Tribute To Veterans 2009

Veteran’s Day 2009

by Bill Bailey

Since the first colonists waded in from the Atlantic Ocean onto the shores of this land we call home, there have been conflicts of one sort or another. Protecting our homes, families and neighbors has always been a responsibility that we do not take lightly.

In order to win our freedom from the monarchies of Europe, we fought against the largest, best-equipped army and navy in the world at the time, the British Empire. The first armies of this country were ill equipped, common men who were just farmers, shopkeepers and workers, who knew that if their cause was just, their hearts true and their courage strong they could prevail and cast off the shackles that had kept them from enjoying freedom.

Our country does not go into conflict without due consideration, because we are well aware of the cost of war. There will be men and women who will fight the battles and make the ultimate sacrifice of giving their life in the service of their country. Even those who fight the battles and return home are forever changed by the horrors of war.

Winston Churchill, speaking after the Battle of Britain in World War II, said, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” We must never forget the sacrifices that have been made throughout history to keep us safe and free. We owe all that we are and all we ever will be to those who have put aside their fear and put on a uniform to fight for what they believed was right.

Veteran’s Day is the day to honor and give thanks for all those who have died and all those who have fought for our freedom and for the freedom of others all over the world.

Veterans’ Stories

by Bill Bailey

I intended to have one story of hope or inspiration from each of the conflicts, as told by a veteran who had experienced it first-hand. After contacting many veterans who really did not want to remember those years, I began to understand that anything they saw that may have been good had been lost in all of the pain, sorrow and suffering they had witnessed.

I remember that my father, a veteran of World War II, would hardly speak of his time overseas. All he would say was, “It had to be done and we went and did it.” Many of the veterans I spoke with said that the only good day they could remember was the day when they embarked for home.

After a while, I discovered that almost all the talk I heard from the veterans was about the people they met in the countries where they were stationed. I have summed up everything that they said by comparing notes of the conversations. None could recall a single instance of anything hopeful or inspiring. All they could remember of anything good or that gave them hope while they were overseas and in a combat area was that most of the civilians they had encountered, simple folk just like back home, who had hopes and dreams for themselves, their families and their country, were kind to them and did not want to be in the middle of a conflict either.

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.

SERVICE BRANCH NOT SPECIFIED

Scott Bailey.

Adrian K. Ball - Cpl., Korea, 1952-1954.

Denzil Ball - WWII.

Wilford Ray Ball - TC5, 27th Constabulary Squadron, WWII.

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

James H. Beecher - E3, WWII.

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

Vier Brannon - Vietnam.

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

David (Jack) Bush.

Robert Bush - Korea.

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 Theater, Korean and Vietnam Wars, 1948-1977.

Jack Church, Jr. - Pfc., Korea.

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

Frank Clowser - Korea.

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

James E. Cooper - Sgt., Korea.

Ted Copeland - Vietnam.

Clenton L. Cottrell.

D. Cottrell - WWII, 3rd Div. Infantry Medic, North Africa, Sicily and Italy.

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

Perry Daugherty - WWII.

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

Dennis Dickson - Vietnam.

George Duskey, Jr. - Served in the Pacific in WWII.

Hubert C. Elliot - Tech. Sgt., WWII, 1941-1945.

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

Richard Fisher - Vietnam.

Robert Fivecoait - LCpl., Vietnam.

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

Edward G. Fowler - Pfc., Special Vehicle Operator, 2571st ASU. Awarded WWII Victory Ribbon.

Clyde S. Frame - Pvt., China, WWII.

Denver Gandee - WWII.

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

Jim Garretson.

Orlando Gibson.

James Scott Greathouse - died at the Battle of the Bulge.

Buster F. Griffin.

Donald Gunn - WWII.

James Haines.

Joe Haines.

Robert W. Haines.

Kathy Haines Walsh.

John Hale - WWII.

Clarence Harris - WWII, Stateside hospital duty.

Doy Harris - Desert Storm/ OIF.

Sam Harris - Korea.

Ernest Hartshorn.

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

Sam Hatten - WWII.

Donnie Hayes - Vietnam.

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

Donald H. Heiney - Cpl., Pacific Theater, WWII, 20th Air Force, 504th Bomb Group.

Lorus Hickman - Sgt.

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

Starling Holbert - Vietnam.

Jim Horner - Vietnam.

Shirley Hosey - WWII, 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 the D-Day Invasion.

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

Leo Jarvis - Italy, Bomb Squadron.

Leroy Jones.

Kenneth Keaton - Korea.

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 - WWII, Atlantic Theater.

Dowell McCune - WWII.

Norville McCune - WWII Atlantic Theater.

Claudis McCune, Jr. - Korea.

Larry McDonald - 82nd Airborne Div., 1965-1967. Served in the 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 Theater, Company A, 18th Engineers Battalion.

Louis I. Milam - SP4, Vietnam.

Joe Miller - Vietnam.

John Miller - Cpl., South Pacific, WWII.

Odus Miller - WWII.

Richard Morris - Captain.

Bernard Murphy - Korea.

Cleston Nicholas.

Paris Parsons - WWII.

William Pell.

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

Woodrow Richards.

John Riley - Vietnam.

Denver Roberts - WWII.

Dale Rupert - WWII.

Kermit Saunders - Vietnam.

Gordon Schoolcraft - WWII.

Gordon Schoolcraft - Korea.

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

Bob Shannon - Korea.

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.

Raymond Smith  - WWII.

Charlie Snyder - Korea.

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).

Lou Staton - WWII.

Sheldon C. Stevens.

Gene “Sheriff” Stump - WWII.

Bernard (Tom) Sturm.

Dan Uplinger - Vietnam.

Okey Wade - Korea.

Ernest Wagoner - Pvt., Asiatic-Pacific Theater, WWII.

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

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

Hershel Webb - Korea.

Clarence West - WWII.

Ronnie E. Westfall - E4, Ma-chine Air Gunner, 1975-1979.

Bertha Whipkey - SPC, Korea.

Brady Whipkey - Cpl., Korea.

James Whipkey - Senior Airman.

Ron White - Korea.

Steve White - Vietnam.

Harold Whytsell - Vietnam.

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

Warren J. Wright - AIC.

Bernard Wyatt -WWII.

Arnold Yoak - WWII.

Arnold Yoak - Korea.

Billie Joe Yoak.

Elias Yoak.

Harold Yoak.

Morris Yoak.

Norman Yoak.

Paul Yoak.

Robert Yoak.

Roger Yoak - Vietnam.

Von Yoak.

Evadeen Yoak Kesler.

AIR FORCE

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

Harold Cadle - Airman in the Korean War. Served on the Bon Homme Richard in aviation ordinance. Discharged, 1954.

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

Ronald B. Craddock - A/2, 1958-1962. Served in Air Force Security in Africa, France, England and Azores.

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

Ray Fought - Korea.

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 Theater, 416th Night Fighter Squad.

R.J. Kight - Staff Sgt., Air Force, American Theater, WWII, 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, Texas, 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, WWII.

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 Theater, Battery B, 569th AAA (AW) Battalion, 1943-1946.

Ernest Ball - Pfc., Army, Germany.

Fred Ball, Jr. - Cpl., Army, WWI, 1918-1919.

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 Theaters, 333rd Infantry, 1942-1946.

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

Robert Basnett - Pfc., Army, American Theater, WWII, Co. B, 55th Armored Infantry Batt.

Bernard P. Bell - T/SGT, Co. I, 142nd Infantry, 36th Infantry Div., WWII Medal of Honor winner.

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

Vinson Bostic - Pfc., Army, Normandy, WWII.

Clifford Burrows - Pfc., Army, European Theater, Co. F 7th Infantry, Rifleman, Army Occupation Medal, WWII Victory Ribbon.

Edward Harvey Burrows - Korea, Field Sgt., nine bronze stars, 1949-1952.

James L. Burrows - Pfc., Army, European Theater, WWII, HQ 2891, 75th Div.

Robert Harry Burrows - PFC, Korea, four bronze stars, 1950-1952.

Thurl H. Burrows - Sgt., Army, European Theater, 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 Theater of Operations Medal, Purple Heart. Wounded, Apr. 20, 1945.

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

Thurman Carter - Army, WWII.

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

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

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

Harold L. Craddock - Cpl., Army, Korea, 712 TBR, 1953-1955.

Larry Craddock - Spc 5, 1965-1968. Assigned to Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam, June 1966-June 1967. Returned to Pleiku, Vietnam, Jan. 1968-Oct. 1968 for final assignment.

Leo E. Craddock, - Staff Sgt., 1948-1952. Army Air Corps. Training Command as communications and radio mechanic instructor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everett H. Dye - Pfc., Army, Germany, WWII.

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

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

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

Ernest Edgell - Army, WWII.

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 Theater, 1st Infantry Division, 62nd Signal Battalion.

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

Dolph Fowler - Pfc., Army, Normandy, WWII.

Leonard Fowler - PVT., Army, Stateside, WWII.

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

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

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

Elbert H. Greathouse - June 1941-Jan. 1946.

Ernest L. Greathouse - Pfc., 28th Medical Depot.

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 theaters, 442nd Bomb Squadron, 1942-1946.

Louis Hanes - Sgt., Army, Vietnam.

Mike Harris - Army, South Pacific, WWII.

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 Theater, 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 Theaters, 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 United Nations Service Medal.

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

Dennis Jarvis - J5, Army, WWII, 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, WWII.

William J. Johnson - Cpl., Army, European Theater, WWII.

Denzil Lewis Jones - Pvt., Army, Korea.

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

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

H. Keith Kendall - WWII, Pfc., Army, European, African, Middle-Eastern Theaters, Co. B, 142nd Infantry, 1944-1946.

Jerry Kendall - SP-4, Army, Vietnam.

William Kendall - Sgt., Army, Vietnam.

William H. Kerby - T-5, Army, European Theater, 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., WWII, Italy.

Harold J. Kight - WWII, 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 - US Army, WWII; U.S. Air Force, Korea.

Verlin Lane - Army, WWII.

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

Brice Laughlin - Korea, 1952-1955.

Hubert L. Mace - Sgt., Army, 65th Division, Light Maintenance Company, WWII.

Wilbert B. Maze - Cpl., Army.

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

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

Rood P. McCartney - Pfc., 1943-1945. 379th Med. Coll. Co., European Theater, Rome-Arno, Po Valley, Apennines. European-African Middle Eastern Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart Medal. Wounded in action in vicinity of Caster Del Rio, Italy, Sept. 27, 1944.

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

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

Clell Metz - Army, WWII.

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

Thurl Metz - Army, South Pacific Theater, WWII.

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

Carl Ralph Morris - Staff Sgt., Army, WWII, 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, Co. D, 1st Battalion, 1st Cavalry, APost, 1963-1967.

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

Jerald R. Newell - Cpl., Army, WWII, Medial Corps.

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

Oral Nichols - Pfc., Army, European Theater, WWII, 331st Headquarters Co., 83rd Infantry Div.

Charles Nicholson - SP-5, Army, Vietnam.

Deward Offutt - Staff Sgt., Army, South Pacific Theater, Co. 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 Theater, 20th Armored Div., 1943-1945.

Jack Pettit - Army, Korea.

Robert “Buzz” Plant - Pfc., Army.

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

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

Todd Rhodes - Staff Sgt., Army, Middle East, 731st Maintenance Company, XVIII 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.

Howard F. Riddell - PFC, WWII, Europe and Africa, 1943-1945.

Dale Ritchie - Sgt., Army, European Theater, 42nd Rain-bow 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, WWII 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 Theater, Co., 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Div., entered service in 1941. KIA. Jan. 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, WWII, 1944-1945, 447th Collective Co., ambulance driver with Gen. Patton’s 3rd Army Div., awarded Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, American Service Ribbon.

Darius Sears - Army, European Theater, WWII, Purple Heart.

Dorsey Sears - Army, European Theater, WWII.

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

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

Fred Starcher - Pfc., Army, European Theater, 262nd Signal Const. Co., 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, Co. A, 63rd Battalion, Fort Lee, Va.

Bernard J. Stout - Pfc., Army, European, African and Middle Eastern theaters, 1st Batt., 38th Infantry Reg., 2nd Infantry Div., served in four campaigns, Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and Rhineland. Wounded in action during Battle of the Bulge. Awarded Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart; European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medals with 4 Bronze service stars, WWII 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, WWI, Co. A, 162 Infantry Reg., 41st Infantry Div., served in combat with AEF and also did occupation duty after WWI ended. Awarded WWI Victory Medal, WWI Occupation Medal.

Charles Summers - Army, Korea.

Oswald Summers - Army, WWII.

Ronzel Summers - Army, WWII.

Roscoe Summers - Army, WWI.

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

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

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

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

Woodrow D. Taylor - Army, Okinawa, 63rd AAA Battlalion, WWII.

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 Theaters, 422nd Infantry, was a German POW, liberated in April 1945, Eastern Service Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, American Service Ribbon.

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

Richard Whipkey III - Sgt., Army, Kuwait.

Marion G. Whisman - T Sgt., Army, WWII, North Africa, Italy, Sicily.

Denzil White - Army, WWII.

Donald White - Army, WWII.

Pete Whytsell - Cpl., Army, Korea.

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

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

Victor E. Whytsell - Sgt., Army, European Theater, WWII, 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 Co., 2/535th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Div.

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

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

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

Carl Chenoweth - Army Air Force, WWII.

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 - 1954-1956, 3rd Batt. Reinforced 6th Marines. Toured in 7 countries.

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 Theater, served with 4th Air Marine Wing, 1944-1945. Stationed in Roi-Namur, Majuro, Falalop Islands. Joined SAC in 1948, served in England, Japan, Spain and in Operation Ivy.

Larry D. Harris - Cpl., 2nd Batt., 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div., Vietnam. Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation and Meritorious Unit Citation.

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

Stephen D. Marks - Cpl., Asian Theater.

James Roger Plant - Pfc., Marines.

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

Brice M. Weaver - Sgt., Marines, 3rd Marine Air Wing, Marine Aviation Logistics, Squadron 16, 2001; 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, WWII, 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, 1155 Nantahala, 1951-1955.

Kester Bostic - Ensign, Navy, WWII, USS Utah.

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 Officer, 1948-1952. Served aboard USS Antietam in task force 77, Sea of Japan as A/E technician. Korean Service Medal with 3 stars, U.N. Service Ribbon, Navy Occupation Service Medal, China Service Medal with Asia Clasp, Good Conduct Medal.

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 Theaters, 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 WWII, Korea and Vietnam, 22 years in the service. Served as instructor at the 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, WWII.

Dale Gunn - Navy, WWII.

Boyd Hartshorn - Seaman 1st Class, Navy, South Pacific, WWII, USS Honolulu.

Forrest Heiney - Petty Officer, Navy, Philippines, WWII.

Harry Heiney - Petty Officer, Navy, Philippines, WWII.

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

Roy Preston Helmic - Seaman, Navy, Pacific Theater, WWII, 5th Amphibious Corps., 1942-1945; participated in the Philippine Islands Operation and Ryukyn Island Operation with assault landings in Okinawa. Received the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal and Philippine Liberation Medal.

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

Orel B. Hickman - Seaman 2nd Class, 1994-1946. WWII, USS Springfield-CL66 against Japan and occupational duties offshore. Pacific Theater Ribbon with 2 stars, American Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal and Philippine Liberation Medal.

Orel Bronson Hickman, Jr. - SA, E-2, 1969-1975. Vietnam. USS Constellation and occupational duties offshore. National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, Armed Forces Expeditional Medal for Korea.

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, WWII.

William Rymer “Doc” Law - Coxswain, Navy, WWII.

Roscoe McCune - AOM 3rd Class, Navy, South Pacific Theater, WWII; attached to 3rd Marine Div. Fighter Squad.

Gary S. Mowrey - Captain, Navy, Mediterranean and 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 Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal.

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

William Carl Osborne - Seaman, WWII; Armed Merchant vessels, 1944-45.

Hagan W. Richards - Coxswain, Navy, Pacific Theater, WWII, 1943-1945.

John Gaylord Riddel - Seaman 2nd Class.

Denver “Jim” Ritchie - Seaman 1st Class, Navy, Pacific Theater, 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 Theater, 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, WWII, 1942-1945; USS Minneapolis, USS Dixie, U.S. Naval Base Kodiak, Alaska.

William A. Stalnaker - Seaman 1st Class, Navy, USS Bulock, USS Alaska, 1945-1946.

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

Thomas L. Stamp - Commander, Navy, Pacific Theater, WWII; member of the SeaBees.

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

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

Cecil Sturm - Chief Torpedoman, Navy, Pacific Theater, USS Yorktown, USS Wailer, First WWII 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, WWI.

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

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.