04/20/2026
CHI Health at Home – Bismarck We Honor Veterans and Missouri River Quilts of Valor had the privilege and honor to award Vernon S. with his Quilt of Valor during his Veteran Pinning ceremony. Honored to participate in Vernon’s wrapping were his wife Violet and daughter Diane.
Vernon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 21 April 1951 and was sent to Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas, completing his basic training in June 1951. On 12 July 1951, Vernon was assigned to Kessler AFB, Biloxi Mississippi. While there he attended the “Electronics Fundamentals” course for 20 weeks. Vernon was then transferred to Lowry AFB, Denver, Colorado on 14 December 1951, where he attended 12 weeks of classes for remote control turret, gun laying weapons systems and defensive armament systems for RB-36 Aircraft. He completed this training on 17 March 1952. On 7 April 1952, Vernon reported to Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, South Dakota and was assigned to the 28th A&E Squadron. He was then sent to Lakenheath AFB in England and served there from August to December 1953. After his foreign service, Vernon returned to Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota and maintained B-36 gunnery system on R-B36 aircraft. Vernon was honorably discharged on 20 April 1955. His rank at discharge was Airman First Class (A1C) and his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was Turret System Mechanic.
Vernon earned the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He is a member of the American Legion.
“Vernon, on behalf of the United States, CHI Health at Home – Bismarck We Honor Veterans, and the Quilts of Valor Foundation, thank you for your service and sacrifices for our freedom!”