Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: A great generation star

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2001 | 9:04 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

TOM BROKAW could have added another chapter to his book "The Greatest Generation" if he had attended a recent Washoe County Bar Association luncheon. Seated at one table were several men, including Nevada Supreme Court Justice Cliff Young, who graduated from the University of Nevada in 1943. From there they, like several million Americans, went to fight in World War II. All of them at the table saw combat action -- one man was wounded four times -- and later returned home to serve the people of Nevada.

These old-timers had gathered with a roomful of lawyers to honor one of their own. The honoree, attorney Jack Streeter, was one of their members in 1943 and was now receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award. Not only did Jack distinguish himself in combat, he has continued his lifetime of service since graduating from law school 53 years ago.

Streeter was a platoon leader with the "Big Red One" First Infantry Division when landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Decorated, and wounded several times, he received his third Silver Star in the spring of 1945 with the following citation:

"While attempting to make a breakthrough of the Siegfried Line near the town of Hamschied, Germany, on Feb. 2, 1945, at about 6 a.m., Capt. (then 1st Lt.,) Jack Streeter was in command of the leading assault unit. Upon reaching the Dragon's Teeth, the unit was pinned down by the fire from three separate machine gun nests, and Capt. Streeter calmly and immediately surveyed the situation and realized that when dawn broke the unit would be annihilated, and decided to risk his own life in an effort to save those of his men. He advanced alone through a treacherous minefield and into the murderous fire of the German guns and exploding hand grenades to wipe out one of the machine gun nests, killing the three German soldiers therein.

"He then placed himself in an exposed crouching position and started firing his M1 rifle from the hip into the two remaining machine gun nests, and by his so doing attracted to himself the fire that had been previously placed on his men. While Capt. Streeter stood alone in the deadly hail of bullets that luckily missed him by inches, his unit advanced to a position of safety. Capt. Streeter stood his ground and fired two bandoliers of ammunition while the bullets plowed the snow at his very feet, and two of them tearing holes in his field jacket. He then zigzagged across the open field to rejoin his unit and to lead them in a brilliant attack on the German pillboxes. This act of supreme sacrifice and utter disregard for his own personal safety won Capt. Streeter the undying regard and complete respect of his men and reflects the highest ideals of military service."

Two years ago he was named a Distinguished Nevadan for his many years of public service starting in 1950 as district attorney of Washoe County. Later he formed the Nevada State and National District Attorneys associations. When district attorney, Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio was one of Jack's deputies. Later, before becoming a legislator, Raggio also distinguished himself as an outstanding district attorney at the state and national level.

It is also appropriate that the Jack Streeter Wing of the Reno VA Medical Center was dedicated in honor of this Golden Gloves boxing champion, who continues to serve the public.

When sitting with Streeter and his wife of 42 years, Vera, at the luncheon, my mind kept returning to 1986, when he headed up the committee for the commissioning of the USS Nevada Trident submarine. Not only did he succeed in making the entire state role a first-class affair, he did it in a first-class manner. Jack made every participant, especially the submarine's officers and enlisted men, feel like the special people they are.

Yes, the saga of Jack Streeter and his friends could be an entire history book of what's great about their generation.