Members of the 548th Transportation Unit of the Missouri National Guard at Trenton were recognized during a “Freedom Salute” ceremony on Saturday night at the Ketcham Community Center.
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The unit, which returned in April from deployment to Afghanistan, received certificates, flags, medals and other items in recognition of their service. 1Sgt. (Ret.) Chad Smith served as master of ceremonies for the event.
Seven members of the unit were recognized for having three or more tours of duty oversees, including SSgt. Zane Bratsberg and Sgt. Richard Farmer, both of Trenton, SSgt. Claud Jobe of Lexington, Sgt. Steven McKinney of Princeton, SFC William Nicholas of Kansas City, SSgt. Michael Thomas of St. Joseph (formerly of Trenton) and Sgt. Augustine Villegas of Albany.
Receiving honors for two tours of duty were Capt. Douglas Adams, Sgt. Mark Bartlett, SFC Wes Blanscet, Sgt. Donald Burgett, Sgt. Michael Camden, SPC David Carnahan, SFC Christine Chaney, Sgt. Luis Flores, Sgt. James Foley, 1Lt. James Fountain, Sgt. Jonathan Fowler, CW3 Elvis Freeman, SFC Alan Gard, SPC Larry Gray, Sgt. Rossevelt Hampton, Sgt. Christopher Haynes, SSgt. Ryan Hendricks, SSgt. Johnny Hines, SPC Jason Howard, Sgt. Jeffery Howard, SPC Adam Ingersol, MSG Kimberly Johnson-Williams, SSgt. Jerry Keel, SSgt. Larry Lynch, Sgt. Monty Lynch, Sgt. Jerry McBride, Sgt. David McClellan, SSgt. Brian Nuding, Sgt. Terry Pekarek, Sgt. Joseph Roberts, Sgt. Nynva Rollins, SSgt. Jeromy Rothove, SSgt. Thomas Sanders, SSgt. Kris Schmidt, SPC Cody Smith, SSgt. Jeffrey Stevens, Sgt. David Taylor and Sgt. Charles Woods.
Recognized for their first tour of duty were SPC Tyler Anderson, Sgt. Derek Baker, SPC Benton Benner, Sgt. Seyborn Billings, SPC Christopher Bishop, SPC Dale Blender, SPC Derek Bloss, SPC Daniel Britt, Sgt. James Caldwell, SPC Juan Callepiedrahita, SPC Aaron Cassil, SPC Marcus Chapman, SPC Jeffrey Cleaveland, SPC Cody Cook, SPC Randy Curtis, SPC James Dannatt, SPC Tyler Dunn, SPC Isaac Engelage, SPC Stephan Farr, SPC Benjamin Farris, SPC Bradley Fassiotto, SPC Brandon Frans, SPC John Gardner, SSgt. Timothy Garvey, Sgt. Robert Gilmore, Sgt. Kenneth Golden, SPC Rakia Hasoon, PFC Lee Hatt, Sgt. Anthony Henggeler, SPC John Hibner, SPC Rudloph Hochee, Sgt. Michael Houk, SPC Scott Hughson, SPC Dustin Kerksiek, SPC Erik Larson, SPC Kenneth Lewie, Sgt. Jacob Lewis, SPC Travis Lewis, Sgt. James Lopes, SPC Travis Mann, SPC David McCarty, SSgt. Jeremy McGuire, SPC Adam McLain, Sgt. Derrick Meister, SPC Isaac Miller, Sgt. Daniel Nall, SPC Nathan Ousley, SPC Dalton Parks, SPC Chad Pohlman, SPC Steven Quick, Sgt. Alexander Ragle, Sgt. Gary Reed, SPC Jarred Reyes, Sgt. Lous Riedl, SPC Justin Riley, SPC Bruce Roach, SPC John Rollins, SPC Tabbathia Rosenburg, Sgt. Justin Rothove, SPC Kyle Schroeder, Sgt. John Schultz, SPC Nicholas Spiker, SPC Eric Swopes, Sgt. Anthony Tacker, 1Lt Seulata Tu, Sgt. Aaron Vandergriff, SPC Taylor Vandever, Sgt. Curtis Ward, SPC Kari Wilcox, SPC Thomas Williams, SPC Arthur Wilson, SPC Erica Wilson, SPC Zachary Wiseman, SPC Rebecca Peterson and SPC Tim Shuler.
Receiving the Outstanding Center of Influence Award was Patty Lanaman, who provided coffee, ovens, food, etc. for the troops during their deployment. Receiving the Distinguished Center of Influence Award was the City of Trenton on behalf of several businesses, groups and individuals who also showed their support. Unit Awards were presented to Sgt. Smith for his assistance with the unit as well as to the Joseph L. Norton VFW Post No. 919 and the Major Dale Stepp American Legion Post No. 31, both of Trenton.