, Brad Harmon, and Travis (Rachel) Wodtke; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Betty, and sister, Nona Dresner.
A funeral ceremony will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 2 March 2016, at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka. Burial will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery, Topeka. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Museum of the Kansas National Guard, P.O. Box 19285, Topeka, KS 66619-0285.
To leave a special message, please visit the guestbook below.
Jack was born 9 February 1931, in Topeka, KS, to Alonzo C. and Etta M. (Lutz) Elliott. He graduated from Topeka High School.
He began his military career on 1 December 1948 when he enlisted in Company B, 174th Military Police Battalion, Kansas Army National Guard. He served as a Military Policeman and Squad Leader prior to being mobilized with the 174th Military Police Battalion for service in Korea.
On 18 June 1949, Jack married the love of his life, Betty J. Richardson.
CSM Elliott was ordered to active duty on 20 October 1950 as a Corporal with an initial assignment at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. His duties included training other soldiers to become Military Policemen. He was then assigned to the Republic of Korea from July 1951 through June 1952 where he served as a Military Policeman and Military Police Investigator in the 58th Military Police Company. He was released from active duty on 21 June 1952.
He reenlisted in the 174th Military Police Battalion upon release from active duty serving at the rank of Sergeant and later becoming company First Sergeant effective 11 July 1956. With the reorganization of the Kansas Army National Guard in 1959, he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Infantry Division as an Operations Sergeant. He was promoted to Master Sergeant on 19 October 1961.
Effective 1 April 1963 with another reorganization of the Kansas Army National Guard, he was assigned as the First Sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 69th Infantry Brigade (Sep). On 13 November 1967 he was assigned as Chief Operations Sergeant and promoted to Sergeant Major on 20 November 1967. He was assigned as the Brigade Sergeant Major on 1 April 1968. CSM Elliott was again ordered to active duty with the mobilized 69th Infantry Brigade on 13 May 1968 as a result of the Pueblo Crisis and conflict in Vietnam. CSM Elliott served as the Brigade Command Sergeant Major at Fort Carson, Colorado from 13 May 1968 through 12 December 1969 when the Brigade was released from active duty.
Upon return to state status, CSM Elliott was again appointed as the 69th Brigade Command Sergeant Major. He served in that position until 1 June 1985 when he was appointed Command Sergeant Major for the Kansas Army National Guard. He retired effective 8 February 1991 with over forty one years of military service. CSM Elliott was awarded the Legion of Merit upon his retirement. CSM Elliott has the distinction of having served as Command Sergeant Major for seven General Officers.
With the support and guidance of MG Phil Finley, the Adjutant General of Kansas, CSM Elliott recruited, trained and established the Governor's Adjutant General Ceremonial Platoon.
Beginning in 1993, two years following his retirement, CSM Elliott spent continuing time leading the volunteer effort to construct the Kansas National Guard Museum and continued as Museum Curator and President of the Museum Board of Directors to preserve the Kansas National Guard heritage.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal W/2 OLC, Army Commendation Medal W/3 OLC, Army Achievement Medal W/OLC, Good Conduct Medal W/Clasps, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal W/3 OLC, National Defense Service Medal W/Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal W/3 Battle Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/3 Hour Glass Devices, NCO Professional Development Ribbon W/Numeral 4, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal, Kansas National Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon, Kansas Emergency Duty Service Ribbon W/Sunflower Device, Kansas National Guard Service Medal W/2 Sunflower Devices and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
CSM Elliott was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame on 5 November 1995.
He is survived by his three daughters, Cheryl Gilmore, Judy (Richard) Harmon, and Denise (Steve) Wodtke; five grandchildren, Stephanie (Matt) Grubb, Matt (Heather) Harmon, Jackie Wodtke, Brad Harmon, and Travis (Rachel) Wodtke; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Betty, and sister, Nona Dresner.
A funeral ceremony will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 2 March 2016, at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka. Burial will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery, Topeka. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Museum of the Kansas National Guard, P.O. Box 19285, Topeka, KS 66619-0285.
To leave a special message, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Csm (Ret.)Jackl. Elliott, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
Service
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
Guestbook
Visits: 6
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