Tribute To Veterans 2007

We would like to thank our readers and subscribers for submitting the names for this tribute and we also thank all of the brave men and women who serve this great country to keep us safe and free. For a brief outline of the wars of the last century please scroll to the end the veterans list.

AIR FORCE

Jill Brewer - Airman 1st Class, Air Force, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.

Jack Connolly - Airman 1st Class, Air Force, Radar Evaluation and ECM Spec., 1954.

Ronald B. Craddock - A/2, Air Force, 1958-1962. Served four years in Air Force security; two years in Africa, France, England and Azores.

Harold Ray Duskey - Staff Sgt., Air Force, 3902nd Motor Vehicle Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

Anthony Gumm - Staff Sgt., Air Force, Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Denzal Park Gunn - Air Force, Night Flying Instructor.

Freddie C. Kight - Lt. Col., Air Force, European Theatre, 416th Night Fighter Squad.

R.J. Kight - Staff Sgt., Air Force, American Theatre, World War II, 15th Air Force.

Thurman Radabaugh - 1956-62 with Strategic Air Command.

Larry D. Slider - Air Force, Vietnam, Okinawa 1970-1971; Thailand/Vietnam 1971 -1972.

Robert N. Stalnaker - Staff Sgt., Air Force, Carswell Air Force Base, Tex., 7FM Squadron (SAC).

Richard L. Whited - Master Sgt., Air Force, Vietnam, Strategic Air Command, 1960-1981.

Ambros G. Collins - SFC (E7), Air Force and Army, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Cuban Missile Crisis, Air Force France and Italy, 1954-1966, Army, 1969-1978.

ARMY

James Arnold - Army, World War II.

Melvin D. Arnold - Sr., LT, Army, Active Service 1942-1946, Reserve 1946-1959.

Arland L. Bailey - Pfc., Army, 1918-1919.

Arnett L. Bailey - Cpl., Army, Germany.

Emory C. Bailey - Pfc., Army, Stateside.

Albert E. Ball - Sgt., Army, European Theatre, Battery B, 569th AAA (AW) Battalion 1943-1946.

Ernest Ball - Pfc., Army, Germany.

Fred Ball Jr. - Cpl., Army, World War II.

Freddie Ball, Jr. - Pfc., Army.

Thomas D. Barker - Master Sgt./1st Sgt., Army, served 25 years in the Army as Military Advisor, 1st Sgt., Assistant Battalion Commander, 1st Sgt. HDQ and HDQ Co., Career Counselor, Motor Sgt., Operations Sgt., Intelligence Sgt., Platoon Sgt., Drill Instructor, Squad Leader, Supply Clerk.

Hale J. Basnett - Pfc., Army, American & European Theatres, 333rd Infantry, 1942-1946.

Harley Basnett - Pfc., Army, European, African and Middle Eastern theatres, Anti-Tank Co., 114th Infantry.

Robert Basnett - Pfc., Army, American Theatre, World War II, Co. B, 55th Armored Infantry Batt.

James C. Billey - Army, European Theatre, 13th of 82nd Airborne Div.

Vinson Bostic - Pfc., Army, Normandy, World War II.

Clifford Burrows - Pfc., Army, European Theatre, Co. F 7th Infantry, Rifleman, Army Occupation Medal, World War II Victory Ribbon.

James L. Burrows - Pfc., Army, European Theatre, World War II, HQ 2891, 75th Div.

Thurl H. Burrows - Sgt., Army, European Theatre, Co. F 32nd Armed Reg., Medium Tank Crewman, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Normandy, Northern France. EAME Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, Victory Medal, American Theatre of Operations Medal, Purple Heart. Wounded April 20, 1945.

Willard R. Burrows - SP4, Army, 1-HQ, HQ Co., 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Div. 1963-1965.

Thurman Carter - Army, World War II.

Rome Collins - Pvt., Army, Entered service in 1944; KIA April 14, 1945.

David L. Cottrell - SP4, Army, Vietnam, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Air Div.

Boyd L. Cooper - Sfc., Korea, killed in action.

Harold L. Craddock - Cpl., Army, 1953-1955; served 18 months in Korea. Awards included Good Conduct Medal.

Larry Craddock - SPC5, Army, 1965-1968, Vietnam.

Leo E. Craddock - S/Sgt., Army Air Corps, 1948-1952; served in Air Training Command as communications and radio mechanic instructor. Awards included Good Conduct and National Defense Service medals.

J.R. Cunningham - Staff Sgt., Army, Pacific Theatre, Army Signal Corp.

Lester L. Cunningham - Pfc., Army, Pacific Theatre, 1942-1945.

Glendon D. Davisson - Major 04, Army, Germany, 24th Infantry Div.; Vietnam, 1st Infantry Div., 1st Cavalry Div.

John B. Dawson - Cpl., Army, European Theatre, 252nd Combat Battalion.

Harold L. Deel - E-4, Army, Washington, D.C., 1962-1965.

Charles Duskey Jr. - Pfc., Army, Rome-Arno Campaign, Company C, Seventh Infantry.

Dale Dye - Pvt., Army, 1560th Scu. Camp, 1945.

Everett H. Dye - Pfc., Army, Germany, World War II.

Glenn Dye - Pfc., Army, South Pacific and European Theatres, 255th Infantry, 1941-1945.

Holly D. Eagle, Jr. - MP/Pfc., Army, European Theatre, 82nd Airborne Div.

Donald L. Edgell - SP3, Army, Korea, 1953-1955, 51st Signal Batt.

Ernest Edgell - Army, World War II.

John W. Elliott - Pfc., Army, 106th Infantry, 423rd Infantry, Company A, 1944-1946.

John D. Ferguson - Sgt., Army, Korea, 24th Company Troop Movement, FECOM, 1953-1955.

Paul Fleming - Sgt., Army, European Theatre, 1st Infantry Division, 62nd Signal Battalion.

Thomas S. Fluharty - SP-5, Army, Vietnam, 1968-1971.

Dolph Fowler - Pfc., Army, Normandy, World War II.

Leonard Fowler - PVT., Army, Stateside, World War II.

Hall V. Francis - Cpl., Army, Germany, Battle of Wesel.

Laymon J. Godfrey - T-4, Army, World War II, 566th Anti-Aircraft Batt. Lt. Tank Troop 15th.

Larry B. Goodrich - Sgt., Army, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, 4th Div.

Elbert H. Greathouse - Army, 1941-1946.

Darrell R. Hall - Corporal, Army, Korea, Eighth Infantry.

Darrell O. Hall - Sgt., Army, Korea, HQ Company, 2nd Infantry.

Victor Hamilton - Sgt., Army, Asiatic-Pacific and American theatres, 442nd Bomb Squadron, 1942-1946.

Louis Hanes - Sgt., Army, Vietnam.

Mike Harris - Army, South Pacific, World War II.

Frederick H. Hathaway - Captain, Army, Medical Officer, 1943-1946.

Charles Heiney - Pfc., Army, Germany.

Denver Heiney - Pfc., Army, Germany.

Larry Heiney - SP5, Army, Germany.

James P. Helmick - Pfc., Army, Pacific Theatre, 35th Div., 137th Infantry.

William F. Helmick - Sgt., Army, 61st TEFTS.

Donald Ray Hicks - SPL4, Army, Vietnam, 1970-1973, 101st Airborne Div., 82nd Airborne Div.

Rex F. Hoover - S/Sgt., Army, Asiatic and Pacific Theatres, 1941-1945. Was a major participant in the Battle of Hill 700, acting as a scout and rifleman. Awarded Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon.

Calvin Jarvis - Cpl., Army, Korea, Co. A, 5th Cavalry Reg. Received Combat Infantry Badge Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Japan Occupation Medal and U.N. Service Medal.

Carl B. Jarvis - Staff Sgt., Army, Pacific Theatre 1942-1946, South Pacific, New Guinea and Philippine Islands. On Guadalcanal, he was Communications Chief.

Dennis Jarvis - J5, Army, World War II, 45th Infantry Medic in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Anzio, South France and Germany. North Africa to Munich, 45th Infantry Medic.

Emmet W. Johnson - Army, 156th Ord Tire Repair, 1942-1945. Served in Africa, France and Texas.

Herbert D. Johnson - Pfc., Army, Pacific and Northwest Command, World War II.

William J. Johnson - Cpl., Army, European Theatre, World War II.

Denzil Lewis Jones - PVT., Army, Korea.

Larry Keaffaber - Sgt., Army, Gulf War, 1st Battalion, 32nd Armor, 1st Cavalry Div. Alpha Co.

Donald Kelly - Cpl., Army, World War II, Patton’s 3rd Army, 68th Tank Batt., France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland Germany; Battle of the Bulge.

H. Keith Kendall - Pfc., Army, European, African, Middle-Eastern theatres, Co. B, 142nd Infantry.

Jerry Kendall - SP-4, Army, Vietnam.

William Kendall - Sgt., Army, Vietnam.

William H. Kerby - T-5, Army, European Theatre, 756th Tank Battalion, 1941-1945.

Doris P. Kight - Sgt., North Africa under Gen. Mark Clark, Italy under Gen. Patton. Purple Heart and 5 Major Battle Stars.

Eudore T. Kight - Pvt., World War II, Italy.

Harold J. Kight - World War II, 1942-43.

William J. Kight - Staff Sgt., Army, 5th Army in Italy, United Forces in Austria.

Chester King - Army, Korea.

Eugene King - Army, Korea.

Eugene H. Kingsbury - Army, World War II; Air Force, Korea.

Verlin Lane - Army, World War II.

Steve Lowe - Lt., Army, Europe, Vietnam, 1960-1980. Also served two years as military advisor in Bangkok, Thailand.

Hubert L. Mace - Sgt., Army, 65th Division, Light Maintenance Company, World War II.

Wilbert B. Maze - Cpl., Army.

Frank Masiarczyk, Jr. - Sgt., Army, Vietnam, 1st Infantry, 4th Battalion, Delta Company, 1967-1968.

Loren S. McCartney - Lt. Col., Army, South Pacific, Australia, Japan, Korea, Europe, Quartermaster Corps., 1942-1963.

Rood P. McCartney - Pfc., Army, 1943-1945. Medical Aidman, European Theatre. Numerous medals, including Purple Heart, Meritorious Unit Award, and Bronze Star for heroic action on Sept. 27, 1944.

John F. McCune - Pfc., Army, Korea.

Edwin N. McKown - SP4, Army, Vietnam, 17th Air Caval-ry, B Troop, 101st Air Div.

Clell Metz - Army, World War II.

Forest B. Metz - Corporal, Army, Company C, 178th Engineer Combat Battalion.

Thurl Metz - Army, South Pacific Theatre, World War II.

Donald Morris - Lt. Col., C-47 pilot in a group that led the glider invasion of France on D-Day. He participated in five major campaigns including the Battle of the Bulge, Bastogne and the crossing of the Rhine. He was commanding officer of the 71st Troop Carrying squadron and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Presidential Unit Citation for the invasion of Normandy.

Carl Ralph Morris - Staff Sgt., Army, World War II, 3541 AAF Base Unit, May 3, 1942 - Dec. 13, 1945, and Aug. 7, 1948 - June 18, 1951; Det #6 23332-3, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Terry Naylor - Pfc., Army, Vietnam, Company D, 1st Battalion, 1st Cavalry, APost, 1963-1967.

Harry A. Newell - Cpl., Army, Korea, Medical Corps.

Jerald R. Newell - Cpl., Army, World War II, Medical Corps.

Paul B. Newell - E4, Army, Vietnam, 523rd Engineers.

Oral Nichols - Pfc., Army, European Theatre, World War II, 331st Headquarters Co., 83rd Infantry Div.

Charles Nicholson - SP-5, Army, Vietnam.

Deward Offutt - Staff Sgt., Army, South Pacific Theatre, Company B, 593rd Corp of Engineers.

James R. Osborne - SSgt.

Donald O. Parsons - T5, Army, 566th AAA Battery C, 1943-1946.

Levi Warden Parsons - Army, European Theatre, 20th Armored Div., 1943-1945.

Jack Pettit - Army, Korea.

Robert “Buzz” Plant - Pfc., Army.

Millard F. Propst - T5, Army, Asiatic/Pacific Theatre, 1st Cavalry, 8th Engineers.

Loyd Reed - Jr., T-4, Army, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre, 1778th Engineer Construction Battalion.

Todd Rhodes - Staff Sgt., Army, Middle East, 731st Maintenance Company, 18th Airborne Corps, Operation Noble Eagle, Dragon Brigade.

Oral E. Richards - E-4, Army, Vietnam, 4th Infantry Div.

Bernard O. Riddle - Sgt., Army, Vietnam, 1955-1964.

Dale Ritchie - Sgt., Army, European Theatre, 42nd Rainbow Div., Battle of the Bulge, Ardennes Forest, Liberation of Dachau.

Nolan G. Ritchie - SP4, Army, Can Tho Vietnam, 1st Signal Brigade, 1st Cavalry Div.

Charles L. Roberts - Pfc., Army, Korea, 816th Field Artillery.

Benton Milton Rogers - Lt. Colonel, Army, Received Army Commendation Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, Glider Badge and seven Overseas Service Bars. He is buried in Abelee Cemetery, Heidelberg, Germany.

Brian Curtis Rogers - S/Sgt., Army, European Theatre, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Div., entered service in 1941. KIA January 1945. Awarded Purple Heart and buried in Epinal American Military Cemetery, France.

Gordon Rogers - Pfc., Army, 69th Infantry, HQ Co., 1st Battalion, 272nd Infantry, 69th Div. HQ Co., 2nd Battalion, 209th Reg. 75th Div., Anti-tank Squad.

Michael P. Rogers - Sgt., Army, Vietnam, 1st Cavalry.

George E. Sampson - Pfc., Army, World War II, 1944-1945, 447th Collective Co., ambulance driver with Gen. Patton’s 3rd Army Div., Awarded Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, American Service Ribbon.

Darius Sears - Army, European Theatre, World War II, Purple Heart.

Dorsey Sears - Army, European Theatre, World War II.

Glenn Sears - Pfc., Army, Korea, 546th Field Artillery Battalion, 1950-1953.

Herbert C. Smith, Jr. - SP 5, E5, Army, 82nd Airborne Div., Fort Bragg, N.C., 1961-1964.

Fred Starcher - Pfc., Army, European Theatre, 262nd Signal Const. Company, Field Lineman 641, 1943-1945, Eastern Campaign and Good Conduct medals.

William F. “Bill” Stemple - Staff Sgt., Army, Vietnam, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Reg., 1st Infantry Div., 1966-1969.

Donald R. Stevens - Cpl., Army, Korea, 8th Army, 3rd Batt., 1953-1955.

William R. Stevens - Jr., Pfc., Army, Stateside, Company A, 63rd Battalion, Fort Lee, Va.

Bernard J. Stout - Pfc., Army, European, African and Middle Eastern theatres, 1st Batt., 38th Infantry Reg., 2nd Infantry Div., Served in four campaigns, Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and Rhineland. Wounded in action during the Battle of the Bulge. Awarded Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart; European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign medals with 4 Bronze service stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp, Presidential Unit Citation, French Croix de Guerre Medal with Silver Gilt Star, Belgian Fourragere and French Jubilee of Liberty Medal awarded posthumously in 2001.

Jesse L. Stout - Army, World War I, Co. A, 162 Infantry Reg., 41st Infantry Div., Served in combat with AEF and also did occupation duty after war. Awarded World War I Victory Medal, World War I Occupation Medal.

Charles Summers - Army, Korea.

Oswald Summers - Army, World War II.

Ronzel Summers - Army, World War II.

Roscoe Summers - Army, World War I.

George W. Talkington - Sr., Sgt., Army, Pacific Theatre, 7th Infantry Div., 1942-1945.

Albert G. Tanner - Pfc., Army, Korea.

Delano D. Taylor - SP4, Army, Cuban Missile Crisis, 1st Armored Tank Div., 1961-1963.

Larry Taylor - SP4, E4, Army, Vietnam, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 1965-1966.

Woodrow D. Taylor - Army, Okinawa, 63rd AAA Battalion, World War II.

Robert Lewis Umstead - T5, Army, stationed in Yokohama, Japan, 1946-1948, to clean up after the atomic bomb was dropped.

Bernard Wager - Pfc., Army, Vietnam, Desert Storm, 720th MP Co. (Vietnam), 307th MP Co. (Desert Storm).

Arley E. Ward - Sgt., Army, South Pacific, 127th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Div.

Lowell C. Weekley - Cpl., Army, Europe and Korea, 109th Field Hospital.

Charles Delmer Welch - Pfc., Army, European, African, Middle Eastern theatres, 422nd Infantry, was German POW, liberated in April 1945. Eastern Service Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, American Service Ribbon.

Hartis G. West - Pfc., Army, European Theatre, automatic rifleman, Canal Zone, Rhineland, Central Europe. Awarded Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Ribbon, American Theatre Service Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon.

Richard Whipkey III - Sgt., Army, Kuwait.

Marion G. Whisman - TSgt., Army, World War II, North Africa, Italy, Sicily.

Denzil White - Army, World War II.

Donald White - Army, World War II.

Pete Whytsell - Cpl., Army, Korea.

Richard A. Whytsell - Sgt., Army, Vietnam.

Roscoe C. Whytsell - Sgt., Army, Vietnam.

Victor E. Whytsell - Sgt., Army, European Theatre, World War II, 314th Infantry, 79th Infantry Div.

Paul Whytsell, Jr. - SFC, Army, Korea, Japan, 1st Cavalry Div., 3rd Infantry Div.

Bernard O. Wilson - Cpl., Korea, killed in action.

Ernest E. Wilson - Pvt., Korea, killed in action.

Henry C. Wilson - Sfc., Korea, killed in action.

Homer R. Wilson - SFC, Army, Vietnam, 1968-1969, D Company, 2/535th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Div.

Cecil R. Wolverton - Pfc., Army, 1590th Service Com-mand Unit, 1944-1945, POW.

Harold L. Wolverton - PV1, Army, Panama Canal, 1977-1983, Company 3, 35th Engineers Batt.

William G. Yeager - Pfc., Army, Korea, 1950-1952.

Carl Chenoweth - Army Air Force, World War II.

MARINE CORPS

Arden P. Bailey - Pvt., Marines, Camp LeJune.

Kenneth Ray Bailey - Cpl., Marines, Vietnam, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 star, Rifle Marksman Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal with device and Meritorious Mast.

George N. Bell - Col., Marines, Japan and Hawaii, Vietnam, Communication-Electronics Officer, 3rd Marine Div., Task Force 76.

Dennis E. Carder - Lance Cpl., Marines, Okinawa, Japan, Vietnam.

John M. Cheesbrew - Master Sgt., Marines, Quantico, Va., Systems Command.

Doyle R. Craddock - Sixth Marines, 1954-1956. Mediterranean cruise to seven countries. Received Good Conduct and National Defense Service medals.

Eugene Deel - Cpl., Marines, Korea, Charlie Co., Battalion 1, Marine Div., 1952-1954. Expert rifleman. Awarded Korean Service Ribbon with 3 stars, U.S. Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, Purple Heart Medal. Wounded in action in Korea, Dec. 7, 1952. Transferred to MP Div. and was present at the prisoner exchange of 1953.

Leo J. Ellison - Master Sgt., Marines, 1943-1946: Air Force 1948-1965. Pacific Theatre, served with 4th Air Marine Wing, 1944-1945. Stationed in Roi-Namur, Majuro, Falalop Islands. Joined SAC in 1948, serving in England, Japan, Spain and in Operation Ivy.

Cpl. Larry D. Harris - Cpl., 2nd Battalion 7th Regiment, First Division, Vietnam. Awards included Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Frank D. Kendall - Cpl., Marines, 1st Marine Div.

Stephen D. Marks - Cpl., Asian Theatre.

James Roger Plant - Pfc., Marines.

Dennis R. Richards, Sr. - Korean War veteran, 1952-1955, 14 months foreign service; medals, Korean Service, U.N. Service, National Defense Service.

James P. Riddel - Sgt., Marines, 1954-1957.

Brice M. Weaver - Sgt., Marines, 3rd Marine Air Wing, Marine Aviation Logistics, Squadron 16, 2001, Marine Air Corps. Air Station, Miramar, Calif., Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

William E. “Rick” Weaver - Cpl., Marines, 4th Marine Air Wing, Air Control Squadron 24, Tactical Air Operation Center, 1981-1987.

Oras D. McWilliams - Cpl., Marines, World War II, 3rd Air Marine Wing.

NAVY

Curtis C. Bailey - Seaman 1st Class, Navy, Europe, Japan, Invasion of Normandy.

Douglas Joe Blair - Master Chief, Navy, Vietnam, Served from 1953-1979. Awarded Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

John D. Boggs - Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class, Navy, USS Nantahala, 1951-1955.

Kester Bostic - Ensign, Navy, World War II, USS Utah.

Harold Cadle - Navy Airman, Korean War; served on Bonhomme Richard in aviation ordinances; discharged 1954.

Oda E. Carpenter - Gunner’s Mate, 3rd Class Petty Officer, Navy, Pacific, USS Fulton for 22 months.

Mathew Carper - Aviation Boatswain’s Mate, Fuels, Navy, USS Theodore Roosevelt, Norfolk Naval Base.

Gale D. Craddock - Petty Officers, Navy, 1948-1952. Served on aircraft carrier Antietam in Task Force 77. Awards included Korean Service, Navy Occupation Service, China Service, and Good Conduct medals, and U.N. Service Ribbon.

Douglas M. Davis - Petty Officer, Navy, Vietnam, USS Alfred A. Cunningham - 1963-1967.

Melba Elliot - Lt., Navy Nurse Corps, Guam, 1942-1947.

Aundrel C. Ellison - Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate, Navy, 1940-1960, served on USS Rendova, USS Boxer, USS Siboney.

Charles Ellison - Master Chief Signalman, Navy, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Pacific theatres, five years at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, USS LST-601, USS Catamount, LSD-17, USS Montague, AKA-54, USS Fort Snelling, LSD-30, USS Ponchatoula, AO-148, USS Kleinsmith, APD-134, USS Randolph, CVS-15, Veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, 22 years in the service. Served as instructor at Navigation Communications School in Maryland for 3 years, Company Commander at Naval Training Center in California for 3 years.

Glen Fowler - Ensign, Navy, Pacific, Air Group 40.

Frank Gainer - Navy, South Pacific, World War II.

Dale Gunn – Navy, World War II.

Boyd Hartshorn - Seaman 1st Class, Navy, South Pacific, World War II, USS Honolulu.

Forrest Heiney - Petty Officer, Navy, Philippines, World War II.

Harry Heiney - Petty Officer, Navy, Philippines, World War II.

Henry H. Heiney - Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class, Navy, European Theatre.

Roy Preston Helmic - Seaman, Navy, Pacific Theatre, World War II, 5th Amphibious Corps., 1942-1945., Participated in Philippine Islands Operation and Ryukyn Island Operation with assault landings in Okinawa. Received Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal and Philippine Liberation Medal.

Hie C. Herron - Petty Officer 3rd Class, Navy, USS Hancock, 7th Fleet, 1954-1958.

Orel Bronson Hickman, Jr. - SA, E-2, 1969-1971, active duty 1971-1975, USNR; served in Vietnam War; aboard USS Constellation CVA-64 aircraft carrier, Vietnam and occupational duties offshore. Medals included National Defense Service, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign.

Orel B. Hickman - Seaman Second Class USN1 (deceased); served 1944-1946, World War II; USS Springfield CL66, against Japan and during occupational duties offshore. Awards included Pacific Theatre Ribbon (2 stars), American Theatre Ribbon, Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation.

Donald W. Hosey - Petty Officer 1st Class, Navy, USS Whitley, USS Delta, USS Sheldrake, USS Prevail.

Steve Husk - Fireman, Navy, 1991-1993. Served in Gulf.

Hubert Jarvis - Navy. Served in a submarine.

Carl King - Navy, World War II.

William Rymer “Doc” Law - Coxswain, Navy, World War II.

Roscoe McCune - AOM 3rd Class, Navy, South Pacific Theatre, World War II. Attached to 3rd Marine Div. Fighter Squad.

Gary S. Mowrey - Captain, Navy, Mediterranean & Desert Storm, Served 3 deployments on USS John F. Kennedy, 2 WESTPAC and Indian Ocean Deployments on USS Enterprise and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Awarded Defense Meritorious Service and 3 Navy Meritorious Service medals, Navy Commendation, Humanitarian Service, National Defense Service, and Navy Achievement medals.

Eric Newell - ABH 3rd Class, Navy, Vietnam, USS Constellation.

William Carl Osborne - Seaman, World War II, Armed Merchant vessels, 1944-45.

Hagan W. Richards - Coxswain, Navy, Pacific Theatre, World War II, 1943-1945.

Denver “Jim” Ritchie - Seaman 1st Class, Navy, Pacific Theatre, USS Peter H. Burnette, participated in the liberation of the Philippine Islands.

Guy G. Schoolcraft - Seaman 1st Class, Navy, 1943-1946; Army, 1949-1952, Pacific Theatre, Korea, 3rd Infantry Div., 10th Engineer (Korea).

Ernest H. Siers - Seaman 1st Class, Navy, 1945-1946.

Albert Monroe Smith - Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class, Navy, World War II, 1942-45, USS Minneapolis, USS Dixie, US Naval Base Kodiak, Alaska.

William A. Stalnaker - Seaman 1st Class, Navy, USS Bulock, USS Alaska, 1945-46.

William H. Stalnaker - Navy, Pacific Theatre, USS Lang, 1942-1945.

Thomas L. Stamp - Commander, Navy, Pacific Theatre, World War II, Member of SeaBees.

Fred A. Starkey - Engineman 2nd Class, Navy, USS Howard W. Gilmore, 1954-1958.

Waitman Stump - Fireman 1st Class, Navy, Pacific Theatre, USS Indiana, 1942-1945.

Cecil Sturm - Chief Torpedoman, Navy, Pacific Theatre, USS Yorktown, USS Wailer, First World War II Purple Heart in Calhoun County.

Robert Lewis Umstead - Stewards Mate, 3rd Class, Navy, U.S. Maritime Service, Panama, 1945. Adjusted age to be old enough to serve and ironically was released when he was legally old enough to join.

Michael J. Virden - Chief Petty Officer, Navy.

Robert D. Virden - 1st Class Petty Officer, Navy.

Roy J. Virden - Lieutenant Commander, Navy.

Everett White - Navy, World War I.

Woodrow Wilson Whytsell - Coxswain, Navy, Pacific and European theatres, 1944-45. Landing Craft/Assault Transport for invasion of Marshall Islands, Palau, Leyte, Luzon and Iwo Jima.

SERVICE BRANCH NOT SPECIFIED 

Scott Bailey.

Adrian K. Ball - Cpl., Korea.

Wilford Ball - TC5, 27th Constabulary Squadron, World War II.

Ray Basnett - Cpl., Co. A, 830th Engineers Batt.

James H. Beecher - E3, World War II.

Reed R. Bennett - Pfc., 515th Ordinance, 1947-1948.

Jason Brewer - Sgt., 35th MP Detach., Ft. Gordon, Ga.

David (Jack) Bush.

Joe Cain - 1st Lt., Korea.

John R. Cheesebrew - Jr., Staff Sgt., Engineers Construction Batt., 1945.

David R. Chenoweth - Sgt., South Pacific, Korean War, 8th Command, Guam, 1948-1952.

Denver Chenoweth, Jr. - Commander, Pacific Theatre, Korean and Vietnam wars, 1948-1977.

Jack Church, Jr. - Pfc., Korea.

Walter E. Close - Cpl., European Theatre, 12/23rd MP Co. with the 9th Air Force.

William Denver Conrad - Sgt., World War II, served overseas for four years. Awarded South Pacific Ribbon and World War II Victory Medal.

James E. Cooper - Sgt., Korea.

Clenton L. Cottrell.

D. Cottrell - World War II, 3rd Div. Infantry Medic, North Africa, Sicily and Italy.

Trevie Cunningham - World War II, Received Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with Bronze Star.

Glen Dawson - TEC/5, European Theatre, 82nd Airborne Div.

George Duskey - Jr., served in the Pacific in World War II.

Hubert C. Elliot - Tech. Sgt., World War II, 1941-1945.

Paul S. Evans - T-3, Korea, 29th General Hospital, Okinawa, 1942-1945.

Robert Fivecoat - LCpl., Vietnam.

Ron P. Fleming - Airman 1st Class, Vietnam, 1963-1967.

Edward G. Fowler - Pfc., Special Vehicle Operator, 2571st ASU, awarded World War II Victory Ribbon.

Clyde S. Frame - Pvt., China, World War II.

Denver Garretson - T/4, European Theatre, Naples-Foggio and Rome-Arno Campaigns, 1941-1945.

Jim Garretson.

Orlando Gibson.

Buster F. Griffin.

Donald Gunn -World War II.

James Haines.

Joe Haines.

Robert W. Haines.

Kathy Haines Walsh.

Clarence Harris - World War II, Stateside hospital duty.

Sam Harris - Korea.

Ernest Hartshorn.

Jeremia Hartshorn - SPC, Ft. Mevior, Va., Medic.

Don Heiney - Cpl., Pacific Theatre (Tinun Island).

Donald H. Heiney - Cpl., Pacific Theatre, World War II, 20th Air Force, 504th Bomb Group.

Lorus Hickman - Sgt.

Elvin Paul Hixon - T-Sgt., Senior Airman, Desert Storm, 1988-1992.

Shirley Hosey - World War II, participated in Exercise Tiger before D-Day and ship was hit by torpedo. Survived two hours by holding to dead man before being picked up by British Destroyer. Served in D-Day Invasion.

Arnold Jarvis - Germany, Combat Artillery, 71st Div.

Leo Jarvis - Italy, Bomb Squadron.

Leroy Jones.

Gerald Kelly - Airman 2nd Class, 1956-1960.

Gordon Kesler.

Dan Markley - Cpl., Desert Storm/Desert Shield.

Joe B. Marks - Staff Sgt., South East Asia.

Bruce McCune - World War II, Atlantic Theatre.

Dowell McCune - World War II.

Norville McCune - World War II, Atlantic Theatre.

Claudis McCune, Jr. - Korea.

Larry McDonald - 82nd Airborne Div., 1965-1967. Served in Dominican Republic Conflict.

Norman McDonald - Korea, 1968-1970.

Ralph McDonald - Vietnam, Served from 1965-1971. Was in Vietnam, 1968-1969.

Troy McDonald - Germany, 1965-1967.

Gordon D. McKee - Private, Stateside.

Bernard C. McKown - Aerographer Mate 2nd Class, Korea, 1948-1952.

E.J. (Fuzzy) Melvin - Air/Sea Rescue Crewman.

Richard P. Metz - SPC(T), European Theatre, Company A, 18th Engineers Battalion.

Louis I. Milam - SP4, Vietnam.

Joe Miller - Vietnam.

John Miller - Cpl., South Pacific, World War II.

Richard Morris - Captain.

Cleston Nicholas.

William Pell.

Milford W. Richards - SP5, Vietnam, 1965-1968.

Woodrow Richards.

Delbert N. Sears - Cpl., Medic; Korea, Osaka, Japan.

Ray Siers.

Clyde E. Smith - SP4, Korea, HQ 1st Infantry Brig., 7th Infantry Div.

Frank W. Smith - SP4, Vietnam, A Battery, 2nd Batt., 94th Artillery, 1966-1968.

Franklin Smith - SP4, 17th Engineers Batt., 2nd Armored Div., 1961-1964.

Herbert C. Smith - Sr., Pfc., Co. B, 31st Engineers Training Batt.

James Stalnaker.

Richard N. Stalnaker - Pfc., 525th Service Corps.

William A. Stalnaker - Jr., SP4(T), Vietnam, 1968-1974.

John Morris Stamp - Lt Col., Vietnam.

John Michael Stamp - Captain, Service in the Gulf.

Benjamin Stanley.

Denzil D. Starcher - Cpl., Korea, 15th FA Batt., 2nd Infantry Div., 1950-1951.

Roger D. Starcher - 1st Sgt., 1970-1993 (Retired).

Sheldon C. Stevens.

Bernard (Tom) Sturm.

Ernest Wagoner - Pvt., Asiatic-Pacific Theatre, World War II.

Bernard E. Wallbrown - Cpl., European Theatre, 12th Fighter Command.

Dale Wallbrown - European Theatre, 1942-1945, 8th Air Force in England.

Ronnie E. Westfall - E4, Machine Air Gunner 1975-1979.

Bertha Whipkey - SPC, Korea.

Brady Whipkey - Cpl., Korea.

James Whipkey - Senior Airman.

Wilford B. Williams - Cpl., 439th Platoon, 4th Batt.

Warren J. Wright - AIC.

Billie Joe Yoak.

Elias Yoak.

Harold Yoak.

Morris Yoak.

Norman Yoak.

Paul Yoak.

Robert Yoak.

Von Yoak.

Evadeen Yoak Kesler.

We thank you all for

your service and sacrifice.

Below are the (brief) histories of the wars of the last century

Veterans Day

Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is observed annually in honor of all those, living and dead, who served with the U.S. armed forces in wartime. Armistice Day was proclaimed in 1919 to commemorate the termination (at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918) of World War I.

On the first anniversary of the truce, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation eulogizing fallen Allied soldiers and referring to Nov. 11 as Armistice Day.

It became a holiday in the U.S., France, United Kingdom, and Canada.

World War I

World War I, originally known as the “Great War” or “The War to End All War,” began in 1914 and ended in 1918.

It was the first time many of the modern war technologies were developed and used. The machine gun, airplane, submarine, poison gas, powerful explosives, flame throwers, hand grenades, accurate long-range artillery and tanks made their debut and changed the way that war would be waged in the future.

At the start of the war, President Woodrow Wilson had declared the neutrality of the U.S.

Tension between the U.S. and Germany increased after the British intercepted and decoded a message from Germany’s foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, to the German ambassador to Mexico, which revealed a German plot to persuade Mexico to go to war against the U.S. Americans were further enraged after U-boats sank several U.S. cargo ships. The final blow was the sinking of the luxury liner Lusitania. America joined the war on Apr. 6, 1917.

On Nov. 11, 1918, at 5 a.m., the Allied and German delegates signed an armistice on terms established by the Allies; and at 11 a.m., hostilities on the western front came to an end.

The end of the war on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 prompted relief and jubilation in all of the warring countries.

Estimated cost in lives, 8,537,800 (source: Encarta® Encyclopedia 2002).

World War II

World War II or the Second World War was a true world-wide military conflict; the combination of two separate conflicts, one beginning in Asia, 1937, as the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the other beginning in Europe, 1939, with the invasion of Poland.

It split a majority of the world’s nations into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. Countries involved mobilized more than 100 million military personnel.

The conflict ended in Europe first. Hitler decided to await the end in Berlin, where he could still manipulate what was left of the command apparatus. On the afternoon of Apr. 30, 1945, Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker, after naming Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz to succeed him as chief of state.

Doenitz had no course open to him other than surrender. His representative, Gen. Alfred Jodl, signed an unconditional surrender of all German armed forces at Eisenhower’s headquarters in Reims on May 7.

The U.S. and British governments declared May 8 V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. The full unconditional surrender took effect at one minute past midnight after a second signing in Berlin with Soviet participation.

Allied victory was absolute when on Aug. 14, 1945, after the dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan announced its surrender. The formal signing took place on Sept. 2 in Tokyo Bay aboard the battleship Missouri.

This war ushered in a new age of weaponry and tactics, such as heavy bombers (for strategic warfare), jet-engine fighters, rockets (both short range and ballistic), radar, and the atomic bomb.

Estimated cost in lives: 43,461,500 or five times the number killed in World War I (source: Encarta® Encyclopedia 2002).

Korean War

Japan had occupied Korea during World War II. After Japan’s defeat, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel into the Communist Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the north and the U.S.-backed Republic of Korea in the south.

 After June, 1949, when the U.S. withdrew its army, South Korea was left vulnerable. A year later, North Korean troops invaded South Korea. President Harry S Truman reacted quickly. He committed U.S. forces to Korea, sent World War II hero, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, there to command, and asked the U.N. to help protect South Korea from conquest.

MacArthur drove the North Koreans back to the dividing line. Truman ordered American troops to cross the 38th parallel and press on to the Chinese border. China responded in November, 1950, with a huge counterattack that decimated the U.S. armies.

On Mar. 10, 1951, MacArthur asked Truman for “D-Day atomic capability”--the ability to launch a massive nuclear assault. Truman complied, ordering the Air Force to refurbish the atomic bomb loading pits at Okinawa, Japan, which were used during World War II. Atomic bombs were then carried to Okinawa unassembled and put together at the base, lacking only the essential nuclear cores.

On Apr. 5, the Joint Chiefs of Staff ordered immediate atomic retaliation against Soviet and Chinese bases in Manchuria, if large numbers of new troops entered the war. Truman approved the transfer of nine nuclear warheads, as well as orders outlining their use the next day.

 The Korean War did not officially end until 1953, when President Dwight Eisenhower imposed a precarious armistice.

As many as four million Koreans may have died. China lost up to one million soldiers, and the U.S. suffered 36,934 dead.

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a military struggle fought from 1959 to 1975, involving the North Vietnamese and the National Liberation Front (NLF) in conflict with U.S. forces and the South Vietnamese army. From 1946 until 1954, the Vietnamese had struggled for independence from France during the First Indochina War.

The country was temporarily divided into North and South Vietnam. North Vietnam came under the control of Vietnamese Communists, who had opposed France and who aimed for a unified Vietnam under Communist rule. The South was controlled by Vietnamese who had collaborated with the French.

The U.S. became involved in Vietnam because it believed that if all of Vietnam fell under a Communist government, Communism would spread throughout Southeast Asia and beyond.

The U.S. supported the South Vietnamese government in order to prevent the spread of Communism. The U.S. involvement deepened in August, 1964, when North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked two American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The first U.S. ground troops arrived in Mar. 1965, and by the end of the year, there were 80,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam. By 1969 there were 543,000. That year, U.S. president Richard M. Nixon began to withdraw troops while stepping up the bombing of North Vietnam.

Three to four million Vietnamese on both sides were killed, in addition to 1.5 to two million Laotians and Cambodians. More than 58,000 Americans lost their lives.

Persian Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War began in August, 1990, when Iraqi forces invaded and occupied Kuwait.

The conflict culminated in fighting in January and February, 1991, between Iraq and an international coalition of forces led by the U.S.

The Iraqi attack began shortly after midnight on Aug. 2, 1990. Around 150,000 Iraqi troops, many of them veterans of the Iran-Iraq War, overwhelmed the unprepared and inexperienced Kuwaiti forces, which numbered about 20,000.

The U.N. Security Council and the Arab League immediately condemned the Iraqi invasion.

Four days later, the Security Council imposed an economic embargo on Iraq that prohibited nearly all trade.

Beginning a week after the Iraqi takeover of Kuwait and continuing for several months, an international force gathered in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. sent more than 400,000 troops, and another 200,000 troops came from 15 other countries. Other nations contributed ships, air forces, and medical units.

On Nov. 29, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution to allow member states to “use all necessary means” to force Iraq from Kuwait, if Iraq remained after Jan. 15, 1991.

On Jan. 12, 1991, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution authorizing the president to use force. When the U.N. deadline passed without an Iraqi withdrawal, a vast majority of coalition members joined in the decision to attack Iraq. In the early morning of Jan. 17, 1991, coalition forces began a massive air attack on Iraqi targets.

On Feb. 24, the coalition launched its land offensive. Two days after the ground war began, Iraq announced it was leaving Kuwait. On Feb. 28, with the collapse of Iraqi resistance and the recapture of Kuwait, the coalition declared a cease-fire.

On Mar. 2, the U.N. Security Council issued a resolution laying down the conditions for the ceasefire, which were accepted by Iraq in a meeting of military commanders on Mar. 3.

Almost all of the casualties occurred on the Iraqi side, estimated at 20,000 to 35,000. The coalition losses were extremely light by comparison: 240 killed, 148 of whom were Americans.