Meet these St. Louis area veterans and service members: Our 2023 Stories of Honor

Albert is a World War II veteran who started with General MacArthur on his "Island Hopping Campaign," which he was part of for 14 months. He was assigned to the 186th Regimental Team who were sent to rescue 150 POWs at Palawan Island.

At age 17, my brother chose to join the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Vietnam, where he defended our right to do what we do!

Anthony is a sergeant first class officer and has been in the Army for over 14 years. He also is a senior anti-terrorism instructor. Constance was promoted to master sergeant in October 2021, and has served as an aide to a two-star general at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. I am very proud of both of their military accomplishments and even more proud to be their dad.

Barbara is a Navy veteran and an inspiration for students and staff alike at Collinsville High School, where she has taught social studies for many years. She dedicates her time to numerous organizations at the school and in the community.

Charles is an Army veteran who won two Bronze Stars in World War II after his time in France.

Charles graduated from Western Military Academy as a brevet second lieutenant in the Illinois National Guard. Throughout his service, he served as a captain, major and lieutenant colonel in Company E, 339th Infantry, 85th Division. He also served as executive officer and battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 411th Infantry, 103rd Division. He received multiple awards, including a Purple Heart and multiple Bronze Stars.

Clifford excelled within a highly technical Air Force training program. He was even sent to Yale University to train for the engineering and operation of the newest, largest and most sophisticated aircraft of the war: the B-29 bomber. In November 1944, he and his crew deployed to Saipan in the Central Pacific. There, they served in the 20th Air Force Mariana’s bombing campaign against Japan. 

Daniel has served in the Air Force for 15 years and is making it his career. He currently is a sergeant first class E-6 accountant.

My dad served in the Air Force from 1968 until 1972. He was sent to Vietnamese language classes so he could translate Vietnamese radio messages. He served in Okinawa, Japan and Thailand.

Joe went to Vietnam after completing medical school and flight training school. He was there for 12 months.

Both of my sons served in the Army. I am a proud mother and I love my boys.

Edgar served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. He fought for this country and continues to serve this country as an honorable veteran.

As a young man, he was in the Army during World War II. He served in the 3rd Armored Division under General Patton while stationed in Germany. He was a gunner/mechanic who repaired the tanks and participated in intense combat. Fluent in English, Polish and some German, he was stationed where such skills were required. He was promoted from private to sergeant during his tour of duty. Mr. Pienkowski earned two Battle Crosses. He was a hero then and a hero now. At 96, he lives alone, cleans, cooks, does laundry and mows his lawn on a tractor. 

Eric is among the many soldiers that have served in Kuwait. He is very proud to have served in the Air Force Reserve for our country.

Garrett is in the Army National Guard in Officer Candidate School. He serves proudly! He is also a nurse at Ranken Jordan and is working towards a Masters degree.

I served in the transportation corps of the U.S. Army from 1966-72, which included service in Vietnam. I'm very thankful for my military service and am proud to call myself a veteran. Go Army!

Homer enlisted in the Army at age 17. He was assigned to Headquarter Company, 3rd Battalion, 507th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was with the Mortar Platoon. Homer fought at Graignes, Battle of the Bulge and in the Rhineland during World War II. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Good Conduct medal.

Jackson passed away in a vehicle crash on March 5, 2019, while deployed to Kuwait. He was known for helping others and making people smile. He is laid to rest at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Jacob is my youngest son. He joined the Army after high school. He has been to Afghanistan and Iraq and other foreign countries. He has devoted his life to defend our country. I am beyond proud of him!

James was drafted in 1970 and was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, where he served for six years. He then joined the Illinois National Guard and served another 27 years.

My husband Dr. Curtis is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel who has a record of amazing accomplishments. He served in the White House under two Presidents as a Presidential Communications Officer, commanded three units and served in the Gulf War. He was a flyer on the famous Strategic Air Command Airborne Command Post, also known as Operation Looking Glass. He was the first ever United State Air Force Command Electronic Security Officer. In every position he has held, he has set the mark for the future of the Air Force.

James is a 97-year-old U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was active on USS White Plains, including during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He survived an October 25, 1944, attack that sunk six ships and lost 850 men. After a medical discharge in 1951, he married and had four children. He worked as a cake and milk delivery man, was a business owner of a neighborhood dairy store and was a long time employee of the Ferguson-Florissant school district. He is an active member in church and is a friend to all. He is cherished every day.

My dad is a Navy veteran who is now 99-years-old. Thank you for your service!

Thank you both for your service! You are very nice friends.

My son Jewel served in the Marine Corps for eight years. He served in Desert Storm and contracted Agent Orange. After leaving the Marines, Jewel joined the Army before retiring. Jewel is a member of the V.F.W. Lodge 3480 located in East St. Louis, Ill.

Joe served six years in Germany during the end of the Vietnam War. His father, father-in-law and daughter are all veterans as well.

Kyle always wanted to be a Marine. He was deployed over the holiday season to serve his country. I am proud he is my nephew and appreciate him keeping the United States safe.

Leo is a Navy veteran who worked at Sigma-Aldrich for 60 years. Leo turned 100 in October 2022. He is the patriarch of a beautiful family, including seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He still enjoys his lox and bagel breakfast two times a week. Leo is amazing.

I wanted to make a difference, so I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During my two years overseas, I was promoted to sergeant and discharged after four years. I went into the service as a boy and came out a man. After my discharge I raised a family of three girls with my wife, attended college and joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Martin enrolled in the ROTC in college. When he graduated, he was commissioned as a military intelligence officer and spent the next 11 years active in the Army. His battalion was sent to the Middle East for Desert Storm. After, he remained active in the Army Reserve, and like many reservists, September 11, 2001, changed his life. As he watched the Iraq War unfold in 2003, he figured being in his late 40s would make him of little use. However, the fighting never ended, and in 2006, he was sent to Iraq to help train Iraqis to fight the insurgents. He also received two combat badges and two Bronze Stars.

He is an Air Force veteran. Thank you for your service!

Michael was a senior American noncommissioned officer and chief clerk of the Allied Military Government of Rome, Fifth Army during World War II. During the course of the war, he was awarded three Bronze Stars for meritorious service in support of combat operations in Italy from October 24, 1943, to May 2, 1945.

Milos was originally from Serbia, living in the United States and working to bring his parents to the U.S. when World War I broke out. He volunteered for the U.S. Army to fight to free Europe and his native Serbia. His service gained him U.S. citizenship and he and his family were able to come to the U.S. permanently in 1952. His children were born here and continue to live the American dream to this day.

Paul is retired from the U.S. Army Field Band after touring the world for 32 years. He continues to serve in his community, playing percussion for area philharmonic bands. He also serves in his local church as head usher and food bank contributor.

Pete is many things. He is a father, husband, friend, retired public school teacher, Cardinals fan and an extraordinarily proud grandfather. Before all of those, he was a Marine who served in Vietnam in the Combined Action Program. He forged inevitable, unbreakable bonds with his fellow servicemen along with the villagers with whom he lived.

Dick served in the U.S. Army during the height of the Vietnam War. As a member of the infantry, he was gravely wounded and spent 10 months in a VA Hospital recovering. Besides combat medals, Dick is the recipient of two Purple Hearts.

Richard completed A-1 Skyraider training and served as an A-1 pilot with the 602nd Fighter Squadron. He was stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam. In 1965, he was forced to bail out over North Vietnam and was taken as a prisoner of war on November 6 of that year. After spending 2,656 days in captivity, Bolstad was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973.

Rob served in the Navy in 2001 after 9/11. Thank you for your service!

Robert was part of the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed in England. He was German POW for over 11 months after being shot down and parachuting into Germany. He is a 99 years young and still practices law every day.

My father was a World War II Army veteran. He enlisted on February 23, 1943, to fight for his country that he loved so much, forgoing his baseball career. My father was very patriotic and was a very proud man. He passed away on Veterans Day in 2002, which was fitting for a man that sacrificed his own dreams to fight for his beloved country. He is buried in Jefferson Barracks Cemetery.

Robert was on the march to Baghdad and stationed in Sadr City. Later, he was stationed in Afghanistan as part of the search for Osama Bin Laden.

Ron Coleman served in the Army during Vietnam as a translator. He served proudly and was a wonderful leader with many letters of recommendation.

My great aunt Rosalie was part of the Women's Army Corps during World War II.

Sam served in the United States invasion of Panama, codenamed Operation Just Cause. He was part of an ambulance crew who went out to the forest and fields to rescue fellow soldiers.

Sean is a 10-year Army veteran. He was deployed to Korea with the United Nations and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Terry served in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart because he was injured in combat.

Thomas received multiple commendations throughout his military career for his service in Vietnam, including two Purple Hearts.

My father left a successful dental practice to join the Navy. He was sent to the Pacific where he served on ship as a dentist.

William flew 54 missions in a B-26 bomber during World War II. On D-Day, he bombed Utah Beach, clearing the way for troops to safely come ashore. "Wild Bill" and crew were shot down and crash landed twice, but all survived. He was given the Air Medal for heroism, outstanding achievement and meritorious service in action 10 times.