Jesse I. Hight

Jesse Ingram Hight November 17, 1918 - February 13, 2013 Jesse Ingram Hight, age 94, passed away Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at his home in Arlington, VA. He was the beloved husband of 56 years of Beatrice Mary Mayfield Hight (deceased), devoted and loving father of Susan Hight (Michael Ortmeier) and Philip Hight, dear brother of Jayne Ambroso and brother-in-law of Iris Mayfield and Russell Oren. Jesse was born November 17, 1918 in Ladd, IL, the son of the late Walter S. Hight and Hannah Ingram Hight and loving brother of the late Doris Hight Sherman, Walter S. Hight Jr., Beatrice Hight Brandner, and Harold E. Hight. Jesse graduated Salutatorian of his class from Hall Township High School, Spring Valley, IL in 1936. He soon moved to Chicago, IL to seek employment. Jesse enlisted and trained in the Army of the United States at Camp Wolters, TX in the summer of 1942 where he qualified as Marksman with the 1903 Rifle and was honorably discharged and transferred to the Enlisted Reserve Corps. He re-enlisted in the Army of the United States in 1943 and trained at Fort Jackson, SC and Camp Atterbury, IN. He provided basic and special combat training to troops at several domestic military installations. He deployed to Europe in October 1944 as a Squad Sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 424th Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division (The Golden Lions). He saw combat in Belgium and fought bravely in the Battle of the Bulge where he was wounded in action at Schnee Eifel in December of 1944. He returned to duty in March 1945 as Company First Sergeant to participate in several actions in Central Germany. Following the cessation of hostilities, Jesse participated in POW security and relocation operations. As Company First Sergeant he was responsible for overseeing the demobilization of his Battalion troops to the United States from Camp Lucky Strike in Europe. Jesse was awarded the Purple Heart, 4 Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct, American Campaign, European African Middle Eastern Campaign, and World War II Victory Medals for his services while in Europe. First Sergeant Jesse I. Hight was honorably discharged in late 1945. In recent years Jesse found immense pleasure in reuniting with “the guys from Company A” including Dwight Stokes, Jim “JD” Forsythe, Lt. Don (Bill) Beseler, Hans Baruch, Hugh Shearin (deceased) and Fred Twarok (deceased). Jesse found great comfort as they shared with each other their thoughts on their experiences of the horrors of war. Their renewed friendship confirmed Jesse’s belief that a fighting soldier does not create a civilization. The soldier may save it, but it is only persons of knowledge and humanity that can and must create it. Jesse entered college under the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (G.I. Bill), graduating from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL in June of 1950, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He taught elementary and middle school in Illinois Public School District 89 for 25 years, retiring in 1980. Jesse and his wife operated several family businesses including The Golden Arrow Restaurant, J-Bee Enterprises (rental property development and coin-operated laundromat) in Stone Park, IL, and his wife’s office products business, Business Services and Supplies, in Oakbrook, IL. Jesse married his beloved wife Beatrice in July of 1943. They reared their two children in the suburbs of Chicago, IL where they were never far from the loving members of both of their families. Jesse moved to Arlington, VA in 2010 to live with his daughter and son-in-law. He died peacefully in his new home with them at his side. Jesse will be remembered for the gifts he proudly gave to all: his ability to captivate listeners with his knowledge of history, politics and literature, as well as craftsmanship, outdoorsmanship and natural history. A memorial service will be held for Jesse at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Herdegen-Brieske Funeral Home, 1356 West Wellinton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657 (773-525-0178). Flowers may be sent to Herdegan-Brieske Funeral Home. Donations in memory of Jesse I. Hight may be sent to Capital Caring Hospice, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042, Attn: Resource Development Dept. (703-531-6209, www.capitalcaring.org/donors-and-volunteers).