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TAPS SFC (Ret) Jeffrey L. Lear Taps - Present Arms.
SFC Lear's military service spanned two decades, culminating in his retirement from the Army after serving with honor and distinction. A member of the esteemed 82nd Airborne Division and later the Special Forces, he embodied courage and valor in all he did. His annual pilgrimage to Normandy for the ceremonial jump in remembrance of "D Day” was a testament to his reverence for history and sacrifice. Lear's last tour was with the U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit. Beyond his professional endeavors, SFC Lear's true legacy lies in his role as a loving family man. His ability to provide comfort, peace, love, and happiness knew no bounds. To his family, he was not just a husband, father, or grandfather - he was their hero. His grandchildren found in him not only a cheerleader at their sporting events but also a pillar of unwavering support and affectionate "POP POP." Among his proudest accomplishments was his beloved family - surviving him is his loving wife of 51 years, Shelia Lear; his children Jennifer Marshall (Kyle), Jeffrey J. Lear (Samantha), Matthew Lear (Nikki); and grandchildren Jackson Tyson, Hudson Lear Max Lear, and Adlee Lear. Farewell to a man whose heart was as vast as his love for his family; may his spirit find eternal peace as he embarks on his next journey beyond this realm. Services to honor the life of SFC Jeffrey Lynn Lear were conducted Thursday May 9, 2024. Graveside committal services followed at the Georgia National Cemetery with military honors being performed by the United States Army. (Here is a photo from 1976 with SFC Lear holding the guidon.) CWO4 Raymond Anti, USMC (Ret) Taps - Present Arms.
Raymond Anti was born in Plymouth, Mass., on January 6, 1933. Double Distinguished in Service Rifle (1984) and Service Pistol (1987), Ray Anti proudly served more than 30 years as a Marine before retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. He also worked as a volunteer at the National Matches for 45 years, a feat that will likely be unmatched. At the National Matches, Anti held several jobs, including working as a line officer, a member of the awards office staff, referee and many other duties. Additionally, he was a former U.S. Naval Academy Rifle Team Head Coach for 12 years (1986-1998). The U.S. Naval Academy Rifle Team was 11-1 against the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with Ray Anti as the rifle coach. Competitive shooting runs in the Anti family, as his son, MAJ (Ret) Mike Anti (USAMU Hall of Fame 2023), is an Olympic silver medalist and the current U.S. Naval Academy Rifle Team head coach, and grandson, Will, is the head coach of the 2023 NCAA Rifle Champion University of Alaska-Fairbanks Rifle Team. He also had two daughters that were trained in the shooting sports. He loved the competitive shooting community and was also a mentor to many young people as a coach at several rifle clubs and organizations. Anti was extremely proud of his work with young shooters. Not only did he form teams wherever he went, he also helped other kids succeed. No matter where Ray Anti was stationed, he made sure that youth in the area had the opportunity to learn the shooting sports. “He might have been tough in how he taught them things, but even young kids loved my dad,” Anti’s daughter Shelle said. “They respected him.” To honor Anti’s 45 years of service as a volunteer at the National Matches, in 2019 the National Rifle Association presented him with a shadow box that contained his 45 volunteer pins and year tabs. This special gift was made by fellow longtime NRA National Matches volunteer John Rickards. He will be remembered and missed by many. Yvonne Branham Taps.
She enjoyed living all over the US with her husband Burl and son Jeff, especially enjoying their time spent in Hawaii. Yvonne loved visiting Callaway Gardens, tending to her flowers; and spending time with her family. Yvonne is survived by her loving husband, Burl Branham; her son, Jeff (Dee Dee) Branham of Columbus; her granddaughter, Ashley Branham of Columbus, GA; and her granddaughter-in-law, Kim Branham of Columbus, GA. In addition to her parents, Yvonne was preceded in death by her siblings. A Celebration of Life Graveside Service will be held at Parkhill Cemetery, Chapel of the Pines, 4161 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907 on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 2:00PM. Rev. Glen Martin will be officiating service. Family will visit with friends an hour prior at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, St. Elmo, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Yvonne’s memory to Ida Cason Callaway Gardens. Ruth Ann Anderson Taps.
She was predeceased by her parents, Virgil Bell and Helen Curtin Bell; her nephew Barry Schmeichel; and her brother-in-law Harold Patterson. She is survived by : her husband Gary Anderson; her children, Kirsten Georgi (Ken) and Erik Anderson (Zac Snell); her grandchildren, Max Georgi and Annaliese Georgi; her sister Barbara Patterson; her nieces, Lynn Becker and Lori Cook (Alex); her sister-in-law Karen Hulce (Marty); and her niece Jill Reynolds (Andrew). Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Grace Lutheran Church - Elmore (19255 W Witty Rd, Elmore, OH 43416). A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 12:00 PM at the Grace Lutheran Church (19225 W Witty Rd, Elmore, OH 43416). Haruo “Bob” Yanagibashi Taps - Present Arms.
On April 20, 1942, Bob and his family were evacuated to the Tulare, California Relocation Center and eventually to the Gila River, Arizona Internment Camp until October 1945. Later Bob came with his family to Ogden, Utah. Here he stayed to complete his education, attending schools in Ogden City and graduating from Ben Lomond High School and Weber State College. He began his career with Morton ATK Thiokol (Northrop Grumman) and retired after 35 years as Senior Engineer / Scientist.
Bob served our country in the US Army. His active-duty period was served at Fort Benning, Georgia, during which time he competitively shot trap and skeet. He received an Honorable Discharge on March 31, 1968 and was a MMA Life Member. Bob was a member of the Ogden Christian Church.
Bob’s love of the outdoors turned his interest, hobbies, and likes to photography, fishing, hunting, trap/skeet shooting (including sporting clays), and home canning.
Bob has always been very close with family and looked forward to any gathering, no matter how big or small and planned or not. These gatherings meant catching up, taking pictures, and sharing in his culinary and home canning abilities which could be anything from frying up fish to everyone enjoying his awesome jams, jellies, and pickles. He never missed a gathering his entire life unless he was off on one of his many competitions or trips, doing the things he loved to do and making more friends along the way. All the memories, friendships, and associations Bob made by his learning and sharing experiences throughout his entire life made his friends seem like family.
COL (Ret) Thomas W. Moore
Taps - Present Arms.
Colonel Thomas Wesley Moore passed away on October 5, 2023. He has fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith. Tom was born on November 4, 1929 in Des Moines, Iowa just a week after the start of the Great Depression. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1956 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for the pulp and paper mill in St. Francisville of 30 years and retired in 1991. He held several positions including project manager, which included plant expansions, modifications, and renovations. He was responsible for the installation of the first computer systems and electronic controls in the plant. He was the only metallurgist in the plant and over the years became a world-wide expert on digesters.
He was a Professional Engineer (PE).
Tom was a lifetime active member of First Christian Church. He was active in Friendship Force, MOWW, MOA, Ochsner her Lifelong learning Institute (OLLI) and chairman 2010-2011. He led Great Decisions, gave power point speeches and TED talk classes.
He was drafted into the US Army as a private in 1950 as an infantryman during the Korean
Conflict. After having served in 5 enlisted ranks and 6 officer ranks he retired in 1989 at age 60 as a Colonel (0-6)
after serving his country in the army for 38 years, 9 months and 4 days. He is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. He won the 10th Infantry Division High Power
Rifle Championship competing against 26,000 troops. He was appointed Chief of Small Arms Weapons as a reservist and was called back to active duty in 1961 during the Berlin Crisis. In 1954 he earned his Distinguished Rifleman Badge for High Power Rifle, and earned his Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge in 1975. He is one of the few people that are Distinguished in both service rifle and service pistol. Additionally, he is a member of the NRA 2600 Club and
earned the President's
Hundred Tab. He was a Life Member of the Military
Marksmanship Association. Tom held an ISSF Judge's Class A license in the Olympic sport of shooting. He was
a judge and official in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He was Director/Official in one World Championship, 13 World Cups, Pan American Games and the Benito Juarez International Shooting Championships, plus numerous National shooting championships. In 1985 he was the temporary Women's Pistol coach at the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival in St. Louis. In appreciation of exceptional service at the World Cups in Los Angeles and in Atlanta competitions
he was awarded the bronze, silver, and gold medals.
Tom married Margaret Ficke Moore in 1954 and had 3 children. And in their 70 years of marriage, they enjoyed extensive travel to 116 countries and territories. We celebrate his life and his legacy and appreciate the 93 years God gave him to us. He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret; son, Stephen Christian Moore (Tina); son, Michael Harlan Moore (Brenda); and daughter, Lorraine Marie Moore Pitre (Scott).
MSG (Ret) Richard Curry
Taps - Present Arms.
Dick Curry passed away January 5, 2024 in White Settlement, Texas. He was born June 24, 1939.
Dick had been suffering from heart issues and had surgery last December 18th. He had two valves replaced and then continued to have recovery issues. It was from the recovery issues that he passed away. Dick was 84.
He had two children, a girl and a boy. After his divorce, Dick to his credit, took the responsibility of raising both children.
Dick will be remembered as a great team member and a continuous competitor – often found at Camp Perry. He earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1980.
If any of you would like to pass on condolences. Here is his daughter Lisa’s information: Lisa Lambert, 806 Timberdale Street,Grand Prairie, TX 75052. Mobile#: 817-480-5865
MSG (Ret) Waymond Alvis
Taps - Present Arms.
MSG (Ret) Waymond Lee Alvis, 85, of Smiths Station, AL passed away late Sunday night, December 10, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, GA.
Funeral services with full Military Honors and Masonic Rites will be held at 3:00 pm EST on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Vance Brooks Funeral Home in Phenix City. A private interment will take place on Monday at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery where he will be laid to rest with his late wife, Betty Alvis who passed away in May of 2016.
The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon one hour prior to the funeral service at the funeral home in Phenix City.
Waymond Alvis was born January 16, 1938, in Kingsport, TN, son of the late Martin Milner Alvis and Shirley Ruth Steele Alvis. He was a Vietnam Veteran of the United States Army serving our country for 30 years of dedicated service. He was the recipient of numerous ribbons, awards, and medals, receiving four Bronze Star medals.
He was a Mason and a longtime member of the Fort Benning Masonic Lodge 579. Mr. Alvis was honored to serve as Captain of the AMU while on base.
He had a great sense of humor, always sharing funny stories to anyone who would give him a moment. He enjoyed the outdoors, nature, hunting, and fishing and loved traveling across the country in his RV with wife Betty. He was a Christian by faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Lisbeth Betty Alvis and one brother, Larry Alvis.
He is survived by two nephews, Steve Alvis and wife Frances of Kingsport, TN, and Achim Kaese of Germany; two great nephews, Casey Alvis, and Steven Alvis, and two great-great nieces, Laila and Amelia; his Masonic brothers; numerous friends and his beloved pet dogs, Cricket and Coco.
SSG (Ret) Arpail J. Gapol
Taps - Present Arms.
Arpail started competing with the service rifle in 1960 and earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge that same year.
He won the Third Army Rifle Championships in 1962 and the All-Army Rifle Championships in 1972 and 1973. In 1967 he won the President's Rifle Match, the Pershing Trophy as the high shooter in the National Trophy Rifle Team match and was high Regular Service in the National Championships. Gapol displayed his long range skills in 1971 by winning the 600 yard Division "B" and the 1,000 yard Division "B" titles. In 1972 he was the Georgia State High Power Rifle Champion, the Dixie State High Power Rifle Champion and the Southeast HPR Regional Champion. In 1973 he was the National Service Rifle Champion and won the President's Rifle Match again. In 1974 won the President's Rifle Match again.
Arpail volunteered for three combat tours in Vietnam in 1966, 1968 and 1972. During the last two he as a sniper and sniper instructor with the 9th
Inf Diviision, 25th Inf Division, 1st Cavalry
Division and 101st Airborne Division. He was buried at the Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA on July 14, 2023.
MSG (Ret) Wayne J. Voter
Taps - Present Arms.
March 22, 1934 ~ August 6, 2023 (age 89)
Dr. Wayne Joseph “Wayne J” Voter, age 89, retired Army Master Sergeant, passed away peacefully at 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2023, surrounded by family and covered in prayers and love. A memorial service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 11, 2023 in the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory with Dr. Rev. Buddy Cooper officiating. Interment was held following the service at Parkhill Cemetery with full Military Honors.
Wayne was born March 22, 1934 in LaCrosse, WI, to the late John Edward Voter and Bernice Beatrice Rohde Voter. He was the fifth child in a family of ten active children. He spent his childhood hunting, fishing, exploring, and getting into mischief in the woods and land around his home. A challenge issued from his brother John, the eldest of the family, led Wayne to begin one of the greatest adventures of his life. Upon John’s returning from basic training, Wayne asked his brother what the Army was like. “I don’t think you can handle it,” John replied. Wayne took that statement as a challenge, and in 1950, he enlisted in the United States Army, claiming to be 18 years old when he was actually 16.
After completing basic training at the 10th Mountain Division, Ft. Riley, KS, he attended Airborne/Glider School. There he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, 505th Airborne. At the outbreak of the Korean War, he was assigned to the 5th Regimental Combat Team (RCT). He landed with the 5th at Pusan on July 31, 1950. On the line in Korea, he saw action as a rifleman with Fox Company (Co. F) through the Pusan Perimeter, Task Force Kean, Naktong Bulge, Wagwan, Pusan Breakout, and the capture of P’Yong Yang and Kunu-ri. At Heartbreak Ridge, Hill 520, after the death of Co. F’s platoon leader, Wayne assumed leadership and successfully called in directed suppressive fire, regaining control of the hill from the North Koreans and Chinese forces. Later, on Hill 662, he was seriously wounded by Chinese mortar fire and evacuated back through Japan to the US. This event would earn his first Purple Heart.
Wayne was released from the hospital in 1951. He rejoined the 505th Airborne Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. After various assignments, including the 11th Airborne Div. and the 24th Div. in Germany, where he spent three years, he once again found himself as an Infantry Sergeant in combat with the 505th Airborne in the Dominican Republic. When asked about the fighting there, Wayne brushed it off, saying that it “wasn’t that bad.”
Returning to the US, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg (now Ft. Liberty), then to the US Army Marksmanship Unit at Ft. Benning (now Ft. Moore), GA. In 1967, he entered combat again in Vietnam with LRRP Unit (52nd Infantry), where he was wounded by grenade fire on Operation Shenandoah II, Binh Duong Province. He was evacuated to the 93rd Evac Hospital in Long Binh. This event earned his second Purple Heart. He was reassigned to Ft. Benning in 1969, then returned to Vietnam as an advisor to the ARVN Army. After one year as an Infantry Advisor, he returned to Ft. Benning and became 1st Sergeant of the Marksmanship Training Unit. In 1975, he retired with over 25 years of service to his country.
Wayne has received over 25 medals, including the Silver Star and Bronze Star (for gallantry in action and distinguished heroism in combat, respectively), Legion of Merit, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Purple Heart (two), Combat Infantryman’s Badge (two), 11 major Campaign Stars, Distinguished Rifleman Badge, President’s Hundred Tab, membership in the NATO Distinguished Marksmanship Program, LeClere, Glider Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Pathfinder Badge and numerous other awards. As a marksman, he set several national records, and in 1954, he was named Soldier of the Year, 82nd Airborne Division.
After retiring from the US Army, he entered college in 1976, earning an Associate of Arts Degree from Chattahoochee Valley State Community College (1978), a Bachelor of Science from Troy State University (1979 and 1981), a Master of Science in Personnel Management from Troy State University (1983), and a Doctor of Philosophy from Pacific Western University (1991).
Dr. Voter, as his students knew him, was a well-liked and respected tenured professor, the kind of educator who distributed his home phone number to students in case personal challenges or requests for deadline extensions arose. He retired from his full-time faculty position in 1998 and worked as an adjunct professor until his full retirement in 2005. In his spare time, Wayne read voraciously about history and could accurately recount historical events in great detail from memory. His bookshelves overflow, and in each book, he wrote by hand the date he received the book and when he read it.
Wayne is survived by his wife of 53 years, Saundra (née Robbins). The moment she saw him at Ft. Benning, she told her friend, “I’m going to marry that man.” She did, and their love for and dedication to each other was evident to everyone who knew them throughout their lifetime together. In addition, Wayne was a loving and dedicated father to his blended family: his children Terry Voter (preceded in death), Jamie Herbert (spouse Tom), Cliff Voter, and Timothy Voter, whose mother, Betty Jo Dooley, preceded Wayne in death, and his children Scarlett Hollingsworth (spouse Ed) and Valerie Bos (spouse Brian), whose mother is Saundra.
Wayne was a proud veteran who always wore his cap indicating his service in Korea and Vietnam. Like many veterans, he often met other retired servicemen for coffee and breakfast at local restaurants where he was friendly, learning each employee’s name and greeting everyone upon entering. In fact, for years when he walked into his favorite lunch spot – Mama Goldberg’s – everyone on staff would yell in unison, “Hi, Dr. Voter!” When strangers stopped to thank him for his service, he was gracious and humble. Sometimes he even accepted their offers to buy him lunch or a coffee, but he always thanked them as well for taking the time to speak with him.
Wayne possessed a generous spirit and showed it through his actions. He was an active member of Living Grace United Methodist Church by attending services consistently, participating in the men’s group, being an honored veteran, and helping to send out anniversary cards to couples within the church. He was also a serious and knowledgeable coin and stamp collector. One of his frequent acts of love was to collect, preserve, and meticulously label coins and stamps, which he would then give to his friends and family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Surviving grandchildren include Tanya Robledo, Kristina Clark, Matthew Voter, Megan Herbert-M’Sadoques, Wesley Hollingsworth, Jillian Hollingsworth, Sawyer Hollingsworth, Nicholas Bos, Emily Bos, and Christopher Bos. Great-grandchildren include Tristan Clark, Aiden Clark, Ciera Jaramillo, Haley Robledo, Jordan Jaramillo, McKenna Robledo, Chloe Jaramillo, Sophie M’Sadoques, Sullivan M’Sadoques, and Theo M’Sadoques. Each set of grandchildren and great-grandchildren had a different title for their beloved grandfather: to the Bos, Robledo, and Jaramillo grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was Papaw; to the Hollingsworth grandchildren, he was Pawpaw; and to the M’Sadoques grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was Popple. Regardless of their name for him, to each child he was special – the heroic war veteran who also cracked jokes and remembered every birthday and holiday. He loved to give his grandchildren and great-grandchildren cash, specifically ones since a stack of ten one-dollar bills was more exciting to the children than a single bill. For these reasons, the employees at his local bank knew him well.
SFC (Ret) Arthur E. Austin
Taps - Present Arms.
He was the winner of the High Service Rifle medal in the 1973 Leech Cup firing a score 100-17V. He was Double Distinguished, having earned the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge in 1971 and the Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1974.
He was on the winning rifle team at the 3rd Army Championships at Fort Belvoir, VA while assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps MTU, Fort Bragg, NC. He subsequently served with Company B, 82nd Airborne Signal Battalion. His military service took him to Vietnam, Germany, Fort Benning, Fort Campbell and the Dominican Republic.
A Master Parachutist, he had over 600 jumps and recalls training a young officer named Colin Powell.
After retiring from the Army he worked at the Hercules Ammunition Plant in Lawrence, KS and then as a Property Manager at Walnut Creek, CA.
He was buried at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery on September 15, 2023.
Mary Kay Wigger
Taps.
Mary Kay was born October 8, 1939, in Whitefish, Montana, to Homer B. Spencer and Mary Ellen (Shoaf) Spencer. She spent her childhood in Montana and relocated to Ft. Benning, Georgia, as a military spouse not long after marrying Lones W. Wigger, Jr., on December 28, 1958. Mary Kay supported Lones and family for a 26-year Army career before retiring to Colorado Springs in 1986.
Mary Kay was a longtime volunteer, making a significant impact on the shooting sports. She began by assisting her husband Lones with the Ft. Benning Junior Club scoring targets, and hauling juniors to competitions throughout the country for many years. Then, after moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado, she began volunteering at NRA and USA Shooting sponsored competitions, including the Junior Olympics, World Cups and the NRA National Championships, to only name a few. In addition, she received her 30-Year Volunteer pin in 2013, and was a 20-Year Red Cross volunteer.
Mary Kay was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years on December 14, 2017, and is survived by two sons, Ron and Dan; daughter and son-in-law, Deena and Thomas McDorman; three grandchildren, Alicia, Karina and Michelle; her best friend Debi Hunter and a multitude of friends. She will be greatly missed.
A Celebration of Life was held in her honor at her favorite restaurant on June 9, 2023 in Monument, Colorado.
SGM (Ret) Theodore Bud Benard
Taps - Present Arms.
God peacefully reclaimed another member of the "Greatest Generation" as Theodore Bud Benard calmly passed away at home in Bountiful, Utah at age 97.
Bud reported to Fort Hood, Texas in August 1944 for basic training before serving in the Asia-Pacific theater during World War II. Bud was in the 96th Infantry Division as part of the second wave of the Battle of Okinawa from April to June 1945. Bud's battalion was preparing to leave by ship towards mainland Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped in August 1945. He always said this probably saved his life. He completed another 18 months of active duty in the Philippines, on Leyte and Mindoro.
After additional education, Bud worked at Hill Air Force Base as a Production Manager. He was known as MISTR at Hill AFB and around the country, which stood for "Management Items Subject To Repair". He was instrumental in developing a program that gave a Federal Stock number to every component on US aircrafts and missiles that may require repair. Those numbers are now printed on each component. He traveled to Air Force bases all over the country and trained people to use the system, and was always greeted with the name MISTR. In his later career at Hill AFB, he was involved in the maintenance of the F-16 Fighters and inspections following crashes or maintenance issues.
Bud's true love from a very young age was rifle shooting. Four years after returning from the war, he joined the Army Reserve 96th Infantry Division and became a marksman. He competed with and coached the Army Reserve Shooting Team. He took great pride in beating the Army, Navy and Marine teams. He retired early from Hill AFB at age 58 so he could spend full time in shooting competitions before required retirement at age 60 from the Army Reserve. He retired from the
Army as a Sergeant Major. He continued to coach the Utah State Civilian Rifle team for at least a decade after he retired. He received more trophies, plaques, medals and awards than can be counted. He earned the President's Hundred Tab and the Distinguished Rifleman Badge.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, May 11 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 N Main St, Bountiful. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful 31st Ward, 585 East Center Street, Bountiful. A viewing will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will follow at Memorial Estates, 1640 East Lakeview Drive, Bountiful, Utah.
COL (Ret) Kenneth Buster, ARNG
Taps - Present Arms.
He was a member of the All Guard Pistol Team from 1969 to 1988. He was the first member of the National Guard to become "Triple Distinguished" (Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge-1970, Distinguished International Shooter Badge-1977, Distinguished Rifleman Badge-1988), the 17th person in U.S. history to earn it and the only person to earn all three badges as a National Guardsman.
During his tenure he served as OIC of the All Guard International Team and the All Guard Pistol Team.
From 1973-1978 he was a member of the U.S. Shooting Team earning nine gold medals in international competition. In 1977 he won the gold medal in Men's Air Pistol at the Championships of the Americas in Mexico City
which qualified him for the Distinguished
International Shooter Badge.
He was a two-time Winston P. Wilson Pistol Champion, five-time All-Army Pistol Champion, four-time High National Guard Shooter at the National Pistol Championships at Camp Perry and held 52
NRA national and international records. He was selected to command the National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit upon its move from Tennessee and was the founder of the AFSAM and the Interservice Combat Championships. From 1967-1995 he devoted his time, skills and knowledge to the National Guard Marksmanship Program.
National Guard
recruiting poster featuring Kenneth Buster.
John M. Dorsey
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He was born in St. Louis, Mo., a son of the late Dr. Carl K. Dorsey and Jeannette R. Dorsey on December 20, 1938.
His family later relocated to Morgantown, WV where he attended Morgantown High School and West Virginia University earning a Bachelor’s Degree. He then attended U.S. Navy Officers Candidate School and served in the Navy on active duty for three years and the Naval Reserves for several years completing his service as a Lieutenant.
He subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he became a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and Real Estate Broker. He ran his company, J.Dorsey Real Estate & Appraisal, Inc. for over 35 years. During his time in Fort Lauderdale he was involved with numerous civic and charitable activities, having served as Chairman of the Fort Lauderdale Planning and Zoning Board for numerous years.
John was known for his love of baseball, being a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, his devotion to the U.S. Navy and his family.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Elizabeth Eason, and Step Son, Bartow Rainey. His only daughter, Mary Jeannette Dorsey, pre-deceased him in 2003.
A graveside ceremony with full Military Honors was held on Tuesday, April 25th at 2:00 pm at the Tallahassee National Cemetery.
George A. Mangus
Taps - Present Arms.
George graduated from West Virginia University in 1964 where he earned a Bachelor degree in Business Administration. While attending WVU, he was a letterman in varsity soccer and was President of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He was also a roommate of
former MMA President Bruce Meredith.
He was drafted and served at Fort Polk, LA.
His career in sales began at the Aetna Life & Casualty and he later became regional sales manager for Addison Wesley Publishing Company. He then founded Camelot Realty Company in 1985 and worked there until retirement.
In his spare time, George enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends at Oak Island, NC. He also enjoyed the outdoors through hunting, fishing, and playing golf. George had a big heart and loved to help people. He proudly served in the United States Army at Fort Polk, LA in the early 1960's and volunteered for Must Ministries in Marietta, GA. He was a devoted counselor at Camp Camelot in West Virginia in his youth and was active in his church and in various Bible Study men’s groups throughout his life. George had a passion for sports and was a volunteer basketball, football, and baseball coach for many years. He was a devoted husband, Dad, and “Grandpop,” who treasured his Sandy, 3 sons, and grandchildren. George never met a stranger and he will always be remembered for his incredible sense of humor and enchanting grin, both “wild and wonderful.”
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Sandra Mangus; sons, G.A. (Lauren) Mangus, Scott (Emily) Mangus and Brad Mangus; granddaughters, Grace, Hope, Addison, Ansley; brothers, Dr. Jimmie Mangus and John Mangus; sister, Jennie Mangus; and many extended family members and friends to cherish his legacy.
A memorial service to honor Mr. George Mangus, will be held on May 8, 2023 at 11:00am at Mt. Bethel Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George’s honor to Must Ministries or Mt. Bethel Missions.
Judy Boyd
Taps.
Judith Matus Boyd, of Triangle, Virginia, passed away peacefully at her home on February 27, 2023, with her family and the cats not leaving her side. She was born April 3, 1937, in Elizabeth,
New Jersey. She grew up in Belleville, New Jersey, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Degree from Trenton State Teachers College. Judy taught at Caldwell West in Caldwell, New
Jersey after graduation.
She was childhood friends with her future husband, David I. Boyd II, and his sisters.
Judy and DI
were married on November 3, 1961, in Nutley, New Jersey. The couple moved to Columbus,
Georgia, where she taught elementary school until the birth of their eldest child. In 1965, the
family moved to Triangle, Virginia, where they lived until Judy and DI returned to Columbus,
Georgia, in 1993.
She attended and volunteered at many USAMU Reunions over the years. Judy was a proud Marine wife to the end. Throughout her life, Judy was active in many civic
associations, the Red Cross, the Officer’s Wives Club, and was the social secretary for the Marine
Corps Distinguished Shooters Association. She was a beloved volunteer at the Quantico Thrift
Shop for decades and continued to volunteer at the Thrift Shop at Fort Benning, Georgia, upon
her return there. While in Georgia, she also became an active member of the Red Hat Society.
She loved traveling with her family to rifle matches across the US, and for over 50 years traveled
every summer to the National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio, where she
was a long-time volunteer for the NRA and CMP at the National Matches held there.
Several years following the death of her husband, DI, Judy moved back to Triangle, Virginia, in
2010 to live with her daughter. Back in Triangle, she especially enjoyed shopping with friends at
various garden centers and nurseries and loved visiting most any thrift store to hunt for great
bargains. She took great pride at being a volunteer at the Quantico National Cemetery until
March 2020, and was an ardent supporter of Best Friends Animal Society.
Judy was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, CWO4 David I Boyd II, USMC (Ret.); her
parents, John and Madeline (Burke) Matus; and her sisters-in-law, Helen (Boyd) Hansen and Effie
(Boyd) Alpert. Judy is survived by her daughter Jenny Boyd of Triangle, Virginia; son John Boyd
(Sue McGraw) of Frederick, Maryland; grandson Daniel and granddaughter Katharine.
Judy will be remembered and laid to rest March 29 & 30, 2023. Viewing will be held at
Mountcastle-Turch Funeral Home in Dale City, Virginia on March 29 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Funeral
services will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Triangle, Virginia on March 30 at
11:00 am with burial at the Quantico National Cemetery.
Lewis B. Sharp
Taps - Present Arms.
He was born in Searcy, AR on January 3, 1939 and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1959.
He was commissioned through ROTC in 1960. He attended the U.S. Army Ordnance School and was stationed at Rock Island Arsenal until 1962.
In 1962 he was assigned to the USAMTU as Executive Officer, Pistol Team at the request of W.S. Brophy. He was promoted to Captain in 1963 and appointed Chief Instructor, advanced pistol marksmanship in 1964. He received the Army Commendation Medal for his work with the pistol team, earned his Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge and is a member of the 2600 Club.
After voluntary release from Active Duty in 1965 he worked for TRW Jet and Ordnance Division, Cleveland, OH. In 1967 he joined Colt Firearms as Manager Small Arms Sales, Military Division. In 1971 he was appointed District Manager Colt Commercial Division. In 1976 he assisted the formation of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) as a founding member.
He was a Life Member of the Military Marksmanship
Association. Lew is survived by his grandson Nathan Nathan and his wife Amanda who reside in Little Rock. The family requests any donations be sent to the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400.
` Matthew Suggs
Taps - Present Arms.
Matt was the Chief Executive Officer of USA Shooting, the USA National Governing Body of Olympic and International Shooting until he became ill
in the spring.
Matt was an All-American Rifle shooter at the University of South Florida
(1987, 1988, 1989, 1990) earning an Engineering Degree and a Regular Army commission in the Corps of Engineers. He shot in the 1985 Championships of the Americas at Fort Benning in Men's Air Rifle placing 3rd and helping the team place
second earning the Distinguished International Shooter Badge. He then won the Junior Men's Standard Rifle 3-position event. He placed fifth in the 1985 World Air Gun Championships in Junior Men's Air Rifle. In the 1987 World Air Gun Championships in Budapest, Hungary he placed second in Men's Air Rifle and help the team win the World Championship.
He was assigned to the USAMU International Rifle Section in 1991. He also served with the 317th Engineer Battalion
on Kelley Hill as a platoon leader and company executive officer until coming back to the USAMU for the 1996 Olympic Tryouts. He earned the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (4) and the Army Parachutists Badge.
After the Army he worked at General Electric, Ariba and Oracle. He was the Executive Vice President of Mediafly, Inc. before joining the Board of Directors of USA Shooting and then becoming the Chief Executive Officer
in July 2020.
There was a Celebration of Life for Matt Suggs on January 28, 2023 from 1pm - 3pm at the Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 W Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27603. If you would like to donate to support the Junior Shooter program, we have partnered with Hillsdale College to fund the Matt Suggs Scholarship Fund:
https://secured.hillsdale.edu/hillsdale/donate or call 517-607-2727.
Joe Deckert
Taps - Present Arms.
Joe won the 1957 President's Match and the 1957 Leech Cup at the National Matches at Camp Perry, OH. He fired the first 250x250 in the National Match
Course at the Arizona State Championships.
At the 1958 World Shooting Championships in Moscow, USSR he won the 100 meter Running Deer Doubles Event and broke the World Record by ten points.
He placed fifth in the 100 meter Running Deer Singles Event and helped the USA win a Silver Team medal. In the 1961 World Moving Target Championships in Oslo, Norway he shot as an alternate and was not eligible for awards although he placed second.
He earned the Distinguished International Shooter
Badge and the President's Hundred Tab.
CSM (Ret) Richard G. Liberty
Taps - Present Arms.
He was honorably retired from the US Army after 30 years of service. He served two tours in Vietnam. During his service he earned many accolades including the National Defense Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Distinguished Rifleman Badge
(1963), Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, American Campaign Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Good Conduct Medal & Legion of Merit. He was also a graduate of the Noncommissioned Officer Academy. One of his final statements was that he served & loved his country & flag.
He was a resident of Munford for over 40 years & he attended many football & baseball games to support the school. He also was a fan of the University of Alabama & supported his home state of Pennsylvania by rooting for the Pittsburg Steelers. He enjoyed deer hunting & fishing.
CSM (Ret) Richard G. Liberty leaves behind his wife of over 67 years, Wanda as well as children Anita Wells, Carmen (Tim) Hafley, Richard (Pamela) Liberty Jr. & step-daughter Marion Nieves.
T/Sgt (Ret) Arnold Vitarbo, USAF
Taps - Present Arms.
Born on January 31, 1936 in the Bronx, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps when he was 17 years old.
After 10 years in the Marines he was recruited by the Air Force for another 10 years as a Weapons Specialist and Shooting Instructor. He was involved in the Marine Corps sniper program earlier.
He was on several USA shooting teams including the 1966 World Championships
placing 5th in Free Pistol, the 1967 Pan American Games (gold
individual and gold team in Free Pistol) and placed 4th in Free Pistol in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. He also was a member of the 1985 World Air Gun Team helping win a Bronze Team Medal in Men's Air Pistol. He was Triple Distinguished (Pistol 1962, International 1967, Rifle 1972), a member of the 2650 Club and earned the President's Hundred Tab.
From 1991 to 1994 he was the National Pistol Coach and coached the 1992 Olympic Team in Barcelona, Spain.
He was certified as an Advanced Instructor by USAS/NRA (also certified referee and member of the
Coach Development Staff) and was a Master Instructor for the CMP in both rifle and pistol. He
conducted shooting camps, clinics and matches for these organizations in many parts of the United
States, Puerto Rico and Mexico. He coached the University of Utah Pistol Team and oversaw the Utah
Summer Games shooting events.
Retiring after 20 years in the military, he decided to go to college and graduated from the
University of Hawaii with a degree in Japanese. Arnold worked as a Volkswagen mechanic, taught
Japanese courses at the Oregon Institute of Technology, and began his own successful company making
custom gun grips.
SFC (Ret) Harold L. Thomason
Taps - Present Arms.
Harold served in the US Army for 27 years where he distinguished himself repeatedly for valor, service and achievement. Harold's love of shooting and weapons maintenance led him to serve in Marksmanship Training Units in Europe and at Fort Benning, Georgia, both as an expert rifle marksman and as the all-Europe and All-Army gunsmith. These positions took him and his family to marksmanship competitions all over the USA and Europe. Harold served multiple tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam and in Germany. His many awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, two Bronze Stars, two Army Commendation Medals, the Occupation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with Silver Star as well as bronze, silver and gold legs in service rifle.
In retirement Harold continued with his passion for weapons and marksmanship. He taught gunsmithing and metallurgy at Trinidad State University in southern Colorado for many years and volunteered with the US Olympic Biathlon team. His expertise was routinely sought by weapons manufacturers around the world to evaluate and test new weapons systems.
It was in Karlsruhe, Germany that Harold met and courted his future wife of almost 70 years, Hannelore, who survives him, along with his loving daughter Sylvana (Gerald) Stratton of Monterey, California and loyal son Harold Lloyd Thomason of Trinidad, Colorado.
His gentle nature and love of animals also led him to adopt an orphaned groundhog which he transported to Germany when he was assigned to the Marksmanship Training Unit in Grafenwöhr!
Funeral Services will be held Friday September 30, 2022, 1 pm at the Comi Funeral Home Chapel.
Inurnment was held on Monday, October 3, 2022 at 1 pm at Pikes Peak Veterans National Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO, with full military honors conducted by Ft. Carson Honor Guard Trinidad. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Noah's Ark Animal Shelter, 1921 E. Main Street, Trinidad, CO 81082.
LTC (Ret) Harry A. Lucker
Taps - Present Arms.
Harry was born in Tientsin, China and raised in El Paso, TX. He graduated from UT-El Paso with a degree in Geology. He proudly served in the US Army for 20 years and was stationed in Germany, Vietnam, the Belgian Congo, and Thailand, as well as many bases in the US.
He was an accomplished rifle and pistol shooter and was inducted into the US Army Marksmanship Unit
Running Target Hall of Fame in Fort Benning. He was honored with the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, the U.S. Distinguished International Shooter Badge and the President's Hundred Tab.
He won an individual bronze award, as well as the
team silver award in the Running Deer event in
Moscow World Shooting Championships in 1958.
He won state championships in Georgia, Alabama and Texas, and was the national champion in smallbore rifle metallic silhouette in 1980. He was the Officer in Charge of the US Army Pistol team in Europe from 1964-1965, the Officer in Charge of the US All Army Pistol Team from 1974-1978 in Ft. Benning, GA, and the Officer in Charge of the US Army Running Target Team from 1977-1978.
Harry spent his retired years learning about US history, hiking with the Geology department of NMSU, and target shooting with the El Paso Gun Club and Picacho Gun of Las Cruces.
He is survived by his wife, Marjory Lucker. Marjory and Harry recently relocated to Lone Tree, Colorado.
Internment was Friday, September
23, 2022, Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S.
Sheridan Blvd, Denver, Colorado.
SFC (Ret) Norman "Skarp" Skarpness
Taps - Present Arms.
He joined the Army in 1948. He served one tour in Korea with the 7th Infantry Division, one tour in Vietnam with 90th Rep, two tours in Europe with the 10th Armored Division and 3rd Armored Division, one tour with 3rd Army MTU and three tours with the USAMTU in 1958-62, 1965-67 and 1969-72.
In 1957 he won the Musketry Match in the All Army Matches, earned the Presidents Hundred Tab and earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge. In 1958 he won the 3rd Army Rifle Championships, shot on the 3rd Army Rifle Team that won all the team matches at All-Army, shot on the Army team that won the National Trophy (Dogs of War Trophy) and won the Army Times Award.
In 1959 and 1960 he shot on the winning National Trophy Infantry Trophy teams at Camp Perry. He later shot on two winning
Ten-Man Teams at the Interservice Rifle Championships.
He represented the USA in three World Championships (1961, 1962, 1967) in the 100m Running Deer earning the U.S. Distinguished International Shooter Badge in 1962.
After retiring in 1973, he went to Columbus College and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
LTC (Ret) Thomas D. Smith III, USAF
Taps - Present Arms.
To his friends, TD was one cool cat who had more lives than a feline. After being assigned to a secret mission with Peshmerga snipers in Turkey in January of 1966, he survived 5000 feet fall as a passenger on a military flight that crashed high in the mountains of Greece. After forty-eight hours of nursing the wounded in artic conditions at the crash site, TD made a solo 1500 foot descent in an effort to signal rescuers, saving some of the injured passengers - all high ranking US military officers heading to Naples. He was awarded the Airman’s medal for heroism and returned to flying after recovering from his severe injuries.
A son of a career Army intelligence officer, TD was no stranger to Washington politics. One of
his fondest childhood memories was staying with his great uncle Vice President John Nance Garner (serving
two terms w FDR.) at the VP’s DC residence. In 1956, it was “Cactus Jack” as Vice President Garner
was known in political circles, who helped him navigate the continual harassment brought
by the KKK in racially charged Selma Alabama when TD volunteered to mentor the first
African American Jet Fighter Instructor at the now defunct Craig Air Force Base.
Claiming to have never lost a fight, TD was a lanky Texas gentle giant and devout in his
Christian faith. Still volunteering with his church at 90, TD mentored homeless men and veterans
struggling with re-entry into civilian life. Survived by his sister, his five children and wife
Barbara, he will be missed by many.
He was buried Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Oklahoma City, OK. In lieu of flowers, donations may made to the
Wounded Warriors project.
He was a member of the MMA. LTC (Ret) Walter A Greenwood
Taps - Present Arms.
He graduated from Texas Tech University, Lubbock,
Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and a commission as an Infantry 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Army Reserve on May 28, 1955. He served overseas in South Korea, Vietnam and Iran.
He was an Infantry Officer and had postings Ft Riley, Kansas, Ft Benning, Georgia, Ft Bragg, North Carolina
and Ft Richardson, Alaska. Additionally, he taught ROTC at Sam Houston State College, at Huntsville, Texas, and attended the U.S Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
He was stationed in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 and was involved in the Tet Offensive of January 1968. He was awarded two Bronze Stars and numerous other medals during this critical time in history. He was also stationed in Tehran, Iran from 1971-1974 before being assigned to the USAMU.
He was the OIC of the USAMU Shotgun Section.
He was a member of the MMA. His obituary may be seen at https://www.caller.com/obituaries/cct028850.
MAJ (Ret) Presley W. Kendall
Taps - Present Arms.
He was commissioned June 2, 1958 and was assigned off and on to the USAMTU 1958-1968. He was later the FORSCOM Marksmanship Officer at Fort McPherson, GA. He was a Vietnam veteran.
Pres was the National Smallbore Rifle Prone Champion at Camp Perry, OH in 1962, 1972, and 1974. He was the National Smallbore Rifle Position Champion at Camp Perry, OH in 1964. He won the British Smallbore Rifle
Prone Championships in Bisley, England in 1982. He won a gold team medal in the 1959 Pan American Games,
a silver team medal in the 1962 World Shooting Championships, a silver team medal in the 1974 World Shooting Championships and a gold team medal in the 1977 Championships of the Americas.
He was on the 1973 and 1981 NRA Pershing Smallbore Rifle Prone Teams and the 1977 and 1985 NRA Lord Earl Roberts Smallbore Rifle Prone Teams.
He was on the Dewar Team 22 times and was the 1988 Dewar Team Coach and 1989 Dewar Team Captain.
He earned the U.S. Distinguished International Shooter Badge, the Distinguished Rifleman Badge, the NRA Distinguished Smallbore Rifle Prone Badge, the NRA Distinguished Smallbore Rifle Position Badge and the NRA International Distinguished Smallbore Rifleman Award.
SGM (Ret) Clinton D. Stephens Taps - Present Arms.
He proudly served his country, including two combat tours in the Vietnam War. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Silver Service Star, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 3), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, 4 Overseas Service Bars, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
His career culminated with the United States Army Marksmanship Unit where he had earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge and the President’s Hundred Tab. After 30-years of service he retired as the USAMU Sergeant Major on April 30, 1983. He was also a 32nd degree Mason with over 50-years of humble service to his community.
He was a member of the MMA.
Online obituary.
SGM (Ret) Alfred J. O'Neill Taps - Present Arms.
SGM O'Neill was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, the son of James O'Neill and Ethel Melton. After high school, Mr. O'Neill enlisted in the United States Army where he faithfully served his country for thirty years. During his tenure as a soldier, he achieved the rank of Sergeant Major serving as an airborne ranger and infantryman.
CSM O'Neill served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. During his WWII deployment he fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
He earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1957.
One of his greatest accomplishments was serving as the Rifle Team Coach at U. S. Military Academy, West Point, NY which is the position he held upon retirement. After his military career, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing golf and gardening. Mr. O'Neill treasured the visits and conversations with his retired military family.
He was a member of the MMA. LTC (Ret) Weldon 'Mike' Griggs Taps - Present Arms.
Mike was 82 when he died. Being an All American Rifle Team member at Oregon
State University he was assigned to the USAMTU in 1963, and
won the Singles and Double Run of Running Deer that year. He
transitioned to Running Boar and was the National Champion
in 1964. He signed on to be in charge of the Army Reserve
Running Target Team. He competed in England, Germany,
Finland, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
He was Team Manager for the USA at the 1987 World Air Gun
Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He was the Team Manager at the 1981 National Sports Festival in Syracuse, New
York.
He served with the USAR until his retirement as a Lieutenant
Colonel in 1987. He was worth his weight in gold so far as dependability was concerned. He never had to asked twice to get
something done.
He wrote articles for the MMA Times and attended every
USAMU Reunion. In retirement, he volunteered as a guide at
an Air Museum in California.
He was a Forest Ranger in the State of Washington, a volunteer
on the Search and Rescue Team of his community, and actually
helped select the site for the National Cemetery where he now
rests. There is so much to say about him. A magnificent person
and a true patriot if there ever was one.
There was a military ceremony at his grave at Tahoma National Cemetery (Photo) in Seattle, WA on June 27, 2022 that was attended by Bruce Meredith, David Kimes, Lynn Levengood and Don Harmon.
SFC (Ret) Oliver Williams Taps - Present Arms.
Oliver was born June 12, 1926 in Center County, Alabama; the son of Lother Lamar Williams and Haynie Edwards Williams. He joined the U.S. Army in 1944 and retired after 30 years of service. During this time, he served in World War II, receiving a purple heart, the Korean War, and Vietnam. Oliver loved his wife, Inez, and cherished the time he spent with his family and friends. He was a fan of the Yankees, bird dogs, hunting and fishing.
He was the Service Rifle Coach of the Fort Benning Post Rifle Team when he
retired. He was a member of the MMA. He is preceded in death by his wife, Inez; son, Ronald; parents, Lother and Haynie; sister, Kathryn; brothers, Hoyt and James. He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Sankey; Daughter-in-law, Cathy Williams; grandson, Chris (Couri) Williams; granddaughter, Jennifer Wilson; and great grandson, Trey Wilson.
A visitation for the family and friends of Oliver will be held Thursday, December 16, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 2:50 PM at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Rd, Columbus, Georgia 31907, followed by a funeral service at 3:00 PM. Oliver will be entombed in the Memorial Mausoleum in Parkhill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Rd, Columbus, GA 31907-2211.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Cancer Research Institute or the Macular Degeneration Association.
COL (Ret) Dennis Dingman Taps - Present Arms.
Denny was 84 when he passed away at Sanford Medical
Center, surrounded by his wife of 55 years and their three
children. Mass of Christian Burial was Monday, November 22, 2021 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Dennis hunted rabbits and pheasants in the country and
shot in a junior rifle club in Sioux Falls. His proficiency
for target shooting travelled with him to college where he
was a member of the South Dakota State University Rifle
Team and the ROTC.
By the time Dennis graduated with a Bachelor of Science
in Pharmacy degree in 1960, he was more than just ‘a
good shot.’ Dennis entered active duty and earned a spot
on the prestigious United States Army Marksmanship
Training Unit 1963-66. A world-class marksman, Dennis
shot competitively around the world.
In 1966-67, Dennis served a tour in Vietnam where he
was stationed at the U.S. Army Signal Corps headquarters
in Saigon. He was on the USAR International Rifle Team
1968-82 and USAR Service Rifle Team 1983-84.
The best part of shooting, however, is that it gave Dennis
an opportunity to return to South Dakota to pursue a
much younger (and prettier) member of the SDSU rifle
team. Dennis ‘set his sights’ on Carol Mitchell, and they
were married in Watertown, SD in June 1966. Little did
they know then how much God would bless them in the
coming 55 years. In spite of so much travel, South Dakota
was his home.
Dennis worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital in
Sioux Falls until retiring at age 55 as the Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor.
Dennis had Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. While he met these changes with courage and dignity, a severe fall on November 15th prevented him from
the inevitable transitions facing him. Dennis spent two
days in Sanford Hospital where he received excellent and
compassion care, never regaining consciousness. While
surrounded by his wife and children, Dennis was released
into God’s loving arms
LTC (Ret) Thomas W. W. Atwood Taps - Present Arms.
He enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1949 and was commissioned in the Regular Army upon graduation from Norwich in 1953. Although primarily a tanker, he was a combat infantryman and senior parachutist. He served in various units stateside and overseas, including the occupation of Germany and two tours in Vietnam where he was wounded in 1963. Retiring in 1977 with 24 years of active service, he then served 8 years as the Director of Army JROTC in the Waukegan, Illinois Public Schools.
He also took pride in his marksmanship. While attending Norwich, won the 1952 National Intercollegiate Rifle Championship where he set the national record and was named to the All-American Team three separate times. Between 1954 and 1960, he was a member of several Army winning teams at the National Championship. Individually, he won the 1955 Southeastern Regional High Power Rifle Championship with a national record, the 1959 National Service Rifle Championship setting the Open and Regular Service national records, and the 1961 International Military Sports Council (CISM) Rifle Championship. He served as Captain of the winning United States Rifle and Pistol Teams in the 1960 CISM Championship in Athens, Greece and the 1961 CISM Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1983 he was inducted into the Norwich University Athletic Hall of Fame and the
US Army Marksmanship Unit Service Rifle Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1994.
LTC (Ret) Norman “Norm” Edward Goelzer Taps - Present Arms.
He was born on August 10, 1934, in Bloomington, Ill., to the late George Edward and Margaret Kendall Goelzer.
He graduated from the University of Illinois. He was a retired Lt. Col. from the U.S. Army Reserves, where he was on the USAR Service Rifle Team and USAR Running Target Team. Norm earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1969.
He retired as an engineer from Ford Motor Company. Known as 'Stormin Norman' by his friends, he enjoyed shooting and loved race cars.
He was a member of the MMA. LTC (Ret) Carter Berry Taps - Present Arms.
He was born August 20, 1949 at home in Blytheville, Ark., to Cecil Alton Berry and Mary Lucille Pitts Berry. He died at Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown campus after a brief battle with cancer.
His wife, Susan, was at his side when he passed away.
He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a mechanical engineering degree. He was ROTC at Arkansas and commissioned as a U.S. Army Infantry officer upon graduation in 1972. He also graduated from Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army in 1987.
He spent 22 years as an Army officer moving from Infantry to Special Forces where he was a Green Beret. He was a lieutenant colonel when he retired in 1994. His final assignment was the Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning. He also served in assignments across the Army, including the Pentagon.
After retiring, Carter spent 18 years working as a civilian contractor at Fort Benning teaching combat simulation.
Carter lived in the downtown Columbus Historic District for 45 years.
He was a man of many hobbies and an avid collector. He has hundreds of pigs, a constant reminder of his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks.
He also has an extensive collection of Pez dispensers. It takes up and entire room in his home and is the envy of every kid – big and little – who has ever walked into the house.
Gardening was not only a hobby, but a passion. He had a fertile patch in his backyard and produced tomatoes, peas, peppers and all kinds of goodness. Carter would grow it, Susan would can it and neighbors and friends would get pickles and jams.
He was a longtime member of the Columbus Exchange Club, volunteering for hot dog sales and pancake breakfasts.
He was a life member of the Military Marksmanship Unit Association and was the editor of the MMA Times and sorely missed.
When hockey came to Columbus in the 1990s, he was a volunteer timekeeper for the Cottonmouths. He was also one of the original volunteers for the Columbus Olympic effort in 1996 and he and Susan continued to volunteer for the local Sports Council after the Olympics.
Art Cook
Taps - Present Arms.
Art began shooting in 1939 at Boy Scout Camp. His first major victory came in 1946 when he won the National Junior Smallbore Rifle Championship, after which he enrolled at the University of Maryland. There he led the school’s rifle team to the National Intercollegiate Team Championships in 1947 and 1949, and was named an All American three times (1947-1949).
The diminutive Cook suffered from hay fever, which was not helped by shooting from regularly mowed grass firing lines. To combat his itchy watering eyes and a runny nose, he shot both quickly and accurately, able to rattle off 20 Xs and 10s in just three to five minutes.
At the 1948 London Olympics, his gold was won on a tie-breaker with fellow American Walter Tomsen as both had posted a 599x600, a world new record. Tomsen had dropped a point in his third string while Cook lost his in the last 10 shots. In the end, Cook out Xed Tomsen by one for the gold. The Remington Model 37 “Rangemaster” he used is now on display at the National Firearms Museum at NRA headquarters in Fairfax, Va.
Returning from London with a full head of steam, Cook shot the 1948 National Smallbore Prone Championship, defeating two-time repeat winner Garrett W. Moore for the Critchfield Trophy. This was the first of his two national prone titles as he would win a second in 1960.
In 1951 he was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force, joining fellow Olympian Art Jackson and Dick Hanson to form the first of that service’s rifle team. Success was immediate for that year Cook won the prestigious Navy Cup Trophy, a 20-shot high power rifle standing match, while Jackson won the President’s Hundred Match and Hanson took home the most prominent of all long-range trophies—the Wimbledon Cup.
Cook won the National Indoor Smallbore title in 1953 and again in 1957, the year he won the inaugural National Smallbore Rifle Outdoor Position Championship. The two victories made him the first to win both an indoor and outdoor position title as well as a prone crown. He followed that up with another outdoor position win in 1958.
Cook was a member of the U.S. team at the 1949 International Shooting Union (ISU, now ISSF) World Championships, the 1951 Pan American Games, the 1952 ISU World Championships and the 1954 ISU World Championships. In total he won three gold, three silver, and three bronze medals at these events.
Cook’s wife Mary, a fine shooter in her own right and a Randle Team alumna, suffers from a hearing disability which led Art to coach the U.S. Deaf Olympic Team in 1969 and 1993.
Art was a member of the 1953 and 1961 victorious Pershing Teams, a member of the 1600 Club, and has been presented the NRA Smallbore Rifle Prone and International Distinguished Awards. He holds the U.S. International Distinguished Shooters Badge and is a member of both the USA Shooting and University of Maryland Hall of Fame.
Perhaps the one thing that defines Cook’s shooting career is not his medals or trophies, but his longevity which is marked by his membership on 15 U.S. Dewar Teams. He made his first Dewar appearance in 1946 at age 18 and his last in 1988 at 60—a span of 42 years.
Marvin C. Spinks
Taps - Present Arms.
Marvin Spinks, age 59, MMA member and former AMU shooter, passed peacefully at the side of his wife, Bonnie, in Florida, the state where he was born and grew up. He began shooting rifle at the age of 14 and received training at the
USAMU while still in high school. In 1979 he was a winner at the first National Junior Olympics Championships and in 1980 won his first gold medal as a junior at the Benito Juarez Championships in Mexico. He attended West Virginia University and was a double All American (Air Rifle and Smallbore Rifle) in 1981.
He then became a member of the USAMU International Rifle Section for several years and left rifle shooting because of a shoulder injury. He next began training with a shotgun and progressed to be the Manager of the Callaway Gardens Resort Gun Club in Pine Mountain, GA. While there he became a certified shotgun instructor. He advanced his training in 2007 by attending the ISSF Academy Coaches Course in Kuotane, Finland. He progressed in his career and reached the level of a certified instructor and coach by the ISSF, ATA, NSCA, NSSA, NRA and USA Shooting. He was a full time professional shotgun coach in the Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL area. In 2011, he established the United States Clay Target Academy. He always displayed a high level of enthusiasm in his instruction. He trained 10,000 shooters and certified 500 coaches. He lost his battle to cancer and is now at the Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, FL.
Obituary
SGM (Ret) Jose Valentin-Munoz
Taps - Present Arms.
SGM (Ret) Jose Alberto Valentin-Muñoz, was born May 1, 1946 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and passed from this life on September 4, 2019 at Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care at Redstone Village after a lengthy illness related to his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.
He was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War and served his country for almost 31 years, retiring as a Sergeant Major. He served two tours in Vietnam as part of the 1st Infantry Division. He also served as NCOIC of the International Rifle Section of the United States Army Marksmanship Unit and retired from service after serving as a SGM with TMDE at Redstone Arsenal, AL.
Jose loved sports and he coached his children’s baseball and football teams as they were growing up. He played minor league baseball in Panama. Later he was an assistant coach for the Columbus Doughboys in Columbus, GA and Head Coach for the Rhein Main Rockets while serving in Frankfurt, Germany. After retiring from the military, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing and spending time with his grandchildren.
MSG (Ret) Greg A. Strom
Taps - Present Arms.
MSG Strom was born in Laramie March 27, 1957, son of Roy Allyn Strom and Joan Nazarenus Strom. He attended prep and graduated from Laramie High School in 1975, and received an Associate of Science in General Education from Troy State University in 1990.
MSG Strom entered the US Army in October 1978. After Basic Training and AIT, his first assignment was with the Fifth Army Marksmanship Training Unit at Fort Riley, KS. In 1979, he was assigned to the United States Army Marksmanship Unit. From 1979-1988, he served with the Service Rifle section as Instructor/Shooter. MSG Strom was one of the most successful Service Rifle shooters in the history of the USAMU. He was a Distinguished Rifleman, member of the President’s Hundred, and of both the NRA’s 495 and 790 clubs. MSG Strom was also a member of both the Service Rifle and USAMU Hall of Fame. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
MSG Strom is the only shooter to win all three major matches; US Army Championships, the Interservice Championships, and the National Championships, in the same year. MSG Strom is also one of only three shooters to win the overall NRA National Rifle Championship with a Service Rifle.
The last decade of MSG Strom’s Army career was spent with 1st Special Forces Operation Detachment-Delta, and he retired in 2000 after 22 years military service. His
USAMU Hall of Fame page.
He is survived by his wife, Vicki, and their son, Matthew; mother, Joan Nazarenus Strom of Laramie; sister, Suzanne Z. Strom of Wheatland; niece, Kelli Strom of Laramie; aunts, Norma Thompson of Laramie, and Marilyn Withrow (David) of Sheridan; his three daughters, Kathryn, Abigayle, and Sarah.
CW4 (Ret) Albert Coots
Taps - Present Arms.
Albert Jay Coots was born 19 January 1930 in Bakersfield, California. He enlisted in the Army in 1951 - served in Korea later that year. He returned to civilian life after 1955. In the early 1960's he started work as an Army Reserve Technician. But in 1963 he had an opportunity to participate with the local Army Reserve shooting team in Southern California - starting him in the US Army Reserve shooting program. Al was transferred to Atlanta in 1984 - served as "Marksmanship Expert" as the US Army Forces Command Marksmanship officer at Fort McPherson with the responsibility for all of the marksmanship activities in the Army within the United States.
From 1965 until retirement in 1988 Al was not only busy with his job, but also with the Army Reserve to include its shooting programs. He recruited many world-class shooters into the program and consequently the Army Reserve was recognized as "the team to beat". During the period from 1978 to 1986 the USAR Service Rifle team won 8 of 14 National Championships and was the first reserve component team to win the prestigious 10-man team Interservice championship. All the while, his full time Army Reserve unit – the 828th Station Hospital - was recognized as a “no problem unit” that consistently passed all of its inspections, conducted outstanding training, and was a welcome unit when they attended their annual summer training.
In 1996 Al and Millie and daughter Jennifer with granddaughter Emily Cockrell served as volunteers at the Atlanta Olympics at the shooting venue.
In 2010, Al and wife Mildred had the opportunity to travel to Korea for ceremonies honoring veterans from all over the globe who had served in Korea. He was very impressed by the changes he observed in the country since he had been there in 1951-52 and very honored by the people he met.
The entire family had a very busy schedule with church, school, Little League, Y Indian Guides and Boy Scouts, shooting, camping, fishing and hunting. In our family we thought he was the best, he and Jennifer had a running joke when she would tell him he was my "best-best Pop". Throughout his life Albert impacted many people, not the least of which included his family. His four children, with their thirteen children and step-children, and 11 great grandchildren (followed by two more shortly after his passing), along with eleven nieces and nephews and their children, as well as many cousins - all have been blessed by his character qualities of honesty, integrity, and understanding the value of dedication to family, responsibility and a strong work ethic.
Daniel B. Puckel
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Puckel was invited by COL Sharpe to join the newly formed U.S. Army Advanced Marksmanship Unit in 1955 and reported in April 1956 to train and compete in the 1958 World Championships, 1959 Pan American Games, and 1960 Olympics.
He won three individual medals at the 1958 World Shooting Championships
and four individual medals at the 1959 Pan American Games including a World Record in 300m Free Rifle 3x40. He competed in 50m Free Rifle 3x40, 50m Free Rifle Prone and 300m Free Rifle 3x40 in the 1960 Rome Olympics. He then helped the USA win four team medals and set two team World Records in the 1962 World Shooting Championships. He was awarded U.S. Distinguished International Shooter Badge #3.
Not only was he an accomplished shooter but was also a great intellect that retired as a chemical engineer. Our condolences to his family and friends.
We are diminished.
MAJ (Ret.) Ernest J. Vande Zande
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He graduated in 1971 from Murray State University with a degree in Business Administration. He competed on the rifle team earning All American honors all four years and
helped win four team National Championships. He was inducted into the Murray State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
He was commissioned as an Army officer in August 1971. During his active duty military career he served at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) at Ft Benning, GA, and Company Commander at Camp To Bong Son, Korea. After 23 years of active and reserve service he retired obtaining the rank of Major.
He represented the United States in the World Shooting Championships, Championship of the Americas, Pan American Games, World Air Gun Championships, and CISM Championships (commonly referred to as the military Olympics). He won thirteen medals in international competitions for the United States. In 1975 he was awarded United States Distinguished International Shooter Badge for his performance at the Pan American Games – Mexico City, Mexico. Many consider his crowning shooting achievement to be his performance at the Championship of the Americas in Rio De Janeiro where he fired a World Record in the 50M English Match event with a perfect score of 600.
He won 46 national championships while setting over 200 national records. In 1988 he was inducted into the USAMU
International Rifle Hall of Fame,
He was employed as the Director of the NRA National Junior Olympic Shooting Program and shooting operations at US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO 1982-1988. Responsibilities included the design and construction oversight of the US Olympic Shooting Center which continues to produce Olympic champions.
He was elected as the Athlete Advisory Council Representative for Shooting to
the United States Olympic Committee serving 1988-1996 and was elected as a member of the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors 1988-1996.
He was appointed to the United States Shooting Team Foundation Board of Directors in 1990.
He served on the NRA International Competitions Committee 1988-1994.
In 1990 he filed complaint to the United States Olympic Committee against the National Governing Body for shooting
(NRA) which ultimately led to the formation of a new and independent National Governing Body (USA Shooting) for the sport of Olympic Shooting in the United States.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of USA Shooting, 1994-1996.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Clark County Chapter of the American Red Cross and Powell Trust, 1995-1997.
He was employed for nearly 15 years as the Pearson Field Airport Manager for the City of Vancouver, WA.
Ernie unselfishly gave his energy, time, and financial resources in providing precision shooting coaching to countless individuals and teams over 55+ years in the sport of rifle shooting. We are all diminished with the loss of this great man.
His USAMU International Rifle Hall of Fame page.
SFC (Ret.) James H. McNally
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He retired from the US Army with 25 years service.
He then became the Range Master at the Gulfport Police Department,
served as the National Law Enforcement Sales Manager at Glock, Inc.
He was the owner of Glock Accessories and owner/partner
of McNally’s Triggers.
He was a member of the NRA Pistol “2650”club, won the Custer Trophy twice at the National Championships at Camp Perry, OH. He competed at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics in Mexico City and Munich. Holder of numerous National Records team and individual categories.
He was awarded the U.S. Distinguished
International Shooter Badge in 1962. Jim lived life to the most, always had a smile. He was a great guy and will be missed by all the shooters he coached and influenced.
He was proceeded in death by his beloved wife Matsu McNally. He is survived by his sons, John and Kenneth McNally, who both served in the USAMU.
We are diminished. His USAMU International Pistol Hall of Fame page.
MSG (Ret) Aubrey E. Smith, Jr.
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Aubrey Eugene Smith, Jr., age 88, of Locust Grove, GA passed away January 3, 2018.
He retired from the US Army with 28 plus years of service that he served very proudly and received numerous military awards to include
the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, the Distinguished International Shooter
Badge and the Presidents Hundred tab. He was inducted into the USAMU Hall of Fame
in 2014.
Aubrey also retired from GT Distributors as a District Sales Representative for 30 years. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, sports, playing cards, slot machines and was known for his personality in never meeting a stranger and enjoyed people. He was a member of the Military Marksmanship Association, the VFW, Veterans of Underage Military Service, and the Korean War Veterans Association.
The MSG Aubrey E. Smith II Memorial Trophy was donated in 2019 to the CMP by the Military Marksmanship Association to be awarded to the HIGH ARMY NEW SHOOTER IN THE PRESIDENT’S - NATIONAL TROPHY INDIVIDUAL AGGREGATE. MSG (Ret) William R. Lee
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February 8, 1938 - January 28, 2018
William R. Lee won three All-Army Rifle Championships at Fort Benning, GA and two Interservice Individual Rifle Championships at Quantico, VA. In 1976 he won the President's Rifle Match at Camp Perry.
He earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge and the President's Hundred tab. He was a firing member of the 1976 Palma Rifle Team.
He was a primary instructor for the Small Arms Firing School at Camp Perry, OH from 1969-1984. He was involved in training and coaching thousands of military and civilian personnel.
He set numerous National Records and was on many record-breaking teams.
He was a member of the
USAMU Service Rifle Hall of Fame and the
USAMU Hall of Fame.
LTC (Ret) Lones W. Wigger, Jr.
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Lones W. Wigger, Jr. (also known as 'Wig') was probably the most famous
rifle shooter of the 20th Century. He dominated rifle shooting in the USA and the world
for years.
1964 Olympic Champion - 50m Free Rifle 3x40, 1964 Olympic Silver Medalist - 50m Prone Rifle, 1972 Olympic Champion - 300m Free Rifle 3x40.
He was on 16 major U.S. international teams, won 22 World Championship
titles (two individual, 20 team), won 7 Pan-American titles,
had 18 victories in the Championship of the Americas
and 16 wins in the Council Internationale Sport du Militaire (CISM) Match. Over 108 International (UIT/ISSF) Medals.
He won the NRA National Smallbore Rifle Prone
Championship at Camp Perry, OH 8 times and the NRA
National Smallbore Rifle Position Championship 21
times. He won the indoor NRA National Smallbore
Position Rifle Championships 7 times, the NRA 300m
Free Rifle Championship 13 times and the NRA 50m
Smallbore Free Rifle Championship 8 times. He earned the U.S. Distinguished International Shooter Badge, the Distinguished Rifleman Badge, the NRA Distinguished Smallbore Rifle Prone Badge, the NRA Distinguished Smallbore Rifle Position Badge and the NRA International Distinguished Smallbore Rifleman Award.
Lones Wigger is a member of the
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame,
the
USA Shooting Hall of Fame, the USAMU Hall of Fame and the
USAMU International Rifle Hall of Fame. SSG (Ret) Meriweather Jones
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Meriweather Jones was a member of the USAMU Blue Pistol Team for seven years 1964-1971. He earned the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge and the President's Hundred tab. He earned the Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army Commendation Medal.
After retiring he earned a B.S. in Psychology in 1977
and had a career in Public Administration with the
State of Oregon.
SFC (Ret) Dustin W. Brede
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Sergeant First Class Dustin Brede died as the result of a tragic motorcycle accident September 23, 2017 in Phenix City, AL, just days after celebrating his official retirement from the US Army. He was 42 years old.
Following school, Dustin enlisted in the US Army. He was stationed in Germany, Ft. Benning, GA and Ft. Bragg, NC where he served with the 3rd Ranger Battalion and the Special Forces Command. He was a former Airborne Ranger, completing over 100 jumps and was just shy of Jumpmaster status. SFC Brede had deployed 14 times to Iraq and Afghanistan, and had just participated in his retirement ceremony, but was still on active duty until February 1st, 2018.
On April 24, 2015, Dustin was united in marriage with Nicole Allaire in Phenix City, AL. He was looking forward to being a stay-home dad and spending time with his three sons, the most recent of whom had just joined the family September 15th.
Nicole is the USAMU Operations NCO.
Dustin was an avid hunter and gun collector. He loved riding his Harley and held membership in the Ranger Brotherhood and KMS, both military Harley groups. SFC Brede was participating in a charity ride for a fellow Ranger at the time of his accident.
Obituary. SFC (Ret) Cleona Lee
“Buddy” Anthony
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He was a native of Amite, LA and a resident of Ponchatoula, LA.
Buddy proudly served his country for 21 years in
the United States Army, serving tours in Korea and
Vietnam, and retiring with the rank Sgt. First
Class. He was an extremely active member of the
American Legion Post 47, Ponchatoula, LA and a Life
Member of the MMA.
Some of Buddy’s greatest accomplishments were achieving the President’s Hundred Badge, earning 3 Bronze Stars, one of Valor, and winning many marksmanship competitions.
However, if you asked him, his greatest accomplishment would be his family. Buddy enjoyed watching sports, hunting, and fishing. He was an incredible man who will be greatly missed.
MSG (Ret) Ralph O. Thompson
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Ralph served in the U.S. Army from 1946 until 1968, retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant with overseas tours in Japan, Korea, and Germany twice. During his military service, Ralph was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (3), Medal of Good Conduct, Army Commendation Medal, Distinguished Pistol Shot Medal and was a 3-time winner of the President’s Hundred Tab awarded to the 100 top scoring shooters in the President’s Rifle and Pistol Matches.
Ralph was a world-class marksman who competed in the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg Canada and was a member of the US Army Team competing at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico. He was also a firing member of the US Army Team competing at the 1968 Conseil Du Sports Militaire International Championships in Fountainbleau, France where he won both the Rapid Fire and Full Bore Pistol events. Ralph set eighteen national records while assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Training Unit at Fort Benning, Georgia from mid-1960 until retirement in 1968 while holding a continuous berth on the Army Blue Team which won a number of overall national championships during that time. He won the individual .22 Caliber National Champion at the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio 3 times including a score of 893 out of 900 with 44 x’s in 1966, a record that was not surpassed until last year using a red dot sight pistol vs. the iron sights of the 1960’s. Competing as a civilian he won the Manchester Trophy for the individual high civilian score at the national championships in 1972 and 1973, leading the Georgia state team to back-to-back national titles as well.
After retiring from the service in 1968, Ralph was hired by West Point Pepperell in West Point, Georgia, serving as personnel manager at several locations in Georgia and Alabama. In 1973, Ralph moved his family to New Braunfels to serve as the personnel manager for the Mission Valley textile mills which had been purchased by West Point Pepperell. From 1977 to 1981, Ralph participated in the startup hiring of several new businesses coming to New Braunfels, including Conroy/Glastron and Coleman Company. From 1981 to 1988 he served as Human Resources Director for Detex Corporation. After retiring in 1988, Ralph continued to provide HR consulting services to Alamo Group (Seguin), Checks in the Mail, and Simpson Race Products in New Braunfels. He also volunteered and worked for Hope Hospice and Ace Hardware, “fully” retiring at the age of 80 in 2008.
Ralph had a passion for flying. He learned to fly in the 1950’s while stationed at Fort Ord, California. In New Braunfels, Ralph purchased a number of planes and could often be found at the New Braunfels airport, either flying or “telling lies” in the pilot’s lounge. He also built 3 aircraft in his garage which he flew often and only crashed one of them!
SGM (Ret) William B. Blankenship, Jr.
Taps - Present Arms. Bill Blankenship accomplishments include winning the National Pistol Championships
six times, the Interservice Pistol Championships three times and the All-Army Pistol Championships four consecutive times. He averaged 2650 for an entire year and was a shooting member of the National Trophy Team Match in both pistol and rifle.
He has won the President's Pistol Match and
won National Trophy Individual Pistol Match three consecutive times. He won the National Indoor Pistol Championship once.
He won four individual medals and ten team medals in the 1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970 World Shooting Championships and the 1963 and 1967 Pan American Games. He won the CISM Pistol Match in 1960, 1968 and 1969.
He earned the U.S. Distinguished International Shooter Badge, the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, the Distinguished Rifleman Badge and the President's Hundred tab. He was elected to the USAMU Service Pistol Hall of Fame, the USAMU International Pistol Hall of Fame and the USAMU Hall of Fame. He also served as the first President of the Military Marksmanship Assocation 1994 to 1997.
Obituary.
MAJ (Ret) Willis L. Powell
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Powell was born in Wellston, OK. He enlisted in 1947 and was a Master Sergeant when he went to OCS in 1958. He served two tours in Vietnam. He is known for developing and commanding the U.S. Army 9th Infantry Division Sniper School in South Vietnam and creating the sniper course at the U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning.
The sniper course he established allowed for soldiers to undergo training to develop the specialized skills necessary to operate as modern snipers, capable of precision fire from long distances and remained actively involved in the course until his death in May of 2016.
Over the course of his 24-year career Powell earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and the Army Commendation Medal. He also earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge and the U.S. Distinguished International Shooter Badge.
He shot Service Rifle and was on winning teams in 1957, 1960, 1961 and 1966 in the National Trophy Team Rifle Match.
He also shot Running Deer and medaled at the 1961 World Moving Target Championships and the 1962 World Shooting Championships. He was the OIC of the Running Target Section 1967-1971 until he retired as a Major in 1971.
He is a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Running Target Hall of Fame and was a Past President of the MMA.
He is remembered for his dedicated service to his nation, the marksmanship and sniper communities, and the community at Columbus, GA. MSG (Ret) Martin D. Edmondson
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Edmondson began competitive shooting with the 24th Infantry Division Rifle Team in Munich, Germany. He then shot with the 4th Army MTU 1966-67 and earned his Distinguished Rifleman Badge and President's Hundred Tab.
After a tour to Vietnam he was assigned to the USAREUR Marksmanship Training Unit in Germany. In 1972 while he was competing with the National Trophy Group at Camp Perry, OH he became only the second shooter in history to win the NRA High Power Rifle Championship with a Service Rifle (NM M14). He was then assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit from 1972 to 1981. There he competed in both Service Rifle and Running Target shooting. During that period, he won many marksmanship awards including making the U. S. Olympic Team in 1976 and 1980. He placed 14th in the 1976 Olympic Games 50 meter Running Target event, but was able to compete in 1980 because of the U. S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics.
He retired in 1981 and in 1985 became the National Running Target Coach and moved to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO where he coached until he retired in 1995. In 1999 he came back to start the USA Shooting Youth Development Program and ran that for a number of years.
Martin Edmondson is in the USAMU Service Rifle Hall of Fame, the USAMU Running Target Hall of Fame and the USAMU Hall of Fame.
An excellent article on the efforts of
Martin D. Edmondson for USA Shooting Youth Development Program.
LTC (Ret) William C. Pullum
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He is preceded in death by his first wife, Arlene Stone Pullum of Lynchburg, VA and second wife, Joan Thompson Pullum. He is survived by his son; Donald (Kathy) Pullum of Enterprise, AL
and daughters, Peggy (Jim) McCanless of Brentwood
and Sherry Pullum of Nashville.
Bill entered the Army in 1940 and was wounded
three times in World War II in the European Theater. He received a battlefield commission in 1944, served in the Korean War and retired from the US Army in 1966 as a Lt. Colonel. He was the coach of the Service Rifle and Infantry Trophy Rifle Teams 1961-62. From 1962-64 he was the Head Coach of the International Rifle Section and the 1964 Olympic Rifle Team that did so well.
He earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1969. He was the Rifle Coach or Team Manager for international shooting competitions from 1962-1988 including the US Olympic Shooting Team in 1964, 1968, 1980 and 1984. He served as the USAMU Custom Firearms Shop Officer 1975-82. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association from 1978-1988. He was the Chairman of the NRA International Competitions Committee that served as the National Governing Body for USA International Shooting for
many years (1978-94). He moved to Colorado Springs, CO to serve as the Director of the U.S. Shooting Team until Lones Wigger retired. Bill was the author of three books on shooting.
Bill Pullum has been elected to the USAMU Support Hall of Fame, the USAMU Hall of Fame and the USA Shooting Hall of Fame.
Obituary Return to Home page.
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I regret to inform you of the passing of SFC (Ret) Jeffrey L. Lear on May 2, 2024. He was a member of the winning 1976 National Trophy Rifle Team “Dogs of War Trophy” and he earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge.
He is holding the guidon in the photo.
The
shooting sports community is mourning the loss of
CWO4 Raymond Anti, USMC (Ret), a longtime National
Matches volunteer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran who
sadly lost his battle with cancer. January 6, 1933 –
April 19, 2024. He was 91 years old and a former MMA
member.
Yvonne Branham, wife of USAMU Hall of Fame member Burl Branham, passed away at the age of 86 on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at home surrounded by her loving family. Born August 11, 1937 in Davisport, Kentucky. She was the daughter of the late Charlie and Arizona (Ward) Boyd.
Ruth Ann Anderson, wife of USAMU Hall of Fame member Gary L. Anderson, was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming and passed away in Ohio at the age of 79 on February 18, 2024.
SSG (Ret) Arpail J. Gapol (January 19, 1933 - June 18, 2023) recently passed away in Tacoma, WA. He was a MMA Life Member and member of the USAMU Hall of Fame and USAMU Service Rifle Hall of Fame.
SFC (Ret) Arthur E. Austin (March 29, 1937 - July 1, 2023) recently passed away in Lawrence, KS. He was a MMA Life Member.
Mary Kathryn Wigger, age 83 and widow of LTC (Ret) Lones W. Wigger, Jr., passed away Friday, May 26, 2023, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
December 17, 1925 — May 5, 2023.
Kenneth Buster began shooting pistol in the mid-1960’s as a SP4. During this time he was selected as a member of the NRA All-American Pistol Team for four years at SW Missouri State College, while shooting for
college and the Missouri National Guard.
John Dorsey, 84 passed away in Tallahassee, Florida on April 15, 2023, after a short illness. He was a MMA member.
George A. Mangus, age 83, passed away on April 7, 2023. He was a member of the MMA. Son of the late Lawrence and Leva Mangus, George was born on July 22, 1939 in West Virginia.
Judy Boyd, widow of David I. Boyd, former USAMU Chief of Competitions, has passed.
Lewis B. Sharp passed on January 24, 2023 in Little Rock, AR after a fight with declining health.
Matt Suggs passed away peacefully on Thursday, December
8, 2022 from complications related to treatment for
Esophageal Cancer.
We received word that Joe Deckert has passed.
CSM (Ret) Richard G. Liberty passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at RMC hospital. He was surrounded by his wife & family members.
Arnold Vitarbo (86) passed away on September 14, 2022 with his wife of 66 years, Fujie, by his side.
SFC (Ret) Harold Lloyd Thomason was born in Wagner, Texas on March 7, 1931, and passed away in Colorado Springs, Colorado on September 6, 2022 unexpectedly but from natural causes.
Harry A. Lucker of Las Cruces, NM passed away on July 29, 2022.
Norm Skarpness passed away 26 June 2022.
October 30, 1931 - May 17, 2022.
In 1961, while assigned to the prestigious B-47 project, TD Smith tried out and qualified for the newly developed United States Air Force
Marksmanship Program. Regularly competing on behalf of the Air force, he scored the first perfect 300 score in Fort Knox, Kentucky in 1962. After being added as a last-minute
team member to the 1963 Pan American Games, he scored a 597 out of a possible 600 in the Center Fire Pistol event, setting four world records and the first world record for the United States Air Force. That UIT/ISSF Center Fire Pistol record still stands today as it was retired when the targets changed.
He was part of the 1964 Olympic Shooting Team in Tokyo, Japan placing 8th in Free Pistol. He later became a mentor and trainer to other Olympians instilling mental toughness. Scotland Yard, The London Met Police and Oklahoma State troopers have all
benefitted from his expert teaching of firearm accuracy, and more importantly, emotional control in crisis situations.
Walter Arthur Greenwood passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2022 and will be buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.
Presley W. Kendall died April 6, 2022 and was buried in the Dayton National Cemetery April 15, 2022.
Clinton Stephens passed away on January 26, 2022 and was buried February 12, 2022 in the Sewell Family Cemetery, Lewisville, AR. He had eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Alfred J. O'Neill, 97, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, formerly of Phenix City, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.
Interment with military honors, was at Lakeview Memory Gardens.
Weldon 'Mike' Griggs passed away January 3, 2022.
Oliver Williams passed away December 12, 2021.
Dennis Dingman passed away November 17, 2021.
Thomas W.W. Atwood, 91 of Bonita Springs, FL passed away Friday, November 5, 2021 at Physicians Regional Hospital in Naples.
Norm Goelzer, 87, of Mount Ulla, N.C., passed away on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. 
Carter Berry passed away May 7, 2021.
Arthur Edwin “Art” Cook, passed away on Feb. 21, 2021. He is best known for winning an Olympic gold medal in London in 1948 at the age of 20. Cook was the youngest to do so until 17-year-old Kim Rhode took home the gold in women’s double trap 48 years later at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Marvin Spinks passed away February 19, 2021.
May 1, 1946 - September 4, 2019
It is with great sadness that we report the passing on Aug. 31, 2019 of former Service Rifle shooter, MSG Greg Allyn Strom, 62, at Hospice of Laramie, WY.
It is with great sadness but wonderful memories we write that Albert Coots passed away on March, 29th, 2019 - two months after his 89th birthday.
It is with great sadness to announce the death of Olympian and former USAMU member Daniel B. Puckel, 85, who died 13 November 2018. 
Ernest J. Vande Zande passed away at home on September 29, 2018 after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer. He is preceded in death by his mother Lenore Vande Zande, grandmother Luella Wyatt, and aunt Ada Wyatt.
James H. McNally, Vietnam Veteran, 2 time Olympian, born in Duluth, MN in June 1931 passed away in Mesquite, TX. 12 Jan 2018. 
DECEMBER 25, 1929 – JANUARY 3, 2018
August 25, 1937 - December 14, 2017
April 30, 1930 - October 21, 2017
February 14, 1975 - September 23, 2017
Buddy, age 83, went to his heavenly home on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Ralph Orville Thompson was born on January 14, 1928 in Pound, Wisconsin, to Delbert Valentine and Ila Ray (King) Thompson, and died on December 9, 2016 in New Braunfels, Texas. He graduated from North Division High School in Milwaukee Wisconsin in 1946 where he met his future sweetheart and wife Dorothy Elaine Glienke. Married in May of 1949, “Orv and Dottie” as they are known to Wisconsin friends and family, became lifetime partners celebrating 67 years of marriage last May. They were parents to five boys, his “troops” as he called them; Mike, David, Jeff, Tommy and Dan.
December 17, 1929 - August 1, 2016
August 10, 1930 - May 16, 2016
Martin Edmondson passed away December 3, 2015.
Bill Pullum passed away on October 13, 2015 at the age of 95.