Mike Zavorka of Hillsboro sent in two pictures of himself with his friends from the military. “Us four were all in Vietnam together,” Zavorka said. “We hadn’t seen each other for 55 years. Last month, we all met up in Valdosta, Ga., for a few days of reminiscing on old times.” In the 2024 photo, from left, are Earnie Callender of Boise, Idaho; Zavorka; Glenn Cater of Valdosta, Ga., and Kirk Bennet of Camden, S.C., standing in front of a C-130 at Moody Airforce Base. All four were ranked as staff sergeants. The black-and-white picture was taken by Bennet and features Cater, Callender and Zavorka.
Mike Zavorka of Hillsboro sent in two pictures of himself with his friends from the military. “Us four were all in Vietnam together,” Zavorka said. “We hadn’t seen each other for 55 years. Last month, we all met up in Valdosta, Ga., for a few days of reminiscing on old times.” In the 2024 photo, from left, are Earnie Callender of Boise, Idaho; Zavorka; Glenn Cater of Valdosta, Ga., and Kirk Bennet of Camden, S.C., standing in front of a C-130 at Moody Airforce Base. All four were ranked as staff sergeants. The black-and-white picture was taken by Bennet and features Cater, Callender and Zavorka.
Jacqueline Scydick of Imperial sent a picture of her father, John Bamvakais Sr. of Oakville, who lived from Aug. 5, 1926, to Feb. 7, 1999. According to Scydick, Bamvakais tried to join the Army twice when he was underage and was turned away, but later enlisted as a paratrooper and went to Fort Benning, Ga., for training.
After graduating, he was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division and sent to the Philippines.
“While waiting for his ship to depart to the Philippines, he was stationed in San Francisco,” Scydick said. “One day, a sergeant in his unit noticed that the mess hall had several new automatic potato peelers. The potato peelers were exceptionally large and heavy. My father decided to ‘appropriate’ one out of the mess hall as a useful tool for his unit. To sneak it out, they had to roll it on a cart to the dock because it was so heavy. They had another soldier waiting in a small boat at the end of the pier who was ready to transport the equipment to their ship getting ready to leave. The boat was lower than the top of the pier. As the reconnaissance team prepared to lower the potato peeler into the boat, it slipped when they lost their grip. The potato peeler was heavier than expected and as it fell it went straight through the bottom of the boat. … To this day, it is believed that there is a potato peeler sitting at the bottom of the San Francisco Bay at the end of the pier.”
Scydick added, “Sgt. Bamvakais went on to participate in the Liberation of Manila and participated in the raid on the Los Banos internment camp, liberating over 2,000 civilians and military personnel. The 11th Airborne’s last combat operation of World War II was in the north Luzon area around Aparri, in aid of combined American and Philippine forces who were battling to subdue the remaining Japanese resistance on the island. In August 1945, his division was sent to southern Japan as part of the occupation force. While in the Philippines he was awarded the bronze star and purple heart. After the war, he took a commission as a second lieutenant and rose through the ranks and retired a brigadier general.”
John Bamvakais Sr. of Oakville, who lived from Aug. 5, 1926, to Feb. 7, 1999.
Dave Luechauer of Festus, who will turn 75 next week, said he spent 26 years in active service with the Navy.
Luechauer served as a supply officer aboard the USS Kirk, touring in the Navy Supply Corps off the coast of Vietnam; as supply and fiscal officer for Naval Base Guam; as budget officer for the chief of Naval Technical Training in Memphis, Tenn.; as comptroller and logistics officer for the Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command in Memphis; and as comptroller and executive officer for the Navy Supply Center in Pensacola, Fla.
Luechauer retired from active duty with the rank of commander and worked almost 30 years as the director of resources management and budget for the Command Information Office’s Bureau of Naval Personnel in Millington, Tenn. Luechauer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and moved to Festus last year in his retirement.
Cpl. Verlon Ray Govro and Louraine Govro got married in 1953.
Cpl. Verlon Ray Govro of Festus, born April 14, 1930, to Gladys and Bill Govro, was an Army veteran of the Korean War. According to his daughter, Margaret Jones of Bonne Terre, Govro joined the military at age 19 in 1949 and left for Korea in 1951. “He was on the frontline when a grenade sent shrapnel, hitting him in the face, hands and leg,” Jones said. “He survived and was awarded with a Purple Heart.”
Jones found a letter that Govro wrote to his mother and father while in the Army, letting them know he was OK. “He had been sending his Army checks back home, and he told them if his sisters needed anything, please help them out.”
When Govro returned to Festus, he worked at the CES truck lines in Crystal City, then with the Jefferson County Parks Department. “He met mom, Louraine ‘Chickie,’ at the Dairy Queen in Crystal City,” Jones said. “They married in 1953 and built a small one-room house on Plattin Road in Festus. After having four boys and one girl, they had to add on to their small one-room home.”
The couple was married for 67 years. Louraine died in 2020 at age 85, and Govro died in 2022 at age 92. Jones said Govro had done more than 700 honor guard ceremonies and was active in the VFW, American Legion, Eagles, Amvets and Community Improvement Association groups along with Louraine.
“They left (their) five kids with so much love and happy memories,” Jones said. “He will always and forever be our hero.”
A 1951 picture of Cpl. Verlon Ray and Louraine Govro.
Cpl. Verlon Ray Govro of Festus, Korean War Army veteran.
In this 1949 picture, Cpl. Verlon Ray Govro of Festus is 19 at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.
A Govro family photo.
Alexander Horvat of Barnhart sent pictures of himself and Ivan White, both Vietnam Army veterans with the Festus VFW, visiting the Vietnam Memorial Wall and Museum in Perryville. The pair delivered a cash donation to Michael Murphy, the operations manager of the memorial site, and presented a pair of columns written by Horvat and published in the St. Peters Star newspaper in 1992 and 1993.
In Horvat’s columns, he describes the government’s statements on POWs from the Vietnam War and the response from the public, writers and officials during the time. “Defense Department officials had already declined to recognize any evidence of the existence of remaining POWs from the Vietnam War soon after the pullout was completed in April 1975,” Horvat said.
“By January 1993, a Senate Select Committee on POWs declared ‘no compelling evidence that any U.S. POW remains alive in captivity in southeast Asia.’ (I) addressed the discrepancies and real evidence that was known both in other congressional reports and through investigative journalists about POWs who were still alive. This pair of columns was donated and accepted by Murphy in keeping with better understanding the loss of 58,200 Americans. There are still unsolved mysteries and misunderstandings about the Vietnam conflict today.”
First Sgt. Jason Duffy and Sgt. Daisia Baker stand in front of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter while on Operation Inherent Resolve in 2018.
First Sgt. Jason Duffy, born in St. Paul, Minn., now lives in Festus with his wife, Amanda; daughter, Paige; and dogs, Rupert and Glo.
Duffy enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1994 and joined the Missouri Army National Guard in 2009. He was deployed from 2005 to 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom and from 2018 to 2019 in Operation Inherent Resolve, serving in Syria, Iraq and Kuwait.
Duffy is currently on active duty with the Missouri National Guard Counterdrug Program and is the first sergeant of the 835th Quartermaster Company in Festus.
First Sgt. Jason Duffy and Sgt. First Class Ashley Johnson stand in front of a UH-72 Lakota helicopter from the Missouri National Guard Counterdrug Program in 2020.
Erwin Lipsinsky of Arnold was born in St. Louis in 1942 and served in the Air Force from 1964 to 1970 and in the Coast Guard Auxiliary from 1974 to 1981. Lipsinsky reached the rank of sergeant. He was a missile systems analyst in the 97th Bomb Wing 2nd Air Force S.A.C. In the Coast Guard, he reached flotilla commander in the Arnold Flotilla 3-1.
“Thanks to the Greatest Generation, I got to grow up in a free country,” Lipsinsky said. “In November of 2020, I wrote this poem as a tribute to my fellow veterans. I have been sharing it every chance I get.”
“American Veteran” by Erwin Lipsinsky
Here's to all you Veterans, in the Veterans family tree.
I am proud to be a member, of this blessed fraternity.
Here's to all the Veterans, who fought in all our wars.
You did your part, you stayed the course, you won your battle stars.
Here's to all the Veterans, who never went to war.
Although you did not fight in battle, you still received a scar.
While you stood guard in foreign lands, your mother passed away.
You did not see your child's first steps, missed your family every day.
Loneliness and boredom, was your constant enemy.
But through it all you persevered, to keep your country free.
So here's to all the Veterans, who never made it home.
Here's to all the Veterans, who now rest in shalom.
Melvin Belfield, second from left.
According to his daughter, Sharon Belfield Reid of Arnold, Melvin Belfield was an Army veteran who lived in
De Soto for more than 50 years. Born in June 1918 in Belgrade, Belfield spent his younger years in the Potosi area.
“He only got a sixth-grade education because, at the age of 11, he was needed to help his father support his mother and five younger siblings,” Belfield Reid said. “He followed his father to St. Louis to work wherever they could. In June 1941, he joined the U.S. Army and was sent to California for basic training. He was scheduled to go back home after basic for a visit when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Of course, that visit was canceled, and he was sent directly to Hilo, Hawaii. I remember my dad telling many stories of his time in Hawaii, and it was obvious that Hawaii held positive memories for him throughout his life.”
Belfield was stationed on several south Pacific islands including New Guinea, New Britain, Guadalcanal and Bougainville.
“While in Bougainville, he served in a forward recon unit mapping positions behind enemy lines. Once, while performing his duties, he and members of his unit heard Japanese chatter and laughing coming toward them. He and his troop quickly scrambled into a ravine and hid quietly while Japanese patrols passed above them.”
Belfield was a rifleman in the infantry and earned ribbons for his service from 1942 to 1945.
Melvin Belfield, center, following a 15-mile hike. “Military supplied the men with cigarettes, but Daddy quit them altogether soon after leaving service,” said Belfield’s daughter, Sharon Belfield Reid of Arnold.
Private First Class Melvin E. Belfield
The last picture taken of Melvin Belfield of De Soto prior to his death in 2005.
Private First Class Melvin E. Belfield
Steve Vest of Festus submitted this photo of his grandfather, Wyman LaPorte, a World War II veteran who served in the Battle of the Bulge. LaPorte was drafted in 1944 at 35 and served until January 1946. Vest recently came across a letter LaPorte wrote in September 1945 to the widow of his friend and fellow soldier who was killed in battle that April. LaPorte wrote that his friend drove right into a German convoy and was killed right away. He said his friend had been in actual battle with him for 125 days “and they were rough.”
Cpl. James “Hank” Brunel Rice Jr., a Marine who died while serving in Vietnam.
David Keeley of Festus sent in information about Cpl. James “Hank” Brunel Rice Jr., a Marine who died while serving in Vietnam.
Rice was the son of James and Jane Rice of Eureka.
Rice loved seafood and fast cars, saving up his money from working at a local gas station for a 1958 Corvette convertible. When he wasn't customizing his car, he was building models of Hollywood monsters for his little sister.
With the ongoing war in Vietnam, Rice enlisted in the Marine Corps. On March 31, 1966, he shipped off to the Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot in San Diego, Calif.
Upon graduation, Rice remained in California for advanced training as a wheeled vehicle mechanic, then was assigned to the motor pool at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
While he loved being stationed in California, he pushed to get orders to Vietnam. He would arrive in Vietnam on Aug. 20, 1966.
Rice was assigned to the base motor pool on Hill 65, Kilo Battery, an artillery base assigned to the 4th Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, located southwest of Da Nang.
While there, he helped maintain the camp’s vehicle fleet. He and his fellow Marines also conducted relief missions at local villages, repairing damage caused by fighting.
On the night of Feb. 23, 1969, Rice was killed in action while defending a hole in the defensive perimeter. He earned the Bronze Star with Valor and the Purple Heart for saving the lives of 514 of his fellow Marines.
Sgt. John “Buddie” Oldham, 86, of Festus is near Augsburg, Germany, in this photo taken in 1958, said Rhett Oldham of St. Mary. Buddie Oldham was in the Army from 1958 to 1960 and part of the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the “Rakkasans.”
“Buddie Oldham is pictured here after completing a training jump in Germany where his friend and fellow Rakkasan, San Johnson, picked him up in a rented 1956 Austin-Healey,” Rhett said. “After the jump, they drove on the Autobahn because there was no speed limit, but the Austin Healey could ‘only’ hit 100 mph!
“Sgt. Oldham made 33 jumps during his Army career, including being part of a peacekeeping mission in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1958 where he earned his Combat Infantry Badge.”
Private First-Class Edward Roy Ogle of Festus in 1944.
Edward Roy Ogle of Festus, born Dec. 18, 1916, entered the military in 1943 and served in World War II, Ian Tucker of Festus said.
Ogle served in the Army’s E Company, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division and was sent to Normandy, France, two months after the events of D-Day.
“Edward, along with his company and regiment, fought their way through France and Belgium, coming under heavy fire from German soldiers and suffering many casualties along the way,” Tucker said. “Eventually, Edward and his regiment accomplished one of the biggest feats of World War II: crossing the Rhine River into Germany.
“At almost midnight, April 2, 1945, the 119th Infantry entered the village of Augustdorf, Germany, where many of the regiment set up camp. In the early hours of April 3, 1945, Edward Ogle’s E Company was tasked to continue through Augustdorf and scout ahead.”
While in combat with more German soldiers, a battle which lasted most of the day, Ogle was killed.
“It should be noted that at some point between Edward’s arrival in Europe (and his death), he was wounded in combat and received a bravery citation from his commanding officers.”
Richard Graham, son of Rosemary Graham of Hillsboro and the late Roland Graham, joined the Marine Corps in 1986 and served for four years, Rosemary said. He served aboard the USS Saratoga, traveled to many countries and was promoted to lance corporal before leaving the military. Richard was born in St. Louis in 1968.
Roland Graham sewed some of the patches on his son Richard’s jacket by hand, Rosemary Graham said. “(It was) the only time (I) ever saw Roland sew anything in (our) 57 years of marriage.” Rosemary also sewed on a few patches herself.
Cpl. Thomas E. Bayer of High Ridge is seated on a tank in this Oct. 1967 picture.
Cpl. Thomas E. Bayer of High Ridge was born in St. Louis in 1946 and served in the Marines as a rifleman from June 1966 to January 1969. The last place he served was in Vietnam with the K Company, third Battalion, first Marines, first Marine Division.
“The battalion I was attached to was stationed outside of Da Nang, Vietnam,” Bayer said. “Our duties were to protect the city from short-range mortar attacks. It was my first morning in the field, and I just found my third booby trap. On backing off, so the demolition team could destroy it, a Marine behind me yelled, ‘Bayer, stop.’ The next thing I felt was him ripping off a briar bush stuck to my back that the booby trap was attached to. Needless to say, I almost killed myself on my first day.
“Not everything is business. Back at the base, we played football with an old boot. We also had a goose, which was better than any watch dog when he patrolled the perimeter at dawn and dusk. So, when that goose wanted the boot, nobody messed with him.
“I have been an outdoorsman all my life and discovered Vietnam was an extremely beautiful country, but the thing I missed the most, being Catholic, was the Eucharist. That all changed on Jan. 21, 1968, exactly one month past my 21st birthday. I got shot twice. I had almost everything hit in my body but my heart and right lung.”
Bayer underwent 32 operations over the course of a year and nine months and was told by one of his surgeons that his chance of survival had been slim.
“That is when reality set in and I knew the thousands of persons praying for me is the reason I am writing this story.”
Bayer received National Defense, Vietnam Service, Republic of Vietnam Campaign, Purple Heart and Good Conduct medals.
Cpl. Thomas E. Bayer of High Ridge in September 1966.
Nancy Marie Nelson Jones of Imperial was serving in the Navy in this 2007 picture, said her mother, Carol Spratley of Dittmer. Nelson Jones joined the Navy in 1991, becoming a quartermaster and serving in operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Desert Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. She earned the National Defense, Navy Marine Achievement and Army Accommodation service medals and a campaign medal from the country of Iraq. In 2017, she retired as senior chief petty officer. Nelson Jones was commander of the Arnold VFW, served on the Governor’s Service Commission and made an Honor Flight.
Nelson Jones was born in Lansing, Mich., raised in St. Louis, and she now works for the National Geointelligence Agency.
Her mother lovingly calls her the family’s “spy.”
Pamela Luetkemeyer of Arnold in August 1971.
When Pamela Luetkemeyer of Arnold served as an electronics technician at the United States Naval Radio Transmitter Facility, she was the only U.S. Navy woman on the base.
“There were two female workers from Japan, one a translator/secretary and the other working in the kitchen with the chef!” Luetkemeyer said. “Funny story: when the base got notice that I was being assigned, they panicked. There were no facilities for a woman!”
Luetkemeyer started boot camp in Bainbridge, Md., and went to school in Great Lakes, Ill. She and her husband served on the base together and in Japan, where Luetkemeyer finished her three years of service.
Luetkemeyer was born in 1951 in Spokane, Wash.
Pamela Luetkemeyer of Arnold in July 2024.
Carol Schuerman of De Soto sent a picture from this year in Nashville, Tenn., of Navy sailors who served from 1966 to the late 1970s. Mike Schuerman started organizing the reunions, which are held every two years.
Arthur Hussey in Boston, Mass, in 1942.
Arthur Griffith Hussey, who lived from July 26, 1920, to Aug. 17, 2008, was a water tender petty officer first class in the Navy. Hussey served from age 17 to 25 in the World War II invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, said Hussey’s daughter, Beth Grubb of Arnold.
“He would carry with him the pain and suffering he’d seen, as he grieved for those who lost their lives,” Grubb said. “Dad wore many different hats as he lived his life: son, brother, husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa and friend and neighbor to all. Of all the things he was proud of, he was most proud of being a veteran and knowing he would be laid to rest in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with others by his side.
“Looking down on Dad as he lay in the casket, legs covered with a Navy blanket and his lapel with an American flag, the honor guards fired their shots and taps was played as we said our final goodbye that day.
“Dad’s been gone a little over 16 years now. When he died, he died with the heart of a veteran.”
Grubb said she makes sure to thank and shake the hands of the veterans she meets, as they remind her of her father.
“One might think he was just a little crotchety old man as he always spoke his mind, but he stood tall as a Navy man! The light in his smile and twinkle in his eyes never faded until the day he died. It was an honor to have known him and to love what he represented.
“May God bless (veterans) and may you always be honored, as there is nothing finer than being a veteran!”
Arthur Hussey, 87, in 2007.
Then President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum opening ceremony with the event’s protocol officers. Joseph P. Burke of Herculaneum can be seen behind and to the right of Rosalynn Carter, wearing sunglasses.
Joseph P. Burke of Herculaneum is a retired Army lieutenant colonel who spent 34 years in active military and the reserve. One of Burke’s most memorable military experiences happened in the ’80s when he was stationed at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Ga., as an Army Forces command captain. President Jimmy Carter was requesting about 30 officers to volunteer as protocol officers for the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum opening ceremony.
“The only requirement: the officer was to have the Army dress blue uniform and service cap. Many officers did not buy the cap,” Burke said. “I thought that this would be an interesting assignment, so I volunteered.”
Burke was one of the officers selected and briefed for the event.
“The Secret Service told us that we were not there to protect any VIPs,” he said. “It was their job to protect President Carter and former Presidents Reagan and Ford. If danger were to occur, we should drop down to the floor and stay out of the way of Secret Service personnel.”
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter visited the officers during the briefing to thank them for helping with the event.
At the ceremony, Burke’s duties included directing attendees to the correct seating areas, keeping spectators away from the VIP section and helping receive visitors to the formal dinner. Throughout the day, Burke came across many high-profile people.
Burke said he saw the first lady watch as officers attempted to transport a large cake through a doorway.
“Two brave officers approached the first lady and said that if they tilted the cake on its platform, it would fit. She agreed and everyone watched the cake as they quickly moved through the door with the cake tilted at an angle and avoided disaster.”
Once Carter, Reagan and Ford finished greeting guests and giving their speeches, the VIPs were invited to have lunch in the dining area.
“After all the VIPs had finished getting their meals, we were told by the chief of staff that the president had said for us join the VIPs in the eating area and have lunch,” Burke said. “I immediately went to the food line and served myself a beautiful lunch. I sat down at a small table and was ready to start eating when I felt a tap on my shoulder. A woman asked if she could eat with me.”
Burke invited the woman to sit, and she introduced herself as Lady Bird Johnson, wife of former President Lyndon B. Johnson.
“I was surprised and, as we ate lunch together, we had a pleasant conversation about families and the ceremony.”
After a few hours of downtime, Burke was tasked with checking in guests with Carter and one of his aides.
“I got to see senators, congressional members and many Hollywood actors up close,” he said. “After dinner, the president had us (the protocol officers) all gather together and had a picture taken with him and Rosalynn. He said that he would make sure that each one of us would receive a copy of the picture. We were then dismissed to return home. Before leaving, I gathered a few souvenirs of the occasion. The next morning, we were back to our normal duty.”
A newly commissioned Joseph P. Burke of Herculaneum in 1977.
Joseph P. Burke of Herculaneum in 1983 with his wife, Deborah R. Burke, daughter, Catherine, and son, Joseph Jr.
Joseph P. Burke of Herculaneum in 1987, as a general.
Joseph P. Burke of Herculaneum in 1997, as a chief.
Joseph P. Burke of Herculaneum in 2010, as a deputy chief.
Shirley Meyer of Arnold sent a picture from the early 1940s of her father-in-law, Vernon Meyer, and his siblings. All five siblings were born in St. Louis, with some moving to Jefferson County, and served in the Army during World War II. “This is such a special family picture that I feel best honors what Veterans Day represents – an entire family serving our country during wartime,” Shirley said. “My late husband, Darryl, told me how proud his grandparents were to have five stars in their window during World War II.” Pictured in front, from left, are Albert, Harriet and Eddie Meyer and, in the back, August Meyer, left, and Vernon.
Senior Master Sgt. Jason Charles Harre recently retired after 26 years in the military and now lives in London, England. Harre is the son of Pat McCallister of Clayton and Ray C. Harre of House Springs.
“‘If you come back from the war, I’ll marry you.’ Those are the words spoken to my daddy by my momma as he went off to fight in WWII, in the US Army under Gen. Omar Bradley,” Nancy Nicholson Wood of De Soto said. Her father was Buford Landen “Nick” Nicholson.
“Daddy had been in the National Guard in De Soto and after Pearl Harbor was bombed, his unit was moved to active status. My uncle, Cecil R. Ballard (Buddy) was in Daddy’s guard unit and introduced Daddy to his beautiful sister, Martha Mae Ballard (DHS class of 1944.)”
She said her father didn’t finish high school and told the National Guard that he was a year older than he actually was. In preparing for the war in Europe, the unit went to training at some Army base and that is when her mother told her father those words. Her mom was only 17 years old while her dad was 20 years old.
“Daddy was a foot soldier in Germany along the Siegfried line, so I know he killed German Nazis,” she said. “He was in the D Day operation on Omaha Beach in Normandy. Momma was still in high school and their romance continued through letters. Daddy finally came home and Momma celebrated her 18th birthday on Dec. 12, 1944, and they were married on Dec. 14, 1944, by Rev. William Jewel Jones.”
She said he wedding was at the White Cafe in De Soto and she’s never been able to find the location.
“Daddy still had a commitment to the U.S. Army so Momma stayed with Grandpa Cecil and Grandma Hallie Ballard, her parents, in their house on 202 East Second while Daddy was finishing up his enlistment. Daddy came back to De Soto and worked for three years at Missouri Pacific Railroad shops. I was born July 24, 1946, but my parents were separated at the time but Daddy showed up when I was born. I would be his only child. Unfortunately, Daddy had ‘combat fatigue,’ now called PTSD, and was hospitalized at Jefferson Barracks Hospital at one time. He never discussed anything about WWII but he did earn three Bronze Stars for his outstanding service to his country. My parents divorced when I was 4 or 5 years old. Each remarried.
“The saddest day of my life was when I was 15 years old and received a telegram from the USAF (my daddy enlisted after his divorce). The telegram read that my daddy had passed away at 39 years old (he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage). He had been in the USAF for 12 years. He had a full military funeral at Roselawn Cemetery in Festus on April 12, 1962. I was fortunate to spend the last three summers (59, 60, 61) at Kessler AFB in Biloxi, MS with my daddy and stepmother. I cherish all the memories I have of him.”
Nancy Nicholson Wood sent in a photo her parents on their wedding day. Her father Buford Landen “Nick” Nicholson served in World War II.
Richard A. Lown, 72, of Festus served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1971-1977. He achieved the rank of E5 sergeant, serving at camps Pendleton, Hansen and LeJeune.
Roland Kirchoff, who achieved the rank of specialist E4, served in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008-2009. He was a K9 handler with the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum. His K9 Frigo was a single-purpose explosive detection dog. “I had the greatest opportunity and honor being part of K9 deployments in combat. My partner Frigo was a valuable asset to our mission and we completed many operations together.”
Ron Rigdon of Fenton submitted a photo of him with his shipmate Mark Miller on the flightdeck of the mightiest aircraft carrier ever known, the USS Saratoga CV-60. “This was taken about two weeks after we returned from Desert Storm. Mark and I were both assigned to Material Division. We both worked on the flight deck as part of the cargo handling team. Other than photographing for the Leader, the coolest job I’ve ever had!”
Erik Gore, 61, of Cedar Hill, served in the Navy from 1981 to 1991.
Anne Gore submitted pictures of her grandson, Andrew Gates, who joined the Navy a year ago, serving in Jacksonville, Fla., and her husband, Erik Gore.
Erik Gore, 61, of Cedar Hill served in the Navy from 1981 to 1991. He enlisted right after graduating from Northwest High School. After graduating boot camp, he received orders to Holy Loch, Scotland, from 1981-1984, where he met his wife. He then received orders to USS Thomas C. Hart FF 1092 for a year and then was assigned to shore duty for two years at Sima Little Creek in Virginia and went to welding school at Portsmouth Navy Shipyard and graduated as a high-pressure plate and pipe welder. He then received orders to the USS John F. Kennedy CU67 aircraft carrier for four years where he was ordered on several overseas deployments including Desert Storm.
During his time served, Petty Officer Gore made rank to E-6 petty officer first class and received numerous titles and awards.
After his time in the Navy, he was honorably discharged in 1991 and returned home to Missouri. He joined Boilermakers Local 27 in St. Louis and retired after 27 years of service as a boilermaker and is a lifetime member at the VFW Post 5331 in Cedar Hill.
Andrew Gates, who joined the Navy a year ago, and his grandfather, Erik Gore of Cedar Hill, who is a Navy veteran.
James Kessler Jr. is pictured, far right, with fellow sailors while stationed in San Diego in August 1993.
James Kessler Jr., a 1992 Fox graduate, served in the Navy from October 1992 to October 1996.
He was a petty officer third class machinist mate who participated in the withdrawal of U.N. troops in Somalia during Operation United Shield, earning a Navy Achievement Medal upon demonstrating exceptional leadership and superior technical ability during emergent repair to the evaporator and compressor of the ship, USS Fort Fisher LSD-40.
He met his wife Danielle while stationed in San Diego. They returned to the Jefferson County area after his enlistment to start a family. They have two boys.
James Kessler Jr. is pictured at Great Lakes Naval Station, 1992.
Danielle welcoming husband James Kessler Jr. back to San Diego after a six-month West-Pac deployment in April 1995.
Marvin Roesch of Crystal City submitted a photo of five north Jefferson County Dough Boys from World War I. He said his picture probably was taken in St. Louis. The Dough Boys were on leave to go home and see their families and friends before shipping to Europe. Pictured, sitting in front, from left, are Harry Schmidt of Moss Hollow in Barnhart; Marvin’s father, Albert Roesch of Kimmswick and Leonard Busch of Kimmswick. Standing from left are Emil Vogel of Maxville and Otto Frederitze of Maxville (now Arnold). He said while aboard ships in New York waiting to ship overseas, news was received that an armistice had been signed and they were sent back to their army base, discharged and sent home. Albert Roesch married Susan Vogel, Emil Vogel’s sister, on Jan. 20, 1920.
