Honoring Arkansas’ veterans 

Former co-op VP among those inducted into the Arkansas Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame 

Arkansas military veterans and their families and friends gathered last month to honor 15 Arkansas veterans as they were inducted into the Arkansas Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame (AMVHOF).

Among those inductees was Carmie L. Henry of Little Rock, former vice president for governmental affairs for Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), who served as a naval flight officer in Vietnam.

It was the ninth class for the AMVHOF, which was formed in 2011 to honor Arkansas veterans for their valor and public service. Previous inductees include Col. William O. Darby Jr., who led the 1st Ranger Battalion during World War II, as well as former U.S. Sen. Dale Bumpers and former Arkansas Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller.

U.S. Sen. John Boozman presented the inductees, some of whom were represented by family members, with Hall of Fame medallions. The ceremony took place Nov. 2 at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock.

Henry served in Vietnam as a naval flight officer aboard Phantom 4 fighter planes. For his service, he received a

Meritorious Service Medal and nine air medals. He earned the rank of captain and also served in the U.S. Navy Reserves. After his tour of duty, he returned home to Arkansas and began a career working as a staff member for U.S. Sen. John McClellan and later U.S. Sen. David Pryor. Pryor and his wife, Barbara, attended the ceremony.

After working as a Senate staffer, Henry joined AECC and AECI as vice president of governmental affairs in 1997, where he worked until his retirement in 2014.

In that role, Henry was an advocate for Arkansas’ electric co-ops and rural Arkansas. He played a major role in the deregulation of the electric utility industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In addition, he was a major advocate for the restoration of legendary country music star and Arkansas native Johnny Cash’s boyhood home in Dyess. In 2014, he won the William F. Matson Democracy Award for outstanding achievement in political action for electric cooperatives from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). He also served as president of the Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council.

In addition, the 2019 class included:

• Chief Warrant Officer W-3 Robert Allen Johnson, Fort Smith, U.S. Army:
  Johnson served two combat tours in Vietnam. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and 24 air medals, one with “V” device.
• Capt. John Howard Yancey, (deceased), U.S. Marine Corps Reserve:
  Yancy served in combat during World War II and Korea. He was awarded two Navy Crosses, the Bronze Star Medal and two Purple Hearts.
• Pfc. James R. Glidewell, (deceased), U.S Army:
  Glidewell served in World War II where he was killed in action at Luzon Island in the Philippines. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart.
• Col. Jerrell Everett Hamby, (deceased), U.S. Army:
  Served three combat tours including one in Korea and two in Vietnam. He received the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, one with “V” device, five Purple Hearts, the Meritorious Service Medal, 11 air Medals, one with “V” device, and the Army Commendation Medal.
• Lt. Col. Billy Bert Dooly, Fort Smith, U.S. Army:
  Dooly served two combat tours in Vietnam. His awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
• Maj. James Edward Mason, III, Searcy, U.S. Army National Guard:
  Mason served a tour in Vietnam, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, two air medals, one with “V” device, and the Army Commendation Medal.
• Chief Warrant Officer W-3 Robert Allen Johnson, Fort Smith, U.S. Army:
  Johnson served two combat tours in Vietnam. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and 24 air medals, one with “V” device.
• Maj. Kenneth Earl Zellmer, Sherwood, U.S. Air Force:
  Zellmer served one combat tour in Vietnam. His awards include two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Meritorious Service Medal,19 air medals, the Joint Services Commendation Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
• Capt. Tollie Adkins, Jr., Fort Smith, U.S. Army National Guard:
  Adkins served one combat tour in Vietnam, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and seven air medals.
• Tech. Sgt. 3d Grade Delbert Edwin Rogers, (deceased), U.S. Army:
  Rogers served in World War II including combat in the Philippine Islands. He received the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.
• Col. William Arthur Kehler, North Little Rock, U.S. Air Force:
  Kehler served a combat tour in Vietnam. For his service, he was awarded two Legion of Merit Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Meritorious Service Medals and 12 air medals.
• Maj. James Edward Largent, Paragould, U.S. Army Reserves:
  Largent received three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals and two Army Achievement Medals.
• Lt. Col. Artis Tee Lofton, Sr., North Little Rock, U.S. Army:
  His awards include four Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals and the Army Achievement Medal.
• Col. Donald Harrison Stokes, Jr., Hot Springs Village, U.S. Air Force:
  His awards include the Legion of Merit, eight Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
• Lt. Col. David Arnold Harrington, Maumelle, U.S. Army:
  Harrington served two combat tours in Vietnam, earning two Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal, nine air medals and two Army Commendation Medals.