Arkansas
Military Veterans'
Hall of Fame
Arkansas
Military Veterans'
Hall of Fame
Major Ambort, deceased, Little Rock, U.S. Army Air Corp, WWII. Awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious combat achievement, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four Bronze Service Stars. The “Flying Ace’s” tally record was five airborne victories, three probable, two ground, and sunk an enemy transport in Ormoc Bay.
Staff Sergeant Bennett, deceased (POW), Thornburg, U.S. Army, Viet Nam. Awards include the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in Action, and the Purple Heart Medal. On June 26, 1965, Staff Sergeant Bennett became the first American prisoner of war to be executed by the Viet Cong.
Colonel Carlile, Paragould, U.S. Army, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters for exceptionally meritorious combat achievement, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters.
Colonel Elmer, North Little Rock, U.S. Air Force, Viet Nam. Awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Medal with ten Oak Leaf Clusters. During his 30-year career COL Elmer had over 9,000 flying hours and over 860 of those flying hours were combat time in Southeast Asia.
Command Sergeant Major Farley, Paragould, U.S. Army, Iraq and Kuwait. Awards include, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious combat achievement, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Bronze De Fleury Medal. CSM Farley was awarded “Centurion Jump Wings” for amassing 100 military parachute jumps.
Sergeant Major Martz, Batesville, U.S. Army, Afghanistan and Iraq. Awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious combat achievement, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.
Major McKennon, deceased, Clarksville, U.S. Army Air Corp, WWII. Awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with sixteen Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Croix de Guerre. The Flying Ace destroyed twenty Germany aircraft. He was shot down by flak on two different occasions and made it back to friendly lines.
Major General Paulson II, Little Rock, U.S. Army, Deputy Commanding General (Reserve Component) Fifth United States Army. Awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with the hourglass device, and the Army Aviator Badge.
Colonel Underwood, U.S. Air Force, Viet Nam. Awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Colonel Underwood has over 4,000 flying hours and 600 Combat hours.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Womack, Camden, U.S. Army, Viet Nam (three tours). Awards include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious combat achievement, the Purple Heart, twenty-five Air Medals, and the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. In addition to achieving Pilot status in all the US Army’s helicopters (Rotary Wing) from 1955 to 1978, Chief Womack also piloted all the US Army’s fixed wings as well.
Colonel Deason, Little Rock, U.S. Army. Awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Arkansas National Guard Distinguished Service Medal, the Arkansas National Guard Exceptional Service Medal, and the Arkansas National Guard Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
LT. Colonel Fulmer, Fort Smith, U.S. Army, Viet Nam. Awards include the Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. LTC Fulmer is the current President of the William O. Darby MOAA chapter where he has received the Distinguished Patriotic Achievement Award and the MOAA Leadership Award.
LT Col Gray, Fayetteville, U.S. Air Force, Viet Nam. Awards include the Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious combat achievement, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. LTC Gray’s civilian awards include the Kiwanis Club Community Leadership award, the Lions Club Dalstrom Award, and the Fayetteville Exchange Club Community Leadership Award.
First Sergeant Nash Jr., Jonesboro, U.S. Army, Viet Nam and Desert Storm. Awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. 1SG Nash’s management and mentoring skills stimulated the morale of his soldiers which developed motivation and greater productivity for his unit.
LT Colonel White, deceased, Jonesboro, U.S. Army, Viet Nam. Awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. In June of 2007, he retired a Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Communication and was recognized as an Arkansas State University President's Fellows. In 2010, LTC White was one of five founding Board Members and served as the Deputy Director of the Arkansas Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame. He was also an active member in the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 26, Jonesboro.