The third annual Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame (GMVHOF), inducting fifteen Georgia heroes, was conducted Nov. 7 at St. Luke Ministry Center in Columbus.
The Class of 2015 consists of ten members selected for VALOR; four for SERVICE; and one for ACHIEVEMENT. Four of the selects were inducted posthumously. The inductees (including their category for selection, war(s) of service, and home town or present residence), are:
US Army Sergeant Thedore Carroll DeVore; VALOR; WWII; Athens (Posthumous Inductee).
US Navy Lieutenant Robert Irwin Gibbs, Jr.; SERVICE; WWII; Decatur (Posthumous Inductee).
US Army Colonel Fred Orr Jackson; VALOR; WWII; Fayetteville (Posthumous Inductee).
US Army Colonel Gerald Lord; SERVICE; Vietnam; Dahlonega.
US Army Colonel Donald Mathis McKay, Jr.; VALOR; Vietnam; Columbus.
US Air Force Colonel Birch George McVay; VALOR; WWII & POW; Cochran (Posthumous Inductee).
US Army Colonel John Day Mooneyham; VALOR; Vietnam; Sautee Nachoochee.
US Marine Corps Captain George Alan Nelson; SERVICE; Vietnam; Woodstock.
US Army Captain Mel Pender, Jr.; ACHIEVEMENT; Vietnam (former Gold Medal Olympian); Smyrna.
US Army Colonel Robert L. W. Powell; VALOR; Vietnam; Carrollton.
US Army Colonel Carton Gerald Savory; SERVICE; Vietnam; Hamilton.
US Army Major General Edison Earl Scholes; VALOR; Vietnam; McCaysville.
US Army 1st Lieutenant Charles Gates Shepherd, Jr; VALOR; WWII; Atlanta.
US Navy Machinist Mate 1st Class S. O. Swygert; VALOR; WWII; Columbus.
US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Ted Francis Wolfe; VALOR; WWII, Korea, & Vietnam; Kennesaw.
The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor Georgia military veterans; to educate Georgia citizens, especially young Americans, of the sacrifices for freedom; and to inform the public of inductee’s outstanding accomplishments. Up to 15 Georgia military veterans will be inducted into the hall of fame each year and awarded the Hall of Fame Medallion during an annual banquet in their honor. Of the 15 inductees, up to 10 are selected exclusively for valorous military performance; up to five for extraordinary achievements; and up to five are selected by an independent selection board for their combined military/civilian service to our community, state, and nation.
Plans are underway for the induction of the Class of 2016 on Nov. 5, 2016. Your assistance, and the assistance of all civic organizations, is requested to identify and nominate deserving Veterans in your neighborhood; your city; and your county. During the Veterans Day week, take the opportunity to visit http://www.gmvhof.org and learn how you and your organization can honor your local hero.
