Arkansas
Military Veterans'
Hall of Fame
Arkansas
Military Veterans'
Hall of Fame
Chief Master Sgt, Bubba Gregory V. Beason, USAF Retired, Beebe, Arkansas.
CMS Beason's awards include Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritoious Unit Award with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Outstanding Unit Award with 'V' Device, and many others. Please refer to the Learn More tab below.
Cpt. Micheal E. Benefield, originally of Dyess, Arkansas, was first commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the West Point Class of 1968. Upon Completion of Field Artilliery Officer Basic School at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and Infantry Ranger School in Ft. Benning Georgia, he received and overseas assignment to the Republic of Vietnam from Jan. 1969 thru Jan. 1970. While serving as a Forward Observer in 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry directing artillery fire, he was wounded in combat during hostile action. Upon recuperation from his wounds, he compelted his Vietnam assignent. His military awards includes the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, first with Oak Leaf Cluster and 'V' Device, Purple Heart, two Air Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and many others.
In his civilian career, he received his PhD in Management with Major in Finance from Purdue Universtiy in 1989, and retired as Professor Emeritus at Arkansas Tech University in 2017 after 35 years as an educator. Dr. Benefield's passion in service to his country includes education and mentoring youth in Boys Scouts, and in working in Lions Club International, as well as serving the Veteran's community as Past President of the River Vally Chapter of Military Officers Association and Sect. of the River Valley Veteran's Coalition.
SSG Zackery Kain Blansett, US Army, Hometown, Jonesboro Arkansas. Military awards include; Afganistan Campaign Medal with 2 campaign stars, Bronze Star Medal with 'V' device, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, (4th award), Army Commendation Medal, (3rd award) Army Achievement Medal, (3rd award), Army Good Conduct Medal, (3rd award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, (2nd award), NATO Medal (2nd award).
CWO 3 Donovan Lee 'Bull" Briley, deceased, Killed in Action. CWO 3 Briley attended the University of Central Arkansas and University of Arkansas at Little Rock, first joined the Arkansas Army National Guard and later granted approval to become an Army Reservist. He transfered to active duty in 1987 serving as a helicopter pilot in south Korea where he became a candidate for duty in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also know as the 'Night Stalkers', who provided helicopter support for special operator groups such as the Delta Force and Navy Seals. In 1991 his Regiment was ordered to Mogadishu Somalia in support of peace keeping forces there.
On Oct. 3, 1993 Operation Gothic Serpent resulted in a battle depicted in the movie 'Blackhawk Down". For his selfless actions, CWO3 Briley was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, numerous Air Medals, one with 'V' Device, Purple Heart and many others.
Col. Edwin Louis Buffington, US Army (Retired), Little Rock, Arkansas. His military awards include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, (2 awards), the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (5 awards), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2 awards), the Humanitarian Service Medal (2 awards), the Expert Field Medical Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. COL Buffington was awarded "Centurion Jump Wings" for amassing 100 military parchute jumps. He was inducted into the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps Hall of Fame of 2016.
1Lt. Dexter B. Florence, Hometown, Arkladelphia, Arkansas. Deceased, Killed in Action, Republic of Vietnam. His military awards include;Distringuished Flying Cross, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, 22 Air Medals, one with Oak Leaf Cluster.
CWO4 Billy Joe Fulbright (deceased), hometown, Batesville, Arkansas. His awards include: Mertious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the Air Medals, (w/ 30th Oak Leaf Clusters), the Vietnam Service Medal (w/4 stars), the Rebublic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the National Service Medal (w/Oak Leaf Cluster), the Japan Occupation Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the WW II Victory Ribbon, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with Palm), the Master Army Aviator Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge,and the Glider Badge.
PFC Ted Hefley, deceased, Dover, Arkansas. PFC Hefley served with the Coast Artillery Corps, Anti-Aircraft Weapons Battalion. PFC Hefley distinguished himself on 14 Aug, 1944 at Ford Du Gere, France, by single-handedly destroying an enemy manhine gun nest, therefore allowing his troops to advance and saving the lives of may of his fellow soldiers. His awards include five (5) Bronze Stars, one Purple Heart and many others.
LCDR Thurman O. Jordan, United States Navy, Deceased of Ft. Smith, AR. His military awards are many, including Air Forcre Outstanding Unit Award, Navy Good Conduct Medal with 3 bronze stars, Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Medal with one silver and one bronze star, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, China Service Medal, Navy Asia Occupation Medal, Korean Service medal with one silver star, and FMF Combat Operations Navy Insignia, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze stars, Vietnam Armed Forces Mertitorious Unit Citation with Gallantry Cross, and many others.
Joe V. Langston graduated Little Rock Central High School in 1935 and Ouichita Baptist College ROTC with an Army Officer Commission, and immediately reported for duty to Ft. Knox, KY. in June 1940. He served in the 6th Armored Division with Gen. George Pattons' 3rd Army in many European battles including the Battle of the Bulge. He completed his 30 year career and retired as a Col. His military awards include a Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, two (2) Bronze Stars, both with Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, American Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal and may others.
Clifford C. Mossier, US Navy, 3 years, US Army, 7 years, retired ARMY/ARNGUS/ARANG. Military awards include; Army Aviator Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, 31 Air Medals, Bronze Star, (2nd with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal, (2nd with Oak Leaf Cluster), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
Special Warfares Operator Senior Chief Thomas Arthur Ratzlaff of Green Forest, Arkansas, Deceased, Killed in Action, Navy Seals. Ratzlaff's awards includes four (4) Bronze Star Medals with 'V' Device, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Crops Commendation Medal, and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two (2) awards.
Postumous decorations include a fifth (5th) Bronze Star with 'V' Device, Defense Meritorius Service Medal, and the Purple Heart. Ratzlaff was the only non-Canadian to recieve the Star of Military Valor, Canada's second hightest military award for Valor.
SMSgt Ronald Wayne Sharp, US Air Force. Military awards include:
Silver Star Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medals with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, S, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Training Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Longevity Service Award with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Campaign Service Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2), AF Outstanding Unit Award, AF Overseas Short Tour Ribbon and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Col. Ruby Nadean Stanfield of Fordyce, Arkansas. Her awards include; Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 bronze stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Overseas Service Medal.
Major Michael V. Taylor, deceased, killed in action.. His awards include posthumous promotion to Major, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Natioal Defense Service Medal, Senior Army Aviation Badge and is a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.