Quilters present Quilts of Valor to Veterans
The Quilted Leaf Quilt Guild presented 9 quilts to veterans, Sunday, Jan 11, 2026 at the Wallace Legion Hall.
With over 100 people in attendance, the veterans received a quilt and also a pin if they were enlisted during the Vietnam war.
It was a very touching ceremony.
Those receiving quilts were: Rubydell Bogaert, Wendell Crothers, Donald Eggert, Don Lee, Perry Leimer, Tommy Pankonin, William Polson, Joel Phillips, and Ernest Turpin.
Rubydell Lavonne Bogaert served in the United States Air Force from 1970-1973.
Rubydell was born in the small town of Imperial, TX, as the daughter in a set of twins, their parents were Elyan and Catherine Cox.
From a young age, Rubydell knew the she was going to leave Imperial, she wanted to see the world, although it wasn’t until her Senior year of High School when she discovered her way of accomplishing that. Her twin brother enlisted in the military after Career Day at their school, she saw her chance too, she gathered the necessary paperwork for her Momma and Daddy to sign (required because she was only 17 years old!) However, her parents refused to sign for her, even after her serious temper tantrum and plenty of tears !
Life went on for Rubydell until time some passed before she, undaunted this time at 20½ years old, she started the process of testing and satisfying all the necessary requirements to join the military... actually celebrating her 21st birthday by signing on the dotted line and was inducted into the United States Air Force, shortly after she received her orders.
After Basic Training in San Antonio, TX and Tech School in Denver, CO, she received her first assignment orders in Cheyenne, WY where she worked as an Inventory Supply Specialist at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, while earning her rank of Staff Sergeant (E4).
Rubydell served proudly as part of the stateside Military Support System, supplying those who were serving in more active positions, while others were protecting our great country as the VietNam conflict was drawing to an end!
Rubydell commented that her benefits were many while in the Air Force, one of the biggest for her was meeting the man she would marry (Warren, at that time he also was serving in the Air Force) and living happily ever after while, many years of that time, raising their son, Quinton.
She was discharged in 1973 at the rank of E4
Rubydell is married to Warren Bogaert, also a United States Air Force veteran, who previously received a Quilt of Valor.
Rubydell’s quilt was made by Dee Grantham.
SP4 Wendell Crothers graduated from high school in Madrid, Nebraska. He attended college at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, majoring in Business Administration with a degree in accounting.
He was inducted into the US Army in December of 1961 and spent his basic training at Ft Carson with advanced training at Ft Leonard Wood in Missouri. He served in the General School at Ft Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. He worked in processing and preparing soldiers who attended the school for officer training during the Vietnam War.
Wendell was recognized for his honorable service with the Good Conduct medal. Upon discharge he moved to Denver, where his mother needed his help. He then continued to serve in the Army Reserve until he fulfilled his obligation in December of 1967 for a total service to his country of 6 years.
Wendell’s quilt was made by: Rubydell Bogaert
Donald Eugene Eggert served in the United States Navy from 1964-1968.
Don grew up near North Platte, NE, always loving activities in or on the water (mostly Lake McConaughey).
He enlisted in the United States Navy with original hopes of going into the Polaris Submarine Project. Plans changed a bit and Don went on to become a Fire Control Technician on the Navy ship the U.S.S. Mountrail, a Haskell-class attack Troop Transporter, also known as an APA-213, Don earned an E4 rank, as a Petty Officer 3rd Class while serving.
When Don first enlisted he was single, later on marrying his wife, Elaine (also a Nebraska native) while he was stationed in Virginia. During Don’s enlistment, he and Elaine had their first child, a daughter, who Don found out about a week or 2 after she was born... communication was a bit slower 60+ years ago.
Don shared that while he was on U.S.S. Mountrail, the ship and crew traveled from Maryland, USA to the Mediterranean Sea region including countries of Spain, Italy, Sicily, France, and Turkey, also traveling to England, Scotland, Sweden and Norway, earning a ‘Blue Nose’ certificate and while on board, during other travels on the ship, experiencing the ‘Crossing the Line’ ceremony as a rite of crossing the Equator for the first time.
When the ship was docked in port, Don was oftentimes chosen as the driver for the Captain, he shared that on one trip while he was driving on the Autobahn, it seemed as other vehicles were zooming by like as if the car that he was driving was going too slow... the Captain mentioned (from the backseat) that Don could drive faster... Don’s response was “Sir, I’m going 105 ... “ the Captain’s response “Fast Enough!”
When asked for a highlight of Don’s Navy service time, he responded that his visit to London, England was special - getting to see the history, the buildings, the sights and the beauty there.
Donald’s quilt was made by Dee Grantham.
4.Donald Eugene Lee was drafted on Dec 13, 1966 at 18 years old. He went to basic training in Ft. Bush, TX and then for 8 weeks for advanced infantry training in Ft Bliss, TX and 8 weeks at Ft Lauton, OK.
His 1st Christmas in the Army was tough for him as he missed his close family.
Don transferred to Bamberg, Germany with Heavy Artillery and patrolled the border.
He was honorably discharged Dec. 20th, 1968 at the rank of E4.
He does feel everyone should have to serve, it was good for him.
Don’s quilt was made by: Judy Hilferty
5. Perry Leimer served in the United States Navy from 1968 to 1970.
He was assigned to the USS Chicago, a Guided Missile Cruiser that served with distinction in the Vietnam War.
Perry was honorably discharged in 1970 at the rank of E3.
Perry’s Quilt of Valor was made by: Patracia Story,
6.Tommy Pankonin •Tom enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1966 and he was discharged from the service in 1970
Tom was married without children at the time that he enlisted. Tom’s position in the AF was working Ground Support
• He was stationed in Spokane, WA; Champaign, IL; Phoenix, AZ and Colorado Springs, CO. *he was also deployed to VietNam during his enlistment
While in Spokane, Tom enjoyed a trip for some Rest & Relaxation, also known as R&R, to Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii
After getting out of the Air Force, Tom said he had some regrets about not having re-enlisted. Tom’s rank at his separation from the United States Air Force was an E5 Staff Sergeant
His quilt was made by Dee Grantham.
Captain Joel Phillips of Wallace served in the United States Marine Corps from 1980-1993.
His service was during the Gulf War including Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Joel’s Duty Stations are as follows:
Served in Korea and Beirut; Quantico, Virginia; Naval air station, Pensacola, Florida; Marine Corps Air Station, Tustin California; Marine Corps air station; Kaneohe, Hawaii; and Futenma air base Okinawa, Japan.
Joel received the humanitarian service award for airlifting civilians during hurricane Ida in Hawaii in 1982. He also received the Meritorious Citation . Joel Served as a CH-53 pilot.
Joel was honorably discharged in 1993.
His Quilt of Valor was made by: Ramona Upright.
Staff Sargeant William Polson served in the United States Air Force from 1972-1976
His duty stations include Shemya AFB, Shemya, Alaska; Fairfield AFB, WA and 6 months of temporary duty at Glasgow AFB, MT as Security Police for Strategic Air Command.
He as honorably discharged in September of 1976.
His quilt was made by: Joann Schultz
Ernest C. Turpin joined the US Army in 1969. He took basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
He was sent to Vietnam where he started out as a rifleman and later went into the LRRPS, doing long range reconnaissance Patrol missions along the Cambodian border. Later on, he was among the first to enter Cambodia.
Ernest re-enlisted and went to Germany where he served 4 years.
He was then stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas and did a short time in Panama. He returned to Fort Riley where he chose to end his time in the Army.
He was honorably discharged in 1976 at the rank of E5, serving 7 years and 21 days.
Ernest’s quilt was made by: Judy Hilferty