The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Brigadier General Marvin Kent Speigner served 35 years in the U.S. Army including service in the Pacific Theater during WWII. His article was published in the April 2020 issue of the AL Gazette. He will celebrate his 102nd birthday June 10, 2025. Sergeant First Class James Owen Dozier served four years in the U.S. Army and four years in the U.S. Army Reserve including combat during the liberation of Europe during WWII. His article was published in the July 2022 issue of the AL Gazette. He will...
A visual art exhibition celebrating National Armed Forces Day was held at Montgomery’s Court Square Performance Park on Saturday, May 17th. Anthony Thomas, an artist who is the founder and operator of Urban Dream Fine Arts Center at 3680 S. Court Street, Montgomery, AL 36105, set up the exhibition. Art was exhibited by the artists, Anthony Thomas, Aneshia Turner, Michael Reilly and Shawanda C. STAR Peaces. Thomas states, ”The military community is a major component to Montgomery’s social struc...
Inter-Faith Memorial Day Service was held May 23, 2025 at the site of the Central AL Veterans Health Care ServIce (CAVHCS) in Montgomery. Fourteen veterans from the central AL area were memorialized. The following veterans' names were called, and a member of each veterans' family was presented with a certificate by Mr. Amir Farooqi, FACHE, CAVHCS Director: 1. Ronald Archie, Sr. 2. Jesse Barnes 3. Hanry Brooks, Jr. 4. Eric Patrick Bell 5. Edna R. Cureton 6. Romay Catherine Davis 7. Carl Williams...
Col Olen “Francis” Scott Key served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Service Code (AFSC) was Pilot, and he retired as a Command Pilot with over 4,000 hours in the T-37, T-38, C-141, KC-135 and T-1. His service medals and citations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal and numerous campaign medals. Col Key was born May 29, 1954 to Bill and Billie Key, in Memphis, TN,...
The United States flag is one of the most significant symbols of Memorial Day representing freedom, sacrifice and remembrance. Twenty-two members of the Townsend Detachment #920 Marine Corps League, family members and friends placed over 400 flags on the graves of Marine Corps veterans at the Heritage, Greenwood, Eastwood Memorial. Montgomery Memorial and Gilmer Cemeteries in Montgomery on May 24, 2025 honoring deceased Marines. In addition, on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, flags were also placed...
Chief Master Sergeant (CMSGT) Lanny Donald McAndrew served 27.5 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Service Code (AFSC) included Personnel Technician, Personnel Superintendent. First Sergeant and Senior Enlisted Advisor. He received the following decorations, medals, badges, and campaign ribbons: Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force...
James Dozier……………….June 2nd Julie M. Harris………………June 3rd Jeffrey Mathews……...........June 3rd Pete “Jiggs” Bowdoin..........June 7th Travis Parker……………….June 8th Maxine Mullins……………..June 10th Doris Cobb Norris………….June 10th Marvin Kent Speigner……..June 10th Lamont D. Pack……………June 16th Seth Edward Maggard……June18th Stefan Eisen……………….June 19th Ronald Urquhart…………..June 23rd Willam E. DePoorter……...June 24th John M. Vickery…………...June 24th James L. Berdeaux……….June...
Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) Michael Martin Vicente served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was Helicopter Crew Chief. He received the following medals, decorations, ribbons and citations: Air Medal-Strike/Flight (7), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), Presidential Unit Citation-Navy, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (6), National Defense Service Medal,...
A Memorial Day Ceremony was held at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery on Memorial Day by members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Central Chapter 607on May 26, 2025. Col John Eidsmoe served as Master of Ceremonies, and members of Chapter 607 posted the Colors, recognized 50 Vietnam veterans from central AL, presented the 13 Folds of Honor with the American flag, described the meaning of the Missing Man Table and three volleys of salute were fired. A new Vietnam War Monument bearing the names...
Major General James E. Livingston served over 33 continuous years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. His Military Occupational Service Code was Infantry Officer. During the Vietnam War, on May 2, 1968, while serving as Commanding Officer, Company E, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Maj Gen Livingston distinguished himself above and beyond the call of duty in action against enemy forces during the Battle of Dai Do, and he earned the Medal of Honor, and he is the only recipient of...
Major Thomas Leon Harrell served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Specialty Code included Acquisition Management, Acquisition Project Officer, Configuration Identification Officer and Chemical Engineer. He received the following medals, decorations, badges, citations and campaign ribbons: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with one device, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense...
Lt. Col John Gibson Hamilton passed away April 14, 2025. He served 34 years in the U.S. Military including six years in the U.S. Marine Corps and 28 years in the U.S. Air Force including a tour in Vietnam. His biographical article was published in the June 2021 issue of the Alabama Gazette....
Edward G. Platt……………..May 2nd Jimmy F. Meacham…………May 5th Linda L. Boyle……………….May 6th Joel A.. Burdette…………….May 6th LaQuiesha Andrews………..May 7th Sandra Dee Lucas………….May 13th Paul Williamson…………….May 14th David L. McFarland………...May 16th Lenora White………………..May 19th Richard Aldridge…………….May 20th Ronald W. Balkom………….May 20th Willie Durham……………….May 22nd Ell White……………………..May 27th Joseph Simon……………… May 29th Jason R. Hughes...
Senior Master Sergeant Sharon Kay Waters served 22 years in the United States Air Force. Her Air Force Specialty Code was Administrative Superintendent for three years and one month and Administrative Technician for 19 years and three months. She received the following decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons: Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Device, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Awar...
Chaplain, Major Alexander Palomaria served 32 years in the U.S. military including nine years in the Army and 23 years in the Air Force. His Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was Chaplain, and he served as a chaplain for 19 years. He received the following decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons: Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence...
The 908th Flying Fighter Wing held a Family Day at Maxwell Air Force Base on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Personnel with this Wing and their families enjoyed a day filled with games, jumping on inflatable bounce houses, face painting, riding tricycles, videos, vendors such as the American Red Cross and a lunch of freshly grilled hotdogs and hamburgers. The 908th Flying Training Wing is Alabama’s only U. S. Air Force Reserve Wing. It has approximately 1,000 members serving in more than 80 career f...
The River Region Veterans Coalition (RRVC) is a new, diverse organization in Montgomery forming a regional non-profit/apolitical coalition of public and private sector organizations. Other such AL groups are the South AL Veterans Council (SAVC) in Mobile, the Central AL Veterans Collaborative (CAVC) in Birmingham and the North AL Veterans & Fraternal Organizations Coalition (NAVOC)) in Huntsville. The River Region Veterans Coalition has already held meetings in February and March of this year wi...
Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, AL., on March 29, 2025. Col John Eidsmoe served as emcee of the ceremony. A color guard posted the colors including the American flag and the Vietnam War Veterans flag, and this was followed by the singing of the National Anthem and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. The names of service members from Montgomery, Autauga and Elmore Counties, AL, who lost their lives serving in Vietnam were read. The traditional ceremony of folding...
On March 27, 2025, at a baseball game on the campus of LAMP, members of Chapter 607 Vietnam Veterans of America were honored. Each year Coach Frank Parsons, the Lamp baseball head coach, invites all military personnel whether retired or on active duty to enjoy a Lamp baseball game. Coach Parsons and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 607 have enjoyed a special relationship for several years. Prior to the game, all servicemen and servicewomen are recognized by their branch of service. Chapter...
Sargent First Class Patrick Louis Campbell passed away March 8, 2025 at the age of 87. He served 21 years in the U.S. Army including a tour in Vietnam. His article was published in the March 2022 issue of the Alabama Gazette. Harold Lamar Smith passed away March 27, 2025 at the age of 101. He served in the U.S. Army in the Battle of Italy. His article was published in the December 2018 issue of the Alabama Gazette....
Chief Warrant Officer (CWO4) Robert Allen Morris served 25 years in the U.S. Navy. His Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) included Seaman, Boilerman, Ship Construction and Repair Superintendent and Auxiliary Machinery Officer (9302). His Naval service on five Naval ships included one tour off the coast of Korea and three tours off the coast of Vietnam as well as European service in the Mediterranean Sea. His medals and ribbons included: Combat Action ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Republic...
Major William Stephen Gunter served 23 years and six months in the U.S. military including three years and nine months in the Naval Reserve and 19 years and six months in the Air Force. His Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) was Corpman Medic, and his Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) included RN, Counter Intelligence Agent and Trainer, Foreign Military Specialist, Contingency War Planner, operations Manager, Political Military Affairs Strategist, Academic Program Manager and Special...
Brigadier General (Ret) Jeffrey L. Newton served 41 years with the U.S. Air Force and the AL Air National Guard. His Air Force Specialty Code included: A. 1. Operations Support Officer, 117th Resource Management Squadron, August 1989-September 1993, 2. Management and Systems Officer, 117th Readiness Squadron, September 1993-January 2000, 3. Chief of Supply, 117th Logistics Readiness Squadron, January 2000-September 2000, 4. Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 117th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron,...
Specialist (SPC E-5) Richard Howard Phelps served two years in the U.S Army. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was Heavy Equipment Operator 62-E20. He received the following medals, citations, awards and decorations: National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Private Badge, Sharpshooter (Rifle M-4) Badge, Expert Pistol Badge and Army Commendation Medal. SPC Phelps was born November 25,1944 to his parents, Howard and Frances Phelps in Montgomery, AL, and he was...
