100-year-old WWII veteran honored at Delta-Millard rivalry game

DELTA — Friday night's Delta-Millard rivalry football game carried a special meaning as the community honored one of its own — a 100-year-old World War II veteran whose service began when he was just 17.

Staff Sgt. Ken Porter was recognized as the game's Honorary Flag Bearer alongside American Legion Post 135.

Porter was one of six Delta High School teenagers who volunteered for military service at 17. He began serving in 1944 with the U.S. Army Air Force and eventually became a tail gunner aboard a B-17 bomber.

During the war, Porter flew more than 50 missions and logged more than 270 hours of flight time.

"Whatever I could to keep this great country the way it should be so that everybody that wanted to come and play on this football field," Porter said.

For Delta High School announcer Rob Jeffery, Porter's story deserved to be recognized by the entire community.

"They weren't even old enough to vote. None of them were, and they volunteered and went to the war to protect our freedom to protect this land, to make it so we do this tonight," Jeffery said. "We wouldn't be doing this tonight if it weren't for men like him."

Jeffery, who has known Porter for years, helped bring the tribute together after hearing more about Porter's military service and believing the community should honor him.

"We just thought it would be a meaningful thing for our school, our community, for everyone involved to bring someone like this in and honor them," Jeffery said.

A special tribute was also read in Porter's honor during the flag ceremony.

After more than 80 years, Porter returned to the field where he once left his hometown behind to serve his country.

"I'm absolutely as honored as can be to have the privilege to come back and being right here at my age," Porter said.

For a community built around Friday night football, the rivalry game became an opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by a generation that served long before these lights ever came on.

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