To commemorate Veterans Day, MO.gov shares stories of Missouri’s veterans in their own words. You can share your appreciation for Missouri’s veterans on social media using the hashtag #MissouriHeroes.

Meaning of Veterans Day

Active duty military and veterans share what Veterans Day means to them.

Richard White

Richard White served in the Navy as a Fireman First Class during World War II. He was aboard the USS Pennsylvania when a torpedo hit the ship, just 58 hours before the Japanese surrendered.

Larry Creekmore

Larry Creekmore served in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman during the Vietnam War. While working at the U.S. Navy base for the telephone exchange in Yokosuka, Japan, he also went aboard the USS Missouri to repair the telephone lines.

Dewey Riehn

Dewey Riehn served in Vietnam with the Marine Corps and served as a counterintelligence agent in the United States Army for 14 years.

Dave Dillon

Dave Dillon was a captain in the Missouri National Guard and worked in public affairs for the Missouri National Guard Headquarters before serving as an embedded trainer in Iraq from 2005-06.

Charlie Goodin

Charlie Goodin served as a Steel Worker 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy Seabees in Vietnam. During his two tours in Vietnam, he constructed Strong Back Hooches, Protective Revetments, Butler Buildings and Three Legged Observation Towers for the U.S. Army.

Goodin comes from a family whose military service dates back to the American Revolution.

Missouri National Guard

Members of the Missouri National Guard describe why they serve.

John Clark

John Clark flew the RF-4C Phantom II during the Vietnam War and was shot down over North Vietnam on March 12, 1967. He spent the next six years as a P.O.W. in North Vietnam.

Clark’s decorations and awards include: the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and two Purple Hearts.

Ralph Kalberloh

A sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Kalberloh was a tail gunner on a B-17 when his crew had to make an emergency bailout over Germany.

Alone and wandering the German countryside, Kalberloh was taken as a P.O.W.

Message for Veterans

Active duty and veterans share their thoughts on Veterans Day.