Rick Bauman

Rick Bauman of Lebanon served for two years and seven months in Vietnam as a petty officer third class with the U.S. Navy Seabees. He earned the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, three Bronze Stars, FMF Combat in Service, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, two Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citations, Navy "E" Ribbon and Vietnam Campaign Medal 1960. He has been the secretary/treasurer for Chapter 585 of the Vietnam Veterans of American for five years, and the finance officer at American Legion Post 51 for a year and a half. He has been an active recruiter for the VVA, and a tireless volunteer for both groups.

Robert Beall

Robert J. Beall of Lebanon retired from the U.S. Air Force after 26 years of service, including tours in Germany, 1958-1961; Japan, 1963-1969; Vietnam, 1970-1971; and temporary duty in many other countries. Some of his awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Southeast Asia Expeditionary Medal, Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He is a member of the 40 & 8, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Masons, Disabled Veterans, and Vietnam Veterans Assocation. He is a volunteer van driver, taking veterans to the VA hospital in Portland, and helps with the 40 & 8 bingo program to raise funds for the group's donations to the community.

Melvin Chaput

Melvin Lee Chaput of Albany volunteered to join the U.S. Navy shortly before his 18th birthday, with hopes of serving on a big ship. He was sent to Vietnam to command small boats on the rivers, where he spent 18 months. He was wounded and hospitalized in Saigon for a time before returning to his post. He was honorably discharged to the Naval Reserve. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Expert Pistol Shot Medal, Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon and Combat Action Ribbon. He turned down the Purple Heart. He is now active with the USCG Auxiliary and is division captain for the 6th Division 13th Coast Guard District. He is a lifetime member of the American Legion.

Brunk Conley

Brunk W. Conley of Sublimity enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1981. After many years of active duty, he joined the Oregon Army National Guard and eventually served in Operation Iraqi Freedom II. He also served in New Orleans for Operation Katrina, and in Afghanistan training, equipping and stationing the Afghan National Army. He is currently the State Command Sergeant Major for Oregon. Among his honors are the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Oregon Exceptional Service Medal. He has a bachelor's degree in education and a master's in political science. In his civilian life, he has taught high school chemistry and physics for many years.

Robert Gierau

Robert F. Gierau of Albany served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945 and the Air Force Reserves from 1949 to 1952. While in the Navy during World War II, he served as a pharmacist's mate while stationed in Enewetak, Marshall Islands. He then enlisted in the Air Force Reserves, where he served as a sergeant major of the mechanical group, 403 Troop Carrier Wing. He was honorably discharged in May 1952. He received the American AREA Victory Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Good Conduct Medal. He has been a member of the American Legion for 61 years. He also visits six high schools in the Albany area and sends several boys to Boys State every year.

Bob Gore

Bob Gore of Scio was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Hood, Texas, for medical training. He was in Vietnam from July 1967 to August 1968, and was a specialist fifth class while serving as a medic with the First Infantry Division, the "Big Red One," in Phue-Vinh and Quan-Loi during the Tet Offensive. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Vietnam Service National Defense. He was honorably discharged in August 1968 and moved to Lebanon. He worked for the Santiam school district for 26 years, and has had many officer positions in Albany VFW post 584, Cooties Pup Tent 12, American Legion post 10, AmVets 15 and Vietnam Veterans of America 585.

Nicoline "Nicky" Jones

Nicky Jones of Corvallis joined the Navy after graduating from Corvallis High School and served at Treasure Island, Calif., in various jobs. She met her husband there and after she got out they spent the next 10 years in the Navy in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Greece and Spain. They moved to Oregon with their three children and adopted one more. Nicky helped out in the childrens' schools and joined several clubs where she was in many offices. She has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary 11 for more than 17 years, and has been adjutant for several years and has worked on the Memorial Day programs for five years. Her two daughters and two sons are veterans and also members of Post 11.

John E. LaFranchise

John E. LaFranchise was born and raised in Oregon. He graduated college and entered the Army on the same day, Jan. 10, 1951. He was issued orders to proceed to Camp Roberts in California as a second lieutenant in the infantry. This was the start of his Army career as a training officer, where he had to walk and run over every hill and desert in California. He applied for Army flight school and was accepted as a student at an Air Force base in San Murcos, Texas. Having successfully completed the pilot course, he was sent to Korea in January 1952. He flew missions with an infantry unit for two years, then was reassigned to Hallomer Air Force Base in New Mexico to find missiles and rockets in the dessert. He spent the next 20 years of military service going to civilian and military schools. He retired in 1981. He is associated with American Legion Post 51.

John H. Landers Jr.

John H. Landers Jr. of Albany served in the Army from 1942 to 1945, including duty in the European Theater from September 1944 through August 1945 as a second lieutenant with the 217th Field Artillery in the 44th Infantry Division. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery and also was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in battle. Landers was presented with the British Military Cross, one of only 10 awarded to American GIs. His other miliary honors include a Bronze Star, the WWII Campaign Medal, the Army Reserve Medal of Service and a Presidential Unit Citation. He also served in the Army Reserves until 1982, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was Grand Marshall of the 2007 Veterans Day Parade.

John Langdon

John Langdon of Albany served with the Marine 1st Division from 1963 through 1968, stationed for the most part at Fort Sill, Okla. He was involved in artillery training and served as section chief for Bravo Battery. He is currently executive officer for the Linn Benton County Young Marines program, which was initiated in September and will graduate its first class in December. Langdon was named 2008 Marine of the Year by the local Marine Corp League Detachment 374.

Paul E. Linnell Sr.

Serving in the Army from 1943 to 1945, Paul E. Linnell was a sergeant with the 75th Infantry Division. He saw duty in Europe beginning in October 1944 and was wounded in action on Christmas Day in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken prisoner and held at Stalag 12-A. He was liberated in March 1945. He received a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, EAME Medal with three Bronze Stars, World War II Victory Medal and POW Medal. He is a member of the Big Timber Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Clara Moomey

Clara Moomey, 88, of Junction City is a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, and served for several years during the Cold War. She was on active duty in the Naval Reserves from 1944-64, rising to the rank of chief petty officer, teleman. She helped found WAVES National Unit 138 and was the first treasurer and a participating plank member since 1994. She participated in the Sept. 2, 1995, commemoration in Bremerton, Wash., of the signing of the peace treaty ending the war with Japan. She was an early member of and contributor to the Women Veterans' Memorial in Washington, D.C. She has received the National Defense Medal from World War II and Korea and the Medallion of Honor and Remembrance.

Ralph J. Morse

Ralph J. Morse of Sweet Home joined the Marine Corps at age 18 in 1946 and served until 1949. He was in the California National Guard for 30 years. He served as a mechanic and a crew chief with the F4U4. In the Guard he worked at an Ajax missile site, and then went to a Hercules site. He retired from the National Guard as a warrant officer 4. He has been an officer in the AM VETS Post 13 and was a board member. He helps out at veterans functions in the area, including helping remodel the veterans club kitchen, he cooks breakfasts, and attends meetings and conventions. He received the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, a California National Guard Ribbon, the California Drill Attendance Ribbon three times, and the Reserve Components Achievement Medal.

Roy Poppleton Sr.

Roy Poppleton Sr. of Albany served on the USS Currier in Korean waters during the Korean Conflict. He served in the Navy from February 1953 to November 1956, reaching the rank of boiler tender third class. He is a four-time commander of Willamette Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 17, and now is first vice commander; a three-year commander of the VFW Post No. 584; a member of the new VFW Color Guard; a five-year past commander of American Legion Post No. 11; and a 15-year member of the Post's color guard. He served two years as commander of Legion District No. 3. He serves on the executive board of the Linn County Veterans Memorial Association. He has been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Les Schmidt

Les Schmidt of Albany served in the U.S. Army from November 1952 to October 1954, spending 17 months in Korea. His awards include the Army Good Conduct, National Defense, Korean Defense, ROK Korean War Service, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, 50th Korean Anniversary Commemorative, Cold War Victory Commemorative and U.S. Army Commemorative. Schmidt joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1961 and has held various positions. He is also a member of the American Legion and Eagles and is a board member of Christmas Storybook Land. He decorates cemeteries and attends local parades as a Korean War veteran.

Jerry Scott

Jerry V. Scott of Scio enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1953. He was in Korea from January 1955 to March 1956 and then served in Japan until December of that year. He enlisted a second time and served until 1961, achieving the rank of sergeant E-4. His awards include the Good Conduct, MARCOR, National Defense Service, Korean Service, Korean Defense Service and Veterans of Oregon Honorable Service. Scott is a life member of the Korean War Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He has held an office in each of these organizations and helped with fundraising.

Don Stevenson

Don Stevenson of Albany served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, obtaining the rank of major. He flew B24s with the 13th Air Force in the Pacific Theater from Australia to Okinawa. He received a variety of medals, including the Purple Heart. Stevenson is a 30-year member of American Legion Post 10. He works to ensure the post's "Task Force Ten's" newsletter is mailed to more than 2,000 members of the Legion family each month. He has donated many hours at the post's coffee trailer at a rest area along Interstate 5 and has supported the auxiliary's annual rummage sale.