Jesse Ard: Veteran of the Month | August 2025

Jesse Ard was born on October 23, 1922, in Wilson, Louisiana. He grew up with his brother, Tom, and his sister, Frances. After losing their father at a young age, Jesse, as the oldest child, took on the role of a father figure to his siblings, quickly learning the values of leadership and responsibility—qualities that would benefit him throughout his life.

 

Jesse graduated from Clinton High School in 1939 and started his civilian career driving a 2½-ton truck for Robinson & Young Construction Company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His job involved general hauling and performing minor repairs on his truck, skills that would later prove to be valuable during his military service.

 

On January 31, 1942, Ard entered the United States Army, where he received training as a medical corpsman. Assigned to the 26th Division Medical Detachment as an ambulance driver, he spent 31 months overseas in Egypt and India, providing vital medical support to soldiers in the field. His duties included applying arm and leg splints, administering first aid and shots, and assisting surgeons with minor operations. Though medical corpsmen were not engaged in direct combat, Ard’s role carried immense responsibility and danger, often requiring him to work in blackout conditions to avoid enemy fire while ensuring the safe evacuation of the wounded.

 

Before his deployment, Ard was stationed at Camp Shanks, New York, a major staging area where medical units received final preparations for overseas service. The training and duties of a medical corpsman required skill, discipline, and courage—navigating difficult terrain, working in blackout conditions to avoid enemy fire, and maintaining both medical equipment and the vehicle. Ard was honorably discharged from the AAF Separation Base in Santa Ana, California, on October 23, 1945.

 

Just months before his discharge, Ard married his beloved wife, Frances, on April 30, 1945. They shared a remarkable 56 years together until his passing in 2001. Frances passed away on April 29, 2002, the day before their 57th wedding anniversary. The family lovingly says she “did not want to miss an anniversary with him, so she left the day before, to celebrate with him in Heaven.”

 

After the war, the young couple settled in Zachary, Louisiana, where they raised their daughter, Linda. He worked at Copolymer in Baton Rouge and was a devoted grandfather to two grandchildren and great-grandfather to three great-grandchildren—including Cristie Herring, now Vice President – Business & Operations at Veterans Care Coordination. Cristie’s connection to her grandfather’s service strengthens her personal commitment at VCC to honoring and supporting those who have served. Beyond his time in uniform, it’s clear his greatest mission was his family. As his granddaughter Cristie Herring shared, “Not only was PawPaw a hero in our hearts for his service to our country, but he was our personal hero, because of the example he set with the way he loved his family. He was always there for us with his sense of humor, adventurous spirit, and support. He never missed a school or sports event for his daughter and granddaughters, even coaching his daughter’s basketball team and driving his granddaughters’ basketball and track teams to their games on the team bus.”

 

Though Ard passed away more than two decades ago, his life reflected the values he learned in the Army—dedication, discipline, and a deep understanding of the cost of freedom. His service, his marriage, and his example continue to inspire his family and all of us at Veterans Care Coordination.

 

Veterans Care Coordination is proud to recognize Jesse Ard for his service to our country. We are privileged to have the opportunity to share the stories of our nation’s heroes. Thank you for your service, Jesse.