Golden Plains Quilts of Valor Group Leader Amy Schartz Mellor and members of the group awarded 10 Quilts of Valor to local veterans at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend on Nov. 30. Photos were taken by Gerald A Postlethwaite.
United States Army Korean conflict veteran Melvin Urban was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Melvin served from 1951 to 1953 in Korea with the 25th Infantry. The quilt top was made by Denise Urban Joslin; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Larry Buczinski, Amy Schartz Mellor, Melvin Urban, Denise Joslin and Boe Levingston.
United States Army veteran Gerald Schneider was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Gerald served from 1956 to 1959 as a general carpenter, radio operator, and he drove the Company Commander. The quilt top was made by Phyllis Manhart; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Ralph Sunley, Phyllis Manhart, Gerald Schneider, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Krallman.
United States Army veteran Max Alber was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Max served from 1963 to 1966 on active duty and from 1966 to 1969 as inactive. He spent 27 months in Germany as a combat engineer and assistant squad leader with the 7th Army. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Chris Krueger, Max Alber, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Crawford.
United States Marine Corps Vietnam veteran Tim Straub was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Tim from served from 1966 to 1969. He served at Marine Battalion Headquarters in Danang, Vietnam for 23 months as an ambulance driver, mail clerk, and battalion company driver. The quilt top was made by Linda Shull; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Robert Zahn, Linda Shull, Tim Straub, Amy Schartz Mellor, Roy Titsworth.
United States Army veteran David Foss was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. David served from 1966 to 1967 and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. He became ill with pneumonia and was hospitalized for some time. Due to his illness, he was given an Honorable Medical Discharge and received the National Defense Service Medal. The quilt top was made by Alice Stoskopf; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Larry Buczinski, David Foss, Amy Schartz Mellor, Juanita Dreiling.
United States Navy Vietnam veteran Ronald Urban was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Ron served from 1967 to 1971 on active duty and was in the reserve until 1973. He was stationed aboard the USS Constellation as an ordnance mechanic. He served in Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong, among other countries. He was master of arms and assistant section leader and received numerous medal, including three bronze stars. The quilt top and quilting were done by Linda Bittel. From left: Poncho Hitschmann, Linda Bittel, Ronald Urban, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
United States Army veteran Doyle Stout was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Doyle served from 1988 to 1993 at Finthen Army Airfield, German, as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief. He was briefly sent to Saudi Arabia before returning to Fort Riley where he was with a medivac for his last two years. The quilt top was made by Eileen Huslig; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Roy Titsworth, Eileen Huslig, Doyle Stout, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Crawford.
United States Marine Corps Vietnam veteran John Amador was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. John served from 1968 to 1971 and was sent to Danang, Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division as a rifleman and later as a forward radio operator. He was wounded near the DMZ during a rocket attack. He was evacuated to a hospital ship and then to Japan for treatment. He wanted to return to his unit, but due to severe hearing loss, was given an Honorable Medical Discharge along with a Purple Heart and other medals for his combat missions. The quilt top was made by Mary Lou Weiser; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Larry Buczinski, Mary Lou Weiser, John Amador, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Krallman.
United States Navy veteran James Herrman was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. James served from 1975 to 1995. He served aboard the USS Halsey CG-23, out of San Diego, CA, the USS Jonas Ingram DD-938 out of Mayport, FL, the USS Orion AS-18, out of Italy, and the USS Moosbrugger DD-980, out of Charleston, SC. He was deployed to Desert Shield/Desert Storm in August, 1990. He retired at Naval EOD School in 1995 after 20 years of service. The quilt top was made by Margaret Evers; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Bob Jarmer, Margaret Evers, James Herrman, Amy Schartz Mellor, Juanita Dreiling.
United States Army Iraq veteran Heath Urban was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 30, 2018, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Heath served from 2002 to 2006, completing two tours in Iraq. During the first tour he drove Hemmit cargo trucks, leading the 3rd Infantry Division during the main invasion of Iraq in 2003. On his second tour, his job was manning the 50 caliber machine gun on convoys, usually bringing up the rear. The quilt top was made by Eileen Huslig; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Boe Levingston, Eileen Huslig, Heath Urban, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Crawford.
