Retired Justice Jon P. Wilcox gives address at Veterans Day Dinner

On Nov. 12, Retired Justice Jon P. Wilcox gave a heartfelt recollection of his years in the United States Army at the annual Wautoma Rotary Veterans Dinner held at the WWII Memorial Building. Prior to introducing Justice Wilcox, Rotary welcomed all the veterans and guests, and the colors were presented by the American Legion Post 317. The National Anthem was sung by Brooklyn Bliefnick and Louisa Skewers, from Wild Rose. Each of the military branch songs was played, and as they were, the Veterans from that branch stood and were recognized.
Jon Paul Wilcox was born in Berlin and raised in Wild Rose and graduated from Wild Rose High School in 1954, where he played football as a defensive end at 127 lbs. He told the group that he wore lots of pads. He graduated from Ripon College in 1958, where he was in ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). Wilcox said that ROTC was mandatory in 1954. For being in the program, he received $27.27/month. Following graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and served from 1959 to 1961. He then transferred to the Ready Reserve until 1963.
He enrolled in the University of Wisconsin Law School and graduated in 1965. He was a member of a law firm in La Crosse until he moved to Wautoma to start the law firm of Wilcox, Rudolph, Kubasta, and Rathjen.
He was elected for three terms as Waushara County Circuit Court Judge from 1979 to 1991. Wilcox was a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1992 until his retirement in 2007.
Wilcox was a Company Commander of the 204th Military Police, and his involvement was as a courier for classified weapons delivery. Wilcox told the more than 150 in attendance that each Veteran has a story – they are all different – and all at a different time. “Today is a salute to all Veterans and to all Veterans’ families, a special thank you,” said Wilcox. While he was in service, Eisenhower and Kennedy were presiding over the nation.

His unit oversaw transporting weapons, and he told of the weapons they carried, including machine guns, grease guns, and 45 caliber pistols in the 66th Military Police Company attached to the 82nd Airborne. Wilcox recalled one time a Captain Lane Cook said, “Wilcox, I don’t give a rat’s behind but you better shape up.”
He said in August of ’59, he called his Mom to tell her he would not be home for deer hunting and could not tell her where he was going as he was on a special mission to deliver classified material to Korea. He said the trip began in Joliette, IL., to Kansas City on 6-7 bx cars and then on to Korea – it took 30 days there and back. He added that everything was sealed, and we didn’t know what we were carrying.
He concluded, “It was a privilege to serve in the military, and I am proud of my service. It was a most responsible position to shape the rest of my life.”
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