SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014 VETERANS SECTION WATAUGA DEMOCRAT 15

Hugh Aldridge1966-1968US Army Specialist E4Foscoe

OUR HEROESHonoring those who honorably served, and serve

Matt Bagley1991-1994USN Petty Offi cer 3rd Class

Joseph H. Bryan1965-1995NC National Guard Staff SergeantBoone

Michael Carter1969-1970Specialist 4, VietnamBoone

Donna Howell Coffey1978-1991USMC Gunnery Sergeant

Rick Cornejo1972-1994USN NCC(AW)

COMPILED BY TOM MAYERtom.mayer@wataugademocrat.com

Brandon Mark DollarOctober 2009 to presentSergeant, US ArmyCurrently stationed in Wahiawa, Hawaii

Brandon Friedel2007-2011USMC Sergeant

Troy Greer1966-1972 served in VietnamE5, 25th Division

Charles Harmon1965-1967Specialist-5 USAR Medical CorpBoone

Raymond E. Harmon1951-1955USAF S/SGT

Kenneth Joe Hollars1955-1977USN EN-1

Bradley Neil Holmes2001-2007USAF Staff Sergeant

Paul S. IdolApril 28, 1970-Nov. 8, 1971Specialist 4

Clyde Jones1944-1946US Army SergeantBoone

JP & R Inc.Jeff’s Plumbing & Repair Inc.

P.O. Box 54-DTS · Boone, NC 28607

Proudly Sponsored By:

This Veterans Day, we honor those who have so bravely served this country. America is founded on the principle of freedom, justice and liberty for all. Our nation’s soldiers serve every day to protect our country and its ideals. On Veterans Day, take a sacred moment to remember those who sacrifice their lives to achieve peace and democracy. We are pleased to sponsor thisspecial tribute of honor and respect.

God Bless America and those who serve.

Jeffrey C. Voss, Presidentand the staff of Jeff’s Plumbing & Repair Inc.

along withThe Members and staff of the North Carolina Plumbing and Mechanical Association

JP & R Inc.Jeff’s Plumbing & Repair Inc.

P.O. Box 54-DTS · Boone, NC 28607

16 WATAUGA DEMOCRAT VETERANS SECTION SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014

Steven Nagy2008-2012USN Quartermaster

Van A. Norris1962-1964US Army Specialist, artillery, Second Infantry Division, Boone

Arvin Pearson1975-1999USAF Master Sergeant

Allen Powers1984-1990USAF SergeantPhoto taken in Panama

Bob Powers1959-1960US Army Corporal

Onsby C. Rose1997-2007USMC Staff Sergeant

Gordon Rule1956-1987USMC ColonelBoone

Gene L. Smith1942-1945T5, 670th Topographical Army Engineers

Michael (Mick) L. Smith1967-1971USAF Sergeant, 99th Bomb Wing, 8th

Gerald R. Summerson Sr.1945-1949US Army

John William Main1954-1956US Army Infantry

Christina May1981-2006USN Commander

Baxter Wade Miller1953-1955US Army Honor Guard Specialist I

Eric J. Millisor2011-presentUSN Petty Offi cer 3rd Class

‘As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but

to live by them.’John F. Kennedy

35th U.S. president

Colton Phillips2014-PresentUSMCPFC

Dakota JohnsonCurrently aboard USS Santa Fe based in Pearl HarborPetty Offi cer 3rd Class

Robert MooreJuly 3, 1984-May 5, 2014USMC-NCANGMSG (retired)Boone

Arnold Lester1942-1945pictured as US Army Air Force 2nd Lt., current: Captain USAF (retired)

Robert A. Mahoney2005-currentUS Army 1st Lieutenant Blowing Rock

William T. Mahoney1986-currentUSMC Master Gunnery SergeantBlowing Rock

THANK YOUTO ALL THE WATAUGA COUNTY VETERANS

FROM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014 VETERANS SECTION WATAUGA DEMOCRAT 17

828-264-5406www.jeffsplumbingandrepair.com

JP & R Inc.Jeff’s Plumbing & Repair Inc.

Boone, North Carolina

We proudly salute our Veterans.

Thank you for your service!

18 WATAUGA DEMOCRAT VETERANS SECTION SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014

Ronald Morris Thomas1968-1969US Army Specialist 5Photo taken at Camp Casey, Korea, holding a copy of the Watauga Democrat

‘Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.’

Billy GrahamEvangelist

Jim Walker1976-2009USMC Brigadier General

William L. Wilson1954-1974US Army 1st Sergeant

Phil Zeiss1962-1967US Army 1st Lieutenant

Bradley W. Summerson1972-1976US Army

Gerald R. Summerson Jr.1963-1967USN

Dewey ThomasDischarged 1945USAF

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WWII vet writes about serving in the Pacifi cBY ERIKA GIOVANETTIerika@mountaintimes.com

Dewey J. Thomas, who turned 100 on Nov. 4, is a World War II veteran hailing from the Mabel

community. Like many veterans before him,

Thomas decided to preserve his memories of fi ghting as a U.S. soldier through a memoir, detailing his expe-riences during his military career.

Thomas registered for the draft in 1940, receiving his call to enter the service on Aug. 19, 1940. By then, he was living and working in Oregon with his father, according to his niece, Frances Thomas Phillips of Zionville.

In Oregon, he met a woman he would later marry, Catherine Fridley. In his memoir, he said that leaving her was the most diffi cult part of his call to service. He had originally signed up to serve for a year.

“We were fortunate that we didn’t know it would be over four years be-fore I would return, nearly four years before we’d see each other again,” Thomas wrote.

After training at Fort MacDowell Air Force Base in California, Thomas went on to become a sergeant in the 808th Engineers of the Aviation Bat-talion of the Fifth Air Corps, Phillips said.

Thomas served his time in the Dewey Thomas (inset photo) is shown with Company C, 4th Platoon, 28th Engineer Training Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood in November 1941.

ILLUSTRATION SUBMITTEDSEE PACIFIC, PAGE 20

20 WATAUGA DEMOCRAT COMMUNITY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014

attendance at the ceremony.Peg Broyhill, chairwoman of the CCC&TI

Foundation, spoke to those gathered at the ceremony and congratulated this year’s scholars.

“Tonight is a very special night as we celebrate 25 years of the foundation’s Dream Program.” Broyhill said that with this year’s ceremony, the foundation has presented 1,061 Dream awards since the program’s inception in 1989.

Broyhill also recognized the Broyhill Family Foundation, the Coffey Foundation and the Granite Falls High School Class of 1963 whose contributions help make the Dream Program possible. Broyhill also lauded the Hogan Family Foundation, for its support of a fund to assist Caldwell County Dream scholars with emergency book needs.

She also recognized the efforts of members of CCC&TI’s foundation board. “These individuals are extremely dedi-cated to this program and it would not be

possible without their efforts. We are very grateful for their continued support,” she said.

Dena Holman, vice president of student services at CCC&TI, spoke about the his-tory and purpose of the program.

The Dream Program was started at CCC&TI in 1989 by Tony Deal. The pro-gram was modeled after an idea from New York philanthropist Eugene Lang.

Lenoir Rotarian and businessman Ed McGimpsey funded the fi rst award and the following year, the foundation board of CCC&TI voted to fund 25 additional awards.

Holman reported that to date, 70 percent of Dream Award recipients old enough to attend college have enrolled at CCC&TI.

Holman then introduced Tony Deal, who founded the program and brought it to the foundation in 1989. Deal gave a bit of background on the start of the program and McGimpsey’s commitment to young people. Deal also spoke about how the program expanded in the early years to include awards for up to 50 students.

“It wasn’t my idea, but it was a great

idea. Great ideas evolve,” Deal said.Holman then introduced Watauga High

School graduate and CCC&TI nursing student Jennifer Hampton. Hampton received the Dream Award in 2003.

“I remember very fondly sitting in the seat where you are today, wondering what all this meant for my life and feeling grateful for the people who cared so much about my future,” Hampton said.

Hampton recounted how she felt called to the nursing fi eld after her grandfather suffered an aneurism and needed extend-ed nursing care.

“In May 2015, I will receive my associate degree in nursing. You all have a great op-portunity in front of you,” she said. “Use it and become the best person you can.”

Holman then introduced Mandy Roy, a 2000 graduate of CCC&TI’s fi rst ophthal-mic medical assistant class.

“In 1992, I was a recipient of the Dream Award, and I was so excited,” Roy said. “After high school, I was able to use my scholarship to attend CCC&TI and get started on my dream of working in the medical fi eld. I have now been successfully employed at Graystone Eye for 14 years. I

currently work as a clinical staff supervi-sor for more than 50 clinicians, 13 doctors and serve in fi ve locations. I also come to CCC&TI when requested to teach in the OMA program, which is very rewarding.”

“I was only able to achieve these things in my life because of the Dream Award,” Roy said. “Students, you are here tonight because someone believes in you. My wish for you is that you always dream big.”

One of this year’s Dream Award recipi-ents also spoke at the event. Makayleigh Hendrix of Granite Falls Elementary School shared her excitement upon learn-ing that she had received the award.

“I couldn’t wait to tell my sisters,” she said. “I look forward to going to CCC&TI and studying culinary arts. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to go to col-lege.”

At the end of the evening, Dream schol-ars introduced themselves and shared their career goals for the future. A recep-tion was held in their honor following the ceremony.

For more information on the Dream Program, contact Marla Christie, founda-tion executive director, at (828) 726-2203.

DREAMSFROM PAGE 11

military strategically fighting in the Pacific, travelling from Califor-nia to Australia and later to New Guinea and the Philippines, where much of the action in the Pacific Theater took place.

During his time, Thom-as, an engineer, went on missions that included building bridges and tak-ing out foxholes.

After 39 months over-seas, Thomas was granted furlough and traveled back to Zionville after he contracted malaria.

“I got on a Greyhound bus to Boone, N.C., where my folks lived,” Thomas wrote. “It was good to see my mom and dad, good to get home. But, I was so sick with malaria that I couldn’t really enjoy it.”

After spending a short period of time at home, Thomas was sent via am-bulance to the veteran’s hospital in Asheville.

Upon his recovery, Thomas travelled back to Fort Bragg, N.C., where he was sent to Miami. He did not see any combat for the rest of his service, and was honorably discharged on Oct. 10, 1945, less than a month after the war was officially declared over.

In all, Thomas spent four years, one month and 23 days in the military.

For his service in the military, Thomas was awarded three bronze stars, a distinguished unit badge and an Asiatic Pacific ribbon with five battle stars for the five major battles he fought.

Thomas also received a number of other decora-

tions and commendations, including a good conduct medal, a victory medal

and more. Among one of his most

cherished was the Presi-

dential Unit Citation for the work he and his unit did in Australia during the

war, according to Phillips. Still, he was glad to

receive his honorable

discharge button so that he could return to Fridley and the rest of his family.

“The small honorable discharge button, we called the Rutford Duck, was the little one you got when you were discharged from service, which was one we were all very glad to receive,” Thomas wrote.

Even after all these years, Thomas still thinks back to his days fighting in the Pacific, and to his fellow soldiers who sac-rificed their lives to fight for the Allied cause during the war.

“I remember all those close calls and wonder how I really survived all those years of war,” Thomas wrote. “And I think about all those who didn’t come home at all, and these fellows in the Veterans Home who have been over 60 years living with the loss of limbs and other injuries.”

Thomas now lives with his family in Sherman County, Ore.

PACIFICFROM PAGE 19

These reprints of photos can be found in Dewey Thomas’ memoir titled ‘My Military Refl ections.’ It was compiled while he served as a sergeant with the 808th Engineers Aviation Battalion, Fifth Air Corps.

ILLUSTRATIONS SUBMITTED