Tag Archive

Children write letters to thank military

CRAIG COUNTY – It was the first time in the 42 years since he served in the United States Army in Vietnam that anybody had thanked Eddie Gaines for what he did. And when the thanks came, it was from 9-year-old Craig County girl Katlyn Caldwell. Her act brought tears to his eyes, said... »

Remembering one of their own

SALEM – Mackenzie Blackwell was only 2 when her daddy died in Bagdad on his third deployment when his base was attacked. She remembers him, though, and on Veterans Day this year, so did her fellow students at South Salem Elementary. They honored Army Specialist Justin Richard Blackwell and posted a picture of him... »

On her own again

SALEM – Three years after a stroke stole her life as she knew it, Army Senior Sgt. Seyward McKinney is living on her own again. McKinney, now 28, came home safely after eight months in Iraq. She and her family remember the Friday the 13th she had the stroke while she was on active... »

Glenvar High School graduates 150

GLENVAR – Almost half of the 150 members of the Class of 2012 at Glenvar High School graduated with honors this morning in a ceremony featuring a Congressional Medal of Honor guest speaker and his graduating grandson. Although Retired Army Col. Jack H. Jacobs is a Bronze Medal Winner, holds two Purple Hearts and... »

Vietnam veteran with PTSD finds hope through VA outpatient center

SALEM  – He was 20 when he landed in Vietnam. A few months later the Infantryman killed a Vietnamese soldier. Before his tour was over and he came home to Virginia, he had killed two more. “I remember the face of the first one every day,” James “Blair” Draper said. For more than 43 years... »

All, Michael Allen Sr.

Michael Allen All Sr., 62, of New Castle went to be with the Lord on March 1, 2012. Michael was a veteran in the United States Army, serving from 1967 to 1969. He was a life member of VFW Post 4491, and was a former Scout Master for Troop 132. He was preceded in... »

Caring for horses helped POW live through war

SALEM – He and other prisoners of war were forced to march close to 1,100 miles. For almost three years, Staff Sgt. Paul Grover was a German POW. Although it’s been more than 65 years since he was released, the World War II Army veteran remembers details as though it was last week. He... »

Horse-drawn wagon carries veteran on final ride

SALEM – The two draft horses moved at a smart clip up the curving hill driveway, carrying Johnny Nester home. Dan and Dick pulled the white wagon transporting the 57-year-old Goodview resident’s casket covered by an American flag. A five-person military honor guard saluted as Nester, who served in the Army and Navy reserve,... »