Basil Beckford

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army

Rank:

Sergeant

Years of Service:

12 Years of Service with Deployments to Bosnia, Macedonia and Iraq

Spouse & Children:

Married with 4 Children

Community Service:

Working to eliminate Veterans Homelessness.

Hobbies:

Loves running, working out and traveling.

Current Employment:

Works for the US Department of Housing & Urban Development.

James A. Latimore

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army (2 years)
U.S. Air Force Reserve (24 years)

Rank:

TSGT (Retired)

Years of Service:

26 years

Religious Affiliation:

Saint Peter AME Church in Fort Valley, GA (Serves as Trustee Pro-Tem)

Hobbies:

• Working in my garden
• Watching and attending football games
• Watching all other sports
• Traveling
• Attending family events and relaxing after I retired

Additional Information:

• Member of the American Legion Post 268 (Treasurer)
• Member of the Hunt Educational and Cultural Center (Treasurer)
• Life Member of the FVSU National Alumni Association (Past Treasurer)
• Member of the Fort Valley Retired Educator Association
• Life Member of the Fort Valley Evening Optimist Club (Past Treasurer & President)

Anthony D. Sapp

Branch of Service:

U.S. Air Force

Rank:

TSgt (Retired)

Years of Service:

20 years

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Shavonda Evans-Sapp
Children: Tamia, Taliyah, Zariyah, Antoinette, Sierra, Jack, Tierra, Jacob, Joseph, David, Stephen, Andrew, Ana and Sabastian

Religious Affiliation:

Fellowship Bible Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA

Community Service:

Feeding the homeless, mentoring kids, Member of Kappa Lambda Chi Military Fraternity Inc.

Hobbies:

Coaching, Being a great father, Sports

Current Employment:

Retired Air Force

Reginald E. Pettus

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Years of Service:

22 years

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Lana - 40 years
Children: Bryana, Brittany

Religious Affiliation:

Andrews Chapel United Methodist Church, Jonesboro, GA

Community Service:

Cub Scout Pack 954 (23 years)

Fraternity:

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Hobbies:

• Reading
• Listening to “old skool” music
• Umpiring
• Watching westerns and sci-fi movies

Additional Information:

LTC (Retired) Reginald E. Pettus served in the Army on Active Duty for 22 years. He was commissioned into the Infantry Branch upon graduating from Wofford College. He served in a variety of leadership positions and locations around the world, Platoon Leader and Executive Officer (Korea), Company Commander (Fort Jackson), Infantry Officer Platoon Trainer, Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Tactical Leadership Branch and Battalion Operations Officer (Fort Benning), OIC Infantry Ranges and Chief, Plans and Development (Grafenwoehr, Germany), Battalion Operations Officer (Korea), Infantry LTC Assignment Officer (PERSCOM), and Inspector General (Fort McPherson). After Fort McPherson closed, he worked in Afghanistan as an Inspector General Mentor for Dyncorp. His military education included Infantry Basic and Advance Courses, Airborne School, Ranger School (Distinguished Graduate), Pathfinder Course, Combined Arms Services and Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and the Inspector General Course. His civilian education includes a Masters in General Administration from Central Michigan University. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Achievement Medal, Airborne Wings, Ranger Tab, and Pathfinder Badge. LTC (Retired) Pettus is currently a 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at Eddie White Middle Academy. He and his wife, Lana (40 years), are proud parents of two adult daughters, Bryana and Brittany.

John Henry Torbert

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army

Rank:

Private First Class

Years of Service:

1961 – 1963

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Bobbie Torbert - 52 years
Children: Kena, Johnelle and Shalema

Religious Affiliation:

Mount Neboh Baptist Church, Harlem NY

Community Service:

• Providing income tax information
• Urban vegetable gardening

Hobbies:

• Spending time with grandsons (John-Avery and Bryson)
• Fishing
• Urban vegetable gardening
• Chef and Master Griller

Employment:

• New York City Police Officer, 21 years
• Salomon Smith Barney Holdings Inc., Clerk Receptionist 13 years

Additional Information:

101 Airborne Division (Paratrooper), 501 Signal Battalion Fort Campbell, KY

John H. Torbert is a quiet, warm-hearted man with deep values of honesty and tradition. He is the type of man that you can joke with, and learn valuable lessons from without intimidation or judgement. He finds common ground with strangers, and makes people feel comfortable in his presence. He is the ideal father. We are blessed to have him as ours. Thanks for always being the solid rock for our family. – Your Loving Daughters

Robert L. Freeman

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army

Rank:

SP/4

Years of Service

January 12, 1971 – January 11, 1973

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Diane Freeman
Children: Tara, Dezon, Pernordo, Ryan, Percata & Kielan

Religious Affiliation:

First Fellowship Worship Center

Community Service:

• Ridge Grove AME Church Food Pantry
• Ridge Grove AME Church Sunday School Teacher & Pastor’s Assistant

Hobbies:

• Classic Cars
• NHRA Drag Race Event

Current Employment/Job Title:

• Retired U.S. Postal Service in 2007 with 37 Years
• Chauffer and Limousine License & Contractor

Earl C. Grayson, Jr.

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army

Rank:

E6/Staff SGT

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Janice F. Grayson (45 Years)
Children: 3 Sons & 14 Grandchildren

Religious Affiliation:

First Fellowship Worship Center

Community Service:

Men of Destiny Ministry

Hobbies:

Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Current Employment/Job Title:

Director of Operations – P.A.L.M.S. Medical Transport, LLC

Lewis C. Wright

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army

Rank & Years of Service:

Corporal; 2 years

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Louise
Children: 9
Step-Children: 2

Religious Affiliation:

Church of Christ

Community Service:

Takes Communion to the sick and shut in

Hobbies:

Studying the Bible

Current Employment/Job Title:

Retired Owner

Additional Information:

Mr. Wright received 3 Bronze Stars for his service as a Combat Army Medic in the Korean War.

Brad Losner

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army

Rank & Years of Service:

Former CPT (P); 10 years of service

Spouse & Children:

Rebecca and I have two wonderful children: Max (8) and Rachel (30)

Religious Affiliation:

Towne View Baptist Church

Community Service:

Deacon at Towne View Baptist Church; VETLANTA member; Cub Scouts volunteer leader

Hobbies:

Spending time with Family & Friends; RC car racing with our son; mountain biking; running; hiking; Personal Finance

Current Employment/Job Title:

Truist Bank; Financial Crimes Group Manager

Additional Information:

I’ve been and continue to be blessed by many caring and knowledgeable mentors throughout my life, especially during my transition from military to civilian life. I enjoy opportunities to positively impact others through mentorship and encouragement as well.

Dwight Tuggle

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army

Rank & Years of Service:

Staff Sergeant / E-6, 20 years of service

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Jeanette
Children: Karla, James, Jacob, Deborah and Dwight II

Religious Affiliation:

Apostolic Pentecostal

Hobbies:

Teaching bible lessons, collecting coins, working around the house, spending time with friends and family

Current Employment/Job Title:

Currently Retired from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Postal Service in Fayetteville, GA

Additional Information:

• 2nd Generation U.S. Army Veteran, my father (Corporal David Tuggle) served in WWII

Served with the:

• 101 Airborne Division (Air Assault), HHT 2nd Squadron /17th Cavalry, Fort Campbell, KY
• Alfa Company, 97th Signal Battalion, Central Army Group (NATO), Manheim, Germany
• HHT 3rd Squadron / 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, TX
• Alfa Company, 32nd Signal Battalion, 22nd Signal Brigade, Frankfurt, Germany
• I Corp, Bravo Company, 502nd Military Intelligence Battalion
• I Corp, Charlie Company, 29th Signal Battalion, Fort Lewis, WA
• Aided: 210th Field Artillery Brigade while at Fort Lewis, WA

Donald Hammond II

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army (National Guard)

Rank & Years of Service:

Enlisted for 7 years (SSG last enlisted rank held)
Commissioned for 11 years (Current CPT(P))
Total 18 years of service

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Alicia Hammond
Children: Donald III (23), Darius (19) and Alana (15)

Religious Affiliation:

Believer in God

Hobbies:

Working out and spending time with family

Current Employment/Job Title:

Social Security Administration Human Resources Specialist

Additional Information:

2nd Generation Veteran as my father served 27 years in the Army Reserve

Deonte Barfield

Branch of Service:

U.S. Navy

Years of Service:

7 years, 8 months

Rank:

E5 Petty Officer Second Class/Hospital Corpsman

Children:

I have 3 daughters ages 25, 13 and 9

Religious Affiliation:

I attend World Overcomers Christian Church in Raleigh Triangle Park in North Carolina

Community Service

I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. where we believe in Service to All Mankind and servicing the community

Hobbies:

Baking, crafting, and spending time with family and friends

Current Employment/Job Title:

In my previous employment, I worked as a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist, assisting veterans with Significant Barriers to Employment and other resources. In my current employment, I am a Family Self Sufficiency Program Coordinator for our local Housing Authority.

Additional Information:

I earned my bachelor’s degree in social work from University of North Carolina-Wilmington and my master’s degree in social work from North Carolina Central University. My passion is to serve and help my fellow veterans in any capacity, especially those in hardship.