John B. Gordon Chapter 383 honors ancestors, veterans, and homeland defense

May 7—THOMASVILLE- John B. Gordon Chapter 383 held its 150th Memorial Day Observance on April 27, in honor of their ancestors, veterans of all wars and homeland defense service. The service was held at Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville.

Robert H. Parrish, Jr. performed the Prelude of period and patriotic music before the service, hymns during the service and the Interludes between medal presentations.

Joe Ashcraft, piper, performed "Welcome Home" for the Procession of award recipients. He also performed "The Green Hills of Tyrol" for the recessional of the Honor Guard retiring the Colors.

Sheila Tucker, past president, welcomed the assembly and recognized guest officers from the Georgia Division UDC. In attendance were Pauline Myers, division president, Priscilla Grant Doster, second vice president, Dawn Hamill, third vice president, Sherry Cornett, recorder of Military Service Awards, Sandy Driskill and Brenda Bush, both being division past presidents. Also, in attendance were Faye Bridwell, president of Moultrie-McNeill Chapter 661, Dianne Brown Registrar of Ben Hill Chapter 1137, Fitzgerald, and chapter member Adrian Ogletree of James M. Grisham Chapter 1312 Social Circle and Barbara Johnson of Dougherty County Chapter 187.

Mrs. Tucker also recognized past military awards recipients.

Chapter President Mary Margaret Quiggle introduced Pauline Myers, Georgia division president.

Mrs. Myers brought greetings from the Georgia Division UDC, thanking the John B. Gordon Chapter for its support and contributions to the organization. Myers stated, "Our ancestors were survivors and they have left a lasting, positive imprint on us by the way they lived. We must continue in their footsteps, live the positive values we have been taught and pass them on to future generations."

Invocation was given by chapter parliamentarian, Kathy Smith Mills. Presentation of Colors were presented by Honor Guard members Joey Little, Lyndall Knight, Greg Thweatt, members of American Legion Post 265 Ochlocknee and Allen-Cook Post No. 4995, VFW, Inc. Florence Harrell, chapter member, presented the UDC Wreath.

Ann Thompson, chapter member, led the pledges to the United States Flag, State of Georgia Flag and salute to the First National Flag.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" and "Dixie's Land" were led by Dorothy Maxwell, chapter vice president, accompanied by Robert H. Parrish, Jr.

Sheila M. Tucker, chapter past president, with the assistance of chapter member Penny Gaskins, presented Crosses of Military Service Awards, National Defense Service Award, Expeditionary Service Award, American Patriot Awards and Homeland Defense Service Awards. Recipients were escorted by Recorder of Military Service Awards Dianne Ponder.

Cross Of Military Service Awards were presented to:

— Jack Richard Howell, Medal No. 4427, Vietnam War as a captain (retired major) in Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, United States Marine Corps, on the service of his 3rd-great-grandfather John Holt, who served honorably as a private in Company I, 5th North Carolina Infantry, POW, WBTS.

— Julian Eugene Reynolds, Medal No. 4433, Vietnam War as a corporal in the Maintenance Occupational Specialist Unit, Phu Bai, Vietnam, United States Navy, on the service of his great-great-grandfather Richard Tucker, who served honorably as a sergeant in Company H, 50th Georgia Infantry, WBTS.

— Robert Thomas Brette, Medal No. 4428, Vietnam War as a lance corporal in the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines Artillery, United States Marine Corps, on the service of his great-great-grandfather J. M. Bowen, who served honorably as a private in Company K, 5th, Texas Infantry, POW, WBTS.

— Alan Paul Green, Medal No. 4429, Vietnam War as a specialist 5th class in Company C, 5th Special Forces, Cam Ranh Bay, United States Army, on the service of his great-grandfather Bolin Green Hall, who served honorably as a private in Company I, 12th Georgia Infantry, WBTS.

— Jason Carlton Tate, Medal No. 0399, Global War on Terror in Iraq as a major in the United States Air Force, on the service of his great-great-grandfather William J. Tate, who served honorably as a private in Captain John Scoggins' Battery, Georgia Light Artillery, WBTS.

The National Defense Service Award was presented to Julian Eugene Reynolds, Jr. Medal No. 3338, Persian Gulf War as a sergeant in the 23rd Engineer Battalion, United States Army, on the service of his 3rd-great-grandfather Richard Tucker, who served honorably as a sergeant in Company H, 50th Georgia Infantry, WBTS.

The Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Award was presented to Julian Eugene Reynolds, Jr. Medal No. 586,, Bosnia as a corporal in the 23rd Engineer Battalion, United States Army, on the service of his 3rd-great-grandfather Richard Tucker, who served honorably as a sergeant in Company H, 50th Georgia Infantry, WBTS.

American Patriot Service Awards were presented to James Michael Lozowski Medal No. 127, Vietnam Conflict as a petty officer 2nd class at Royal Thai Naval Base U-Tapao, Thailand, United States Navy; and to Jerry Lane Phillips Medal No. 128, Vietnam Conflict as a specialist 5th class with the 6th Battalion 517th Artillery Unit (Europe), United States Army.

Homeland Defense Service/First Responder Awards were presented to Jonathan Drew Beverly Medal No. 102, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, Game Warden and Law Enforcement Officer; Timothy Marion Coram Medal No. 104, Thomas County EMS (Retired); Mark Edgar Ponder, Medal No. 106, Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic Instructor, Lowndes County; and Christopher Wynn, Medal No. 101, Thomas County EMS Paramedic/Firefighter.

Dianne Ponder, Chapter Recorder of Military Service Awards, presented the medal recipients from 2020. Due to Covid 19 and the shutdown, these recipients were unable to participate in a Military Service.

Cross Of Military Service Awards were presented to:

— William Wayne Anderson Medal No. 4245, Vietnam Conflict, specialist 4th class 362nd Signal Company United States Army on the service of his great-grandfather, Cpl. Simon D. Pope, Company C, 17th Regiment Georgia Infantry, WBTS.

— Billy Wayne Owens Medal No. 4251, Vietnam Conflict, specialist 4th class, Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 6th Artillery United States Army on the service of his great-great-grandfather, Private Joshua Owens, Company D, 22nd Battalion Georgia Cavalry, WBTS. Mr. Owens is a Purple Heart recipient.

— Jerry Carlton Tate Medal No. 4246, Vietnam Conflict, steelworker petty officer 2nd class, Mobile Construction Bn 7, United States Navy on the service of his great-grandfather, Private William J. Tate, in Capt. John Scoggin's Battery, Georgia Light Artillery, WBTS.

National Defense Service Awards were presented to:

— Charles Randolph Anderson Medal No. 3063, Vietnam Conflict, airman first class, 1100 Civil Engineering Squadron, United States Air Force, on the service of his great-grandfather, Cpl. Simon D. Pope, Company C, 17th Regiment Georgia Infantry, WBTS.

— Bobby Thomas Lampkin Medal No. 3062, Vietnam Conflict, specialist 5th class, Battery D 7th Bn, 67th Artillery United States Army, on the service of his great-great-grandfather, Private James O. Kerce, Company G Regiment Georgia Infantry, WBTS.

— Julian Don Owen Sherrod Medal No. 3054, Vietnam Conflict, specialist 4th class, Company D, 32nd Signal Bn 5th Corps, United States Army, on the service of his great-great-grandfather, Private Thomas Joiner, Company F 5th Regiment Georgia cavalry, WBTS.

Anita Ward, chapter register, presented the Tribute to WBTS Veterans. Tribute to Veterans of All Wars was presented by Sherry Cornett, Georgia Division Recorder of Military Service Awards. Tribute to States Supporting CSA was presented by Doris Davies, chapter chaplain, with the assistance of Judy Peterson, chapter member.

The program concluded with the assembly singing "How Firm a Foundation," led by Dorothy Maxwell, chapter vice president, accompanied by Robert H. Parrish Jr., and the Benediction given by Chapter Member Charlotte Brown.

"Taps" was performed by John Gray, bugler. The Colors were retired by Honor Guard members Joey Little, Lyndall Knight, Greg Thweatt, representing American Legion Post 265 Ochlocknee and Allen-Cook Post No. 4995, VFW, Inc. Chapter member Florence Harrell retired the UDC wreath.

A reception was held after the service, hosted by John B. Gordon 383 members Jinanne Parrish, Dorothy Maxwell, Kathy Smith Mills, Joan Cooper and Della Spence.

Many expressions of gratitude were extended by those attending the service. Several guests from other Georgia chapters also attended.