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Press Release

U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes Western District of Louisiana Veterans

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Louisiana
 

SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La.: United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that the U. S. Attorney’s Office will honor the men and women of the Western District of Louisiana and their family members who have served in the United States Armed Forces with a video presentation.

            The presentation features employees from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Shreveport and Lafayette, Federal Courthouse employees in Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria, Lake Charles and Monroe, and family members.  The video will be available for public viewing from November 10th to November 14th in the lobby of the United States Federal Courthouses in Shreveport and Lafayette.

“This video presentation is just a small way that we can honor our veterans,” Finley stated.  “As a member of the United States Air Force, I am very aware of how lucky we are to have these veterans in our communities and how important it is for us to recognize their service.  We owe a debt of gratitude to all of the men and women who serve and give their lives to safeguard our freedoms.”

Western District of Louisiana employees being honored for their service are:

United States Army – Aaron Broussard, Mike Campbell, U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, Robert Gillespie, David Joseph, Vincent Mangum, Joseph Mickel, Howard Parker, Edward Prokopf, Victor Sheppard, U.S. District Judge Tom Stagg, Fifth Circuit Judge Carl Stewart, Christ Turner, and U.S. District Judge Donald Walter.

United States Navy – Joseph Jarzabek, Daniel McCoy, and Ryan Turner.

United States Coast Guard – Dennis K. Austin and U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna.

United States Marin Corps – Angelo Iorio.

United Stated Air Force – Mitzie Cochrane, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley, Samuel Glass, Michael O’Mara, Ryan Peck, Walter Sittig, U.S. District Judge James T. Trimble, Jr., and U.S. Marshal Henry L. Whitehorn, Sr.

Immediate family members of the personnel in the Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. District Court System being honored for their service are:

United States Army – Gerald Champagne, Steven L. Dupont, Doyce Ray Hebert, Eric Iorio, Shelton Julian, Joseph LeJeune, David A. McBride, and Michael E. Schaff.

United States Navy – Kyle Alwert, David Cochrane, and Leon Gordon Jones.

United States Air Force – John T. Julian and Alan Williams.

United States Marine Corps – Stephen Box

Of those listed above, three have received Purple Hearts and other medals for their actions during various wars.  Shelton Julian, the grandfather of Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen King, served in the U.S. Army during World War II.  He was assigned to the 92nd Infantry, Buffalo Division. During his service, he received the Purple Heart and one Oak Leaf Cluster.  United States District Court Judge Tom Stagg served in the U.S. Army during WWII in Europe from 1944-1946.  During his service, he received the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star for Valor, the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, and two Purple Hearts.  Steven Dupont, son of FDA Investigator Charles Dupont, served in the United States Army from 2008 until 2010 and was stationed at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Squadron, 2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany.  He was assigned to Ghostrider Company as a Forward Observer during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.  Dupont was killed in action on October 24, 2010, in Rangrizan, Afghanistan.  Specialist Dupont was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge, posthumously.  While on active duty, he received the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

The Purple Heart is given to military members who are wounded or killed in action. The Bronze Star of Valor is awarded for acts of heroism, acts of merit or meritorious service in a combat zone and is the fourth-highest combat decoration awarded to military members. The Oak Leaf Cluster denotes subsequent decorations and awards.

The U.S. Federal Courthouse in Shreveport is located at 300 Fannin Street, and U.S. Federal Courthouse in Lafayette is located at 800 Lafayette Street.  For more information, call 337-262-6618.

In addition, in recognition of Veteran’s Day, United States Attorney Finley and staff members also visited Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Shreveport on November 7, 2014.  Overton Brooks hosted a series of events that included a visit by the United States Marine Corps, a burger burn by Eighth Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, a visit from the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks basketball team, and a dedication of three memorial benches from Hillcrest Funeral Home and Centuries Memorial Funeral Home.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also attended an event hosted by the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum in Lafayette on Sunday, November 9, 2014, which featured WWII veteran Paul Hilliard.  The local museum partnered with the National WWII Museum to present a discussion about WWII events.  Mr. Hilliard shared stories of his WWII experience; the museum currently has on exhibit photographs from World War II.  To learn more, visit www.hilliardmuseum.org or call (337) 482-2278.

Updated January 30, 2015