Beech Tree News Network

June 18, 1969, Stevie Joe Pharris enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of 19. At the Louisville Induction Center, he was sworn in as Airman Basic after a quick physical. Afterwards he was flown to San Antonio, Texas for basic training at Lackland Air Force Base,

After basic in September of 1969 his orders were to proceed to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver Colorado for technical training in Munitions Training. Airman Pharris was promoted to Airman First Class and given orders to Utopoa AFB in Thailand where he was part of the 635th Munitions Maintenance Squadron. The job consisted of download, store, maintain and prep the munitions for use in Vietnam. After serving one year a 30-day leave was given and he was admitted to Ireland Army Hospital at Fort Knox, KY where he was quarantined for 56 days with hepatitis. In January 1971 when he was discharged his orders were to report to Shaw AFB in South Carolina serving with the 363rd Tactical Recon Wing, where he retrained as a Still photo lab tech. While there he was promoted to Buck Sergeant E-4.

In January 1972 after volunteering for Southeast Asia he received orders for Ubon AFB in Northern Thailand. With only five months there he was summoned home for his Granddad Embry’s funeral. Before returning to finish his tour, he was granted a Hardship Discharge, and was discharged from his service on July 6, 1972, at the Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. Sergeant Stevie Joe Pharris received an Honorable Hardship Discharge.  He also received the Purple Heart for his injuries sustained during his service.

Mr. Pharris commented, “I am grateful for the people in this organization that support and honor Veterans. I am proud that I got the opportunity to serve this wonderful free country of ours.”

The Butler County Chapter NSDAR will recognize Stevie Joe Pharris as one of our Veterans of the Year at our 39th annual Veterans Breakfast on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 9:00 AM. The breakfast will be at Butler County High School in the Commons Area. All Veterans are invited to attend and enjoy a delicious breakfast. At 2:00 that afternoon the VFW will sponsor the annual Veterans Parade, then the Green River Chapter NSDAR will have a reception at Morgantown Elementary School.