CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

October 17, 2008

CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

George Powers is helping lead souls to freedom as co-director for the Southeast Kansas House of Prayer, PittsburgOnce a soldier, always a soldier. You never stop fighting for what’s right. Such is the case with George Powers as told in the Pittsburgh, Kansas Morning Sun by staff writer Nikki Patrick.

George Powers has been a fighter against tyranny all his life.

First he fought against communist tyranny as a Ranger, a Green Beret and master parachutist, serving three combat tours of duty in Vietnam.

Now he’s fighting spiritual tyranny, helping lead souls to freedom as co-director for the Southeast Kansas House of Prayer, Pittsburg. His new book, “The Making of a Soldier,” traces his battles, military and spiritual. Powers will sign copies of the book from 4 to 7:30 p.m. today and 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the recently dedicated Kansas National Guard Armory on South Rouse.

“I so much appreciate the Kansas National Guard agreeing to be my host for this book signing,” Powers said. “I want to do anything I can to make the public aware of the sacrifice our military is making, not only those who are serving but their families as well.”

A native of Wyoming, Powers wrote that “the heritage of a soldier that was to become mine literally grew out of the ground I lived on as a small child.” His great-grandfather’s ranch included three sites involved in the U.S. military’s battle against various Native American tribes, including Fort Phil Kearny.
He entered Montana State College at Bozeman, from which he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and Distinguished Military Graduate.

He served 12 1/2 years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, including 30 months in Vietnam, earning numerous honors including the Bronze Star with Valor third award, Air Medal with Valor third award, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Badge, Army Commendation Medal and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Silver and Bronze Stars. Memories of those years are often with him, and he frequently visits the Vietnam Wall at the Pittsburg State University Veterans Memorial. “I have friends on that wall,” Powers said.

He later attended seminary, graduated and returned to active duty as a U.S. Army chaplain with the 82D Airborne Division, Special Operations Command, Joint Special Operations Command and 1ST Infantry Division. He continued in ministry after leaving the military, and in 1987 answered a call to pastor the South Broadway Baptist Church, Pittsburg. Powers later was instrumental in organizing Christ’s Community Church, and in developing the Southeast Kansas House of Prayer.

Based in Pittsburg, it has a mandate covering 10 area counties and is affiliated with the Kansas City International House of Prayer, Topeka House of Prayer, Crossroads International House of Prayer in Joplin and Bethel House of Prayer in Platt City, Mo.

Powers has never confined his ministry inside church walls. For 12 years, he served as PSU athletic chaplain, and he continues as an on-call chaplain with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department. “I cherish the relationship with Sandy Horton and his staff,” Powers said.

For the past three years he’s also been a substitute teacher in Pittsburg schools, and enjoys working with the youngsters. Powers is the father of five children, and stepfather of three born to his wife, Sue, and her previous husband, Doug Head. Four of his five sons have also gone into the military — Maj. Tim Powers, Maj. Tom Powers, Senior Airman Jason Head and Pfc. Paxton Powers. “Only an injury in high school kept my son, Travis Powers, out of the military lineup,” Powers said.

Various friends had urged him to write a book about his life. “I never thought I’d do anything like that,” he said. But he did, and response has been good for the book, which costs $15. Powers is a member of the Military Writers Society of America, and it recently posted an online review of “The Making of a Soldier” by Jim Stewart.

“George Powers has written a fine book about his journey through life,” Stewart wrote. “…His description of his tour of duty in Vietnam is detailed and hard-hitting. This is the spiritual growth of a committed leader and soldier.” The reviewer ended by highly recommending the book, which he called an uplifting and educational journey from personal bondage to salvation.

Powers now refers to himself as a “made-over” soldier who battles with prayer and praise rather than guns and bullets. “There is no higher calling than to surrender to the invitation to become a private in God’s Army,” Powers said.

Thank you Nikki for covering this so well. Another good story about a good soldier!

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Tribute Honors Fallen Soldier

October 12, 2008

Tribute honors fallen soldier

This fine article comes to us from Pete Wicklund with the Journal TimesMary Jacobs remembers well the day her mother received word that Mary’s brother — Maj. John L. “Jack” Jerstad — was shot down and reported as missing in action in Europe in World War II.

A girl had come to the family home in Racine to deliver a telegraph. After Jacobs’ mother, Alice, read the telegraph, she grabbed at her heart.

Jacobs, then 21 and watching from a distance, at first could not understand why her mother would show such shock. She thought it was just Jack wishing his parents a happy wedding anniversary.

“If I had only realized they weren’t sending those types of telegrams back then,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs, now 86, was in Racine on Saturday with her four children to view the new historical display that pays tribute to Jerstad and Marine Pfc. Harold C. Agerholm at the Racine Veterans Center. Jerstad, 25, a bomber in the Army Air Corps, and Agerholm, 19, who was killed is Saipan in the Pacific Theater of World War II, were both awarded the Medal of Honor for their fateful acts of heroism in the war. Jerstad-Agerholm Elementary and Middle Schools on LaSalle Street are also named for two.

Jacobs brought with her some mementos of her brother’s life to share with the volunteers who are assembling military displays for The Legacy Museum and Veterans Center, a planned expansion at the current veterans center at 820 Main St.

The current display on Jerstad and Agerholm, and another for perished space shuttle astronaut and Horlick High graduate Capt. Laurel Salton Clark, are the first displays for the future Legacy Museum.

Among the cherished items Jacobs brought to share was the encased flag that draped Jerstad’s casket when he was buried at Ardennes Cemetery in Belgium and a bust that Jacobs made of her brother in sculpting class.

Jacobs said she burst into tears when she thought that her sculpting her brother’s likeness might have been a jinx that resulted in his going missing. Her teacher, renowned Danish sculptor Christian Petersen, assured her nothing could be further from the truth. The bust does closely resemble portraits of Jerstad.

What might have tipped fate, some wonder, is that Jerstad was shot down flying a plane nicknamed “Hell’s Wench.” That came after numerous safe missions in a plane nicknamed for Jerstad — “Jerk’s Natural.” Natural referred to the numbers in the plane’s serial number adding up to seven and 11, a natural in a dice game. In fact, a pair of dice were painted on that plane.

It took seven years before the Army called Jacobs’ parents, Art and Alice Jerstad, to let them know remains had been found. The long period of time and countless tributes to Jack Jerstad prolonged the grieving process for the family. Among the tributes was the ceremony at Racine’s Holy Communion Church where the family received Jerstad’s Medal of Honor.

Read the rest of the story here…

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General Ray Odierno

September 17, 2008

General Ray Odierno

Odierno replaces Petraeus

Lieutenant General Ray Odierno took over the command of the 146,000-strong U.S. force in Iraq from General David Petraeus at a ceremony held on the outskirts of Baghdad on Tuesday.
Gen. Odierno, whom his predecessor termed as “the perfect man for the job,” said he was aware of the tough task ahead in Iraq, despite a recent lull in violence.Addressing a gathering after assuming the new responsibility, he said the recent security gains in the country are “fragile and reversible.”

He called upon the Iraqi people to take charge, as “the struggle is theirs to win.”

“Iraq is now a different country from the one I had seen first. However, we must realize that these gains are fragile and reversible,” Odierno added.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who unexpectedly flew in Monday to attend the ceremony, said the two generals formed an “incredible team” while implementing the troop surge plan last year.

Presiding over the ceremony, Gates recalled the challenges faced by Gen. Petraeus in one of the most risky foreign security missions carried out by U.S. armed forces.

“Darkness had descended on this land. Merchants of chaos were gaining strength. Death was commonplace. Slowly, but inexorably, the tide began to turn. Our enemies took a fearsome beating they will not soon forget,” Gates said.

He reminded Gen. odierno to be cautious at a “pivotal moment, when progress remains fragile.”

Gen. Petraeus paid tribute to the American soldiers in the fight against terrorism in Iraq.

Gen. Petraeus, who successfully sought the “surge” of nearly 30,000 extra U.S. troops in Iraq, is widely credited with reducing violence there during his 20 months in command.

After putting him at the helm of the Multi-National Force - Iraq in February 2007, the Bush administration heavily relied on Gen. Petraeus in the implementation of its so-called surge strategy.

Since then, the security situation has improved markedly, with less violence and fewer deaths, and progress on both the political and economic fronts of the country.

Petraeus has subsequently been promoted to oversee operations in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.

He will take up the post as ‘Commander-in-Chief of the US Central Command next month, working from its headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

U.S. President George W. Bush gave an upbeat assessment of the security gains made in Iraq in July, which witnessed the least number of US troop casualties in the country since the beginning of the war in 2003.

He also announced the shortening of tours of duty in the war-torn country. Discover the rest of the story here…

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Tim McGraw Military Tribute

September 10, 2008

Tim McGraw Military Tribute

Tim McGraw and his band, the Dancehall Doctors, will perform a military tribute Thursday (Sept. 11) for military personnel and their families at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. McGraw is donating his performance for the concert that’s expected to attract a crowd of 25,000 at MacArthur Field. "We can only begin to sympathize [with] the immense sacrifice the soldiers and their families make on a daily basis," McGraw said. "We hope our
show gives them a brief interlude of their duties and time to enjoy themselves for a little while."

This is just one more reason Dad holds Tim McGraw in such high esteem. He is taking time from his very busy schedule to say "Thanks for all you’ve done" to the men and women serving in the US Military. Thank you Tim for your tribute!

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Vietnam War Pilot to Retire

August 29, 2008

Vietnam War Pilot to Retire

This story was carried in a number of newspapers today, our copy from The Minot Daily News, in Minot N.D.:
The last serving North Dakota Army National Guard soldier who flew in the Vietnam War will retire Friday after more than 35 years of military service. Col. Gerald Heinle, of Bismarck, enlisted into the Army in August 1969.

A celebration in his honor will take place Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck.

Heinle spent a year in Vietnam piloting almost daily missions from Dong Tam in a Charlie-model gunship with the 135th Assault Helicopter Company. During that time, he logged more than 1,000 hours of flight time. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the fifth-highest Army decoration, and the Air Medal with "V" device for valor during his Vietnam service. He is the only serving member of the North Dakota Guard authorized to wear such honors.

Heinle served two years in the Army, and then sat on a waiting list until April 1976, when he was able to join the North Dakota Army National Guard. He began working full time for the Guard two years later. He has served as the state aviation officer since 2001.

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Medal of Honor - Kenneth Worley

August 24, 2008

Medal of Honor - Kenneth Worley

With so many acts of valor in America’s history, it is difficult to read the following article and not have your eyes well up in tears. Here is the story of a young soldier who selflessly and without hesitation gave his own life to protect the lives of those around him. It was determined that he should be awarded the Medal of Honor, this country’s highest decoration for valor…and sadly it is learned that no one knows anything about Kenneth Worley. How can one who gives so fully of himself not have left a mark or a memory among those with whom he lived? If after reading this story about Kenneth Worley you remember any details about his life or you know someone who knew him or have any information about him at all, please contact
Dad@American-Valor.com and I will see to it that America hears the story about the life of one of her heroes. Thank you,

Dad

Mystery surrounds Medal of Honor recipient

By DEBRA MAYEUX , The Daily Times, Information from: The Daily Times

A name on a wall without military rank or recognition of honors—that is how Farmington, N.M. recognizes its only Medal of Honor recipient.

Like many Vietnam veterans, Lance Cpl. Kenneth Worley was not honored with a parade or celebration upon the return of his body to the United States. It even took the U.S. military two years before awarding the medal to Worley, presenting it to his son and foster family.

"Worley died Aug. 12, 1968, in Bo Ban Hamlet, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam in a valiant act of heroism, (he) instantly threw himself upon the grenade nearest him and his comrades, absorbing with his body, the full and tremendous force of the explosion," his medal’s citation states.

Worley, 20 at the time of his death, saved his fellow Marines, gallantly giving his life for his country, the citation added. He is one of 297 Marines and 3,467 service members to receive the medal since it was established during the Civil War. He is the only Marine from New Mexico to earn the award.

But who was Kenneth Worley? This Marine and his life remain shrouded in mystery.

Worley was born April 27, 1948, in Farmington. He was raised by a poor family, said Bruce Salisbury, an Aztec resident who has spent the past five years investigating Worley.
"My sister, Ann, went to school with his sister," Salisbury said.

Worley’s military record stated he graduated the eighth grade from Farmington Elementary School and moved for a short time to Truth or Consequences after being orphaned. It’s not known what happened to his parents.

At 16, he moved to Modesto, Calif., where he lived with an aunt and worked as a trucker, hauling Christmas trees out of the mountains, according to a study on Worley’s life completed by Terence W. Barrett, a doctor of psychology at North Dakota State University.

"I was doing a study of bravery when I came across Ken," Barrett said in a telephone interview. Barrett works with people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorder. "The idea (of the study) was to have examples of actions that people take that are brave."

Barrett, finding little to no history on Worley, became intrigued by the young man.

"There was so little public information, and I wanted more than their citations. I wanted personal background," Barrett said.

He did research and was surprised to find that few, if any, people knew who Worley was. Residents here did not realize a Farmington native received the Medal of Honor.

"I found Worley Field and wondered if it was named after him," Barrett said.

He contacted the city’s parks and recreation department, but there were no records as to when or how the park was named.

Local baseball historian Jim Clay said the field was named after an El Paso Natural Gas employee. It is not known if the Mr. Worley the field was named after was related to Kenneth Worley.

Barrett discovered there are 25,000 Worleys accounted for in the 1990 Census and no Worley has publicly claimed to be related to the Marine. No one seems to have any knowledge of his biological lineage, Barrett said.

Worley did have a foster mother and father, the late Don and Rose Feyerman, of Modesto, Calif.

At the time, Worley was not going to school and was living in a camper trailer with no running water, electricity or heat, Barrett said. The Feyermans liked Worley and considered him to be their ninth child.

In August 1967, Worley enlisted in the Marines. He trained at Camp Pendelton and was sent to Vietnam, arriving there Nov. 24, 1967, at the age of 19. He was a machine gunner and rifleman.

He died the following August, Barrett said. He saved five of his comrades when he threw his body on the grenade.

He was doing any number of things before his death that credit him with valor, Barrett said. Worley had four bronze campaign stars attached to his Vietnam Service Medal for other actions of bravery.

"There’s nothing named after him (in Farmington), which is really unfortunate. Most Medal of Honor recipients have highways or buildings named in honor of them, but there was no public dedication made in honor of him," Barrett said.

Salisbury has worked on that for the past five years.

"All I want is for that kid who spent 16 years of his life here to be honored," Salisbury said. "My heart went out to Worley. … I hope that after all of this comes out this kid will be recognized as somebody really important."

There is another Medal of Honor recipient from San Juan County.

U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Jose Valdez was born in Gobernador. He received the medal posthumously for service in World War II. A 106-mile stretch of U.S. 64 from Tierra Amarilla to Bloomfield is named in his honor.

Mayor Bill Standley said he needed more information about Worley before pushing for a memorial.

"I don’t feel I can do it, until I find out more information, and if he’s got strong ties or roots (to the community)," Standley said.

There are memorials to him in California and Seattle, Barrett said. There is a Medal of Honor plaque on his grave at Westminster Memorial Gardens in Westminster, Calif.

There also is the Lance Cpl. Kenneth L. Worley Young Marine unit based in Bellflower, Calif., a nonprofit organization open to all children ages 8 to 18.

Worley’s only recognition in Farmington is his engraved name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Salisbury’s hope is to have a memorial statue dedicated to Worley that would be a bronze depicting Worley in his military uniform, looking down at one of the young Marines.

Maybe those young Marines will find that Farmington has a heart and it cares, Salisbury said.

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