Served Your Country – Keeper Of The Flame

May 26, 2023 Published by Randy Murray

Charles “Charlie” Palek

3/9/1949 – 4/26/2016
Branch: Army
Rank: E5
Outfit: 9th
Service Dates: 1967 – 1970

3 Purple Hearts, A Silver Star, A Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Combat Infantry Badge, 7 Air Medals and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. He was a Gunner and Scout Helicopter Cambodia Wrote the Book “Tattletale”
Story uploaded: Friday, August 14, 2009 / Updated: Friday, May 26, 2023

May 7, 2023 (updated May 7, 2023) Published by Randy Murray

Nicholas “Nik” Zak

9/14/1930 – 8/31/2021
Branch: Marines
Rank: Sgt.
Unit: 7th
Outfit: 1st
Service Dates: 1948 – 1951
County: St. Louis
Conflicts/Significant Events: Nik joined the Marine Corps in November 1948 and was wounded in Korea, December 3, 1950 sustaining leg and head injuries, losing his eye as well as suffering severe frostbite of his extremities. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries. Nick was honorably discharged from the Marines in September 1951. His name is engraved on The Chosin Few Monument in Forest Park, St. Louis next to the Korean War Veterans Association Memorial.
Story uploaded: Friday, September 25, 2009 / Updated May 7, 2023

December 23, 2021 (updated February 22, 2023) Published by Randy Murray

Charles L. “Chili” Berlekamp

StorySeal™ 01086

3/19/1932 – 8/27/2021
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Airmen 3C
Service Dates: 1951-1953
County: Saline
Conflicts/Significant Events: Korea, Saw General Eisenhower Candidate For President
Story uploaded/modified: September 11, 2008/December 24th, 2021

September 9, 2021 (updated September 9, 2021) Published by Randy Murray

Daniel “Dan” Bell

9/30/1979 – N/A
Branch: Army
Rank: Sgt
Outfit: 160 Spec Ops Medic, Aviation Regiment Airborne “Night Stalker”
Service Dates: 1997 – 2006
Veteran Station: Falujah Iraq, Operation Red Wings, Bagram Afghanistan,
County: Greene
Conflicts/Significant Events: Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom
Story uploaded/modified: Saturday, June 30, 2007, Updated September 9th, 2021

“Children of varying ages ran around the coffins, playing and yelling, not yet old enough to understand the sacrifices these warriors made. A Taliban high-value target (HVT) sat tucked into the corner away from them all, guarded by other soldiers.

“Three war-weary escorts — one of them a SEAL and the other two Night Stalkers Daniel Bell and Chris Eicher — sat off to the sides, grimly staring off into space. They were exhausted and angry with the mistake the U.S. Air Force had made when they allowed Space-A seating to be filled on this leg of the flight home.“

From https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/operation-red-wings-night-stalkers/

July 16, 2021 (updated September 9, 2021) Published by Randy Murray

Ryan Petras
“Ryan”
N/A – TBD
Branch: USMC, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
Service Dates: 1998 – 2002
Story uploaded/modified: Friday, March 19, 2010

July 1, 2021 (updated September 22, 2021) Published by Randy Murray

Jackie “Jack” Jackson

“Full Bird” Colonel

Flew more than 600 combat missions; 40 earned military medals including 33 Air Medals, 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Navy Commendation Medal for Valor and Heroism.
Shot down while co-piloting a rescue helicopter … and returned to the combat zone to rescue a fellow marine.
Piloted the “hoovering” Harrier jet aircraft 5,000 hours, more than any other person in history (with its capacity to “park” in mid-air like a helicopter);
Flew the Harrier in scores of airshows – cumulatively totaling millions of people viewing — in Independence Day celebrations, the VP airshows at the St. Louis Arch, and other locations events and venues throughout many years;
He describes the joys of flying for Veterans Airlift Command, taking wounded military men & women and their families all over the country … free. Their website about Wounded Warriors: … “They’ve got heart … They need wings!” See veteransairlift.org

July 1, 2021 (updated September 22, 2021) Published by Randy Murray

Willis W.Corbett

1926 – N/A
Branch: Navy
Service Dates:Enlisted 1943 – 1946
Conflicts/Significant Events: WWII, transported to the Philippines and the South Pacific Islands on The Queen Mary
Story uploaded/modified: Was an original pilot interview for the our project in 2006

June 30, 2021 (updated September 22, 2021) Published by Randy Murray

Joseph J. Frank

1947 – N/A
Branch: Army
Service Dates: 1966-1968
Conflicts/Significant Events: Vietnam, Purple Heart
An Original Pilot Story For Missouri Veteran Stories and Hometown Heroes America’s Veteran Stories

June 19, 2021 (updated February 22, 2023) Published by Randy Murray

Scott I. Walker

8/6/1978 – TBD
Branch: Army
Rank: Spc
Unit: 1st Ranger Battalion
Outfit: Bravo Co. 1st Platoon
Service Dates: 2000 – 2008
Veteran Station: Savannah GA
County: St. Charles
City: O’fallon, MO
Enlisted
Medals: Combat,Expert,Czech Rep/Jump Wings
Conflicts/Significant Events: Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom
Story uploaded: June 2010 / Modified: June 19th, 2021 / Photo updated January 23, 2022