Jack Hilbrich: Serving in Counterintelligence

By Lynnette Grant, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

John Francis (Jack) Hilbrich served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. He grew up in Griffith, IN with his Mom, Dad, and his older brother by two years, Dick, who served in the United States Navy. Before being drafted into the Army, Jack spent time at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN on a baseball scholarship as a pitcher. After undergrad, he enrolled in law school at the prestigious campus, graduating before joining the military. But when the military called, he answered.

“I don’t even remember having a chat about going into the Army,” Jack recalls. “It was just kind of a day when everybody came together.”

Jack recalls going to Fort Riley outside of Junction City, KS. While attending Basic Training, he learned the ins and outs of the United States Army, where discipline was hard and fast. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being among other servicemen, at times playing baseball or other sports during down time. But even with plenty of lessons, training, exercises, and an eventual assignment into the Army Counterintelligence Corps, Jack still missed home.

“It was a difficult thing for me,” Jack recalls. “I had never been away from home for more than the time to go to school.”

While away at Basic Training, Jack wrote letters back home to his parents. He also phoned home when he could. Jack says hearing his mother’s voice was uplifting and provided support he needed.

Jack Hilbrich never served in combat during the Korean War. Instead, his duties in the Army Counterintelligence Corps kept him here in the United States. There were times when he recalled being able to do his work where he grew up. But he says they went wherever the subject matter they were dealing with was located.  

Being in Army Counterintelligence was no easy task. The Army Counterintelligence Corps introduced soldiers to a variety of weaponry and how to operate and maintain it. 

“There were times when my existence was dependent on the Army security situation and what was happening,” says Jack. 

Even in a situation where his unit was close to a war zone, Jack said he never had to rely on his rifle to protect him. A lot of his work revolved around doing background investigations in different areas, from people to groups, to places. Jack also did clearances for those who needed to be cleared of any wrongdoing or any problem they encountered. It was intense work, but it brought him a lot of pride.

“Whenever I think about being in the service and the pride I felt at the job I had in the CIC, I feel very good,” says Jack. “I feel like I was serving my country in as good of a way as I possibly could have.”

Jack Hilbrich got a lot of inspiration about being a serviceman from his brother, Dick. Dick was two years older than Jack, but having an older brother around made Jack nearly untouchable. If anyone messed with Jack, they had Dick to contend with, and no one wanted to contend with Dick. Dick enlisted in the United States Navy before Jack. While Dick was serving, Jack was playing baseball at The University of Notre Dame. By the time Jack was in Basic Training at Fort Riley, Dick was already gone, adding to the homesickness he experienced.

Jack left the Army in 1953. Shortly afterward, he needed knee surgery, and that is where he met his current wife, Judie, who was one of the attending nurses. She was previously engaged when they first met, and Jack was persistent and kept asking her out for coffee. Eventually, Judie came around, and they married. They have been married for 65 years and have had eight children. Jack’s daughter, Amy, will be traveling with Jack to Washington D.C. for his Honor Flight. Today, Jack and Judie still live together, still looking at each other with as much love as they did 65 years ago.

Jack learned so much discipline while in the Army. The experience was something he will carry with him for the rest of his life. At times, the memories are not always pretty.

“There were… memories you want to remember and memories you didn’t care to think about, much less remember,” says Jack.

No job in the military is too small. Each person has a duty to fulfill during their time of service to the country. Whether it is in combat or not, each job is vital to the survival of the military, regardless of which branch. And each job brings the same sense of pride for one’s country.

“You love your country so much, and you know how much it means to you and then all of a sudden you’re placed in a position where you can do some things that you wouldn’t otherwise have been able to do had you not had the type of preparation that I had,” says Jack.

Thank you for your service, Jack.  Enjoy your well-deserved day of honor on the 105th flight of Honor Flight Chicago!