First Lieutenant Saunders, United States Marine Corps, made the ultimate sacrifice on June 17, 1970 when his plane crashed in inclement weather during a routine mission near Yakota Air Base, Japan. The bridge dedicated in his honor is the one spanning State Route 162 on Dutchtown Road in Knoxville. Knoxville Senators Becky Duncan Massed and Richard Briggs dedicated the bridge September 21, 2016.
Author Archives: John Romeiser
STEM Patriotic Pinwheels
The L&N STEM School 9/11 held a Remembrance event and ceremony at the Memorial and then placed patriotic “pinwheels” they had created during class on
the Lawn just south of the Memorial.
Richard F. Kirkpatrick
Born 15 September 1892, Knoxville, Tennessee
Richard F. Kirkpatrick volunteered his services to the U.S. Army May 29, 1917. First assigned to Company F, 138th Infantry, 35th Division, and later transferred to Company L, 306th Infantry, 77th Division. Embarked for France in May 1918. Saw service on the Swiss border and in the Vosges Mountains. Attended an Officers Training School for three months and received a commission as second lieutenant. Killed in action October 1, 1918, in the battle of the Argonne.
His remains were returned under Special Order #64 of 1 September 1921. They departed Hoboken, New Jersey by train to Washington D.C. and then to Knoxville, Tennessee. He was buried at Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.
WBIR Medal of Honor Vignette: Mitchell Stout
http://wbir-1.wistia.com/medias/iujhz221iy?embedType=iframe&videoWidth=640
WBIR Medal of Honor Vignette: Ray Duke
http://wbir-1.wistia.com/medias/prxccxikj1?embedType=iframe&videoWidth=640
WBIR Medal of Honor Vignette: Troy McGill
http://wbir-1.wistia.com/medias/wfpm96hg5m?embedType=iframe&videoWidth=640
WBIR Medal of Honor Vignette: Elbert Kinser
http://wbir-1.wistia.com/medias/bop73p15oq?embedType=iframe&videoWidth=640
WBIR Medal of Honor Vignette: Paul Huff
http://wbir-1.wistia.com/medias/1up2iegzuh?embedType=iframe&videoWidth=640
WBIR Medal of Honor Vignette: Charles Coolidge
http://wbir-1.wistia.com/medias/b6lgyf9rsh?embedType=iframe&videoWidth=640
Johnny L. Bryant
- Rank: Captain
- Born: 16 August 1943
- Died: 22 May 1969
- County: Blount
- Hometown: Maryville
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: 334th AHC, 145th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation
- Theater: Not listed
- Conflict: Vietnam
- Battles: Not listed
- Awards: 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Bronze Star Medals, 24 Air Medals, 2 Army Commendation Medal, and 4 Purple Heart Medals
- Burial/Memorial Location: Four Mile Cemetery, Blount County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XXII, Top Panel
