SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La.: United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley would like to honor the men and women of the Western District of Louisiana and their family members who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Western District of Louisiana employees being honored for their service are:
United States Army - Kevin Bodden, F. Michael Campbell, U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, Robert W. Gillespie Jr., U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik (retired), David C. Joseph, Deborah Ritchey Mahony, C. Vincent Mangum, Joseph T. Mickel, Howard C. Parker, Edward Prokopf, U.S. District Judge Tom Stagg (deceased), Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart, Chris Turner and U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter.
United States Navy - Joseph G. Jarzabek, Daniel J. McCoy and Ryan Turner.
United States Coast Guard - Dennis K. Austin and U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna.
United States Marine Corps– Jerry Stanley Hayden and Angelo Iorio.
United Stated Air Force - Mitzie Cochrane, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley, Samuel W. Glass Sr., John S. Odom Jr., F. Michael O’Mara, Ryan Peck, Charlene Pullum, U.S. District Judge James T. Trimble Jr. and U.S. Marshal Henry L. Whitehorn Sr.
Immediate family members of the personnel in the Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. District Court System being honored for their service are:
United States Army– Alan Carpenter, Steven Carpenter, Gerald Champagne, Andrea Doucet, Steven L. Dupont, Garnett L. Gilreath, Doyce Ray Hebert, Eddie Hutchens, Eric Iorio, Shelton Julian, Joseph LeJeune, David A. McBride, Joseph R. Nolan, Michael E. Schaff, Barney W. Skipper and Fritz L. G. Trappey.
United States Navy - Kyle Alwert, Thomas P. Cagney, David Cochrane, Leon Gordon Jones, Joseph R. Namie Jr. and John L. Witt.
United States Air Force - John T. Julian, Russell Pullum and Alan Williams.
United States Marine Corps - Stephen Box, Enoch L. Drost, Will L. Hayden and Richard L. Hayden.
Of those listed above, three have received Purple Hearts and other medals for their actions during various wars. Shelton Julian, the grandfather of Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen King, served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was assigned to the 92nd Infantry, Buffalo Division. During his service, he received the Purple Heart and one Oak Leaf Cluster. United States District Court Judge Tom Stagg served in the U.S. Army during WWII in Europe from 1944-1946. During his service, he received the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star for Valor, the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service and two Purple Hearts. Judge Stagg died on June 23, 2015. Steven Dupont, son of FDA Investigator Charles Dupont, served in the U.S. Army from 2008 until 2010 and was stationed at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Squadron, 2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. He was assigned to Ghostrider Company as a Forward Observer during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Dupont was killed in action on October 24, 2010, in Rangrizan, Afghanistan. Specialist Dupont was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge, posthumously. While on active duty, he received the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
The Purple Heart is given to military members who are wounded or killed in action. The Bronze Star of Valor is awarded for acts of heroism, acts of merit or meritorious service in a combat zone and is the fourth highest combat decoration awarded to military members. The Oak Leaf Cluster denotes subsequent decorations and awards.
“There is no ceremony or monument that can ever show enough gratitude or tell the stories of every member of our military who has given so much in the service to our country,” Finley stated. “Rarely does anyone recount the struggle of the service member who leaves his or her family behind to serve overseas in support of a military operation, the sailor who risks his or her life traveling through dangerous waters for weeks, or the soldier or airman who works sun up to sun down to ensure our country’s safety. Their deeds of heroism will never be fully told, but today we can remember, then we can honor them, and celebrate those who continue to serve this nation with dedication, courage and sacrifice. It is their contributions of time, effort, emotion, patriotism and sometimes even their lives that we can live free. Today is about thank you!”