A Patriotic Display

by Krista Norton | July 9, 2020

Jake Thornburgh, retired U. S. Army Lieutenant Colonel lives with his wife, Cathleen in Coolidge, proudly flies his flag, but this year on July 4th, especially, wanted to show his patriotism. “With all that is in the news today, showing anti patriotism, my wife, knowing I had numerous flags, suggested I get them out and display them.” 

Born to Gene and Edith Thornburgh in Holly, Colo. and raised in Coolidge. “My given name was Jan, but I hated it because people seeing my name automatically thought I was a girl, so I changed it to Jake,” explained Thornburgh.  He became a Doctor, specializing in podiatry. He tried his hand at private practice, opening an office with his brother-in-law who was a dentist in Jordan, Utah. 

“It was a poor location,” described Thornburgh because his brother-in-law needed lots of young people, and a podiatrist needs lot of old people.  “It was not progressing, so I called up the Army, Navy and the Airforce,” he said.  His first choice was the Navy, but the Army was the one who picked him up. 

He was commissioned in 1979, and his first assignment was in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He then served numerous tours including the officer advance course and surgical residency program, San Antonio, Tex.

While in private practice, focusing on the older population was quite the opposite in the Army where young soldiers became his patients.  “Soldiers are unwilling athletes, so my practice was essentially sports medicine,” he said, “which was good cause I enjoyed it.” 

He did find it difficult at times to treat the soldiers because they are under the thumb of their sergeants, so when he would suggest going home, put their foot up and relax, “That did not carry any weight with the person on the other end.” 

He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany when the wall come down, and has part of the wall, as he is an avid rock collector. He also has a rock he collected from the Great Wall of China, where he had the opportunity to hike and spend time at the top, taking in the scenery. He served in Germany, when the first gulf war happened, Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colo, Westpoint, N.Y. and Walter Reed, Bethesda, MD. 

In addition to numerous flags on the outside of his home, inside, he proudly displays a folded flag in a wooden case. It was given to him upon his retirement in 2005 while stationed at the 121st Medical Evacuation Hospital in Seoul, Korea. He explains the flag was flown over “truce village” of P’anmunjom, which is located within the demilitarized zone about 5 miles east of Kaesong, N. Korea. It was the site of peace discussions during the Korean War.

A blue star mothers service flag was hanging in their living room window. The blue stars symbolize family members serving in the armed forces. They are especially proud of their two son in laws who are currently serving, one is a Major in US Army, and the other graduated from the naval academy and is commissioned in the Marine Corps.