| Louisiana Honor Medal Presentation |
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| COMMANDER BILL STROUD OF NEWELLTON POST 174 RECEIVED HIS HONOR MEDAL FROM GOV. BOBBY JINDAL. BILL STROUD PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN ORGANIZING THIS GATHERING OF AREA VETERANS. |
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Standing Room Only As 125 Medals Awarded in St. Joseph, LA
Veterans, their families and friends, and dignitaries began filling the community room at the Tensas Community Center at 107 Arts Drive, Highway 65, Saint Joseph, LA as the Louisiana National Guard set up the flags, hung banners and laid out the awards on a display table where they would be presented to over 125 area veterans of every branch of the military. Commander Bill Stroud of the Newellton Chapter of the American Legion had been working for months, locating veterans who live in this area who qualified for the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal…and they came to receive long overdue thanks and gratitude from the State of Louisiana.
There was standing room only and the podium was filled with local elected officials, including Representative Andy Anders, Police Jurors, Jane Netterville, Emmett Adams, Danny Clark; Aldermen Jimmy Clark and Buddy Tindell; and School Board Vice President James Kelly. Also seated on the stage were Commander Stroud and Chaplain Fulton McGraw of the American Legion Post # 174 of Newellton, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Governor Bobby Jindal.
The program was short, but each of the speakers thanked Louisiana’s Veterans for their contributions to our freedom and safety, and gave special gratitude to families of those who never returned from their battles. One hundred eighteen veterans or relatives of those unable to be there, lined up to receive the Louisiana Honor Medal and shake the hand of the Governor and other dignitaries. There were representatives from World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, Granada, Afghanistan, and the Gulf Wars-young and older, each with his own memories and stories to tell. Many children or widows received medals for loved ones posthumously.
Governor Bobby Jindal presented the 118 veterans the Louisiana Veterans’ Honor Medal at the Tensas Parish Community Center in St. Joseph. Governor Jindal was joined by Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA) Secretary Lane Carson and Major General Bennett C. Landreneau, Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard, to award the state’s veterans with a special medal in honor of their service in the Armed Forces. Governor Jindal said, “We must always take the opportunity to honor our veterans for their service and willingness to put everything on the line for our nation. These honor medals serve as a symbol of our deep appreciation and respect for their many sacrifices.”
Governor Jindal signed legislation in 2008 to create the Veterans’ Honor Medal Program in order to recognize and honor all of Louisiana’s veterans. The program is managed by the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans’ Honor Medal is gold-plated and comes with a blue ribbon. One side shows the state of Louisiana with “United States” embossed above and “Armed Forces” below. The other side bears the words, “Louisiana appreciates your service to our country.” Veterans who sustained a wound in battle will receive an honor medal designated by a silver star and a purple ribbon. Families of veterans who were killed in action will receive an honor medal designated by a gold star and a gold ribbon.
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| VETERANS SIGNED IN BEFORE ENTERING THE MEETING HALL AT THE HONOR MEDAL PROGRAM HELD AT THE TENSAS COMMUNITY CENTER. PICTURED SIGNING IS JIMMY CRIGLER; SHOWN AT FAR RIGHT IS THOMAS HANKINS. |
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Prior to awarding the medals, Governor Jindal told stories of medal recipients to highlight the heroic acts of Louisiana’s veterans. Thomas Hankins was born in Basin Springs, Mississippi. Before entering the service, Hankins worked as a commercial fisherman on Lake Bruin. At the age of 20, Hankins enlisted in the Army because he wanted to serve his country and was later sent into combat in the Korean War. On one mission, Hankins remembers advancing along the border of North and South Korea, otherwise known as the 38th Parallel. His unit was trying to reach the Yalu River, where combat fighting with the North Korean and Chinese forces was intense.
After marching for hours, they came upon enemy soldiers and quickly took cover in a trench. Hankins’ unit, determined to stand their ground, came under heavy mortar attack from North Korean and Chinese forces whose purpose was to push American troops into retreat. As Hankins fired back, a mortar round landed directly in his trench and the blast sent large shrapnel pieces into his legs, arms and chest – leaving him unable to escape. Hankins says he can still remember seeing his fellow soldiers killed or wounded right beside him. As his unit neared the point of being completely overtaken, additional U.S. troops reached the area and fought off the enemy forces. The next thing Hankins remembers was waking up on a train where he was being treated for his deep wounds.
He was awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds he sustained, and he still carries shrapnel in his legs as a result of the attack that day. Hankins returned to the U.S. and was honorably discharged from the service. He moved to Newellton where he worked as a pipefitter for most of his career and raised six children with his wife. All Louisiana Veterans with an Honorable Discharge are eligible to receive this award. If you or someone you know is eligible but were unable to attend the ceremony, you may still apply by contacting Bill Stroud at 766-9041.
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| CHRISTOPHER MERRIETT ACCEPTS MEDAL FROM GOV. JINDAL ON BEHALF OF HIS DECEASED GRANDFATHER, J.R. "SHORTY" OLDS. |
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