Help us say thanks to all of our area veterans. To have you or your local Veteran featured on the Banner Graphic web site simply e-mail a photo along with branch of service, any deployment information, any medals awarded and any stories you would like to tell to john@bannergraphic.com . Be sure to watch the Banner Graphic every Thursday starting May 29 for a feature on a local veteran.

Melvin Ellis was born and raised in Greencastle, IN and graduated from Greencastle High School in 1942. He entered the service on February 23, 1943 and did his basic training at Camp Swift, Texas. After several more stops for various training sessions, he found himself at Camp Cook in California for amphibious training for the invasion of Japan. He traveled the globe on many different missions and assignments and was finally discharged from the service on February 28, 1946. During his time in the service he earned many commendations including but not limited to: American Theatre Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

Oscar S. Knapp was raised in rural Johnson County and graduated from Columbus High School in 1941. He was inducted into the Air Force on November 2, 1942 in Indianapolis. After basic training, Oscar was assigned as the left gunner/electrical specialist of an 11 member crew on a B-29. Oscar was discharged from the service on November 26, 1946 after being diagnosed with poliomyelitis. Upon returning to the states he became an X Ray technician at Putnam County Hospital where he worked for almost 27 years before retiring in 1977. Oscar passed away in 2000 shortly after he celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife Helen.

Dr. Clinton Gass and his family re-located to Greencastle in 1954. Prior to moving to Greencastle, he served in the United States Military at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Clinton was a Mathematician who worked along side Dr. Hans Bethe to do mathematical work on the development of the atomic bomb. After he was discharged in February of 1946, he returned to Lincoln, NE where he resumed his position of Professor of mathematics at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

My son Joshua A. Clark has been a resident of Cloverdale, Indiana since 1987. Joshua was born on Sept.2,1982. He went to Cloverdale schools until the end of his 3rd grade year. He then went to Central Elementary School and then into High School at South Putnam. He volunteered into the U.S. Army Infantry Division in March of 2005. He is now in Iraq for his second deployment.Four Star General Petraeus is congratulating Sgt. Joshua A. Clark for a job well done in Iraq.

Norman Stewart of Greencastle, IN served in the United States Navy from August of 1943 through 1945.

Richard Reeves was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was stationed at Pearl on 12/7/41 on the gunboat USS Sacramento. He was a pharmacy mate in the Navy and a 1936 grad of Bainbridge High School.

Six sons of Christopher Earl Knauer in WWII. Here is a picture from 1950 Banner.

Sgt. Randy Kuhlman of Reelsville. Indiana

Richard Hamilton was a member of the USMC from 1993-1999 where he achieved the rank of Sgt. He was in Bosnia as a memebr of the 273 Airwing.

John Hamilton served his country in the USMC from 1969 - 1971 as a corporal. He fought in Viet Nam as a member of the 11th Motors, 1st Division.

Timothy Russell Haas graduated from Cascade High School in 1987 and entered the United States Navy. He took his basic training in Orlando, FL and was sent to Great Lakes, Illinois for electrician schooling. Tim served in the Gulf War aboard the USS Impervious, a mine sweeping and locating ship. Upon completion of his tour of duty, the USS Impervious was honored as the first group of US mine sweepers in history to have had the first successful mine sweeping expedition. Tim received several medals and ribbons during his time in service.

Stephen Haas is a 1964 graduate of Danville High School and proudly served the his country in the United States Army. Upon completion of his basic training at Fort Campbell Kentucky and advanced training at Fort Ord, California, he was stationed with the 504th Administration Company in Goeppingen, Germany. Upon discharge, he returned to college at ISU and received his degree. He taught high school at Cascade for over 30 years and was named educator of the year in 2000.

First Sgt. Lawrence E. Pierce grew up in Putnam County and graduated from Greencastle High School in 1940. He served in the United States army from 1941 until he was honorably discharged in 1945. He fought in WWII where he received many commendations including but not limited to: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. Lawrence passed away in December of 1992.

Staff Sgt. Hubert Powell served with the 447th Bomb Gp., 708th Bomb Squadron of the 8th Air Force. Hubert was a life long resident of Cloverdale Indiana graduating with the class of 1938. He received several medals including but not limited to the Good Conduct Medal, the WWII Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal. He passed away in 2007.

Donald Brattain of Greencastle served in the United States Army and fought in WWII. Before he was discharged in 1947, he had reached the rank of captain which he achieved on 10/21/1946.

Larry Myers is a 1975 graduate of Greencastle High School and is on his 2nd tour of duty in the Middle East.

P.F.C. James Noble Trail was a 1940 graduate of Greencastle High School. He served with Co.F, 325 Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He participated in the invasion of Holland, operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944. Jim was a P.O.W. for over 4 ½ months finally escaping on May 1, 1945. Jim subsequently returned to the states and was honorable discharged on November 22, 1945. During his time serving our country, he was awarded the following commendations: Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Prisoner of War Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, The Good Conduct Medal and several others. Jim currently resides with his family Duarte, California.

Ben Baker, who graduated from Greencastle High School, served in the Air Defense Artillery, Bravo battery, 2nd of the 44th Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. He served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He returned to the states with a rank of E4 specialist and received the following commendations: Southwest Asian Campaign Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal and the Army Commendation Ribbon.

Local Veteran William Gabonay of Greencastle who served with the United States Army during WWII. Mr. Gabonay was decorated with several medals including the Bronze Star with Oak Clusters and the Good Conduct Medal. Watch the Thursday editions of Banner Graphic for a feature on this Putnam County Veteran coming soon.

First Lt. William F. Killion served in the US Army Air Corp. from December 1942 -- January 1945. He served in Iwo Jima where he received the Air Medal with 2 Oak Clusters. He flew several 7 to 8 hour missions to Japan which were roughly 1500 miles round trip each time. Mr. Killion has lived in Reelsville, IN since 1947.

Marine Sgt. Andrew South has served in 3 Deployments to Iraq. He has received over a dozen commendations including:Bronze Star,Combat Action Ribbon,Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal,Iraqi Campaign Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Burl Clark of Greencastle, IN served in the US Marine Corp. during WWII. He did his basic training at Paris Island S.C. and advanced training at Camp Lejune N.C. From there he was sent to Guam where he served in the 6th signal corp. until the war ended.

SPC. Richard and PFC. Joesph Cope are with the Greencastle National Guard deployed with the Indiana National Guard's 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Richard is with the Task Force 151, A 2/150 and Joseph is with the B Co 1-51 INF they are together at the Q-West Base Complex in Iraq. Both graduated from North Putnam High School in 2006.

Floyd Sims of Cloverdale served in the U.S. Army from 1941-1945. He served in the Southern Philippines and New Guinea area and earned several commendations including but not limited to: Expert Infantryman Badge, WWII Victory Medal, Bronze Star w/ Bronze Service Arrowhead, and a Good Conduct Ribbon. He was married to Lorene Templeman of Roachdale and together they raised 5 children. He passed away April 22, 2007.

Jim Church----serving in the U.S. Navy from 1957 through 1960 mostly aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolf

SP 4 Gordon R. Whitman of Greencastle served in the U.S. Army 1957-59 in the 56th Medical Det. Out of Fort Bragg N.C. as a H-19 Medical Helicopter Mechanic. He also served 4 years in the reserves and was honorably discharged in 1963.

Jimmy Zeis, from Greencastle, served overseas with the United States Marine Corps. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Zeis. He enlisted in the Marines in 1944. He did his basic training at Paris Island S.C and he and received advanced training at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA.

Frankie Bundy, from Greencastle, served overseas with the United States Marine Corps. He was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Walter Bundy and he enlisted in the Marines in 1944. He did his basic training at Camp Lejune N.C.

Bennie Dean, from Greencastle, served overseas with the United States Marine Corps. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dean and he enlisted in the Marines in 1944. He did his basic training at Paris Island S.C. and received advanced training at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA.

Bennie J Bonney from Greencastle was a Sergeant in the US Air Force and a WWII Veteran. He received several commendations including but not limited to the Presidential Unit Citation, The Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal and Ribbon with one Bronze Star and the WWII Victory Medal and Ribbon.

Army Staff Sergeant Nathanael Snyder 2003 graduate of South Putnam High School. His awards and decorations include , Army Commendation Medal with V device Army Achievement Medal , Army Good Conduct Medal , Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campign Medal, National Defense service ribbon, Army Service Ribbon , Over Seas Ribbon, Non Commissioned Officer Professional development ribbon(2ND Award) Army valorous unit award and the Combat Action badge

2nd man over from the right is Verlie Rice from Cloverdale and other unknown soldiers during the First World War. The photo was believed to have been taken in France.

James H. Westgate (1954-2007) proudly served in the Army National Guard for over 20 years before passing away in 2007. He left behind a daughter, Amy, and a son, Wayne and 5 grandchildren.