By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Quilts of Valor for October 2020
Joe Johns 2020
Joe Johns

Golden Plains Quilts of Valor awarded five Quilts of Valor on October 23 at the Argonne Post 180 of the American Legion in Great Bend. Quilts are presented to honor area veterans for their service.


Joe Johns


United States Army veteran Joe Johns was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on October 23, 2020 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Joe served from 1996 to 2018. He completed basic training, advanced individual training and airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. Joe also completed a warrior leadership course in Pennsylvania, machine gun leadership course at Fort Benning, Georgia and basic field artillery school in Oklahoma. He served in Egypt with the 82nd Airborne. Joe also served in Liberia, Germany and Iraq with the Army National Guard. Joe retired from the Army National Guard as an ammunition section chief. The quilt top was made by Margaret Evers, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Picture, from left: Darrin Munsch, Margaret Evers, Joe Johns, Amy Schartz Mellor, Rich Munsch.


Jimmy Zink


United States Army veteran Jimmy Zink was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on October 23, 2020 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Jimmy served from 1987 to 1995, completing basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was trained as a tank commander. Jimmy served in Fulda, Germany with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and in Hohenfels, Germany with the 14th Infantry. The quilt top was made by Mary Ann June, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: David Krallman, Mary Ann June, Jimmy Zink, Amy Schartz Mellor, Chris Krueger.


Kevin Stansfield


United States Navy and Army Reserve veteran Kevin Stansfield was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on October 23, 2020 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Kevin served from 1983 to 2007. He completed basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois, where he was trained as an engineman. Kevin served aboard the USS Sumpter and the USS Oliver Perry, with two Mediterranean cruises, a North Atlantic cruise and a Caribbean cruise. Following his service in the Navy, he served as a 51 Mike truck driver and a firefighter. Kevin earned a Navy Achievement Medal for helping to save a sinking patrol boat. The quilt top was made by Jeanette Sidman, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Dennis Hill, Jeanette Sidman, Kevin Stansfield, Amy Schartz Mellor,Bob Jarmer, Kevin Stansfield.


Garry Wilkens


United States Army veteran Garry Wilkens was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on October 23, 2020 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Garry served from 1966 to 1972, completing basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 353rd Regiment, 1st Brigade, 89th division, 5th Army Combat Infantry Training Division. Garry served at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Camp Ripley, Minnesota, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin and many others. They were a completely self-contained unit, except for transportation and took over for cadres when they needed rest, training new recruits many of whom were sent to Vietnam.  The quilt top was made by Millie Hill, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Darrin Munsch, Millie Hill, Garry Wilkens, Amy Schartz Mellor, Rick Munsch.


Richard Showalter


United States Navy veteran Richard Showalter was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on October 23, 2020 at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Richard served from 1960 to 1966, completing basic training in San Diego, California. He served aboard the USS Hamel and the USS Isle Royal, both of which were tender destroyers. Their duty was to supply provisions, weapons, repair and fuel. Richard served in the carpentry shop. He was stationed in Long Beach, California and in Hawaii. Their ship was the admiral’s ship, a flag ship. Ships came to them from Korea and other countries in the Pacific waters. The quilt top was made by Mary Lou Weiser, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Boe Levingston, Amy Schartz Mellor, Richard Showalter, Mary Lou Weiser, Ralph Sunley.