Veteran of the Week: Joe Copp

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer 

MADISON – Joe Copp’s options weren’t limited when he graduated high school in 1981, but they were in the sense that he knew exactly what he wanted to do.

“We were a very patriotic family,” Copp said. “That’s how we were raised.”

Copp’s “whole family” had military experience, as he put it. His grandfather was retired from active duty in the United States Navy, and that trickled down to Copp.

So, he left his hometown of Kokomo, Ind. shortly after graduating high school to begin basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes in Great Lakes, Ill.

After his basic training, Copp was put through the 38-week aviation electrical training in Memphis, Tenn. After receiving his certifications, Copp was sent to the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington. Copp worked on A-6 Intruders, all-weather attack aircrafts, during his three-year tour at Whidbey Island.

The A-6 intruders, at the time, were manufactured by the former Grumman Aerospace Corporation, which was merged into Northrop Grumman, a company with a heavy presence in Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal.

After his father suffered a stroke, Copp was allowed to transfer to the United States Air Force to be closer to home, serving with strategic air command at Grissom Air Force Base, which is 12 miles north of Kokomo.

In addition to his crossover with the Air Force, Copp briefly served with the United States Army.

After returning to the Navy, Copp became certified to be a recruiter and was even runner-up for the Recruiter of the Year award with the Navy, a national award.

After staying in Indiana to recruit, Copp journeyed to Cleveland to continue his recruiting duties. His last tour was in New Orleans, where he retired in 2004 after 22 years of active service.

He now works as a water treatment specialist in Madison County.