Arno Childs Land

Arno Childs Land, age 80, of Kempton died at 4:35 a.m. on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at his residence.  He was born June 23, 1932 in Windfall to Joseph Arno and Madelyn Madge (Childs) Land.  His father was an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. They later moved to Goldsmith, Indiana. 

Arno was a 1950 graduate of Anderson High School where he excelled in basketball, track and cross-country.  During WWII, as a child, Arno Land had the job of ringing the church bells in case of an air raid. 

Arno joined the Army in December, 1950.  He started in the Jump School or Sky Diving School with the 506 D. Company, 11^th Airborne Division – the very first Sky Diving Team in the Army.  He became a certified skydiving instructor in the 101^st Airborne Division and the 506^th Airborne Division.   

In 1952 Arno was shipped to Japan with the 187^th Airborne Regimental Combat Team.  Arno met Chieko Mori in the Spring of 1953.  Soon after that, he was shipped to Kumwa, Korea during the Korean War.  In 1953 his father died while Arno was stationed in Korea.  While in Korea and Japan, Private Land sent money home to his mom to help take care of his little brother and sister.   The Korean War ended and Arno was shipped back to Japan where he married Chieko on November 14, 1955.  She preceded him in death on January 13, 2001.

He rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major in the United States Army, retiring in 1973 after serving 23 years. Arno fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars earning many awards including four Bronze Stars, a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts.  Arno served under retired Major General Richard Chegar during these times who he highly respected and followed into battle.  After retiring from the army in December 1973, he worked for Clyde A. Smith Construction Company in Tipton and also farmed with Dallas Etchison.  He attended  St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Kokomo.

Arno had always loved to farm as a kid growing up in Windfall and Goldsmith.  He also loved raising livestock as a kid.  He had rabbits and chickens.  As all farmers can attest, attributes like hard-worker, prompt, honest and being a man of integrity play a role in successful farming and friendships.  Arno Land was this kind of man – although he was also known to tell a few dirty jokes now and then.  He definitely had a wonderful sense of humor especially after sipping a few drinks of cheap homemade dandelion wine.

Arno loved his family, especially his grandkids and great-grandkids.  He enjoyed fishing and hunting fowl in his early years.  He was a pleasant man.  It was an honor and privilege to have him live his final days surrounded by family.

Arno is survived by three children, Patricia A. Cohee and husband Carroll, Kempton, John Carl Land, Tipton and Lois Lee Bell and husband Terry, Russiaville; three grandchildren, Cason Mori Cohee, Derrick Leon Cohee, Philip Lee Childs Achenbach; two great-grandchildren, Macey Ann Cohee, Anderson Mori Wayne Cohee; two sisters, Lois J. Smith, Tipton and Neva Yust, Anderson; and one brother, Byron Land, Anderson.  He was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph Arno Land, Jr. and one sister, Miriam Stoops.

A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 700 East Southway Boulevard, Kokomo with Rev. Dr. John L. Walls presiding. The family will greet friends from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.   Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.  Memorial donations may be made to St. Luke's UMC for missions.  Young-Nichols Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.