Area veterans honored with quilts of valor

ORIENT — Several area veterans were recognized Saturday at Pumpkin Days with a quilt of valor. With volunteer quilt makers across the country, quilts are made and then given to veterans thanking them for their years of service.

The veterans’ honored in Orient represent the Army, Army National Guard, Navy and Air Force and they have a combined military service of 67 years to our country.

Gary Ferber of Greenfield

Gary enlisted in the Navy in 1962 at the age of 17. His induction took place at Fort Des Moines. Basic Training was at Naval Base San Diego.

Following this he was sent to Sasebo Naval Base in Japan for two years with a Naval Rating of diesel mechanic engineman. He was assigned to the USS Abnaki (ATF-96), a fleet ocean tug. While stationed there he also deployed off the coast of Vietnam from 1965-1966 where he tended mine sweepers with diesel fuel and water.

Ferber reenlisted and was then assigned shore duty at Long Beach, California, from 1966-1969. He worked in the butcher shop, commissary and supply office.

When he ended his Naval career, he was discharged with the rank of engineman 2nd Class, E-5.

In 1974 he joined the Army Reserves in Des Moines. He began as a cook and then a food service supervisor. That career ended in 1987 with an ending rank of Master Sergeant, E-8.

His last civilian occupation was an over the road truck driver for 30 years.

David Homan of Fontanelle

Upon his graduation from high school in 1964, Homan enlisted in the United States Air Force. His induction took place at Fort Des Moines. Basic training was at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. His Air Force Specialty Code was security police.

Next, he went to Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. While there he joined the Canine Corps and was sent back to Lackland Air Force Base for eight weeks of training to become a dog handler.

In October 1966 he deployed to Vietnam and was assigned to Binh Thuy Air Base in the Mekong Delta. Responsibilities were perimeter guarding and patrolling near Vietnamese outposts. In September 1967 he returned to Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1968 Homan’s enlistment ended. He had a rank of Airman, Second Class, E-2.

In 1978 he enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard and was assigned to the 1168 Transportation Company in Red Oak. His assignments included dispatcher, squad leader and transportation.

In December 1990 Homan deployed for Desert Storm. He was 30 miles from the Iraq-Saudi border and delivered supplies to the troops. He also transported POWs from Iraq to Saudi Arabia. He returned to the states in May 1991.

David’s military service ended in 1996. He served our country 24 years. His ending rank in the National Guard was Staff Sergeant, E-6. During his civilian career, he worked for the state of Iowa and for Adair County as an engineer yech. He also served as a county supervisor.

Duane Osmun of Creston

He was drafted into the United States Army in 1968 while living in Creston. Basic Training took place at Fort Bliss, Texas, and AIT at Fort Ord, California. His MOS was 05C, Radio Teletype Operator.

Next he went to Fort Gordon, Georgia, to attend teletype schooling.

In 1969 Osmun deployed to the Army Garrison Wiesbaden in Germany. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 81st Artillery, 8th Infantry Division. Assignments included MP duties as well as Jump School where he earned his wings, or parachutist badge.

In 1970 he returned to Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he was discharged with an ending rank of Specialist 4th Class, E-4.

From 1987 to 1988 Osmun had a second enlistment in the Navy Reserves. He was a Petty Officer 3rd Class, E-4 Radioman. From 1988-1991 he enlisted in the Army National Guard with the 186th Infantry in Corning. His MOS was 11B, Infantry.

In 1991 he transferred to the 186th MP Company at Camp Dodge. While assigned there he deployed overseas to Germany during the Bosnian War where he served as an MP.

In 1998 he ended his military career with the ending rank of Staff Sergeant, E-6. Osmun’s civilian career included working with the Creston Police Department. He retired in 2003.

Bill Martin of Fontanelle

He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1970. His induction took place at Fort Des Moines. Basic Training was at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Additional training was at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. His Air Force specialty code was jet engine mechanic.

His stateside duty station was Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. He was assigned to the 43rd Field Maintenance Squadron. While there he worked on C5A Galaxy’s, also known as Fat Albert and C141 Cargo Planes.

In 1973 he deployed to the Azores near Portugal from Charleston, South Carolina, aboard a C5. Hewas on 12-hour shifts during the Middle East Crisis, refueling planes. While stationed there, side trips included Tel Aviv and Saigon.

In 1974 his Air Force career ended at Altus Air Force Base with an ending rank of Sergeant, E-4. In civilian life, he went to school on the GI Bill and then worked as a carpenter.

Nancy Ferber of Greenfield

She enlisted in the United States Army in 1978 and her induction took place in Des Moines.

Basic Training was at Fort McClellan, Alabama. It was the last Women’s Army Corps training group. Nancy did not attend AIT because she was part of the Civilian Acquired Skills Program. Her MOS was 71L, Personnel.

Following this training she was in the reserves for two years and then became active in 1980. Her entire military service was at Fort Des Moines with the 974th Personnel Service Company and the 103rd COSCOM Personnel Service Battalion. Nancy was their NCO.

Her Army career ended in 1992 when she was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Her ending rank was Sergeant First Class, E-7. During her civilian career, Nancy worked for BUNN-O-Matic.

Mike Metzger of Johnston

In October 1998, Mike enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in Cedar Rapids. He was attached to the 234th Signal Battalion. Basic Training was taken at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Advanced Training was at Fort Gordon, Georgia, which is now Fort Eisenhower. His MOS was 31F, Network Switching Systems Operator/Maintainer.

In 2000 he deployed to Camp Eagle near Tuzla, Bosnia. Metzger was attached to the 249th Signal Battalion, which was part of SFOR 7, the Stabilization Force. After seven months, he returned to Cedar Rapids and the 234th Signal Battalion.

From July 2003 to May 2004, his battalion deployed to Tikrit, Iraq. His duty assignment for both deployments was telephone and data communications.

In September 2004 Mike was honorably discharged from Cedar Rapids. His ending rank was Sergeant, E5. Metzger is a level 3 help desk technician for American Equity. He is also the Commander of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Chapter 39-1.

Adam Leith of Creston

He enlisted in the Army in 2005 after high school graduation. Induction took place at the MEPS Station in Des Moines. Basic and AIT Training was taken at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Adam’s MOS was 21B, Combat Engineer.

His stateside duty station was Fort Carson, Colorado, with the 62nd Sapper Co.

He deployed to Iraq in 2009 with his company and was attached to the 1st Calvary Division near Baghdad. Adam’s responsibility was road clearance of IEDs. He said he had been “blown up three times” and received a Purple Heart.

Leith was sent to Kandahar, Afghanistan ,and attached to the 11th Calvary. His assignment was the same as Iraq with additional duties to protect women who had just earned the right to vote.

After a total of 16 months overseas, he returned to Fort Carson. In 2011 Leith was discharged with the ending rank of Sergeant, E-5.

He owns and operates his own business, AgPro Solutions in Creston.