The Golden Plains Quilts of Valor group awarded six quilts to area veterans on Friday, March 26, 2021, at the American Legion Post 180, Great Bend. Quilt tops were made by group members, with the quilting done by Amy Schartz Mellor.
Christopher Hamit
United States Army National Guardsman Christopher Hamit was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on March 26, 2021 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Hamit began serving in 2011 and is still serving. His unit was deployed to Kuwait for Operation Inherent Resolve in April 2018 until March 2019. He was later sent to Syria to assist with cooking for the Fifth Special Forces Unit. His rank is E-4. The quilt top was made by Janet Jackson, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Boe Levingston, Amy Schartz Mellor, Christopher Hamit, Janet Jackson and Rick Munsch.
Kenneth Foster
United States Navy veteran Second Class Petty Officer Kenneth Foster was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on March 26, 2021, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Foster completed basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois, with advanced training at Meridian, Mississippi. He served in personnel and was the Captain’s driver. He also served aboard the USS Detroit in the Caribbean and Cuba, completing two Mediterranean tours. The quilt top was made by Linda Bittel; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Roy Titsworth, Linda Bittel, Kenneth Foster, Amy Schartz Mellor and David Krallman.
Gerald (Jake) Tomlinson
United States Army veteran Gerald (Jake) Tomlinson was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on March 26, 2021 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Tomlinson served from 1971 to 1974. After completing basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was stationed at Fort Riley and several locations in Germany, where he was a tank driver. He attained the rank of E-4. The quilt top was made by Linda Bittel, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Poncho Hitschmann, Linda Bittel, Jake Tomlinson, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
John Wetig
United States Army veteran John Wetig was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on March 26, 2021 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Wetig served from 1970 to 1972, completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He served with B Company 33rd Signal Corps in Anchorage, Alaska. He was a telephone lineman in communications and worked with the Alaska Defense Command, providing communications for the Arctic Rangers. Wetig attained the rank of E-4. The quilt top was made by Earlene Arnold; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Rick Munsch, Earlene Arnold, John Wetig, Amy Schartz Mellor, Chris Krueger.
Charles Satterfield
United States Army Vietnam veteran Sergeant Charles Satterfield was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on March 26, 2021 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Satterfield served from 1967 to 1969, completing basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and advanced training at Fort Lewis, Washington. He served in Munich, Germany, with the mechanized infantry, South Vietnam in the Hue area with the 101st Airborne Division, and in Fort Carson, Colorado, with the mechanized infantry. Satterfield was trained to use all sorts of weapons, including rifles, machine guns and pistols. He received numerous awards including the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Medal and South Vietnam medal. The quilt top was made by Mary Lou Weiser; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: David Krallman, Mary Lou Weiser, Charles Satterfield, Amy Schartz Mellor, Boe Levingston.
Wayne Arensman
United States Navy veteran Wayne Arensman was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on March 26, 2021 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Arensman served from 1971 to 1975 aboard the USS Sunfish, a nuclear submarine, as a torpedo man. He also served aboard the USS Glenn, a destroyer, as a deckhand. He was based out of South Carolina and attained the rank of E-3. The quilt top was made by Margaret Evers, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Brenda Krueger, Margaret Evers, Wayne Arensman, Amy Schartz Mellor, Katharine Piper.
