Sgt. 1st Class Paul Frederick Morehead Jr., retired, graduated in 1984 from Parkersburg South High School, where he was in the Air Force Junior ROTC program for three years. He joined the U.S. Navy June 27, 1984, and was stationed aboard the USS Midway (CF-41) in Yokosuka, Japan, from Dec. 7, 1984, to Oct. 26, 1986.

He was then stationed aboard the USS Tripoli (LPH-10) in San Diego from Oct. 27, 1986, to April 22, 1988. He was an aviation boatswain’s mate fuel handler (ABF), aka “grapes,” fueling and defueling Naval jets and helicopters.

He was the JP-5 pump room supervisor aboard the Tripoli and made the rank of E-5 (second class petty officer) before being honorably discharged on April 22, 1988. He was in the Naval Reserve for three years.

Morehead joined the West Virginia Army National Guard on April 9, 1991. In Army Aviation, he was an aircraft power train repairer (15D MOS), where he repaired the main and tail rotor hub assemblies on all Army helicopters and was taught at Fort Eustis, Va., from Aug. 5 to Oct. 25, 1991. He reached the rank of E-7 (sergeant first class) in eight years, unheard of in the West Virginia Army National Guard.

He then became an aircraft component repair supervisor (15K 40 MOS) on Sept. 1, 1999. He supervised maintenance on aircraft components, aviation communications, avionics repair and technical inspection techniques according to technical manuals and operational policies. He became a full-time National Guard technician on Jan. 7, 1996. Because of his fuel-handling experience in the Navy, he became a fuel handler for the Guard.

Morehead refueled the President of the United States’ Marine One on three different occasions while working with Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1 Nighthawks). The helicopter was a Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King under the 43rd President, George Walker Bush (2001-2009).

He has been on several flood duties in the state as an LNO (liaison officer) and on a few military funeral honor details. He retired on April 27, 2008, with more than 23 years of service.

U.S. Navy motto: “Non sibi sed patriae!” (Not for self but country)

U.S. Army motto: “Haec protegimus!” (This we’ll defend)