U.S. Air Force veteran Paul Kari, second from the left, joined by his wife, Carole, for a Logan County flag honor Tuesday from the Logan County Commissioners, from the left, Mike Yoder, Joe Antram and Mark Robinson. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
A West Liberty resident was recognized Tuesday, Oct. 17, for his resiliency and bravery in the face of danger through a special presentation by the Logan County Commissioners.
Paul Kari, who grew up in Spencer in Medina County, was presented by the commissioners with the flag that flew over the Logan County Courthouse during September in a new monthly tradition of honoring local citizens that began earlier this year. He was joined by his wife, Carole.
A graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in agriculture, Capt. Kari served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot and tactical fighter from 1958 to 1974.
He is a published author, including his memoir The Strength to Endure, a book about his experiences in the service and the strength he developed as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam (Hanoi Hilton). He was moved to 26 different locations while a prisoner.
Before his capture, Capt. Kari flew 64 combat missions after being deployed with the U.S. Air Force’s 45 FTS to Ubon Royal Air Force Base, Thailand, as reported in a previous Examiner story.
He was taken as a prisoner of war on June 25, 1965, after his plane was shot down. His back was broken when he bailed out of his crippled fighter plane, and he would endure torture, partial loss of sight and many years without his family and friends.
After spending 2,795 days in captivity, Capt. Kari was released in 1973, and he later bought a large farm near West Liberty.
Commissioners Joe Antram, Mark Robinson and Mike Yoder were joined at the ceremony by fellow public officials Clerk of Courts Barb McDonald, Recorder Pat Myers, County Administrator David Henry and Administrative Clerk DeDe Doss, and representatives of the Logan County Veterans Office that partners for the flag honor, including Scott Sedlak, Amy Ricketts, Joe Vires and Russell Strayer, Veteran’s Services Commission president.
