Golden Plains Quilts of Valor awarded 12 Quilts of Valor to area veterans on April 26 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend.
Daniel Holinde
United States Army veteran Daniel Holinde was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Daniel enlisted in the Army Reserve, reporting to the New Century Army Reserve Center before being deployed to Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was stationed at Camp Arifjan and served as an 88M truck driver. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Boe Levingston, LaWanna Krestine, Daniel Holinde, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Krallman.
Adam Stremel
United States Navy veteran Adam Stremel was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Adam was trained as a diesel mechanic and served with the Seabees in many locations including Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, Fugi, Guam, and Bahrain. The quilt top was made by Jyl Nokes, quilting by Debbie Likens. From left: Boe Levingston, Jyl Nokes, Adam Stremel, Amy Schartz Mellor, Ralph Sunley.
Christopher Holinde
United States Army veteran Christopher Holinde was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Christopher was a heavy wheeled mechanic with the infantry, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom at FOB Speicher, Tikrit, Iraq. The quilt top was made by Alice Stoskopf, quilting by Debbie Likens. From left: Larry Buczinski, Alice Stoskopf, Christopher Holinde, Amy Schartz Mellor, Poncho Hitschmann.
Joshua Boone
United States Army veteran Joshua Boone was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Joshua served from 2000 to 2008, first in the Arizona Army National Guard before being deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2004. Joshua served as a truck driver and Korean language translator with Multi-National Forces 2220th Transportation Company. The quilt top was made by Margaret Evers, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Roy Titsworth, Margaret Evers, Joshua Boone, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
Mark Sherman
United States Navy veteran Mark Sherman was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Mark served from 2001 to 2005 aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, and from 2005 to 2008 at the National Amphibious Base Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia. He was a culinary specialist. The quilt was made and quilted by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Boe Levingston, Mark Sherman, Amy Schartz Mellor, Robert Zahn.
Martin Miller
United States Air Force veteran Martin Miller was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Martin served from 1971 to 1983, attending the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He graduated in the class of 1975, receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal and Distinguished Graduate. Martin was trained as an Air Force pilot at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, and as an A-10 fighter pilot at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. He became an A-10 fighter weapons instructor at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The quilt top was made by Margaret Evers, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Ralph Sunley, Margaret Evers, Martin Miller, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Krallman.
Larry Johnson
United States Air Force veteran Larry Johnson was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Larry served from 1970 to 1991. He was trained as a ground camera repairman. After receiving advanced training at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he was sent to Ent Air Force Base, also in Colorado Springs. Following his discharge in 1971, Larry re-enlisted in the Air National Guard was served in Operation Desert Storm. The quilt top was made by Alice Stoskopf, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Poncho Hitschmann, Alice Stoskopf, Larry Johnson, Amy Schartz Mellor, Marianne Krallman.
Richard Reeves
United States Marine Corps Vietnam veteran Richard Reeves was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Richard served in 1969 and 1970. After basic training, he was sent to Camp Pendleton for Advanced Training and then assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Division. He was sent to An Hoa, Vietnam. He served near Da Nang at places he knew as the “River Bridge,” “Arizona,” “Dodge City” and Cambodia. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Larry Buczinski, Amy Schartz Mellor, Richard Reeves, LaWanna Krestine, Roy Titsworth.
David Miller
United States Army veteran David Miller was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. David served from 1968 to 1970. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was computer machine operations. Because of his security clearance, he was assigned to the Data Support Command at the Pentagon. He was later transferred to NORAD headquarters located at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and assigned to work on the NIKE Hercules site operation. The quilt top was made by Lenora Keil; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Poncho Hitschmann, Lenora Keil, David Miller, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Krallman.
Gary Yeakley
United States Army veteran Gary Yeakley was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Gary served from 1958 to 1960, mostly in Connecticut with the Air Defense Artillery, as the Public Information Officer and a photographer. The quilt top was made by Mary Lou Weiser; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Ralph Sunley, Mary Lou Weiser, Gary Yeakley, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
Wilfred (Hoop) Higgins
United States Army Air Corps veteran Wilfred (Hoop) Higgins was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Hoop served from 1946 to 1948, where he served as an assistant flight marshal in New Jersey. The quilt top was made by Phyllis Manhart; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Larry Buczinski, Phyllis Manhart, Hoop Higgins, Amy Schartz Mellor, Roy Titsworth.
Bill Oglesbee
United States Navy veteran Bill Oglesbee was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on April 26, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Bill served from 1959 to 1965. He was trained as a radioman, serving aboard the USS Hooper in the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Hawaii, and Guam. Bill transferred from active duty to the Naval Reserve in 1963. The quilt top was made by Phyllis Manhart; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Robert Zahn, Phyllis Manhart, Bill Oglesbee, Amy Schartz Mellor, Boe Levingston.
