Veteran Spotlight

Published 2:03 pm Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Today’s edition spotlights some local veterans who responded to the BH-FP’s request for photos and information about their service. Thank you to all of our veterans.

Steve Sharman, Corporal, 3rd Recon, U.S. MC, Vietnam March 1970-March 1971; Staff Sergeant 418th Civil Affair, Desert Storm U.S. Army, January 1991-July 1991.
Robert Hogan III, Army, E-3, 3 years, Flemington, MO.
Bill Yarberry, Fair Play, U.S. Army, 122nd Signal Battalion, Sergeant E-5, 2nd Division, 122 Signal Battalion, 1965-1966.
Ronald T. Stander, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Corporal, Korea, 1953-1955.
Charles “Charlie” McGinnis, Bolivar, U.S. Army, World War II, Private First Class, 1942-1945.
Paul Somers, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Sergeant E-5, 1972-1975.
Joe Lovett, Bolivar, U.S. Army Reserve, Specialist Fourth Class, 1959-1965.
George Clark Hale, Bolivar, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Med Tank Btn, 66th Armor, 4th Armored Division, Germany, 1960-1966.
Richard L. Lowry, Bolivar, Army Reserve, SSG-E6 “B” Battery, 283 Field Artillery, 8 Inch and 155 Guns, Sept. 1960-Sept. 1968.
Steve Garretson, Bolivar, U.S. Army, E-3, Vietnam, 101st Airborne, 1970-1971.
Retired Colonel C.L. Faubus Jr., Brighton, Army, 32 years, 9 months, 28 days, March 17, 1972-Jan. 1, 2004.
Mick Hood, Bolivar, Army, SSG, 20 years.
Kevin Cox, Humansville, Sergeant, U.S.M.C.,1979-1983.
John Bigley, Halfway, U.S. Army, Spec 4, 1965-1967.
Rex Brown, Bolivar, U.S. Air Force, staff sergeant, Korean War, 1954-1957.
Russ Emory, Bolivar, U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Division, 25th Avn. Bn. (Little Bears), helicopter pilot, chief warrant officer 2, Vietnam 1969-1970, dates in service 1966-1971.
Todd Trammell, 29 Palms, California, USMC-3rd Battalion, 11th Marine, 1st Marine Division, 4 years, Corporal.
Easmon Lonnie Gault, Aldrich, Corporal Marine, 1966-1972.
Steve Urie, U.S. Coast Guard, E5, 1991-1998.
Left side: George Urie, U.S. Navy, E5, 1960-1964; Right side: Larry Morobits, U.S. Navy, E5, 1960-1964.
Gilbert E. “Gene” Derrickson, Bolivar, U.S. Army, SP4.
James L. Hargis, U.S. Army, World War II veteran, Pacific Theater, 32nd Infantry Division, Tech-5, two Purple Hearts.
Alvin D. Meyer, Missouri Air National Guard, staff sergeant, base administrative services, Rosecrans Field, St. Joseph, 1963-1969.
John Thackaberry, Bolivar, U.S. Air Force, A1C, aircraft radio repairman, based at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, with 27 TFW, 1959-1963.
Samuel Arthur Martinez, Bolivar, U.S. Army, retired colonel, Korea 1952 and 1953, 1951-1985.
Bill Francka, Bolivar, U.S. Army.
Barry Siems, Bolivar, U.S. Army, SP4, 1975-1978.
Wilford “Jim” Robins Jr., Bolivar, master sergeant, E8, Army retired, 20 years 1963-1983.
Ned Bashford, Bolivar, Army, Nov. 1954-Nov. 1956, Fairbanks, Alaska, Specialist 4th Class.
Kenneth Orrell, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Spec 5 private, 11 years.
Lloyd Orrell, U.S. Navy, 14 years.
Delmer Orrell, Bolivar, U.S. Army, 23 years.
Ralph Orrell, Halfway, U.S. Army, PCT, eight months.
Dwight Orrell, Bolivar, U.S. Army, PCT (private), two years service.
Charles Orrell, Collins, U.S. Army, PCT (private), Vietnam veteran, three years.
Billie Gilmore, Pleasant Hope, U.S. Army.
Phillip Ramey, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Vietnam War veteran, specialist – fourth class; 1969-1970.
Orvil Francis Young, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Vietnam War veteran, SP4, 1967-1969.
Bob Hoffman, U.S. Army, EWM, 1953-1956.
Larry Wollard, Bolivar, U.S. Army Reserve, specialist – sixth class, 1968-1974.
Derald Joe Hood, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Vietnam War veteran, PFC, 1 year, killed during service in 1970.
Robert E. Hall, Aldrich, U.S. Army, E5 sergeant, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii 1957-1963; U.S. Army Reserve, 464 Combat Engineer, 1980-1986
Robert L. Garrison, Bolivar, U.S. Navy, Vietnam War veteran, PO2, 1963-1969.
Darryl McConaghie, Halfway, U.S. Air Force, staff sergeant, 1968-1972.
Gineth Hudson, U.S. Army, World War II veteran, Pacific Theater, 24th Division, 21st Infantry, M Company, Philippines, 1944-1946, 1 Purple Heart.
Steven Myers, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Chief Warrant Officer, 20 years, 1964-1984.
Robert L. Hutcheson, U.S. Army, SGT, 79th Infantry Division, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, 1944-1945.
Harry Rodgers, U.S. Marine Corps, Cpl., 1965-1969.
Bill Dickerson, U.S. Army, World War II veteran, P.F.C., two years.
John B. Lower, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Germany, sergeant – first class, 1952-1954; U.S. Army Reserve, 3 years.
Frank Francka, U.S. Army, SSgt.
David “Joe” Carroll, Bolivar, U.S. Army, private – first class, 1961-1963.
William Durham, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Vietnam War, SP4, 1966-1968.
Paul H. Roberts, U.S. Navy, seaman first class, LSMR, 1944-1946.
Jerry F. Gallivan, U.S. Army Air Force, 84th Engineering Squad, Bury St. Edmunds, England, staff sergeant, airplane sheet metal worker, 1943-1945.
Roman Kolody, U.S. Air Force, refueling specialist, 1960-1964; LTC, pilot, 1971-1986.
Ron Meador, Vietnam War veteran, 198th Light Infantry, Machine Gunner SGT, E-5, 1966-1967.
Charley D. York, Fair Play, U.S.Navy, gunner’s mate second class, 1951-1955.
David L. Gallivan, Halfway, 1337 AAF Air Transport Command, staff sergeant, 1943-1946
Bob Lowery, Bolivar, U.S. Air Force, retired lieutenant colonel, 173 combat missions in F-4E, Vietnam 1969-1970, 1965-1985.
Ronald R Candler II, Aldrich, U.S. Army, Vietnam War veteran, 1st Cavalry/Airborne, Sgt/Forward Observer, 1965-1967; civil firefighter, Norfolk Navy Air Station.
Jimmy Scott, Bolivar, U.S. Army, 101st Airborne, sergeant E5, five years service.
Daryl Miller, Bolivar, U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force, chaplain, 1990-2000.
Kerry D. Douglas, Bolivar, U.S. Army, 1st LT, 1970-1972.
Joseph A. Genova, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Vietnam veteran, PFC-E3, 1968-1970.
Tom Strange, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Sp5 E5, active duty 1966-1969.
SSG Abby Jo Guerra, Bolivar, U.S. Army, 1999-2012.
Robert “Bob” Jens, Humansville, U.S. Army Armor, sergeant, 1976-1989.
Christopher L. Warwick, Bolivar, U.S. Navy, hospital corpsman third class-E4 (HM3), 1970-1976.
Ronald Ray Routh, Bolivar, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. Missouri, missiles officer LCDR, 1970-1991.
Jeffrey Hogue, Bolivar, U.S. Navy, OS2, OE Division, 1984-1987.
Dustin P., U.S. Navy, GM1, 20 years honorable service.
Helen Ann Strack, USAF, Prior enlisted, E-8, Senior Master Sergeant; direct medical commission in May 1986, Retiring as 0-4, Major in March 2006, service 29 years, 3 months and 5 days, Bolivar.
Matthew Romesburg, Ebenezer, U.S. Marine Corps, E-4 corporal, 2009-2013, pictured holding his son for the first time in six months.
Bob Franklin, Humansville, U.S. Navy, petty officer second class – E5, 1973-1977.
Charles R. Stanek, Aldrich, U.S. Army, Vietnam veteran, mortar squad, sergeant E-5, 1967-1969.
Arthur Woods, Bolivar, U.S. Air Force, A1C – airman first class, 1955-1959.
Pat Overmyer, Halfway, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam veteran, buck sergeant E-4, 1966-1970.
Robert L. Wilson, Bolivar, U.S. Army, specialist – second grade, 1955-1958.
Richard “Bob” Guy Jump Sr., deceased, U.S. Navy, electrician’s mate third class, 1951-1954.
Fran Rebo, U.S. Navy, IC3, 1950-1954.
Joe W. Tinsley, Humansville, U.S. Army, private first class, 1942-1945.
Kevin S. Rebo, U.S. Marine Corps, E4, 1975-1979.
Lenard “Tony” Sanders, Halfway, U.S. Army, sergeant, 10 years service.
Michael Stanek, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Vietnam veteran, 5th Infantry Division, 75th support battalion, specialist – fourth class, 1969-1971.
Orval E. Creed, Willard, U.S. Army, Tec. 4, 1943-1945.
Charles Davenport, Humansville, 1/75 Army Ranger, E6, 5 1/2 years service.
Carliss Townsend, Wheatland, U.S. Army, Vietnam, 101st Airborne, 1968-1969.
Charles W. Stanek, Bolivar, U.S. Army, World War II, Army field artillery sergeant E-5, June 1941-November 1945, New Guinea and Philippine campaigns.
John William Vote Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, 1958-1962.
Ival G. Bilyeu, U.S. Army, Army staff sergeant, Korean War, 1951-1953.
Matt Forrest, Halfway, National Guard, SSG.
Donald R. Jump, Bolivar, from Halfway originally, U.S. Navy, lieutenant, Vietnam veteran, 1969-1971 active duty, eight years reserve duty.
Traci Cheney, Bolivar, U.S. Army, captain, 20-plus years.
Pamela Cole-Kauffman, Camp Lejeune, N.C., U.S. Marine Corps, lance corporal, three years.
Cory Kauffman, Camp Lejeune, N.C., U.S. Marine Corps, four years.
Paul E. Mincks, Humansville, U.S. Army, sergeant, World War II veteran.
James M. Gardner, Humansville, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, captain, Vietnam veteran, 1969-1971.
Wayne Long, Bolivar, U.S. Navy, retired senior chief, 1967-1991.
Thomas Evans, Bolivar, U.S. Army, sergeant, Vietnam MACV adviser, 1968-1970.
Stanley Lear, Humansville, U.S. Army, corporal, 1952-1954.
Jarett Lear, Lenexa, Kansas, U.S. Army, specialist, 2003-2007.
Dustin McKee, Franklin, Tennessee, U.S. Army, specialist, 2004-2008.
Monty Wheeler, Bolivar, U.S. Navy, AN E3, UH2C helicopter search and rescue aircrew, Vietnam 1968-1970, USS Bon Homme Richard.
Billie J. Burnett, Bolivar, U.S. Army, SP4, 1976-1979.
Charles Homer Breshears.
Gerald R. Thiessen, Bolivar, U.S. Army, colonel, 1968-1995.
John P. Francka, U.S. Army, Spec-E5, 6 ½ years, Bolivar.
William Pool, Third Infantry Division, served during WWII in France and Germany, Bronze Star, living son of a Civil War veteran.
Jack L. Jeffries, Aldrich, U.S. Air Force, airman second class E3, 1961-1965, U.S. Navy, AMS3, 1972-1974.
William “Wink” Ahart, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Spec4, Vietnam, 1965-1967.
Jerald L. Andrews, U.S. Air Force, staff sergeant E5, 435th Military Air Lift Wing, 1970-76.
Bobby Simpson, Polk, U.S. Army, SP4, rocket specialist, 1961-1963; U.S. Army Reserve, 1964-1966.
Delbert Leslie Simpson, U.S. Army, World War II, Pvt, Aug. 1945-March 1946, Polk, deceased.
Marion F. Simpson, U.S. Army, World War II veteran.
Clifford L. Simpson, U.S. Army, World War II veteran.
Leo G. Simpson, U.S Army, Korean War veteran.
Dawn Simpson.
Benny Dryer, Fair Play, U.S. Army, E-4, Germany (one year), Vietnam (8 months) 1970-1972.
ReBecca Ross, PFC, 615th ASB, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.
Donald Bush Brown, U.S. Army, Sergeant, 30 years, Retired in 1974.
Warren T. Darr, Retired Air Force, Sgt., 1980-1995
Jeffrey Griffith, USAF, MSgt, 22 years, Bolivar.
Vernon D. Keesee, U.S. Navy, seaman third class, 1957-1961; Active Navy Reserves, 1970s.
Dan Bunch, U.S. Army.
Joe Shelton, U.S. Army, Korea, specialist – second class, 1954-1956.
Joe Hoover, U.S. Navy, 1961-1965.
Marion E. Jump, Army, Private, four years in Germany, received purple heart for an injury, bronze medal for bravery.World War II, Bolivar.
Bob Ice, Brighton, Army Rank Spec.5. Served from 1967 to 1969.
Tim Scroggins, Morrisville, Marines, Marine Cpl, 1957-1960.
Travis DeWitt, Dunnegan, Army CW$, 25-years service.
Bob Voris, Walnut Grove, United States Air Force 1969-1973 as a Liquid Fuel Specialist, South Vietnam 1971-1972, E-5 -Staff Sergeant.
Kenneth Jump, Army, PFC E1, Okinawa, Japan, Vietnam, 1963-1966.
Raymond Dryer, PFC, Army WWII tank div. Germany, France, Normandy.
Steven M. Cowden, Army Reserves, June 2003, E8 Master Sergeant, still active, served in Iraq.
J.L. Hood, U.S. Navy, Seaman 1st class, North Saratoga 1941-42, died at age 90 in 2013.
John H. Zidlicky, Bolivar, Cpl. E-4, Army 24th Division, 1951-52, Japan during the Korean War.
Deputy Sheriff Austin Crothers, Polk County, U.S. Army National Guard, 2016-2017.
Patrol Supervisor Corporal Canyon Davis, Polk County, U.S. Army National Guard, 2013-2021.
Deputy Sheriff Christopher Cade, Greene County, U.S. Army, 2004-2013.
Deputy Sheriff David Courtright, Polk County, U.S. Army, 1989-1998.
Deputy Sheriff James Barron, Polk County, U.S. Army, 2017-2020.
Deputy Sheriff John Castrodale, Polk County, U.S. Air Force, 1978-1982, U.S. Army Reserve, 1984-1988.
School Resource Officer Deputy Sheriff Mason Painter, Polk County, U.S. Air Force Reserve, 2009-present.
Detective Sergeant Rich Myers, Dallas County, U.S. Marine Corps, 1993-1999, U.S. Coast Guard 1999-2005.
Corrections Officer Terri Elmore, Polk County, U.S. Army Reserve 2009-2012
Orlan Dee Hale, deceased, Army, 1st class, Korean War 1949-1953.
Wiley F. Hembree, Army, Sgt., 20 yrs.
Ulysses J. Durham, Navy, K.I.A. 1918.
Walter A. Durham, Army, Sgt., 3 years.
Truman C. Durham, Army, Sgt., 3 years.
Willard F. Durham, Army, PFC, 3 years.
Hursel Blacketer, Army, PFC, 3 years.
David H. Hembree, Army, PFC, 3 years.
Frank Johnson, Dunnegan, Coast Guard, 1968-1989.
Douglas Lemmon, Polk County, U.S. Navy, CT3, 1966-1973.
Hobart Paul McPheeters, deceased, U.S. Army Jan. 29, 1950, retired from Naval Reserve 1985, Korea and Vietnam, Army Corporal, Air Force Staff Sergeant, Navy DK1.
Glenn Jarvis, Bolivar, Navy, 3rd class petty officer, 4-years service.
David Simmons, Humansville, U.S. Army, SP4-541 Bridge Division, Germany and Vietnam, 1966-1968.
Bernard Francka, deceased, Navy, 1951-1955.
Izare Durham, deceased, Army PFC, 1918-1919, no picture available.
SGM Jimmy Cox, Fort Liberty, NC, US Army, 2002-present.
Cleo “Putter” Smay, U.S. Army, Tec 5, 1944-1946, deceased.
Tommy L. Smay, U.S. Navy, Command Master Chief, Damage Controlman, 30 years service, retired, lives in Indiana.
Stanford Edward Stringer, Navy, Petty Officer 3rd class, Jan. 19, 1956-Jan.18, 1962, Bolivar, deceased 2005.
Ken Knight, Marine, 1982-1988, Sergeant, Springfield.
Ira John Stringer, Army, PFC, Oct. 1986-June 17, 1993, Fair Play.
William Franklin Rodgers, Army, WWII, Pvt. Bombardment Sq., Nov. 25, 1942-Aug.22, 1945, Bolivar deceased 2006.
James Edward Stringer, Army, E4D Corporal, Operation Desert Shield/Storm,Oct. 5, 1980-April 8, 1991, deceased, Collins.
Charles ”Chuck” Poisel, Navy, served from 1988-92 as an E4.
Eddie Dickenson, Army, private, 1968-1970. Currently lives in Bolivar.
Joseph L Rouse, Army, Rank SP-5, April 22, 1963 – April 17, 1966, Vietnam
service; currently lives in Bolivar.

Roy E. Carrell, Bolivar, Army, Sp 3 “B” Battery; 542 Atomic Cannon Artillery 280mm,
Sept. 1953-Sept. 1955.

Daniel Woollard, Bolivar, Army, 1968-1971, Vietnam ‘68-69, Rescue Helicopter Door Gunner.
Roger W. Swank, Bolivar, U.S. Army, Msg E-8, 1967-2004, 36 years.
Steven R. McKinney, Bolivar, Army, Spec.4, two-years, 1969-1971, Served
In Germany.

Robert J. Neese, Army, Spec. 4, three-years, 1966-1969, Served in Vietnam,
died 2013 from Agent Orange.

Larnie O. Owsley, deceased, Army, Tech 4-cook, Jan. 23, 1941-Dec. 18, 1945.
Morgan McCarty, Bolivar, U.S. Navy, Chief Petty Officer, 21 years of service.
Tammy King, Everett, MO, Army, E-4, 4-years of service.
Tim Steely, Palm Spring, Colorado, Air Force, E-4 (Sr. Airman) 6-years of service.
William Laroy Evans, M/Sgt, U.S. Air Force, 1948-1975, 27 years service, Korean Conflict, deceased.
Philip Allen Powell, Bolivar, Sgt. U.S. Air Force, 1968-1972, 4-years service.
Ben Locke, Marshall, Army, Captain, 4-years of service.
Bryce Locke, Fair Grove, Army National Guard, Specialist E-4, 6-years service.
Jerry Locke, deceased, Army, Specialist E-4, 4-years service.
Steven Zidlicky, Bolivar, Army Res., Staff Sgt. E-6, 1970-1978.
PFC Calvin Dean Esther, U.S. Army, AF-17134782, AF-Res, Dec. 1, 1945 to Nov. 30, 1948.
Charles Francka, U.S. Army, 1979-1988, Air Force Reserves, 1988-2001, Tech. Sgt., Southeastern, North Carolina.
John Wesley Blazer, U.S. Army, SP4, 1972-1979.
William “Jim” Kershner, U.S. Navy, Korean War.
William “Jim” Ahern, D-Day/Battle of the Bulge, U.S. Army.
Willard W. Mincks, Battle of the Bulge, U.S. Army.
Stanley J. Ahern, GWOT Expeditionary, U.S. Navy, 2003-2027.
Jacob Kershner, U.S. Navy/Special Forces, GWOT Expeditionary.
Kevin Kershner, U.S. Navy/FMF Corpsman, GWOT Expeditionary.
Walter L. Warner, U.S. Air Force, 1965-1969, Staff Sergeant, Dunnegan.
Larry Lee Mincks. U.S. Army, Vietnam 1967-1971.
Shawn M. Martinez, Cpl USMC, Persian Gulf, Iraq, 2004-2008.
Chesley Lafe Mincks, Vietnam 1969-1972, U.S. Army.