Beech Tree News Network

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Post 5837 and the Butler County Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution held a Purple Heart Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, August 2nd in the Butler County Courthouse lawn.  Lynda Knight, VFW Ladies Auxiliary President, welcomed everyone followed by the presentation of colors by the Butler County High School NJROCTC. The pledge to the flag was led by Jennifer Odle, American Chairman of the Ladies Auxiliary, and Vietnam Veteran Doug Odle sang the National Anthem. Georgia Romans led the group in prayer. 
“It is with pride and pleasure we take part in honoring Joshua O’Driscoll today whose mother, Lynda is a Butler County NSDAR member, Historian and chairman of our Project Patriot.  The O’Driscoll family could not ask for a prouder mother of her son’s service to their country or one whose heart beats red, white, and blue.  Joshua reminds us that young patriots are still serving their country with pride and have been doing so since the American Revolution,” said Jane Eaton Henderson, Regent of Butler County DAR.

 State Command Sgt. Major RET Facility Branch Manager KY Army National Guard Gregory D. Armstrong presented Joshua O’Driscoll with the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is one of the most recognized and respected medals awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces.  Introduced as the “Badge of Military Merit” by General George Washington in 1782, the Purple Heart is also the nation’s oldest military award.
Lois Russ, Veteran Chairman Butler County DAR, read the names of Purple Heart recipients from Butler County.

Purple Heart Recipients from Butler County
World War I- Clarence White
World War II- James C. Abbott, Joel Abbott, Blumer Thomas Albin, Duron Usher Baxter, Roy G. Baxter, Hugh Walton Belcher, Denver Elbern Beliles, Homer Beliles, Otis E. Beliles, Rollie N. Blanchett, J.C. Brooks, Willie L. Brooks, Lonnie Brown, Sanford Brown, Walter Sherman “Bud” Campfield, Essie N. Cardwell (6), Ira Cardwell, Preston Cardwell, Owen Carlisle Carpenter, Calvin Coolidge Christie, Theron E. Christmas, Walter Chyle Jr., Meredith B. Cobbs, Jimmy John Coleman, Haden Combs, Olbon J. Drake, James Greg Drake, Cecil Embry, Justus Embry, Thurman Tolbert Embry, Veldon Palestine Bud Embry, Joseph John Fedrowiez, Coolidge Dause Flener, Reathel Chester Flener, Tilford Gordon Flener, William H. Flewallen, Ray Glenn Forgy, Boyd Fuller, Robert Elan Gidcumb Jr., Paul Kenneth Givens, Shelby Carlie Givens, James Terrell Goodall, William Cleburn Greene Jr., Justice E. Hawks, Jessie Hazel, Maburn B. Hudnall, Logan Hunt, Eddie Osco Ingram, Arthur E. Johnson, Ernest Clayton Johnson, Essie Johnson, Paul W. Jones, Glendon R. Kelley, Clayton Kessinger, Oscar Allen Kessinger, Otis Earl Kessinger, Denzil King, James Edward Kinkade, Claude Willis Lee, Odle M. Lee, Jesse Jess Willard Martin, Robert Cardwell Martin, Drexel Drake McCoy, Eustace Columbus McCoy, William Edwin Ed McCoy, William Granton Cooper McCoy, J.V. McKinney, Leroy McPherson, Joseph B. Moore, Julian Jack Moore, Gettie Morris, Thurman R. Peay, Vernon Mack Pendley, James Eugene Sport Phelps, Orville Phelps, James Ezra Rogers, George Warden Romans, John R. Sweets, Henry B. Threlkel, John Paul Trumbo, Clay Tuck, Austin House Hike Vance, Leroy VonCannon, Loyed Cook Wester, Everett White

Korea- Hugh Hunt (3), John Reed Fishburn, J.P. Hatcher, Charles Edward McKee (2), Lewis Orange, Durward White, Emary C. Morris
Vietnam- Roger Brooks, Roger Hankins, William Eddie Hocker, Gary Bennett Hunt, Don Jenkins, Bobby Keown, Dwight Moore, Sharone Nash, Kibby Sherman Norris, Gary Phelps, Sr., Jerry Roach, Jerry Wayne Shain, Jimmy Lee Sherrill, Edwin Eugene Tabor, Rickey L. Tarrance, Ronnie Tarrance, Cecil Clifton West Jr., Roger Dale Worley
Afghanistan- Gary L. Wolfenbarger
Iraq- Joshua O’Driscoll