Latest Silver Star Banner recipients span three wars

Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner applauds four Mid-Missouri veterans who received Silver Star Banners during a ceremony Monday at the Missouri National Guard headquarters. The honored veterans are, from left, Bruce "Duane" Sublett, Carl Houston,  David Rackers and Dick Woods.
Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner applauds four Mid-Missouri veterans who received Silver Star Banners during a ceremony Monday at the Missouri National Guard headquarters. The honored veterans are, from left, Bruce "Duane" Sublett, Carl Houston, David Rackers and Dick Woods.

Robust, standing ovations showed the appreciation of more than 150 soldiers, civilians and veterans to four other veterans who were recognized by the Silver Star Banner Monday.

Mid-Missourians Bruce "Duane" Sublett, Carl Houston, David Rackers and Dick Woods were seated on the Missouri National Guard auditorium stage, where Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner, Missouri adjutant general, greeted them and presented each with a plaque and Silver Star Banner.

Sublett, who is from Eldon, served in the U.S. Navy during and after World War II, including a tour in the South Pacific.

Houston was drafted from his job in a shoe factory in his hometown of Tipton in 1952. He operated a bulldozer with an engineer battalion under hostile conditions in Korea for 17 months.

Rackers, who lives in Taos, was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951, serving two years in Korea and receiving a Purple Heart.

And Jefferson Citian Woods also was drafted in 1969, serving in the 23rd Infantry on jungle patrol in Vietnam, where he received two Purple Hearts.

"You faced the peril of a theater of combat; we want to thank you for your sacrifice," said emcee Capt. Jonathan Holem.

The Silver Star Families of America was organized in 1917 to help wounded, injured, ill or dying servicemembers.

About 60 local veterans who were wounded or injured in combat have been recognized by the organization in the last four years, volunteer Jeremy Amick said.

Silver Star Families volunteers apply for the Silver Star Banner on behalf of local veterans as they become aware of their eligibility.

Monday's honorees were nominated after Amick interviewed them for his weekly veterans column in the News Tribune.

Generally, presentation ceremonies are scheduled near Veterans Day and Silver Star Families Day in Missouri, which is May 1.

Danner noted Monday recognizing these men on the eve of Veterans Day was appropriate.

"It's an honor to be on stage with these combat veterans," Danner said. "They have served as we all have served in uniform. They literally put their life on the line for our freedom."

On the web: www.silverstarfamilies.org