The Few. The Proud. The Party!
Marines celebrate birthday No. 234 at Hilton as group pays tribute to South Walton's oldest warrior
Hilton Sandestin’s Grand Ballroom was a sea of dress blues, black tuxes and red gowns Nov. 14 when all gathered to celebrate the United States Marine Corps’ 234th birthday.
One of those honored was Jack Straub, who was recognized as South Walton’s oldest Marine.
Straub served actively for three years during World War II and in the Marine reserves for 10 years. As the pilot of a night fighter plane, Straub saw action while stationed at Okinawa for more than a year. He came home 30 days before the peace treaty was signed with Japan. His service earned him the rank of captain, four distinguished flying crosses and 17 air medals.
Straub moved to South Walton 29 years ago after working for Ford Motor Company for 31 years.
Straub was also honored as the area’s oldest Marine in 2008 and said he will be it again next year, “unless somebody else shows up who is older.”
During the impressive cutting of the cake ceremony, Straub, born Oct. 17, 1922, accepted the first slice of the Marine Corps’ birthday cake and handed it off to the youngest Marine present, Sgt. Daniel Labounty, born July 27, 1988.
The U.S. Marine Corps ball is held annually at Sandestin and sponsored by the Emerald Coast Marine Corps League.
The senior officer of the local Marine Corps League is Col. Carl Bergstrom, USMC (Ret.), who moved to Sandestin five years ago with wife, Carole. In the five years they have lived here, the Bergstroms have been instrumental in building the ball from 50 or 60 attendees to 400. The League sponsored 22 current active-duty Marines stationed at Eglin Air Force Base for the evening’s gala social, dinner, festivities and dancing.
