First National Bank and Trust Pays Homage to Veterans with $5,000 Gift and Veteran Speaker at Clinton Community Schools
November 15, 2017
Clinton, IL, November 13, 2017 – First National Bank and Trust Company celebrated Veterans Day by bringing Veteran Michael (Mick) Guttau to talk to Clinton Community Schools on Friday, along with presenting a $5,000 gift for three DeWitt County Vet groups.
Guttau is the chairman of TS Banking Group, the holding company that purchased First National Bank and Trust Company earlier this year. He served as a Cobra Attack helicopter pilot and Air Mission Commander in the US Army Air Calvary in the Vietnam War. CPT Guttau was awarded 28 Air Medals, including an Air Medal of Valor, the Bronze Star, and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.
His speech for Clinton schools focused on the concept of team, why he remembers ‘The Guys’ who gave it all.
“Today we’re going to talk about the concept of the team and some who gave all for the team, as well as Words of Honor,” said Guttau.
“For twice as long as the oldest of you students have been living, I have not lived one day of my life without thinking about combat,” revealed Guttau. “From 1970-71: That is 47 years, that is over 17,000 days, every one of those days thinking about combat.”
Guttau explained that certain smells, such as diesel fuel at the farm or jet fuel at airports remind him of fighters and helicopters, and the burning of gunpowder, when people set off fireworks reminds him of combat.
He goes on to say that most of his life he thinks about ‘The Guys.’
“Each mountain top experience, the births of my children, their honors, their victories on this basketball floor, their graduation from college, their weddings, our grandchildren, my wife and I’s wedding anniversaries and on and on have each involved “The Guys,” acknowledged Guttau.
“My memory of them makes each day a blessing, a day worth living. Not because I live it for them, but because I’ve been humbled with knowing the value of life through their deaths,” explained Guttau. “The guys won’t ever be called ‘Daddy.' They’ll never stand up in the bleachers and yell when their child sinks the big one. They’ll never have a job to go to.”
Guttau described Words of Honor, clarifying it boiled down to a T-shirt a friend bought him at the Vietnam Wall in Washington DC that said ‘If you need me, I will come.’
“That is why a soldier will lay his or her life on the line for a fellow soldier, recalled Guttau. “There was that unspoken pledge to each other: If you need me, I will come.”
“We as veterans just ask you to understand that today, Veterans Day, is our day . . . not just a day of celebration, but a day just like every other day that we will use for remembering ‘The Guys’ and gals and knowing that freedom is worth fighting for, even for others, especially when the freedom is to honor our God who loves you and me,” he concluded.
From Iowa, Guttau spoke to the elementary, jr. high and high school students at three different presentations on Friday.
The $5,000 DeWitt Vets gift presented by First National Bank, was divided among three local entities; the American Legion, AmVets of DeWitt County and Vets of Foreign Wars, where Mick Guttau is also a member and presented on Friday.
“Post 4168 is pleased to accept this gift. You can be assured this will be used for the benefit of our veterans and community,” said Ronald Jones – Sr. Vice Commander of the VFW Post 4168 in Clinton.
“Thank you First National Bank for honoring us with this donation. We will use it toward uniforms for the Post 14 Honor Guard as well as the Honor Flight flag supply,” said Marc Rogers – Commander of the AmVets Post 14 in Clinton. “These and other services we provide, such as Thanksgiving dinners and our benevolence committee, provide local veterans with much-needed assistance. The money will be put to great use!”
Michael’s Bio:
Michael (Mick) Guttau, Chairman of TS Banking Group, served as a Cobra Attack helicopter pilot and Air Mission Commander in the US Army Air Calvary in the Vietnam War. CPT Guttau was awarded 28 Air Medals, including an Air Medal of Valor, the Bronze Star, and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. After leaving the military, in 1978 at the age of 31, with the help of his family, Mick and his wife Judy used the family farm as collateral to buy Treynor State Bank in Treynor, Iowa, now known as TS Bank, and turn it into the community prosperity engine it is today. More recently, TS Banking Group, a multi-bank holding company was created and in 2017 acquired First National Bank and Trust Company of Clinton, Illinois.
American Legion info:
It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.
AMVETS info:
As one of America’s leading veterans service organizations with more than 250,000 members, AMVETS has a proud history of assisting veterans and sponsoring numerous programs that serve our country and its citizens. Membership in AMVETS is open to anyone who honorably served, or currently serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserve
Vets of Foreign Wars info:
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veteran’s service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces. Ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great county.
About First National Bank and Trust Co: First National Bank & Trust Company is a community bank located in Clinton, Illinois. Dedicated to community prosperity, the bank was chartered in 1872 under the name DeWitt County National Bank. The name was changed First National Bank and Trust Company in 1974, and was recently acquired by TS Banking Group in 2017. With $125 million in assets, First National Bank is dedicated to community reinvestment and gives 10% of its net income back to the community. For more information visit firstnbtc.com.