By Nila Harris
You may know that June 14th is Flag Day, but did you also know that it is the US Army’s birthday? On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution creating a Continental Army.
When the British regulars and colonial minutemen exchanged gunfire in Massachusetts in April 1775, it soon became apparent that the colonies needed something more. “The colonies needed a force of professional soldiers who were trained, funded, and equipped for extended military maneuvers.” military.com. The colonies appealed to the Second Continental Congress delegates, and the resolution was passed. The very next day, June 15th, 1775, “the legislative body of the rebel colonies named George Washington to the post of chief officer of the new fighting force, citing the general’s patriotism, valor, conduct, and fidelity.” Although the Army’s birthday is not an official federal holiday, the Army and Department of Defense usually plan activities at the base and local levels.
Several of our very own Pendleton County residents past and present have served in the US Army.
My church (Turner Ridge Baptist) honors our veterans every Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day with a slide show of pictures. It’s awesome seeing the faces of Preston Farrer, George Parsons, Wesley Jenkins, Donnie Lovelace, Earl Lovelace, Kenny Showalter, Bill Thomas, and Fred Workman--people I knew, who have passed away. I cry every time. Mamie and Tom Jenkins had two TRBC sons who served—James as a paratrooper in WW2 and Wesley who worked on tanks stateside during the Korean War. They had two brothers-in-law who also served close to the same time (early 50s): Randell Middleton and John Schlueter. Randell served as part of the police action in Korea. He had amphibious tank training in California before going overseas. John also had tank training but went in after Randell and Wesley. John got to come in on leave to see his little girl Cindy when she was born, then it was off to Germany for another 18 months.
Two more PC soldier brothers were Donnie and Mike Wright. Donnie was in the Army National Guard from 1985-1996. He served in the first Gulf War, checking for biological and chemical warfare agents that could be used. “Their detectors went off several times but were told they were just malfunctioning,” recounted his wife, Jill. Mike served for 20 years as a scout. He was deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq. Brothers JK and Gary Veirs were two more soldiers. JK was stationed in Korea, while Gary was stationed in Germany.
World War 2 veteran Merril Dawson received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, but his family had no idea of his awards until after his death! His daughter Esther McClanahan never recalls him talking about his military service, other than saying “Wouldn’t hurt a man or boy to go, but in time of war, it was a different story.”
Three other decorated combat vets are Henry Bertram, Roy Mains, and Bob Nordheim. Mains received two Bronze Stars for heroic actions in combat and two Purple Hearts for wounds received. Bertram, another war hero, received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his time spent on the battlefront. Nordheim received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and two accommodation medals. He had attended EKU prior to joining the Army and went in as a 2nd Lieutenant. Nordheim was in communications, overseeing a company of troops while in Vietnam. His specialty was signal corps. Rodney Moore, another Vietnam vet was part of the signal corps too, although he admits the warning system equipment did not always work very well.
Dwight Wolfe reached the rank of corporal during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany. Max Goldberg, who served as Falmouth Mayor for 37 years, was a corporal in the US Army Air Force during WW2. And former PC bus drivers Jim Haley and Paul Smith were also Korean War vets. Paul’s brother-in-law Ken Valentine was a tank driver in Panama around the same time.
Ralph Ketron spent 22 years serving as an Army engineer. He had an interesting (if not painful) experience when he was run over by a tank early in his career. The accident crushed his legs, but he was back to work within a few months. “They would assign a medic to stay with him and carry him on and off an armored personnel carrier, give him a two-way radio, and he would help with the training exercises out in the field,” told his wife Debbie. Ketron was in a cast from his hip to his toes!
Another local career soldier was Nelson Meinze. He graduated from PCHS in 1991, joined the Reserves in 1993, and served as a military policeman. Meinze became active duty in 1996 and served our country for 23 years. Wade Ammerman entered the US Army as a commissioned officer as part of the Military Police Corps. He was active duty for 10 years and was honorably discharged as a captain.
Colonel Holton “Hoss” Pribble graduated from Millersburg Military Institute, then joined the Army. He served as a supply officer for the Manhattan Project during WW2 and eventually rose to the rank of Colonel in the US Army Air Force. He also attended the University of Kentucky and lettered in football 1932-34. Some may remember Colonel Pribble teaching at Falmouth High School.
Robbin Higgins is an Eastern Kentucky University grad who went in commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, retiring after 28 ½ years at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She worked in the Army Signal Corps, working with telephone and satellite inter-conferencing. Most of her time was spent overseas where she learned to adapt and adjust wherever she was. She learned a lot about herself and how to react and deal with stress. Higgins’ nephews Victor and Jeff Graves entered the Army on the buddy system, both serving as combat engineers.
Charlene Burlew’s father Alva Daniels served in WW2, getting a Purple Heart after receiving substantial injuries. Daniels was a rear gunner on a three-person plane. The pilot was killed instantly when their plane was shot down. The co-pilot and Daniels pretended to be dead but unfortunately were captured. The Germans kept the soldiers in cages, but the two managed to escape and were eventually rescued. Burlew’s brother Glenn and two brothers-in-law Kenny Tucker and Dan Delaney were also soldiers. Perhaps because of her strong military ties, Burlew was led to work at the VA Hospital as a therapist.
David Shipp served his country in Vietnam, reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the Army Medical Service Corps. Herman Schack was also in Vietnam assigned as military assistance command Vietnam. He would go out in a “pay chopper” every month. Schack also worked as a “banker”, converting military pay to local currency. While on the helicopter, he sometimes served as a door gunner.
Morgan Christian Church preacher Duke Hamilton is also a veteran. He served in Panama and was attached to Special Ops—Green Berets as part of physiological operations, creating propaganda leaflets. Since he had a career in radio prior to being drafted, Hamilton became editor of the base magazine. He was eventually assigned to a recruiting station in Missouri as an Information Specialist.
Married couple and career Army are Sarah and Stan Wylie. Stan is currently with the 478th Engineering Company in Ft. Thomas, KY. He has been deployed to Iraq two times. His wife who is also active duty has been deployed to Iraq too. Another local married couple who met while serving at the Pentagon are Sheila and Chet Utz.
Jeffery Brinkman served as a 12B Combat Engineer. “We built obstacles and blew stuff up,” claimed Brinkman. “I would do it all over again.” Brinkman’s son Travis is active-duty Army. “He is 68W; that is a combat medic.” Travis is presently at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington.
Hunter Cookendorfer served in the Army National Guard for six years, just getting out this January. Cookendorfer reached the rank of Sergeant and worked as a biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear specialist. During his tenure, he did security for the Vice President and his family during the election, searched for flood victims, did chemical training, and attended multiple schools.
Chris Lynch served as a chaplain assistant, stationed at Fort Sill and Fort Knox. “I feel like that is part of the ministry He (God) called me into. I still talk to some of the ones I helped when I was in, to this day.” Lynch currently holds leadership roles in his church at Butler Baptist.
1979 PCHS grad Christopher Thompson was US Army from 1984-1992, stationed in Germany and serving as a truck driver. 1982 grads Ron Blevins and Scott Meadows enlisted shortly after graduation. Meadows reached the rank of Sergeant, serving as an Aircraft Structural Repairer. Blevins served from 1982-1992, then went re-joined in 1999, serving until 2013. Blevins’ son Ronnie, Jr. was in the Army from 2006-2019. April Booher Shaw worked as an Automated Logistics Specialist during her time in the Reserves. Lori Thaxton joined the Army, not long after graduating from PCHS in 1987. She served from 1988-1994.
Lou Gehrig Burke was in the Army National Guard from 2006-2010, in Operation Enduring Freedom. His unit was deployed for route clearance of IEDs. He helped provide combat security for his battalion commander while in Afghanistan and aided in transportation units when they needed extra protection moving things from base to base. He was part of the same battalion as David Cooper, Unit C Co. 201st Combat Engineers. Cooper is presently assigned to the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as a Sergeant First Class military policeman. He has been in the National Guard for over 20 years.
Brendan Caudill is active-duty infantry, presently stationed at Honolulu Schofield Barracks. Kyle Deglow is also active-duty, stationed at Fort Drum, NY and plans to make a lifetime career, having already served 13 years. Preston Wright recently re-enlisted for four more years. He is stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Thank you to all these soldiers and others who have faithfully served in the US Army.