Johnson County Election Office

Captain Kral was the navigator of a B-26 bomber flying out of bases in North Africa. He received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the units actions in Rome, he also Received a Croix de Guerre from France for their work supporting the French unit around Cassino, Italy. He received a Purple Heart when shrapnel went through the glass nose of the plane where the navigator worked.

Jerry served during the Vietnam War as a medic and pararescue, saving many injured soldier’s lives. He is proud to have served and fight for our freedom.

JOHN "JACK" ADAMS ENTERED ON ACTIVE DUTY IN PRE-FLIGHT TRAINING ON JULY 12, 1955. HE SPENT 21 YEARS ON ACTIVE AT VARIOUS ASSIGNMENTS IN TEXAS. SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, NEW YORK, ILLINOIS, CALIFORNIA & BELTON, MO. AND KOREA. HE RECEIVED TWO AIR FORCE COMMENDATION MEDALS; TWO MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDALS; KOREAN MEDAL & SHARP SHOOTER MEDAL RETIRING AFTER 21 YEARS ACTIVE DUTY AT RICHARDS GEBAUR AFB, MO.

After basic training David (Dave) was staioned at Osan air base in South Korea where he worked in the finance division and then at Lowry in Denver CO. After his enlistment he became a civil servant and was employed by the Dept of Treasury. His combined service allowed him to retire in 2001. An Eagle Scout himself, he guided both of his sons to become Eagle Scouts. He has continued his civic mindedness by performing various tasks as an Election Worker in Johnson County Kansas.

My father saw service to the country as a duty and an honor. It was an integral part of his pursuit of happiness for himself and his family. Dad was with the civil engineer group and ran the power plants on bases around the world. It wasn’t glamorous but it was important; another lesson he shared with us. He instilled in his children that same sense of duty, pride, and love of country and we’ve continued that tradition with our own children. He was, and always will be, my hero.

Paul Bresh enlisted in the Cadet Program of the US Army Air Corps and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in1943. He earned his wings in Alabama and trained in B-24 bombers in Blythe, CA. Then he and his crew flew a B-24 to England. He piloted 33 combat missions over France, Belgium, Holland and Germany before, the day of and after D-Day June 6, 1944. After WW II he returned to civilian life. In 1952 he was recalled to active duty by the US Air Force and served in the Korean War as a pilot

Chuck and I were married for 58 years before his passing in May, 2025. He served one tour in VietNam and was very proud of his country. His order of priority in his life was "My God, My Country, My Wife" He lived those words.

Drafted after Pearl Harbor, Roy E. Sportsman participated in D Day serving in the Signal Corps. He worked with the French resistance prior to the invasion, earning the French Croix de Guerre with special permission from US congress to wear this decoration. He also earned the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star, and several battlefield promotions. At the age of 24, he was a Master Sergeant, the highest enlisted rank. He continued to serve in USAF with honor and distinction until retiring in 1973.

Drafted into U S Army as a Private in 1965 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after a 23 year career. Tours of duty include Germany, Korea, and two tours in Vietnam as a Chinook Helicopter Pilot and multiple State side assignments. He is a member of the American Legion and the VFW, and a member of Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. He received multiple awards to include the Bronze Star, Air Medal with (V) Device for Valor, and Distinguish Flying Cross

Served at Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe
Awarded 5 Bronze Stars and Good Conduct Medal
Comforted by his wife and family from the tremendous lasting effects of the war.
I'll love and respect him forever.

My father was serving during WW2 when he was seriously injured in an accident that left him with a serious limp that he had for the rest of his life. He spent approximately 18 months in the hospital before being honorably discharged and then returning to his hometown. He has since passed away, so he finally received comfort from the pains that he unfortunately endured for his entire adult life.

Capt Doty was a carpenter in Illinois when the Civil War started. In 1862 he and his older brother enlisted in the 104th Illinois Infantry, Company E and John was elected as the company commander. He fought in battles with the Confederacy from Hartsville TN to Nashville and then marched south. He led his company in many battles (Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Chickamunga, Resasca, and finally Atlanta). He was wounded 5 times in the Battle of Peachtree Creek and KIA on July 20, 1864.

Born in Sweden

Purple Heart

The son of an immigrant, Lorenzo Lemuz served in the Army in WWII. He was a member of American Legion Post #1. In his civilian life, Mr. Lemuz was employed by AT & SF Railroads for 42 years and was a movie theater projectionist & union representative for 30 years. After retirement he became a small business owner. Lorenzo grew a proud and grateful family with his wife of 65 years, Clara.

My Daddy - my hero! Enlisted at age 17 - 101st Airborne. Jumped on D-Day, POW, liberated Landsberg (Dachau subcamp), survived Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne. Survived so many things he never talked about. Saw things that he took to the grave with him. I stand for flag!! Red, white and blue flows in me, my children and grandchildren. Proud to be a daughter of truly the Greatest Generation! My Daddy's oral history of World War II is forever on file in the Library of Congress!

Thomas Lyons served in the U.S Army from 1942 to 1944 and the S.D. Army National Guard from 1953 to 1982.

My honoree is my grandpa, Nathan Robinson, who proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII. His courage and dedication continue to be a lasting inspiration to our family. The strong sense of duty and work ethic throughout his life is a legacy we are proud to uphold.

He served 2 tours in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan

I wish to honor my uncle, John Sbordone, originally from West Virginia, who was an authentic World War Two hero. As a proud member of the 4th Marine Division, he came ashore and fought in four landing operations in the Pacific Theatre in a span of about 14 months. Silver Star, Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts, and a battlefield commission from Sergeant to Lieutenant at Iwo Jima. And he never stopped serving--he remained in the Marine Corps Reserve after the war and served as a firefighter.

Navy Veteran active 2 years in the Reserves for 26 reserves. Served in Iraqi Freedom Desert Storm. He was the liaison officer while there, Lt. Commander. Active with several military Navy funerals (650). Retired as a Commander.

Commander Jumper was air boss on the USS Midway at the latter days of the Vietnam War. The evacuation of Saigon was in progress when a small plane piloted by an S. Vietnamese air Force pilot dropped a note on the Midway asking for permission to land. With the captain's okay, several helicopters were pushed overboard, and the pilot, his wife, and 6 children landed safely. The Vietnamese pilot feared for the life of the family if captured. They became US citizens.

Jimmy served 20 years in the United States Navy on a submarine operating nuclear weapons. I am proud of my father and his service. Thank you dad.

Ray enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1972, rising to First Class Postal Clerk before earning a commission through the Enlisted Commissioning Program. He attended the University of Kansas and Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. His career spanned duty stations across the U.S., Japan, Australia, Iceland, and Okinawa. After four years of active duty he joined the Navy Reserve, retiring in 2003 as Commander with over 30 years of service.

I would like to vote this year in honor of my father, James Mason, who dropped out of high school in the middle of World War Two and volunteered for the US Navy. Assigned as a deck gunner, he spent the last year-plus of the war on convoy duty in the north Atlantic, helping escort ships delivering troops and much-needed supplies to the United Kingdom and supplies to the Soviet Union.

Charles was drafted into the US Navy in 1943. After Boot Camp he was trained in radar, a secret new detection device, in California. He was assigned to the USS De Haven (DD727) when it was commissioned at Boston Naval Yard that year. They cruised through the Panama Canal to the Pacific. He was in battles with the Japanese navy in the Philippines, French IndoChina (Vietnam), Formosa (Taiwan), Iwo Jima, Okinawa (Japan), and Tokyo Bay. He witnessed the signing of the defeat in Tokyo Bay (1945)