Southeast Texas Veterans Service Group honors veterans NOVEMBER 2017 A Special Supplement to
Army vet: ‘Don’t forget where you come from’
2 • Veteran’s Day, November 2017
The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com
Honoring those who have served Ray Joseph Fontenot Army Air Corp WWII 1942-1946 Truett Hawley Navy Air Corps-Chief 6 ½ Years John Jenkins Army 1st Sergeant E8 23 years Burel Smith Navy YN3 2 years Clarence Stephens Jr. US Army Rank SPC 5 3 Years of Service Glenn L. Gobert US Navy, Machinist Mate 3rd Class Served 4 Years
Gladys Young Hall Army Air Force S/Sgt Served 3 years 1942-1945 Charles Cagle Sr. Army Tech 4 Served 4 Years 19411945 Charles Cagle Jr. Army Spec 4 Served 2 Years 1967-1969 Jason Richard Clark Marines Corporal 20002007 Raymond Earl Clark Army Private 1965-1968 Earl C. Clark Army Staff Sergeant 1940-1943
Tete Husband Us Army- SFC 1972-1993
Corliss Lavon Smith Mokhantar Navy 1980-1985
Jessie Doyle Technical Srgt. Army WWII 1943-1946
Gary Husband US Army – SFC 1974-2001
Darryl Joseph LeJeune Army- Specialist 4 May 1969 – May 1971
Roy Edward Elliott Army – Staff Sergeant E6 1963-1970
Vial Thibodeaux Sr. U.S. Army World War II
Jeremy Sleeman E4- Cpl- Marine Corp. 4 years
Ronnie Randolph II E4 Army 6 years
Walton Trahan U.S. Army 2 Years
Brandon Price Army, Staff Sargent 9 Years
Justin McCarver Cpl. 4 years
Clarence Murray Jr Army – E4 2 Years
Dale Brenneman Air Force 4 years National Guard 20 Years Master Sargent
Manuel Douglas Beaumont Army Panama Desert Storm 1989-1997
Marshall Hardin Army of United States – PFC December 18, 1942 – February 20, 1946 Roy Edward Owers United States Air Force – SSGT January 22, 1964 – January 21, 1970 Lowell Belfiore Air Force 1983-1987
Gerald Burleigh E3 Navy 1967-1970
Jason Wright SGT US Army Infantry October 28, 2003August 15, 2008 Kyle Jeffers Marines LCPL 3 Years
The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com Virginia Mae Waller United States Navy 1998-2002
Sterling W. Moss Specialist 4 6 Years
Michael Lingo US Army, Korean War 1951-1953
Lindell Steverson Sgt. E5 2 years
John T. Nelson Army/SP 4 4 years
Veteran’s Day, November 2017 • 3 William P. (Bill) Bailey Master Sargent US Air Force 30 Years (3 Years in US Army) 1949-1979
Greg T. Manning Staff Sargent- Marine Corps. 1995-2010. Iraq Army National Guard 2010-Present Afghanistan & Kuwait
Rusty Honeycutt Army E5 1978-1980
Edward Eugene “Buddy” Wolfford US Navy, Korean War 1951-1955
Louis Scott Army 1967-1974 Denis Abshire Navy 1969-1971 Kevin Abshire Marines 1989-1993
Bradford B. Lanthier
Ryon Abshire Army 2015-Present
US Army 1959-1963 Served in South Korea
Michael Doucet Air Force, Desert Storm Dustin Olivier Marines Frances Richard Marines 1985-1989 Blake Olivier Marines 4 years Joseph B. Stevens III U.S. Navy/Petty Officer First Class (E-6) Desert Storm, 20 years
George L. Jones Navy 1960-1964 Robert J. Duhon Air Force Active Duty 6 years Daniel House Army, E5 Active Duty 11 years Ledley “Buddy” Arnold Marine – Srgt. Vietnam 1966-1970 A.D. Adams Army Srgt. World War II 4 years 1939-1942 John Wayne Clark Marine – Cpl. Korea 1953-1957
J. D. Dixson USMC World War II – Guam 2 years 1943-1945 Wilbert J. Duhon USMC Crpl. Vietnam 2 years Robert W. Johnson Navy EM III Vietnam 4 years 1970-1975 Patricia L. Kees Navy ITM 3 Desert Storm/ Iraqi Freedom 10 years P. D. Kenney Army Fireman World War II Sept. 1939 – Sept. 1945 Bill Marsh Navy Vietnam 3 years
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4 • Veteran’s Day, November 2017
The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com
SE Texas Veterans Service Group honors veterans One mans service to country leads to volunteering for funeral detail By Holly Westbrook The Orange Leader
C.P. Williams’ shoulders have carried much weight during his lifetime. He was a truck driver and an assistant gunner who severed with his fellow Marians when the Vietnam War started during Operation Starlite. “I was 19 when we landed in Vietnam. I was in the Marian company a little over four years from ‘63 to ’67. We were the first Marians to land in Vietnam in full fighting force. They had military people there and advisors and such there whenever we landed on the beach. And that was the first major fighting force on land.” Aug. 18 1965, after a Vietcong deserter revealed that an attack was imminent against the U.S. base at Chu Lai, the Marines launched Operation Starlite in the Van Tuong peninsula in Quang Ngai Province. Back at their base in Hawaii, before any operations started in this war, the men were told their practice on the beach was part of a John Wayne movie, C.P. laughed, saying it could have been and wished it was. The men didn’t know that they were headed to Vietnam until Okinawa 30 days until landing and the truth of their mission was reviled. “Landing on the beach, I can’t forget it…it’s engraved in my memory,” Williams said.
Williams joined the military at 17 years old with his mother reluctantly signing him in as he left his native Port Neches. His mother tried to get him back out of the military using the state congressmen, because of his status as the only male child. “While I was stationed at Hawaii just before Vietnam broke out she actually tried to get me out,” Williams said. “Had our congressmen contact my people to get me out. She must have seen the Vietnam War coming on and I was the only boy in the family.” His CO called him in about the congressman’s letter, but Williams did not want to go back to Port Neches until his four years was up “They wouldn’t let me live it down,” he said. “Especially making all the way through the Marian core.” C.P. didn’t talk about his service in the Marians for many years, not even to his wife Teressa. “We weren’t very well liked and respected back then,” Williams said. “When I got out, you kept in the dark about everything, especially in California, because they were all protesting the war and you just kind of shoved it out of your mind and forgot about it all.” For years C.P. wouldn’t even join the VFW. “They tried to get me to join. I don’t want to get around a bunch of people feeling sorry for themselves,” Williams said. “As it turned out, I ended up
joining here in Orange.” “One of the reasons I joined was my dad had military honors at his funeral and her daddy did and her brother did,” Williams said. “And her daddy was done by the VFW and when I joined that’s the first thing I asked them I want to be on the funeral detail.” But the Orange VFW doesn’t do this anymore. They told him another group in the area took over. Then, one night in his VFW meeting a vet stood up and told everyone about the Southeast Texas Veterans Service Group who needed new members with their volunteer color guard. C.P. stayed after the meeting to talk to the recruiting member and asked for the organization’s information. “And it was what I’ve done from then on. Full time, just like a job,” Williams said. “We’ve 241 funerals this year, plus 32 events. We do community events such as Veterans Day.” The group visits retirement homes to talk to vets and to thank them for their
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
Members of the Southeast Texas Veterans Service Group Color Guard give a 21-gun salute during the annual Memorial Day event hosted by First Church of the Nazarene in Orange. The event is one of the many ways the organization honors fellow veterans.
service. Around 12 just during Veteran’s Day. The service group does a lot of community service events and requests as well. With the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, many members took on the responsibility of others so that those affected by the flooding and damages could rebuild their lives. The Williams’, who now live in Mauriceville lost their home on the Sabine River last year due to flood waters. Because of this, C.P. has taken the funeral director’s assignments along with his
Harry Fulton Navy 1945 -1946 Amphibious Force
own of events coordinator creating a full plate for the vet, yet as his wife Teressa says, “If we didn’t have this to do, then he would just sit in his chair.” His wife is an associate member because even though she wasn’t in the military she goes to many meetings and events to help the group from cleaning their uniforms to picking up spent rounds. Three rounds that represent honor, duty and country are cleaned and polished by Teressa and are gathered from the previous vet’s funeral and placed in
the colors for the next family. The colors are retired, and everything is done with dignity. STVSG serves all of the Golden Triangle and some of Southwest Louisiana. “We’re always looking for new members,” Williams said. To join the service group, go to www.setvsg. com and download the DD214 application. They ask that you send this to the following address, P. O. Box 12352 Beaumont, TX, 77726.
In Memory of Jessie Doyle World War II Army Veteran
The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com George Marsh Navy Vietnam 20 years
Calvin M. Pereda Army – SP4 OEF Kia 11-12-2011, 1 ½ years
David Snapp Army Vietnam 1 year
Clifford M Pereda II Army – Sgt. OEF 12 years
Austin White Air Force Active member 2016 – present
Jarett R. E. Cruz Army E-3 2 ½ years Keisha T. Pereda Air Force – Sgt. 3 ½ years
C.P. Williams Marines – Cpl. Vietnam 4 years
Dewey T. Dugat Sr. Army – Sgt. 4 years
David Allen Adams Navy Seabees Vietnam 1970-1975
William I. Duenas Army SFC 21 years (retiree)
Brady Fennell Marines – Cpl. NCA World War II 1945-1947
Chaz M. Pereda Army SP4 DEF 5 years
Charles “Jason” Simpson Army E-3 November 1994 – November 1998
Ray Edward Malone Army World War II
Glen R. Coffey Army Private VT2 Armor Korean 1 year, 3 months, 9 days Walter William Foreman Army – Pvt. QMC World War II 11 months, 2 days
Veteran’s Day, November 2017 • 5
Edgar Burwick Army Vietnam 2 years
Clarence Blue Navy World War II 1944 – 1946
Bobby Becker Marine Vietnam 2 years
Bob Shoquist Army Korea 1954 – 1956
G.C Turman “Speedy” Navy World War II 2 years
Gerald L. Romzine Army Vietnam 2 years
Carl Leland Vancil Army – Cpl. World War II 1944 – 1945
Ray Pool Navy – Cpl. 20 years
Douglas Ray Malone Army Vietnam
Ronald Hudson Marine – Sgt. Vietnam 1968 – 1971
Lennie J. Benoit Air Force World War II South Pacific 1943 – 1946
Terry Rancher Army – Sgt. E7 Desert Storm 20 years
Stan Gwosdz Army Vietnam 2 years
Arthur L. Farrell Airforce Staff Sgt. Korea and Vietnam 23 years
Gerald Burleigh E3 Navy Vietnam War 1969-1970
Jose Cardenas E4 1966 – 1970 6 years Russell Thompson Air Force 5 years David Turner Air Force S67 Korea and Vietnam 6 years
Vern Brewer Air Force 1961 – 1965
4 years
4 years
Syd Evans Navy World War II 4 years
Larry Burwick Army Vietnam 2 years
E. T. Clark Army World War II 2 years
Scott Crandell Army Vietnam 5 years
Frederic Soileau Army Korean 4 years
William Parrish Navy Vietnam 4 years
Mark Dugat Army E3 3 ½ years
Leon Albarado Army Sgt. E5 2 years
Joe Edward Brown Army E1 Vietnam 2 years
Carlton Brooks Army, Vietnam 3 years
Rufus Lester Leggette World War II Took down Hitler’s right hand man in Germany 1944 Dewey T. Dugat Jr. Army Sgt. Korea 4 years
Chester P Sloan Army PFC Infantry World War II
Jerry Dellinger Navy Vietnam 3 years
Shirley Sloan Air Force A1C Vietnam
Allen Selph Army Vietnam 2 years
Stanley Sullivan Army Specialist 5 Vietnam 1965 – 1969
Fred Haith Air Force Vietnam 2 years
Richard Vacail Air Force Staff Sgt. 1971
Henry Wisshard Army Vietnam 2 years
Harry C. Clemonds Air Force Vietnam July 1966 – July – 1970
James Janowski Army Vietnam 2 years
S.L. “Jack” Page Navy Korea
Milton Moody Navy World War II
Stephanie Brooks USN Petty Officer 2nd Class Desert Storm 6 years Chuck Cook US Navy E-3 Vietnam 3 years Ervin English Army 1979-1984 Roger Turnipseed USAF/GmSgt Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraq Freedom 1989-2017, 28 years Danny Roberts Army, Vietnam 2 years Walter William Foreman Army, PVT QMC World War II 11 months 2 days Glen B. Coffey Army Private VT2 ABMOB Korean War 1 year, 3 months and 9 days.
6 • Veteran’s Day, November 2017
The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com
Army vet: ‘Don’t forget where you come from’ By Holly Westbrook The Orange Leader
“Part of being a leader is being part of a team first. You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with,” Robbie Hood, U. S. Army Vet, began. “I’m part of the team, I’m just lucky enough to be the leader of the team.” Hood was appointed Pinehurst’s city administrator in April 2015. “I’ll tell you, you can’t go wrong hiring a veteran,” Hood said. “It’s those attributes they bring to the table and their willingness to get out there to get the job done (that makes them stand out).” Robbie’s father, Joey Hood a Vietnam War Veteran, and himself were both in the Army, but his siblings, Jerry Hood and Cristy Kenon “jumped ship and went to the Air Force.” “My brother and sister, I’m so proud of, we come from a poor background and my mother and grandmother and my dad they always tried to install in us ‘don’t forget where you come from,’ so to speak,” Hood said. “ And that’s driven home by the military.” “Some of the qualities you gain from military service is obviously leadership skills and you don’t ask anyone to do anything you would not do yourself,” Hood said. About a month ago when debris contractors came into Pinehurst, he was thinking to himself, ‘What can we do to expedite the process to get the city cleaned up?’ “These big trucks needed protection,” Hood said. “So, what we did was we split up our public works
department into two groups and worked side by side with the contractors to get the debris off the major streets. We blocked streets and created one lane traffic.” Hood had a vest on flagging traffic helping with the rest of the crews to do “Whatever it takes to get the job done,” a slogan he and his crew came up with during hurricane Harvey. “And (the contractors) enjoyed this, because they had a job to do and we, as public servants, we had a job to do for our citizens to get the place cleaned up and that’s what we did,” hood said. “We all were out there.” “‘Controlled chaos,’ that’s what I called it.” Hood said. “Out on the field with the rest of the guys and ladies taking care of business at 12:30 in the morning, I’m in front of the Family Dollar Store with my public works director and a police officer.” The group covered a busted glass door for the store manager, and this was just one of many things they did out in the
Robbie Hood
field. Hood doesn’t much stay in the office if he’s not needed, because if he’s needed elsewhere he goes. To be of service, be it on a federal, state level or serving your local community gives Hood a strong sense of pride. He finds that the local community is the back bone of the country “hands down.” “Men and women have sacrificed all it takes to keep us free, so we can enjoy the freedoms that we have. Like go out and vote, come to council meetings and make a difference in our community,” Hood
Norman “Bugs” Crews E-4 Army
Thank you for your Service I Love You, Debbie
1640 Texas Ave. • Bridge City
(409) 735-6149
said. “There’s a reason why people come to our county, that’s the reason, the freedoms that we enjoy.” While in the Army Reserves at Fort Polk, Leesville, LA in 1988, the administrator obtained a Military Occupational Specialty in the Engineering field. Then went into active duty at Fort Sam Houston and changed his MOS into Medical to become a Medic, or rather EMT. His grandmother, a retired nurse, talked him into this, he said, despite his aversion to needles. “My heart and soul go out to the men and women who did see combat (in the Gulf War) and did not come back,” Hood said. “There is something to be said when you are in the military and
you see a military funeral. That’s the most humbling thing you will ever see, when the colors are pre-
sented to the widow or the surviving spouse.”
Joseph Brandon Jr. U. S. Navy Veteran World War II Thank you for your Service Dad. Love Jo Ann, Charles, Marcia, Wayne
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Veteran’s Day, November 2017 • 7
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8 • Veteran’s Day, November 2017
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