Editor’s Note: This story is part two of a two-part story.
Many local veterans were honored with Quilts of Valor on March 29 during two separate ceremonies.
Those who were honored at a ceremony at VFW #1517 include U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jerry Bauer, U.S. Navy veteran Dan Bayless, U.S. Army veteran John Courtney, U.S. Army veteran George Dunovsky, U.S. Army veteran Glen Charles Jenkins, U.S. Army veteran Jerry Johnson, U.S. Army veteran Vern Lubash, U.S. Army veteran Ron McDermott, U.S. Army and Nebraska Army National Guard veteran Bob Miller, U.S. Army veteran Rich Pascale, U.S. Army veteran Allen Ritter and U.S. Army veteran Lee Wortman.
Ron McDermott entered Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He served in the Army Engineers from 1964-1966. McDermott separated from active duty in Oakland, Calif., and remained in the Army Reserves from 1966-1970, when he received his discharge. His Quilt of Valor was pieced and quilted by Chris Wolf, and bound by Kathy Dye.
Robert D. Miller, Major Field Artillery began active duty with Basic Training in January 1976 in the Third Basic Combat Training Brigade at Fort Dix, N.J., where he earned the high score in Basic Rifle Marksmanship Medal. He entered active service with the First Aviation Brigade at Fort Rucker, Ala., where he earned The Army Commendation Medal for managing 36,000 acres of training areas.
Miller began serving with the Nebraska National Guard in 1978, and he completed Officer Candidate School in 1980. Throughout his time as a member of the 1/168 Field Artillery Battalion, Miller served as a Fire Direction Officer, Executive Officer, S1, Battery Commander, Battalion Fire Support Officer with the 2/134 Infantry Battalion and S4. Throughout his service in the Nebraska National Guard, Miller earned The Army Commendation Medal, The Nebraska National Guard Emergency Service Medal, The Nebraska National Guard Commendation Medal, The Nebraska National Guard Service Medal and The Nebraska National Guard Individual Achievement Medal.
Miller retired in October of 1996 during his service as the Brigade Fire Support Officer for the 67th Brigade. His Quilt of Valor was pieced, quilted and bound by Jody Meer.
Rich Pascale entered his tour of duty on Nov. 16, 1970 in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he began his Basic Training. There, he received his first rank of Private E-2. He went to Fort Gordon, Ga., where he began his Advanced Individual Training for Military Policeman. He chose to be a sentry dog handler.
Next, Pascale went to Okinawa, Japan for three months for training with a 140 pound German Shepard. After his time in Japan, Pascale traveled to Long Biah, Phu Loi and Saigon, where he guarded ammo dumps and their perimeter between two tower guards. While in Vietnam, he was awarded his third ranking of Private First Class.
Upon completion of his tour of duty in Vietnam, Pascale finished his years in the U.S. Army at Fort Riley, Kan., serving until Nov. 15, 1973 under the First Infantry Division. Pascale’s Quilt of Valor was pieced and bound by Janet Clark, and was quilted by Linda Schneider.
Allen Edward Ritter enlisted in the Army on Sept. 30, 1966 in Minneapolis, Minn. He trained for nine weeks for Engineer Equipment Maintenance at Fort Belvoir, Va. He was sent to Vietnam, spending 13 months in the country. He decided to stay an extra month in Vietnam in exchange for an early release from the Army. Throughout his service, Allen received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal.
Allen spent a total of two years, seven months and six days serving in the Army, earning the rank of E5. He separated from the Army on May 5, 1969 at the US Army Personnel Center in Oakland, Calif. Allen’s Quilt of Valor was pieced and bound by Virginia Campbell, and it was quilted by Linda Schneider.
Lee Wortman joined the U.S. Army on Jan. 3, 1968, undergoing Basic Training at Fort Lewis, Wis. He served in a variety of roles throughout his time of service, including as a Clerk Typist, Basic Army Company Clerk. Wortman’s service in the Army ended on Dec. 31, 1970. During his time, he received the National Defense Medal. Wortman’s Quilt of Valor was pieced and bound by Janet Clark, and it was quilted by Linda Schneider.
During a ceremony at Alliance Middle School on March 29, two veterans were honored with Quilts of Valor: Thomas David Ryan and Casey Jane Ryan Mracek.
Thomas Ryan enlisted in the Nebraska Army National Guard on March 8, 1984 as a 13 Bravo Cannon Crewman in Chadron. In 1988, Ryan served full time in the Guards as the Unit Administrator of Battery C 168th Field Artillery. In 1989, he and his family moved to Alliance, and in 1990, Ryan went into active duty, serving in the Army as a Recruiter and Career Counselor until he retired in 2004.
Throughout his career, he received The Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, three Good Conduct Medals, three Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Medals, Army Service Ribbon, Nebraska National Guard Meritorious Service Medal, Nebraska National Guard Individual Achievement Medal, four Nebraska National Guard Recruiting Achievement Medals, three Nebraska National Guard Emergency Service Medals and three Nebraska National Guard Soldiers Medals. He also received the Chief’s 50 award for being the top recruiter in Nebraska, where he was honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Ryan’s Quilt of Valor was made by Cindy Zurn.
Casey Ryan Mracek enlisted in the Nebraska Army National Guard on March 27, 2006 after completing one year of College at Chadron State College. She completed Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and proceeded to complete Advanced Individual Training at Fort Bliss, Texas. She enlisted as a Private E-1 in March and was promoted to Private E-2. She advanced from E-3 to Specialist E-4 and ended her service as a Sergeant E-5.
Throughout her service, she earned three Armed Forces Service Medals, Individual Achievement Medal, The Armed Forces Medal and the Armed Forces Reserved Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, Driver Mechanic and Driver Wheel Vehicle Badges, two Nebraska National Guard Service Medals, The Nebraska Emergency Service Medal and the Nebraska Individual Achievement Medal. She received an honorable discharge on July 26, 2017, after 11 years of service. Her Quilt of Valor was made by Cindy Zurn.