Famous Soldiers

Famous Soldiers

Bronze Star	Official Seal of the Army	Medal of Honor
Images courtesy of Maj. Joseph A. Madagan, USAR Ret. ('57) of FL - 06/25/04 Thanks, Joe!

This list is comprised of people whose main fame comes from their life OUTSIDE their military service,
and should not be confused with "Noteworthy Soldiers", although the two are not mutually exclusive.

S - Z

PHOTO	NAME	BIRTH	DEATH	OTHER CLAIM TO FAME


		Pat Sajak (Patrick Leonard Sajak)	26 Oct 1946 Chicago, IL	Living	* Radio Disc Jockey * Television Weatherman * Host of Television's "Wheel of Fortune", 1981 - Present patsajak.com/ patsajak.com/bio.htm

		Wilmer Henry Salmon	17 Mar 1895 Goochland Co., VA	17 Feb 1953 Richmond, VA	* Wilma Salmon Robinson's Father

		Telly Savalas (Aristotle Savalas)	21 Jan 1924 Garden City, Long Island, NY	22 Jan 1994 Universal City, CA (prostate cancer)	* Actor * Director * Writer tellysavalas.com/ about/bio/daredevil.html

		Charles M. Schulz (Charles Monroe Schulz)	26 Nov 1922 Minneapolis, MN	13 Feb 2000 Santa Rosa, Sonoma, CA (colon cancer)	* Cartoonist en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Charles_M._Schulz flyingace.net/ comics.com/peanuts

1944 Sam Serling and his son, Rod		Rod Serling (Edward Rodman Serling)	25 Dec 1924 Syracuse, NY	28 June 1975 Rochester, NY (complications arising from a coronary bypass operation)	* Boxer * Writer * Actor * Producer rodserling.com/

		Al Simms (Albert Egerton Simms, Jr.)	07 June 1942 Raleigh, NC	11 Aug 2016 Fredericksburg, VA	* Newport News High School, Class of 1960 * My Friend Dates of Service - Nov 1966 to Nov 1969 Basic at Ft Bragg, NC AIT at Ft Sill, OK Vietnam Service - Nov 1967 to Dec 1968 Vietnam Unit - AN/MPQ-4A Radar Section, HSB, 1/14th Arty, 198th LIB, Americal Division Vietnam Locations - Chu Lai, Cherry Hill, LZ Clifford, LZ Bowman, LZ Young, LZ Professional, LZ Gator, LZ Bayonet Weapons Used in Vietnam - AN/MPQ-4A Countermortar Radar, 45cal pistol, M14 Rifle, M16 Rifle, M79 Grenade Launcher, M60 Machine Gun, 50 Cal Machine Gun, M72 Light Antitank Weapon (disposable Bazooka), M3A1 Grease Gun (45 cal short barrel machine gun) MOS 26B3H Weapons Support Radar Mechanic, Depot Level and Instructor endorsements * After AIT and Before Nam and also for the final year after Nam - taught Radar Repair at the US Army Artillery and Missile School at Ft Sill, OK. * Senior Lab Instructor for most of 1969 for the Q10 Radar Lab. nnhs65.com/Christmases-in-Viet-Nam.html nnhs65.com/08-14-16- NNHS-Al-Simms.html
1966 Basic Training and 2000 same uniform that I wore when discharged - Only two buttons of the coat are fastened and I cannot breath in 2000. And the pants - forget it - no way!	Me on an AN/MPQ-10A Countermortar tracking radar in 67 at Ft Sill, OK

I spent Christmas Day 1967 in this 50 foot tall guard tower at Chu Lai, Vietnam.	A job that never ended regardless of your rank in Nam. 50 pounds of sand sure seems heavier now than it did back in 68.

Me and my Q4 Radar on LZ Clifford, west of Chu Lai. Very primitive place.	Teaching Radar Repair at Ft Sill, OK (I am on the left)

Medals - Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with V, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign, Good Conduct, National Defense, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation	2001 Radar Section Reunion. First and Fantastic meeting after 33 years!

1945 S/Sgt. Bob Slaughter Somewhere in Germany		Bob Slaughter (John Robert Slaughter)	03 Feb 1925 Bristol, TN	29 May 2012 Roanoke, VA	* Author of Omaha Beach and Beyond omahabeachandbeyond.com omahabeachandbeyond.com/ abouttheauthor.html omahabeachandbeyond.com/ purchasethebook.html roanoke.com/news/roanoke/ wb/309497 nnhs65.com/09-11-12-NNHS-Patriot-Day.html

		Warren Spahn (Warren Edward Spahn)	23 Apr 1921 Buffalo, NY	24 Nov 2003 Broken Arrow, OK	* Baseball Hall of Famer (1973) * The winningest left-hander in baseball history baseballhalloffame. org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_ bios/spahn_warren.htm msn.espn.go.com/classic/ obit/s/2003/1124/1670072.html sportsecyclopedia.com/ memorial/braves/spahn.html

		J. E. B. Stuart (James Ewell Brown Stuart)	06 Feb 1833 "Laurel Hill", Patrick Co., VA	12 May 1864 Richmond, VA (of wounds received in battle)	* My Hero jebstuart.org/ civilwarhome.com/stuartbi.htm pointsouth.com/csanet/greatmen/ stuart/stuart-bio.htm swcivilwar.com/stuart.html civilwarhistory.com/jeb.htm sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation /General_JEB_Stuart.htm

		Jay Styles (John Wesley Styles, Jr.)	07 Dec 1949 Asheville, NC	Living	* Newport News High School, Class of 1968 * My Friend * Virginia State Police

		Frank Sutton (Frank Spencer Sutton)	23 Oct 1923 Clarksville, TN	28 June 1974 Shreveport, LA (heart attack)	* Actor rissystreasures.com/frank.htm

		Peter Thomas (Peter Addenbrooke Thomas)	28 June 1924 Pensacola, Florida	30 Apr 2016 Naples, FL	* TV Announcer and Narrator wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Thomas_(announcer)

		Strom Thurmond (James Strom Thurmond)	05 Dec 1902 Edgefield, SC	26 June 2003	* U. S. Senator From SC - * His record stands as the longest serving and oldest Senator in US history with 48 years at age 100.

Beryl Buckley and her aunt, 1st Lt. Neville Tuck Richmond, VA		Neville Tuck (Neville Emory Tuck)	19 May 1903 "Buckshaol Farm", Virgilina, Halifax, VA	21 Jan 1977 Richmond, VA	* Registered Nurse - Maguire VA Hospital, Richmond, VA * My Great Aunt

		Charlie Vellines (Charles LaVerne Vellines)	08 Sep 1946	01 July 1974 (automobile accident)	* Newport News High School, Class of 1965 nnhs65.00.com/memoriam.html

		Donny White (Donald Thomas White)		Living	* Played in 1954 Little League World Series * Newport News High School, Class of 1960 * Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1965: B.S. in civil engineering; Distinguished Military Student; Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities; Pres. Brown Athletic Cup for Excellence Patrick Henry High School Athletic Director Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Virginia Military Institute vmi.edu/show.aspx?tid=22373&id=14701 vmikeydets.com/ViewArticle. dbml?DB_OEM_ID= 9800&ATCLID=1440246 dailypress.com/sports/dp-spt-little-league-hampton54-20100827,0,7130800.story vmikeydets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID= 9800&ATCLID=204983752

1944		Walter White (Walter James White)	03 Jan 1916 Brooklyn, Kings, NY	17 Feb 2009 Hopewell, VA	* Civil Servant * My Uncle nnhs65.com/02-20-09-NNHS-Walter-White.html

"...waiting to be picked up on our last mission in Viet Nam"		David Whitley (David Parker Whitley)	19 May 1949 Newport News, VA	Living	* Newport News High School, Class of 1967 * Aero-Rifles, 25th Infantry/3/4 Cavalry * LDS High Priest Group Leader * My Friend * The Funniest Man I've Ever Known

1968 - Ft. Benning, GA		Charlie Wiggins (Charles Leonard Wiggins)	14 Aug 1942 Newport News, VA	14 July 2004 (cancer)	* Newport News High School, Class of 1962 * Civil Servant * Senior Systems Analyst for Unidyne * Master Electrician nnhs65.com/memoriam62.html

		Hoyt Wilhelm (James Hoyt Wilhelm)	26 July 1923 Huntersville, NC	23 Aug 2002	* Major League Baseball Pitcher * Knuckleballer who is 3rd all-time in games pitched (1,070) and 1st in games finished (651) and games won in relief (123) * Career ERA of 2.52 and 227 saves * 1st reliever inducted into Hall of Fame (1985) * Threw no-hitter vs. NY Yankees (1958) * Also hit lone HR of career in first major league at bat (1952) * Won Purple Heart at the Battle of the Bulge. Courtesy of Joe Madagan of FL - 05/28/04 Thanks, Joe!

		Dick Winters (Richard D. Winters)	21 Jan 1918 Ephrata, PA	02 Jan 2011 Campbelltown, PA	* Commanded Company "E", 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, during WW II. * Production supervisor at an adhesive plaster mill in New Brunswick, NJ * Small farmer * Small businessman (selling animal feed products) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Richard_Winters

		Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (Efrem Alexandrovich [Alexander] Zimbalist, Jr.)	30 Nov 1918 New York City, NY	Living	* Actor

"Caisons Go Rolling" midi courtesy of http://members.tripod.com/~Son_Struck/pmm.html.

MOST of the full given names on this page were supplied by Eric Huffstutler (Bethel High School - '75) of VA
Thanks so much, Eric!

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If you (or a family member) served our nation as a member of the United States Army,
and would consent to being included on this page, please send your full name,
date and place of birth, other occupations, and images in uniform
to the Web Mistress:

Carol Buckley Harty of NC: cluckmeat@yahoo.com

Thank you.

07/22/01