Honoring Missouri’s veterans one name at a time – the Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame welcomed its newest list of vets in a ceremony at the Missouri Capitol on Friday afternoon.
One of those honorees was Ted Donaldson of Joplin, who served in the Air Force for more than 32 years on active duty, including missions during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Ensuring Freedom.
“The person that nominated me is a state level official,” he told Missourinet. “He and I have worked on several projects for a long time. He just recognized that the efforts that our organization has put into advocating and helping veterans in the community, along with my military service, he felt like it deserved some special level of recognition.”
Donaldson co-founded Compass Quest Veterans Advocacy Group in Joplin which serves veterans and their families in southwest Missouri.
Donaldson spoke inside the Missouri Capitol about the recognition he received.
“We have a war memorial in Joplin where I live, and I have a great uncle whose name is engraved there because he died in World War II,” said Donaldson. “You see these things and you recognize the historical significance of those kinds of things, the sacrifices that people make. Now, you know, my name will be part of the history of the capitol building here in the state of Missouri.”
Another inductee was St. Louis’ Wayne Kaufman, who served in the Army from 1968 to 1971. He was promoted to sergeant in the 25th Infantry Division and earned the Bronze Star Medal. He told Missourinet that it’s humbling to be honored, but closure is not something he understands as a Vietnam vet.
“Not only how we were treated when we came back, not wanting anybody to know we were in the military or let alone being in Vietnam,” Kaufman said. “Most of us did not acknowledge that or even go to the VA for 20…30…sometimes 40 years. So, closure never happens because I can tell you that every single day, something triggers Vietnam.”
Kaufman was nominated because of his organization’s work helping vets in need, the Kaufman Fund Helping Veterans. It was started in memory of his brother Ralph in 1990.
“We have nine free programs that we give veterans that they normally don’t get at the VA,” he said. “For example, dental care. Most people don’t know that the VA does not give dental care to veterans unless they’re 100% disabled.”
In addition, the Kaufman Fund Helping Veterans gives away 350 Christmas trees to families each December and has a winter warmup program for homeless vets. Kaufman started his nonprofit organization in 1990 in memory of his brother Ralph.
Seven names in total were added to the Veterans Hall of Fame:
- General Omar Bradley, (posthumous) of Clark and Moberly, served in the US Army from 1915 to 1953. He rose to fame through exceptional leadership in World War II, and subsequently became the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1948 and the first Chair of the NATO Military Committee in 1949.
- Terry A. Sullentrup, (posthumous) of Washington, entered service in the US Army in 1970. He served as a bulldozer operator with the 39th Engineering Battalion, separating in 1972. He served as a volunteer firefighter for 53 years with the Washington Fire Department where he was twice recognized as Firefighter of the Year. Terry was an active member of VFW Post 2661, American Legion Post 218, and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1028. Terry served on the Board of Directors of the Franklin County Honor Flight. He was Co-Chair for the successful effort to bring the Vietnam Moving Wall to Washington, Missouri in 2013. Terry died in 2023.
- James Seymour Whitfield, of Warrensburg, was a US Navy World War II veteran who served as Quartermaster aboard the USS General George O. Squier, a troop transport ship, and the USS Redfish, a Balao-class submarine. He was a lifetime member of the Warrensburg VFW Post 2513 and American Legion Post 131. Jim spent 57 years serving in multiple positions at the Missouri Boys State. Jim served as the first Chair of the Missouri Veterans Commission and led the expansion of the Veterans State Homes and the establishment of the State Veterans Cemetery system.
- William “Duane” Benton, of Kansas City, served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve as a Judge Advocate General from 1972 to 2002. On active duty he served in Vietnam, New London, Great Lakes and Memphis. Duane is very active with Rotary and Rotary International as well as the VFW and The American Legion. For the past 30 years, Duane has been the State Chair of the Legion’s Oratorical Contest. Through his leadership of this program, he has developed one of the best oratorical programs in the Legion, producing three National Champions.
- John W. Clark, of Columbia, graduated from Air Force ROTC at the University of Missouri and received his Commission after completing a degree in mechanical engineering. He flew C-131 aeromedical evacuation aircraft and RF-4C tactical reconnaissance missions. John was shot down over North Vietnam, was captured and spent six years as a POW in North Vietnam until released in 1973. He has been active in The American Ex-Prisoners of War organization and is an active member Mid-Missouri Chapter of MOAA. John speaks to numerous organizations around the State and country about his experiences.
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