Street Talk: Carson City man fought 'Desert Fox' in World War II

It was in September 1940 when Jack Scott joined the Army, but it wasn't the U.S. Army.

"I joined the Canadian Army and served five years during WWII," said Jack proudly as we began our visit. "I was an infantryman. I was attached to the British Army for awhile. We fought the Germans and the Desert Fox (Gen. Edwin) Rommel. I served in the Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders of the Canadian Army too."

Jack was a British subject then. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1949.

Last week Jack celebrated his 80th birthday. We were visiting with Jack and his wife, Jessie, in their Carson City home as they prepared for Jack's birthday festivities.

"I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada," said Jack. "My dad, Raymond, was an American born in Patterson N.J. He served in the British Army in WWI. He was an accountant his whole life in New York City. He died at age 57 from health problems. My mom, Ursala, died at 45 when I was only 10 years old. She was an RN. A heart attack did her in."

Jack has one sister, Pat, who lives in New Jersey and was in Carson City for his birthday and for a visit.

"I grew up in England and Canada and New Jersey," continued Jack. "After the war ended I came back to the U.S. I settled in Los Angeles, went to USC and got my bachelor's and master's degrees there. I then went to work for the U.S. government as an accountant. I retired 30 years later in 1979."

Jessie and Jack will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in August. She is 59 and was born in Evansville, Ind.

"My family moved to Kansas City, Mo., when I was 6 months old," said Jessie as she joined us. "My dad (Jesse) worked in a foundry making tools. He was 53 when he died from a brain hemorrhage in 1959. My mom, Violet, died in 1973 from a stroke. She was 65 years old."

Jessie has two older sisters, Kay and Bea. Both live in Kansas City. She and Jack met when her job brought her to L.A.

"I was working for the IRS in Kansas City and transferred to L.A. I wound up working in the same office as Jack. I was a secretary ... That's how we met."

They married in Los Angeles. Both had been married once before and each had four children from those marriages.

"Four of our children live in Carson Country and four live in California," added Jessie. "We have 14 grandchildren - six are local - and one great-granddaughter. She's here too."

They came to live in Carson City in 1979 after "visiting here before" and Jack went back to being an accountant.

"I started my own home-based accounting practice in 1980 and I had between 300 and 400 clients," he noted. "It was a successful business and Jessie was my office manager. She was also the boss of the business."

He laughed at that as he said he "retired from that" in 1997.

Both became actively involved in our community and both have done many worthwhile things for local organizations.

"I was an officer and director of the Brewery Arts Center, Nevada Landmark Society and some other local organizations," said Jack. "I helped to organize the Nevada Society of Scottish Clans and I did some part-time teaching at WNCC."

Jessie has been active in community affairs and was the president of Welcome Wagon and the Friendship Force, an international travel and exchange group. She is "very active" in St. Peter's Episcopal Church in addition to her other interests.

"We are both members of the Clan Scott International Organization too," added Jessie.

A NICE RETIREMENT

I asked Jack and Jessie how they're enjoying life in Carson City and if they have anything exciting planned for the 4th of July and beyond.

"At my age I don't even buy green bananas," replied a laughing Jack. "I just sit around and bullshit a lot. I'm enjoying my life and am very happy."

Jessie noted they "travel a lot" and will continue doing that.

"We've been all over the world," said Jessie. "We've been to England, Australia, New Zealand and last April we went by train to New York City and Canada. That was a 7,500-mile trip. We met a lot of interesting people in our travels too."

Jessie said she likes to read, do hand-sewing and spend time with family, especially the latter.

"That's about it for me," she said with a smile. "Our July Fourth will consist of a barbecue with friends and family and not much else. Things are going good for us right now . We like living in Carson City. We're both very happy and we wish everyone in Carson City a happy Fourth of July holiday!"

I'll echo that and wish you all a happy and safe holiday on Tuesday.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Hot enough for you? Don't know if this will help you cool off but tonight on our Street Talk TV Show on CAT-10, we'll have - as we always do the first weekend in July - our Christmas show.

Lots of Christmas music, bright lights and snow! The show airs at 6 p.m. Repeats Monday at 8 a.m.

ALAN ROGERS is a Nevada Appeal columnist. His message phone is 887-2430, ext. 402.