On behalf of our Board of
Education, faculty and staff, I welcome you to District 87 Veterans’ site. In
recognition of their service to our nation, this site honors District 87
employees who served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
On behalf of a grateful
district, I thank each of our veterans for their service. If you know of a
District 87 Veteran, please forward his/her picture with the date of the
picture, the branch of service and rank at the time of the picture to me. We
will add to this site as we get more pictures.
Sincerely,
Robert S. Nielsen,
Superintendent
Eric Christian United States Navy 1990-1994
This picture taken with Eric's dad, a Vietnam Navy Veteran who passed away 6-14-09,
in May 1990 after Boot Camp. Eric is currently a Physical Education teacher at Bent Elementary School.
Jodi Hall United States Navy 1992- 2000
Jodi is currently a Science Teacher at Bloomington High School.
Butch Feltner United States Army 1981-1987
Butch was a nuclear weapons specialist and artillery stationed in Giessen, Germany and Fort Polk, Louisiana. Butch is currently a Special Education Program Assistant at Bloomington Jr. High School and is the head coach of the 8th grade girls basketball team.
J. Michael
Matlock, Specialist 4th Class
United States
Army 1969-1972
Mike served
with the 1st of the 21st Artillery, 1st Cavalry
Division Vietnam in 1970. Mike is currently the Head Custodian at Oakland
Elementary School.
Jay Smithson
United States
Navy 1976-1981
Rank E-5 2nd
Class Petty Officer stationed at Camp David and the White House. Jay worked
under Presidents Carter and Reagan.
Bryan Wolfe
United States
Air Force 1990-1994
This photo was
taken at the end of Basic training in September of 1990 when Bryan was 18
years old. Bryan was stationed at Charleston AFB, South Carolina. As a
member of the 437 AGS, Bryan was a Crew Chief on the C-141B aircraft.
Bryan is
currently a Physical Education teacher at Oakland Elementary School.
Don Kirk
United States Army 1969-1970
Don served in Vietnam and
received, among other awards, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Don is
currently the Head Custodian at Sheridan Elementary School.
Otis Kindle
United
States Army
Otis served in
the 59th Headquarters, 3rd Infantry, and was stationed
in Germany. Otis is currently the Automotive Technology instructor at
Bloomington Area Career Center.
Bob Kirk
United States Army 1971-1974
Illinois National Guard 1984-1990
The picture was taken at the end of basic training in
January 1972 (Bob was 19 years of age and was the rank of Pvt. 2). Bob spent
2 ½ years in Darmstadt, West Germany as an atomic demolitions-munitions
specialist. In the National Guard, Bob was a T.O.W. gunner obtaining the
rank of SFC. Bob is currently the Head Custodian at Sarah E. Raymond Early
Childhood Center.
Dennis Taylor
United States Navy 1976-1980
The picture
was taken upon graduation from boot camp. As Aviation Structural Mechanic
Second Class Petty Officer, Dennis' responsibilities included maintaining
all aircraft main and auxiliary hydraulic power systems, actuating
subsystems and landing gear. Dennis was the youngest Collateral Duty
Inspector in the history of his squadron and was responsible for inspecting
the work of other mechanics and certifying the ability of the aircraft to
fly safely. Dennis was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal for service in
the Indian Ocean related to the attempted rescue of the American hostages in
Iran in April 1980.
Dennis is currently a Social
Studies teacher at Bloomington Jr. High School.
