BROKEN BOW – Three Quilts of Valor were presented to local veterans Monday night at the annual Veterans Soup Supper in Broken Bow. Bill Drake, Butch Brunken, and Russ Babcock were honored.
The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor (QOV). Since its founding, Quilts of Valor has awarded over 398,000 quilts. Each quilt is formed by loving hands joining bits of fabric together one piece at a time. Those who produce the quilts believe that as they sew, the love, caring and gratitude flows from their hearts and through their hands into the developing quilt.
Bill Drake served in the United States Navy starting in 1965, attending boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and Aviation Familiarization School in Memphis Tennessee. He served at VF 162 (Fighter squadron) in California through June of 1969, when he received an honorable discharge with the rank of Petty Officer Second Class E5. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Devise in 1960, and the Navy Unit Commendation.
Butch Brunken Jr. enlisted in the Nebraska National Guard in 1963, receiving his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. His advanced individual training set his occupational specialty as tank commander, before being stationed with Company C 1st Bn, 195th Armor Division in Broken Bow. Butch was honorably discharged in November 1969 after completing his six year enlistment, achieving the rank of E-6 Staff Sergeant.
Russ Babcock enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1978, serving until 1984 reaching the rank of Sergeant. He spent time at Camp Pendleton and 29 Palms in California, as well as Denver, Colorado. Some of his fondest memories were learning hand to hand combat, but probably the most exciting for Russ was throwing a hand grenade.
In addition to Monday night’s Quilts of Valor presentations, three American Legion continuous membership recognitions were presented: Ronnie Woodward for 60 years, John Jensen for 50 years, and Ervie Ferguson for 50 years.
