Commentary by Don Allen
In the course of a conversation with a neighbor Jack Mansell I noticed a very official-looking badge in his wallet. Being a retired police officer, of course, I had to ask him about it. He explained he is a retired firefighter from Los Angeles area. Never one to just leave it at that, I pressed for more. He informed me that he was a Fire Department Captain and was injured during the Watts riots in 1965. His crew was in a burning building when it collapsed, severely injuring Captain Mansell and killing two of his men. He was forced to retire from service as a result of his injuries. I had to know more.
We stood and talked for some time, during which he casually mentioned that he had gone into fire service after coming home from World War II. He said he had been a fighter pilot assigned to a bomber escort duty. As a result of his valiant service, Captain Jack Mansell was awarded four Purple Hearts. He humbly declared that God was sitting on his lap in the aircraft and gave Him credit for delivering him back to his base after his missions. It was at that moment that I realized that I was in the presence of true heroism.
My good friend and Village of WestClay neighbor is Assistant Chief Dave Haboush of the Carmel Fire Department. As soon as I told him the story of my chance meeting with Jack, Dave began making plans for a very special evening to honor our neighborhood hero. He contacted his sources at what had been Jack’s fire department in California who were pleased that someone was honoring this great American.
Chief Haboush arranged for Jack and his wife Laurie to come to CFD Station 42 (at 106th Street and Shelbourne Road) for dinner. As fate would have it, the on-duty crew got a fire call just as we were about ready to serve dinner. Captain Jack was thrilled to see the engine roll out of the station, lights and sirens blazing. You could see the excitement sparkle in his nearly 90-year-old eyes as the engine left the station – he said, “That never leaves you.”
After a wonderful dinner prepared by the fire crew (and stirred by the Chief), Jack and Laurie entertained us with stories of his amazing military and fire career.
As the evening came to a close, our Jack declared that in the 15 years that he and Laurie have lived in Carmel this was the best thing to ever happen to them. If you get a chance to meet this amazing servant of our country, you will know, as I did, that you are in the presence of a true American hero…our neighbor, Jack Mansell.
