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Hometown Patriot
Former Louisiana Gov. Charles "Buddy" Roemer is giving up his attempt to win the Republican nomination for president. But he's not giving up his bid for the White House. » More

Hometown Patriot

Today, Eric Odom is in the business of steel construction but 21 years ago his business was destroying Iraqi forces. As a U.S. Marine, Odom worked as a mechanic on a transport helicopter.

Airman Trevor Cowart lost a friend in a motorcycle accident, and volunteered to take his place in his upcoming tour in Afghanistan, even though Cowart had recently returned from his own hitch.

Ted Cox, Administrator of Caddo Juvenile Court, works with young offenders. Cox was wounded in Vietnam, but continued in reserves and lead the way to develop Iraq's juvenile justice system after the fall of Saddam.

His mother died when he was born in 1935. His father died just a few years later in a crash. So Ralph Dru was raised in an Indian boarding school in his native Oklahoma. And later, though America was at war in Korea, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and found a path forward. » More


Ethan Harris says he'd like to go back to Afghanistan for his country. But first, this young Marine from Doyline has tom come back from an injury on the battelfield that he suffered in a close call with the enemy. » More


A secret weapon helped B-24 Bombardier, Jim Metzger, during World War II. Metzger and his fellow flyers dropped tin foil from U.S. warplanes to get to targets in Europe.

Charles Johnson spent his teen years completing odd jobs to earn money for flying lessons. While Johnson's dream of becoming an Air Force Pilot took a different route, he still took off on a long and fulfilling military career.

As we wrap up 2011 we decided to take a look back at a few local heroes. A courageous group of men and women who have earned the distinction of KTBS 3 Landers Hometown Patriots.

Troy Foreman of Magnolia, Arkansas served in infantry during World War II. He then returned home and started a career in education spanning more than 40 years.

Vietnam War veteran and retired Navy man Ken Nichols, soon to be 75 years old, still works for the Willis Knighton Health System, and is active in the community. He is also the longest serving diplomat on the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.

He was a medic riding helicopters into the battlefields of Vietnam. Hundreds of missions, getting shot at time after time. He survived his helicopter getting shot down not just once but seven times and that was not even the worst of what John Goodwin faced as he fought for our country.

Pearl Harbor survivor Bob Matheny of Shreveport was aboard the USS Nevada, the only battleship to get underway during the attack, though it was hit. It was salvaged and steamed during key battles, including the Normany Landings, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Matheny also went on to fight in the Pacific aboard a Destroyer.

Tyler Little of Minden was just about to start college when his guard unit was activated. He was soon interrogating suspected terrorists in Afghanistan. The young soldier shares a different side of the war.

When Gary Pilcher was 10-years-old he was walking home from school, only to find police. Pilcher was taken away along with his brothers and sisters; they were scattered across foster homes.

Myles Grissett flew on long, dangerous missions as a B-17 Radio Operator during World War II. Now the 86-year-old is still going the distance at his home near Blanchard, Louisiana.

Claude McCrocklin was a football player and art major at Centenary College. But then came the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he enlisted with the Army Air Corp. He would be shot down and taken as a prisoner of war in Germany. While in a Nazi prison camp, McCrocklin used his artistic talent to sketch vivid scenes of his struggle. » More


As we mark two years since the Ft. Hood massacre, we meet a retired soldier who sprang into action to protect others and tried to help subdue the gunman. He was awarded the Soldier's Medal for his actions that day. Now, Derrick Smith is a full-time college student with aspirations of helping other veterans.

Thousands and thousands of women enlisted in World War II. The Women's Army Corp. (WAC) featured the first females to serve in the army other than nurses and Women Accepted For Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) were part of the Navy.

Jack Foster fought in the invasion of Okinawa during World War II, where he protected his boat from suicide Japanese pilots. He also served as a personal guard for the admiral who ran the invasion.

A Centenary pre-med student Carroll Goyne learned to fly, signed up for military in World War II, and quickly flew an important and dangerous mission. Later, as a high officer at Strategic Air Command, Goyne planned a cunning B-52 bomber strike on Vietnam. Now he's writing his memoirs of more than three decades of military service. Gerry May introduces us to the KTBS 3 Landers Hometown Patriot.

Craig Menefee of Blanchard, Louisiana, has been serving his community and his country since he was in high school. A dozen years ago, Menefee and a few of his high school buddies signed up for the National Guard.

As a chopper pilot during the Vietnam War, Fred McKellar had the dangerous job of removing casualties from the battlefield. Just weeks before he was to return home the pilot from Plain Dealing took part in a mission that left him disfigured.

It's been called the forgotten war. But Willard Philyaw, a veteran from Shreveport, certainly remembers his dangerous and critical mission in the Korean War. » More


He bravely served his country during World War II. He returned home with a purple heart and bronze star, along with the highest award bestowed by France for contributions to their country, the French Legion Award. Benjamin Rush then spent decades serving his community in operating rooms as a doctor.

September 11, 2001, Brad Simon was newly married with a nice job when everything changed. Simon was determined to fight for his country following the terrorist attacks.

21 years before Shreveport's Claude King recorded his country music hit, "Wolverton Mountain," he was a member of a young band called "The Rainbow Boys." That is when America was bombed in World War II, "We were playing there when Pearl Harbor got attacked. And that's when I decided I was going to join," said King. He put his music career on hold and joined the Navy. His three older brothers signed up, as well. Gerry May introduces us to the KTBS 3 Landers Hometown Patriot.

Richard Garner volunteers his help to veterans dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or disability claims. He knows just how much that help is needed after his harrowing days in the Vietnam War.

The war in Europe was building and the United States saw what was ahead. Carnes McMillon attempted to sign up for the military but was sent back home. However, it was not long before our country decided it really needed him for World War II.

Many young people heading to college are able to pay for it because of their service in the military. Greg Johnson was one of them, he signed up for the National Guard in Summer of 2001.

He served his country for more than a quarter of century as a military police officer but when his Air Force career came to an end, Mel Yarnell wanted to continue serving his country and his community despite a major setback to his health.

He was the number one machine gunner for his company as a Marine in World War II, that means he led the fight against the enemy. Fierce battles at locations such as: Guadalcanal, Saipan, and Tarawa. The enemy almost got Foster at only battle; fortunately, he survived and returned home to Texarkana.

Ed Fedrick still has fragments of bullets in his body from his days as a police officer. But the local hero almost did not get the chance to become an officer due to bullets from his infantry days in Vietnam.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the ship carrying James Clark was hit and in flames. A young sailor, Clark was given a tough order. It was a task that nearly cost him his life but it also put him in the position to save others.

After fighting in World War II, a local man wanted to say thanks to all the men he fought alongside and veterans living in the town on Belcher, Louisiana. About ten years ago, that man and his now deceased wife decided to construct a memorial made up of black granite monuments emblazoned with names of some and the memories of others.

Independence Day, a time when everyone can be patriotic. Lulu Birdwell has never worn a uniform and can't raise a weapon but she has helped thousands of soldiers who are constantly put in harm's way.

A World War II Fighter Pilot, Bob Zahn, flew an anti-sub patrol into the Pacific after his aircraft was shot down enemy fire. Zahn did not let it get him down, he got back into the cockpit the very next day. KTBS 3's Gerry May introduces to one courageous pilot, our KTBS 3 Landers Hometown Patriot.

Military dads, they miss out on special times with families when they are called to duty abroad but one man in Haughton credits the military for helping him become a better dad. Ahead of Father's Day a special installment of our KTBS 3 Landers Hometown Patriot series.

The nation recently observed the 67th Anniversary of D-Day, the massive and harrowing allied invasion of Normandy that lead to WWII. In this edition of the KTBS 3 Landers Hometown Patriot, we salute a Shreveport man who was there, survived it all, and is still here to talk about it.

After hearing that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, a college student from Hope, Arkansas decided to exchange his race cars for torpedo bombers in the Navy.

As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, we have a reminder of what the holiday is all about. » More

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