American flag

VOM – July 2024

A. Jason Fleming U.S. Army / TANG 1989 – 2021 Born in 1963 in Covington, Tenn., Jason is a 1981 graduate of Covington High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources Management from the University of Tennessee at Martin. After college graduation, he began his career

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Soldiers inside military aircraft during transit.

VOM – May 2025

Neil Andrew Higgins U.S. Army 1984 – 2009 Born in London, England and raised in Jamaica, West Indies, Neil Higgins was commissioned in the United States Army as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in 1984. Some of his key operational assignments during his 25 years

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Soldiers walking on a forested dirt path.

VOM – October 2016

Warren Richard “Rick” Willers US Army 1969-1973 / US Navy, 1973 – 1993 Our October Veteran of the Month is Warren Richard “Rick” Willers. He was born in Pensacola, Florida, and attended Livingston College (now the University of West Alabama) after graduating from Demopolis High School. During his Junior year

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Military patrol boat navigating tropical river.

VOM – January 2018

Charles Joseph Raggo US Navy, Korea 1951 – 1954 / Vietnam 1957-1976 Our Veteran of the Month for January 2018 is Charles Joseph Raggo. Born on September 19, 1933, in Arcadia, Missouri, Charles Joseph Raggo enlisted in the United States Navy in 1951 at age 17 shortly after completing high

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Warship 871 sailing on the open sea.

VOM – February 2022

Meldron Dave “Bill” Worthy U.S. Navy; Vietnam 1960-1987 Meldron Dave (Bill) Worthy was born and raised in Warren, Texas. After graduating from high school, he convinced his father to sign the paperwork to allow him to join the Navy on January 13, 1960 – his seventeenth birthday. Bill’s Navy adventure

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Three soldiers statue in military uniforms.

VOM – June 2017

Rudolph Boykin Jr US Army, Vietnam 1968-1970 Son Follows in Father’s Footsteps By Sherri Onorati, Special to The Leader World War II veteran Rudolph Boykin, Sr., was honored as the Veteran of the Month in March, and now his namesake, Rudolph Boykin, Jr., has been selected as the June 2017

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A picture of an American flag with soldiers and the Statue of Liberty superimposed on top of the flag

VOM – December 2018

Stephen Paul Foisy US Army, Vietnam, 1968-1974 At the age of 21, Stephen Paul Foisy was employed with IBM when he received his draft notice for the United States Army on June 18, 1968, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He completed Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey then served in

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Soldiers advancing through dense jungle terrain.

VOM – July 2018

Bruce A. Lemont US Army, 1967-1969 Born on November 9, 1948 in Portland, Maine, Bruce was drafted into the United States Army in 1967, a few short months after graduation from high school. As a member of a patriotic family (his father served in WWII and Korea, three brothers served

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Soldiers advancing on a beach during battle.

VOM – January 2015

Norman Crittenden (December 13, 1924 ~ October 24, 2015)US Army, WWII 1943-1946 Living History: Norman Crittenden recognized during Veteran of the Month ceremonyBy Sherri Onorati In 1863, in a letter to New York mayor George Opdyke, Abraham Lincoln wrote, “Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his

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Gone but not forgotten: Remembering those whose lives were lost in Vietnam

By Sherri Onorati for The Leader on May 22, 2014 EDIT: 3/29/2025 – I just realized I left off a few names when this article was originally written. I have included them in this posting, which, unfortunately, brings Tipton County’s total count to 16 Tipton Countians killed during the Vietnam War. Two

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