23 Sep 2013 Greenbrier, Conway veterans to be inducted into hall of fame
Two Faulkner County veterans are among the 2013 inductees to the Arkansas Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame (AMVHOF).
Maj. Archibald Douglass Odom of Greenbrier and Tech 5 Willard L. Blake of Conway will be honored at an induction banquet 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock.
"We are extremely honored to be able to recognize these extraordinary Arkansans who have honored our State with their heroism and service. The narratives of their accomplishments will inspire all who attend the Induction Ceremony," said Col. (Ret.) Conrad Reynolds, director of the Arkansas Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame.
The first 10 individuals listed (below) will be inducted for exceptional military accomplishments and inductees 11-15 will be inducted for combined military and civilian public service. Individuals to be honored are:
1. Lt. Col. Hugh Louis Mills of Monticello who earned three Silver Star medals, the Legion of Merit, four Distinguished Flying Crosses and a Bronze Star Medal for Valor. (Vietnam)
2. Brig. Gen. Robinson Risner of Mammoth Springs who earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, eight Air Medals, four Purple Hearts and the Prisoner of War Medal for his seven years of captivity in Vietnam.
3. Maj. Archibald Douglass Odom of Greenbrier who earned the Silver Star Medal, five awards of the Bronze Star Medal and two Purple Hearts. (Vietnam)
4. Capt. Chester Lloyd Lee, deceased of Poyen, who earned the Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart and two Army Commendation Medals. (Vietnam)
5. Sgt. First Class James William Holt, deceased of Hope, who earned the Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart as a Green Beret. (Vietnam)
6. Specialist Logan Garrett Brown of El Dorado who earned the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart for Valor. (Iraq)
7. Maj. James Lewis Sanders of Hot Springs who earned the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal. (Vietnam)
8. Tech 5 Willard L. Blake of Conway who earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart (WWII)
9. Tech Sgt. Carl Bud Vandiver of Prescott who earned the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. (WWII)
10. Sgt. Orlando Duncan Jones, deceased of Crossett, who earned the Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation. (WWII)
11. Lt. Colonel Emanuel Sylvester Lawbaugh of Fayetteville who earned the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart for valor. (Vietnam)
12. Col. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, deceased of Petit Jean Mountain, who earned two Bronze Star medals and the Purple Heart. (WWII)
13. Col. John Paul Shock of Little Rock who earned the Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service medal.
14. Brig. Gen. William Henry Webster of Little Rock who earned the Silver Star Medal, two Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Flying Cross. (WWII)
15. Col. Willard Alvin Hawkins, deceased of Little Rock, who earned two Legion of Merits. (WWII)
Tickets to the induction banquet may be purchased by calling 888.329.3845. Individuals calling should leave their phone number and indicate the number of tickets desired. The public is also encouraged to nominate deserving Arkansans for the 2014 induction class by downloading nomination forms on the AMVHOF website at amvhof.org.
