“Remembering Florida’s Fallen”

The SGT Timothy Padgett Chapter 811, Military Order of the Purple Heart will again honor those Florida Residents who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom during 2015 with a “Day of Remembrance”. 

This solemn event will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2016.  The Ceremony will be held at the USAF Armament Museum, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida at 10:30am, and is Open to the Public. 

The ceremony is conducted each year to honor those Florida Residents who have perished in the line of duty since September 11, 2001, while engaged in the Global War on Terror.  The ceremony will include the reading of the Okaloosa County Proclamation naming the 3rd Saturday of January as Okaloosa County - Military Order of the Purple Heart “Day of Remembrance”, lighting of a memorial candle for each fallen Floridian, and honoring the Gold Star Families of Florida, with the solemn promise to never forget their departed loved ones.

In addition, a formal announcement will be made to outline the establishment of a Memorial Park and Gardens to be located on the USAF Armament Museum grounds in honor of our fallen.

Appropriate attire is requested; Business Casual or Duty Uniform.

For additional information please contact Sam Houston, Chapter Commander at 850-729-2748 or shh1100@cox.net

Florida’s Fallen Heroes – 2015

 May 24, 2015                 SFC Pablo A. Ruiz                3rd Special Forces Group (A) US Army                   Melbourne, FL

 August 8, 2015               1SG Peter A. McKenna Jr.  7th Special Forces Group (A) US Army                  Crestview, FL

August 26, 2015             SSG Forrest B. Sibley          21st Special Tactics Squadron USAF                       Pensacola, FL

 August 26, 2015             CPT Matthew D. Roland     23rd Special Tactics Squadron USAF                      FWB, FL

October 2, 2015              SrA Nathan C. Sartain         66th Security Forces Squadron USAF                    Pensacola, FL

 December 21, 2015        MAJ Adrianna M. Vorderbruggen  USAF Office of Special Investigations    Niceville, FL

CMSgt Alvin “Chief Hud” S. Huddleston has Passed

It is with the deepest regret that I inform you of the untimely death on January 5, 2016 of retired

CMSgt  Alvin “Chief Hud” S. Huddleston, at age 77  of 12510 Green Darner; San Antonio,

TX 78253

 

He is survived by his loving wife Ursula, faithful Son Tony and devoted Daughter Cindy.

 

His Combat Control Team assignments included: Hurlburt, Viet Nam, Dover, Howard and Charleston.  One of his most notable missions was the humanitarian mission to Jonestown, Guyana during the mass suicides of 914 persons in 1978. He was a prestigious Senior Enlisted Advisor to the base Wings while stationed at Howard, Pope and Castle AFB where he retired on 31 October, 1988.

 

Graveside funeral services will be conducted on January 22 at 1330 Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery located at: 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd; San Antonio, TX 78209; (210) 820-3891. A Honor Guard has been requested for the service.

                   

Al served his country for some 33 years in the U.S. Air Force. He obtained a Degree in Business at California State University. He was always responsive to the needs of other people. He was a Life Member 041 of the Combat Control Association where he took an active role.

Rest in Peace my friend,

CT

TSgt David White Jr. to Retire

Who: TSgt David White Jr

What: Retirement (Medical)

When: 19 January 2016

Time: 1500

Where: STTS auditorium

Come join us to see this young warrior off.

Vint A.

James “Tex” I. Elledge (MSgt,Ret) has passed

I regret to inform you of the death of James “Tex” I. Elledge (MSgt,Ret), age 81 of 220 Todd Cir; Warner Robins, GA who deceased on January 23, 2014 of unknown causes.

 

He was born on May 28, 1932 in Montague, TX to the parents William and Edna Elledge. He was also preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy after 35 years of marriage; Son: James I. Elledge, Jr; Sisters: Alice Moreland and Nancy Labowski.

 

Hi memory will forever be treasured by his loving children: Maragret C. Pickles (Robert) of Mansfield, TX and Donald G. Elledge (Jennie) of Riverview, FL; five great grandchildren; brothers, William P. Elledge, Jr of Breckenbridge,
TX and John H. Elledge of Odessa, TX, and several adoring nieces and nephews.

 

The funeral service took place at McCullough Funeral Home in Warner Robins, GA on January 28, 2014 with interment at Macon Memorial Park Cemetery in Macon, GA..

 

Tex graduated from the Combat Control School in Class 65-4. His military assignments were: Warner Robins, Forbes, Viet Nam, Mildenhall and Warner Robins.

 

Rest in Peace,

CT

Marshall “Olie” T. Oliphant, Jr. (TSgt/Ret) has passed

I regret to inform you of the death of Marshall “Olie” T. Oliphant, Jr. (TSgt/Ret) who deceased on November 29, 2015 at the age of 77 while living at 8500 W. Colter St. in Glendale, AZ

 

His funeral service was conducted on December 8^th at Menke Funeral Home in Sun City, AZ with interment at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona with military honors.

 

He started his military service in the U.S. Army. His Air Force career began at Keesler with subsequent Combat Control assignments at Hurlburt, Viet Nam, Mc Chord, Viet Nam, Charleston teams. He retired while stationed at Luke during 1977 in a non-CCT assignment.

 

He took an active role in the Combat Control Association as LM- 649 and attended several CCA reunions.

 

Rest in Peace,

CT

TSgt (Ret.) John R. Jones has passed

I regret to inform you of the death of TSgt (Ret.) John R. Jones, age 86 of
Euless, TX who deceased on June 25, 2015 from complications of
Parkinson’s disease.
...

He is survived by his loving wife Nita, and devoted sons: Cole, Paul, Michael and Daniel Jones.
John had prior military service with the U.S. Army and served with distinguished service in Korea.
He started his Combat Control career during 1963 at Sewart with subsequent assignments to Ft Campbell, Dyess, Viet Nam, and back to Dyess where he culminated his outstanding military service.
He was buried with military honors at the Dallas-Ft Worth National Cemetery.
Rest in Peace Brother
LN

Another CCT has Passed

It is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform you that David A. Gfeller, age 71 died of cardiac arrest December 7, 2015.

David was a class 69-01 graduate of the Combat Control School, with military assignments at McGuire, Norton, Viet Nam and again at Norton where he was medically retired as a TSgt in 1977. David holds Life Member number 459 of the Combat Control Association.

 He will be buried with full military honors at the Riverside National Cemetery at Riverside, CA at a date and time to be determined.