4C
Thursday, June 20, 2013
972-784-6397 | The Farmersville Times
audie murphy day
Parade heralded by local staff sergeant
This year the Grand Marshall of the Audie Murphy Day will be Farmersville local Sgt. John Politz who just returned from serving in Afghanistan. Sgt.Politz has been married to his loving and understanding wife Marianne for more than 27 years and both have been residents of Farmersville for more than 21years. He is the proud father of two, John Jr and Shane, and now the very proud grandfather of a 8 month old little boy named Eli. Staff Sergeant Politz first enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserves in August of 1987, as a Crash/Fire Vehicle Mechanic. Finding the drive to Barksdale AFB a long one each month, he transferred to the Air National Guard and for the next 12 years was a member of the 136th Air Wing currently located at Carswell JRP, Ft Worth. At the end of a second six year enlistment, Sgt. Politz was working as an Installer for Nortel networks and could no longer commit the one weekend a month necessary to remain in the National Guard. Six years later, with his youngest son Shane a senior in high school, he decided to try and finish what he started years ago and that was to make it to 20 years in the National Guard. But this time, being over 40 years old, the Air Guard wasn’t too interested, so he contacted a Army Guard Recruiter and because of his vehicle maintenance background and the Army increasing the age limit, this made joining the Army Guard the right choice. Five months later, Sgt. Politz was deployed to Iraq with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion/144th Infantry Regiment as the Company Motor Sergeant. Just recently, Staff Sergeant Politz was deployed to Shindand Air Field, Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion/144th Infantry Regiment as the Battalion Motor Sergeant. He has received the following awards and metals during his military career. US Army Meritorious Service Medal, US Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, NATO ISAF Medal for Service, Global War on Terrorism Medal, U.S Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, U.S.A.F. Commendation Medal, U.S.A.F. Achievement Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Ribbon, U.S.A.F. Basic Training Ribbon, U.S.A.F. Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, U.S.A.F. Longevity Service Ribbon, Texas Medal of Valor, National Guard Valley Forge Cross for Heroism, Texas Combat Ribbon, Texas Federal Service Ribbon, Texas Faithful Service Ribbon, Texas Adjutant General’s Individual Award (3 times) and the K.L. Berry Award for Heroism given by the Texas National Guard.
Registered veterans for 2013 AMD
Army Rassle Barker Joe Ball David Balla Charles Bare Richard Bell Carrel Bishop Stephen Breeding Carl Browning Harold Burks Kirk Cardon Walter Wayne Cody James Cole Billy Coleman Charles Collinsworth Benny Coomer Jim Dawkins Jerry Farmer Eldon Gentry Jimmie George Monte Geren Mike Goldstein Rito Gomez Rogelio Gomez James Groves John Gunnell Jerry Hart Fate Hass Joe Hayes Phillip Hayes Ronnie Hayes Mont Hendricks Hubert Hightower Marion Hill Melvin Hitt Robert Howard Ken Hunter John Klutts Burt Kovar John McCraw Jerry McDonald John Martyn Donny Mason John Melvin Debra Moore Don Moore Michael O’Day Rebecca O’Day Manuel Perez John Peurifoy Deckard Pharr Lee Roy Phillips
John Politz Marianne Politz Ronnie Pond Stan Proctor Carl Rankin James Riley John Roderick Bobby Rodgers Steven Rohrick Jackeline Rohrick John Rosbury Delvin Sergent Jack Smith Randy Smith Ron Smith Thomas Smith Edward Stuart Gene Toumbs Jim Ward Phillip Weiss Diana Wilks Milton Wright Reed Tibbetts
Robert Wickes Navy Seabees Robert Wilkes Larry Stogner
Navy Earl Bates Jimmy Blackburn Michael Brenders Ron Brown Karl Caplinger (Navy Seabees) Kenneth Caplinger (Navy Seabees) Charles “Curly” Combs Curtis Godwin Monte Guidry David Hawkins Allea Kelley Maurice Lanteigne Don Law Michael Macomber Eddie Meil Weldon Morrow Joe Nix Paul Petree Earnest Poplin Morris “Hooker” Reavis Billy Robertson William Robinson Waymon Rose Betty Spraggins Joseph Spraggins Philip Torti
Air Force Greg “Spanky” Barber Ryan Boykin Dale Boyle Leon Brandon Michael Burgess Bill Fondren Robert Fox Kyle Goldstein Mel Grobe Wyndi Veigel/ C&S Media Publications Duane Registration for veterans begins at 7:30 Heimberger a.m. Saturday, June 22 at the First United Auby Henson Methodist Church of Farmersville located Austin Hill Melissa James at 206 North Main St. Therman James George H. Kakaska, M.D Bill Jordan Les Liggett Galen Pace John Lloyd Rodney Sarrett Tommy Lovell Mike Shrauger Danette Lowes Charles True Robert McAllister Michael Vigil James McGraw Albert Pavlick Coast Guard Jerry Lee Petton Brian Walls Ted Powers Ronald Reeves Honor Guard John Rodriguez Gene Allen (Army) Glenn Rose Don Beck (Army) Larry Smith Norm Seligman (Army) Riley Spraggins Jim Sladek (Army) Charles Tucker Don Smith (Army) David Ussrey Johnny Tovar (Army) Daniel Wickes Darwin Whiteside (Army) Joe Wiser Diane Wilks (Army) Richard Maddox Mark Witham (Army) DeNae West (Navy) Marines Carlos Cisneros (Air Force) Heather Campbell Wayne Janosik (Air Force) Ron Campbell Ed Taylor (Air Force) Brent Erickson Juanita Allen (Civilian) Jeff Erickson Bernice Sladek (Civilian) Timothy Helmberger Diane Tovar (Civilian) Ken Hickman Pam Ussrey (Civilian) Jerry Howell Dennis Jackson
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14TH ANNUAL
AUDIE MURPHY
DAY CELEBRATION Downtown Farmersville • June
22
Honoring local Veterans and “Hometown Hero” Audie Murphy Registration for Veterans 7:30 to 9 a.m. First United Methodist Church, 206 N. Main Street Refreshments provided by members of FUMC
Audie Murphy Display 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Charles Rike Memorial Library, 203 Orange St. Title Sponsor Farmersville Centennial Committee Wylie Drilling and Drainage, Inc. Gold Sponsors The Farmersville Times Sharyland Utilities TAPS Public Transit
Commemorative Air Force Flyover, 10 a.m. Followed by Downtown Parade
Program at Onion Shed 10:45 a.m.
Historical remembrance of Audie Murphy, Roll call of local veterans Presentation of colors by Tri-County Veterans Honor Guard Speaker Honorable County Judge John O. Roane
Historical exhibit, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 108 College Street
Veterans reception, Noon to 1 p.m.
at First Uni.ted Methodist Church, provided by area 4H clubs
For more information, contact Farmersville Main Street at 972-784-6846 • www.farmersvilletx.com
“This is the day that the Lord has made; We will Rejoice and be glad in it.”
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972-442-5000