Memorial Listing for Armed Forces Network (AFN) at AFRTS Starship Compiled by Jim Johnson at Homestead.com
Click AFNers TAPS for http://www.homestead.com/afrts/Taps.html
Memorial Listing for American Forces Vietnam Network compiled by Robert Morecook at GeoCities
Click AFVN TAPS for
http://www.geocities.com/afvn/taps.html
Also, click AFVN POW's at http://www.geocities.com/afvn/pows.html for the stories about captured AFVNers.
Austin, David
(R.I.P. Dec., 1986 at 42) Army DINFOS instructor.
Bauer, Russell H.
(R.I.P. Jan. 9, 2004 at 74) USAF MSgt. and DINFOS employee.
Bussey, Charles D.
(R.I.P. June 22, 2007 at 73) Major General Charles D. Bussey, Former Chief of Army Public Affairs and Class of 2000 Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame Inductee.
"General Bussey was one of the top advocates for a stronger and better DINFOS and fought hard to get increased funding for the organization through his many years of service. He also supported the development of a stronger print media section for the Army and over the years contributed much to the future development of [the service magazine] Soldier," says Dr. Jack Pulwers, author of "The Press of Battle" and the person who forwarded the news of the general's passing."
The Washington Post obituary reports "A private family service was held. The family will receive friends Thursday August 30, 2007 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Rd., Springfield, VA 22151. A funeral service will be held on Friday August 31, 2007 at 9 a.m.in the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, burial will follow with Full Military Honors in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Army ROTC Scholarship Fund at North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC."
(R.I.P. March 1, 2002 at 76) 1967 founder of American Forces Vietnam Network and first African-American journalist at San
Diego's KFMB Channel 8
(R.I.P. June 16, 1984) As published in the "Forerunner" final project newspaper of BJC9-84
Graham, Jeffrey T.
(R.I.P. March, 2001 at 53) DINFOS grad and Former Director of Government Affairs and Community Investment.
Harlan, Robert
(1926-2003) Bob Harlan was the longtime director of AFN Europe. He was responsible for many of the basic elements of AFN broadcasting in the past and currently. The new AFN Europe headquarters building is named after him. He died shortly after being interviewed, of which you see in this piece.
Harper, Emanuel F. , Jr.
(R.I.P. May 16, 2007 at 76) Retired SGM Emanuel F. Harper, Jr., Indianapolis. He was born February 5, 1931 to Emanuel F. and Lorain (Gore) Harper, Sr. Emanuel retired after 27 years serving in the U.S. Army. He is survived by wife of 50 years, Evelyn Harper; sons, Emanuel Harper III (Kathleen), and Vincent Harper (Lisa); grandchildren, Vincent Harper II (Misha), Emanuel Harper IV, Richard Harper, and Joshua Harper; great-grandchild, DeJuan Mimms; brother, Charles Harper (Geraldine); sisters, Dannie Vee Benson and Evelyn Mack (Willie). Visitation will be held on Monday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Center - Washington Park East. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral center. Entombment will be at Washington Park East Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Veterans Memorial Chapel. www. flannerandbuchanan.com (This Indianapolis Star obituary listing submitted by James "Dick" Cassin. Photo supplied by Robert Morecook.))
Hitchcock, Christopher A.
(R.I.P. November, 2006 at 40) Marine Corps Staff Sergeant who served in Operation Desert Storm and taught broadcasting at DINFOS 1995-1998
Chris Hitchcock (left) with fellow instructor Dave Luckett
(Aug. 15, 1916 - May 5, 2006) Former commanding officer of DINFOS at Ft. Harrison (1971)
Mallette, Malcolm F.
(Jan. 30, 1922 - Nov. 25, 2005 at 83) Guest lecturer at DINFOS and Army Air Corps veteran. Author of "Handbook for Foreign Journalists" for World Press Freedom Committee
Martens, Robert G.
(R.I.P. Jan 6, 2005 at 69) DINFOS alumni and USN Master Chief Petty Officer.
(R.I.P. Dec. 31, 2006 at 67)
Program director and announcer on FEN-Misawa radio and television from approximately 1962 to 1965. Later a photo journalist for the Marine Corp during a tour of duty in Vietnam. Eventually assigned to the faculty of the Defense Information School at Fort Harrison, IN, from where he retired from active duty in 1981 (USMC-Ret., E-9). A native of Gallipolis, OH, he died in Indianapolis. (Notice provided by James R. "Dick" Cassin.)
McRill, Robert Richard
(R.I.P. July 7, 2007 at 42) Petty Officer First Class Robert Richard McRill died from a detonated IED near his Humvee, while serving with The Naval Special Warfare Group Two (a SEAL team based in Little Creek, Va.) in Iraq on July 7.
Hampton Roads NewsChannel 3, WTKR.com reports that "McRill enlisted in the Navy March 5, 1991, and graduated from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., in May before reporting to Naval Air Technical Training Center. He then spent three years at Naval Air Station Dallas, and reported to the Defense Photo School in Pensacola, Fla. McRill was aboard USS John C. Stennis from June to November of 1995, had a brief tour at Visual Support Unit, Oceana, before serving aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, homeported in Norfolk, from November 1996 to January 2002. He reported to another aircraft carrier, USS Eisenhower, also home-ported in Norfolk, where he was promoted to first class petty officer. He was then assigned to Naval Expeditionary Combat Command Detachment, Combat Camera Atlantic from February 2004 to April 2007 when he arrived at Naval Special Warfare Group Two, accorrding to a biography provided by the Navy."
"His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), Navy Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (4 awards), Kosovo Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment ribbon (3 awards), Rifleman (Marksman) ribbon and Pistol Shot (Marksman) ribbon. He was also an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist."
"McRill is survived by his wife and three children."
(1919 - February 11, 2007 at 87) 1971-72 DINFOS Commandant.
On March 5, Indianapolis Star describes a rich life from a faceoff with General of the Army Col. MacArthur in World War II to pioneer work in civilian broadcasting. A standard obituary appeared in Col. Meek's final hometown Salt Lake Tribune Feb. 28.
Mohnsen (Jr.), Walter C.
(May 9, 1921 - May 7, 2000 at 80) DINFOS instructor.
(R.I.P. Aug. 10, 2003 at 71) Member of DINFOS Wives Club and Officers Wives Club at Ft. Harrison.
Renner, Frederick C.
(R.I.P. Oct. 7, 1991 at 73) DINFOS instructor.
Rothgeb, Mary Trask
(R.I.P. Feb. 27, 2003 at 66) First enlisted woman to teach at DINFOS. Public Affairs Officer, USN and editor at The Military Media Review.
Salazar, William I.
(R.I.P. October, 2004 at 26) Marine Cpl. Salazar, of Las Vegas, Nevada, died from wounds received as result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.
[Spc. 5] Savanuck was one of 11 Americans slain April 18, 1969, near Cam Lo, when North Vietnamese Army soldiers overran an encampment occupied by C Troop of the 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment. Savanuck was working for the Pacific Stars and Stripes newspaper. He was on his way to do a story near the demilitarized zone, according to an article in the The {Fort Benjamin} Harrison Post, dated May 9, 1969. It was only 14 days earlier that Spc. 5 Savanuck, 23, had reported to work as a "Striper."
Savanuck was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor and the Purple Heart.
(1946-1999) As a teen, Siskel attended the Culver Military Academy in northern Indiana and went on to graduate from Yale University in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. After graduating from Yale, Siskel won a public affairs scholarship and found work on a California political campaign. He then joined the Army Reserves and was assigned to the United States Department of Defense Information School, where after writing and editing media releases, he developed his love for journalism. ( Source: Gene Siskel website )
Spangler, Billy E.
U.S. Army Col. Billy E. Spangler (July, 1981 - August, 1983 Commandant of DINFOS) died of leukemia on Nov. 19 in his home in Boerne, Texas.
Spangler was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Spista, John William
(April 15, 1919 - Nov. 6, 2003 at 84) Administrative Supervisor at DINFOS
Stoney , Paul Roberts
(1919-1998)
"If you as a communicator sometimes wish for a return to a less hectic existence, or are tempted to move into a less demanding field, your situation is pretty normal. The future I would predict holds even greater demands on you. How else but through more competent communications can we cope with a world of growing complexity and provide to the decision maker the essential elements of information gleaned from a perishable mass of data that is changing at break-neck pace and originating all over the globe."
This news lead submitted by Thomas Whetson, who is seeking further information about Mike Ufferman or Pat Daigle. Please write to webmaster@dinfos.net with any news.
Walker, Laura M.
(R.I.P. August 18, 2005 at 24) 1LT Laura M. Walker was tragically killed in action on 18 August 2005, while conducting public affairs missions for Task Force Pacemaker, during Operation Enduring Freedom VI near Delak, Afghanistan. She deployed with her platoon in March of 2005 and was chosen to be the Task Force Public Affairs Officer in July of 2005. 1LT Walker was the first female Soldier killed in action in Afghanistan.
(R.I.P. Sept. 25, 2004 at 84) Supervisory purchasing agent and contracting officer at Ft. Harrison.
Wine, Robert
(June 9, 1943 - May 25, 2000 at 56) Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Naval Ordinance Plant in Louisville, Kentucky.
Woods, Earl D.
Lt. Col. Earl D. Woods, Vietnam Vet, attended DINFOS and was assigned to do press releases in Brooklyn, NY in the begining of his military career. Father of Tiger Woods.
Young, Robert C.
(R.I.P. on June 30, 2007)
After a full career in the active duty Army as a broadcast engineer, Bob came to a then, fledgling Navy Broadcasting Service in 1986. He managed the engineering operations of 20 broadcast detachments worldwide and oversaw the rapid deployment of mobile broadcast detachments to Saudi Arabia to support Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and later to Haiti and Somalia.
As Associate Director for Engineering, Bob revolutionized Navy shipboard life by bringing live satellite radio and television to ships on every ocean. That single accomplishment, four years in the making, immeasurably improved the quality of life for Sailors at sea and took every ounce of cutting edge engineering expertise, contracting persistence and political diplomacy that he could muster. It has been rumored that when word of the innovation reached the fleet his telephone rang off the hook and Admirals changed their schedules to meet with him.
Over the past several years, Bob has been Deputy Commander of Naval Media Center. As the continuity and corporate memory here at NMC, Bob is largely responsible for solid foundation upon which we have built the outstanding reputation for quality and mission accomplishment that NMC enjoys around the Fleet and among the services.
But Bob was much more than just a great engineer and Deputy, he was a trusted confidant, valued advisor and above all, a great friend. He will truly be missed.
I am profoundly grateful for having had the opportunity to serve with Bob, a man who not only served our great Nation with honor for over 40 years, but one who has left an indelible stamp on the Naval Media Center and on the lives of literally millions of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, their families and countless others that continue to serve.
Please keep his wife Allie and his entire family in your thoughts and prayers.
Submitted to the AFVN Yahoo! Group by CAPT Gordon Hume, USN
Commanding Officer, Naval Media Center
Assistant Chief of Information, Internal Information (OI-4)
(202)433-5764 DSN: 288-5764
Bussey, Charles D.
Harper, Emanuel F. , Jr.
Meek (Jr.), Frank E.
Schubert, Jr., Walter ''Stephen''
