Golden Plains Quilts of Valor awarded quilts to seven veterans on Dec. 27, 2019. Presentations were made at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend.
1 Anthony Wohletz
United States Army Vietnam veteran Anthony Wohletz was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on December 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Anthony served from 1964 to 1966. He completed basic training in Kentucky and was then stationed at the Big Red 1 in Fort Riley. After a short stint in California, he was sent to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with the Big Red 1, where he manned the 155 Howitzer Cannon. The quilt top was made by Millie Hill, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Chris Krueger, Millie Hill, Anthony Wohletz, Amy Schartz Mellor, Boe Levingston.
2 Genovevo (Ben) Benavidez Jr.
United States Air Force Vietnam veteran Genovevo (Ben) Benavidez Jr. was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on December 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Ben served from 1965 to 1969, completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He then went to Amarillo, Texas, where he met his wife, then on to Guam for six months. While stationed in Guam, he assisted in sending supplies to Vietnam aboard KC-135 aircraft. Ben was then ordered to Cam Ranh Bay Vietnam where they brought supplies in on B-52 aircraft. He was part of the Strategic Air Command. Ben’s quilt top was made by Lenora Keil, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Lenora Keil, Robert Zahn, Ben Benavidez Jr., Amy Schartz Mellor, Roy Titsworth.
3 Gene Davis
United States Navy veteran Gene Davis was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on December 19, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Gene served from 1968 to 1972, being trained as an aircraft mechanic at the Naval Air Station in Millington, Tenn. He served aboard the USS Independence CVA-62. Gene was proud to serve his country for four years and being able to see the world at the same time. The quilt top was made by Mary Lou Weiser, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: David Krallman, Mary Lou Weiser, Gene Davis, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
4 Calvin Nobles
United States Army Vietnam veteran Calvin Nobles was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on December 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Calvin served from 1970 to 1998. He completed basic training at Fort Lewis, Wash., and was stationed at Fort Ord, Calif., and Fort Bragg, N.C. He was trained as an infantryman, aircraft mechanic and crew chief, serving in Panama, Germany and Vietnam. After serving seven years active duty, Calvin served in the Army Reserve as a radar operator, wheeled vehicle mechanic and with the water purification unit. The quilt top was made by Sharon King, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Katharine Piper, Sharon King, Calvin Nobles, Amy Schartz Mellor, Jeannie Munsch.
5 Daniel Schwartz
United States Army veteran Daniel Schwartz was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on December 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Daniel served from 1971 to 1974. He completed basic training at Fort Knox, Ky., and served with the infantry in combat support. Daniel was also an honor graduate of leadership school. His other duty stations were Fort Riley and Germany. He is proud to have learned responsibility and leadership while serving his country. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Robert Zahn, LaWanna Krestine, Daniel Schwartz, Amy Schartz Mellor, Roy Titsworth.
6 Darrin Campbell
United States Navy veteran Darrin Campbell was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on December 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Darrin served from 1986 to 1990, completing basic training at Great Lakes, Ill. He was then sent to Long Beach, Calif., and served aboard the USS Cayuga where he worked as a boiler technician. The quilt top was made by Edie Edie Hillman McQuade, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Picture, from left: Chris Krueger, Edie Hillman, Darrin Campbell, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Krallman.
7 Logan Bayless
United States Army Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Logan Bayless was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on December 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Logan served from 2005 to 2009. He completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and was then stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, serving with the US Army Infantry Division in Brigade Protective Security Detail in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Logan served in convoy operations as a drive, machine gunner and as designated marksman using an M4 carbine and as team grenadier with the M203 grenade launcher. He served in Iraq as well as Saudi Arabia. The quilt top was made and quilted by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Roy Titsworth, Logan Bayless, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
