SYDENSTRICKER’S VETERANS

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. --Ephesians 6:10-18

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. --Joshua 1:9

...Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I; send me. --Isaiah 6:8

UNITED STATES ARMY Established June 14, 1775

The Army’s mission is to fight and win our Nation’s wars by providing prompt, sustained land dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders. We do this by: --Executing Title 10 and Title 32 United States Code directives, to include organizing, equipping, and training forces for the conduct of prompt and sustained combat operations on land. --Accomplishing missions assigned by the President, Secretary of Defense and combatant commanders, and transforming for the future.

Name: Ed Anderson Branch of Service: Army Dates of service: 7 May 1994 to present

Places served: FT Sill, Oklahoma; Kirchgoens, Germany; Bosnia (1996 & 1999); FT Hood, Texas; Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado; Peterson AFB, Colorado; and Northern Virginia

Why I joined: I'm a third generation Field Artillery Army Officer. Despite my earnest attempts in college to break the trend, I discovered the family path was what I wanted to do.

Name: Sandra Phillips Barth Branch of Service: Army Dates of service: July 1983 to July 1986 (active); July 1986 to July 1996 (reserve)

Places served: First Forward Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3d Infantry Division; Schweinfurt, Germany

Why I joined: My father is retired Army and a Vietnam War veteran. I grew up as an “Army brat.” I feel service to your country is an important way to give back for all that we usually take for granted as a U.S. citizen.

Thoughts about my service: Military service (and my time spent growing up as part of an Army family) can be such a lifechanging experience! It provides a medium for you to begin to develop your potential as a person, a citizen, a husband/wife, and a parent.

Name: Colonel Tom Barth Branch of Service: United States Army Dates of service: Commissioned in May 1983 – Still on active duty

Places served: Georgia, Germany, Washington (State), Texas, Kansas, New York, California, Hawaii, Washington DC, Bosnia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq

Originally went to West Point to play lacrosse and then later discovered that I enjoyed serving our country as a Soldier.

Thoughts about my service: You won’t get rich, moving every two or three years and the long separations are tough but if I had my whole life to live all over again I would join the United States Army.

Name: 2nd Lieutenant Tom Barth Tom graduated from the Army ROTC program at Auburn University in August 2010 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. In 2011, he was at Fort Rucker, Alabama, undergoing pilot training. Upon graduation he would be a MEDEVAC pilot.

Name: Joel W. Campbell Branch of Service: US Army Corps of Engineers Dates of Service: 12/26/1969 – 01/01/1990

Places Served: Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Karlsruhe, Germany; Baumholder, Germany; Blacksburg, Virginia; University of Richmond, Virginia; Darmstadt, Germany; Cameron Station, Alexandria, Virginia

Why I joined: To serve my country

Thoughts about my service: Most rewarding time of my life; did things as a young officer that provided experiences that I would probably never have otherwise encountered.

Name: Colonel Mike Carkhuff Branch of Service: US Army, retired Dates of Service: 5 July 1965-29 Oct 1993. Enlisted 5 July 1965. Attended BCT, AIT, Airborne, and Infantry OCS.

Places served: Fort Benning, Georgia (1965-66); Fort MacArthur, California (196667); Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam (1967-68); Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana (1968- 69); University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska (1969-70); Fort Ord, California (1970-72); DaNang, Vietnam (1972-73), left on last US aircraft out of DaNang; Army Recruiting, Jackson, Mississippi (1973-76); 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii (1976-79); Armed Forces Staff College (student), Norfolk, Virginia (1979); Army Personnel Command; Virginia (1979-82); Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon (1982-85); Cdr, 43rd Adjutant General Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (1985-87); Cdr, San Francisco Recruiting Battalion, California (1987-88); Director, Base Realignment and Closure Office, Presidio of San Francisco, California (1989-91); Industrial College of the Armed Forces, (War College student) Fort McNair, Virginia (1991- 92); NATO Forces, AFSOUTH, Naples, Italy (1992-93).

Why I joined: Army service was a distinct honor and my patriotic duty!

Thoughts about my service: I have been honored to serve the cause of FREEDOM alongside some of the finest men and women on the planet!

Name: Bobby Chin Branch of Service: US Army & US Army Reserves Dates of Service: 25 July 1972 – 24 Jul 2002 Photo: Bobby Chin at Camp Colt, Bosnia, in August 1996

Places served: Turkey; Rock Island, Illinois; Fort Eustis, Virginia; Germany; Belgium; Fort Lee, Virginia; Pentagon; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; England; Hungary

Why I joined: To stay involved with the Pershing Rifles, I joined the ROTC Program at Louisiana State University. However, after I was commissioned as a 2LT, my Dad asked me to wear my uniform to go with him to a meeting where I saw how proud he was of my being in the military.

Thoughts about my service: Two most significant events of my time in the Army – Jun-Dec 1996 – Operation Joint Endeavor – my Reserve unit (4th Movements Region (Aug) being mobilized to support the redeployment of the 1st Armored Division out of Bosnia; Sep 2001 – my Reserve detachment being mobilized to support operations in the Pentagon.

Name: Karen L. Chin Branch of Service: Army

Places served: Fort McClellan, Alabama (student); Fort Knox (student); Kaiserslautern, Germany. Transportation assignments and light-medium truck company command, Fort Eustis (two student tours); Military Personnel Center, Alexandria, Virginia (assigned in secondary specialty: Personnel Mgt)

Why I joined: Even with ten years public service as a school teacher, something was missing. The Army provided what was missing. Duty, Honor, Service to the USA as a uniformed service member.

Thoughts about my service: One-time-only opportunities awaited--I was the tail end of the WAC Corps, part of the first class of women required to qualify with an M16, and the first female commander of a nuclear-special weapons transport unit. During command, our unit was the first unit to receive the initial fielding issue of the M911 tractor trailer. Now…you see them everywhere.

I had the honor to serve in two major Army corps that no longer exist: the Transportation Corps and the WAC corps. I graduated as a WAC and was immediately permanently detailed to the Transportation Corps. Perhaps most unusual: All of my service time was during the last time of peace that the US has experienced.

Name: Don Curry Branch of Service: Army Dates of Service: January 1971 to January 2001 Photo: Don Curry about 1985

Places served: Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Hood, Texas; Pentagon; Republic of Korea; Fort Meade, Maryland; Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia; Yokota AB, Japan

Why I joined: I attended Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, for several good reasons. ROTC was mandatory which was one of my reasons for my choice. Of course it turned out to be a great choice when I won a low number in the draft lottery. I had the blessing of having an ROTC advisor who was a great officer who encouraged several cadets to give the Army serious consideration for a career of service to the Nation. Several of us did just that. He later became the Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army and Commander-in-Chief, US Forces, Korea.

Thoughts about my service: I had many great assignments packed into 30 years of service in the Medical Service Corps. The best assignments in the Army involve leading and caring for soldiers and their families. I found many opportunities to make a difference for them at all levels from the medical platoon to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. My most memorable assignments were working with soldiers in troop units to include the privilege of serving in command. Other great assignments included medical program analysis and evaluation assignments in the Army Staff and in the Office of the Surgeon General where far-reaching changes were made to make quality of life better, be it on the battlefield or in our military hospitals. Best of all, I met LaRae!

Name: Robert J. Dannemiller, Jr. Branch of Service: Army

Dates of Service: May 1979 to December 2004 (Active Duty/Reserve) Places Served: Bamberg and Ansbach Germany, Georgia, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Minnesota, St. Louis, New York, and Washington, DC

Thoughts about my service: I was born in Germany (father was Army) and I was able to return to Germany which was my first assignment. Education was a big part of my career as I was an ROTC instructor and was able to complete two Masters Degrees.

Name: Cathy A. Denison Branch of Service: US Army Dates of Service: October 1993 – November 26, 1997 Places served: Ft Knox, Ft Lewis, Korea

Why I joined: I was not ready to attend college, and my parents were expecting another baby with some health concerns.

Thoughts about my service: I really appreciated the chance to serve my country and got to travel a little bit. My eyes were opened about the differences between cultures and how to work with others constructively no matter the difference. Now I know it was not an active war situation but we were required to prepare and behave as if the war could restart/ happen any minute. I use my experiences to help me visualize those currently serving as I pray for their safety and quick returns home.

Name: Tom DeWitt Branch of Service: US Army, Retired Dates of Service: 16 May 1980 - 1 Jun 1996

Places served: Ft. Bliss, Texas; Germany (twice); Ft. Benning and Ft. Stewart, Georgia; Longwood College, Farmville, and Ft. Belvoir, Virginia

Why I joined: My father was an Infantry First Sergeant and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He taught me that freedom is not free and inspired in me the value of service to our country.

Thoughts about my service: The army provided a wonderful life for Cindy, the kids and me. It afforded me the opportunity to do something meaningful with my life as well as the privilege of several commands comprised of the country's finest young men and women. Serving to me always meant wanting to make a difference. My final assignment was as a Project Manager asked to build a telecommunications device that would allow supply data to move over our tactical networks instead of by truck as it was done in Desert Storm. It was incredibly rewarding to work with a team of professionals to take the project from chartware to hardware in 18 months. Today, the CAISI device remains the cornerstone of the Army tactical logistical data network in Iraq. I credit all that I have done in my adult life to these experiences in the Army. I will always be grateful to have served.

John Dineen was on active duty from January 1963 through January 1965. He served as a First Lieutenant in the US Army Infantry in Korea and at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He then spent six years in the Army Reserves. John joined the Army to serve his country. Forty-plus years later he has good memories of the comradeship he shared with his fellow soldiers.

Photo: First Lt. John James Dineen on his wedding day to Joan in June 1964

Ryan and Kirsten Dowdy have served for 11 years each on active duty in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. We joined to serve our nation. It really is that simple. For us, it was the right choice...we love what we do and we love the people we get to serve with! What a blessed life God has chosen for us.

After Ryan joined the JAG Corps in 1999, he was stationed in Germany for four years. He served in many areas of the law during that time, to include operational law and prosecution. He deployed to Bosnia the day before 9/11 in support of the the NATO SFOR, twice to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in November 2002 and from February 2003April 2003, and to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as an operational law attorney and prosecutor from April 2003 to February 2004. After returning from Iraq, Ryan was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he served as a defense attorney for two years and worked with the U.S. Special Operations Command for one year. Then he earned his L.LM. in military law in Charlottesville, VA in 2008. Ryan has been serving in Rosslyn, VA since 2008. Ryan will continue his service on active duty and hopes to serve for at least 10 more years.

Kirsten was commissioned out of UVA ROTC in 1996 and delayed her service until after graduating law school in 1999. From 2000-2002, she served in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as a legal assistance attorney and a prosecutor. Then from 2002-2004, she was stationed in Germany. She was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2003-March 2004 as the legal advisor to a medical brigade. Then she was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where she served alongside Ryan as a defense attorney for two years (this is when they began dating and eventually married) and worked with the U.S. Special Forces Command for one year. Then she earned her L.LM. in military/criminal law in Charlottesville, VA in 2008. Kirsten has been serving here in Rosslyn, VA since 2008. Kirsten is resigning from active duty in April 2011 to be a stay at home mom (which she knows will be her toughest job yet!). She will continue to serve our nation in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Name: Gloria Duck Branch of Service: US Army Dates of Service: Sept 1975 –Nov 1995

Places served: Various tours in/at Ft Lewis, Washington; Ft Bragg, North Carolina; Sharpe Army Depot and Ft Ord, California; Ft Lee, Virginia; Ft Hood, Texas; Germany, Korea, and Italy

Why I joined: Adventure and education opportunities

Thoughts about my service: I enjoyed serving in the Army and I took advantage of the many opportunities offered to me (e.g. American and Italian jump schools, skiing, military and civilian education, traveling, etc.). I treasure mostly my military family and the friends that I made over the years, while serving this GREAT Country.

Name: Marlise Andrea Edwards Branch of Service: United States Army - Military Police Corps Dates of Service: 02 Sept 1999 - 22 Nov 2006

Places served: A Co., 787th MP Battalion, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri; U.S. Army ecruiting Command & Advanced Combat Water Survival School, Ft. Gordon, Georgia; 978th MP Co. & 72nd MP Detachment, Ft. Bliss, Texas

Why I joined: My first cognitive thought & memory from my childhood was that I wanted to be in the military like my Dad. I recognized the sacrifices that he made and the amazing opportunities that were provided through his service and wondered how I could ever give back to my Dad all that he had given to me and my Mom? I wanted to follow in my Dad's footsteps, serve my country, and show my Dad just how much he and his service meant to me. The military has provided so much for me and my family and it only felt right to give myself to the military in return; it was my turn to serve and protect my Dad, Mom, God, and country. Thoughts about my service: I was always on an adrenaline high because I never knew what each day would bring...would I be on patrol and help rescue a cat from a tree or end up in a situation where I had to make a split second decision whether or not to shoot someone? I never really knew if I would make it home every night because in my line of duty anything could happen and often did. I willingly gave up the concept of weekends and holidays because MP's are ALWAYS on duty, 24/7/365. We are the first to go and the last to leave. I worked as a regular law enforcement police officer on post and also deployed as a soldier/"Combat Tested Cop" often. However, I loved the fact that no matter what I was doing, I was making a difference and helping/serving the military & international communities. In the end, I was medically discharged due to injuries sustained in the line of duty but I thank the Lord every day for the opportunity I had to serve. HOOAH! Of the Troops, For the Troops--Military Police Corps!

Bill Evans Branch of Service: Army Dates of Service: January 1960 to January 1963

Places served: Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart (at the time), West Germany (7th Corps/7th Army). My battalion was placed on twenty-four/ seven alert status during the "Cuban Missile Crisis" in October 1962. We were preparing to deploy to the Czech border because the administration thought the Russians might attack Berlin in retaliation for what they thought was an imminent invasion of Cuba. But, as history has revealed, Khrushchev and Company did not run the blockade and agreed to dismantle the missile sites in return for the U.S. agreeing not to invade Cuba. In my family, it was a foregone conclusion that I would serve my country. All of my male siblings preceded me into the military. It was an honor and a privilege to serve. An added bonus, "Uncle Sam" helped pay for my college education.

Name: Jason Fong Branch of Service: Army Dates of Service: September 1969-March 1972

Places served: Ft. Bragg, North Carolina (Basic Training); Ft. Gordon, Georgia (Advanced Training); Korea; and Ft. Monroe, Virginia

Why I joined: I decided to join rather than get drafted. At the time, I was just out of high school and working at the Bell Telephone Co. of Philadelphia. All of my buddies were joining the Air National Guard, but I wanted to take a different direction and obtain assistance to enable me to go to college full-time. I got a 6 month early out from the Army because of the reduction-in-force that was taking place in the Army during the early 1970s.

Thoughts about my service: My experience in the Army made me more disciplined and focused and taught me the lessons of life. My experience in Korea was really eye- opening, exposing me to life overseas and engendering an interest in East Asia. I'm proud to have had the opportunity to serve my country as my father did during World War II. I'm also grateful for the assistance I got from the GI Bill that helped put me through undergrad and graduate school.

Poy Quon Fong, Technician 4th Class. Jason Fong’s father served in the U.S. Army, 1544th Ordinance Service & Maintenance CO (Aviation), 14th Air Service Group, in the China-Burma-India Theater. His unit and several other units, which were predominantly Chinese American, were attached to the Fourteenth Air Force, the fabled "Flying Tigers," under the command of Major General Claire L Chennault. He served from August 1943 - March 1946.

During 2018, bipartisan legislation was passed in both the House and the Senate authorizing a Congressional Gold Medal to Chinese American Veterans of WWII. The bill was signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2018. A Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony was to be held on Capitol Hill in the Spring of 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.

Grant Greffey. I was commissioned as an Army 2nd Lieutenant upon my graduation from West Point in 1986. I then went to Ft. Benning, Georgia, for Infantry Officer Basic and Airborne School. I then served in the Republic of Korea as a battalion staff officer and rifle platoon leader in the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry (Mechanized). I led armed patrols along the Korean DMZ. After my service in Korea, I attended the Air Force's Undergraduate Space Training and GPS Combat Crew Training, becoming a satellite controller at the GPS Master Control Station (2nd Satellite Ops Squadron). I then finished my active duty career on the Operations Staff at U.S. Army Space Command. In this position, I helped establish Army policy on GPS COMSEC, conducted orbit analysis in support of Army units, and conducted several space technology demonstrations with active Army units. I separated from active duty in August of 1990 as a 1st Lieutenant.

Lee Grobe 1961-1984

Places served: Fort Gordon, Georgia; Fort Myer, Virginia; Fort Hamilton, New York; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; Washington, DC; Heidelberg, Germany; Fort Dix, New Jersey; the Pentagon; two tours of duty in Vietnam

Source of commission: ROTC at the University of Wisconsin (Madison).

Name: Richard M. Hodge Branch of Service: U.S. Army Dates of Service: January 1974-February 1996

Places served: Camp Zama, Japan; Yongsan, Korea; Fort Benning, Georgia; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Walter Reed AMC, Washington, DC; St. Louis, Missouri; Fort Myer, Virginia; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Pentagon

Why I joined: Wanted to serve.

Thoughts about my service: Our last government quarters was the Eisenhower House at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, so named because Brigadier General and Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower occupied the house in 1941 when Ike made Brigadier General and when Pearl Harbor was bombed.

Douglas A. “Doug” Hottle US Army March 1962-March 1964 This was the era of the draft and Doug volunteered for draft rather than wait for the US Army to tell him when he would serve. Following basic training he was sent to Fort Hood where he spent the next 18 months in the 2nd Armored Division. The only time he was deployed was a 3-week trip to Germany at the very beginning of the United States involvement in Viet Nam.

Name: Alan Hyslop Branch of Service: Army Dates of Service: 10-1-61 to 7-31-67 Places served: Ft Ord, California and Ft Riley, Kansas

Why I joined: My Army National Guard unit, the 140th Signal Battalion, was called to active duty service in October 1961 for the Berlin Crisis when the Russians blockaded the other allied powers’ sectors of Berlin and built the Berlin Wall. All supplies had to be flown in. We replaced another battalion at Ft Riley which went overseas.

Name: Bruce Irvine Branch of Service: US Army Dates of Service: September 1979-September 1996

Places served: Ft Bragg, North Carolina; Ft. Eustis, Virginia; Ft. Lewis and Ft. Lawton, Washington; Monteith Kaserne, Fuerth-Bavaria, Germany; Grafenwoehr, Germany; Hohenfels, Germany; Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York; Pentagon, Washington DC

Why I joined: Received an Army ROTC Scholarship

Thoughts about my service: I retired with the rank of Major when the Army was undergoing force reductions in the late 1990s. Was fortunate or unfortunate in that I never was in combat. I often wish I had been able to do more, especially now that our nation has been at war for such an extended period of time.

Robert A. Jenkins. I graduated from High School in May 1945, the month in which WW II ended in Europe, but the war with Japan continued until September 1945, as we all know. That summer I tried to enlist in the U. S. Navy, and failed the physical due to bad eyesight, and the Merchant Marine also rejected me for the same reason. I was 18 in October 1945, and then enlisted in the U. S. Army in November 1945, rather than wait to be drafted for an indefinite period. The Army was offering short enlistment periods (mine for 18 months) to replace veterans who were being discharged under the point system. My basic training, at Camp Joseph P. Robinson, was in the infantry and I was assigned to a heavy weapons platoon. After an abbreviated basic training course, I was on my way overseas, landed at Le Havre and sent to Salzburg, Austria, assigned to Headquarters 42nd Infantry Division (the Rainbow Division). My job--personnel clerk. All that training with an 81mm mortar was wasted! As a soldier on occupation duty, my military experience was quite different from those men who were overseas during the war. However, I was well aware of the political and practical effects on the civilian population. I might note that Austria was treated as an occupied liberated country, as opposed to Germany as a former belligerent. The political ramification was to restrain the USSR from occupying Austria indefinitely, which was the case in Hungary. I think that the U. S. finally withdrew from Austria in 1955, along with the other occupying powers. However in 1946, when I was in Austria, there was a DP camp on the edge of Salzburg. This camp housed the displaced persons from various countries who had fled the Russians. There were occasions when the Russians tried to retrieve certain political persons in the U.S. Zone of Occupation. As a personnel clerk, I was in charge of the personnel records of various units attached to Division Headquarters, including a War Crimes team. Although Salzburg had been bombed during the war, the damage was limited, compared to those cities in Germany such as Munich (which I traveled through to Bremerhaven for shipment to New York). I was discharged in May 1947 from the service. I believe that I can honestly say that the short period spent in the U. S. Army was an important learning experience which served me well for the rest of my life. I was able to use the GI Bill to go to school and then start a career in Aviation. The photo shows 18-year old T/5 Bob Jenkins in 1946.

Name: Jim Kurtz Branch of Service: Army (Field Artillery and Aviation) Dates of Service: July 1966 to February 1998

Places served: Vietnam (twice); Germany (twice); the Netherlands (once); Fort Sill, Oklahoma (five times, for a total of 10 years); Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Washington, DC (Army Staff, National War College, Joint Staff, and Office of the Secretary of Defense).

Why I joined: After high school I read Robin Moore’s “The Green Berets” and was afraid my generation’s war would be over before four years of ROTC would get me there. So I dropped out of college after a semester and let the Draft Board know I was available. Why I stayed for almost 32 years is that I found in the Army a sense of purpose that I could never imagine being topped by any other line of work.

Thoughts about my service: Some of the noblest people you will ever meet are the young men and women who serve in the ranks of the Army. Being appointed to lead them is a privilege; having them accept you as their leader and cheerfully carry out your orders is humbling . . . but nothing is more rewarding.

Left to right: Searchlight Platoon Leader, Dong Tam, Vietnam (1968); “smartest thing I ever did was marry Diane Lang on June 6, 1970 (my own private D-Day); Cobra gunship pilot, Song Be, Vietnam (1970-71)

Name: Chris Lovelady Branch of Service: US Army Dates of Service: 6 years active service - Direct Commission, Delaware, 1976 (the only female Direct Commission out of Delaware that year) - 1982 CPT, US Army Women's Corp (Quartermaster) Places Served: 9th Infantry Division (Ft. Lewis, WA)

Name: Rex Lovelady Branch of Service: US Army Dates of Service: Commissioned 1971 (Infantry) - Retired 1992 (LTC) Assignments: 1st Infantry Division (Ft. Riley, KS), 9th Infantry Division (Ft. Lewis, WA), 8th Infantry Division (Mannheim, Germany), Joint United States Advisory Group Philippines (JUSMAG), Ft. Belvoir, Marshall University (Huntington, WV), Ft. Belvoir and retired from the Pentagon assignment.

Lieutenant Colonel Timothy "Tim" J. Mertsock US Army, 1992-2018 Chemical Corps and Force Management Officer

1993-1996: 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) when it was at Fort Stewart, Georgia; then it reflagged in mid-1996 to 3rd Infantry Division (Mech) 1997- Six months at Multinational Division-North, Tuzla, Bosnia- Herzegovina 1997-2000: 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division (Friedberg, Germany) and 233rd Base Support Battalion (Darmstadt, Germany) 2000-2002: St. Louis Recruiting Battalion, US Army Recruiting Command 2003-2006: Force Design Division, TRADOC at Fort Leavenworth, KS

2006-2007: Office of Military Cooperation-Kuwait 2007-2010: HQ Department of Army, G-37 Force Management, Pentagon 2010-2012: XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC 2012-2015: US Army Manpower Analysis Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA 2015-2018: HQ Department of Army, G-37 Force Management, Pentagon

I joined ROTC at the University of Richmond, Virginia, and my college recruiter told me I would receive 75% of my tuition, $100 a month for books and other benefits. I asked him bluntly, "What is the catch, what aren't you telling me?" He said that I would be required to serve my country for four years. I saw no problem with that and was commissioned on Active Duty the day before I graduated.

When I was an Army Captain in recruiting I would be at Racing Events or other city wide activities in uniform and people would come up and shake my hand or thank me for my service. Each time, I said you're welcome, but I am only able to serve today because of those who served before me and many who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I am proud to continue to serve my country (24 years and counting). ARMY STRONG.

Top photo: My Father, Joseph M. Mertsock and me, a 1st Lieutenant at the time, at my wedding day in Savannah, Georgia.

Middle photo: Steve Potter, Bob Mortlock, and I training for Ranger School. All three of us graduated together in 1993.

Bottom photo: Ranger Potter, Ranger Mortlock, and Ranger Mertsock -- 20 years later.

Name: John S. Moore, Sp/5 Branch of Service: US Army Dates of Service: 1969-1972 Places served: Panama Canal Zone

Why I joined: When I was a senior in college at the University of Vermont (1968-69), military service was an obligation, a duty to all young men between 18 and 26, who were classified as A-1 by the Draft Board. Unless you had a temporary deferment for school (as I did) or were physically unable (1-Y or 4- F) or morally opposed (such as a Quaker), you were expected to fulfill a military service obligation, unlike today's professional military where service is by choice. I had several opportunities to attend Officer Candidate School in the Army, Navy, and Air Force following my graduation from UVM in 1969 with a degree in Geology. However, I had adamantly made my career choice to work in the field of water resources, and I wanted to pursue that career ASAP. Thus I decided to forgo a 4- or 5-year sidestep as a better -paid military officer and elected rather to attend US Army language school as an enlisted man for a 3-year service period, which actually turned out to be 2.5 years because of reductions in force under the Nixon administration.

Thoughts about my service: In retrospect, I am grateful for my service time because of the long-standing friendships I made. It is interesting to note some of my friends who had made the same decision to serve as enlisted men following graduation from college, who today still share my sentiments. Of my closest buddies in my Special Forces Medical Detachment, one became an Assistant Deputy Secretary of Defense (Reagan Administration). Another served as a high level aide in the US Senate, another became a college Professor of English, another, a 6th grade school teacher in Washington, DC, another rose high in the editor ranks of the Associated Press, another became a publisher of a large East Coast newspaper. We did our duty, followed our orders to serve where needed, and then went on with our lives. I am also grateful for the new skills I learned as a medical corpsman and the Spanish Language training which have served me well all my life. My service in Panama opened my eyes to some of the world's pressing needs in places I might otherwise have never been exposed to.

Name: Command Sergeant Major John L. Murray Branch of Service: US Army Dates of Service: 13 August 1979 – Present

Military Schools: Sergeants Major Academy Class 50, Jumpmaster, Pathfinder, Air Assault, Drill Sergeant

Places served: Germany (1980-1982, 1997-1999); Fort Riley, Kansas (1982-1983); Fort Dix, New Jersey (1983-1986); MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida (1986-1989, 1990- 1993); Korea (1989-1990); Kuwait (1993-1994, 2003-2004), Fort Campbell, Kentucky (1994-1997); Saudi Arabia (1999-2001); Fort Drum, New York (20012003); Fort Huachuca, Arizona (2004-2006); Fort Gordon, Georgia (2006- 2008); Fort Belvoir, Virginia (2008-Present)

Deployments/Operations: Earnest Will – Kuwait (1986); Just Cause – Panama (1989); Desert Storm/Shield- Saudi Arabia/Kuwait (1990); Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (2001); Operation Iraqi Freedom - Kuwait/Iraq (2003)

Why I joined: Patriotic duty and what a great job!

Thoughts about my service: Got to visit a lot of great places and meet some wonderful people. The most wonderful of all being my wife, Ingrid!

Name: Curt Nutbrown Branch of Service: Army Dates of Service: 1983-2003

Places served: Germany, California, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Jersey and Virginia

Why I joined: Free college degree from West Point and desire to serve my country.

Thoughts about my service: The military afforded me the opportunity to get an excellent education, meet many great people and see many parts of the world.

Name: Allan Ray Osborn Branch of Service: Army Dates of Service: June 2, 1976 to January 31, 1999: 22 years, 6 months

Places Served: Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Gordon, Georgia; Kitzingen, West Germany; Pirmesan, West Germany; Atlanta, Georgia; Northern Virginia.

Why I Joined: My grandfather served in the Army in World War 1, and my Dad served in the Navy in World War 2, and during Korea and Vietnam. I was the oldest of four that my Dad would have to help through college and along with a low draft number, applying for ROTC scholarships and West Point seemed a natural choice. Everyone in our great county has an obligation to serve, whether accepted or not.

Thoughts About My Service: Duty, Honor, Country; Gen MacArthur summed it up best! From West Point throughout my Army career and afterwards to today I’ve heeded West Point’s challenge. The Army provided the education, through a Ph.D., and training necessary for a successful Army career and follow on service to my country, for which I am thankful.

Graduation from the United States Military Academy, Company Command, Pirmesan, West West Point, NY: June 2, 1976 Germany: 1982 -1984

Bob Personette Branch of Service: US Army Dates of Service: September 1968 to September 1970

Places Served: Ft. Benning, Georgia; Ft. Holabird, Maryland; Chu Lai, Viet Nam; and Washington, DC

Why I joined: I joined because I wanted to pursue the military as a possible career; I was ROTC commissioned.

Thoughts about my service: I was proud to serve my country, and I am grateful to all those who went before me and to all those who followed after me.

Major Adam J. Points earned his commission through the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps at James Madison University in 2000 and holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in International Finance. He later received his Master’s of Arts degree in Finance from Webster University. Adam entered the Army as a Finance Officer with a branch detail in Armor. He has served as a Tank Platoon Leader, 4-64, Ft Stewart, Georgia; Budget Officer, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Ft Stewart, Georgia; Assistant Brigade S4, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Operation Iraqi Freedom 1; Common Core Instructor, Ft Jackson, South Carolina; Battalion Operations Officer, 10th Soldier Support Battalion, Ft Drum, New York; Task Force Executive Officer, 10th Soldier Support Battalion, Operation Enduring Freedom 05-07 (Afghanistan); Commander, D Detachment, 176th Finance Company, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea; Assistant Resource Manager, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade, Seoul, Republic of Korea; and Director of Resource Management for the Joint United States Advisory Group Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand. He is currently Commander of the 176th Finance Management Company, Seoul, Korea. Adam’s military education includes the Armor Officer’s Basic Course, Finance Officer’s Branch Qualification Course, the Finance Officer’s Advanced Course (Commandants’ List) and the Security Assistance Management Overseas Course. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (3), NATO Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Combat Action Badge. Adam is also a Certified Defense Financial Manager.

Name: Alan Ramos Branch of Service: Army

Dates of service: 1983-1985 Army Reserves 1985-1989 Army Active Duty 1989-1992 Army Reserves 1992-present Army Active Duty

Places served: Ft Snelling, Minnesota; Ft Benning, Georgia; Ft Bragg, North Carolina; Kirchgoens, Germany; Friedberg, Germany; Heidelberg, Germany; Presidio of Monterey, California; Hawaii; Tokyo, Japan; Kumamoto, Japan; Pentagon; Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C. Training or Deployments: Honduras; Egypt; Panama; Albania; France; Alaska; Florida; Oklahoma; California; South Carolina; Virginia; Tennessee

Why I joined: My dad, an immigrant from the Philippines, taught me the tragedy of oppression, the importance of patriotism, and to value and defend the freedom we enjoy. I joined out of patriotic duty to defend the freedoms that I felt most took for granted, as well as to seek adventure. Prior to going on active duty I worked at a bar and grill in Minneapolis. One of my co-workers, a bartender who was a few years older than me said, "You know Alan, I'm glad there are guys like you who are willing to go fight, so that guys like me don’t have to." My reply―after about 1 second of reflection―was simply, "You know, Merles... so am I."

Thoughts about my service: I am honored to have served with some of the finest, most professional soldiers―men and women―in the nation. I have been extraordinarily blessed―either directly or indirectly because I serve in the Army. I met my wife, Liz; married her and have managed to stay married to her for over 21yrs (and counting) ...and we have two of the most amazing boys I have ever met. We've lived in Germany, many places in the US, and in Japan, where Jacob and Luke learned to speak Japanese. We have traveled throughout Europe, the US, and Japan. I parachuted into France to commemorate the liberation of a town by the 2nd Ranger Battalion―and we were welcomed like the liberators of WWII. I have been to the top of the Eiffel Tower; I have toured castles in Europe and in Japan; I drank sake from a cup given by the Emperor Meiji to the Hosokawa Family (Hosokawa's descendant later became Prime Minister of Japan) and I have eaten raw horse.

Name: Richard Riordan Branch of Service: United States Army Corps of Engineers Dates of service: 6 June 1962 – 1 August 1989

Places served: Korea; Viet Nam; Thailand; Germany; Fort Belvoir, (schools); Ft Benning, schools; and 11th Air Assault Division; College Station, Texas, school; Ft Leavenworth, school; North Atlantic Division, Corps of Engineers, New York City; Hqs Corps of Engineers, Washington DC; and the Army Staff and OSD, the Pentagon.

Why I Joined: Well the real reason was it was compulsory to take the first two years of ROTC at Rutgers in 1957. It isn’t today and hasn’t been since the students occupied the ROTC offices back in ’69 I think it was. I did quite well in basic ROTC and liked it so I signed up for the final two years. Since service was compulsory for two years with a follow-on reserve commitment, I decided I wanted to go in as an officer. Good thing, too. My ROTC grades kept me in school. Even so, I managed to cram 4 years of school into 5 calendar years. When I graduated, I had high enough ROTC grades to get a Regular Army commission and since the service time was only three years vs. two for reserve officers, and the follow-on active reserve commitment was way shorter, I took the RA with the intention of resigning after three years. When the three years were up I duly submitted my resignation and was set to leave until the battalion XO came back from a trip to DC with a cool offer. If I would withdraw my resignation, he would arrange for me to go to Viet Nam as an advisor to a Vietnamese engineer battalion. I said such a deal, withdrew my resignation and went happily off to Viet Nam. The one thing that puzzled me for a short time was why there was such a long silence on the other end when I called my parents to tell them the great news. So I guess I joined twice, the second time when I decided I liked the life and didn’t want to leave the service when the war was heating up.

Thoughts about my service: I was always amazed and still am at the uniformly high quality and motivation of the people I met and worked with in the service. The services are at heart a bureaucracy, and getting things done, especially in peacetime, can be difficult. And there is always Congress. But in my experience, and the reason I stayed, is the services push authority and responsibility way down the chain. A 2nd Lieutenant has far more responsibility and authority to go with it than any college graduate in his first civilian job could ever imagine. And when something needs to get done quickly, it can be done quickly--the culture demands that and most of the time, the culture overrides the bureaucracy. Besides knowing that the guy next to you has been checked out and vetted like you have, we know that most of the time, the people who command you are there because they earned it. And lastly the Army can change. Sometimes with great difficulty, but when the situation demands, change it will.

Name: Pete Robison Branch of service: Army Dates of service: May 1968 - May 1970 Places served: mostly Germany

Why joined: Drafted. A year out of college, working in a Top Secret facility-- U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Chart and Information Center--I felt reasonably safe from the draft when "Greetings" arrived. At the Chicago induction center the sarge said "you, you and you, go over to that line," then, "we have enough, now go back to the other line." That was a close call for the Marine Corps, certainly a very honorable and proud group of soldiers, but a sure ticket to 'Nam. And when the draft lottery was published in the Stars and Stripes in Germany, my number was so far down the list that I would not have been called. Oh well, "you're in the Army now."

Thoughts about my service: As a 2-year draftee, I lucked out and went to Germany. Following basic training I was mis-assigned to a field hospital unit at Ft. Meade, Maryland, as a "civilian trained operating room specialist" instead of "civilian trained stereo map compiler." After four months serving as the best barracks orderly ever, I was off to Schwetzingen, Germany (near Heidelberg), to the 656th Engineer Topographic Battalion. I worked with some of the greatest guys, several of whom remain friends to this day. I bought my first BMW and traveled around the countryside. The work was interesting and seemingly had a purpose, and the unit was kind of an anomaly for the Army of the day in that I think all were at least a high school grad, many had some college, and a number of us had degrees. Although I wasn't cut out for military service--they tried to talk me into a re-up but I had a civilian job to go back to--I served honorably and feel that it was a good experience. And I did go back to the "map factory" and stayed close to forty years, providing geospatial intelligence support to our military around the world.

Name: Jack Roth Branch of Service: U.S. Army Dates of service: July 1969 through July 1971

Places served: Basic Training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Advanced Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana; served 1 tour in Vietnam, and the remainder of time at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Why I joined: Was drafted July 1969.

Thoughts about my service: Today I am proud that I am one of the veterans who have served my country such as my father did in World War II. Being in the Army helped me to mature to face life's challenges. As a result of my service, I was eventually able to purchase my first home and go to college on the GI Bill.

Gene Russell COL US Army Retired June 1961 – August 1987 I saw service in ten different states; Georgia three times. Overseas service was in Vietnam 1965-66 and 1969-70, two years in the British Army in England and one tour in Panama. During this period, I and my family lived in 22 different locations. I joined for several reasons; but the most important ones were I felt from an early age that I was called to be in the Army and be like my uncles and dad who saw service in WWII. I cannot explain the pride and honor it has been to lead and direct our nation’s greatest assets -- Soldiers -- in combat in Vietnam, Cambodia and El Salvador; to train future Combat Engineers at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and to train future Army leaders at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; to form the Ranger Regiment while an action officer on the Army Staff; and to lead the Task Force which formed the United States Special Operations Command while serving on the Joint Staff. As retired Special Forces Sergeant Major Paul Darcy taught me – “You know that I’m retired, I know that I am retired – but my heart doesn’t.” Being in the Army was not a job, career or profession – it was a way of life for me, my bride and our daughters.

Top photo: Gene Russell in 1966. Bottom photo: Gene, second from the right, in 1965.

Dr. Irving Dewitt Sackett graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of Pennsylvania in 1948. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He hand-carved a scroll featuring the Twenty-Third Psalm and plaques of the Lord’s Prayer and Ten Commandments that hang in the back of the sanctuary.

Irv passed away on July 17, 2013.

LTC David Salter Branch of Service: Army (Aviation) Dates of service: Active Duty since Sept 1988

Places served: Ft Rucker, Alabama; Ft Eustis, Virginia; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Ft Lee, Virginia; Ft Drum, New York; Haiti; South Korea (2 tours); Ft Leavenworth, Kansas; Pentagon, Virginia; currently Camp Eggers (Kabul), Afghanistan

Why I joined: My father had served in the Army and as my role model was a great influence in my decision to enter the service. I initially joined the Army Reserves while still in high school. It was a way to earn money for college. After graduating and branching Aviation I felt not only the need to serve, but the good fortune to have a full time job after school.

Thoughts about my service: It has been and continues to be a rewarding experience to serve our country with all of the other men and women in the military. I'm humbled and honored to put the uniform on every day. I have the utmost respect, honor and regard for those that have served before me and to those that have given the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms and liberties. Name: Mike Sloniker Branch of Service: United States Army Dates of service: 1 August 1967-1 October 1990

Places served: Vietnam, twice; Germany; Ft Hood, Texas; Ft Sill, Oklahoma; Ft Campbell, Kentucky; Ft Monroe, Virginia; Ft Rucker, Alabama; the Pentagon

Why I joined: My father was a soldier and demonstrated great pride in being a soldier for 30 years. His deeds, not words, had a huge impact on me to the point that I wanted to share that experience.

Thoughts about my service: The Army gave me life or death responsibility 120 days after entering the service in Vietnam. I know of no other way in my formative years to learn so much so fast and never forget how important it is to never waste a day, learn something every day and be thankful for each day. Learning to fly, using that skill in combat, flying out wounded and the fallen, bringing the Thanksgiving 1971 meal to the infantry out in the bush, taking guys home upon the completion of their tour, and learning it was not just the pilot but the entire flight crew who made the difference, is something I will never be able to pay back, and can only be thankful for the experience.

Name: Geoff Stewart, Lieutenant Colonel, USA Branch of Service: United States Army; Military Police Corps Dates of service: Commissioned in May 1992 – Still on active duty

Places served: Heidelberg and Mannheim, Germany; Fort McClellan, Alabama; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Blacksburg, Virginia; Yongsan, South Korea; Camp Colt, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Baghdad, Iraq; Joint Staff, Pentagon.

Why I joined: I personally felt the need to serve my country in some capacity when I met an Army ROTC recruiter at Virginia Tech who introduced me to the Corps of Cadets and the Army. Since then I’ve enjoyed serving with truly dedicated and inspiring service men and women throughout the globe. It is an absolutely humbling experience and a true honor to be counted as one among my brothers and sisters in the military both past and present.

Milton Welsh US Army June 1954-September 1974

After graduating from college Milton joined the Army in San Antonio, Texas. He had a strong sense of patriotism so it was very important to him to serve his country. Throughout his life he maintained that sense of patriotism and was very proud to have been a member of the US Army. Milton went to both German and Russian language schools. He served in both Korea and Viet Nam and was stationed in Germany for several years. Milton retired after 20 years of service, due to his wife's serious illness.

Name: Stuart Williams Branch of Service: Army Dates of Service: May 1959 - November 1986

Places Served: US; Korea; Panama; Vietnam; and Germany

Why I Joined: To fulfill a duty to serve my country.

Thoughts about my service: In spite of the hardships and sacrifices, it was not nearly as difficult as those serving today.

UNITED STATES NAVY Established October 13, 1775

The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.

George (Rich) Arnold

Branch of Service: USN Dates of service: May 1992 – Present

Places served: USS PARCHE (SSN 683); Mare Island, CA; Bangor, WA Nuclear Power Training Unit; Charleston, SC USS MONTPELIER (SSN 765); Norfolk, VA Office of Undersea Surveillance; Pentagon Air Command and Staff College; Maxwell AFB, AL USS ALBUQUERQUE (SSN 706); New London, CT Staff for Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Shipbuilding and Integrated Warfare Systems; Pentagon USS DALLAS (SSN 700); New London, CT Navy Assessment and Analysis Division (OPNAV N81); Unmanned Maritime Systems (PMS 406); Washington Navy Yard Submarine Acoustic Systems Program Office (PMS 401); Washington Navy Yard

Why I joined: I had no intention of joining the military until I attended a summer seminar at the Naval Academy. I was impressed by the people and institution and jumped at the chance to attend. I’ve stayed since then for the opportunity to be a part of the Submarine Force and work with the great people serving onboard or supporting the community.

Orlando Tyrone Barnett Branch of Service: US Navy Dates of service: 18 March 1966 to 31 October 1986

Places served: 1. Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, Georgia 2. USS Montrose (APA-212) 3. Navy Finance Center, Cleveland, Ohio 4. USS Satyr (ARL-23), located for one year in Mekong River 5. Electronic Supply Office, Great Lakes, Illinois 6. Commander Naval Logistic, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 7. Naval Shipyard, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 8. Commander Naval Communications, Washington, DC 9. Commander Naval Material, Washington, DC 10. Naval Supply Systems Command, Washington, DC

Why I joined: I entered NROTC because my Dad was one of the few black Boatswain Mates in the Navy in WWII and he asked me to join.

Thoughts about my service: I am very sensitive and will get teary- eyed over anything. I love my country and have faith that God will continue answering the prayers of his people to keep the United States strong and free for those who want to live here. Even at 66 years, I am ready to fight to the end to keep America free for all of our people. I love what the Founding Fathers fought for.

Name: Brian J. Durham Branch of Service: U. S. Navy Dates of Service: April 1979 – September 1983 active duty December 1983 – January 1997 Reserves January 1997 – retired, USNR

Places served: USS Aylwin (FF-1081). Home port, Charleston South Carolina; USS Hull (DD-945); USS McCloy (FF- 1038); USS Essex (LHD-2); Middle East Force; U.S. Fifth Fleet, Bahrain; Naval Sea systems Command; Pentagon, Navy Staff (N85); U.S. Sixth Fleet, Mediterranean; NR SIMA Det. 1506, Charleston, South Carolina; Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California; Naval Control of Shipping Office, Bremerhaven, Germany. Name an ocean! Six of the Seven Seas (no Caspian experience)

Why I joined: Patriotism, Horatio Hornblower novels

Thoughts about my service: I wouldn’t have traded it for any other experience – made me grow up, and I got to see the world at Uncle Sam’s expense.

Left photo: Thanksgiving 1979, Persian Gulf, USS Aylwin (FF-1081); right photo: taking the Oath of Office as a Commander, June 1994

David A. DuVal Branch of Service: USN Dates of service: 6 June 1970 – 1 August 1994

Places served: Naval Air Training Command 1970-1971 US Naval Station Adak, Alaska 1971-1973 Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 7, NAS Imperial Beach, California 1973- 1975 Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 1, Det 2 (USS Midway (CV-41)), NAF Atsugi, Japan 1975-1978 Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California 1978-1980 Fleet Composite Squadron 1, NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii 1980-1984 Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC 1984-1986 Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 2, NAS Norfolk, Virginia 1987-1988 Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island 1988-1989 The Joint Staff (Force Structure, Resource and Assessment (J-8): System Programs Evaluation Division), Washington, DC 1989 -1992 Naval Education and Training Center, Newport, Rhode Island 1992-1994

Why I joined: Joined because the Navy offered a full scholarship (NROTC). Stayed because I was having such a good time! Met some of the best, hardest-working, most dedicated people ever (and a few others). Trusted them with my life over and over again.

Name: Michael M. (Mike) Edwards Branch of Service: Navy Dates of service: 28 June 1988 - Present Places served: Norfolk, Naples, Italy, DC. Italy was the high point.

Why I joined: I joined because (1) I loved the Navy, (2) I was patriotic and wanted to serve my country and (3) I wanted a job with better benefits.

Thoughts about my service: I believe God was behind our decision to join the Navy. Here are four reasons. (1) The Navy took only a few direct appointee lawyers and that for a limited time. The openings were when I applied. (2) Christians that I asked about my decision told me to go. (3) I was given improper directions on a vision test and was about to fail it for the last time when there was a fire drill. (The previous one was years previously.) When I returned, the new examiner gave me correct directions and I passed the test. (4) Finally, after joining I received a letter from an admiral congratulating me on entering the Chaplain’s Corps instead of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. During my military service, we have had many opportunities while on active duty to worship with other Christians in chapels, to teach the Bible, and to encourage fellow military believers. Still, I am not sure why God led me to such a career. I believe someday, He will tell me.

Claude Gentry -June 1943 to April 1946 -Asiatic-Pacific (2 stars) Okinawa, occupation of Japan -The Japanese had bombed Hawaii and my country was at war. -The United States of America is the best and greatest country in recorded history. I am proud to have been active in her defense.

Name: Gib Godwin Branch of Service: US Navy Dates of service: 18 Aug 1973-1 Oct 2006

Places Served: NAS Jacksonville, Florida; NAS Pensacola, Florida; NAS Lemoore, California; NAF Atsugi, Japan; Naval Air Systems Command (Crystal City, Virginia and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland); SPAWAR (Crystal City, Virginia). Nine cruises on 4 different aircraft carriers, with 2 combat cruises into the Persian Gulf.

Why I joined: I joined because my father was a Naval Aviator during WW II and his brother was a Naval Aviator during the Korean War. When my uncle flew his A-1 Skyraider into San Antonio International Airport for a visit and got out with his orange flight suit on with his bandeleros and holster on, I was impressed. That stuck with me until I graduated from high school and my Dad wanted to make sure as I went to college that I joined Navy ROTC. After playing college football for 4 years at Tulane University, the teamwork and camaraderie I had experienced, the opportunity to continue that and as well fly jets with the Navy off of aircraft carriers had my attention. While most college students were trying to figure ways to keep from serving during the Vietnam era, I had made a 6-week cruise toward the end of the war and wanted to ensure I served as others before me had. While that opportunity passed me by due to flight training length, I spent the next 19 years preparing for what Desert Storm presented. God had his hand in that, as 3 separate women in my life (my wife Karen, my mother Corky and my pastor’s wife Barbara) sent me a piece of scripture (91st Psalm) on separate days, from separate states/countries, all of which arrived on the same day aboard the USS Midway via letter just prior to the initiation of combat operations for the first Gulf War. We were the only carrier and airwing out of the 6 deployed carriers that didn’t lose an aircraft, aviator or sailor during the conflict. I felt that the Leadership opportunities, mentoring, training and growing of other people were the most enduring aspects of my service. As well, the ability as a Christian serving in the Navy to reach out to others as an example in my day-to-day life, helped me personally, and I felt, impacted others. Were I given the opportunity to serve again, I would jump at it.

Left photo: After his return from a cruise to the Indian Ocean in May 1982, Gib takes a photo as his oldest daughter Clancy runs to greet him. In the background are A-7s. Right photo: Karen Godwin looks on as their two daughters greet Gib when he returned from a cruise to the Indian Ocean in October 1987. F/A-18s are in the background.

Name: Mark H. Held I joined the US Navy on Nov. 24, 1980 in Key West, Florida. After attending boot camp and Quartermaster “A” School in Orlando, Florida, I was stationed aboard the USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19), homeported out of Yokosuka, Japan. The Blue Ridge was and still is the flagship of the United States 7th Fleet. Quartermasters are the ship’s navigators. I served in the Navigation Division with six other QMs for 3 years and 7 months. I received an honorable discharge from the Navy on Nov. 24, 1984, having risen to the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class. Those 4 years were some of the best in my life so far and like all good vets, I look back with wonderful memories.

Name: Rene Held, LCDR USN (Ret) Branch of Service: United States Navy, 1955-1984 As a youngster I had always been fascinated with airplanes. I attended a high school in New York City that taught Aviation trades and soon found I was more interested in fixing airplanes than I was in flying them. Upon graduation I got a job in the aircraft industry but didn’t find it exciting enough. The Navy guaranteed me a billet in Aviation if I would enlist and I signed on the dotted line. I must admit there were a few times when I found a little more excitement than I had anticipated. During my first twelve years in the Navy I was a mechanic and then a Maintenance Chief in various squadrons. After receiving my commission I held various management positions, including Squadron Maintenance Officer. I served in fixed and rotary wing aircraft and on prop and jet propelled aircraft of all types. During my Navy career, I traveled over most of the world. I served mostly on aircraft carriers--from the old wooden decked USS Leyte (CVS-37) to the nuclear- powered USS Enterprise (CVN-65). I made multiple cruises to the Arctic Ocean (where there are no good ports of call), to the Pacific Ocean (with exotic places like Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Japan and the not-so-exotic Yankee Station and Danang and Chu Li, Vietnam), the Atlantic Ocean ( to Portsmouth and London) and to the Mediterranean Sea (where I ate my way across Europe with multiple trips to Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, the French Riviera, Athens, Rhodes, Malta, and many other ports). Stateside I served in squadrons based in Quonset Point, Rhode Island; Jacksonville, Florida; Santa Clara and Lemoore, California (Shirley and I had a child born in each of those states); Albany, Georgia; and Key West, Florida. I served as an instructor at The Naval Aviation Maintenance Officer’s School in Memphis, Tennessee, and my last tour of duty was in Washington, DC, where I served as the Deputy Program Manager for Fleet Introduction of the F/A-18 aircraft. Upon my retirement I was proud to have held every rank from E-1 to E-9, WO-1 to CWO-4, and O-1 to O-4. Joining the Navy was a great career choice for me. Not many people get to go through their entire working life looking forward to going to work every day. Shirley and I made friends for life wherever we served.

Name: James Hill Branch of Service: USN Dates of service: 1972 – 1993

Places served: San Diego and Alameda, California; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Washington, DC; Norfolk, Virginia Why I joined: I had a low draft number and chose to join the Navy voluntarily rather than the Army involuntarily. Thoughts about my service: Every job I had was interesting and challenging. I saw the world and got a great education.

The photo at left shows LCDR James Allan Hill, USN, on 3 March 1981.

Name: Judith D. Irvine (nee: Johnson) Branch of Service: US Navy, US Naval Reserve Dates of service: August 1980-April 2008

Places served: Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia; Naval Operations Base (Sewell's Point Clinic), Norfolk, Virginia; Bremerton Naval Hospital, Bremerton, Washington; Naval Reserve Service at Syracuse, New York; Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego, California; Naval Reserve Service at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland

Why I joined: Wanted the professional experience and a chance to serve.

Thoughts about my service: Retired with rank Captain, Nurse Corps, USNR.

Stella Magusiak Branch of Service: US Navy Dates of service: 1982-1990 (Yeoman First Class upon discharge)

Places served: Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 2 (VQ-2); Rota, Spain (1982-1985) Surface Warfare, Pentagon (1986-1987) Legislative Affairs, Pentagon (1988–1990)

Why I joined: I knew I didn’t want to go to college for four years and I was from a small town in the Adirondack Mountains in New York. Job opportunities were limited, to say the least. Joining the military while just beginning my senior year of high school turned out to be a great decision. I not only learned a skill but also a work ethic that carries me through to this day.

Name: Frank Norman Newcomb

Norm was a retired Navy Captain in the Supply Corps, serving 27 years. He later worked with several defense contracting firms in Northern Virginia for a period of 21 years. He enjoyed volunteer activities both during his working and retired years.

He was born in Minneapolis, MN on December 27, 1933. He graduated from Southwest High School in Minneapolis in 1951. In 1955, Norm graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math Education and he lettered in swimming. He was commissioned in the Navy in 1955 as a Supply Corps Officer. He served at multiple duty stations and was a Vietnam War veteran. While in the Navy, Norm received a Master of Science Degree in Management Data Processing from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and later held a command at the Navy Regional Data Automation Center in San Diego.

Norm was a member of the Annapolis Naval Sailing Association for whom he taught Sailing, Piloting and Navigation, and served as Treasurer. He volunteered for Fairfax County Parks and Recreation. Norm was a member of Sydenstricker United Methodist Church. He proudly donated the flag in the Chapel in loving memory of his parents. Norm passed away in June 2006; he is deeply missed by his family and will forever be fondly and lovingly remembered.

Name: Rob Shafer Picture: Advancement to Chief Petty Officer (1979)

Branch of Service: US Navy

Dates of Service: 16 Aug 1965 to 31 August 1985

Places Served: Naval Technical Training Center, Treasure Island, California; Commander, US Naval Forces Japan, Yokosuka, Japan; Commander, US Naval Forces Europe, London, England; Naval Technical Training Center, Treasure Island, California; US Naval Security Group Activity, Homestead, Florida; Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo Texas; Naval Security Group Activity Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico; Naval Security Group Activity Edzell, Scotland; Senior Enlisted Academy, Providence Rhode Island; Communications Security Material System, Naval Security Station Washington, DC.

Why I joined: In 1965, I was rather aimless and was working as a warehouseman for Sears in Seattle. There was also a major buildup of the Army as the war in Vietnam was growing and I wanted something more than they had to offer. The Navy guaranteed me a place in an electronics school if my tests were good enough, so on my Dad’s birthday (and the day I was to take my Army physical), I enlisted in the Navy for four years. I had reviewed the possible ratings that could be offered and it was between an Electronics Technician (ET) and a Cryptologic Technician (CT). Fortunately I had a friend who had joined a year earlier, he was a CT, and he told me to take CT if I could as they got the same schooling but had no (or little) sea duty. As you can see from my duty stations, none of them start with a USS.

Thoughts: While I did not serve in Vietnam, while in Yokosuka Japan we provided vital communications support between the Commander 7th Fleet/Commander Submarine Group 7 and the Commander Naval Forces Japan. This was also a rough time for CTs as the North Koreans captured the USS Pueblo (we were the project office for her mission), they also shot down an EC-121 surveillance plane, and the Israelis shot up the USS Liberty; all were manned by CTs. At that point I was not too sure of my future in the Navy.

With 13 months of service to complete I was prime material for duty on either a very small island in the Pacific or onto one of the ships that CTs could serve on. However, at this time the Navy disbanded all the ships with CT billets because of the USS Pueblo and so I guess they had nowhere else to send me but to a civilian clothing billet in London, England (poor me). There we provided the Commander Naval Forces Europe with secure communications and supported all naval forces in Europe during the cold war, primarily aimed at the Soviet Union.

It was also there in 1970 that I met Jane, married, and our son, Matthew, was born in 1971. Our daughter, Wendy Fiona, was born in Oakland, California, in 1973 while I was an instructor of advanced electronics in the San Francisco Bay area. From there we traveled as a family to several parts of our country as well as a couple of overseas assignments. It was in Homestead AFB Florida that I got reconnected with Church activities and that has been a very important part of my life since.

Significant events happened while in Puerto Rico with the passing of Jane’s father after many years with MS and the terrorist attack on the work bus in which two sailors (friends both) were killed and eight others injured. This happened within a couple of weeks of our transfer to Jane’s home country of Scotland, but it stayed with us for many years.

Over twenty years of service I worked at several operational communications sites, attended seven schools as a student, taught at one school, and generally progressed in experience and standing over those years. I started as an E-1 making $79 a month (plus room and board) and an 18 hour day to being a Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) (and attending Sydenstricker UMC) when I was forced by health to retire. My service to my country led me to a wonderful family and a career working with computers and electronics equipment for which I will always be grateful.

Name: John Spicer Branch of Service: US Navy Dates of Service: 1983 - present Photo: September 2005, the day John was promoted to Captain while serving as Supply Officer on USS Enterprise

Places served: Officer Candidate School, Naval Education and Training Center, Newport, Rhode Island (October 1983- February 1984); Basic Qualification Course, Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, Georgia (February 1984 - August 1984); Submarine School, Naval Submarine Base, Groton, Connecticut (August 1984 - December 1984); Supply Officer, USS GURNARD (SSN 662), Naval Submarine Base, San Diego, California (December 1984 - September 1987); Instructor, Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, Georgia, (September 1987 - January 1990); Stock Control Officer, USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62), Naval Air Station, North Island, California (January 1990 - August 1992 [includes a change of home port to Yokosuka, Japan August 1991- August 1992]); Afloat Readiness Officer, Commander Naval Air Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC), Naval Air Station North Island, California, (August 1992- June 1995); Student, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California (June 1995 - December 1996); Operations and Contracts, Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (December 1996 - July 2000); Research Fellow, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (July 2000 - June 2001); Action Officer, Navy Staff (OPNAV N41), Washington, D.C. (June 2001 - January 2004), Supply Officer, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) Norfolk, Virginia (January 2004 - July 2006); Student, National Defense University (Industrial College of the Armed Forces [ICAF]), Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. (July 2006 - June 2007); Deputy Assistant Commander for Contracts, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Patuxent River, Maryland (June 2007- present). Why I joined: I had wanted to go to Law School but, after an internship with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, I became somewhat disillusioned about studying law. One day, while walking across campus my senior year, I picked up a student newspaper (something I rarely did) and saw that the Navy was taking interviews. On a whim, I signed up for an interview. As to why I joined, it was an opportunity to get out of the Midwest and it was an opportunity to serve my country. It was also a gratifying decision in that my father and my uncle had also served in the United States Navy. Thoughts about my service: I was going to fulfill my four-year commitment and then move on. Four years came and went but the satisfaction of service never went away. The Navy afforded me adventures that my friends back home can only envy. It was also the reason Katie and I met, got married, and raised a family.

Jerry Theiss Branch of Service: Captain, Supply Corps, USN, retired Dates of service: June 1968 to August 1993

Places served: USS Blakely (FF-1072); USS Wabash (AOR-5); USS Sylvania (AFS-2); Offices of the Chief of Naval Operations, Asst Secretary of the Navy and Asst Secretary of Defense

Why I joined: I really enjoyed NROTC at Purdue University and my Midshipman tour in the supply department on board ship.

Thoughts about my service: I completely enjoyed over 25 years of service including three shipboard tours, five tours in Washington, DC, and shore tours in California/Pennsylvania/Georgia and in Canada as a Supply Corps Officer.

Don Tison was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy Supply Corps upon graduation from The Citadel in May 1975. Following Supply Corps School and Submarine School, he was assigned as the Supply Officer aboard USS Sam Houston (SSBN-608) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In September 1978, he was transferred to the US Naval Communication Station in Thurso, Scotland, for duty as the Supply Officer. Nine days later, Ensign Annette Franke arrived for her first Navy assignment, as Disbursing and Food Service Officer. Annette and Don were married in October 1979. In May 1980, they were transferred to commands in Charleston, South Carolina, with follow-on assignments in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. After Jenny and Dan were born, Annette transferred to the Naval Reserve and for the next several years drilled one weekend a month (when Don played “Mom”) and two weeks during the year (when her mother was imported to tend to the children). The family accompanied Don on his assignments to USS ARKANSAS (CGN-41) in Alameda, California; Washington, DC; USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA-3) in Sasebo, Japan (where Annette switched to the Individual Ready Reserve because there was no place for her to drill) ; and back to Washington, DC. Annette retired in 1997 and Don retired in 1998. Don and Annette joined the military in large part because their fathers had served—Don’s was a torpedoman aboard USS Carp (SS-338) during World War II; Annette’s served 23 years in the Army, including the Battle of the Bulge. Annette’s grandfather served in the US Navy during World War I.

Top photo: Don is greeted by Annette, Jenny and Dan when he returned from deployment aboard USS ARKANSAS (CGN-41). Photo at left: Annette shortly before she was commissioned in March 1978.

Name: LCDR Dan Tison

Branch of Service: US Navy

Dates of Service: Commissioned as an Ensign on December 4, 2009 upon completion of Navy Officer Candidate School. Currently on active duty.

Places Served: VFA-146 (at Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California); deployed aboard USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) and USS NIMITZ (CVN-68); US Naval Forces Central Command, Bahrain; Joint Analytic Center, European Command (at RAF Molesworth, United Kingdom); US Pacific Fleet (at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii), Air Wing 11 (at Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California).

Why I joined: To serve my country and see the world.

John Tyburski. I joined the naval reserve after high school, in January 1962 and then went regular navy, four year enlistment. After Radioman "A" school in Bainbridge, MD I was assigned to the communications station at Norfolk, VA. (One class of graduates went to ships, the alternate classes went to shore stations). After "pushing tape" and operating the message broadcast to ships, I went to teletype repair school. I finished my four year career as a teletype repairman. Transferred back to the reserves with a final discharge in March, 1967.

These photos below are from radioman "A" school in Bainbridge. The one on the left is me in “whites” and the one on the right is me in “code central” where we sent code tapes to students in school.

Name: Lieutenant Commander Rick Vtipil Branch of Service: US Navy Dates of Service: U.S. Naval Academy, 1July1993-23May1997 Commissioned 23May to 31 May 2017 Winged 11Jun1999

Places Served: Pensacola, Florida--Preflight Indoctrination Aug1997-Oct1997 Corpus Christi, Texas--Primary Flight School Training Squadron TWENTY EIGHT Nov-1997- Oct1998 Milton, Florida--Advanced Flight School Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN Nov1998-Jun1999 San Diego, California--Fleet Replacement Squadron Jul1999-Feb2000 Norfolk, Virginia--Helicopter Combat Support Squadron EIGHT Mar2000-Jun2003 Milton, Florida--Flight Instructor, Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN Jul2003-Jul2006 Norfolk Virginia/Yokosuka, Japan--Tactical Action Officer, USS George Washington (CVN- 73) Aug2006-Oct2008 Milton, Florida--Operations Officer Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN Nov2008- Feb2011 Kabul, Afghanistan--Supply & Services Officer/Force Protection Officer USFOR-A/ISAF Mar 2011-Feb2012 Arlington, Virginia--Aviation Requirements Officer OPNAV N151 Mar2012-May2015 Isa Air Base, Bahrain--Safety Officer/Base Operations Officer/Liaison Officer Jun 2015-Apr2016 Fort Belvoir, Virginia-- Exercise Planner, Defense Threat Reduction Agency DTRA Jun2016-Jun2017

Why I joined: To serve my country, see and do things I would never be able to as a civilian. Get an outstanding education (USNA) and get to fly.

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS Established November 10, 1775

The official mission of the Marine Corps is established in the National Security Act of 1947, amended in 1952. Marines are trained, organized and equipped for offensive amphibious employment and as a “force in readiness.” According to the Act, Marines stand prepared to meet mission requirements. -- Provide Fleet Marine Force with combined arms and supporting air components for service with the United States Fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and for the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the execution of naval campaign. --Provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy and security detachments for the protection of naval property at naval stations and bases. --Develop, in coordination with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the doctrine, tactics, techniques, and equipment employed by landing forces in amphibious operations. --Provide Marine forces for airborne operations, in coordination with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, according to the doctrine established by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. --Develop, in coordination with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the doctrine, procedures, and equipment for airborne operations. --Expand peacetime components to meet wartime needs according to the joint mobilization plans. -- Perform such other duties as the President may direct.

Name: Gregory Brison Marine Corps 1983 – 1989

In 1983 at the wise age of 17, I intended to join the Air Force. I met with the recruiter, took the tests and was ready to sign the bottom line. We arranged for a date and time to meet up at her office but she didn’t show up on time. A Marine Corps Gunny recruiter started talking to me and began describing how my test scores transferred over to the Corps and that they were higher than that of the Air Force standards. Hook line and sinker. I joined that same afternoon. I think mom cried and dad laughed. Dad was probably thinking "Payback time boy!"

Because I was 17, I had to wait seven months before I could go to boot camp at Parris Island. Dad kept telling me to get in shape. What did he know--he was just a parent who thought he knew everything? That’s why we went to boot camp right? Why get in shape early? Really poor decision on my behalf......

Dad dropped me off one very early September morning in 1983 at the recruiter’s office so I could begin my three month journey at Parris Island. (Nothing Paris about it.) When I left dad that morning, I can remember thinking this was probably a big mistake, they were going to probably break me into many pieces and I would be home within a week. When I got there they shaved my head bald and there was no way I was going home looking like that.

After boot camp I went to Infantry Training School in North Carolina in January which turned out in some ways to be more miserable than boot camp. Cold rain almost the entire time. I had thought that when I was joining and signing my contract with the recruiter that I was going into the infantry as a K-9 dog handler. I wanted to be up front as the point person. That is what we agreed on. I found out during infantry training school that I had been lied to and was sent to the Marine Security Forces instead. Apparently the job I thought I agreed upon was actually terminated after we pulled out of Vietnam.

I was transferred to Hawaii in 1984 and served 3.5 years as a 0311 with the Marine Security Forces, West Loch. I excelled only through the grace of God and was meritoriously promoted to Corporal. I worked my way up the chain to serve as Reactionary Force Platoon Sergeant.

Upon discharge from active duty I did a year of reserve duty at Quantico as a 0313 with the Light Armored Vehicle Battalion. Meritoriously promoted to Sergeant.

Name: Don Dosch Branch of service: USMC Dates of service: 1975-2001

Why I joined: As a recent college graduate with a B.S. in Music Ed. degree, I was mentally prepared to be a high school band director. But, I loved to play my horn (French horn), so in addition to auditioning for the Philadelphia Orchestra, I auditioned for and was accepted into "The President's Own," the U.S. Marine Band, Washington, D.C.

Thoughts about my service: Having provided music at the White House for every president from Gerald Ford through George W. Bush, my job gave me great personal satisfaction. It was also a privilege representing the Marine Corps while touring across the country every fall for two months at a time, bringing America's music to the citizens of this great land we call America.

Name: Erick Lermo Branch of Service: U. S. Marine Corps Dates of service: 1984-2004 Photo: Erick Lermo upon his retirement in 2004

Places served: Camp Pendleton, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; Quantico, Virginia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC. I made multiple deployments throughout the Western Pacific, Mediterranean and with NATO in Croatia.

Why I joined: I wanted to serve my country and was inspired by a high school Speech teacher who had served in the Corps.

Thoughts about my service: It was a great experience where I gained leadership, travelled the world and made long lasting friendships.

Ronald J. Points Branch/dates of Service: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, December 1964 – January 1967 Pennsylvania Air National Guard, January 1967 – January 1973

I joined the U.S. Marines in the fall of 1964 which was during the build-up for the Vietnam War. My Draft Board sent me a letter stating that I had 21 days to join a branch of a service or be drafted. I chose to enlist in the Marines. I performed my basic training at Parris Island and Advance Infantry Training at Camp Geiger in North Carolina. After training I was assigned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina as a supply clerk since I could type and they needed anyone with administrative skills since this was the start of the build up for Vietnam.

I joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard to complete my military commitment while I finished my college undergraduate degree. What I received from my military service was an appreciation for discipline and pride in our country and respect for people serving in the military.

Kevin Powell. I served four years and three months (three months because I extended to do my third deployment to Iraq)- not very long, I'm sure, compared to others at our church. Dates of service were October 6, 2003 to December 7, 2007, and I got out as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. I was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and did three tours to Iraq. The first tour was with Small Craft Company (we operated on the Euphrates River); my job was to control a fire team of about five Marines and ride around on our boat until we took contact. Then it was our job to get off the boat and assault through to the enemy. My second and third tours to Iraq were with First Battalion Second Marine Division and I served as an infantry squad leader. During the first tour most notably I fought in the battle of Fallujah (Operation Phantom Fury) and I also fought in Iskanderia, Ramadi, Hadetha, Haqulenya, Hit, Ar Rutbah, and numerous other cities in the Al Anbar province. Most people have some noble story as to why they joined the military but mine is basically I wanted to fight, and my Dad was getting pretty sick and tired of my antics by that time (I wasn't exactly the model teenager as I'm sure many members of the church are aware of). There are just a couple of things I'd like to share about my service and they are not war stories: If I hadn't joined the Marine Corps I never would have met my beautiful wife Sadie and we wouldn't have had our wonderful son Merrick. I grew up real fast after, and I guess during (though I didn't realize it), my first tour to Iraq and obtained what I believe to be a much better outlook on the value of life and eventually the importance of my faith. Also I'd just like to mention my good friend Lance Corporal Brian P. Parello who was killed in action on January 1, 2005 in Hadetha, Iraq--not because he was any more important than others who lost their lives but simply because he was my friend (and a great Marine). Last and most important, I'd like to take advantage of this booklet and send my deepest thanks and appreciation to the members of Sydenstricker United Methodist Church, for I can never repay them for their thoughts and prayers for me and my units when deployed to Iraq. There were many times when I thought God was the farthest thing from me and even times that I cursed him but the letters and care packages sent by the members of this congregation and the fact that I am still alive and intact only prove how close God really was to me all those times. I may have given up a few times but Sydenstricker never gave up on me. Thank you so very much from me, my wife, my son, and my entire family.

Left photo: Kevin Powell with Iraqi children. Right photo: Kevin Powell’s friend, Lance Corporal Brian P. Parello

Kevin Powell’s unit at the "Black Water Bridge" in Al Fallujah the day after we declared a victory over the city (Operation Phantom Fury).

Grant David Wright (1937-2003) Grant entered the US Naval Academy in the summer of 1955 and graduated in June 1959. He chose the US Marine Corps as his choice of services. From there he went to Quantico for Basic School and then to Okinawa as an artillery officer. On return, he went to flight school at Pensacola, Florida, and Beeville, Texas. From there he went to Cherry Point, North Carolina and flew A-4s. Then to Monterey, California for USN Post Graduate School and earned a Masters in EE, then to Viet Nam where he flew A-4s and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, then Headquarters Marine Corps. Grant served 11 years and was a Major when he resigned.

Left photo: Grant Wright in Pensacola, Florida, after his first solo flight. Right photo: Nancy pins Captain’s bars on her newly-promoted husband. The man holding the paint brush is preparing to change the rank next to Grant’s name.

Name: Col Michael W. (Bill) Wydo USMC, Ret. Time of Service: 1962-1990 Duty Stations: Quantico, VA (2 tours)-Camp Lejeune, NC –USS Rockbridge APA 228, Mediterranean Sea. –Camp Pendleton, CA –Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC (2 Tours) –Viet Nam –Okinawa, Japan (2 Tours)-USS Whitfield County, LST1169, South China Sea –Marine Barracks, Adak, AK –Naval War College, Newport, RI – Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft McNair, DC -Headquarters, USMC (2 Tours) –US Central Command, Tampa, FL.

Joined the Marine Corps out of college during Viet Nam era and served as an infantry officer. Enjoyed what I did and the Marine Corps culture. Most rewarding were tours of duty involving the training of Marine officers at The Basic School in Quantico, VA, and recruits and drill instructors at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.

Left to right: daughter Wendy Reid, wife Jeanie Wydo and Col Wydo

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD Established August 4, 1790

The United States Coast Guard is the nation's primary maritime operating agency. It protects life and property at sea, enforces federal laws and treaties, preserves marine natural resources, and promotes national security interests. As one of the nation's five Armed Forces, it is our military character--our organization and discipline, our command, control and communications structure, and our multi-mission surface and air capabilities--which enables us to perform our civil duties within the Department of Transportation, as well as function in the Department of the Navy when Congress or the President so directs.

Tom Brison. I enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves and served for eight years, from 1962 until 1970. I went through boot camp at the USCG Receiving Center, Cape May, New Jersey. I served on the Coast Guard Cutter Unimak where I was a Petty Officer Third Class.

My real exposure to the military came from my 42 years as a Department of the Army Civilian. During that time, I was employed at the Headquarters in the Pentagon for about 10 years, plus five years for the U.S. Army, Europe and two years for the U.S. Forces in Korea. I also worked for the Army Corps of Engineers and the Military District of Washington.

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Established September 18, 1947

The mission of the United States Air Force is to deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests -- to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace.

Colonel David M. Anderson Branch of Service: US Air Force Dates of service: March 1986-present

Places served: Minot AFB, North Dakota; US Air Force Academy, Colorado; Osan AFB, Korea; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Pentagon; Beale AFB, California; US Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; and the Pentagon, where Dave is Chief, Strategic Plans Division, HQ USAF Plans and Integration Directorate.

Dave joined the Air Force because he wanted to serve our great nation and be part of a higher cause. He wanted to serve God and country and follow in the footsteps of his father. Seven of the thirteen children in his family went into the Army or Air Force. He has proudly served for 23 years.

J. Edward Bright Branch of Service: USAF Dates of service: July 1958 to October 1987

Places served: Claysburg, Pennsylvania; Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island, Canada; Madison, Wisconsin; Montgomery, Alabama; Viet Nam; Air Staff, Pentagon; South Bend, Indiana; Ft Belvoir, Virginia; and DIA in Washington DC

Why I joined: I wanted to serve my country.

Thought about my service: The best experience I ever had except for my marriage.

Name: Charles Buettner Branch of Service: United States Air Force Dates of Service: March 1969 to March 1973 Places Served: Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX; Chanute AFB, Rantoul, IL; Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE; Shemya, Aleutian Isl.; Anderson AFB, Guam

Why I Joined: I graduated High School at 17 and went to work for C&P Telephone Company. In November, when I turned 18, I decided to take an active role in my upcoming Service Requirement. Once tested and accepted by the U.S. Air Force, I received my Greeting from the President. After completing Basic and additional training in aircraft hydraulic systems, I spent 4 years in Strategic Air Command maintaining EC/RC/KC-135s (Looking Glass, Reconnaissance and Refueling Tankers) and B-52 bombers. I was assigned to the 55th FMS at Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE from May 1969 to December 1971 with a TDY to Shemya, Aleutian Islands to support a recon aircraft. Upon returning to Offutt AFB, I received orders for Anderson AFB, Guam. When I arrived on Guam in December 1971 with the 43rd FMS, we had 12 B52s on nuclear alert. Shortly after that we received an additional 150 planes from the states and began supporting Vietnam operations code named Linebacker 1 and 2. Discharge rating E-5.

Thoughts about my service: My Air Force service prepared me well for life and a career at WMATA. The G.I. Bill provided me with an A.S.S. Degree in Business and a degree in Electronics Technology. The training I received in all things mechanical, working under adverse conditions and repairing aircraft so they were ready to fly, gave me the confidence to meet life’s challenges and overcome them. I am amazed when I think of how a bunch of 18 year olds were trained and trusted to preform maintenance on SAC aircraft. Military service turned adolescent boys into responsible adults pretty quickly. After I retired, Deloris and I became active with the Springfield American Legion supporting our veterans and their families.

Name: Lt Col Robert D. Carlson, PMP, EVP Branch of Service: US Air Force, Retired

Dates of service: 5 Dec 1971 - 31 Jan 1993

Places served: Lackland AFB, Chanute AFB, Medina AFB, Columbus AFB, Mather AFB, Castle AFB, KI Sawyer AFB, Eielson AFB, Shemya AFB, Det-2 Greenville, Wright-Patterson AFB, the Pentagon, and Defense Acquisition University at Fort Belvoir.

Why I joined: After graduating from Lowell Technological Institute, I joined the USAF during the Vietnam Conflict. I joined my 3 brothers, who after High School graduation, enlisted in the Air Force to serve their country; we felt this was our patriotic duty!! I planned to depart after a single 4-year tour. Who knew I would remain for 21 years!!

Thoughts about my service: My father, T/4 (USA) Frank L. Carlson, fought in the South Pacific during WW II. Sharon's parents, Lt Col (AF Retired) C. Jack & Edith Hoskinson Jr., were stationed at Mather AFB. (Jack was an Army enlisted combat pilot during WW II; and an Air Force officer combat pilot in Korea and Vietnam). Sharon was a lifeguard at the Mather AFB O' Club pool; she blew her whistle at me and we married soon after in Dec 73. As a Senior Navigator/Electronic Warfare Officer and Flight Test Engineer, I flew 'Cobra Ball' reconnaissance missions collecting intercontinental ballistic missile data and flew world-wide missions -- several within the Berlin Corridor during the 'cold war'. I have operational or flight test hours in the B-52H, RC-135M, S, T, U, V, W, ET-29D, & C-130E; I became a program manager working on classified programs supporting the U-2, TR-1, SR-71, all RC-135s, and the F-117; and a PEM in SAF/AQRE, responsible for the development of ALL Air Force aircraft defensive systems. I relocated to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), at Fort Belvoir, where I taught Advanced Program Management courses to DoD senior Military, Civilian, and contractor students. After 24 years, I retired from DAU on 5 Jan 2016. My wife, Sharon and I moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Our daughter Jill is married and lives in Alexandria, she is a clinical operations manager for Kaiser Permanente in DC; our son Todd sells cars for Priority Toyota; our Granddaughter Madison is attending James Madison University preparing to become a nurse. Jill & her husband, Tony provided us a 4th granddaughter – Harper on May 12, 2016. We have 2 other granddaughters, Brittani a senior at Riviera and Kayla is in 6th grade. Sharon and I are honored to support those who continue to serve the cause of FREEDOM. The mission to protect this country has changed significantly; requiring numerous, dangerous deployments and the accompanying family hardships and sacrifices. It is wonderful to see the respect and gratitude our returning veterans and their families now receive from our country.

Eugene (Gene) Cole Branch of Service: United States Air Force Dates of service: June 1956 through February 1977 Retired at Rank of O-4, Major

September 1952 through June 1956. As a freshman at Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio, I joined the Air Force ROTC to become a fighter pilot. I passed the extensive test, qualified highly and was accepted into the pilot program. I attended ROTC classes and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force upon graduation on June 4, 1956. I graduated with a BA degree in business administration. January 1957. I reported for active duty January 1957 to Lackland AFB near San Antonio, Texas. After extensive physical examinations, I received the bad news that my eyes were weak and that I no longer qualified for pilot training. I was subsequently transferred to AF auditing school at Sheppard AF, Base Texas and in May 1957 was assigned as permanent party to the AF Audit Office at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. May 1957 thru February 1977. During this period I was on active duty with the AF Audit Agency at various AF bases and stations in the US and overseas. My duties involved auditing almost every type of operations and functions of an AF base. I started as a regular auditor and advance to Base Resident Auditor with a staff of up to six auditors and finally to management supervisory functions. Duty Locations Assigned. The following is a list of my duty assignment locations, positions, and dates. All my duty tours were accompanied by my wife, Marilyn, and children, Jeff and Melinda. - Lackland AFB, Texas, Officer Orientation, January 1957. - Sheppard AFB, Texas, Auditor technical school, February - May 1957. - Vance AFB, Oklahoma, Staff Auditor, May 1957 - August 1960. - Tachikawa AB, Japan, Staff Auditor, Aug 1960 - August 1963. - Scott AFB, IL, Supervisor Auditor, August 1963 - December 1968. - Wheelus AFB, Libya, Resident Auditor, December 1968 - June 1970. During this tour, Gaddafi overthrew King Idis. And believe it or not, I met Gaddafi on a number of occasions as my duties included reviewing and monitoring checks from Gaddafi for purchases made of leftover base equipment and supplies. I was on the last USAF airplane to leave Wheelus AB, Libya. Gaddafi was friendly at that time. - Los Angeles AFS, Management Auditor, July 1970 - June 1973. - Dyess AFB, Texas, Management Auditor, June 1973 - July 1974. - Athens AFS, Greece, Management Auditor, July 1974 - February 1977. My duties and the Air Force were very enjoyable and career awarding. I had great overseas assignments to Japan, Libya, and Greece, always accompanied by my dependents. It was a great experience for my family and me.

Name: Brad Duty Branch of Service: US Air Force Dates of service: 1976-2006 (1976-1980, Air Force Academy Cadet; 1980- 2006, Officer)

Places served: Montana, California, Nebraska, Alabama, Germany, Rhode Island, Pentagon, and Afghanistan

Why I joined: Joined to see the world and get an education; stayed to serve my country and try to provide good leadership that our troops deserve

Thoughts about my service: It taught me about balancing and doing all of my 3 top priorities: serving my God, my Country and my Family. I learned to appreciate what our volunteer service members… America’s sons and daughters… are willing to do and capable of doing to serve and sacrifice as necessary for their country.

Debra Donovan entered the USAF in July 1975 and served in the Nurse Corps at Mather AFB in California. She was transferred to George AFB, California, in 1977, and separated from the AF in 1980.

Vic Donovan entered the Air Force through ROTC at Holy Cross College. He began active duty in February 1975 and retired from Andrews in January 2005. He served as an air crew member at George AFB, California, until July 1980 when he entered AFIT and attended Emory University Law School. He served as a staff judge advocate at Keesler AFB, Mississippi; Incirlik AFB, and Aviano AFB, Italy. He was assigned to Washington and served 3 years on staff at the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council and then went to Luke AFB in Arizona to serve as the SJA. He was reassigned to the Washington area as the Andrews AFB SJA and then was initially appointed the first active duty legal advisor to the Air Force Review Boards Agency and currently serves there as a civilian.

Name: Ronald A. Edwards Branch of Service: United States Air Force Dates of service: May 1971 – October 2000

Places served: Initial flight training took place at Mather AFB in Sacramento, California, which was followed by replacement unit training in the F-4 Phantom at George AFB in Victorville, California. First operational tour was at Osan AB, South Korea and was followed by four years at Hahn AB, West Germany. I returned to Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico where I taught air-to-air and air-to-ground fighter tactics to incoming pilots to Tactical Air Command (now Air Combat Command). While at Holloman, I received the Tactical Air Command’s Instructor Weapons Systems Officer of the Year Award. Next I would spend a year flying with the Egyptian Air Force and log my last flight hour in an Egyptian F-4E that had its legacy in the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. My family and I came to the Washington area when I was assigned to Joint Staff at the Pentagon working on the negotiation for conventional arms control and force reductions in Europe. This tour had me spending half my time in Wien, Austria – Shirley’s hometown. I would next find myself in Tampa, Florida, at US Central Command Headquarters working political military affairs issues focused on Egypt, Jordan, and Oman. At the conclusion of Desert Storm, I again returned to the Pentagon and worked foreign military sales to the Middle East on the Air Staff. I would conclude my operational career with a tour as the US Defense and Air Attaché in Oman, a clear linkage to my time in CENTCOM. My final assignment was as a professor of international affairs for the Middle East region at the Air Force’s Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama.

Why I joined: My entry into the Air Forced was strongly influenced by the invitation that I received in March 1971 to join the US Army and spend time in lovely Southeast Asia.

Thoughts about my service: My service in the Air Force has given me a breadth of opportunities, experiences and responsibilities that few individuals have the pleasure of sharing. I have gained friendships that will last for all times both in and out of the military as a result of my service to our country through my US Air Force service.

Photo at left: Ron greets the Secretary of Defense

John Ellen Twenty-six years in the Air Force, retiring as a Colonel.

Predominately served in the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile business in the following assignments: missile combat crew commander at Malmstrom AFB, Montana; ICBM operational test engineer at Vandenberg AFB, California; ICBM Acquisition Management Officer at Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon; Squadron Commander at Whiteman AFB, Missouri; Chief, Missile Tactics, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska; ICBM Group Commander, Minot AFB, North Dakota and Chief, ICBM Modernization, Headquarters Air Force. I also had the good fortune to attend the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Name: Eric Hommel Branches of Service: US Navy and US Air Force Dates of Service: 1986-1994 (USN & USNR) and 1994-2011 (USAF)

Places Served: USN. Under the Atlantic Ocean—USS Sunfish (SSN-649) USNR. Brooklyn, NY; Savannah, Georgia; and Columbus, Ohio USAF. Minot, ND; Washington, DC; Iraq and Afghanistan

Why I joined: Having failed out of college, I needed a focus; enlisted submarine service gave me the focus I was lacking. After returning to college (and this time, graduating), I wanted to continue to serve in the active duty military and was fortunate to gain a commission in the USAF.

Thoughts about my service: The satisfaction of serving easily outweighs the sacrifices. Looking back, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience—I consider it a tremendous blessing to have been part of something much bigger than myself.

Michelle Johnson is currently serving in the US Air Force. Places Served: ∙Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas ∙Hill AFB Hospital, Ogden, Utah ∙Wright-Patterson Medical Center, WPAFB, Dayton, Ohio ∙TRICARE Management Activity, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs, Falls Church, Virginia ∙Air Force Medical Service Chief Information Office, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, Falls Church, Virginia ∙Travis Air Force Base, California

In August of 1993, I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the USAF after receiving my BS in Nursing in Akron, Ohio. I began my nursing career in the Hematology/Oncology Unit at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, where I discovered my love for Oncology Nursing and Palliative Care. Since that time, I have maintained my certification in Oncology Nursing, obtaining my graduate degree in Adult Health Nursing in 2005. That same year, I was selected to serve in the areas of quality improvement, risk management, and strategic planning in a position within the Military Health Service.

I would recommend military nursing to anyone in a heartbeat. Military nursing helped me become flexible in all situations, stretching me out of my comfort zone (in a good way) in nursing and leadership. The AF has also given me a whole other family that stretches all the way around the world.

Some of the fondest memories I have are of those times when I feel I have made a difference and provided an environment of dignity to loved ones and family members during the last hours of a patient’s life. It is truly an honor to serve those who have gone before me and protected the freedoms that we now enjoy.

The photo on the left was taken when Michelle became a Second Lieutenant and the photo on the right upon her promotion to Major.

Name: Lieutenant Colonel Robert ‘Brian’ Leo Branch of Service: United States Air Force; both Enlisted and Officer grades Dates of Service: Active duty, Enlisted: 5 Jul 1984-4 Jul 1999. Officer – 5 Jul 1999-present.

Recently appointed HQ Air Force Branch Chief of Nuclear Weapons Maintenance and Logistics at the Pentagon. As a subject matter expert, reviews nuclear correspondence and provides guidance to Leadership and Major Commands (MAJCOMs) worldwide. Resolves nuclear munitions concerns; develops and coordinates on all nuclear surety policies and procedures and leads AF nuclear sustainment stewardship, directing 8 cross-functional professionals driving the CSAF’s and SECAF’s #1 priority. Primary HQ AF/A4 nuclear logistics liaison to OSD/Acquisition, Technology, & Logistics, DLA, US Navy & global MAJCOMs. Conducts root cause analysis & initiates actions; develops metrics & policy to monitor & direct nuclear enterprise activities. His oversight of 850+ complex maintenance actions implements required nuclear cultural, process & structural changes. Develops policy for and manages the AF Nuclear Weapons Related Materiel (NWRM) program. Jul 2014-Jul 2016 was the Conventional Munitions and Armament Systems Branch Chief, also at the Pentagon, responsible for oversight and management the Air Force’s global munitions stockpile, munitions accountability policy, and aircraft armament systems and aircraft weapons loading.

Married 25 years (Nov 10, 2016!) to Lisa and we have two boys; Joshua, 22, and Noah, 18; born in England and Texas respectively. 32.8 years of active duty so far and still haven’t grown up…just ask Lisa…we met 15 years before we were ever married.

Why I serve: Graduated 1982 from Cocoa Beach High School, Florida, and enlisted for active duty 1983 as an Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) Mechanic. Fifteen years later and after selection for promotion to E-7/Master Sergeant, was commissioned as an Officer (Munitions and Missile Maintenance) through AF Officer Training School (OTS). Was a typical ‘surfer dude’ growing up on the beach watching the NASA space program, and tried the whole ‘college thing’ after high school, but that was very tough in the 80s, in Florida, with surfboards on the roof of the car at all times. Made it hard to opt for my classes, versus the Atlantic Ocean. After 2 years of college, only had about 1 year’s credit and a 1.8 GPA to boot, so I enlisted in the Air Force to get out of Cocoa Beach and grow up a little.

Places I’ve served: Assignments in order include: Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, Arizona, England, Spain (married my sweetie in Nov 1991 and brought her over), Holland, England again, Texas again, Alabama for OTS, Wyoming, Turkey, Germany, Louisiana, the island of Guam, Missouri, and now the Pentagon. I’ve worked on and taught nearly all aircraft ground equipment, managed bullets, bombs, rockets and missiles, and worked with every AF nuclear weapons system since the mid-80s; the Ground Launched Cruise Missile system, the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM), both Peacekeeper and Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) systems, and both B-61 and B-83 gravity-type nuclear bombs. I was kept in Spain to support all the fighter aircraft transiting to Desert Storm and back, and our whole family was in Turkey for the beginning of today’s fight in 2003, where they were evacuated to the US for 4 months. Been all over the world, courtesy of the places we’ve lived and the travel opportunities that came with them.

Thoughts about my service: My father was a Navy pilot, killed in a midair crash off the carrier USS Hancock in 1967 and has a marker (with the three other pilots lost) here in Arlington Cemetery. I’d heard the stories about him my whole life, but had never gravitated towards military service. My step-father worked at NASA my whole childhood and I was exposed to aircraft and spacecraft early on…must have been bit by the bug...maybe it was just in my blood.

My plan was to do 4 years of service and get out with enough skills to land a good Air Conditioning Repair job and stay in Florida. Here I am 32+ years later…because I realized after less than a year of service I had found my niche. I needed the guidance, discipline and focus the military provides and demands. I’ve loved this life and everything that comes with it. The AF forced me to focus and earn 6 different degrees in order to progress...the latest an MBA.

And in the last 7 years, I feel extremely fortunate to have been selected to Command three times at the Squadron level: - The 36th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (Deployed solo to Guam with F-22s and B-52s) - The 36th Maintenance Squadron (with the family, stationed in Guam: supported 15 different types of aircraft) - The 709th Munitions Squadron, Missouri (Nuclear Weapons Maintenance for US’s only B-2 Bomber strategic fleet)

There’s nothing equivalent to leading large complex groups of smart young folks. I’ve been blessed to work with the best of the best and been provided experiences, successes and leadership opportunities I never would have dreamed of back on the beach, in places I always wanted to go. Our family always found great churches everywhere and made lifelong friends at every assignment. Moving every 2-3 years is one unique part of military life that many don’t understand, and we’ve ‘rolled with the punches’ during a very dynamic time in the Air Force. Life is good, because God is good.

Name: John B. Miller, Col., USAF (Retired) Branch of Service: U.S. Air Force

Dates and Places Served: Maxwell AFB, AL, January 1979-September 1981 Randolph AFB, TX, September 1981-June 1984 MacDill AFB, FL, June 1984-June 1987 RAF Upper Heyford, UK, June 1987-June 1990 Maxwell AFB, AL, ACSC August 1990-June 1991 Randolph AFB, TX, June 1991-July 1996 Maxwell AFB, AL, AWC, August 1996-June 1997 The Pentagon, June 1997-August 2001 Andrews AFB, MD, August 2001-November 2003

Why I joined: To serve my country

Thoughts about the military: Absolutely a great way of life. I had intended to serve four years out of ROTC, but the Air Force kept sending me places I wanted to go and giving me opportunities I could never have dreamed of, so I stayed. The ride was wonderful.

Name: David F. Nefzger, Col, USAFR (Ret.) Branch of Service: U.S. Air Force Dates of service: 1967-1998 (active and reserve) Photo: Dave Nefzger, C-141, December 1971

Places served: Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, Texas; Hurlburt Field, Florida; South Vietnam; Dover AFB, Delaware; Air Force Institute of Technology with duty at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida; Hickam AFB, Honolulu, Hawaii; Altus AFB, Oklahoma; Pentagon; Bolling AFB, Washington, DC.

Why I joined: I wanted to serve my country and fly.

Thoughts about my service: We ask much of our young men and women in the military and of their families. Even in peace, their sacrifices are many, but in war, they are extraordinary. We owe today’s military and their families our full support and gratitude.

Name – Donald A. Johnson, Lt Col Branch of Service: USAF Dates of service: May 1992 present

Places served: Osan AB, Korea; Hill AFB, Utah; Eglin AFB, Florida; Edwards AFB, California; Saudi Arabia and Bahrain – Operation Southern Watch

Why I joined: The fascination with airplanes and the opportunity to serve – both combined to nurture my interest in the Air Force at a young age. Both dreams became a reality when I was selected for attendance to the Air Force Academy and later flew operational missions in the F-16.

Thoughts about my service: The commitment to serve something greater than ourselves is not to be taken lightly. Protecting this great country and our liberties is vitally important and requires tremendous sacrifice – some of which is in the military and served overseas, but much of which resides at home within our own families and communities.

Name: Ric Katnik Branch of Service: Air Force, retired Dates of service: 28 June 1965 to 1 October 1989.

Places served: US Air Force Academy, Colorado (cadet); UCLA (graduate student); Vance AFB, Oklahoma (pilot training); Mather AFB, California (T-29 pilot); March AFB, California (C-118 pilot); Andersen AFB, Guam (C-118 pilot); US Air Force Academy, Colorado (Assistant Professor of Economics and T-39 pilot); Altus AFB, Oklahoma (KC-135 pilot); Pentagon (analyst); Altus AFB, Oklahoma (KC-135 pilot and squadron commander). TDYs to RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom; RAF Fairford, United Kingdom; Keflavik NAS, Iceland; Howard AFB, Panama; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; Roosevelt Roads NS, Puerto Rico.

Why I joined: All-expense paid education at the foot of the Colorado Rockies.

Why I stayed: Great people, all focused on the same important mission.

Catherine Kephart (Retired) Air Force Major Army: Dec 1980 - July 1997 Air Force: July 1997 - February 2006

Places served: Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri Ft. Sam Houston (San Antonio, Texas) Ft. Bliss (El Paso, Texas) 3rd Infantry Division, Leighton Barracks, Wurzburg, Federal Republic of Germany Ft. Bliss (El Paso, Texas) Ft. Hood (Killeen, Texas) Ft. Sam Houston (San Antonio, Texas) Soto Cano Air Base, Palmerola, Honduras Barksdale Air Force Base (Bossier City, Louisiana) Mt. Home Air Force Base (Mt. Home, Idaho) Elmendorf Air Force Base (Anchorage, Alaska) Baghdad, Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom)

The reason I joined the military was because of those “I want you!” posters--Uncle Sam in a red, white, and blue, striped top hat, pointing his patriotic finger outward. I knew I could make a difference--so I joined the Army at 18 years old. From the beginning of basic training to the end of my 25-year career, the military life has been an enjoyable experience for this self-described “tomboy.” I received exceptional and superior ethical training for work within the Operating Room--expertise I utilize as guidance to this day. Working in the Operating Room, patients are never aware of the proficient people involved--but knowing I have been an element of the skilled surgical team, especially under life and death conditions, has been extremely rewarding & humbling. But, my most honoring military contribution was providing emergency medical care to our valiant American and international soldiers while deployed at a very small, front-line hospital in violent Baghdad, Iraq; an exceptional and rewarding experience I embrace close to my heart. I remember working several non-stop, 30+ hour days, many mass casualty scenarios, rockets and bombs flying over and onto our compound at any crazy time, and being the only person of my expertise. Though, under miserable and less-than-desired conditions, I aspired to give all the soldiers I cared for a hope of peace and survival with the nursing skill God granted me. Interesting, now I see a circle of life; I made a difference.

Name: Colonel Steve Kephart Branch of Service: United States Air Force Dates of service: 6 Jun 1986 – Present (23 + years)

Places served: Dover AFB, Delaware; Aviano AB, Italy; Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio; Robins AFB, Georgia; Soto Cano AB, Honduras; Pentagon, Washington DC; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Camp Snoopy and Al Udeid AB, Qatar- deployed following 9/11 attacks on initial cadre to set up operations at Al Udeid in support of initial bombing raids into Afghanistan during opening stages of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; National War College, Ft McNair, Washington DC; Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond, Virginia; Director, Mobility Fuels, Defense Energy Support Center, Ft Belvoir, Virginia

Why I joined: I am living out a calling to continue a Grandfather, Father, Son heritage of serving our country. Grandfather served in the US Army during WW II, Father served in the US Marine Corps during Vietnam and I have served in the US Air Force during Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM as well as Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Three generations, three services, during three periods of conflict.

Thoughts about my service: It is hard to believe I joined the Air Force over 23 years ago… seems like just yesterday when I attended officer training and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Now a Colonel, I am proud to still be serving our United States of America… truly "the home of the free and the brave." Please always remember... the freedom we all live and breathe every day is a blessing… a blessing that does not come without sacrifice of many of America's fallen men and women who have graced our Armed Forces. Given our current overseas engagements, I constantly hear “Thank you for your Service” as I travel around the good ol’ US of A… our “one nation under God”… I do appreciate the thanks, but in living out this calling, they are really not necessary… To show your “thanks,” all I ask of you is one thing… The next time you are somewhere and they play our National Anthem and you happen to see someone not standing or not removing a hat to pay proper respects, please remind them that our "Freedom is not Free" for there are many who cannot stand, and who have already paid the "ultimate" sacrifice. Yes, the Air Force has asked my beautiful wife, Catherine, our blessings (Zachary and Docian), and I to sacrifice in many ways, both home and abroad, but it is truly and will always be a rewarding and enriching sacrifice. God bless our nation this Veteran’s Day and all who took the time to read this.

Name: Lt Col Michael M. Marvich Branch of Service: US Air Force Dates of service: Jun 1994-present

Places served: US Air Force Academy, Colorado; March AFB, California; Peterson AFB, Colorado; Beale AFB, California; Air Force Services Agency, San Antonio, Texas; Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas; Peterson AFB, Colorado; and the Pentagon, where Mike works in the A1 as the Force Support Readiness Functional Area Manager. Mike has also completed 5 deployments in support of efforts in the Middle East.

Why I joined: I was originally drawn to military service after discussions with several of my high school instructors. They stressed their respect for those who served our nation and the honor of being part of a unique community committed to keeping our country free. I was accepted into the Air Force Academy and grew to enjoy the structure, discipline, and community of military service.

Thoughts about my service: Being part of the military takes sacrifice--not only your own sacrifice, but that of your family's as well. It's something that you never think about when you first come into the military as a single 18-year old. But, with the numerous moves requiring the family to start over each time as well as the frequent, long deployments, your family makes some of the biggest sacrifices in your serving our country. Try to always keep the balance between service and your family.

Name: Gene Powell Branch of Service: USAF Dates of s ervice: 1976 – 2002

Places served: Vandenberg AFB, C alifornia; Minot AFB, N orth D akota ; Johnson Space Center, Houston, T exas ; AF Satellite Control Facility, Sunnyvale, California ; Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, A labama; Pentagon, Wash ington, DC; Shemya AF Station, Aleutian Islands, A laska; Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs, Colorado ; Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft McNair, V irginia; DoD Inspector General, Washington, DC; National War College Faculty, Ft McNair, Washington, DC

Why I joined: Wanted to serve my country Thoughts about my service: USAF was an incredible opportunity for me. They paid for my undergraduate and two post - graduate degrees and allowed me to work with the best people and equipment in the world.

Top photo: Gene Powell as a missileer in Minot, North Dakota in 1979. Bottom photos, left to right: Blanche and Gene in 1975 during a military ball his junior year in ROTC; Blanche and Gene at a military ball in 1984; Gene at son Kevin’s graduation from Marine Corps basic training.

Name: Gordon Sparlin Branch of Service: Air Force Dates of service: 1966-1986

Places served: Texas; Guam; Wyoming; California; West Germany; Washington, DC

Specialties: space, missiles and acquisition

Why I joined: Viet Nam War

Thoughts about my service: It is a great and wonderful life. Get to see places you would never otherwise see and enjoy the company of other wonderful men and women in uniform and their amazing families that make it all possible.

Name – Stephen M. Strouse, MSgt Branch of Service: USAF Dates of service: May 2000-present

Places served: November 2000– March 2008, Response Force Member, Installation Patrolman, Police Services Desk Sergeant, Training Instructor, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA (Deployed to Southwest Asia, PL 2 Entry Controller, January 2003- April 2003; Southwest Asia, Fire Team Member; April 2003 – May 2003; Karshi-Khanabad AB, Uzbekistan, Response Force Leader, May 2003- July 2003) April 2008 - April 2009, NCOIC of SF Training, 821st Security Forces Squadron, Thule AB, Greenland April 2009 – July 2016, NCOIC of SF Vehicles, Unit Deployment Manager, Flight Chief, NCOIC of SF Training, Resource Advisor, NCOIC of Standardization and Evaluation 14thSecurity Forces Squadron, Columbus AFB, MS (Deployed to Southwest Asia, Training Instructor, November 2010- May 2011; Southwest Asia, Area Supervisor; November 2011 – March 2012) August 2016- Present, Action Officer, SF Training Branch, Directorate of Security Forces, Pentagon, Washington D.C.

Why I joined: For me, this was a journey to find myself. I was 21 years old and I needed some direction in my life. I followed the path of my family members before me, including my father and my brother, and joined the world's greatest Air Force.

Thoughts about my service: This is the greatest thing I have probably ever done in my life. I absolutely value those who came before me and find myself getting ready to prepare the generation to take this Air Force to even greater heights.

Name: Carlton Eugene Thorne Branch of Service USAF Dates of service 10-14-1954 to 6-01-1977

Places served: Sampson AFB, New York; Shepherd AFB, Texas; Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; Guam; Lackland AFB, Texas; Niagara Falls AF Station, New York; Clark AFB, Philippines; Randolph AFB, Texas; Chanute AFB, Illinois; F. E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio; Pentagon; Maxwell AFB, Alabama; State Department, Washington D. C.

Why I joined: I had just graduated from a junior college and was not financially able to continue my education.

Thoughts about my service: The Air Force is the best thing that ever happened to me. It led me to meet Shirley, marriage, Carlton Jr., Marla, gave me interesting work experiences including photo interpreter, operations research analyst, combat ready missile duty and created educational opportunities (one bachelor and two master degrees).

Name: Sharon Vtipil Branch of Service: US Navy, US Air Force Dates of Service: U.S. Naval Academy 01 July 1993-23 May 1997. Commissioned into the Air Force May 1997 to May 2005.

Places Served: Vandenberg AFB, California--Space and Missile Technical School Aug19 97 – Dec 1997 Eglin AFB, Florida--20th Space Surveillance Squadron Dec1997 – Aug 2000 Langley AFB, Virginia--Air Force Command & Control and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center Sep 2000 – May 2003 Hurlburt Field, Florida--Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command May 2003 – May 2005

Why I joined: I joined the military to support the fighting forces through space support activities. I studied astronautics at the Naval Academy and commissioned into the Air Force to be in Space Command.

Name: Linda Wunderlin Branch of Service: Air Force Dates of service: Jun 1979 – 28 Feb 1987

Places served: Jun 1979 – Aug 1979: Lackland AFB, Texas (Basic Training) Aug 1979 – Oct 1979: Keesler AFB, Mississippi (Technical Training School) Oct 1979 – Jun 1983: HQ SPACECOM/NORAD/ADCOM/ADC (Administration – Records Management mainly, secretarial type support, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests Jun 1983 – 1985: Hickam AFB, Hawaii (HQ 15th Air Base, Mail Room) 1985 – 22 Feb 1987: Hickam AFB, Hawaii (6008th Tactical Air Control Flight – Administrative Support; Security)

Why I joined: I needed to “screw my head on straight and ensure my feet were on the ground firmly”– my saying to my parents when I joined the Air Force at the age of 24– turning 25 at my birthplace while going through Basic Training. I was born at Wilford Hall so it was somewhat nice to be spending my quarter of a century mark at my birthplace while going through training. I also wanted to prove that I could be something better than what I kept hearing for most of my life. Before I joined, I had a problem with patience and I had a temper. Joining helped me curb my temper and to train myself to have more patience. When I tested for what would be the best area to send me for my training, I had scored high in electrical and high in administration. My recruiter tried to get me into Morse code but I just couldn’t see myself sitting at a desk or table or whatever to listen at the dots and dashes all day long and translate what I was hearing. I was a people person and wanted to work in an area where I would have interaction with people.

Thoughts about my service: The Air Force has been very good to me. I enjoyed my tour at Cheyenne Mountain Complex (2 years up at the mountain) working for a year in the security building doing administrative work – designing forms, typing letters, playing terrorist to test the evening security police to see if I could get through the gate with someone else’s badge, carrying a “bomb” hanging on a hanger under my uniform while trying to access the Complex. Didn’t work because the next thing I knew, I was outside being told to lie on the cold asphalt of the parking lot with an M-16 pointed at my head and another one at my backside. My job wasn’t done—I was to act like what I thought a terrorist would act—so I let my temper go and let the guards have it full barrel. Then I had to pray that they wouldn’t accidently shoot me. After the exercise, the night crew was told that it was a test to see how far they could be pushed—it was a fail or pass test—and this group passed with flying colors. I was then introduced to the group and told where I worked and what I did. My next year was spent inside the complex where the administrative staff was moved. The Complex is several buildings interlocked and was built on huge springs that if there was an earthquake tremor, the building’s shocks would absorb the tremor but personnel would never know it. When walking through the hallways and moving between buildings, you could stop and look down between the “buildings” and see the shocks. I was given a tour of the lower regions of the Complex and got to see the large water supply they recycle so the water stays fresh. If the Complex had to be shut down in an emergency, there was enough water and food stored that everyone locked into the Complex could live for months. My remaining two years with HQ SPACECOM/NORAD/ADCOM/ADC was spent at the Chidlaw Building in downtown Colorado Springs where the administrative office was moved. I worked on Records Management, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, upgrading our booklet to help staff follow simple directions on how to retire their records, paperwork that needed to be filled out and submitted to our office. I spent two weeks working for General Hartinger, who was a nice individual to work for—and a lot of fun. I worked with the administrative board review where names of administrative staff were put in for Administrative awards. My job was to ensure incoming board members had a room during their time at Peterson AFB, we had coffee every morning, that I would go off base and bring back boxes of donuts for staff to eat while I did the typing for them, answered the phone taking messages as necessary, fielding information, contacting a restaurant and booking a table for the board members plus the boss and myself. My final year, I planned a dinner at a local old fashioned cowboy restaurant where we went through a line like those at a chuck wagon carrying a metal plate where our food was put on and carrying the old beat up tin cup for our coffee. After dinner, the “cowboys” gave us a show that our group truly enjoyed. When HQ SPACECOM was being activated, there was a contest to see who could come with the best slogan and the best design for the new headquarters. Once the slogan and design were picked and announced, I received a copy of both and was told to use it on the cover of the souvenir program that I was to put together with information given me (I was given free rein on the entire design of the program). My name was put on the program as the designer so that I was given the credit for it. The ceremony went smoothly without much hitch—we did run out of programs before we were supposed to. My job was to ensure the dignitaries were given a copy first with the rest going to those in attendance (civilians and military alike). We had about 150,000 programs printed, folded and stapled and still managed to run out. I left Peterson AFB with a Joint Meritorious Service Award for my hard work doing records management for the Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army and Canadians—everyone stationed at Peterson AFB, Cheyenne Mountain Complex was to follow the Air Force regulations when it came to records management. I was responsible for ensuring everyone’s files matched their retention file log for the records in their safes. Boy was that ever fun (being sarcastic). My next tour took me to HQ 15th Air Base mailroom where I supervised three airmen. Here, we were the central hub for all mail coming into the base to be distributed all over the base and we were the central hub for all outgoing mail - stateside, overseas, to other bases on the island to include those that needed to go over to Pearl Harbor for distribution to staff on board ships. I did this for two years when the military decided to contract out the mailroom. Since I had the most experience and a better head for details, I was asked to train our replacements. I was assigned to finish my tour with the 6008th Tactical Air Control Flight. I worked in an office where there was a secretary, Linda—ironic—who worked for the commander. Linda was married to a naval high ranking officer who wore her husband’s rank in our office. I had another administrative person as my supervisor. I did the basic typing for the other staff members within our organization—doing draft after draft after draft until it was written the way the person wanted it. Our office was about 30 strong and there were only three of us doing the administrative support for the entire office (we weren’t located within the same space—we had two offices). Most of the staff I worked with, I really like working for and felt sorry because they had to deal with Linda. I separated from the Air Force after 7 years and 2 months because I was pregnant with Desiree and wanted to become a full-time mother for a while (missed the first time Krystal walked, talked, laughed, etc because our babysitter got to see that and let me know that Krystal did it after I told her what Krystal had done the night before). Another reason I didn’t extend my tour of duty was I was due to re-enlist but there was no guarantee that I would get stationed at Sheppard AFB with Rich. Sheppard had an over abundance of administrative staff that I could have been assigned to a base up in Kansas City, Kansas, or down around Dallas/Ft Worth area to where I would have to commute to and from work. Didn’t want to put a strain on the family, so I separated. To this date, I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had done another tour—would I still be in after 20 years, what grade would I have been, how would my kids have turned out if I stayed in, etc. Each area that I worked, even if it was only for two years each, I learned new things, learned more about secretarial duties (spelling, punctuation, etc) and truly had fun with just about everyone that I either worked for or with or even had minor dealings with. I always looked on the positive side of things (like I do now) and it made my job that much easier to deal with.

Name: Rich Wunderlin Branch of Service: Air Force Dates of service: 01 Jul 1976 – 31 Jul 1996

Places served: Jul 1976 – Aug 1976: Lackland AFB, Texas (Basic Training) Aug 1976 – Nov 1976: Lowry AFB, Colorado (Technical Training School) Dec 1976 – Dec 1980: RAF Bentwaters, Suffolk, England (81st Munitions Maintenance Squadron) Jan 1981 – Mar 1981: Sheppard AFB, Texas (Technical Training School) Mar 1981 – May 1983: Peterson AFB, Colorado (46 Aerospace Defense Wing / 1st Space Support Command) Jun 1983 – Jun 1987: Hickam AFB, Hawaii (15th Air Base Wing) Jul 1987 – Aug 1991: Sheppard AFB, Texas (3750th Technical Training Wing) Sep 1991 – Jul 1996: Pentagon, Washington, DC (SAF/FMB)

Why I Joined: I need to mature and get away from Pittsburgh in order to do that. I had applied and was accepted to the Air Force Academy, but was medically disapproved. In my desire to get in to the Air Force, I had also applied for an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp scholarship with Duquesne University, however, I missed the application deadline --- and with no funds or scholarships, college was going to be difficult. Speaking with my recruiter, and still having a strong desire to join the Air Force, I went delayed enlistment to the Air Force.

Thoughts about my service: The Air Force has been very good to me and my family. I really didn’t have any “hard” tours as you can see, and I was able to culminate my career at the Pentagon, which I would’ve never imagined that happening as a young airman in Basic Training. The Air Force instilled discipline in me, and gave me a sense of pride and the knowledge that I could succeed in whatever I set out to achieve. During my last two assignments at the Pentagon, those skills were tested when I was the Deputy Accounting & Finance Officer for two Disbursing Stations, a unique, once in a lifetime (career) opportunity. Our military today is as strong as ever, and they’re accomplishing the mission with fewer resources than were available during my tour of duty, and in places perhaps unimaginable --- and they’re serving proudly. As for myself, I still work in the Pentagon, and although I’m U.S. Air Force Retired, I’m still serving proudly!

The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. – Douglas MacArthur