Thank you to 1959 CHS Class military veterans

Dear Classmate,

Today, we pause to honor those from the 1959 CHS Class who have served our country in uniform.

Danny Anderson - Army
from David Young Parker


Anita Balfour - Navy
from David Young Parker 


Dean Barger - Army

I was on active duty from Feb. 1966 until Dec. 1967. Most of my active duty was in Vietnam( Oct. 1966 until Dec. 1967) - from Dean Barger

Muecke Barker - Army

J.D. Barton

8 years Air Force; 12 years Army - from Jay Barton

Jim (Robey) Brown - an officer in the Navy - from Lloyd Stanley


John Ellis Brown - Navy, deceased

Richard Buhrman - ROTC; Army

I took ROTC at the Univ. of Chattanooga (was BN Commander, # 1 at Ft. Benning) and received a Regular Army Commission in Armor; and served as a Capt. from 1966 -1969.- from Richard Buhrman

Skipper Cox - Army
from David Young Parker


Bill Cross - Army

...served as a Military Police Officer stationed in Ft. Gordon, Georgia. Although I was drafted,it was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. The only combat I saw was removing drunk GI's from the local bars. I was wounded one time and had to spend time in a hospital. I tried to convince them to award me a Purple Heart but they refused.

Robert Currey - Army

I spent two years, ten months, twenty five days, fourteen and one half hours in the United States Army.  I voluntered in the fall of 1959 and got out in September of 1962 having served at Fort Jackson, Fort Knox and Fort Lewis in Washington state.  I learned quickly the magnitude of my mistake.  It certainly was a sobering and life changing event.  It was during this period that I determined that someone must have been telling me something in school that I hadn't heard!  At any rate Lt. Nicholas gave me my release papers and it was the thing I was most grateful for in my Army experience. Also an excellent deterrent not to do any thing else that stupid...  

Max Davis - USMC
from David Young Parker 


George Derryberry - USMC

Bill Dickert - Army

...was an ROTC graduate at University of Chattanooga, 1964.  Commissioned 2nd Lt, US Army.  Assigned to Air Defense Artillery.  Served at Ft. Bliss, TX and then with Battery B, 6th Battalion (HAWK), 44th Artillery in Korea 1965-66, Our Air Defense missile site defended Kunsan AFB.  Crossed paths with Lyle Carson at Osan AFB once.  Returned stateside and completed my active military obligation at Ft. McPherson, GA.  Still active in the Hawk Missile Veteran's Association, MOAA, VFW and American Legion.

Arnold Ellison - Army

I received my officer commission in the Army from ROTC at Auburn University.  Graduated in December 1964, married in March 1965, went on active duty in June 1965, and arrived in Viet Nam in November 1965.  Attained the rank of Captain and received the Army Commendation Medal.  It was good to return to the States in November 1966, where I was assigned to Ft Leonard Wood, MO until June 1967.

Houston Forman, deceased - U. S. Marine Corps

info from Nancy Poole Klein

Alvin Fox - Air National Guard

I served for 25 years in the TN Air National Guard , and I enjoyed every minute of it. I started as an Airman Basic, and retired as a Lt. Colonel. Most of my career was in Logistics and Supply. However, I had 4 years as the Supply Officer for the Marksmanship Training Unit, located in Nashville. We were responsible for promoting Marksmanship for the Army and Air National Guard units throughout the country. This Unit is now located in Little Rock, AR. My service in the Guard was especially important to me, as my parents had fled Europe in the late 1930's, and were able to escape the Holocaust. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were not as fortunate. Except for Kate Smith, no one could sing "God Bless America" with more feeling and gusto as my wonderful Mom, Bertha. My oldest granddaughter is named for her. - from Alvin Fox

Dru Smith Fuller - Army National Guard

I served in the Tennessee Army National Guard's public information unit.  

Martha Hassler Hammond - Air National Guard

Not only did Martha serve in the TN Air Nat'l Guard for 23 years as a Flight Nurse, during this time she also served with the USAF on Temporary Active Duty, flying Missions between Japan and the US, helping to bring wounded Vietnam Soldiers home. Her late husband was a West Point Graduate, and a pilot in the TN Air Nat'l Guard. Martha and her husband had distinguished careers, serving our country in an exemplary manner. Martha retired as a Lt. Colonel. - from Alvin Fox

Della Hallum Dowd - Air Force

Jim Hilton - Air Force

I served for two years in the Air Force from 1969-1971. Was a Captain in the medical corp stationed at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota. - info from Jim Hilton

Richard (Rick) Lee Mitchell - Army

U.S. Army, Retired (Veteran of Viet Nam War) - info from Linda Chambers

Charlie Moore


Rudy Nowlin - Air National Guard
from Lloyd Stanley

Terry O'Hara - Navy
from David Young Parker 

Jeff Phillips - Army

Jeff Philllips went to the Citadel and became a 2nd Lt in the Army. He later flew helicopters in ‘Nam, was badly wounded, got hooked on drugs, ended up at CADIS, got off drugs, worked at CADIS, met and married the love of his life, got cancer and died.- info from Richard Buhrmann

Delmar Reynolds - USMC
from David Young Parker

Paul Robere - Navy, Air Force

I joined the Navy in 1962 after a couple of lackluster years in college. After eight years in the Navy, which took me to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, I ended up on the Island of Guam where I bounced between Guam and Saigon (Vietnam). I got out after my active years, but remained on active-status with the Navy for another seven years. At that time, I joined the USAF, specifically with the 452 Air Refueling Wing based at March AFB California. I was part of the flight crew with KC135 and KC10 takers supporting our fighter troops with mid-air refueling. I remained with that unit for 15 years finally retiring in 1992 after a 30 year military history.

Joe Smith - ROTC, Air Force

went to Ga. Tech, took Air Force ROTC, became a pilot, flew jets in ‘Nam, was badly wounded, ended up in an Air Force hospital where he met the love of his life, an Air Force nurse, married her and today they live in Destin.- info from Richard Buhrmann

Kent Smith - Army

U.S. Army (corp of engineers) served  in Southeast Asia -  info from Linda Chamber

Lloyd Stanley - Airforce

I was a Captain in the USAF (JAG, active duty, 1966-1969). - info from Lloyd Stanley

Gene Steffen 

Gene Steffen served in the USMC for 22 years - info from David Parker

James Steinman - Air Force

James Steinman made the Air Force a career and retired with a high rank. - info from Lloyd Stanley

Bob Stott - Navy

I joined the U.S. Navy Reserve in Nov. 1958 during our senior year. We graduated,I think, on May 29th, 1959 and on June 9th I reported to Great Lakes Naval Station for boot camp. After boot camp I served two years on the USS Windlass (ARSD-4), a rescue, salvage and diving ship. We were home ported in Norfolk, Va. but were out of the country for all but two months during that time. I served in the active reserve until 1964 and was discharged. Elsa and I just returned from a trip to Hawaii and on Nov. 10th we visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. We were reminded again of the ultimate sacrifice that so many people have made to preserve our freedoms. We do owe a debt of gratitude to all of our service men and women past and present. I have never regretted the time I spent in active service and reserves.

Charles Sutton - Army
from David Young Parker

Thomas C. Sykes - Marines, Army

U.S. Army Ret. Lt. Col. left CHS in 1958 and joined the Marines, later graduated from CHS and joined the Army as a member of the Special Forces; given the Purple Heart four times, - info from Linda Chambers

Jim Wade - Army

I served as an officer in the Army from 1964-1969. Jim Wade

Bud Woodward - Air Force

I was in the U.S. Air Force during the Cuban Crisis, and was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base outside of Panama City, Florida. I was in the base drum corps, and was on the base burial detail, a humbling experience. - info from Bud Woodward

We know others have served and we'd appreciate hearing from them so we can add their names to the list or add more information on their service.


Alvin Fox, Dru Smith Fuller, David Young Parker