2025 Flag Day Quilt of Valor Awards
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During Friday’s Flag Day ceremonies, the Sewcial Quilters of Clark County presented Quilts of Valor to several local veterans, thanking them for their service. Their recognition is listed below:
Ron “Duckie” Gates served in the Army from February 1958 to February 1961. His basic training was at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri and from there he was shipped to Fort Ord California, then Korea. He was with the Company A-802 Heavy equipment Construction Engineer Battalion. Ron was a Heavy Equipment Operator on a Korean Air Force Base(K2 Air Force Base), helping to build runways for planes.
Another interesting job was running a dozer at Squaw Valley California getting ready for the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Ron’s awards include:
Good Conduct Medal
Sharpshooter Carbine Medal
Overseas Service Medal
Ralph “Bud” Laymon Jr was drafted into the United States Army March 3rd, 1965. His basic training was at Ft Leonardwood Missouri. He was then sent to Ft Eustis, Virginia for schooling on Helicopter Maintenance(hydrolics), then went to Ft Bening, Georgia to pack for Vietnam. His company traveled by ship from Charleston, South Carolina on the USS General Patch arriving in Vietnam August 1965. Ralph was part of “C” Company, 15th Transportation Battalion, 1st Calvary Division. During his time in Vietnam, Ralph and Robert Simmons were the only ones that had experience working concrete, so they oversaw getting concrete ready for building mess halls. Ralp’s stay in Vietnam was extended 30 days by General Westmoreland because there were not enough people trained on his job. He returned to the United States September 1966 and was honorably discharged March 2, 1967.
Ralph’s awards include:
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 3 Bronze Stars
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Sharpshooter (M-14) Medal
3 Overseas Service Bars
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm Citation
Gary Doty served in the United States Navy from March 1982 to March 2002. He spent time in Norfolk, Virginia; Sigonella Sicily; Virginia Beach Virginia; Andrews Air Force Base, then back to Virginia Beach.
Gary was an Aviation Machinist Mate (Jet engine mechanic). He was with the VF74 Fighter Squadron known as the “Bedevilers” and the VF 143 “Pukin’ Dogs”.
He did 2 cruises on the USS Saratoga, a world tour on the USS John C Stennis, and a tour on the USS Eisenhour.
Gary’s awards include:
Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist
Navy Achievement Medal
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon Battle E
Navy Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Ribbon
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal from Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal from Kuwait
Sea Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Gary was honorably discharged with the Rank E-6.
Mike Doty enlisted in the United States Navy in March 1982. Boot Camp was in Orlando, Florida. From there he was transferred to HSL32 in Norfolk Virginia and assigned to AIMD (Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment).
He was then transferred to HC-4(Helicopter Support Squadron) in Sigonella, Sicily for 3 years. He was then assigned to NATTC (Naval Air Technical Training Center) in Millington, TN as an instructor for 3 years before being assigned as company commander NATTC, Millington, TN.
Mike was then transferred to HM-15, a Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas then AIMD Truax Field in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Mike retired in March of 2002 after 20 years of service.
While in the Navy, his awards include:
2 Navy Marine Corp Achievement Medals
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
Battle E Ribbon
5 Meritorious Unit Commendations
5 Good Conduct Medals
National Defense Service Medal
Southeast Asia Service Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal
Navy Marine Corp Overseas Service Ribbon
Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist Wings
Shawn Doty joined the United States Navy in April 1987 as an Aviation Machinist Mate. Boot training was at the Great Lakes Naval base in Chicago, Illinois. From there, he joined his squadron VP-48 at Cubi Point Naval Station in Subic Bay, Philippines, working on P-3C Orion sub hunters.
His unit was stationed at Moffett Field Naval Air Station in California.
Shawn also deployed to the Naval Air Station at Adak, Alaska for 9 months and then to Okinawa Naval Air Station in Japan. Shawn was a Third-Class Petty Officer/E-4.
He did a break in service after 4 years in the Navy, but joined the Iowa Army National Guard in 1992, as a combat Engineer with Charlie Company, 224th Engineers I Keokuk, Iowa. He did flood duty in 1992 around Wapello Iowa, and flood clean up in Keokuk, Iowa. In 2002 Shawn rejoined the Unit as a Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic and deployed to Iraq in 2004 for 14 months. His Company was deployed to Camp Habbaniyah and then Camp Ramadi doing Route clearance looking for roadside bombs. After returning home, Shawn stayed with the 224th Engineers until he was discharged in 2006, serving a total of 17 years in the military.
Shawns awards include:
Good Conduct Medal
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Ribbon and Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal 2nd Award
National Defense Medal and Ribbon w/ Bronze Star
Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal
Army Sharpshooter Badge
Chris Hessley joined the United States Army July 24, 2003 as an infantryman. He served with the 3rdRanger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Benning, Georgia from September 2004 until January 2008. Chris then transferred to the 1st Battalion 506th Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky until he was medically retired on December 31, 2013, with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Chris served 4 combat tours to Afghanistan and1 tour to Iraq.
His awards include:
Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 4 Campaign Stars
Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 2 Campaign Stars
Purple Heart
3 Army Commendation Medals
2 Army Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Accommodation
Valorous Unit Award
3 Army Good Conduct Medals
2 Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons
Army Service Ribbon
2 Overseas Service Ribbons
NATO Medal
Tyler Ramsey served in the United States Army from December 2004 to September 2009. He was an Army Sargent( E-5) in the Infantry division. He served as a Point man and Squad leader while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tyler’s awards include:
Iraq Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Combat Infantry Badge
Expert Infantry Badge
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Medal Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Ribbon
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