Everyday Patriot

  Lieutenant Colonel Betty Jane Williams was born on April  2, 1919, in Kingston, Pennsylvania. She became interested in flying after seeing a stunt pilot performance in 1939 and obtained her pilot's license in June 1941 after completing a civilian pilot training program. Being unable to fly in the US, Lieutenant Colonel Williams relocated to Canada to work for Canadian Colonial Airlines. The airline sent her to the University of Vermont for additional instrument training, where she remained to become an instructor, teaching both civilian and military pilots. She enlisted in the WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilots) in January 1944 and served as a test pilot of repaired and downed aircraft.  After the December 1944 deactivation of the WASP program, Lieutenant Colonel Betty Jane Williams returned to training pilots. In 1947, she turned her knowledge to television and developed the show "Let's Go Flying" with CBS while continuing to write flight operation manuals and tr...

  Airman Apprentice Alexander Jones was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 7, 1971.  He graduated from Northwest High School, where he was a member of the varsity baseball team, enlisted in the US Navy on April 6, 1989, and trained in the repair and maintenance of military aircraft.   Airman Apprentice Alexander Jones was deployed to the Persian Gulf aboard the USS Saratoga in August of 1990 in response to Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Gulf War. He would die during his service on December 21, 1990, during a ferry accident in Haifa, Israel.  He rests at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com...

  Construction Mechanic Noah Purifoy was born on August 17, 1917, in Snow Hill, Alabama. He grew up in Birmingham and graduated from the Alabama State Teachers College in 1939 with a degree in social science.  He taught woodshop at the Tuscaloosa High School before enlisting in the US Navy in response to World War II. Construction Mechanic Noah Purifoy completed Seabee training and was deployed to the Pacific.  In 1946, after serving throughout the war, Construction Mechanic Purifoy attended Atlanta University and graduated in 1948 with a degree in Social Work. He moved to Los Angeles, California, shortly after, in 1950. Construction Mechanic Noah Purifoy graduated from Chouinard Art Institute with a bachelor's degree in 1954 and began his commercial fine arts career as a sculptor. In 1964, he co-founded the Watts Tower Art Center, a community arts program for the Watts California Black community. The Watts Rebellion, the six-day violent protest that caused 34 deaths and ...

  Lieutenant Kathleen Marie Sherry was born on June 21, 1967, in Tonawanda, New York. She graduated from Sweet Home High School, where she played field hockey, in 1985. Lieutenant Sherry also volunteered for the Special Olympics. She was accepted into West Point, graduating in 1989, and was assigned to the Signal Corps.  In the fall of 1989, Lieutenant Kathleen Marie Sherry was deployed to the Persian Gulf to provide communication support for the First Armored Division in response to Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Gulf War.  On March 12, 1991, Lieutenant Sherry, struggled to cope with the stress of deployment, would die during her service as the result of a gunshot wound. She rests at the White Chapel Cemetery in Amherst, New York. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the writings at  www.tak...

Specialist Thomas Gerald Stone was born on June 26, 1970, in Jamestown, New York. He was a wrestler for the Jamestown High School team.  Specialist Stone enlisted in the US Army Reserves on November 29, 1989, shortly after his high school graduation. In February 1991, he deployed to the Persian Gulf with the 14th Quartermaster in response to Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Gulf War, and on February 25, 1991, Specialist Thomas Gerald Stone died during his service after a SCUD missile attack on his barracks. He rests at the Pine Hill Cemetery in Falconer, New York. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography...