VETERAN’S DAY 2018
Salute Photo by Gaylen Blosser
Our Veterans
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Military memorabilia can be found at VAM BY LINDA MOODY CORRESPONDENT lmoody@earlybirdpaper.com VERSAILLES – The Versailles Area Museum committee members and volunteers are proud of their facility, and especially its military display. One of 20-plus themed areas of historical interest inside the museum at 552 S. West St. at the corner of State Route 121, the military room is filled with uniforms donated or loaned from locals to the museum. The room also contains documents from the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Vietnam and the Korean, Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. There is also some Trench Art on display. Every branch in the Armed Forces is represented in the display items, except for the Coast Guard. On Sunday, Veteran’s Day, the museum will host a lecture presented by Terry Purke, who will make a presentation on the 100th anniversary of World War I. And, he is planning to bring a small traveling display with him. The Thien Snipps will entertain and light refreshments of cookies, coffee and cider will be served. Deb Pohl, the museum president, said Jenny Condon and her daughters redid the military room several years back. Jenny’s husband, the late/retired Air Force Lt. Col. Jim Condon, who was taken as a Prisoner of War while deployed to Southeast Asia on Dec. 28, 1972. He spent 92 days in captivity. One of the cases, which has four sections, contains memorabilia from Condon’s days abroad. “I am proud of the museum but this is a very meaningful room,” remarked Tom Mendenhall, a member of the committee and who served in Vietnam in 1970. “It really has history here.” “I think this is the diamond in the
crown of the museum,” Pohl added. “I wish we had Revolutionary War and Civil War uniforms. We use what we have, whether it’s loaned or donated. “We can’t display what we don’t have,” Mendenhall offered. The museum is a non-profit organization, run by the board and a group of volunteers. It is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays or by appointments. Docents also take first-, second- and third-graders from Versailles School and fourth-graders from neighboring Russia Elementary on yearly tours of the museum. It is also open for many class reunions. It was noted that the museum is open each Sunday unless it is a holiday, and it’s closed the month of January. Next year will be the bicentennial celebration of the village, and the museum has several things in the making for that, including the publication of their second book, which has yet to be named. Since it’s the anniversary of the village, the book will feature information and photographs on just Versailles and Wayne Township. The first book was “All Roads Lead Home,” which contained information on all of the communities in the Versailles area. The committee was responsible for getting the first book together, while Sarah Magoto headed the projects up. The Versailles Historical Society had its beginnings in 2008, and the museum was formed in 2010. “We needed a place,” said Pohl. “People kept calling wanting to donate items, and we had nowhere to keep them, then this building was sitting empty.” After the Veteran’s Day program, they will be exchanging their fall decorations for Christmas ones at the facility. “Our Christmas open house is Dec. 14,” Pohl said.
Here is the case that holds Jim Condon’s military uniforms and other items he brought home from the war. It is set up in Versailles Area Museum. He was a prisoner of war and held captive for 92 days in Vietnam. He did return home, however, but passed away several years ago. (Linda Moody photo)
Thank you for your service 3078 Washington Rd, Rossburg, OH 1039 Zumbrum Rd. Union City, OH
Tom Mendenhall, a Vietnam veteran and a member of the Versailles Area Museum committee, donated his uniform to the museum, where it is on display. (Linda Moody photo)
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Disabled kid saves Somers life in Afghanistan While deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 in support of ‘Operation Enduring Freedom, US Army Staff Sergeant Taylor Somers’ platoon had the mission of denying terrain from the Taliban in Kandahar Province. Somers, an Arcanum resident, was on active duty from 2009 to 2018 and earned numerous awards including the Purple Hear. “We would patrol speciďŹ c areas designated by higher, and conduct reconnaissance at night in those areas. Since we had speciďŹ c areas assigned to us, we got to know the locals. Most people felt that allowing children to get close was a bad idea, as the Taliban would use them to strap explosives on them and have them approach us,â€? said Somers. “Usually we would tell the kids to go away.â€? Somers shared there was a certain group of kids that would approach his vehicle when he was in their village. “These ďŹ ve boys were brothers, raised to be farm equipment. They didn’t have any opportunities for school, or anything of the sort. Their clothes were miscellaneous pieces of cloth sewn to make clothes most of the time. They were decently made, but none of them had socks or shoes. I had respect for these kids, and we knew they weren’t tools of the Taliban.â€? He continued, “It was cold, probably around January. These kids always knew to come ďŹ nd my vehicle, when they saw my platoon split up the four vehicles and go sit and observe in our spots. They always asked for “Taylorâ€? “biscuitâ€? or “waterâ€?. The other trucks would warn me over the radio that they sent the brothers toward my truck. When they would arrive to my truck, I’d give then candy and food. At ďŹ rst I noticed the one boy (maybe age 9) might have had credential palsy. The guys gave him the nickname ‘chrome’, short for chromosome. (Later to ďŹ nd out his name was Abdul Hajiir). It seemed like he couldn’t control his muscles very well. His brothers
obviously thought he was mentally handicapped and treated him like trash, by pushing him to the ground and taking his candy. “I decided to put Chrome in charge of his brothers. My crew had the interpreter come to the roof of our Stryker (an 8-wheeled tank-like vehicle). We had the interpreter tell the boys they could have food and candy if they lined up behind ‘Chrome’ while Chrome would pass the candy out to his brothers.� Somers remembers the brothers didn’t like that idea, and or course thought it was a joke. “We made it happen, and it changed Chrome’s life. His brothers realized that he was a person capable of making decisions. They suddenly showed him respect, and he liked that,� he said. After a few weeks of this, they created a pattern. “Something you NEVER want to do, but it does happen,� said Somers. “Late one night we were driving out to our best spot to park, a spot high in elevation, but with cover from bullets, and it was past curfew for the villagers. We spotted a boy running toward us waving his arms in the air. We approached and noticed it was Chrome. We had the interpreter ask him what was going on, but with his disability, it took a while for him to communicate. He told us that he watched a man on a motorcycle stop at our spot, dig some holes and put bombs in them, then buried them again.� Somers added, “Normally! People would not risk their lives by saving us because Taliban were always watching and videotaping their attacks. Chrome risked his family’s lives to save mine.� There were two 60lbs IEDs (roadside bombs) and three foot mines. Placed exactly where Sommers was going to park his vehicle. Somers repaid Abdul with as much clothes, food, and water as he could. “I met his father and thanked him for raising a boy who saved my life.�
SSgt. Taylor Somers, US Army Ret.
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The Behee Family My Dad was in the service in WWII. My sister and my brother were also Veterans. My father, Wells Behee, was in the Navy, my sister, Kris Behee, was in the Air Force and was actually my roommate. My brother, Emerson Behee, retired from the US Army. For myself, I was in the US Air force, I was recruited at the Olympic trials in 1972, when promotions to move to an all volunteer military launched a See the World, realize your dreams campaign. I was in Olympic training and actually made the Olympic team as an alternate. The Air Force promised to pay all travel, training expenses, for events, anywhere in the world. I paddled 500 meter Flatwater Kayak. The entire Flatwater Canoeing Olympic team was recruited at the Olympic trials. And the Air Force
made good on their promises. I got to travel. Training was cost prohibitive. I came from New Madison, and my father, a school teacher, and minister (of the New Madison Universalist Church) and teacher at Arcanum High School, and my mother, a teacher at Franklin Monroe Elementary, had troubles keeping up with my training expenses when Olympics were, at that time, strictly AMATEUR. I learned an MOS as Accounting and Finance Officer. Because I was always training and traveling, I spent very little time in the office and spent it traveling and racing instead. Joining the Air Force was the BEST thing that I ever did in my life. They offered job training FOR FREE. They paid college training FOR FREE. The experience opened job preferences for those with military experience. FOOD, SHELTER, MEDICAL,
Jack Evan Beam Jack Evan Beam was born Oct. 14, 1945, the second son born to Fred and Edith Beam, of Hillgrove (Union City, Ohio). Jack grew up with siblings David, Steve and Jo An. He grew up with a normal childhood as he gathered many friends and truly enjoyed his life to the fullest. Sadly, in 1956 Jo An, little sister, died of cancer at the age of 4. David, Jack and Steve had many friends and the entire neighborhood was always at their house for all the fun. Jack was known as the funny one. Jack was very active in school at Mississinawa. Jack was drafted in July 1966 and
started his Army career. He was in the 196th Infantry in the Iron Triangle, Veing Tau, Vietnam. Sgt. Rex Tipple and his squad were pinned down by sniper fire as helicopters rushed into the area to evacuate the men. Jack was the Radio Man. Rex was by his childhood friend carrying the equipment that day when they reached the open area. Snipers opened fire on the squad. They all hit the ground. Rex looked up as Jack screamed and realized one of the grenades had exploded. Jack was hit in the chest. It was the intent of Charlie to always target the Radio Man – to knock out
TRAVEL were all paid for. My sister, my Brother and I feel the military experience was the best thing that ever happened to us, and the benefits we gained had far greater benefit for us than we gave the military. Being a WWII veteran, my father’s experience was not so positive, but he did benefit from the GI Bill, which gave him his college education that he would not have had the benefit of getting, especially in the economy of post-war depression. The military experience opened so many doors in the future of all my family. I would definitely do it again, and if I had been smart, I would have stayed in the military as a career. My biggest regret was opting out. I made lifelong friends in the military. When I graduated from High School, (It was New Madison High School then, Tri-Village merger happened, I believe during my enlistment) getting out of high
school took me to a factory job where I was an artist. But even with a full time factory job, I was not making enough money to realize financial independence. Life was HARD. I was living at home, but not making enough money to actually achieve independence. When I joined the Air Force, I WAS independent. Everything was paid for. No rent, no clothing costs, not even food. The military paid for EVERYTHING. It allowed fiscal stability. ALL the money I made was mine to spend. I never at any other time in my life had as much free money, as I did while in the military. I even had a horse stabled at a boarding stable not far from base. During the week when I wasn’t training, I was scuba diving, traveling, seeing local historic sites. I could hop aboard a military flight and go free to Europe. I have never had as much freedom in my life since. Karyl Parks
the communications soldier. Of the platoon, many from Greenville and surrounding area, 47 men who were all buddies – only six men came home. It was an experiment of the Army to keep men from this area together through boot camp, training for the war and through Vietnam. They thought it would make them closer. It was a complete failure. Pfc. Jack Evan Beam died Dec. 21, 1966 at the age of 20. (Five months of service.) He was awarded posthumously the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals. They were presented at the Hillgrove Federated Church – Jack’s Sally sister-in-law, 51, and his mother Edith, 75, all died in 1993. lifelong church. Steve, the youngest son, is the only After Jack’s death, his father died survivor of the family of six. in Dec. 1987. His brother, David, 51,
HONORING OUR NATIONS HEROES Edwin F. Nickol, Inc.
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Portemont wins Veterans Day Essay Contest GREENVILLE – Greenville 8th grader Marrisa Portemont was the winner of the Veterans Day Essay Contest. The essay topic was “What Veterans Day Means to Me.” Portemont will be leading the Pledge of Allegiance at the Veterans Day Parade Ceremony on Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the Darke County Courthouse. Presenting the award was Greenville Senior High School NJROTC Chief Eldred. Also attending the presentation was Ronda Schaar. The essay contest was courtesy of the Greenville Senior High School NJROTC. This year’s Veteran’s Day Parade will focus on the 100th anniversary of World War I. The following is Portemont’s essay: What Veteran’s Day Means to Me Veterans Day means a lot to me, because people fought for us to have rights. Many people know that a veteran is a person who has served in a military force, but to me a veteran is a lot more than that. To me a veteran is a person with a caring spirit, a brave heart, a strong heart and a courageous mind. A veteran is someone who is willing to risk everything to keep the United States of America safe. If it weren’t for veterans, my life would be drastically different. Veterans and all soldiers give me a feeling of security. Knowing that I have people who, of their own free will, dying and risking their lives, leaving their families to protect our beloved country and me is more than gratifying – it’s humbling. It amazes me how much courage veterans and soldiers have and that they are able to fight for and protect our country and each one of its citizens. Veterans show the world how great and strong the United States of America is. Veterans make sacrifices every day in order to fight for what they believe in. They protect and die
country out a lot and I am thankful for our personal freedoms and the inspires such heroism. In conclusion, this is what for what they do for our country. freedoms of our country. Without veteran protection, we would veterans do and what they mean Also, they continue to fight; they not be able to have the rights we to me; these veterans help this are risking their lives! have today, such as owning our own business, freedom of speech and other constitutional rights. The veterans help keep the United States of America the best country to live in and make it possible to guarantee freedoms to all people. They go against countries that have threatened our country! They mean so much to me and I really do thank them for keeping us safe! Every year I go to the veterans’ parade, it’s where they salute the gun and it makes me cry because my grandpa’s dad died in war because he was trying to help another guy in the middle of the field and he had go shot. It’s sad to see other people cry because how much they care. Veterans are all around in everyday life. Once I was in a hotel and there was a guy with a veteran hat on in the breakfast room. I got up, went up to him, gave him a hug and said thanks for serving our country! He then went up to my mom and said, “You have the nicest little girl in this today’s world. No kids these days have respect for us veterans! She made my day.” Honestly hearing him say that made me happy for telling him that but at the same time sad because no one has respect these days. They may just look like ordinary people on the outside, but on the inside they are powerful people who have devoted their lives to securing the freedoms of others. Whether they are a family member or stranger, Marrisa Portemont is shown with NJROTC Chief Eldred and Ronda Schaar. they have fought for us. They have cared so deeply about our lives, freedoms, and the freedom of the country that they were willing to die for us. When I see a veteran and think all they have done for me, I get an extreme sense of pride for all of our armed forces. I am grateful to live in a country that Brenda Maitlen Jennifer Fleagle 112 E. Washington New Madison
937-996-1581
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Local man featured in Time photograph In 2009, a local man was featured in a special issue of Time Magazine in its The Year in Pictures edition. Page 54 and 55 features a twopage photograph of US soldiers in Afghanistan titled The Fatigue of War. Aaron Shade, who served in the US Marine Corp from 2006-2010 is shown sleeping in a fox hole he had dug out with his rifle by his side. The picture several other Marines in their fox holes with a couple of soldiers standing guard at the wall to the compound. The cutline for the picture states, “1st Battalion 5th Marines, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, July 8 ‘We’d stopped in this farmer’s field for the night. I took me an hour to dig my own fire position in the dark, and it feels like you’re sleeping a shallow grave. But you do feel safer – and sleep better – protected by those few inches of dirt. I got up at dawn and was able to get the guys enjoying the
Aaron Shade
first full night’s sleep they’d had after marching for six days in temperatures up to 135 degrees, carrying 120-lb. packs.’” The photographer was David Guttenfelder of the Associated Press.
I Am A Veteran BY KEN PRESTON, SR. U.S. NAVY, RETIRED
You may not know me, for I have many jobs. I am your fireman, policeman or any other public servant. Everywhere you turn, I am there. I am all races, creeds and religions. I am a man, I am a woman, I am small, I am big. I have walked the burning sands of North Africa. I have clung to a life raft in the South Pacific, watching my ship slip beneath the waves still belching steam and smoke. I have frozen in the mountains of some far off land, of which I can not speak their language or understand their customs. I have seen the beaches run red with the blood of my fallen comrades. I have fallen from the skies from the enemy gunfire from below. I have lived in a bamboo cage and wonder if anyone cares about me. I cannot remember how many holidays I have missed with my
family. I cannot always stand, for my legs are still in some jungle foliage because of a mine. I have seen the weakest become a hero. I am a nurse or medic that tried to fix the wounds. I have parachuted to some unknown land not knowing what lies ahead. I build the bridges and schools for people I will never see again. I rest beneath the hallowed ground where above stands crosses, row on row. Yes, I amy be a little slower as time goes on, but in my heart I will always know, I will go to heaven, for I have spent my time in hell. I stand proud as Old Glory goes by and I render my salute to the greatest symbol of freedom in the world. Please stand with me, just for a while. When someone asks me what I am, I stand proud and say, “I AM A VETERAN.”
Francis Lease retires after 41 years of service Francis E. Lease served his country for 41 years. Retiring as a Sgt. Major, Lease joined the US Army in 1948 and retired in 1989. The certiďŹ cate states, “To all who shall see these presents, greeting: This is to Certify that Seargeant Major (E9) Francies E.
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Lease - Having served faithfully and honorably was retired from the United States Army on the 27th Day of January 1989. The picture above is from Camp Atterbury when Lease served in the Co. M – 148th Inf. Regt. ONG 1950. He is in the fourth row on the end.
Local AMMO Chief earns prestigious award CMSgt Billie R. Campbell, US Air Force (retired), of Arcanum, was recently presented with the Order of the Shell and Flame by the AMMO Chiefs Association. The ceremony took place on Oct. 13 during the AMMO Chiefs reunion in Branson, Mo. Chief Campbell began his USAF career in 1961, graduated from basic training and the Munitions School at Lowry and continued on in a variety of increasingly demanding jobs before, during and after the Vietnam war, retiring from Active Duty in 1982. Campbell continued to serve the AMMO Community as a GS-11 within the Munitions Directorate at Headquarters AFLC continuing on through the First Gulf War, retiring again as a GS-13 in 1997. Among his many achievements during his Civil Service career was being the Munitions Directorates member on the USAF Tiger Team charged with improving USAF conventional munitions production capabilities and then as a lead player
for the bed down and activation of AFCOMAC. Not yet ďŹ nished working AMMO, Billie then hired on as a contractor with the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in the same Munitions Directorate as manager for the Pacer AMMO program. He also worked the Defense Retail Interservice Support program (DRIS), a DOD-wide initiative to promote interservice consolidations among all the military services. Campbell fully retired in 2012 after having given over 50 years of his life to AMMO and all the various aspects of Logistics support required by the Munitions Maintenance career discipline. CMSgt. Van Ray, USAF, Ret., president of the AMMO Chiefs Association said, “It’s a pleasure to present the ACA’s highest and most prestigious award to ‘Billie Bomb Dump.’ It is reserved for those individuals who have dedicated their entire working lifetimes towards improving the professional lives of AMMO Troops around the world.â€?
CMSgt. Billie Campbell, USAF, Ret.
Shell and Flame Award
Honoring All Who Served
PROUD TO HONOR ALL WHO SERVE
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My life as a Tunnel Rat and Point Man The following is a portion of Terry Clark’s memory of being a Tunnel Rat and Point Man. Clark currently serves as the chief miller for Bear’s Mill. You are probably thinking, “What is a tunnel rat and a point man?” A tunnel rat is someone my size, 5’ 6”, who is small enough to fit into a tunnel that the Viet Cong were hiding in. It would be a hole in the ground that went down about four feet to a tunnel that was 50-feet to hundreds of feet long that connected to another exit or a big area for sleeping in bunk beds, a hospital and recreation. A point man is, again, someone small enough to see under the foliage and to be the first man in front of a squad to detect signs of enemy booby traps and to alert the men behind him. I never went to a school or a class on being a tunnel rat or a point man. It was on-the-job training – learning from other vets. Point man Jay Holt was teaching me what to look for, such as footprints, broken sticks or punji pits (holes that you could fall into, with bamboo sticks sharpened to a point with human excrement on the ends to cause
infection) that were covered up with leaves and sticks. We were ambushed. Jay was shot and I was ordered to get to him. I crawled out, under fire, and pulled him back. He had a small bullet hole in his side, but where it came out was not small. He was flown out and I never saw him again. Now I was the new point man. We set up our ambush, and we waited all night along the trail. Off in the distance, I heard pots and pans clanging together. The Viet Cong were coming down the trail. I woke up everyone and started to put my helmet on when someone blew the claymore mines. It blew out my eardrums so I was flown to a hospital with blood coming out of my ears and the same day was flown back to the front. Another ambush we set up on the trail blew the claymore mines. This was at night and had a larger body count. Some of the Viet Cong we wounded were screaming “chu hoi” (I give up) for hours. The sergeant ordered me to crawl out and cut their throats because if I shot them, it would give away our position. Back to being a tunnel rat: One
tunnel I went into was booby-trapped with vipers, small snakes that the Viet Cong would tie to the entrance and if the snake bit you, you would take three steps and die. Our troops would throw away our own claymore mines because they were too much of a burden, 60-70 pounds, to carry. So the Viet Cong would set up the claymore mines so they would go off in front of the tunnel. This tunnel was long, had a few corners and a big area with bunk beds, tables, chairs, candles for light, and pots and pans for cooking. I turned the corner and came into contact with the Viet Cong. I had a .45-caliber pistol that I stole from a helicopter pilot who just left us off in
the jungle. I shot him before he shot me. The reason I got him first is because I could smell him before I saw him. I would sleep only three or four hours a day, always with an eye open. I still sleep only three or four hours a night. When I hear the sound of a helicopter, I think about the war. Let it be known, I never killed anyone who was not trying to kill me first. I have PTSD and I had open heart surgery with a quadruple bypass when I was 57-years-old. I’ve lost my hair and teeth because of Agent Orange. The chemical runoff would go into bomb craters and we would fill our canteens with water from the craters not knowing it would kill us slowly.
Elva Saylor & Sons Mrs. Elva Saylor (upper center) has give sons who have done and are dong a magnificent job on the fighting fronts of the world. While her boys are gone, Mrs. Saylor is doing her part on the home front by working every day at her job. Pfc. Dale Saylor (upper left) has been in the service for three years and served in Africa and Italy with a Chemical Corps for over a year. He participated in two invasions and was returned to the states some time ago because of injuries and “trench feet.” He is now stationed at Camp Detrick, Md. Sgt. Lacy Saylor (upper right) is an Air Corps engineer and has been in the Philippines for some time. He has been in the Air Corps for two years
and overseas for a year. S 1-c Herbert Saylor (lower left) joined the Navy the night he graduated from high school last May. He is now stationed on a battleship in the southwest Pacific. Raymond Saylor (lower center) received a medical discharge from the service recently after suffering back injuries during training. Sgt. Paul Saylor (lower right) enlisted in the army five years ago and was stationed in Iceland for 22 months. At the present time he is in the European Theater of Operations with a Communication and Radio Cannon Company. He has been in Europe for seven months. This story appeared in the The Flare-Maker.
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Greenville vet gets to enjoy Honor Flight WWII Veteran Francis Bateman of Greenville recently participated in the Dayton Honor Flight to Washington DC along with locals Celeste Leeper and Debbie Nisonger as guardians during the trip. Dayton Honor Flight took 104 Veterans of the WWII, Korean Era, and Vietnam Era wars to see their national memorials in Washington, DC. Also attending were more than 60 guardians to assist the Veterans. Bateman was a Corporal in the Army during WWII. He was stationed in Japan during his military enlistment. Francis Bateman
Left: Francis Bateman
The World War II veterans on the trip take time for a picture in front of the WWII monument.
Guardians Debbie Nisonger and Celeste Leeper are shown with Francis Bateman in Washington, D.C.
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Greenville native serving as ONG brigade commander BY SUSAN HARTLEY STAFF WRITER shartley@earlybirdpaper.com COLUMBUS –A Greenville native has become the first woman to command an Ohio National Guard brigade. On June 10, 2017, Ohio National Guard Col. Jennifer Mitchell was appointed commander of the 16th Engineer Brigade. Born at Wayne Hospital in Greenville, Mitchell’s parents, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Robert (Joe) and Kathy Mitchell still reside in Greenville. Mitchell’s family has a long history of service to our country. “I attended St. Mary’s elementary school until the fifth grade when my father was assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base, then numerous other duty assignments followed, but we always returned to Greenville. We are a family of generations of Army Strong Soldiers. I grew up with a rich family history of military service. My greatgrandfathers Aubrey Joseph Mitchell and Philip Henry Hess both served in World War I, my paternal grandfather Robert (Bob) Aubrey Mitchell in World
War II and my maternal grandfather Thomas Raymond Hess in the Korean conflict.” Her family’s military service was an inspiration for Mitchell’s decision to serve. “From a young age, I was aweinspired listening to my grandfathers talk about their service, and I had the amazing opportunity to travel with them to their annual reunion events with their comrades. My father served on a submarine during Vietnam before receiving the calling to become an Army Strong Engineer for his entire career, including in the Ohio Army National Guard for several years.” Continuing her family’s military service tradition is Mitchell’s nephew. Private Derrick Smith, a 2018 GHS graduate who completed Army training last month as a combat engineer and serves at Fort Irwin, Calif. Mitchell’s military education consists of all required training to include Joint Forces Staff College, United States Army War College, Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, and Leadership in Homeland Security at the Harvard Kennedy School.
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Greenville native Col. Jennifer Mitchell took command of Ohio’s 16th Engineer Brigade in June 2017.
She also attended Wright State University, where she studied Urban Planning. Mitchell earned a master of science degree from the National Graduate School in Quality Systems Management and a master of science from the George Washington University in Legislative Affairs. As the commanding officer of the 16th Engineer Brigade, Mitchell is dual-hatted as the Chief of the Joint Staff for the Ohio National Guard at the Joint Force Headquarters in Ohio National Guard Col. Jennifer Mitchell, Columbus. “My 27 years of service has included a Greenville native, is the first woman to positions within the 16th Engineer command the 16th Engineer Brigade. Brigade, as well as on the Joint Force her country. Headquarters staff. I have also served “I am living my childhood dream in assignments at the National Guard every day. It is an honor and privilege Bureau in Arlington, Va., the Pentagon to be a member of the most capable and and on Capitol Hill, including in the professional military on the planet. Office of the Secretary of the Army for Today (Veterans Day) we honor and the Chief of Legislative Liaison and as pay tribute to the generations of brave an Army Congressional Fellow with the men and women who have and will Senate Appropriations Committee.” continue to serve, defend and sacrifice Mitchell’s service has extended to for our great nation.” ourside the United States. She also was Mitchell urges young people who are deployed to Nicaragua with Joint Task considering a military career to “do it! Force Esteli (New Horizons) in support I promise, it will be the most rewarding of the engineer humanitarian relief experience of your life. No matter operation following the devastation what branch of the service interests from Hurricane Mitch and to Iraq in you, it is an amazing experience to be support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. a part of a highly trained team that is “I have had many amazing mentally and physical tough, a team assignments across numerous of professionals, and that will provide organizations. By far, being selected to incredible opportunities, experiences command the 16th Engineer Brigade and responsibility supporting where I began my commissioned domestic operations missions in time service is the highlight of my career. I of national emergencies, and to be am honored at the opportunity to grow a guardian of freedom and our way our next generation of leaders.” of life when national security may Mitchell says while she was growing require. We always have and always up in a military family, all she ever will answer the nation’s call. Always wanted to be was a soldier and to serve Ready. Always There.”
NOVEMBER 11, 2018-SUPPLEMENT TO THE EARLY BIRD - VETERAN’S SALUTE 2018 - PAGE 11
Wheeler served in USAF as bomber crew chief BY LINDA MOODY CORRESPONDENT lmoody@earlybirdpaper.com UNION CITY, Ind. – TSgt. Leonard H. Wheeler, retired from the U.S. Air Force after 21 years of service, was proud to serve his country. The Union City, Ind. man, who entered the Air Force in February 1947, was an aircraft mechanic until November 1967. In that time, he spent 9 1/2 years overseas. “I was never in battle,” he said. “I was aboard B-52 bombers. I was stationed in Greenland for 18-months. I came home and was in Texas, Utah, before I went overseas to Japan. This was during the North Korean War. I spent three years there.” Once again, he came home and spent a few months before he went to England. That was special – he met his wife, Maureen, of Slough, England, in 1956. The couple’s twin daughters, Linda and Lorraine, were born while they lived there. According to Wheeler, they moved to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Dayton, to take a refresher course on B-52 aircraft. Then, it was another move for them when he was assigned to Altus, Okla., where he was crew chief on the Lady Altus for 4 1/2 years. He has a photo of his crew in front of the bomber being honored for their first 1,000 hours and a citation for the completion of combat readiness. He also indicated he had 15 airplanes while he was crew chief. “After 3 1/2 years at Wright-Patt, we were sent to Guam in 1965,” he recalled. “We sent our bombers over Vietnam. In Guam, it was hard to get milk and vegetables. Some of my friends would bring these items over to me if they were coming to Guam. My wife would give it out to the kids in the neighborhood.” The Wheeler family left Guam in November 1966 and spent the next year at Travis Air Force Base, from where he retired. They moved to the Union City area in 1970 from Akron, as he had gotten a job with Dealers Transit Trucking, where he worked for 10 years. He then went to work for Amtrak in Beech Grove,
Durbin wins DCVS Henry Golden Boy Rifle
Wheeler at age 24
Ind. for 15 years and was supervisor of materiel control, until retiring and moving back to Union City. He said he volunteered to enlist in the Air Force because there was not much work around. “A friend of mine wanted to go into service, so we did,” said Wheeler, who is originally from Zanesville. He and Maureen, who died in March 2017, went on to have three more children, but one of them, a boy, died in 1961. Their other children are Elizabeth and son Dean. There are also nine grandchildren and nine great-
Leonard Wheeler was a crew chief on B52 bombers during his 21-year tenure with the U.S. Air Force. He was proud to serve. (Linda Moody photo)
grandchildren. As a member of the American Legion, he participated in Randolph County Honor Guard for 22 1/2 but no longer does that. The 88-year-old celebrates his birthday on Nov. 10, also the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, and the day before Veteran’s Day. In addition to being a member of the Union City American Legion, he also belongs to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Union City, Ind.
BY GAYLEN BLOSSER SPORTS WRITER gblosser@earlybirdpaper.com
Durbin said with a chuckle. “It is really nice to have people support our Washington D.C. trip GREENVILLE – The Darke County project,” Pitman added. “We wouldn’t Veterans Services (DCVS) began raising be able to do the trip without the support for a future Veterans Services support of people like the winner of the Washington D. C. trip by raffling off a gun raffle.” Henry Golden Boy Rifle. The DCVS office is located at 611 “We decided to do a one day gun Wagner Avenue, Greenville. Phone: raffle to support the next trip to (937) 548-5305. Washington D.C. at the Food Truck Rally,” said DCVS Department Head/ CVSO Thomas Pitman. Pleasant Hills’ Jason Durbin, a US Army veteran had his name drawn to win the rifle. “I haven’t won anything before,” noted Durbin. “This was a very pleasant surprise. I was at dinner with my wife and children and they called and said, ‘you won’, and I said heck no – I was really surprised.” Durbin said he is “going to teach my son and daughter to shoot with it – be a good starting firearm for them.” Durbin served from 1995 – 2001, taking his training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After Engineer training, Durbin saw deployment to Egypt, El Salvador, Honduras as well Darke County Veterans Services’ Thomas Pitman presents Jason Durbin with the as time spent in the states. “I was kind of all over the place,” winning Henry Golden Boy rifle. (Gaylen Blosser photo)
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PAGE 12 - VETERAN’S SALUTE 2018 - SUPPLEMENT TO THE EARLY BIRD-NOVEMBER 11, 2018
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Larry Addis US Navy, Petty Officer 2nd Class 1961-1966
Tony Alexander US Navy USS Barbour Cunty Sept. 1984-Sept. 1987
Ray J. Allread US Army, Pfc. Korea 1964-1965 Signal Corp 1963-1965
Jack E. Beam US Army, Pfc. Vietnam Killed in Action Dec. 21, 1966
Russ Bennett US Army, Spec. 5 Vietnam 1969-1970 1968-1970
Harold K. Bergman US Army, Cpl. Korean War 1951-1953
Ryan Berry US Air Force, Sgt. Jan. 1986-Jan. 1990
Gaylen Blosser US Army, E-5 Vietnam 1968-1970
David Booher US Army Vietnam 1966-1968
Donald Booker, US Army, Sgt. WWII, Pacific Front 1942-1945
David Brandenburg US Navy 1969-1973
Tom Brandenburg US Navy WWII 1943-1946
Billie R. Campbell US Air Force, CMSgt-Ret. 1960-1982
Robert Christian US Army, Spec. 4 1966-1968
James Condon US Air Force Vietnam
Todd Cook US Air Force, MSgt. 1995-2018
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Earl E. Ackley US Army, Pvt. POW, WWII 1941-1945
Paul Ackley US Army, Pvt.
Richard D. Ackley US Army Air Corp, SSgt. 1941-1953
Neil Augustine US Army 1951-1953
Gale Baker US Army, Sgt. 1942-1945
John Ball US Army WWII 1942-46 Korean War 1951-53
Thomas W. Bish US Navy, SK2 1965-1969
Doug Black US Army, SSG E-5 Vietnam 1968-1970
Tom Butts US Marine, LCpl. Vietnam 1967-1971
Donald Byrum US Army Killed in Action June 27, 1966 1965-1966
Richard Ackley, Jr. US Army
VETERANS
NOVEMBER 11, 2018-SUPPLEMENT TO THE EARLY BIRD - VETERAN’S SALUTE 2018 - PAGE 13
Sammy L. Davis US Army Medal of Honor
Don Dietrich US Marine, Cpl. Vietnam 1966-1968
Ed Dudek US Air Force
John Dudek US Navy
Stanley Dudek US Navy
Wally Dudek US Army
Larry E. Duncan US Air Force 1971-1975
Forest E. Dunn US Army, Sgt. WWII
John E Dunn US Marine, Sgt. Vietnam War Combat Photographer
Harry Foutz US Navy WWII
Christopher Francis US Air Force, TSgt. Hawaii 7 years
Ryan Francis US Air Force, TSgt. Air Force 14 years Georgia Air Guard Joined in June
Harry Fullerton, Jr. US Army, Cpl. WWII 1943-1945
Norman Fullerton US Army
Gene Gigli US Army
Glenn Good US Navy Sea Bee WWII 1943-1945
Carl L. Goubeaux US Paratrooper Korean War
Ralph D. Goubeaux National Guard Korean War
Lowell P. Goubeaux US Army Vietnam
Norman J. Goubeaux US Navy WWII
Charles Greer US Army WWII
Chester Greer US Army WWII
Everett Greer US Army WWII
Gerald J. Greer US Army, Pvt. 1st Class 1949-1952
Robert Greer US Army WWII
Sam Greer US Army WWII
Jack Greer US Army Early 1960s
Kenny Greer US Marine 1984-1986
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PAGE 14 - VETERAN’S SALUTE 2018 - SUPPLEMENT TO THE EARLY BIRD-NOVEMBER 11, 2018
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Gerald Greendyke US Army, 1st Lt. Vietnam Killed in Action 2/3/68 1961-1968
John Greendyke US Marine, Cpl. Vietnam 1966-1969
Bruce A. Harp US Air Force, MSgt. (Ret.) Retired 1972-2003
Denver Harter US Army, Sgt. Korea 1949-1952
James Heck US Army
Richard Heck US Navy
Doyle L. Hemmerich US Army Air Corps, Sgt. WWII 1944-1946
Herman L. Hinshaw US Army Korean War Nov. 1951-Oct. 1953
Kenneth L. Hinshaw US Marines June 1976-Nov. 1979 US Air Force Aug. 1993-Oct. 2015
Karl A. Kissling US Army WWII
Glenn Kreitzer US Navy 1964-1966
Elaine Harter US Air Force, SSgt. 1977-1983
Francis Heck US Army
Gib Heck US Army
Naomi V. (Kimmel) Hemmerich US Navy WAVES Serving during WWII 1944-1946
Glenn Hemmerich US Army, Quartermaster WWII 1942-1946
Thomas J. Hess US Army, Sgt. Vietnam 1968-69
Michael Hiatt US Marine 2001-2005
Larry (Tom) Hofacker US Army, SP-4 Vietnam 1969 Active Duty – 1968-1971 Army National Guard 1988-1995
Beverly E. Jay US Air Force, SSgt. Jan. 1966-Oct. 1969
Billy E. Jay US Army, SSgt. Served overseas Dec. 8, 1944 to Aug. 2, 1946
Gilbert L. Jay US Army, E-5 1970-1972
David King US Navy 1962-1966
Cole Kremer US Marine, LCpl. Currently Active
Charles L. Langenkamp US Army, Spec. 5 1969-1970
John H. Laub US Marine Korean War 1955-1958
Larry Laub US Navy Vietnam
Larry J. Linder US Army, SP4-E5 1966-1968
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NOVEMBER 11, 2018-SUPPLEMENT TO THE EARLY BIRD - VETERAN’S SALUTE 2018 - PAGE 15
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Charles Thomas Lawrence US Army 1956-1972
David A. Lawrence US Marine 1966-1970
Mark Allen Lawrence US Navy 1977
Robert Lyme US Army, SP-4 1955-1957
Brian Magoto US Air Force, SSgt. Active Duty 7 Years
Douglas Mahoney US Army, Sgt. 1966-1968
Dale M. Marker UW Army, 3rd Inf. Div. WWII 1943-1945
William “Bub” L. McDaniel II US Air Force, MSgt. Desert Shield, Desert Storm
William L. McDaniel US Army, Pfc. 1962-1963
Troy McDaniel US Air Force 1990-1994
Christopher McDowell US Army, Spec. E-4 Fort Bragg, NC 2012-2016
Henry H. McEowen Union Army, Pvt. Aug. 5, 1862-May 30, 1865
Stanley W. McEowen US Navy, Lt. Commander May 2, 1932-Dec. 31, 1957
Harold L. McKnight US Army, Pfc. WWII Patton’s Ghosts 1944-1946
Paul Louis Mestemaker US Army Light Vehicle Driver 1955-1957
Richard Norris US Army, SP5 Vietnam 71-72 1970-1973
Estel H. Pence US Army 1942
Jeffery Pence US Air Force, Sgt. Guam 1984-1989
Kenneth L. Pence US Navy, MM3 Korean War Sept. 1948-April 1953
Thomas L. Pence US Navy Korean War Feb. 1952-Dec. 1955
Daniel A. Pond, Jr. US Navy Vietnam
Rodney L. Ray US Army Feb. 1980-June 1990
Krista A. Rehmert US Air Force, TSgt. Sept. 2007-Present
Philip C. Rehmert US Army, 1SG Vietnam Era, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom 33 years
Philip T. Rehmert US Navy WWII, Coxswain 4 Invasions, Pacific Theater Jan. 1943-Jan. 1946
Robert Wert US Army Radio Operator 1966-1968
VETERANS
PAGE 16 - VETERAN’S SALUTE 2018 - SUPPLEMENT TO THE EARLY BIRD-NOVEMBER 11, 2018
Gene M. Rhoades US Army Purple Heart WWII
Donald Rhoades US Army, Sgt. Korea 1952-1954
Richard Rhoades US Army, Cpl. Philippine Islands 1951-1953
Royce Rhoades US Army, Cpl. France, Germany 1951-1953
Rod Saylor US Marine Corp, Cpl. Vietnam 1968-1970
Terry Saylor US Navy, US Marine 2 Purple Hearts Vietnam 1967-1968 1966-1970
Herbert L. Sease US Army, Sgt. Feb. 1942-Jan. 1946
Mick Seiber US Air Force Vietnam
Ralph Shively US Army WWII Europe 1942-1945
Lorie R. (Bales) Shoemaker US Army Served in Iraq 2003-2011
Jacob Sobieraj US Navy
Lonas (Von) Spitzer US Army Began serving at 14-yearsold Served 4 years in the 40s
Wilbur Warren Shotz US Army WWII 1943-1945
Pete Sise US Navy, MMCS (retired) 13 1/2 years of sea duty Sept. 1969-1992
Ron Keith Spitzer Korean War 1957
Steve Stebbins US Army, 9th Inf. Div. Vietnam, 2 Purple Hearts 1968-1969
Scott Riffle US Navy, E-5 USS America, CVA-66 Vietnam 1972-73 1969-1973
Ian Rismiller US Army, Sgt. 2003-present
Duard G. Runner US Air Force WWII
Jack Seiber US Navy WWII South Pacific 1943-1945
Wallace Seiber US Navy WWII South Pacific
Aaron Shade US Marine, Cpl. 2006-2010
Everett R. Slayton US Army, Pfc. WWII
Michael R. Slayton US Navy, Seabees Cuban Embargo & Missile Crisis
Rodney K. Teaford US Army Aug. 1966-Aug. 1968
Louis Tomich US Navy
Josh Sizelove US Navy, PO1 (AW) Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom Aug. 2007-March 2015
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NOVEMBER 11, 2018-SUPPLEMENT TO THE EARLY BIRD - VETERAN’S SALUTE 2018 - PAGE 17
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Robert W. Boyd, Jr. US Navy Vietnam Era 1967-1971
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Steven Daryl Bohn US Army Vietnam Era 1972-1973
James Lee Boyd, Jr. US Army 1976-1979
Gary Wayne Boyd US Army 1976-1979
Jerry Dean Boyd US Army, Sgt. 1st Class Persian Gulf War 1982-1997
Ricky Lee Boyd US Army, Spec. E-4 1977-1980
Al Tookolo US Marine
Michael Trocano US Air Force, A1C 1982-Feb. 1985
Eric R. Wagner US Navy, Chief Currently stationed at NTAG Pittsburgh
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PAGE 18 - VETERAN’S SALUTE 2018 - SUPPLEMENT TO THE EARLY BIRD-NOVEMBER 11, 2018
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Darke County Veterans Services supports local veterans BY GAYLEN BLOSSER SPORTS WRITER gblosser@earlybirdpaper.com GREENVILLE – Darke County Veterans Services (DCVS) located at 611 Wagner Avenue, Greenville, serves Darke County Veterans. Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits are available to Veterans who served honorably and may be entitled to various benefits administered through the Department of Veterans Affairs. County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs) will assist with the preparation of formal claims for benefits on behalf of veterans and eligible family members. Thomas Pitman – Department Head/CVSO, Var Gehron – CVSO, Krisann Franck – Financial Assistance Specialist, Cindy Bruner – Administrative Assistant and Jack Preston – Transportation Coordinator make up the local office staff. “We are here to serve veterans and widows and families of the veterans,” said Pitman. “We always encourage anybody that has a question about any VA benefit to contact us. We’re here to connect veterans with benefits.” “Veteran” is defined as an individual who served active duty in one of the military branches. This includes members of the National Guard and Reserves who were activated under Title 10 of the United States Code. To determine eligibility, the DD 214 is the official document. Some of these benefits include medical care, available to most veterans through the VA clinic and medical center system. This is not a medical plan. It is a medical system in which the veteran enrolls and then receives treatment. Service connected compensation may provide a monthly payment awarded to those veterans who have incurred injury or disease, with lasting effect, during their military service. Ratings are determined based on the degree of disability, but only after the veteran has filed a formal claim for benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Education benefits vary depending upon the period and length of service. There are numerous educational programs, including the Post-911 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, and the Vocational Rehabilitation program. Home loan guaranty certificates are available to most veterans. This is not a loan, but a guarantee for a certain percentage of the mortgage loan. Title 59, Ohio Revised Code,
requires each County Veterans Service Commission to establish and administer a financial assistance program. The DCVS Commissioners include James Stamcoff, James Kammer, Philip Rehmert, Ted Bruner and John “Jack” Sloat. Darke County veterans may be eligible for assistance with the basic necessities of life; rent or mortgage payments, utility payments and food assistance. “If they are down and out, they come in and we can give them assistance with bills and things like that,” said Kammer. “We’re here to serve the veterans of Darke County.” Veterans making their first visit to DCVS or inquiry need to bring their discharge papers or DD214. “If you don’t have your DD214 – we Oakley Days, The Great Darke County can get it,” noted Pitman, “we can send County. “We try to do outreach at all of the Fair, parades including Veterans Day for it.” festivals, fairs, anything in the county and Memorial Day,” Pitman noted, Often, veterans do not feel they have that we can get to; Poultry Days, Annie “and our Washington, D.C. trip.” anything coming to them; not wanting a handout. “It has been earned – they have paid their dues,” Kammer said. “It’s an excellent program for our veterans to get out there and get some assistance.” The service provided is free and veterans must be aware of agencies that charge for the service. “We do our job free for the veterans,” 1303 CHIPPEWA DR. said Bruner. “You must be aware, there GREENVILLE are other agencies out there that charge a fee or a percentage of your award to do what we do for free.” DCVS transports veterans to the Dayton VA Medical center and the Cincinnati VA Medical Center Monday through Friday. The local DCVS is active in the community and can be seen participating in many parades and events throughout the year in Darke
937-547-3077
PAGE 20 - VETERAN’S SALUTE 2018 - SUPPLEMENT TO THE EARLY BIRD-NOVEMBER 11, 2018