Colorado County Citizen | 2018 Salute to Veterans Tab

Salute to veterans

October 2018

O

THE GREAT WAR AT 100, page 5

O

ON THE BOATS IN ‘NAM, page 12

O

A World war II VETERAN IN HIS OWN WORDS, page 8

O

A CAREER VETERAN Reflects, page 17

Inside:

A special supplement to

The Colorado County Citizen

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2018 Salute to Veterans

WORLD WAR II CLEMENS NOSKA

TSGT H.O. PRIEST

Clemens Noska served in the US Army during World War II. He was assigned to the 406th Infantry Regiment in Belgium. Two weeks before the Battle of the Bulge, he was stricken with frostbite on both feet and was evacuated to a French hospital for treatment. Noska was hospitalized until May 1945 and was then transferred back to the states where he guarded German prisoners at Fort Polk, La. Noska was awarded the Victory Ribbon, American Theater Campaign Medal, and the EAME Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star.

U.S. Army Cable Splicer Telephone & Telegraph World War II Rifle Marksman; American Theater Campaign Ribbon; Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon; Good Conduct medal; Victory Ribbon; service stripe; and Overseas Service Bar

CHESTER DUKES Chester Dukes served in the United States Navy during World War II and was a Pearl Harbor survivor, he was deployed on the USS San Francisco and that is where he served during many of the historic sea battles of World War II. Dukes received the World War II Victory Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal. He ended his career with the Navy Jan. 19, 1945 with an honorable discharge.

After serving in the Navy, Chester worked as a machinist for the Civil Service, and was a machine shop teacher at Baytown, Katy, and Columbus school districts.

He moved to Columbus in 1980.

WWII veteran, U.S. Army Technical Sergeant Henry Odell Priest (HOP Priest), son of Henry and Amy Priest of Florence, Texas, served three years, six months and 26 days. Tech Sgt. Priest served as a member of the Signal Corps prior to his Honorable Discharge and separation on April 17, 1946.

His discharge certificate was “awarded as a testimonial of Honest and Faithful Service to his country.”

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The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

About this year’s Salute To Veterans

BY VINCE LEIBOWITZ vince@coloradocountycitizen.com

As you may have noticed, this year’s Salute To Veterans is a bit larger than last year’s, and is designed and arranged differently than in years past.

This is due, in part, to the overwhelming response from county veterans and their loved ones. We have far more veterans’ photos and stories running this year than we have in years past.

In order to best accommodate all of the veterans and families who submitted their information, individual soldiers’ stories who have run, in full, in this section in 2015, 2016, or 2017 are, in most cases, abbreviated from the versions we have run in past years.

Our hope is that, each year, as we receive more stories and information from more veterans, we will be able to run expanded stories and briefs on a new class of veterans each year, while abbreviating the stories of those men and women who have run in years past.

Additionally, we have, to the extent possible and with information available to us, organized veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and several other operations and conflicts are arranged by the conflict or war in which the solder participated.

Part of the reason for this is the hope that our readers will help us with more identifying information about veterans who have appeared in our section for several years without much identifying information. Many of those soldiers are arranged under the headings, “Our Soldiers.”

Because this section serves as part of the historical record documenting details about our county’s veterans, our hope is that we will, in future years, be able to run more information about the veterans in this section for whom we have limited information.

This year also marks several milestones observed in this section, including the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, and the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Clockwise from top right 6

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Why we salute our veterans For a number of years, The Colorado County Citizen has saluted our county veterans with a special section the week prior to Veterans’ Day. The Citizen and its staff are committed to honoring our veterans because of their selfless service to our country.

Too, all of our staff members have personal reasons for honoring county veterans: we all come from families with proud traditions of military service.

This year, we wanted to share with our readers our personal reasons for saluting our veterans.

LUDWIG ALBERT PEKAR & RICHARD M. LEIBOWITZ

WILLIAM STOKES & CHARLES D. WARD

The late Ludwig Albert Pekar is the maternal grandfather of Citizen Managing Editor Vince Leibowitz. He served in the United States Navy beginning in 1943, after the call went out for older men with experience in construction to join the Sea Bees, formally known as the Naval Construction Battalion. He was part of the first wave of Sea Bees on Okinawa after the battle, and also served in Attu. He was born in 1910 in Granger to the late Bartolomew Pekar, Jr., and Frances Kupcak Pekar. He died in 1974.

CHARLES D. WARD US Army

The late Charles D. Ward is the father of Citizen Publisher Michelle Banse Stokes.

He served in the United States Army in the 1960s. He worked as an electrician and plumber in the Weimar area. Ward was born in 1946. His parents were Edgar J. and Ida (Schindler) Banse and Marvin V. and Maudie B. (Massingill) Ward. Charles Ward passed away May 11, 2014.

ON THE COVER

2 WILLIAM C. STOKES 3

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A special supplement to

October 2018

✯

THE GREAT WAR AT 100, page 5

✯

ON THE BOATS IN ‘NAM, page 12

✯

A World war II VETERAN IN HIS OWN WORDS, page 8

✯

A CAREER VETERAN Reflects, page 17

Private First Class 1993-1997

Inside:

1. Inez Townsend, Columbus, is shown driving a jeep when she served in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. 2. Tom Ethridge, Columbus, is shown during his time in Vietnam.

3. In this photograph from the Nesbitt Memorial Library Archives, World War I soldiers are shown, photographed on the courthouse square after returning from service. This photo appears larger with identification of the soldiers page 6 of this section.

4. Horst Siewert washes a tank.

5. LPC Ivory Collins, 1970.

6. The late Chris Kilpatrick on a tank in Iraq in 2005. Kilpatrick was one of Colorado County’s two casualties during the ongoing War on Terror in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

More about Kilpatrick appears on page 20 of this section.

7. Paul C. Schlaudraff is a mobility pilot with the 61st Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base near Jacksonville, Arkansas. He currently flies C-130J’s for the Air Force, and is currently serving in Africa.

Cover Design, Citizen | Gretchen Dyson

For this year’s Salute to Veterans, The Colorado County Citizen selected a variety of veterans’ photographs that have not previously run in our Salute To Veterans.

The photographs were selected to represent, as best as possible, the service of county veterans in as many periods of time as possible, from World War I to the present.

William Stokes (shown in the center of this photo from his army days) is the husband of Citizen Publisher Michelle Banse Stokes. He was a Private, First Class, in the United States Army. He served from 1993 until 1997. He currently works as a salesman for Tommie Vaughn Auto Country.

William Stokes is the son of the late Billy Charles and the late Patsy Naomi Stokes.

He and Michelle live in Weimar.

LUDWIG ALBERT PEKAR Okinawa, Attu US Navy (Seabees) 1943-1945 World War II

RICHARD MALCOM LEIBOWITZ Radio Mechanic Sargent, Team Chief Company B 54th Signal Battalion US Army 19661970 Vietnam 19681969 The late Richard Malcom Leibowitz is the father of Citizen Managing Editor Vince Leibowitz. He served in the United States Army from 1966 until 1970, including service in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969, and in Germany from 1969 until 1970. He is shown here while he was Team Chief and Sargent in Company B of the 54th Signal Battalion, U.S. Army, in Vietnam. He was born in Norfolk, Va., in 1947 and died in 2012, after a 25-year-long battle with health complications caused by exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

n WHY WE SALUTE, 6

The Colorado County Citizen

4

2018 Salute to Veterans

WORLD WAR II FRANK P. BRADEN

STAFF SERGEANT LEE (JACK) RACHAL

Frank Braden was born in Columbus, on October 16, 1918. He died on March 20, 2012. Frank was inducted into the Army on December 11, 1941, in Houston. From there, he was sent to Camp Walters until January 1, 1942, then to Camp Roberts in California for basic training. After basic, his tours included San Francisco, where he was in the 159th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division, followed by Camp San Luis Obispo California and Fort Ord. He then shipped out in a troop transport ship, which remained at sea for 13 days finally reaching port at Attu Island, Alaska. The 159th Infantry guarded the island and fought the Japanese. About 2,300 Japanese were killed. In November 1944, he was transferred to Alaska to join the Army quartermaster at Fort Richardson near Anchorage for two weeks, then to Mt. McKinley and Fort Warren, Wyoming, where he received his honorable discharge from the Army in October 1945. Frank earned the following medals: pistol marksman, machine gun medal, rifle marksman, Good Conduct medal and the Asia Pacific medal.

JOHN J. POLACH Staff Sergeant U.S. Army Tank Battalion John was called to World War II active duty in June of 1944 to Company “A”, 771st Tank Battalion in Rheinau, Germany. He was transferred from Germany in October of 1945 and sent to the states for duty at McChord AF Base, McChord Field, Pierce County, Washington. He was honorably discharged on October 26, 1948.

U.S. Army 1944-1945 Camp Fannin Lee served as an instructor, particularly a weapons instructor. Lee is now 96 years young and lives in Colorado County with his daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Gary LaVergne. Camp Fannin is no longer in existence and was located near Tyler, Texas, during WWII. INEZ SPAETH TOWNSEND

Inez Spaeth Townsend joined the Women’s Army Corps on July 4, 1944. She completed basic training at Ft. Oglethorp, Georgia. She was later stationed in Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Townsend’s duties were working in the photo tech lab. She was also a driver for the WAC CEO in Miami.

She was discharged at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina on July 4, 1946.

Thank You to all the

MEN AND WOMEN who have sacriced and served.

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2018 Salute to Veterans

The Colorado County Citizen

5

Great War THE

AT 100

I

n the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the Armistice of 11 November 1918 came in to force, ending The Great War, known to us today as World War I. This Sunday, Nov. 11, marks the 100th anniversary of the end of The Great War.

Thirty-eight men from Colorado County gave the ultimate sacrifice during World War I between 1917 and 1919 (the U.S. military considers certain 1919 deaths as World War I casualties).

This was the largest number of men from the county who gave their lives in any war of the 20th or 21st century.

Some died in combat; some died of

camp diseases, particularly influenza, during their service.

Though no living man from Colorado County who served during The Great War survives today, the legacy of many World War I soldiers lives on today in the pages of The Colorado County Citizen.

During World War I, The Colorado

County Citizen reproduced dozens upon dozens of letters sent by soldiers “from the front,� either to the newspaper or to family members who shared them with The Citizen.

Stories featuring those letters will run in four installments this month, to commemorate the end of World War I. Page one of today’s edition starts the series.

Courtesy | Nesbitt Memorial Library Archives

The 1919 Armistice Day Parade rounds the corner of Milam and Walnut Streets in Columbus.

The Colorado County Citizen

6

2018 Salute to Veterans

WORLD WAR I COLORADO COUNTY MEN WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN WORLD WAR I COMPILED BY JOE FLING

Courtesy | Nesbitt Memorial Library

World War I soldiers photographed on the courthouse square after returning from service. The bald man with the mustache behind the hedge is John Hastedt. All others behind the hedge are unidentified. Back row, in front of the hedge, left to right: Creston Gay (second from left), Tom Maples (sixth from left), L. A. Ginn, and Lester Hastedt. Second row: Herman Girndt (third from left), Edward Ginn (fifth from left), Sam K. Seymour, Jr., Walter Dick, Leslie Duncan, James D. Seymour. Front row, left to right: Walter Maples, Willie Matzke (third from left), Thurman Darby, Leon Gillette (the child), Ralph Byers, Roy Burt, and an unidentified man is shown at the end of the row.

A.F. MITCHELL

HENRY JACOB SENFTENBERG

World War I aviator

World War I soldier

Why We Salute Continued from 3

FRANCISCO OLIVAREZ US Army

FRANCISCO “CISCO” OLIVAREZ The late Francisco “Cisco” Olivarez is the father of Citizen Bookkeeper and Office

SHELLY LEE ALLY World War I soldier Photographed in 1918

Manager Lori Olivarez-Ligues. He served in the United States Army as a Sargent E-5 and Infantry Team Leader from 1958 until 1964. He married the late Rose Gonzales in 1960, and the couple had three children, Sarah Olivarez Hernandez, Lori Olivarez-Ligues, and David Olivarez, all of Columbus.

He was born in 1935 in Flatonia. His various stations of duty included Fort Hood, Fort Sheridan, Ill., and duty in Germany.

Cisco was a First Class Gunner, working with a 3.5 Rocket Launcher, and earlier was a Second Class Gunner, working with a machine gun. He earned the Good Conduct Medal and Sharpshooter Badge.

He was a longtime employee of Drymalla Construction Company in Columbus, and helped build many buildings around the Columbus area. He passed away in 2011.

1917 John J. Matcek. Private, U.S. Army, Garwood. Died Nov. 6, 1917 Ernest Brune. Private, U.S. Army, Columbus. Died Dec. 3, 1917 Arthur Kretzchmar, Private, U.S. Army, Eagle Lake. Died Dec. 3, 1917 Oscar A. Smith, WGNR, U.S. Army, Chesterville. Died Dec. 10, 1917 Harvey Phelps, PFC, U.S. Army, Provident City. Died Dec. 13, 1917 Frank Freeman, Private First Class, U.S. Army. Died Dec. 15, 1917 1918 William G. Ashford, Private, U.S. Army, Columbus. Died Jan. 28, 1918.

Joe Mahalitc, Private, U.S. Army, Columbus.

Died Feb. 17, 1918.

Raymond Roy Larson, Private, U.S. Army, Rock Island. Died, Feb. 18, 1918.

Edward Feyrer. Died, Feb. 23, 1918.

James P. Tharp, U.S. Army, Eagle Lake. Died June 9, 1918, killed in action.

George W. Taylor, Private U.S. Army, Garwood. Died Sept. 13, 1918.

John Mosmeyer, Private, U.S. Army, Mentz.

Died Sept. 14, 1918.

Henry G. Oncken, Private, U.S. Army, Weimar. Died Sept. 27, 1918.

Hamilton Worrell. Died Oct. 3, 1918 Roy B. Walker, Private, First Class, U.S. Army, Altair. Died Oct. 8, 1918, killed in action.

Edward J. Ulbricht, Private, U.S. Army, Weimar. Died Oct. 11, 1918 Squire Hines, Private, U.S. Army, Eagle Lake. Died Oct. 12, 1918.

THOMAS RAYMOND (PA) BLACKBURN 1st Lieutenant World War II

THOMAS RAYMOND “PA” BLACKBURN & ANNE CLARK BLACKBURN Thomas Raymond “Pa” Blackburn II and Anne Clark Blackburn are the grandparents of Citizen Typesetter and Editorial Assistant Christopher “Chris” Brown. The couple met while both were serving in the military during World War II.

Edgar F. Leidolf, Private, U.S. Army, Weimar.

Died Oct. 12, 1918.

John J. Schneider, Private, U.S. Army, Garwood. Died Oct. 12, 1918.

Louis Kohler, Private, U.S. Army, Weimar.

Died Oct. 14, 1918, died of wounds.

Fred D. Winkler, Private, U.S. Army, Oakland.

Died Oct. 14, 1918.

Herman H. Otto, Private, U.S. Army, Oakland. Died Oct. 14, 1918.

Rudolf Pavalek. Died October 14, 1918 Adolf Fried. Died October 21, 1918 Martin Perry. Died October 22, 1918 Vladimir J. Kulhanek, Private First Class, U.S. Army, Pisek. Died Oct. 31, 1918, killed in action.

Otto E. Rahlwes, Cpl., U.S. Army, Weimar.

Died Nov. 1, 1918, killed in action.

Benjamin F. Seaborn, Sgt., U.S. Army, Altair.

Died Nov. 6, 1918, died of wounds.

Walter W. Schobel, Private, U.S. Army, Columbus. Died Nov. 9, 1918, killed in action.

Isaac H. Lee, Private, U.S. Army, Oakland.

Died Nov. 28, 1918.

Robert Vogelsang, PFC, U.S. Army, Columbus. Died Dec. 22, 1918 Lee Hillard (no date available).

Charlie Sens (no date available).

August Jackson (no date available).

John P. Hawkes, died 1918.

Ellis Smith (no date available).

Lida Ray (no date available).

1919 Lighty Young, PFC, U.S. Army, Weimar. Died Sept. 10, 1919.

William R. Cherry. Died February 13, 1919 Plaint McGrew, Private, U.S. Army, Garwood. Died Feb. 14, 1919.

Otto Louis Brast, Private, U.S. Army, Cat Spring. Died May 27, 1919.

ANNE CLARK BLACKBURN 2nd Lieutenant World War II

Thomas Blackburn was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army. The former Anne Clark was a Second Lieutenant in the Women’s Army Corps.

Brown is a senior at Columbus High School.

—Vince Leibowitz

The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

7

WORLD WAR II JOE GREEN, SR.

LEON W. HERRING

Joined the Army November 7, 1942 – Honorable discharge December 20, 1945.

Served in the 2025th Quartermaster Truck Company, 5th Air Force, in WWII. Served in Australia, New Guinea, Okinawa, and the Philippines.

M e d a l s re ceived: Asian Pacific Campaign, American Expeditionary Campaign, Army of Occupation Campaign, World War II Victory Medals and Army Good Conduct Medal.

Leon W. Herring was inducted into the U.S. Air Force on December 7, 1942, at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio at 19 years of age during World War II. He was transferred to a supply unit at Stinson Field, San Antonio, for replacement parts fro P-47-P51 fighter planes. Left for Bislods Stortford near London and had two weeks of training in Wales. 37 days after D-Day, Herring landed on Normandy Beach, France, near St. Lo in the 90th depot supply 9th air force. As General Patton’s tanks moved forward, supply units followed through Paris and Reims, through Belgium, on to Munhengladbach, Germany, near the Rhine River.

He went from there to Lavre, France and onto the USA. He received overseas service bars – European-African-Middle Eastern with one Silver Battle Star – good conduct. He was honorably discharged October 17, 1945, at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. He served two years active reserve and later joined the Texas State Guard as 1st Lt. Commander of Columbus unit. He is 93 and still living in Columbus.

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The Colorado County Citizen

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2018 Salute to Veterans

WORLD WAR II HUME L. BAKER Editor’s note: This is a memory of World War II from Hume L. Baker of Columbus.

At the age of 21-years-old, I found myself leaving my wife, Nelda Speck Baker in Columbus and enlisting with the U.S. Army. I received basic training and basic tank training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky then to Ft. Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania for more training.

It was in Ft. Indiantown Gap that I was assigned to the First Army, 3rd Armored Division, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Head Quarters Company, Assault Platoon, known as Spearhead. After my assignment I went to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey for a short time then to the New York Port for deployment to the European Theater.

We sailed out of New York September 5, 1943 on the ship Capetown Castle.

We docked at Liverpool, England September 15, 1943 then traveled by train to Codford, England for more intense training.

The plan was to enter the war June 6 but heavy storms in the channel delayed D-Day until June 23, 1944. Three days later our unit crossed the channel and landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy.

We proceeded inland and after two days saw action. We made our way through

Normandy, Belgium and into Germany to the Elbe River. This is where we encountered the Russians and the end of the war.

I don’t recall when or where we were but one incident that stands out in my mind is one evening just before dark while traveling through a valley, we pulled off into a field backed with a hill and surrounded with thick brush and trees.

The convoy circled around on the hillside with me ending on the low side of the field.

After nightfall, we could hear Germans talking and could see flashes of light like cigarettes being lit through openings in the thicket.

We attempted to contact our commander but were unable to make contact. After a while the Germans quieted down and were quiet for the remainder of the night. Morning dawned with a dense fog but once it lifted the Ger-

mans began shooting and knocking out U.S. vehicles on the hillside of the field one at a time right down the line. I saw right away we needed to get in our tank and lob some ammunition over at the Germans.

I told my tank commander that I was going to back up a little in the field so we could have a clearer view as to where the firing of shells were coming from. Immediately, he said he couldn’t get in the tank without getting hit so the gunner, loader and I bailed into the tank. While I was backing up, I told the gunner to turn the turret around toward the Germans and the loader to put in high explosive, H.E., shells.

After observing the Germans, we started firing the rounds in a staggered pattern. Shortly after the Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Walter B. Richardson drove up beside us, crawled up on

the side of the tank, saw what we were doing, hung on for a few seconds then jumped down to the ground. He then hollered up to me, “Keep it up boys, you’re the only *******s fighting.”

After running out of H.E’s we put out smoke shells allowing the vehicles and soldiers to move out of the field to a safe distance. It wasn’t until my tank was clearing out that the tank commander showed up. Lt. Colonel Richardson put in for a medal for this event but it was never awarded. He later personally apologized and told me I deserved it for saving the unit.

A quote from the book Spearhead in the West says, “The 3rd Armored Division, one of America’s largest tank outfits, was designed and trained for all-out attack. It was the spearhead of the First Army’s brilliant VII Corps from the St. Lou-Perriers breakthrough, in Normandy, to the Elbe River, in central Germany. The 3rd was a workhorse unit and it saw heavy combat all the way.

The division raced from the Seine to the Siegfried in 18 Mons, Belgium. First through the Westwall in force, and first to take a German town, the Spearhead enjoyed a brilliant reputation among men who knew the real front.”

Hume L. Baker Columbus, Texas

9

MANUEL H. SCHNEIDER

ed on Omaha Beach with the 741st Tank Battalion. In July 1944 his tank group was put under the command of General George Patton’s 3rd Army, 4th Armored Division, 8th Tank Group. He fought in four major battles including the Battle of the Bulge.

His tank group liberated Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He received the EAME Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star Medal, WW II Victor Medal, Versailles De Verdun Citation and a Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged from the Army in November 1945 where he returned to live the rest of his life in Columbus.

The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

WORLD WAR II ELO AHLGRIM An article regarding Private First Class Elo Ahlgrim from The Colorado County Citizen, July 19, 1945.

Pr i va t e F i rs t Class, Pfc, Elo A. Ahlgrim, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Max A. Ahlgrim of Columbus and husband of Mrs. Janetta Ahlgrim has been missing in action on Okinawa since May 21 according to a War Department telegram received by the family.

The letter of confirmation from Major General J.A. Ulio said, “I realize the distress caused by failure to receive more information or details, therefore, I wish to assure you that in the event additional information is received it will be transmitted to you without delay.”

Pfc. And Mrs. Ahlgrim have two children, Gloria Jean, 7, and Ronald Elo, 2.

From The Citizen October 16, 1996 A posthumous honor was given to Pfc. Elo Ahlgrim from the War Department, citing “… heroic service in connection with military operations against the enemy on Okinawa Island 21 May 1945.” Along with the citation

was a Bronze Star. Ahlgrim’s widow Janetta received the letter which also said her late husband was entitled to the Good Conduct Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with two Bronze Service Stars for the Ruykus and Southern Philippines Campaigns; the World War II Victory Ribbon; Combat Infantryman Badge; Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar and Philippines Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star. Mrs. Ahlgrim had received her husband’s Purple Heart in July of that year.

From The Citizen October 17, 1946 War Department statement: When the second platoon received the order to attack and defend the left flank of the company and drew enemy fire from the crest of the hill just short of reaching their objective, they were momentarily halted by heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire.

“At this moment, Pfc. Ahlgrim displayed exceptional heroism, he continued to crawl forward to the crest of the hill: there he observed 12 enemy riflemen and a heavy machine gun preparing to counter attack. He called to his platoon leader requesting mortar fire, and staying in an exposed position, directed the mortars. He then opened fire with an automatic rifle. Pfc. Ahlgrim’s action was directly responsible for the killing of 12 Japanese enemies and the destruction of their heavy machine gun.

OSCAR WEHMAN He was born February 16, 1913 in Lindenau. He was married to Mildred J. Thompson in June 1940 in Sugar Land. He enlisted in the U. S. Army shortly after the outbreak of World War II and served as an interpreter with the Military Police because he was fluent in communicating in the German Language. He was assigned to General George Patton’s 3rd U.S. Armor Division and saw action in Europe as well as the Battle of the Bulge.

During the early 1950’s they moved to Columbus where he opened a paint store and framed pictures. Mildred J. Wehman was employed by the Columbus Independent School District as the head of the Home Economics Department at Columbus High School.

They both spent the remainder of their life in Colorado County.

MARSHALL TERREL (TEX) WINDHAM Marshall Terrel (Tex) Windham was born June 23, 1923 in Center, Texas. He entered the service and served as Toggalier with T/Sgt rank in the 8th AF, 457th BGH, 750 squadron WWII -stationed in Glatton, Eng. He also served as Bombardier in the nose of the B17 Flying Fortress BTO (Big Time Operator) and flew 10 missions.

His last mission was October 17, 1944, when he was moved to an engineering position behind the pilot, which probably saved his life. Near-

Manuel H. Schneider was drafted into the U.S. Army in May 1942. After twenty one months of basic training he departed Brooklyn New York for Liverpool England where he prepared for D-Day in Kidderminster England. On D-Day he landNEWTON OLIVER PESCHEL Newton Oliver Peschel was born Sept. 4, 1919 in New Ulm. His parents were Ben and Hertha Peschel.

Newton started school in New Ulm and then the family moved to Lubbock, and then to Fayetteville. At the age of 16, he went to work at Sugarland Industries. On Jan. 9th, 1940, he joined the US Army prior to WWII. His tours of duty were at Ft. Benning, GA, at the parachute school and at Ft. Devins, Massachusetts training with the First Infantry Division (The Big Red One).

Newton was assigned to the Parachute Combat Team under the direct command of General Douglas McArthur. After action in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands, his unit made the combat jump to recapture Corregidor. He was a first Sergeant in HQ Company, 3rd Battalion at the time.

While on Mindoro Island and under fire from the Japanese navy, Newton was in a foxhole when he saw two littler girls running around and motioned them to get in the

ing the target, the marshalling yards at Cologne Germany, they took direct hits under the cockpit and the number 3 engine and went down. Three crew members were killed including the one in his old station. Six were captured and taken to Dulag Luft, Frankfurt, Germany. He went with 3000 others in 8x40 boxcars 8 days and nights and became POW #4308 at Stalag Luft IV northeast of Berlin.

He was liberated May 8, 1945 by the Russians at wars end. The USAF flew him to Camp Lucky Strike in France then to NY aboard the USS Hermitage.

foxhole next to him. Once the US Airforce came and fired on the Japanese, things settled down and the girls’ father came looking for them only to find them safe. A week later the family invited Newton to dinner. He was served chicken wrapped in banana leaves, vegetables, and kamote that were roasted on coals in the ground. When asked what a kamote was, he replied “a white sweet potato.” After 70-plus years he remembered the word kamote-amazing. He said the meal was delicious and one of the little girls gave him a gold cross that he still has today.

He was honorably discharged on Oct. 9, 1945. He received two purple hearts and a bronze star for serving as rear guard and getting his men back safely. He also had the honor of serving as honor guard from president Theodore Roosevelt. On Dec. 24, 1945.

He married his sweetheart, Annie Lee Blezinger. He did seismograph work and house moving. He and Annie Lee bought the Blezinger family farm. He attended Veteran Ag School and began farming and eventually became well known for his carpentry work.

Newton and Annie Lee have a daughter, Barbara Ann, and son-in-law, Danny Kautz.

Three grandchildren, Jerrod Gross, Jason Kautz, and Kimberly Kautz King, and three great-grandchildren, Jessica Ann Gross, Elizabeth King, and Chip King.

He had flown over the Statue of Liberty on the way over but remembered thinking she never looked more beautiful than when he returned. He also thought of all his friends who had paid the supreme price and would never see her again! He reached San Antonio June 23, 1945 Š, his birthday! A 22-yearold veteran!

He was awarded several medals including the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He was honorably discharged October 25, 1945. He and his wife Mary have 5 children. He owned and operated Windham Jewelry in Columbus, Texas, where he still resides.

The Colorado County Citizen

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OUR HONORED DEAD: WORLD WAR II

2018 Salute to Veterans

WORLD WAR II JOHN ALLEN SPECK ALBERT W. HAHN JR. 11th Air Force US Air Force Bombadier, POW World War II

JAMES BOYD HARRIS, JR. Eagle Lake US Navy USS Braine, KIA 1944 when ship struck by kamikazes near Okinawa

CHARLES NEUENDORFF US Army PFC Company K 274th Infantry World War II 1942-1945

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Navy San Diego, Ca.; Service on USS Oconto in Philippines Island World War II Exit: Specialty Radio Communications, attaining rank of Seaman 1st Class 1944-1945 Honorably Discharged

CLAUDE C. RHODES U.S. Army, Private Company L, 172nd Infantry World War II

With Honor and Respect to Our Veterans They are our family, friends and neighbors; everyday citizens, yet so much more. They are the brave men and women who have put their lives at risk to protect and serve our country in war. Time and again, our country’s veterans have been on the front lines in defense of our freedom. On Veterans Day, we take this opportunity to say thank you to the brave souls who have served in battle for our Armed Forces.

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The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

11

WORLD WAR II EARL. M. LEWIS

EDGAR HEINTSCHEL

EDMUND E. SCHINDLER

Staff Sergeant US Army World War II

Military Police, US Airforce World War II

FRANKIE H. SKUTCA JR.

FRANKLIN A.E. KRAUSE

70th Trailblazers US Army World War II 1943-1946

Corporal US Army 1945-1948

Tech 3 U.S. Army World War II

GEORGE A. HAVRAN

GUY R. BOTARD SR.

Private First Class US Army, US Airforce World War II

ELMER L SCHINDLER Instrument Flight Instructor US Air Force World War II

FRED FREIS FRANK PULIDO

Fred Freis was born May 15, 1920, and died July 30, 1991.

He was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during WWII. He enlisted in June 1942.

HARVEY STEWARD U.S. Army Air Corps 1943-1946 Air University Randolph Field U.S. Air Force Reserves 1949-1953

Corporal US Air Force Venosia, Italy 15th Air Force World War II

HERBERT LIPPERDT US Navy World War II Osage & Weimar

World War II 1941-1945

CARL W. (SONNY) AUSTIN

LEANDER H. UHLIG

LEON W. “FISH” HERRING

LESTER E. SCHINDLER

US Air Force 1941-1945 Hawaii

T3 U.S. Army World War II

9th US Air Force 1942-1945 Europe

Instrument Flight Instructor US Army Air Force World War II

We salute our

Veterans!

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2018 Salute to Veterans

ON THE RIVERS OF

Vietnam

W

hen Tom Ethridge was in Vietnam, he spent much of his time on a boat pulling mine sweeping gear down rivers and canals, creating safe passage for other boats, and providing military support for a variety of operations.

Ethridge was part of the Mobile River Force of the United States Navy.

“You don’t hear anything about the Mobile River Force, so nobody knows we existed.”

Ethridge says.

While the actions and heroics of the crews of the Mobile River Force have been largely forgotten outside of those who are acutely aware of the U.S. Navy’s operations in the Vietnam era, the action that the members of the MRF saw won’t soon be forgotten.

“We went up canals where brush was touching both sides of the boat. The rest of the column was carrying the troops. They would come up

between both boats knowing it was a safe passage,” Ethridge said.

On April 4, 1968, Ethridge’s boat and another were leading a convoy of troop-carrying boats when their boat was hit by several rocket-propelled grenades.

One went through the boat’s 50 caliber machine gun mount, while another hit the boat’s helm, and another went through a 20-millimeter cannon mount Ethridge was feed-

ing ammunition to.

Seven men were on the boat when the attack began. All except one were wounded; five were evacuated by helicopter.

“I carried one man off the boat in two pieces; I had to go back for his arm. It was missing,” Ethridge said.

Ethridge was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat ‘V’ and the Purple Heart for his actions that day.

Later, Ethridge found out that his damaged boat was to

TOM ETHRIDGE

be scuttled by the navy and be given to the Vietnamese.

Ethridge had one last bit of business with his boat before that could happen, though.

“I went back to get my log book,” he said.

Today, Ethridge still has the boat’s log, and shrapnel hits from that fateful day are evident in the book.

After Vietnam, Ethridge became a mechanical engineer, ending his career with Conoco Phillips when he retired.

Courtesy | Tom Ethridge

Left: Tom Edhtidge aboard his boat in Vietnam. Below: Ethridge drives a boat in Vietnam.

Above: The log book used on Tom Ethridge’s boat in Veitnam. Shrapnel holes in the book are from April 4, 1968.

The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

13

OUR HONORED DEAD: VIETNAM WAR

VIETNAM WAR

JOE JANAK

JOE TROJAN SGT. LEONARD ROBINSON, JR.

US Army Vietnam PFC Joe Janak was born and raised in Columbus. He graduated from Columbus High School and was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was killed in Vietnam May 12, 1968, during the Tet Offensive.

Janak served as a rifleman with B Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, and while on a five-man listening post 200 meters from his unit’s perimeter the enemy launched a massive mortar and ground attack. Janak placed heavy small arms fire on the enemy, which confused them and forced withdrawal.

But, during enemy fire, Janak was mortally wounded.

For his gallantry in action, the President of the United States awarded Janak the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. During his service, Janak also received the National Defense Service medal, Vietnam Service medal, Vietnam Campaign ribbon, the combat infantryman’s and rifle marksmanship badges, and the Good Conduct medal.

Columbus U.S. Army KIA Feb. 1, 1967 at Thua Thien, Vietnam

TEDDY ROOSEVELT JORDAN Army SP4 Vietnam KIA Oct. 22, 1966 Colorado County’s First Vietnam War Casualty.

OUR VETERANS SFC MARY GREEN

LPC IVORY COLLINS

Adj-2 (E-55) U.S. Navy 1962-1966 Joe Trojan ADJ-2 (E-5) served in the U.S. Navy from May 1962 to July 1966. He spent two years at VT-25 Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas, where Navy and Marine pilots were trained. Then he was transferred to VP-46 at Moffett Field, California.

In January 1964, VP-46 became the first Pacific Fleet patrol squadron to get the new P-3A Orion. In June 1965, he was sent with a detachment of six aircraft to Sangley Point, Republic of the Phillippines, which participated around the clock in Vietnam coastal surveillance for one year.

His assigned tasks were troubleshooting crew leader, collateral duty inspector and a qualified flight engineer on the P-3A Orion.

Joe is a member of the local Chapter 1127 Vietnam Veterans of America.

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Mobility pilot with the 61st Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base near Jacksonville, Arkansas. He currently flies C-130J’s for the Air Force.

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The Colorado County Citizen

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OUR HONORED DEAD: KOREAN WAR

2018 Salute to Veterans

VIETNAM WAR THOMAS LEE RINEHART

L.V. STEWARD Weimar First Black Military Officer from Weimar Weimar’s first Korean War casualty.

SGT. E-5 JAMIE E. BATCHELOR

KOREAN WAR L. T. BARON Sergeant US Army Korea

JOHN H. PARKS Captain US Air Force Korea

EMANUEL FRANK WEISHUHN Army Private First Class, PFC Anti-aircraft Artillery March 1953 - 1955

REV. J. V. HAMMAN B. MIN. Corporal – Quartermaster US Army 1948-1958 Korea

OUR VETERANS ADAM MOECKEL JR. US Army Kimpo Air Base Korea October 1965 to April 1967

Thomas Lee Rinehart was born in Houston, Texas, November 3, 1942. He was attending the University of Houston on a scholarship when he dropped out to join the United States Marine Corps feeling a need to do his duty and serve his country.

He served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967 in Da Nang and surrounding mountains with the 1st MAW Covert Ops I Corps. He served in the Marine Corps from 1964 to 1970. He bought land in Colorado County in 1974 between Garwood and Rock Island and moved to the county in 2000.

FRANKIE H. SKUTCA JR. Corporal US Army 1945-1948

Army 1966-1968 Born in Damon, Texas, and drafted into the Army in 1966. Did basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, in the 2nd Armor Division and AIT in M60 A1 tanks. Deployed to Vietnam in December 1967 to first duty station LZ Uplift, Vietnam, on Duster Hill, as the unit was a light tank duster outfit. His second duty station was LZ Pony, a special forces camp west of Bong Son, Vietnam. His third station was Qui Nhon, Vietnam. Last duty was LZ Schuler along Hwy 19, between An Khe Pass and Mang Yang Pass. Our duty was road security and search and destroy operations with the 1st and 50th Mechanized Infantry. He left Vietnam from Cam Rhan Bay to the states in August 1968.

WILLIAM M. SCHUETTE William enlisted in the United States Navy December 26, 1965. He attended the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and was assigned to US Navy Fighter Squadron 84 (Jolly Rogers). William served with the 6th Fleet aboard the USS Independence CVA 62 and the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA 59. He attained rank of AE-2 (E-5) and was discharged October 1969 with honorable discharge.

The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

15

VIETNAM WAR CHARLES R. BRUNE Brune grew up in Columbus and graduated from Columbus High School in 1967,and graduated from Schreiner College in Kerrville in 1976.

Brune enlisted in the U. S. Army during February 1969 and took Basic Combat Training at Ft. Bliss, Texas. He later attended and graduated from the Non-Commissioned Officers Course in Ft. Benning as a Staff Sergeant E-6. Upon completion of this course, Brune was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Republic of Vietnam from April 1970 to March 1971. He returned to the United States and was assigned to the Allied Officers Training Detachment at Ft. Knox, Kentucky until he was discharged in September 1971.

Brune was awarded the following ribbons and medals: Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal, Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry.

DELBERT JOSEPH KUNZ Delbert Joseph Kunz is the son of Henry F. Kunz and Margaret M. Kunz, born in Weimar, Texas on December 14, 1950. Growing up in Columbus, Texas he was part of the 1969 Columbus Cardinals Quarter Finalist Championship Football team. From 1970 to 1971, he served as a Specialist 4, E-7 rank, in Vietnam.

HUGH LEON MORRIS, JR. EMFA E-2 USS Neches US Navy Vietnam War 1967-1970

BENNIE JOE SKUTCA E-4 US Army 1965-1967

DAVID F. ESPINOZA U.S. Army 1967-1970 Vietnam 1967-1968

WILLIE N. DANCY HERBERT WAYNE LIPPERDT Vietnam War 1966-1967

SP 5 E5 US Army Vietnam War 1966-1967

JAMES SIMONS

JAMES W. SANDELL

US Army Vietnam War 1966-1968

Staff Sgt. E-6 US Army 1964-1970

MAX BARNETT

RONALD FRESHOUR

JIM REX SPECK Ammunition Specialist, E-5 Duty in Panama, Malmstrom AFB; Great Falls, MT. US Air Force 1967-1971 Rock Island

U.S. Army September 1968 to June 1970

US Army Vietnam War

HORT SIEWERT SIDNEY W. GREAK US Army Vietnam War Purple Heart Recipient

WAYNE C. NEUMANN

WILLIAM ROBERT “BOBBY” HOPKINS

E-6 US Navy 1966-1978

US Marine Corp Vietnam War 1969-1975

Vietnam War 1966-1968 US Army, Drafted Fort Carson, Colorado Exit: Tanker (11E) 12th Cavalry, 5th Meccanized Division, Rank of Spec4 Honorably Discharged

The Colorado County Citizen

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2018 Salute to Veterans

WORLD WAR II

BOSNIAN CONFLICT

LESTER E. UHLING

MARSHALL T. WINDHAM SR.

NORBERT TASLER

Corporal US Army World War II

T-Sergeant US Air Force 1943-1945

Tech Sergeant US Army World War II

ROBERT W. HERCHEK Sergeant US Army Bosnia 1992-2006 Columbus, Texas

OPERATION RESTORE HOPE HENRY H. BRUNE SR. REUBEN O. BARTEN US Air Force 1941-1945 Hawaii

STANLEY BERNARD NOVAK JR.

IRA L. COTTON

U. S. Navy Enlisted 1941 Store Keeper First Class World War II in the South Pacific

US Army PFC World War II

E-4 Corporal U.S. Marine Corps Operation Restore Hope 1989-1993 Expert Rifleman Medal and Piston Sharpshooter Medal

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The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

17

Eagle Lake native has spent career in military

BY VINCE LEIBOWITZ vince@coloradocountycitizen.com

Eagle Lake native Alfred R. Cordova spent a career in the United States Army, serving as a combat engineer, mortarman, and in multi-communications.

Highly decorated—he’s earned the Legion of Merit, Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star, Army Parachutist Badge, and more—some medals, in fact, he’s earned multiple times.

During his distinguished military career, he served in Saudi Arabia shortly after Operation Desert Storm, and was in the Middle East again during the War on Terror, as part of a peacekeeping operation in the Sinai, and then serving in Iraq in 2009.

During his time in Iraq, he served in the Green Zone as a commander.

“I had soldiers all over Iraq and would visit them pretty regularly,” he said.

“It was some adrenalin, it was different—there are different cultures,” he said of his time in Iraq.

He describes his time there as fairly average for a soldier in that part of the world. “We did encounter a few things like mortars and sniper shots,” he said, “but nothing heroic,” he said.

“From talking to my brother and friends who served in Vietnam, Grenada, and Desert Storm, and I think that the bottom line is war is war,” Cordova said.

“But I believe that this war here wasn’t like the Vietnam type fights. “I think the unknown was probably pretty in-

tense because of all of the IEDs, the mortars, and people shooting at you going down the road,” he said.

“You can’t pull over and start shooting at anybody—it is a little different type of war,” he said.

A career soldier, Cordova said the military gave him many opportunities.

“I went in the early 70s and in the mid-70s, there were opportunities for a lot of people like myself to get benefits such as college benefits,” he said.

To young people today, he says, “if they choose that career, they need to be serious about the different things that could arise during that period,” he said, noting that, if a young person joins

VIETNAM WAR

JOHN HENRY AXEL Sergeant First Class Vietnam 1945-1980

the military, they need to recognize that they can be sent anywhere, including combat.

“I personally believe that all young people shold be required to pull some kind of military service,” he said. “It teaches you values and all the basics of how to take care of yourself. It lets you grow up so then you can attend college,” he said.

OUR VETERANS

THOMAS J. AXEL SR. Sergeant Major US Marine Corp Vietnam 1963-1991

JONATHAN STRECKFUSS Graduated from Columbus High in 2013. He attended Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets. Jonathan graduated from Texas A&M and was commission in to the U.S. Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant in Dec. 2017. He is training to be a pilot.

The Colorado County Citizen

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2018 Salute to Veterans

OUR VETERANS BILL R. KRENEK Garwood, Texas U.S. Army February 1964 – February 1966 Spec 4 Demolition Expert Inter Ballistic Missiles

CALVIN EUGENE BINKLEY BILLY NEUENDORF US Air Force

SP-3 CLARENCE J. KUHN US Army 519th AAA – Radar Camp Hanford, Washington November 1953 – November 1955

Staff Sgt. Calvin Binkley served as a personnel administrative specialist. He served in the U.S. Army from July 1989 until his death March 1997.

CHARLES D. WARD US Army

DICK JONES

CURTIS BURGER US Navy

FRANK KASMIERSKY

HOWARD CHOLLETT

US Army

US Army

EDWIN H. HAIDUSEK

Surgery Technician 566 Mash Detachment Assigned 2nd General Hospital Landstuhl, Germany 1954 -1957

Private 797th Tech Sch Sq Army Air Force Technical School

JACQUELINE DROMGOOLE

CORP. J.V. HAMMAN

U.S. Army Food Service Sgt. 1994-2002

1948-1952 Served in Korea, Japan and Okinawa

RAYMOND E. ZAJICEK MELVIN PERRARD MIGUEL ESTRADA US Army

Private First Class U.S. Army, 309th Infantry Regiment Automatic Rifleman Rhineland, Germany EAME Ribbon Bronze Service Star

RAYMOND KLAUS U.S. Marines

REUBEN BARTEN

RICHARD WINN

TERRELL COTTON

TERRY NEUMANN

US Army

US Army

US Marines

U.S. Navy

The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

OUR VETERANS

19

OPERATION DESERT STORM/DESERT SHIELD JOHN SCOTT SIEWERT John Scott Siewert joined the United States Army in September of 1986, went to basic training in Ft. Dix, New Jersey, and then was sent to AIT at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, where he was trained as a Helicopter Powertrain Mechanic. His first assignment was with the 9th Infantry Division in Ft. Lewis Washington.

He was then sent overseas and assigned to Feught Airbase in Nuremberg Germany with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. His unit was assigned to patrol over 800 kilometers of East German and Czechoslovakia border during the Cold War. While in Germany the Cold War came to an end with the falling of the Berlin Wall. In 1990 his unit was sent to Saudi Arabia to conduct combat operations during Desert Shield/Storm. He spent 5 years in the service and was honorably discharged as an E-4 Corporal.

TRAVIS J. WILLIAMS, SR. Sgt. E5 U.S. Army

W.C. TEMPLETON Seaman First Class Caught the planes as they landed USS Boxer Air Craft Carrier, Pearl Harbor U.S. Navy 1946

DANA L. SANDERS

KEVIN E. EARLS

E-6 U.S. Navy Operation Desert Storm

E-4 Specialist US Army Gulf War Honorable Discharge

ALVIN G. FAICHTINGER U.S. Navy 1962 U.S. Naval Air Station at Barbers Point, Oahu, Hawaii Airman, 3rd Class Honorably discharged from active service in 1965

BILLY W. SANDERS E-6 U.S. Navy Operation Desert Storm

CLINT T. LINDGREN HT2 US Navy 1986-1990

MARIO DIGIOVANNI M1A1 Armor Crewman US Army Desert Storm/Desert Shield 1987-1991

OUR VETERANS KELLY J. LINDGREN

ROBERT HERCHEK

MM3 US Navy 1987-1990

Fort Jackson S.C. US Army 1992

IVY COLLINS Private First Class 1991-1993

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The Colorado County Citizen

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2018 Salute to Veterans

Two county men made ultimate sacrifice in Iraq

Courtesy | Scott Kilpatrick

Kilpatrick on a tank in Iraq.

BY VINCE LEIBOWITZ vince@coloradocountycitizen.com

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the beginning of major combat operations in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, launched by the United States and her allies in 2003, and ultimately leading to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Two men from Colorado County gave their lives in service to their country in this conflict: Christopher Reed Kilpatrick and Clinton Ross Gertson.

CHRISTOPHER REED KILPATRICK Christopher Reed Kilpatrick was born June 28, 1986 to Tracy Soap Kilpatrick (now Hanak) and Scott Reed Kilpatrick.

He attended school in Columbus, graduating from Columbus High School in May, 2004.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Columbus.

He enlisted with the United States Army during his senior year of high school.

He played basketball for the Columbus Cardinals, and was an Eagle Scout from Columbus’ Boy Scout Troop 312.

He was known as an excellent threepoint shooter in basketball.

He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and attended Advanced Individual training at Fort Leon-

Courtesy | Susan Gertson

Clinton Ross Gertson ard Wood before arriving at Fort Polk, La., in late 2004. He was assigned to the 603rd Transportation Company, 142nd Corps Support Battalion as an 88M10 Vehicle Operator.

He deployed to Iraq on Feb. 20, 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He was killed in action on June 20, 2005, when Courtesy | Scott Kilpatrick the Humvee he Christopher Reed Kilwas riding in was patrick attacked. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal.

His funeral in Columbus on June 28, 2005, was attended by more than 1,500 people on the day that would have marked Kilpatrick’s 19th birthday. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people lined the streets of Columbus to welcome Kilpatrick’s body back to the city prior to his funeral.

Kilpatrick was also the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

Kilpatrick is survived by his father,

Scott Kilpatrick, and stepmother Melissa; his mother, Tracy Hanak, and husband Zachary; sisters Jaclyn and Morgan Kilpatrick; and stepsisters Elizabeth and Rebecca Boulware.

CLINTON ROSS GERTSON Clinton Ross Gertson was born Jan. 30, 1979 to Gayle and Susan Gertson of Eagle Lake.

He was killed in combat near Mosul, Iraq on Feb. 19, 2005.

A sniper, Gertson was deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

He was killed by an insurgent sniper while on combat patrol in the western sector of Mosul.

Though wearing a Kevlar vest, he was shot through the shoulder and the bullet tore through his upper body, exiting out on the other side.

Barely two months prior to his death, Gertson was injured on Dec. 21, 2004 when a suicide bomber attacked a mess tent at Base Marez in Iraq; 22 people were killed in the explosion.

Gertson opted to continue his tour of duty in Iraq even after his injury, telling his family at the time that his work was not done.

The day Gertson was killed, he had already completed his duties for the

Courtesy | Susan Gertson

Clint Gertson, far right, is shown with fellow troops in Iraq. day, and was asked to go out on patrol again, and did. He was remembered as always being willing to help others.

Gertson was a 1998 gradaute of Rice Consolidated High School, and attended Wharton County Junior College and McMurray University in Abilene.

While at Rice, he was named Most Spirited by his fellow classmates, and was named Football Lineman of the Year.

He is survived by his parents, Gayle and Susan Gertson, and one brother, Matt Gertson, who also served in Iraq and whose photograph also appears in this section.

The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

21

WAR ON TERROR

VETERANS OF MULTIPLE WARS EDDIE HERNANDEZ

CARLOS ROSALES U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division Specialist, E-4 2001-2004 Taji, Iraq 2003-2004

DEREK E. WEIGE CHARLIE R. CABANAS Sergeant US Army 2003-2009

88 Mic Transportation 277th 10th Mountain Ft. Drum, NY US Army 2007-2011

OUR VETERANS

JEREMY A. SPECK JOHN WEGENHOFT US Army Reserves and National Guard Afghanistan 1998-2010 Exit: Infantry, Rank E-4 Corporal Honorably Discharged

JUSTIN BRISCOE 1st lieutenant of Desert Storm Lieutenant Colonel in Iraq

Naval Reserves 2007-2017

DANIEL L. MOTAL Multiple wars/conflicts 1969-1972

KYLE APPELT

MATT GERTSON

United States Air Force 2017-present 2nd Lieutenant Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City

41D, 3-16 FA US Army Iraq 2003-2004

TIMOTHY SCOTT HUFFMAN

STEPHEN APPELT

RAUL OLVERA

U.S. Army 1997-2003 Iraq 745th forward surgical team, 3rd infantry division Operation Iraqi Freedom Bronze Star recipient

US Marine Corps 1965 to 1969 1st Marine Air Wing Headquarters Squadron, Danang, Vietnam, 1967-1968 Texas Army National Guard, 1988-2005 Operation Enduring Freedom, January 2003 12th Security Forces Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio until December 2004

Marine Sgt. 2011-2016 1st Battalion 1st Marines, Weapons Co Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, 2012 Combat Action Ribbon and Purple Heart recipient

Corporal US Marines Afghanistan and Iraq

TIFFANY LA’SHEA JOHNSON U.S. Army 1996-2001 Fort Bragg, North Carolina Delta Company AMC 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Hood Bosnia.

GEORGE A. HAVRAN US Army Air Corps Air University Randolph Field 1943-1946

The Colorado County Citizen

22

OUR VETERANS

2018 Salute to Veterans

VETERANS OF MULTIPLE WARS

PAUL A. KUCHERKA

RICHARD OBENHAUS

Sergeant MCRD San Diego, California; Okinawa, Japan; Camp Lejune North Carolina; Quantico Virginia.

December 19901998 Waelder

Intelligence Officer USS Ranger and USS Blue Ridge US Navy Desert Storm 1975-1999

ZENON MERCADO III VERNON E. BRADEN Chief Petty Officer USNR US Navy World War II, Korea

“Sonny the Anesthetist” US Army, 1986-2006 Signal Intelligence Analyst in Germany during the Cold War Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Liberation of Kuwait 212th MASH in Germany at Landstuhl Army Medical Center Army Expeditionary Medal recipient 126th Forward Surgical Team at Fort Hood Iraq, 2003, Retired as a Captain

OUR VETERANS MELVIN STANCIK In September, 1961, during the Cuban Crisis, Melvin Stancik was drafted into the Army. Melvin reported for duty to Fort Hood. He was sent to Fort Carson, Colo., for his basic training. He was stationed there four months. In November, he was assigned to Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

In July 1962, Melvin received overseas orders. He would be spending the next thirteen months in Korea.

Melvin was ordered to report to Oakland, Calif., to ship out to Korea.

Melvin was assigned to the 49th Trans Co. in Korea. Melvin served thirteen months in Korea. He was relieved of active duty in September, 1963.

TOMMIE E. YATES Tommie E. Yates was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany during the Berlin Wall Crisis.

He enlisted in California where he met his wife, Phyllis, in 1959. He now enjoys cutting hay and dealing with his longhorn cattle.

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The Colorado County Citizen

2018 Salute to Veterans

23

OUR VETERANS WARREN (BUBBA) WILBURN & ZACH MONTELLO This is a picture of Warren (Bubba) Wilburn and his grandson, Zach Montello, taken in December of 1999 in their Navy uniforms. Zach was on leave for the first time after completing Boot Camp. He is now in his 17th year in the Navy and is a Master Chief Electrician’s Mate (Submarines and Diver) and Lead Faculty Advisor and Course Director at the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy. He is responsible for providing a quality leadership education to over 1,200 U.S. Navy, Marine, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard and Allied Forces Senior Enlisted Leaders per year.

Master Chief Montello oversees course scheduling, guest lectures and the instructional staff assigned to the Senior Enlisted Academy, located in

Newport, Rhode Island. He has served on three submarines: the USS Louisville, NR1 Research Sub and the USS Norfolk. He is the son of Patti and Greg Montello of El Campo.

Wa r re n Wi l b u r n joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. He served during WWII in the Pacific Theatre aboard an LST(L) ship. It was responsible for rescuing over 90 men from the USS Bush when it sank, at the risk of sinking his ship because of overloading. Mr. Wilburn was a gunner and Cook’s Mate on LCS(L) 64. He was a member of Columbus Lions Club, American Legion Post No. 383 and VFW Post 113. He was also a member of the Texas Chapter of the U.S. LST Association, the National Association of LCS(L) and the National Association of USS LSC(L) 130. He died on December 8, 2002, one day after the D-Day anniversary.

Remember the

JASON PAUL PAVLICEK

NANCY NEWMAN U.S. Air Force Technical Instructor First group of women to participate in training on the firing range in basic training at Lackland Air Force Base — August 1974. Member of the Goodfellow AFB Honor Guard 1975 and 1976 — participated in military funeral ceremonies in a five-county area, parades and local government ceremonies.

Jason Paul Pavlicek was born on March 28, 1972, in Columbus, Texas. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1990. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. On August 22, 1995, he reported to Fort Sill Army Post in Lawton, Oklahoma, for basic training. After completing basic training, he attended advanced individual training for his MOS at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. While there, he was named soldier of the month on several occasions and later won the soldier of the year award. After completing his training there for 10 months, he was then stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He again received soldier of the month several times and then was promoted to sergeant and was awarded two ARCOMs. He also was able to attend Cameron University and graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer information systems while working full time for the Army. He finished his Army career five years later at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Proud of our veterans

Sacrifice

Greater love has no one than this: To lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

Today & Everyday!

IN HONOR OF JIM WIESE

Wiese Crop Insurance

Eagle Lake • 979-234-3331

Peters and Peters Law Firm, PLLC

El Campo • 979-543-8881 Bryan Wiese M/979-758-4336 • H/979-234-7469 bryanw@wiesecropinsurance.com

425 Spring St., Suite 106 Columbus, TX 979-733-0126

Tom Kelley M/713-557-2239 • H/979-234-6683 tom@wiesecropinsurance.com

The Colorado County Citizen

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REUBEN BARTEN • ARMY

NEWTON PESCHEL

2018 Salute to Veterans

MIGUEL ESTRADA

MELVIN PERRARD • ARMY

Additional Veterans: (Photos Not Available)

HOWARD CHOLLETT

FRANK KASMIERSKY • ARMY

BILLY NEUENDORFF • AIR FORCE

• Billy Alley • Felix Soto • Milton Nelson • Robert Galabeas • Alvin Wick • Joe Behler

Honoring Our Veterans • Spacious rooms that take advantage of natural light • Flat-screen televisions with cable included in all rooms • Private half-bathrooms in all rooms

Medicare & Medicaid Rooms Now Available!