Golden Plains Quilts of Valor Group Leader Amy Schartz Mellor and members of the group awarded 12 Quilts of Valor to local veterans on July 26, 2019.
Cliff Summers
United States Navy Vietnam veteran Clifford (Cliff) Summers was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at his home, in Great Bend. Cliff enlisted in the Navy in March 1968 and was discharged in December 1972. He completed basic training in San Diego, California, and was stationed in San Diego and in Pearl Harbor, also serving three tours in Vietnam. Cliff served aboard the USS Brister, the USS Samuel Gompers, and the USS Ernest G. Small, serving as a Boatsman. The quilt top was made by Eileen Huslig, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Picture are, from left: Judy Burnette, Cliff Summers, Amy Schartz Mellor, Ralph Sunley.
Frank Newkirk
United States Air Force Veteran Robert Franklin (Frank) Newkirk was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Frank served from 1956 to 1960. He was trained as an electrician at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and then sent to Pang Yang Do, Korea. He received security clearance and was assigned to the motor pool. Frank was then stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, where he worked as an electrician. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured are, from left: Katharine Piper, Amy Schartz Mellor, Frank Newkirk, Ralph Sunley.
Donald Newkirk
United States Navy Vietnam veteran Donald Newkirk was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Don served from 1964 to 1970, completing basic training at San Diego, California, where he was trained as a diesel mechanic. He served in Vietnam aboard the USS Valley Forge, an assault craft, delivering supplies up and down the rivers in Vietnam. They also picked up Marines and transported them to their designated locations. Don’s active duty ended in 1967 and continued in the Naval Reserve until 1970. The quilt top was made by Eileen Huslig; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured are, from left: Boe Levingston, Donald Newkirk, Amy Schartz Mellor, Larry Buczinski.
Robert Ramey
United States Navy Vietnam veteran Robert Ramey was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Robert served from 1964 to 1970, and was trained as an aviation electrician at Jacksonville, Florida. He was a flight deck hand and served aboard the USS Hancock, the first carrier into Vietnam. The USS Hancock made three tours to the Tonkin Gulf, and played an active role in supporting the troops fighting on the ground. The were also in the Philippines, Japan, and China. After active duty, Robert continued in the Naval Reserve from 1967 to 1970. The quilt top was made by Mary Ann June, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured are, from left: David Krallman, Mary Ann June, Robert Ramey, Amy Schartz Mellor, Rick Munsch.
Jerome Lang
United States Navy Vietnam veteran Jerome Lang was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Jerome served from 1967 to 1973, completing basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois and Camp Pendleton, California. Jerome was a radar technician and served with I-Corps at Danang, Vietnam, providing Naval support. The quilt top was made by Margaret Evers, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured are, from left: Roy Titsworth, Margaret Evers, Jerome Lang, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
Ramon Keenan
United States Navy veteran Ramon Keenan was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Ramon served from 1970 to 1980, completing basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois, where he was trained as an interior communications technician in ICB school and as a fin stabilizer. Ramon then received additional training in Groton, Connecticut. He served aboard submarines, including the USS Sand Lance, the USS Wahoo, and the USS Sturgeon. As a special operator on nuclear submarines, his family never knew his location, including where he was of where he had been. The quilt top was made by Sheila DeWald and the Happy Stitchers Quilt Retreat, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Boe Levingston, Amy Schartz Mellor, Boe Levingston, Ramon Keenan, Ralph Sunley.
Martin Bryant
United States Navy veteran Martin Bryant was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Martin served from 1977 to 1981, completing basic training at San Diego, California and advanced electronics training at Pensacola, Florida. He served aboard the USS Harry Yarnell, a carrier. The quilt top was made by Mary Lou Weiser, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Mary Lou Weiser Katharine Piper Martin Bryant Rick Munsch Amy Schartz Mellor.
Douglas Storie Sr.
United States Navy veteran Douglas Storie Sr. was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Douglas served from 1977 to 1997, based out of Memphis, Tennessee, California, and Hawaii. He was deployed to Okinawa, Philippines, Alaska, and the Persian Gulf. He also had port calls in Guam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Oman, Canada, and Mexico. Douglas retired as an aviation electronics technician 1st class. The quilt top was made by Phyllis Manhart, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Dennis Wolf, Phyllis Manhart, Douglas Storie Sr., David Krallman, Amy Schartz Mellor.
Jay Jecha
United States Air Force veteran Jay Jecha was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Jay served from 1982 to 2006. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, and was trained as a medical lab technician. The quilt top was made and quilted by Linda Bittel. From left: Larry Buczinski, Jay Jecha, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Krallman.
Wade Babcock
United States Air Force veteran Wade Babcock was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Wade served from 1992 to 2004, completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, and OTC in Mobile, Alabama. Wade was trained as a lab technician and physician’s assistant. He served at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Honduras, and Italy, as well as with a medical air-ready hospital in Altima, Michigan. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Ralph Sunley, Amy Schartz Mellor, Wade Babcock, Rick Munsch.
Sonia Dreiling
United States Army Reserve veteran Sonia Dreiling was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Unit 180 in Great Bend. Sonia served from 1996 to 2010, completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. She was trained as a patient administration specialist at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and also served in Operation Enduring Freedom. The quilt top was made by Janet Jackson, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Ralph Sunley, Janet Jackson, Sonia Dreiling, Amy Schartz Mellor, Jeannie Munsch.
Scott Dreiling
United States Army veteran Scott Dreiling was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 26, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Scott served from 2001 to 2015. He was trained in Germany and Fort Wainwright, Alaska in quartermaster repair and worked on generators, HVAC, and vehicles. He served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was stationed at Fort Irwin, California and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he completed airborne school. The quilt top was made by Lenora Keil, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Bob Jarmer, Lenora Keil, Scott Dreiling, Jeannie Munsch, Amy Schartz Mellor.
