A ‘unique antique’: Arlington Heights American Legion Post 208 honors 99-year-old World War II veteran

Family, friends and Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia gathered at American Legion Post 208 earlier this month to celebrate the 99th birthday of Clarence Placek, a World War II veteran, great-grandfather and valued member of the community.

Placek was born on June 13, 1927, and grew up on the Northwest Side of Chicago. He had an active childhood filled with roller skating, playing baseball and crafting kites.

He gained a reputation around the block as skilled at playing marbles. He won so many games that he eventually amassed a huge, colorful hoard — but when he later returned home to reminisce as an adult, Placek discovered that his trophy collection had come to a humorous end.

“I asked, ‘Hey, Mom, where’s my marbles?’ She said, ‘I gave them to your cousin,’” Placek recounted. “I went to my cousin. I said, ‘How’re you doing? Did you win more, or what happened?’ He said, ‘I lost them all.’ He lost them all!”

Placek chuckled ruefully. “There were some real beauties in there.”

Placek graduated from Lane Tech High School, where his classes set him up for a career in electrical engineering. But World War II cut this vocation short when, at only age 19, he was drafted to serve in the Pacific Theater in 1946.

Despite the fact the war had officially ended a year earlier, Allied forces had only just freed the Philippines from Japanese imperial rule, and they needed boots on the ground to navigate the transition to independence and pick up the pieces. Placek worked as a quartermaster in Tondo, Manila, where he oversaw an inventory of supplies designed to prepare for a possible Japanese invasion.

Once his yearlong tour ended, Placek returned to Chicago and his high school workplace: a Hillman’s grocery store at Devon and Artesian avenues. It was there where he met Jerrine, a fellow employee and the woman who would become his wife.

“She was walking down the street with our mutual friend, and our mutual friend introduced us together,” Placek said. “She was a beauty.”

Following their snowy 1950 wedding, Clarence and Jerrine had three children. Their family grew in later years with three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Last December, the Legion post arranged a special dance for the couple to celebrate their 75th anniversary.

“Perseverance,” Placek said. “We’ve had a good life together.”

Placek didn’t stay working at Hillman’s for long. In 1947, he traveled to Buffalo, New York, to major in accounting at Bryant & Stratton College, using his logistical aptitude to become a financial analyst. He would eventually climb the ladder to work for the Securities and Exchange Commission for more than 25 years.

“That’s one thing about education: there’s nothing like it. Always keep all avenues open in your education,” Placek said. “Because I started out as an electrical engineer.”

Even though the June 9 Legion hall birthday party wasn’t the first time the post put on a celebration in Placek’s honor, he thought this would be a relatively ordinary meeting. The size of the party — and its delicious buttercream cake — came as a surprise.

“It humbles you when people think that much of you. Your life looks real different now,” Placek said. “I didn’t think (my birthday) would draw that much attention.”

Mayor Tinaglia pinned a village logo pin on Placek’s shirt to honor his service and delivered a village proclamation recognizing Placek’s birthday, wishing him “continued good health and happiness.”

“Village responsibilities can be difficult and sometimes heartbreaking,” Tinaglia said. “It is very important to take the time for honor and celebrations for all the good that happens when it does.”

Placek’s wife described him as a “character,” and Placek’s daughter, Collette, who baked homemade cookies for the occasion, called her father a “unique antique.” They believed the celebration was both touching and well-deserved.

“Not many people make it this far, to 99 years,” Jerrine said. “It makes sense that these gentlemen would honor him.”

Her husband, meanwhile, ever modest, seemed to have a harder time believing he was worth the fuss. Nevertheless, he eventually acknowledged he had made an impact in his own way.

“I never figured out why I was put here in the first place. I never did anything spectacular,” Placek said. “But what I wanted to get done, I did it.”