Kansas Honor Banners (2021-2022 honorees) Preview

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Looking North: Navy Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, Marines Major Jonathon Richards, Army Military Police Kevin Nash, Air Force Staff Sergeant Jessica Poteet and Air Force RMWD #N281 "Pita"

Navy Lieutenant John F. Kennedy: Prior to becoming President, John F. Kennedy served as a Navy Lieutenant during World War II. More information can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/articles/kennedyww2.htmMarines Major Jonathon RichardsArmy Military Police Kevin Nash: Prior to his career as a professional wrestler, Kevin Nash served as a member of the U.S. Army's 202nd Military Police Company in Giessen, West Germany, helping to secure a NATO facility. He rose to the rank of specialist.Air Force Staff Sergeant Jessica Poteet and Air Force RMWD #N281 "Pita": Staff Sergeant Jessica Poteet has been a military dog handler for 8 1/2 years. She worked with Pita for 5 years and, together, they made an "unstoppable" team. After Pita retired, she went to live with Poteet and her family, before she needed to be put down due to declining health. An article about Poteet can be read here: https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2575591/hurlburt-field-mwd-handler-proves-she-can-do-it-better/

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Looking East: Wichita Police K9 Officer "Rooster", Air Force RMWD #H210 "Atom" and Air Force RMWD #P450 "Rockino"

Wichita Police K9 Officer "Rooster": Rooster served with the Wichita Police Department for five years. On March 18, 2017, he was shot and killed at the scene of a domestic disturbance, while trying to apprehend an armed subject. More information can be found here: https://www.odmp.org/k9/1631-k9-rooster#:~:text=K9%20Rooster%20was%20shot%20and,and%20the%20went%20back%20inside.Air Force RMWD #H210 "Atom"Air Force RMWD #P450 "Rockino": Rockino "Rocky" served as a Military Working Dog at Altus Airforce Base in Oklahoma. He was trained as a bomb dog and responded to several bomb threats in Oklahoma, and has provided to support to presidents, the secret service, and has traveled as far as Afghanistan. Rocky retired in October 2017 where he discovered the joy of being a lazy house dog. He passed away on January 13, 2018. More information can be found here: https://www.altus.af.mil/News/Print/Features/Display/Article/1527485/police-week-the-story-of-mwd-rockino/

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Looking West: Wichita Police Captain Clay Germany, Marines Private First Class Clifford Easley, Army Honorable Colonel Robert "Bob" Dole and Kansas Army National Guard Captain Carl Brewer and Army Captain "Chaplain" Emil Kapaun

Wichita Police Captain Clay Germany: Prior to joining the Wichita Police Department, Captain Clay Germany was a decorated Navy Captain who continued his duty as a Navy Reservist until he retired with honor after 25 years. He joined the WPD in 1994 and rose through the ranks until he was named Captain of Property Crime Investigations. He passed away from complications due to COVID-19, which he contracted while on the job, on July 9, 2021.His obituary can be found here: https://www.thejacksonmortuary.com/obituary/clay-germanyMarines Private First Class Clifford Easley: Clifford Easley passed away June 9, 2013. He served in the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. His obituary can be found here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/kansas/name/clifford-easley-obituary?id=13204284Army Honorable Colonel Robert "Bob" Dole: Born in Russell, Kansas, Bob Dole left the University of Kansas to serve in the Army in World War II. He was serious injured while fighting in Italy; he managed to recuperate from near total paralysis, but never regained the use of his right hand. He served in the Kansas State Legislature, as teh Russell County prosecuting attorney, as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and as as a U.S. Senator from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican nominee for President in 1996. He passed away on December 5, 2021.More about Robert Dole can be found here: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-DoleKansas Army National Guard Captain Carl Brewer: Former Wichita Mayor (2007-2015) passed away on June 12, 2020. He served in the Kansas Army National Guard between 1977 and 1998.More about Carl Brewer can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Brewer_(politician)Army Captain "Chaplain" Emil Kapaun: Fr. Emil Kapaun was a Roman Catholic Priest who served a United States Army chaplain during World War II and in the Korean War. He was taken as a prisoner of war in November 1950 and passed away on May 23, 1951. He was posthumously awarded multiple medals for his valor, including the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star. Fr. Kapaun was declared a Servant of God by Pope John Paul II, which is the first step towards possible canonization as a saint.

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Marine Colonel Paul "Buster" Sanchez, Army Staff Sergeant U.L. "Rip" Gooch and Navy Radioman 1st Class Morris Paddock

Marine Colonel Paul "Buster" Sanchez: Kit Paul "Buster" Sanchez passed away on May 29, 2018. He was a Veitnam War veteran and served in the National Guard until 2004. His obituary can be found here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/kansas/name/kit-sanchez-obituary?id=11860859Army Staff Sergeant U.L. "Rip" Gooch: Ulysses Lee "Rip" Gooch served in the US Army during World War II, eventually shipping out to the Philippines, where he served as a sergeant supervising a construction operation. He moved to Wichita in 1951 and later worked at Boeing before battles with racism lead him to start his own Fixed Base Operation flight company. He later served on the Wichita City Council, then as a Kansas State Senator for the 29th District, from 1993-2004.More information can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U._L._GoochNavy Radioman 1st Class Morris Paddock

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Looking East: Army Captain Mike Pompeo, Army Second Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley, Marine Lance Colonel Ron Floyd and Army Technician 5th Charles Ceaphus Brooks

Army Captain Mike Pompeo: Mike Pompeo graduated at the top of his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point, then served in the Army from 1986-1991. He served with the West Germany-based 2nd Squadran, 7th Calvary, in the 4th Infantry Division. He left the Army at the rank of captain. He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives for District 4, before being named Director of the CIA and later U.S. Secretary of State.More information can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_PompeoArmy Second Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley: Erwing R. Bleckley was a World War I aviator from Wichita, Kansas. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his attempts to locate and resupply the "Lost Battalion" - a infantry regiment of U.S. soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. He reportedly told his commander before his final mission, "We'll make the delivery or die trying." He was killed on October 6, 1918.More information can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_R._BleckleyMarine Lance Colonel Ron Floyd: Ron Floyd served as a radio operator during the Vietnam War. After 17 years in the Marines, he retired and joined the Army Reserve. He later spent 6 months in Iraq, serving as an Intelligence Analyst.An interview with Ron Floyd can be watched here: https://www.kake.com/story/46353092/hometown-hero-ron-floyd-veteran-usmc-vietnam-and-us-army-reserve-iraqArmy Technician 5th Charles Ceaphus Brooks: https://www.thejacksonmortuary.com/obituary/charles-brooks

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Looking East: Army National Guard Sergeant Tom Selleck and Army Aviation Warrant Officer James Eisenhour

Army National Guard Sergeant Tom Selleck. The actor served in the California National Guard's 160th infantry from 1967-1973.Army Aviation Warrant Officer James Eisenhour

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Looking East: Navy Carpenters Mate 3rd Class Herb Cole, Air Force Herman Hicks, Navy Chief Petty Officer Michael Monarez and Army Private First Class H. Bolton

Navy Carpenters Mate 3rd Class Herb Cole, was a member of the Naval Construction Force, better known as the Seabees.Retired Colonel Herman Hicks served in the Air Force for 25 years, from 1980-2005 and is currently the pastor of Greater Pentecostal Church of God in Christ (730 N Cleveland) in Wichita.Retired Chief Petty Officer Micheal Monarez served in the Navy for 24 years.Army Private First Class Harvey Ivan Bolton: Harvey Bolton was killed on June 6, 1944, otherwise known as "D-Day."

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Looking West: Army Sergeant Kaleb Hernandez, Navy Gunner's Mate Second Class Harold Lee Smith

Army Sergeant Kaleb Hernandez: Sergeant Hernandez joined the Army in 2018 and continues to serve today.Navy Gunner's Mate Second Class Harold Lee Smith: Served from 1943-1946.

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Looking East: Afganistan KIA Group #1: Marines Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover, Marines Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola, Marines Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz

On August 26, 2021, a suicide bombing took place at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The bombing occurred during the evaculation of Afghanistan that took place amid the withdrawl of US and NATO forces from the country. The attack killed at least 182 people including 13 members of the United States Military: 11 marines, one soldier from the 8th Psychological Operations Group, and one Navy corpsman. Among those killed in service to their country were:Marines Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover (July 24, 1990 - August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/arlington-va/taylor-hoover-10342834Marines Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola (April 23, 2001 - August 26, 2021)Marines Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz (February 25, 2001 - August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/stltoday/name/jared-schmitz-obituary?id=6460027

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Looking East: Afganistan KIA Group #2 Army Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss, Marine Lance Corporal David Espinoza and Marine Sergeant Johanny Pichardo

On August 26, 2021, a suicide bombing took place at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The bombing occurred during the evaculation of Afghanistan that took place amid the withdrawl of US and NATO forces from the country. The attack killed at least 182 people including 13 members of the United States Military: 11 marines, one soldier from the 8th Psychological Operations Group, and one Navy corpsman. Among those killed in service to their country were:Army Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss (-August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.knoxnews.com/obituaries/kns039183Marine Lance Corporal David Espinoza (July 10, 2001 - August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.knoxnews.com/obituaries/kns039183Marine Sergeant Johanny Pichardo (March 15, 1996 - August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/22233336/usmc-sergeant-johanny-rosario-pichardo

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Looking East: Afganistan KIA Group #3 Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee, Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxlon Soviak and Marine Colonel Humberto Sanchez

On August 26, 2021, a suicide bombing took place at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The bombing occurred during the evaculation of Afghanistan that took place amid the withdrawl of US and NATO forces from the country. The attack killed at least 182 people including 13 members of the United States Military: 11 marines, one soldier from the 8th Psychological Operations Group, and one Navy corpsman. Among those killed in service to their country were:Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee (May 1, 1998 - August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/roseville-ca/nicole-gee-10358275Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxlon Soviak (January 22, 1999 - August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.mormanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Maxton-SoviakMarine Colonel Humberto Sanchez (December 2, 1998 - August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.gundrumcares.com/obituary/CplHumbertoBert-Sanchez

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Looking East: Afganistan Group #4 Marine Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum, Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, Marine Corporal Daegan Page and Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez

On August 26, 2021, a suicide bombing took place at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The bombing occurred during the evaculation of Afghanistan that took place amid the withdrawl of US and NATO forces from the country. The attack killed at least 182 people including 13 members of the United States Military: 11 marines, one soldier from the 8th Psychological Operations Group, and one Navy corpsman. Among those killed were:Marine Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum (February 6, 2001 - August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/valley/obituaries/mccollum-20-met-challenges-head-on/article_df94245a-9346-52a7-906b-0b394bbdb77a.htmlMarine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui (January 4, 2001 - August 26, 2021)Marine Corporal Daegan Page (February 6, 1998 - August 26, 2021)Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez (January 5, 1999 - August 26, 2021)Obituary: https://www.desertsun.com/obituaries/pds028481