a picture of US Army soldiers walking in the snow during the Korea War

VOM – September 2018

Perry Douglas Ward (Sept. 21, 1935-Jan. 6, 2021) US Army, Korea Born September 21, 1935 in Holcomb, Mississippi, Doug Ward enlisted in the United States Army a year after graduating from high school. After completion of Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he trained to be a Ranger, then

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a photo of the US Navy submarine, USS Grayback

VOM – November 2017

Jerry Eugene Beckley US Army 1948-1951 / US Navy 1951 – 1978 Born on Christmas Eve 1933 in Bakersfield, California, Jerry was a child of the depression, spending his youth in Texas as well as California. On July 21, 1948, a tender but mature 14-year-old Jerry enlisted in the U.S.

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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 2016

Ernest Bowling (10 Mar 1929 / 30 Oct 1931) US Army, Korea, 1950-1953 Ernest Bowling is the December 2016 Veteran of the Month. He was born in southeastern Kentucky on March 10, 1929. After graduating from high school and with his only other options for employment being in the coal

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Soldier beside tank overlooking hilly terrain.

VOM – October 2021

Edward Odell Kinney (27 Mar 1932 – 14 Jul 2024) U.S. Army. Korean War, 1951-1954 Born in Brighton, Tenn., on March 27, 1932, Edward Odell Kinney grew up working on the family farm. A typical farm boy, Odell left school after the seventh grade to dedicate himself full-time to farming.

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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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Military post office tent on Iwo Jima.

VOM – November 2021

Ozell Wright (16 Jul 1935 – 17 Jan 2022) U.S. Army 1958- 1960 Born in Covington, Tennessee, on July 16, 1935, Ozell Wright grew up in a world at war. World War II was the predominant news during much of his childhood; then during his teen years, Korea was a

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VOM – October 2018

Marshall Billy Walker (October 17, 1930 – August 2, 2024) US Army, Korea 1949-1953 Born October 17, 1930 in Tennessee, Marshall Walker grew up on a farm in Tipton County. He attended Burlison School in the Gilt Edge area of Tipton County and completed eighth grade. As the son of

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Soldier statues in a green park setting.

VOM – January 2019

Robert Lee Ellis US Army, Korea, 1948-1952 Born on January 20, 1932, Bob Ellis joined the U.S. Army in March of 1948 at the age of 16. After completing basic training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, he spent two years at Schofield Barrack on Oahu, Hawaii. He arrived in Korea as

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Soldiers in trench with machine gun, wartime scene.

VOM – February 2015

Feaster Williamson, Sr. (5 May 1930-10 Jun 2015)US Army; Korea 1951-52 / U.S. Air Force Reserves 1955-1990 Living History: Feaster Williamson, Sr. recognized as February’s Veteran of the MonthBy Sherri Onorati This month’s Veteran of the Month honoree is Korean War veteran Feaster Williamson, Sr. Williamson joined the United States

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Soldiers in snow receiving food rations.

VOM – March 2015

Andrew “Andy” Wiley Dunavant (14 Oct 1924 – 16 Jun 2023)US Army, WWII, 1943-1946 March Veteran of the MonthBy Sherri Onorati, Special to The Leader Andrew Wiley Dunavant, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, was honored last week as the Veteran of the Month for

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