COLLEGE PARK, MD – November 11, 2024 – In honor of Veterans Day, National History Day® (NHD) is proud to announce the 48 teachers selected for its newest Silent Heroes® program, Untold Stories from the Korean War, sponsored by a grant from the Veterans Legacy Program at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This fall, selected teachers have partnered with almost 600 students to research the lives of nearly 100 individuals who served in the U.S. military during the Korean War era, continued to serve their community and are currently buried or memorialized in a U.S. National or state Veterans Cemetery. This program prioritizes identifying underrepresented and untold stories.

Now until January 2025, teachers and students meet monthly with a historian Christopher Hamner, Ph.D., of George Mason University to study the Korean War and learn more about the experiences of underrepresented Veterans. Guided by eight research mentors, participants will use NHD-created materials to leverage databases such as Ancestry Classroom, Fold3 and Newspapers.com to research the lives and service of their selected Veterans. Connecting with local libraries and historical societies, teams will learn more about the communities where the Veterans and their families lived. Finally, teams will analyze Official Military Personnel Files requested from the National Personnel Records Center. After conducting their research, teams will synthesize the information to tell the story of their Veteran’s life and service with a profile published on the Veterans Legacy Memorial and NHD’s Silent Heroes website. See a sample Silent Hero profile here.

“As we pause today to honor and remember Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, I couldn’t be more proud of the teachers and students researching Veterans of the Korean War through our exciting new program funded by the Veterans Legacy Program,” said Cathy Gorn, Ph.D., Executive Director of National History Day. “Studying local history and giving a voice to untold stories, particularly those of Veterans, is some of the most impactful work students and teachers can do with National History Day.”

After the teachers and students research their chosen Veterans’ lives, military service, and contributions to their communities this fall, student-teacher teams will visit their local national cemetery in spring 2025 to honor their Veterans and read eulogies at their graves. In addition to the profiles cross-listed on the NHD Silent Heroes website and the Veterans Legacy Memorial, NHD will also select 50 profiles and add video eulogies for the Veterans. See a sample NHD-produced video eulogy here.

The 48 teachers selected for this program represent 35 states and territories and 45 U.S. National Cemeteries. NHD celebrates the following teachers participating in this program and the Veterans they selected to research:

StateTeacher and SchoolVeteransCemetery
AlabamaMs. Melissa Motes
Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies
Mobile, AL
U.S. Air Force Captain Janice Feagin Britton

U.S. Army Corporal Eteal Reed
Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spanish Fort, AL
ArizonaMrs. Annie Shanahan
Gifted & Talented Academy at Maryvale High School
Phoenix, AZ
U.S. Army Specialist Third Class Sidney Levin

U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Joyce C. Hagan Williams
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ
Mr. Jeron Velasco
Dishchii’bikoh High School
Cibecue, AZ
U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Ronnie Lupe

U.S. Army Sergeant Steven Phillip Lupe, Sr.
Dove Cemetery, Whiteriver, AZ

Cibecue Cemetery, Cibecue, AZ
ArkansasMr. Brandon Bagwell
Harmony Grove Middle School
Benton, AR
U.S. Army Private Second Class Myrtis Lee Baker

U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Leroy Mazel Smith
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock, North Little Rock, AR
CaliforniaMs. Aditi Doshi
Van Nuys High School
Van Nuys, CA
U.S. Navy Seaman Recruit Jean Lorain Godden Lopez

U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Fred Teruo Suzuki
Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA
ConnecticutMs. Amy Bishop
Edison Middle School
Meriden, CT
U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Joan Miriam March Davis

U.S. Air Force Airman Second Class Lester “Leslie” Hicks
Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery, Middletown, CT
DelawareMs. Emily Green
POLYTECH School District
Woodside, DE
U.S. Air Force Airman Third Class Donald J. Ballard

U.S. Air Force Private Velma Ascione
Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery – New Castle County, Bear, DE
FloridaMr. Zachary Brinkley
Wakulla High School
Crawfordville, FL
U.S. Army First Lieutenant Willard Bernard Barnhart

U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Thelma Virginia Poppell Edenfield
Tallahassee National Cemetery, Tallahassee, FL
Mrs. Melissa Machaj-Abbs
Switzerland Point Middle School
Jacksonville, FL
U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Willie “Coach” Dorsey

U.S. Army Private Isiah Jesse “Ike” Williams III
Jacksonville National Cemetery, Jacksonville, FL
GeorgiaMr. Chance Giddens
Troup County High School
LaGrange, GA
U.S. Army Corporal Shigeru Ito

U.S. Air Force Corporal Shirley Jean Tinker Thomas
Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell, AL
Hawai’iMrs. Amy Boehning
Hawai’i Technology Academy
Waipahu, HI
U.S. Army First Lieutenant Louise Toki Nagoa Aleong

U.S. Navy Yeoman Third Class Abigail Theresa Durante Robello
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI
IllinoisMrs. Katie Hoerner
Belleville East High School
Belleville, IL
U.S. Army Specialist Fourth Class Reginald Sueo Arakaki

U.S. Army Corporal Yasutoshi “Yasu” Takushi
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO
Mr. Zach Schroeder
Skinner North Elementary School
Chicago, IL
U.S. Army Specialist Third Class Donald D. Jenkins

U.S. Army Private Second Class James Major Bradey Gates, Jr.
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL
IndianaMrs. Lori Grant Feliciano
Cold Spring School at Marian University
Indianapolis, IN
U.S. Air Force Airman Second Class Florence Mabel Linde Dudley

U.S. Army First Lieutenant Leon Clay Wesson
Crown Hill Columbarium Annex, Indianapolis, IN
IowaMr. Jonathan Markus
Adel DeSoto Minburn Middle School
Adel, IA
U.S. Army Corporal Reginald Atkins

U.S. Army Sergeant First Class (Rev.) Henry J. Bevel, Jr. 
Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Adel, IA
KansasMs. Angie Gumm
St. Mary Parish Catholic School
Derby, KS
U.S. Army Private First Class Judith Elaine Russell Allen

U.S. Army Private First Class John Willie Blue
Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Winfield, Winfield, KS
KentuckyMrs. Kathy Bess
St. Patrick School
Maysville, KY
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Fred Lee Baker

U.S. Navy Seaman Apprentice Doris Jeanine Abshire Logan
Camp Nelson National Cemetery, Nicholasville, KY
MarylandMr. Leif Liberg
Saint Mary’s Ryken High School
Leonardtown, MD
U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Carroll Hawthorne Allen

U.S. Army Sergeant Dolores Helen Katashuk Ames
National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico, Triangle, VA
Mrs. Ali Schilpp
Northern Middle School
Accident, MD
U.S. Army First Lieutenant Jack Ephriam Arch

U.S. Air Force Airman Basic Phillip Ottawao Taylor
Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery, Flintstone, MD
MassachusettsMr. Brian Sheehy
North Andover High School
North Andover, MA
U.S. Army Private Everette Walter Frye

U.S. Air Force Airman Second Class Margaret “Peggy” Elgie Tansey Bentley
Fort Devens Post Cemetery, Devens, MA
MichiganMs. Erika Berger
Boulan Park Middle School
Troy, MI
U.S. Army Private First Class Jerry Cohen

U.S. Army Private First Class Jose Antonio Fernandez
Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, MI
Ms. Tara Fugate
Richards Middle School
Fraser, MI
U.S. Army Sergeant Alice Jean Morrison Bloetscher

U.S. Air Force Airman Second Class Shirley Elizabeth McIntyre
Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, MI
MississippiMrs. Catherine McGowin
Southeast Lauderdale High School
Meridian, MS
U.S. Army Corporal Vernon Anderson

U.S. Army Private Orville Clyde “Pete” Breazeale
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Newton, MS
MissouriMs. Megan Burian
Marquette High School
Chesterfield, MO
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Johanna Elizabeth Balla Baskin Butt

U.S. Army Private First Class Calvin Gilmore, Jr.
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO
NebraskaMrs. Sarah Burr
Syracuse Middle School
Syracuse, NE
U.S. Air Force Airman Second Class Ruth Elaine Grabner Frost

U.S. Army Private First Class Hiawatha Thompson
Omaha National Cemetery, Omaha, NE
Mrs. Kim Henry and Mrs. Janet Kuszak
Loup City Public School
Loup City, NE
U.S. Army Specialist Sixth Class Howard G. “Hap” Isbrandtsen

U.S. Navy Metal Smith Petty Officer Second Class George Marvin Kamper
Nebraska Veterans Home Cemetery, Grand Island, NE
New HampshireMrs. Sierra Dolce
Bedford High School
Bedford, NH
U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Phyllis B. Arnold Crowley

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Patricia “Pat” Ann O’Brien Dawe
New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, NH
New Mexico Ms. Sheila Uy
Twin Buttes Cyber Academy
Zuni, NM
U.S. Army Private First Class Alex Roland SeowtewaQuincy Pateah Cemetery, Zuni, NM
New YorkMr. Patrick Sprinkle
New York City Lab School for Collaborative Studies
New York, NY
U.S. Air Force Airman First Class  Morton Bronstein

U.S. Army Private First Class Jack Leonard Cohen
Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, NY
North CarolinaMrs. Cecilia Ruth Marcus
Smoky Mountain High School
Sylva, NC
U.S. Navy Seaman Robert Elden “Bobby” Buchanan

U.S. Air Force Airman Second Class Thomas Lee Conley
Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, Black Mountain, NC
Ms. Rebecca Simmons
Mount Airy High School
Mount Airy, NC
U.S. Air Force Airman First Class  Alanna Grayce Maddock Crowder

U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Billie Clark Alexander
Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery, Dublin, VA
Mr. Wesley Young
Camden County High School
Camden, NC
U.S. Navy Steward Chief Petty Officer Aurelio Papo Abrigo

U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Bess Lee Melvin
Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk, VA
OklahomaMrs. Heather McCormick
Blair High School
Blair, OK
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Sir Mack H. Allen, Jr.

U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Roosevelt Claiborne “R.C.” Peterson
Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, OK
PennsylvaniaMr. Gregory Maigur
Holicong Middle School
Doylestown, PA
U.S. Army Private George A. Benton

U.S. Army First Lieutenant Carl Mervil Cousins
Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Washington Crossing, PA
Puerto RicoMr. Tim Proskauer
Ramey School 
Aguadilla, PR
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Calixto A. López Piñero

U.S. Army Corporal Gregorio Russe-Cordero
Los Jardines Memorial Park, Isabela, PR
Morovis National Cemetery, Morovis, PR
South DakotaMrs. Carissa VanderLey
Chamberlain High School
Chamberlain, SD
U.S. Army Private First Class Sam Edward Dupris

U.S. Army Private First Class Clifford E. Loudner, Sr.
Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD
TennesseeDr. Duke Richey
McCallie School
Chattanooga, TN
U.S. Army Private Samuel Gooden

U.S. Army Specialist Second Class John T. Pataky
Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN
TexasMr. Rhett Carter and Dr. Joseph Russell
Plano East Senior High School
Plano, TX
U.S. Army Colonel Enrique “Hank” Irizarry-Toro

U.S. Army Sergeant Hoise Bell
Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas
Mr. Bill Garza
Fox Technical High School
San Antonio, TX
U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Belsario J. Flores, Jr.

U.S. Army Colonel Lois Anne Johns
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX
Mrs. Jan Martinez
Odyssey Academy-Webster
Webster, TX
U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Lezell Hiawatha Hart

U.S. Army Corporal Oliver Eugene Brown, Sr.
Houston National Cemetery, Houston, TX
Mrs. Heather Watkins
Navasota High School
Navasota, TX
U.S. Army Private First ClassHenry Martinez

U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ernest Kelly Shaw
Houston National Cemetery, Houston, TX
UtahMrs. Heidi Stone
Syracuse Arts Academy
Syracuse, UT
U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Barton J. “Bart” Gressmen

U.S. Army Private James Edward Glasper
Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park, Bluffdale, UT
VirginiaMr. Andrew Abeyounis
Grafton High School
Yorktown, VA
U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Raymond Nevarro Armstead

U.S. Marine Corps Private FIrst Class Angel Luis Rivera
Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk, VA
Ms. Pam Rockenbach Plahs
Swift Creek Middle School
Midlothian, VA
U.S. Army Corporal Milton “Mickey” D. Alexander

U.S. Air Force Airman First Class  James P. Rodriguez, Sr.
Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia, Amelia, VA
WashingtonMrs. Nicole Maleki
Skyview Middle School
Bothell, WA
U.S. Army Captain Pearle E. Mack, Jr.

U.S. Army Major Reynold Tadayoshi Muranaka
Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA
WisconsinMrs. Lalitha Murali
Glen Hills Middle School
Glendale, WI
U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Orville E. Pitts

U.S. Army Corporal Cecil Grayson Sutphen
Southern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery, Union Grove, WI

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About National History Day (NHD)

NHD is a non-profit organization based in College Park, Maryland, that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. The National History Day Contest was established in 1974 and currently engages more than half a million students every year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. Students present their research as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. Projects compete first at the local and affiliate levels, where the top entries are invited to the National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD is sponsored in part by the 400 Years of African American History Commission, The Better Angels Society, the Bezos Family Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Library of Congress, the Dr. Scholl Foundation, the Behring Global Educational Foundation, and the National Park Service. NHD has also received grant funding from the American Battle Monuments Commission and the Veterans Legacy Program. For more information, visit nhd.org.

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