U.S. Attorney’s Office recognizes Western District of Louisiana Veterans

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 U.S. Armed Forces with a video presentation.

The presentation features employees from the U.S. Attorney’s offices, courthouse employees and their family members in all five divisions of the District, Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria, Lake Charles and Monroe. The video will be available for public viewing from November 10th to November 20th in the lobby of the U.S. federal courthouses in Shreveport and Lafayette. There will be an honor board in all five courthouses.

“There is never enough that we can say or do that adequately thanks the men and women who have heeded the call to serve,” Finley stated. “This presentation is just a small way to honor them.  As a member of the U.S. Air Force, I am aware of how special and significant it is to have these veterans in our communities and how important it is for us to recognize their service. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their unwavering willingness to put service before self and safeguard our freedoms. This Veterans Day, I hope everyone remembers those who continue to serve. We salute them and celebrate their service to this Great Nation!”

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

United States Army - Aaron J. Broussard, F. Michael Campbell, U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, Robert W. Gillespie Jr., U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik, David C. Joseph, Deborah Ritchey Mahony, C. Vincent Mangum, Joseph T. Mickel, Howard C. Parker, Edward Prokopf, Victor Sheppard, U.S. District Judge Tom Stagg (deceased), Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart, Chris Turner and U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter.

United States Navy - Joseph G. Jarzabek, Daniel J. 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 W. Glass Sr., John S. Odom Jr., F. Michael O’Mara, Ryan Peck, Charlene Pullum, 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, Joseph R. Nolan, Michael E. Schaff and Barney W. Skipper.

United States Navy - Kyle Alwert, Thomas P. Cagney, David Cochrane, Leon Gordon Jones and John L. Witt.

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

United States Marine Corps - Stephen Box.

Of those listed above, two 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. Judge Stagg died on June 23, 2015. Steven Dupont, son of FDA Investigator Charles Dupont, served in the U.S. 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.

Information about the location of the five federal courthouses within the Western District can be found at the following link: http://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/contact-us.