Breaking News
Local News

Washington County Veterans Hall of Fame inducts 8, bestows awards

By Evan Bevins 4 min read

MARIETTA - Retired Army Gen. Robert Brooks Brown made his first visit to Washington County this weekend, giving the keynote address at the Veterans Service Commission Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Now serving as president and CEO of the Association of the United States Army, Brown retired as a four-star general and commander of the U.S. Army, Pacific. That's where the patch on his jacket shoulder, depicting a red arrow through a field of blue and multiple constellations, comes from.

The same patch was on the shoulder of Beverly-Waterford area resident Francis Sampson, from his service in the Pacific Theater in World War II.

"You look much better in your uniform than I do in mine," Brown said.

Sampson was one of eight area veterans inducted into the Hall of Fame, two posthumously, at Sunday's ceremony at the Tower Event and Conference Center in Marietta. The county Veterans Service Commission also bestowed multiple awards for people and groups in the community that have served veterans.

Brown was invited to speak at the event by state Rep. Kevin Ritter, R-Marietta, whose father Ray was Brown's high school basketball coach. Brown was later recruited to play for Army by legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski and went on to a decorated military career.

Brown spoke Sunday of the importance of "selfless service" exemplified by the inductees. He said he was impressed by the way the community honors its veterans.

"I really haven't seen a county that does what Washington County ... does," he said.

The Hall of Fame not only takes into account a veteran's service in the military but the way they continued to serve their community and fellow veterans. The 2026 inductees were:

* Sgt. John R. Brant (deceased), who served in the Navy during the final year of World War II and in the Army during the early phase of the Korean War, where he earned the Korean Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars. He later worked at Union Carbide in Marietta and was a member of the American Legion.

* Master Sgt. Brian M. Davis, a 22-year veteran of the West Virginia Army National Guard who served in combat in Iraq from 2007-08 and is an active member of the Belpre Area Veterans.

* Staff Sgt. Jack G. Haas, a retired West Virginia Army National Guard member who earned multiple decorations and also served as a volunteer firefighter and leader in Disabled American Veterans Pioneer City Chapter 52.

* Technician 5th Grade James E. Hanna (deceased), who served with the 14th Infantry Regiment, 71st Infantry Division, during World War II and earned three Bronze Stars for acts of heroism and gave back to his community while serving as president, CEO and chairman of the Central Trust Company of Southeastern Ohio.

* Cpl. Robert W. Hockenberry, who earned the Good Conduct Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon as a member of the Marine Corps before supporting a host of efforts serving veterans and his community in Washington County.

* Sgt. Ronald D. Pfile, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and held leadership roles in local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, as well as being a volunteer firefighter and Scoutmaster.

* Sampson, a 101-year-old who served honorably in the Army Medical Corps in the Pacific during World War II and has helped in various capacities around the Beverly-Waterford community.

* Capt. James N. Waybright, who commanded Bravo Company, 3/506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in the Vietnam War, earning multiple decorations including two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, then helped reunite members of the company in later years.

Community awards went to the Washington County Sheriff's Office as Veterans Employer of the Year, Westlake Dimex and Wilky's Sports Bar as Veterans Partners of the Year and KMA Auto for the Veterans Community Service Award.

The two biggest honors were the Washington County Distinguished Service Award, which was presented to Nancy Higgins, who has supported local veterans in a variety of ways, including playing "Taps" at veterans' funerals, and Petty Officer 1st Class Larry B. Woods, whose role as commander of AMVETS Post 1788 in Marietta is one of many ways he has supported his fellow veterans.

"Larry is known for showing up wherever veterans need him - and even when we don't," Veterans Service Commissioner Jared Smith joked while introducing him.

Woods called the honor "very humbling.

"I wasn't expecting it, didn't think I deserved it," he said.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

Starting at /week.