Veterans Day Spotlight – Retired Army Colonel David Hinshaw

Veterans Day Spoltight – David Hinshaw, Veteran and All-Around Good Guy by Lisa J.
Photos by Marcy Jamrok

in honore of Veterans Day, we wanted to spotlight the incredible men and women, young and old, that make up our veteran community. Being a proud child of a veteran, this spotlight is near and dear to me, and I’m privileged to have had the opportunity to talk with David Hinshaw, local army and national guard veteran, runner and all-around good guy.

While I have seen David at many of the Hometown Happenings events, I was formally introduced at this year’s Donut Dash. Immediately, I could feel the enthusiasm from David as we discussed how Hometown would like to bring attention to our veterans, and I realized quickly that this energy was infused in all David involved himself with, especially if it meant spotlighting other people.

After our first introduction, in a phone conversation that took place right before his one hour run at the Hammond Sport’s Complex, David and I had a chance to touch base. It was then I learned much more about this Hometown Hero and I only hope that I can do his story justice.

David’s story starts long before his military story, and while I’d love to chat more with him about it, for this article we begin 10 days after graduation from DePauw University in 1967. This was the day David entered the Army, kicking off a colorful military career as a Vietnamese Army advisor, where he was hit by a mortar that sent him on rounds to various hospitals in Vietnam, Japan and finally Fort Riley, Kansas. As a result of David’s efforts, he was a recipient of a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, and others.

Following his recovery, David served as a basic training commander and staff officer in Ft. Ord, California. When describing his runs at his time spent in California, all he could say was, “beautiful”. After Ft. Ord, David served in the Indiana National Guard and the Army Reserves in the Chicago area with opportunities to command an infantry battalion in South Bend and Civil Affairs brigade in Homewood, IL. David’s adventures did not end there as he was awarded an opportunity to attend Army War College and went on to earn his graduate degree from DePaul University. David then served as staff and chief of staff with the 85^th Division Exercise Unit where he stayed until retirement in 1998 as a full colonel for the last 10 years of his service, for a total of 31 years served.

Retired but not finished, David with his wife by his side, spent 7 years in Europe and 3 years in Washington providing leadership training through a contract group preparing units for deployment. During this time, David also started several companies including a real estate firm that specialized in rehabbing homes.

David now is a member of various veterans’ groups that give back to the community, including, but not limited to Purple Heart Chapter 721, Disabled American Veterans and the Veteran’s Center in West Lafayette. However, one of the “neatest” as he describes it, service opportunities for him has been his contribution to “Veterans Views” on WJOB, which he says is a group built around several good people and good service.

We spotlight David this week not just because of his incredible story, his military career, and his service activities,  but because even after the challenges he has faced, he and his wife consider themselves blessed to have the chance to give back their time and effort to help others. Also, when I asked him about what he would like most to accomplish with all that he is doing, his response was, “to spotlight great people and the good they do.” I found it incredibly humbling that during an interview to spotlight him, David could not talk enough about the good people around him and how he could share their story.

On top of all that, David Hinshaw is an avid runner and frequently comes to our Hometown Happenings events.  Additionally, if you’d like to learn more about the veterans in our area, tune into WJOB, 1230 AM & 104.7 FM, Fridays from 9-10 a.m. to hear David and friends present “Veterans Views”.

I am honored to have had the opportunity to hear David’s story, and I look forward to future conversations.

To close, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all active military and every veteran for your service and for your courage. We are free because of the brave. Thank you.