Veterans honored during Memorial Day weekend pinning ceremony at Lubbock's Bridge Hospice

Bridge Hospice of Lubbock hosted a pinning ceremony Friday for their veterans, as well as memorial recognitions for the families of veterans who were lost.

"It is truly an honor for us to be here today to remember the services you gave to this country and those that are not here," said Ron Martin from Bridge Hospice.

Martin led the event and introduced each veteran, with Bruce Rocap, Bridge Hospice’s director of business development, honoring the veterans with pins as they came forward.  

Among the veterans honored were:

Robert Strickland, who was a Sergeant Communication Officer for the United States Army for four years. He was stationed in Germany for two years then went to Vietnam for 13 months.

Dale Johnston was a Pilot for the U.S. Air Force for five years. He was stationed at Patterson Air Force Base and flew the refueling aircraft during the Vietnam War, receiving service metals during his tenure.

Joe Nisbet was in Military Intelligence as a Korean Linguist. He was stationed in Korea; during his time there he had multiple assignments as a linguist for dignitaries, working at the Korean Military institute. 

On returning to the states, he was selected as an instructor for the US Military Defense Language Institute (DLI). He was requested to support a US Army Ranger Unit during the Grenada Invasion. After receiving his combat patch, he went to Ranger School and became an Army Ranger. 

Fredrick McCoy Jack Jr. was a Marine who was stationed in Yugoslavia, which is now a part of the Czech Republic. He was stationed at the U.S. Embassy and helped protect the President of the United Stats and other high-ranking officials during their travels at the time. He was in the United State Marine Corp from the fall of 1957 until spring 1962. 

Pete Harland was in the Navy in 1954 and was stationed at different bases, including in San Diego. He piloted a Navy boat and oversaw carrying officers from one place to another. He was in the ROTC program at Texas Tech and also played for Texas Tech's football team before playing for the Navy football team.

George Patrick was in the Air Force as a pilot of B-52 and B-66 aircraft from 1951 to 1971. He flew combat missions in Vietnam. 

Veterans who are no longer with us were recognized during the ceremony, with the playing of TAPS.

Eddie Foshee, who died last December at age 83, was in the Navy for two years and served on the USS Shangri-La during peacetime. 

James Acker, who died in December 2019 at age 88,  was in the Army and was stationed at Ft. Still, Oklahoma.