Those who served in the military during the Vietnam ‘Conflict’ unfortunately often felt unappreciated and even worse when they came home 40 to 50 years ago.
Military veterans of that era and their families were told unequivocally Wednesday that they are loved and appreciated in Logan County.
The Russellville Chapter of DAR—Daughters of the American Revolution—served as hostesses for what may have been the largest gathering of local Vietnam vets since that war ended about 40 years ago Wednesday at the Logan County Extension Office. They chose to feature these ultimate public servants at their annual Flag Day Ceremony.
About 100 veterans who served in the military from the mid-60s through mid-70s and their spouses were treated to a tasty meal, given goodie bags, and honored by the DAR. They also spent over two hours mingling with each other and sharing memories.
Outgoing DAR Regent Bobbie Jean Burnett presided over the event, read a couple of poems she had written for the occasion filled with veterans’ names, and introduced those who on the program.
DAR Chaplain Eloise Hadden led the invocation and benediction, veteran Larry White led the Pledge of Allegiance, Chris Kramer led the singing of the National Anthem and then performed some dynamic patriotic songs, and Olmstead School Band Director Danny Benson played Taps on the trumpet in honor of deceased veterans.
DAR member Jackie Powell announced student awards to Good Citizenship recipients Sarah Edgar and Sarah Brown and to JROTC Medal winner Kasi Howard. Regent Burnett announced that Howard will soon be entering full-time military service and is believed to be the first Marine from Logan County.
Logan County High School JROTC cadets Nathan Craig, Alex Fitzpatrick, Tristan Puckett and Zoe Shockley presented the American Flag. They were accompanied by St. Maj. Joe Brockman.
The featured speaker was Retired Army Major John Stovall of Franklin, a graduate of Lewisburg High School. He served 29 years and 9 months in the army, heroically performing in battle and becoming the subject of a documentary film. He was stationed at Fort Knox for “13 years and a day.”
He told the veterans that he would guess many of them join him in functioning under a 24-hour clock, highly respecting the flag, sitting in the corner of a room so no one can come up behind them, knowing where all exits are located, and lining up their shoes under their beds.
Burnett introduced Logan County veteran Joe Lawrence, who has been named Volunteer Veteran of the Year for the state of Kentucky. He used his booming voice to call the names of veterans who were expected to be in attendance as they received recognition for their service. DAR Treasurer Judy Wilcutt played a large role in the recognition program,
The following are many of the names which were either on the printed program or added orally that afternoon:
Military Casualties during the Vietnam War who were listed included Marines Joseph Carlisle Andrew, Boyd Lawrence Brake, Connard Darrell Mallory, Bobby Ray Mefford, James Erwin Price, Albert Russell Sanford, and Harold Wilson; Air Force Clyde James Bennett, Navy Alvin Mario Shifflett Jr., and Army LaVaughn Elliott, Jimmy Lee Utley and Harold Shelby Wood Jr.
Vietnam veterans present included Bob Brown, Adrian Cavanaugh, Charles Ray Covington, James Curtis, Norman Foster, Davin Hadden, Drexel Johnson, Sandy Lame, Vance Logsdon, Jackie Martin, Mike McCormick, Glenn McIntosh, Larry Noe, Barry Reed, Charles Robertson, Don Rust, Wilford Scarbrough, Gary Sears, Bobby Spencer, Ben McCall, Charlie Barnett, Sheldon Baugh, Glenn Blackford, Bob Canfield, Randall Coffman, Jim Dauley, Lynn Farlee, Joe Fuqua, Dan Grayson, James Hughes, Truman Johnson, Joe Lawrence, R.W. Meredth, Charles Ray Miles, Bill Oberhausen, Darrell Rogers, Jerry Rust, Glen Sears, Larry Slaughter, Sammy Spencer, Clarence Spencer, Carroll Baugh, John Beck, Bill Brown, Tony Cauley, Wendell Coursey, Jack Crossley, Larry Drake, George Epley, Pete Flowers, Mike Gilliam, Early Gray, Phil Gregory, Tommy Guffy, Joe Harlan, David Price, Gene Richmond, Kenny Robertson, Stephen Scott, Billy Shackleford, David White, Larry White, Prentice White, Don Williams, Dr. Dewey Wood, Roy Wood, Robert Wynn, Billy Taylor, Mac Taylor, Charles Turner, Gene Williams, William Woodard, Harold Yates, Billy Taylor, Jimmy White, Gary Woodlee and Milburn Young
Other Vietnam Era vets listed on the program: Gloria Ambuske, Lee Arnold, Jerry Baldwin, Daniel Baugh, Melvin Belcher, John Blanton, Danny Christian, James Clinard, Gary Costello, Tony Costello, Troy Costello, Ray Deason, Joseph Duncan, Lynn Emery, Hoy Funk, Dan Gipson, Kenneth Gray, Larry Greer, Robert Griffin, Bill Harris, Jerry Hornberger, Loyd Wade Johnson, Mike Kimberly, Gregg Lawrence, Jimmy McReynolds, Alan Miles, John Monroe, Billy Page, Robert Payne, Billy Powell, Bob Rogers, James Shelton, James Sitz, Darrell Skipworth, Robert Ambuske, Hilton Ashby, Tony Brockhouse, Gary Chapman, Albert Clardy, Dan Coursey, Larry Cox, Clyde Delk, Beverly Epley, Guy Fulcher, John Gatlin, William Ray Goley, Dorris Gregory, Jeff Grosnik, Doug Hall, M.T, Henderson, Larry Johnson, Ronald Knight, Tom Luckett, Tom Martin, Ralph McElwain, Roger Parker, James Don Penick, John Powell, Stanford Reynolds, Joe Robertson, Charles Scott, Keith Shelton, Michael Sitz and
Gish Arnold, James Ashby, Virgil Blackford, Larry Chapman, Rick Clark, Ronald Collins, Raymond Davis, Bert Fuller, James Greene, Steve Henry, Clifton Hopper, Jerry Humble, Larry Wayne Johnson, Ron Jones, Roy Latterall, Robert H. Lyons, Bill Matlock, Ron McIntosh, Larry Milam, Rodgie Millet, Joe K. Moore, Billy Offutt, John Parrish, Douglas Piper, Ken Rose, Paul Scarbrough, Jimmy Shemwell, Richard Sitz, Liz Smith, Bill Stokes, Johnny Stratton, Thomas Sylvia, Herman Taylor, Wayne Thomas, Fred Trickey, Charlie Watkins, Lanny Williams, Marion Stratton, Chris Watson, Jerry White, Bobby Wilson, Michael Stratton, Gary Taylor, Thomas Taylor, Dale Tinsley, James Venable, Dick Wenzel, Kenneth Whitson, Johnny Williams and Ed Winsett.
Deceased Vietnam Veterans who have died since the war were listed as Harold Bell, David Blackwell, Waymond Blakey Jr., James Chestnut, Billy Joe Coleman Sr., Butch Collins, Reggie Collier, Donnie Christian, Spencer Cornelius, Wayne Dean, Billy Dennison, William Elliott, Steve Flowers, Otis Foulkes, Donald Fulcher, John Garrett, Don Gibson, Ronnie Hankins, Robert Harper, Charles Hildabrand, John Hite, Harold Gene Huddleston, Glendon Johnson, Larry Ford Johnson, James Kemp, Jimmy Knight, Joe Oberhausen, Gary O’Neal, James Irvin Rice, Calvin Roach, George Shader, Gary Shelton, Arian Sigler, James Sircy, Lowell Smart, Ken Smith, Glen Stanley, Don Taylor, Ron Taylor, Jimmy Tinch, Joe Tinch Jr. and Milton White.
At the close of the program, Darlene Gooch was installed as the local DAR Regent for the upcoming year.
In addition to those previously mentioned, DAR members are Vice Regent-Elect Hattie Jean Carter, Historian Martha Davenport, Secretary Donna Luckett, Registrar Carolyn Mallory, Yvonne Arney, Brenda Baugh, Gayle Brown, Lori Burgard, Rebecca Christmas, Anne Crawford, Beth Dawson, Sharon Dockins, Mary Ann Downing, Pat Foster, Mary Lucy Franklin, Cheryl Fynboe, Thelma Grayson, Linda Hatler, Nell Jordan, Darlynn Moore, Brenda Rigney, Nell Stuart, Shelby Traugott, Nola Willeford and Sue Wood.
Non-resident members are Mary Clark Boyd, Dawn Forry, Sondra Page, Jana Riley, Sarah Watson Rowel and Louise Cook Williams. Junior members are Maria Ellen Burnett, Nicole Dickinson, Lee Dockins and Monica Mallory. Associate members are Brenda Harris Glover, Melva Houck Posey and Donna Weaver.