08 Oct 2023 Arkansas Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame honors new inductees
By Dwain Hebda
Since 2011, the Arkansas Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame has honored distinguished veterans and their sacrifice in defense of freedom and the American way of life. The organization sprang from the efforts of Arkansas veterans who were concerned at the lack of such a hall to recognize the military men and women who by their actions had brought such honor to The Natural State.
The latest group of inductees will be enshrined at the organization’s Hall of Fame Banquet, slated for Nov.4 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Little Rock. The social hour, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony, is the main fundraiser for the group.
“We invite everyone to come out and support us and to meet these winners and learn their stories,” said Irwin “Earl” Wright, board member and a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Army, both active duty and Army National Guard. “There’s so many winners out there, and I call them winners because their stories are amazing and they’re true. Many of them never received anything more than what they’re getting now from us, and we are proud to finally give them the recognition they deserve.”
Wright said in addition to awarding a long-overdue accolade, the Hall of Fame serves to bring inductees’ stories to light, each one a compelling tale of self-sacrifice and bravery under fire for a cause greater than oneself. Donovan “Bull” Briley is just one example: The North Little Rock native was an Army Reservist and DEA agent before going on active duty in 1987. He was deployed with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment where he flew helicopters and was killed Oct. 3, 1993, while serving with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. The incident was captured in the movie “Black Hawk Down.”
“Some things you see about men and women in the military, like what you see in movies or TV shows, are not accurate or they are unknown altogether,” Wright said. “Anyone who saw ‘Black Hawk Down’ saw what happened in Mogadishu, but very few people know Donovan Briley was actually from Arkansas. When we presented his wife with his award, she was so happy that her husband, who had served in multiple countries, was finally being recognized.”
According to the organization’s bylaws, up to 15 Arkansas military veterans may be inducted into the Hall of Fame in any given year. Of those, up to 10 are selected exclusively for their valorous military service to the country, and up to five may be selected for combined military and civilian service to their community, state and nation.
Proceeds from the Hall of Fame event go toward expenses of the event and recognizing the honorees. Wright said the complete Hall of Fame is currently on display at the Arkansas State Capitol Building, with plans for additional displays in the future.
“Right now, if you go into the capitol to the second-floor rotunda near the finance office, you will see a big monument there with the Hall of Fame,” he said. “We’re trying to get another one at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. We’re working on a Military Veterans Hall of Fame memorial display.”
Tickets for the Nov. 4 banquet are $75 each or $750 for a table of 10. For more information or to order tickets, visit amvhof.org.
2023 ARKANSAS MILITARY VETERANS’ HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:
Stevie Ray Tucker – North Little Rock
Ricky Lynn Waddell – Tavares, Fla.
Lyle William Butler Jr. (deceased)
William Dow Nesbitt – Cave City
Barry Timothy Bergschneider – Milton, Fla. William David Wofford – Conway
Teddy M. Mabry – Paragould
Warren Glen Ward – Benton, La.
Deborah Jean Collins – North Little Rock
Jerry Damon Pruitt – Fort Smith
Phillip Alvin Snodgrass – Little Rock (deceased) Robert Bishop Davis – Little Rock
Kenneth Dale Griffin – Fort Smith
Paul Dean Forster – Vilonia
Clyde Edward Watson – Poyen (deceased)
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