Golden Plains Quilts of Valor awarded nine Quilts of Valor to veterans on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend.
1 Davis Jimenez
United States Army National Guard veteran Davis Jimenez was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Davis has served from 2007 and is still currently serving. He completed basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and AIT at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He is currently assigned to the 383 Military Intelligence Unit. Davis has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom, and most recently Operation Spartan Shield. His current rank is E-5. Davis’s quilt top was made by Lenora Keil, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Roy Titsworth, Lenora Keil, Davis Jimenez, David Crawford, Amy Schartz Mellor.
2 Sergio Partida
United States Army veteran Sergio Partida was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Sergio has served from 1998 and is still serving. He completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky as a cavalry scout. His first duty station was Fort Polk, Louisiana. He has also served in Germany, Fort Lewis, Washington, three years recruiting duty in Medford, Oregon and Fort Riley, Kansas. He served the majority of 12 years in Iraq, deployment after deployment. He was injured and received a Purple Heart. He has received numerous other awards, including the Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medal, Combat Action Badge and Air Assault Badge, among others. Sergio’s rank is master sergeant. The quilt top was made by Millie Hill, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Robert Zahn, Amy Schartz Mellor, Dennis Hill, Sergio Partida, Millie Hill.
3 Jonathan Graham
United States Army veteran Jonathan Graham was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Jonathan has served from 2002 and is still serving. He was trained as an infantryman at Fort Benning, Georgia and as a pilot at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Jonathan has served in Korea, Fort Lewis, Washington, has completed two tours in Iraq, in Medford, Oregon, two tours in Afghanistan, and is currently stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. He has received numerous Army achievement and commendation medals, including Combat Infantry Badge, Aviation Qualification Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge among others. He is proud that his son is following in his footsteps. The quilt top was made by Millie Hill, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Millie Hill, Dennis Hill, Jonathan Graham, Amy Schartz Mellor, Roy Titsworth.
4 Jason Sunderland
United States Navy veteran and Army National Guard veteran Jason Sunderland was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Jason served from 1992 to 2001, completing Navy boot camp at San Diego, California. He was part of the VFA-195 Dambusters in Japan. His squadron was attached to the Forward Deployed Aircraft Carrier USS Independence. He was deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. In the Army National Guard, he was assigned as a crew member to the 2nd Battalion 130th 13M Multiple Launch Rocket System out of Salina and Abilene, Kansas. Jason was discharged with the rank of E-4. The quilt top was made and quilted by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Ralph Sunley, Jason Sunderland, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Krallman.
5 Scott Morrow
United States Army veteran Scott Morrow was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Scott served from 1968 to 1993, completing basic training and AIT at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was then stationed in Germany for two years before being sent to Fort Hood, Texas. He was sent back to Germany for another 18 months. Scott served in field artillery; his favorite activity was driving a howitzer. Scott is proud to have served his country and enjoyed getting know people from different cultures and different parts of the world. He was discharged with the rank of corporal. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Rick Munsch, Scott Morrow, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Crawford.
6 William Saunders
United States Army veteran William Saunders was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. William served from 1972 to 1977, completing basic training at Fort Knox and advanced training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He served 3 1/2 years in South Korea and transported supplies as a truck driver. His rank at discharge was E-5. The quilt top was made by Edie Hillman McQuade, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: William Saunders, Robert Zahn, Edie McQuade, Rick Munsch, Amy Schartz Mellor.
7 Lynn Chestnut
United States Navy veteran Lynn Chestnut was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Lynn served from 1971 to 1974. He was trained as a landing signalman and directed helicopters on and off ship during flight operations. He was based out of San Diego, California aboard the USS Denver LPD-9. He served in Vietnam, Philippines, Guam, Japan, Okinawa, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea. Lynn’s rank at discharge was E-4. The quilt top was made by Earlene Arnold, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Earlene Arnold, Dennis Hill, Lynn Chestnut, Amy Schartz Mellor, Roy Titsworth.
8 Larry Ernst
United States Navy Vietnam veteran Larry Ernst was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Larry completed basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois and was also stationed at Newport, Rhode Island and in Scotland. He was trained to assist in providing supplies to nuclear submarines. He served in Vietnam and aboard the USS Simon Lake, attaining the rank of E-4. The quilt top was made by Eileen Huslig, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Larry Ernst, Dennis Hill, Eileen Huslig, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Crawford.
9 Rod Pastor
United States Air Force veteran Roderick (Rod) Pastor was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on January 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Rod served from 1963 to 1983, completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During his career, he was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, McClellan Air Force Base, California and Loring Air Force Base, Maine. Rod was also stationed in Thailand and Guam. He was trained as an inventory clerk and was responsible for all fuel and supplies needed on the airfield. Rod was known for his accurate record keeping, and retired as an E-7, Master Sergeant. The quilt top was made by Linda Shull; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Linda Shull, Boe Levingston, Ralph Sunley, Rod Pastor, Amy Schartz Mellor.
