FAIRHOPE—With a military career that spanned four decades and three wars, retired U.S. Maj. Mordecai “Mawk” Arnold has been selected as Fairhope Veteran of the Year for 2012.

“He has had an outstanding career, enough for two or three lifetimes, with service to the country not only in uniform but also in educating our youth,” said Jim Jeffries, chairman of the executive committee of American Legion Post 199, which made the selection, at Monday’s City Council meeting. “He’s a tireless volunteer both in the Marine Corps League and the American Legion. And there are several in the Marine Corps League and American Legion here to honor him tonight. It is my honor to salute my very good friend.”

Arnold received a standing ovation from the audience in council chambers and then accepted the Veteran of the Year plaque from Council President Lonnie Mixon.

“I not only thank everyone who’s here, I thank the city of Fairhope,” Arnold said. “I thank the City Council. I thank all those who have served. I thank Mayor Kant. I thank all of my friends in Fairhope that I’ve known for the past 81 years here. And I thank those who nominated me for this: the American Legion, the Veterans for Foreign Wars, the DAV, all of those who have chipped in to help me be here today. I’m very appreciative. I question whether or not I actually deserve it, but I’m very happy to have it. Thank you.”

Arnold will be honored in the Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 10.

“He grew up here and in fact in 1936 he and his family lived in what is now Post 199 on South Mobile Street,” Jeffries said. “He is a graduate of the Organic School. Upon graduation in 1943 he proceeded to enlist in the United State Marine Corps and served in the Air Warning Squadron during World War II in Guam and Peleliu, familiar names to anyone who knows anything about military history, World War II and particularly the United State Marine Corps. In 1945 he became a “China Marine,” going to Beijing for further service.”

Upon his discharge, Arnold went to Troy State Teachers College, where he graduated with a teacher’s degree in 1950. He returned to active duty in the Marine Corps until the end of the Korean War. He returned to reserve status from 1952 until 1955, while he taught English and music at the Cherokee Indian School in Cherokee, N.C., at which time he integrated into the regular Marine Corps and remained on active duty until his retirement, Jeffries said.

Rising through the ranks to Master Sgt. And then Warrant Officer, he was commissioner as a 2d Lt. in public affairs at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He served two years as coordinator of the Armed Forces Radio and Television Services network at Misawa Air Force Base in Northern Japan. Arnold saw 14 months of action in Vietnam and had three tours of duty in Okinawa. He had various public affairs assignments at Parris Island, New Orleans and Atlanta. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1977 with 34 years of honorable service.

After retirement, he obtained master’s degree in college teaching at Auburn University and taught public relations and public speaking at Auburn for seven years. He also taught at Troy University and the University of Miami, Coral Gables, where he was an assistant professor.

From 1993 to 1997, Arnold served as director of the Organic School in Fairhope, where he still serves as director emeritus, Jeffries said.

”Maj. Arnold is a distinguished veteran, but he’s also been a leader in many ways, and he has shown great support for his hometown of Fairhope,” Mayor Tim Kant said in a statement. “We’re all fortunate that he chose to return here.”