Honoring the Veterans of Tazewell County
Medal of Honor Recipients
Medal of Honor Recipients
John G. K. Ayers
U.S. Army
8th Missouri Infantry
May 22, 1863 - Vicksburg
Private
U.S. Civil War
Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
Thomas C. Murphy
U.S. Army
31st Illinois Infantry
May 22, 1863 - Vicksburg
Corporal
U.S. Civil War
Voluntarily crossed the line of heavy fire of Union and Confederate forces, carrying a message to stop the firing of one Union regiment on another.
William Reed
U.S. Army
8th Missouri Infantry
May 22, 1863 - Vicksburg
Private
U.S. Civil War
Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
Veterans of Tazewell County
Veterans of Tazewell County
Allen Gale
U.S. Air Force
1945 - 1949
Tech sergeant
World War II - Philippines
Purple Heart commendation, Flag from President of Philippines, commendation from President Truman
Ernie Whited
U.S. Army
1965-1967
E-4 specialist 4th class
Vietnam
National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service medal, Vietnam Campaign medal
Ronald Kroll
U.S. Army
1964-1966
E-4
Korea
Combat Infantry Badge
David Lee
U.S. Army, part time CIA
1960-1963
E5
Early Vietnam
Marksmanship, conduct
Jack Barfield
U.S. Army
1964 - 1966
Special E4
Vietnam
Good Conduct Medal, Combat medical badge, Vietnam service medal
Dennis Walsh
U.S. Army
1968 to 1971
E5 Sergeant
South Korea 1968-1969, Vietnam 1970-71
2 Vietnamese government(2 star-campaign battles, cross of valor), Good conduct
Oversees driven, 2 Korean expedition medals, 3 other awards
John McCabe
U.S. Army (RTO)
Sergeant
Vietnam
Purple Heart, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal three times
Phillip Roffman
U.S. Army
1974 - 1976
E4 specialist 4th class
Vietnam area
John Kahl
U.S. Marine Corps
1985 - 1991
Sergeant
Persian Gulf- Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm
Combat action, Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star (twice), Kuwait Liberation Medal from Kuwait, Kuwait Liberation Medal from Saudi Arabia, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit commendation, Meritorious Unit citation, Sea Service deployment ribbon with three stars, Good Conduct Medal with star.
Matt Bruning
U.S. Army
5 years
Specialist (9E-4)
Afghanistan Operation Freedom Sentinel. Operation Resonant Support
Afghanistan campaign medal, good conduct medal, army commendation medal, combat device, army achievement medal, global war on terrorism, combat infantryman badge.
Robert Miller
U.S. Marine Corps
5 years, 3 deployments
E5
Afghanistan
3 C service ribbons, 2 Afghan campaign, 1 combat action
Kevin Meyer
U.S. Air Force
Active duty for 21 years so far
E-9 Master Sergeant
Qatar and Afghanistan, Diego Garcia
12 Air Force Crew of the Year, 2 Commendation medals
Jill Stecken
U.S. Army
1978 - 1988
Sergeant E5 Promotable
Army Achievement Medal-3rd Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal-3rd Oak Leaf Cluster,CLC,Good Conduct Medal-6 awards, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Lapel Button, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge. 80-Hour NBC Officer/NCO Defense Course, Primary Leadership Course,Multiple Honor Platoons as Drill Sergeant, Drill Sergeant of The Cycle 3 times and NCO of the month at Battalion and Brigade Level, multiple Soldier of the Month to include Platoon/Company and Battalion levels), Expert Marksmanship Badge, Expert Grenade Badge
Theodore Quinn
U. S. Air Force
24 years
Master Sergeant
Provided communications support while deployed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, directed communications operations to assist missions to locate Osama Bin Laden while deployed to Jacobabad, Pakistan and provided communications support while deployed to Doha, Qatar directly supporting Special Operations missions off the coast of Africa
Defense Meritorious Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal-Government of Kuwait
David Merritt
U.S. Army
30 years
Sergeant Major
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal 3RD Award, Army Commendation Medal 3RD Award, Army Achievement Medal 4TH Award, Army Good Conduct Medal 8TH Award, National Defense Medal 2ND Award, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon , Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device and Silver Hour Glass, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NCO Professional Development Ribbon 5TH Award, Lincoln Medal of Freedom, Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon 11TH Award, Illinois Long and Honorable 2ND Award, Basic Aviation Badge, Combat Action Badge
Tim Carroll
U.S. Navy
1994 - 1999
E4
Good Conduct Medal and Desert Storm
Julio Rodriguez
U.S. Army
26 years
1SG
Iraqi Freedom
The Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), The Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), The Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), The Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), The National Defense Medal (w/ Bronze Star Device), Iraq Campaign Medal w/2 Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, The Noncommissioned Officers Development Ribbon (w/numeral 3), The Army Service Ribbon, The Overseas Service Ribbon (w/numeral 4), The Drill Sergeant Badge, Air Assault Badge
Eric McCann
U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard
23 years
E-9 Chief Master Sergeant
Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve
Brave Veterans Killed in Action
Never Forgotten, Always Honored
Brave Veterans Killed in Action
Never Forgotten, Always Honored
Jordan Bastean
U.S. Marine Corps
2009 - October 23, 2011 (Killed in Action)
Lance Corporal
Operation Enduring Freedom
Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO Medal ISAF–-Afghanistan and the Good Conduct Award.
Dean Shaffer
U.S. Army
2007 - April 19, 2012 (Killed in Action)
Sergeant
Afghanistan
Enduring Freedom commendation, Bronze Star
“When you do things you didn’t think you could do because they needed to be done.”
“When you do things you didn’t think you could do because they needed to be done.”
COURAGE
COURAGE
“The ability to keep going when everyone else has stopped.”
“The ability to keep going when everyone else has stopped.”
“Being able to stand up for what is right and to be true to yourself even when you’re alone.”
“Being able to stand up for what is right and to be true to yourself even when you’re alone.”
“Not giving in to fear. You can be very afraid but you don’t let it deter you. You don’t think about yourself.”
“Not giving in to fear. You can be very afraid but you don’t let it deter you. You don’t think about yourself.”
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to look it in the eye and defeat it.”
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to look it in the eye and defeat it.”
“Courage is a learned experience.”
“Courage is a learned experience.”
“Having a strong sense of dignity and ethical behavior in both personal and professional context.”
“Having a strong sense of dignity and ethical behavior in both personal and professional context.”
HONOR
HONOR
“Doing what you’re told, honor your superiors and honor your parents. Show respect.”
“Doing what you’re told, honor your superiors and honor your parents. Show respect.”
“That’s having that guy behind you covering your back. That’s honor.”
“That’s having that guy behind you covering your back. That’s honor.”
“Working for the greater good and making sure your actions reflect your values.”
“Working for the greater good and making sure your actions reflect your values.”
“Possessing the values of dignity, respect, selfless service to others.”
“Possessing the values of dignity, respect, selfless service to others.”
“Honor is a code of ethics and a moral compass.”
“Honor is a code of ethics and a moral compass.”
“The aspiring feeling of serving the country.”
“The aspiring feeling of serving the country.”
“You had to be the one to step up, and you had to live up to that. You’re serving the U.S. government and honoring that flag. That’s the greatest thing in the world.”
“You had to be the one to step up, and you had to live up to that. You’re serving the U.S. government and honoring that flag. That’s the greatest thing in the world.”
“Our sense of purpose. It is what drives us.”
“Our sense of purpose. It is what drives us.”
DUTY
DUTY
“Any obligation that you perform that you want to instead of having to.”
“Any obligation that you perform that you want to instead of having to.”
“Duty is doing the job you agreed to do based on your values and moral codes. Doing that isn’t always easy.”
“Duty is doing the job you agreed to do based on your values and moral codes. Doing that isn’t always easy.”
“Doing the best you can with what you are told to do.”
“Doing the best you can with what you are told to do.”
PATRIOTISM
PATRIOTISM
“To be patriotic is to also support those values with our actions however we can do that.”
“To be patriotic is to also support those values with our actions however we can do that.”
“Loving your country and doing the things that are needed for that country.”
“Loving your country and doing the things that are needed for that country.”
“Being in love with a country that you live in even if you don't agree with it at the time.”
“Being in love with a country that you live in even if you don't agree with it at the time.”
“Be proud of where you come from and work to make it better.”
“Be proud of where you come from and work to make it better.”
“Having unwavering sense of pride, loyalty, and devotion to one’s country and to the founding principles and values on which it was created.”
“Having unwavering sense of pride, loyalty, and devotion to one’s country and to the founding principles and values on which it was created.”
“Standing for what you believe in and taking a stand. Stand on principles and compromise on issues.”
“Standing for what you believe in and taking a stand. Stand on principles and compromise on issues.”
Advice to Future Generations
Advice to Future Generations
“I think that young Americans today should find causes they are passionate about and become involved. I think this is difficult for some because social media pressures some into not believing that they are able to act or think for themselves. I also think that young people should be involved in their communities. Volunteer, join boards, coach or mentor youth but just be involved.”
“I think that young Americans today should find causes they are passionate about and become involved. I think this is difficult for some because social media pressures some into not believing that they are able to act or think for themselves. I also think that young people should be involved in their communities. Volunteer, join boards, coach or mentor youth but just be involved.”
“Learn from those who practice these values. Get involved with organizations that promote strong moral codes and values. Seek out jobs that adhere to these. They may not always pay a lot, but are much more satisfying. You don’t have to have a dangerous job to be a hero. Just be of service to your community. And lastly, there is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit!”
“Learn from those who practice these values. Get involved with organizations that promote strong moral codes and values. Seek out jobs that adhere to these. They may not always pay a lot, but are much more satisfying. You don’t have to have a dangerous job to be a hero. Just be of service to your community. And lastly, there is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit!”
“Honor your country with distinction and be proud of who you are and where you are from.”
“Honor your country with distinction and be proud of who you are and where you are from.”
“Stop worrying about what other people think about you! Let your moral compass guide you through life. Everyone has a keen sense of what is right and wrong; choose right!”
“Stop worrying about what other people think about you! Let your moral compass guide you through life. Everyone has a keen sense of what is right and wrong; choose right!”
“Always have a goal, no matter the size of it. Fill a role, like a high schooler finding your spot. Better yourself. The more impactful your role is, the better off we all are. Become something that benefits everybody around you.”
“Always have a goal, no matter the size of it. Fill a role, like a high schooler finding your spot. Better yourself. The more impactful your role is, the better off we all are. Become something that benefits everybody around you.”
Do you have a veteran you would like to honor? Please fill out the following form:
To see more quotes from veterans, see the following documents:
