Wall of Honor
Click here to submit a photo of a veteran for our Wall of Honor.
Weigel Broadcasting Co. launched the Wall of Honor on ABC57.com to salute Michiana service members. Members of the military and their families and friends are invited to upload a photo of the military heroes and heroines in their life as a way of honoring their service and sacrifice to our country.
“Everyone knows someone who volunteered for military service. We wanted a way to bring recognition to those who sacrifice so much so we can have our freedoms,” said Aaron Ramey, General Manager of WBND/ABC57, WCWW/CW25 and WMYS/My Michiana 69.


Joe Ervin
from Bremen
Joe loaded weapons on the A-10 Warthog. He loved serving in the Air Force at Grissom Air Force Base.


Roree Kerr
from Montgomery Village
A basic training picture from 1979, Fort Jackson, SC. Retired from the Army after returning from Ur, Iraq in 2005.


Afton Holt Ratliff
from Kingsport, TN
This was my dad. He served on a mine sweeper in WWII. He was raised on a farm and spent his first night away from home when he enlisted in the navy. He was a great patriot, dad and Christian.
Don Kapica
from Hobart, IN
Joined the Air Force in 1978 to be a radio announcer. Was with AFRTS Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Stationed in NC, OH, CO, Guam, CA and retired at Scott AFB, IL. Best 20 years of my life were in the military.


Charles Anders
from Plymouth
Vietnam era Seabee, passed away 2012.


LeeRoy Anders
from Plymouth
WWII paratrooper


Jack Stone
from Elkhart
was member of fighter squadron He is a shellback (crossed equator) and Blue Nose (sailed in north atlantic). served during Korea war. Air group was on 5 different aircraft carriers. wonderful Husband, father, grandfather.


Kody Stroud
from South Bend, IN
2 tours to Afghanistan conducting route clearance. Air Assault, Master Combatives, Combat Action Badge


BILLY J MCMILLEN
from MI - Cassopolis
ENLISTED IN THE INFANTRY AT FT BENNING GA.IN 1981.CROSS TRAINED AS MEDIC .CROSSTRAINED AS TRACK MECH.GRADUATED FROM 4TH BATALLION RANGER BATTALLION.LATER TRAINED WITH THE 5TH SPECIAL OPS UNIT GRADULATING TOP 4 .SERVED WITH THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND ARMY RESERVES FOR A TOTAL OF 20 YRS.LEFT THE SERVICE AS A E-7,DURING HIS CAREER HE WAS AWARDED MANY SERVICE METALS AND AWARDS.CITATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE.ACCOMIDATIONS FROM MICH STATE GOVENOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,


Scott Mann
from St Joseph MI
Joined the Corps in 1997 and air force in 2002. Did a tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2. Co-Founder of Trolling with the Troops out of St Joseph MI.


Curtis Reifon
from Valparaiso,In
What is a security specialist in the United States Air Force


Rick Houston
from Hobart, IN
This would be my loving boyfriend. He served in the Army from 1998-2005. His army career ended when he was riding in a M88-A1 & was in a bad vehicle accident and lost a portion of his shoulder.


FFrank, John. Ted, Leo, Mack Styborski
from ⁶Cambridge Springs, Pa.
55 brothers of Polish immigrants All overseas in both theaters of war. Mack was my dad.


Murray Jones
from Elkhart, Indiana
Was the radio man on the front lines in I think Korea.


Glenn L. Nelsey
from Waterford, MI
Part of my dad’s job was to watch over the Japanese prisoner’s of war. He was very well respected among those men. One actually honored my dad with a gift of a hand painted landscape on a linen handkerchief. He would not talk about his time served, but was proud he volunteered. He was exempt because he was the son of a farmer, but went anyway. He grandfather took back some land he had given my dad as a gift because he chose to go to war. My dad died 8-13-2021.


Brooke Gearheart
from Laporte, IN
She was a 3381 ( Food Service Specialist) was stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. She was passionate about her job and loved it. Sadly she was medically discharged due to discovering a spinal disease. I know every day she misses it and wishes she could be back in uniform!


Edward L Dunifin
from Niles
Been married for 46 years too my lovely wife Karen. We have2 kids Brian, Jennifer. and 5 grandkids. And we live a great life.


1st. Lt. Jean (Huber) Thornburgh
from Racine, WI
Mom served in WW II as a nurse. Stationed on Amchitka. Aleutian Islands. Also at Fitzimmons Army Hospital (Denver?). Met Dad up in Alaska while he worked on the construction of the Alaskan Highway. Later, 62-73 was nurse at Norte Dame Infirmary (now health Center) caring for retired priests- one (Father B.H. Lange) who had the weight lifting gym on campus & had been 3rd. Strongest man in the world at one time. His nickname for mom was “Bubbles”. Father Ted Hesburgh was one of many that attended mom’s funeral.


Dennis Allen
from Lakeville
He's my dad and we love him very much and the one thing is proud of is his time in the Army all ways telling us his stories about things he did in there and the friends he made


Michael S. Koelndorfer
from South Bend, Indiana
My son, Michael, spent the last 24 years of his life serving the United States in the Air Force, retiring last August. He currently lives in Destin, Florida with his wife, Liz, and son, Riley.


Gene scrogham
from MIDDLEBURY
Was drafted to Vietnam in 1969. 3rd division marine recon


Willis Shirk
from Mishawaka, Indiana
Willis was proud serve his country in the United States Army. He did his basic training at Ft Leonard Wood, MO. Then was assigned to Fort Bennington, GA. He was my hero and my Dad.


Carl Thompson
from Elkhart
Carl retired from The USArmy, Indiana National Guard & Indiana Guard Reserve with a combined total of 36 1/2 years service. He was born in Goshen, IN on Mar 3, 1953 and grew up in the Elkhart, IN area as Carl L. Gay. He changed his name to Carl Thompson when he married me Lynn M. Thompson on April 24, 2004. He entered the US Army on May 12, 1971 and retired from the Indiana Guard Reserve on April 13 2019.


Gregory Reese
from South Bend, IN
Greg is the son of the late Melodie Phend Holowko of Mishawaka, IN and the late Steve Reese of Lakeville, IN (Cache, OK) and graduate of Chattanooga High School Chattanooga, OK and enlisted in the Marine Corps in September of 1985 graduating from MCRD San Diego in Jan. of 1986. Obtained the M.O.S. Of 0341 Infantry Mortarman and served with 1st Bn 5th Marines until 1990 then went on to serve as a Infantry instructor at The School of Infantry, 3rd FSSG in Okinawa, 1st FSSG Camp Pendleton, CA then changed his M.O.S. to 3043 Supply Administration serving with H&S Bn & supply Bn 1st FSSG and his last duty station as Supply Chief of Field Medical Service School West until June of 2001. Greg participated in Operation Earnest Will with SPMAGTF 1-88, the Yellowstone Fires of 1988 numerous other deployments and exercises. His personal decorations include. Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal 2nd Award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Korean Defense Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal 5th award, National Defense Medal, Sea Service Deployment 4th Award, Rifle Expert Badge 9th Award and Pistol Expert Badge. Greg now resides in the South Bend area and is a member of The Marine Corps League St Joe Valley Detachment #095, VFW POST# 360, American Legion Post 303 and a Lifetime Member of the Disabled American Veterans.


James Fritz (left) Jeremiah Fritz (right)
from Elkhart Indiana
Two of my amazing sons