October 31, 2005 — The University of Utah will honor 11 veterans at a full-dress military ceremony as part of its annual Veterans’ Day commemoration program on Friday, Nov. 11 at 11:00 a.m. in the main ballroom of the Olpin Union Building. The Utah veterans who served our country in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam will be presented with honorary medallions by University of Utah President Michael K. Young. Nearly 100 cadets and midshipmen from the military science ROTC programs will present the ceremony, which will include a 21-gun cannon salute. The group of 11 honorees was selected from over 50 nominations submitted by Utah citizens.

A morning panel, Fighter Bombers-Among the Bravest of the Brave, will be held at 8:45 a.m. in the Union Saltair Room. Four panelists will discuss the history of our nation’s fighter-bomber aircraft, the pursuit of precision weapons delivery and the courage required to execute the mission of ground attack.

Panel moderator Rear Admiral Jeremy Taylor says this year’s panel is particularly poignant given the role fighter-bombers are playing in Iraq and Afghanistan. “The role of the fighter-bomber in meeting and defeating our nation’s enemies has never been more important. Nothing in our inventory of weapons systems can match the flexibility, versatility and mobility of our fighter-bomber forces,” said Taylor. The panelists include:

• Moderator: Rear Admiral Jeremy Taylor, U.S. Navy. Distinguished Flying Cross, 21 Air Medals, Bronze Star, Air Gallantry Medal. Served in Vietnam 1966-71. More than 200 strike missions into North Vietnam, flying the A-4 Skyhawk, Squadron, air wing, ship and aircraft carrier command.
  
  
• Major Allen Rigby, U.S. Army Air Corps. Silver Star, seven Air Medals, two Distinguished Unit Citations. Served in World War II, Central Europe, 1944-45. P-51 “Ace” with five enemy aircraft shot down, four in one mission. More than 75 combat missions, including fighter escort and ground attack.
  
  
• Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Menning, U.S. Marine Corps. Twenty-one Air Medals. Served in Vietnam 1968-69. Commanded a Marine F-4 Phantom squadron based at Danang. Flew 298 strike fighter, and forward air control (FAC) missions.
  
  
• Captain Leslie Kappel, U.S. Navy. Distinguished Flying Cross, 18 Air Medals, Legion of Merit. Served in Vietnam 1968-72. Flew A-7 Corsair with more than 180 strike missions. Lebanon and Grenada 1983; Croatia/Serbia 1993. Squadron and ship command, Sixth Fleet Operations Officer (1991-93).
  
  
• Lieutenant Colonel Paul Madsen, U.S. Air Force. 419th Fighter Wing Deputy Operations Group Commander. Bronze Star, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, three Outstanding Unit Awards, with Valor. Served in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) 1991-2005. Flew 200 combat flight hours in the F-16 Falcon on strike, anti-SCUD, and fighter missions.

Of special interest will be a display of vintage World War II military vehicles from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds just south of the Union Building, courtesy of Karl Smith. The display will be accompanied by an historian in an authentic period uniform who will be on hand to answer questions.

A multimedia discussion and exhibit, Navajo Code Talkers, will be held at 2 p.m. at the Utah Museum of Natural History.

The annual Veterans’ Day concert presented by the Utah National Guard 23rd Army Band will be held at 7 p.m. in the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

All events are free and open to the public.

On Saturday, November 12, 2005, the 2005 Honorees will be presented on the field during halftime at the University of Utah vs. New Mexico football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium. For ticket information, call 581-UTIX.

For high resolution photos of the honorees and additional information on all Veterans’ Day events visit the following Web site www.veteransday.utah.edu.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2005

8:45 a.m.
Panel: Fighter Bombers – Among the Bravest of the Brave
Saltair Room, Olpin Union Building

11:00 a.m.
Full Dress Military Ceremony
Main Ballroom, Olpin Union Building
Paying Tribute to this years 11 Utah veteran honorees

2:00 p.m.
Multimedia discussion and exhibit: Navajo Code Talkers
Utah Museum of Natural History

7:00 p.m.
Annual Veterans’ Day Concert
Huntsman Center
Presented by the National Guard 23rd Army Band

Saturday, November 12, 2005
University of Utah football game
2005 Veterans’ Day Honorees presented at halftime
Rice-Eccles Stadium

DISPLAYS

Vintage Military Vehicles
Veterans’ Day, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
On the grounds just south of the Union Building, courtesy of Karl Smith

2005 Veterans’ Day Honorees
Union West Ballroom Display Case from November 1-30
Includes vintage photos and memoirs of this year’s honorees written by midshipmen from the Naval ROTC program

WWII Aircraft
Union Main Foyer Display Case November 1-30
Artwork by Salt Lake City artist Dave Meikle

University Bookstore
Featuring military books from October 31 – November 12

2005 HONOREES

Emmett “Cyclone” Davis (Draper)
Army Air Corps / Air Force: WW II, Korea

Epifanio Gonzales (Salt Lake City)
Army: World War II

Crit Killen (Pleasant Grove)
Navy: World War II, Korea

W. Stan Krushat (Salt Lake City)
Army Air Corps: World War II

Briton “Brit” McConkie (Bountiful)
Army: World War II

McKay H. Nelson (Cedar City)
Army Air Corps: World War II

Henry Patton (Murray)
Army Air Corps: World War II

Ernest L. Poulson (Salt Lake City)
Air Force: World War II

Lynn Richard Raybould (Salt Lake City)
Army: Korea, Vietnam

Richard Stimson (Salt Lake City)
Army: World War II

Leland Joseph Winger (Sandy, Utah)
Army Air Corps / Army: World War II