Jace Showalter: US Army

Jace is the grandson of Jeffrey Dolan Littrell(USAF Ret.) and the great-great-great grandson of John and Kizzie Littrell.

With the enlistment of Jace on July 3rd, 2017 a family tradition of military service that goes back 241 years continues.

Jace is at least the 36th family member to serve in the military since the beginning of World War II. Beginning with the 7 sons and son-in-laws of John and Kizzie who served their descendants account for 73 years of unbroken military service. Starting with Red, OJ, Jesse, Bordie and JD (World War II) and continuing with Blaine Davis, Garrett Littrell, Steven Johnson, Angela & Joel Paff and now Jace, today and into the future…

Jace took his basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and his MOS training at Goodfellow AFB where he is presently stationed.

Over the last 72 years, covering 5 generations. From 1942 to 2017 there has always been a descendant (family member) of John & Kizzie Littrell in the military.

originally posted 11-11-17

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Steven Johnson: US Navy

Steven is a great-great-grandson of John & Kizzie,
and the grandson of Jessie Dolan and Theola Littrell

Facebook response from Deanna Littrell Johnson:
“Yes my son is now a Navy Reservist with a Marine unit scheduled to deploy Dec. 7th to Afghanistan. He has already done 2 tours in Iraq and the sad thing is he has 2 small children one only 7 weeks old and he won't even be home for her 1st birthday!”

(Steven is 7th from the left in the back.)

Steven is currently deployed with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 15 in Afghanistan.                                        5-31-13

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NMCB 15 leaders participate in Convoy Simulator Training.
Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Garas:

“NMCB 15 is currently mobilized to Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, executing pre-deployment homeport training in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and is an expeditionary element of U.S. Naval Forces that act as civil engineers and support various units worldwide through national force readiness, humanitarian assistance, and building and maintaining infrastructure…”   Read more

 

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NMCB 15 departs for it’s final deployment.
3-18-13   Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Garas

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. – “Elements from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 15, based in Belton Mo., departed today for its final deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

After the battalion returns, it will be decommissioned Oct. 1, 2013, and it’s members will be assigned to other construction battalions.

…During the past three months, the battalion trained to complete various tasks to demonstrate proficiency in civil engineering operations and combat support and successfully completed their Final Evaluation Problem (FEP), in late February. FEP is a graded evolution used to train and evaluate Seabees on various scenarios they may face.

“Our main job is to keep the people who do the kinetic fight completely enabled,” said Church. “Our main job is to build bases, primary force support and protection to keep the warfighters fighting.”

Seabees are a critical engineer element to International Security Assistance Force assisting the Afghan National Army to conduct effective engineer operations. During homeport NMCB 15 was exposed to extensive Afghan language and culture classes in order to increase its operational effectiveness….”           Read complete article

NMCB 15 arrives in Afghanistan
4-12-13   Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Garas

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan –Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 15, headquartered out of Belton Mo., arrived in Afghanistan earlier in April to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

As the International Security Assistance Force continues to drawdown, NMCB 15, operating under the recently coined name “Task Force True Grit”, is spearheading engineering retrograde operations.

“We just won’t be in one forward operating base,” said Commander Anthony Spinler, NMCB 15’s Commanding Officer. “Whether it is a squad of twelve or a large detachment of 100 or more, we tailor ourselves to the task at hand. That’s one of the things that make Seabees unique.”

Upon mission tasking, the Operations Department task tailors’ each project into detachments by supported commander priority, deploying to locations throughout the area of operations to support a wide-variety of engineering operations.

Spinler added that this deployment will be different from a standard one in that the number of tasks is greater and that Seabees will be continuously formed into new teams.

“The missions are a lot shorter,” said Spinler. “They may only be on a job for two weeks before they return and then reorganize into a new build-team.”

“I think this deployment will be exciting,” said Construction Mechanic 1st Class Justin Bohaty. “The opportunity to work on many jobs with different people will break-up the monotony and avoid complacency.“

While deployed, NMCB 15 will be tasked with completing numerous projects in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, including the drilling of water-wells, camp maintenance and various deconstruction projects.

NMCB 15 is currently deployed as part of the joint U.S. Theater Engineer Brigade in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and is an expeditionary engineering element of U.S. Naval forces supporting units worldwide through national force readiness, humanitarian assistance, and building and maintaining infrastructure.     Original article

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The above information is from: Military Role Call: The Littrell Family of Mississippi County, Missouri, The Littrell Family Journals Volume IV. (click here)
also:  Littrell Family Veterans Video

reposted from 2016:   159/189

Joel & Angela (Cross) Pfaff: US Air Force

Angela is a great-great-granddaughterof John & Kizzie, and the granddaughter
of Darlene Thurman.

She is also the great-granddaughter of Bordie Thurman, who served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, as well as the husband of Joel Pfaff, currently serving in the Air Force.
Angela served from 7-11-2001 to 2-25-13 (11.7 years), she was a Technical Sergeant serving in the Medical Service (Health Services Admin.) when discharged.
Angela is not only the family's first female service-person, but her and Joel are also the family's first husband and wife team to serve in the military.
Angela served from 7-11-2001 to 2-25-13 (11.7 years), she was a Technical Sergeant serving in the Medical Service (Health Services Admin.) when discharged.
•7-11-2001 – Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX.
•12-5-2001 – McChord Air Force Base, WA
•10-17-2007 – Dyess Air Force Base, TX from 17 Oct 2007 to 20 Jan 2012.
•1-21-2012 – Kadena Air Base,

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Joel is the husband of Angela who is a great-great-granddaughter of John & Kizzie.
Joel is currently on duty at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan as a Loadmaster for the MC-130.
•7-11-2001 – Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX.
•12-5-2001 – McChord Air Force Base, WA
•10-17-2007 – Dyess Air Force Base, TX from 17 Oct 2007 to 20 Jan 2012.
•1-21-2012 – Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan from 21 Jan 2012 to 25 Feb 2013.

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The above information is from: Military Role Call: The Littrell Family of Mississippi County, Missouri, The Littrell Family Journals Volume IV. (click here)
also:  Littrell Family Veterans Video

reposted from 2016:   82/123

Garret Littrell: US Army

	Garrett is the son of Kathy & Gary Littrell (also a veteran), grandson of Jesse Littrell and great-grandson of John & Kizzie.
Garrett Littrell
He recently returned from Kuwait were he was serving with the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade at  Camp Buehring (formerly Camp Udairi), Kuwait.	Components from Camp Buehring conducted joint exercises with the USS Benfold  in the Arabian Gulf. Garrett’s cousin (2nd cousin, once removed) Blane Scott Davis was stationed on the USS Benfold.

The areas surrounding Camp Buehring, known as the Udairi Range Complex, are largely uninhabited, save for a few nomadic Bedouin tribes raising camels, goats, and sheep.

35th Combat Aviation Brigade - Sedalia

Over 130 Soldiers from the brigade trained for 30 days in preparation for deployment. Training  included weapons qualification, mass casualty, media engagement, negotiations, movement operations, mine awareness, and much more. After completion of pre-mobilization, the Soldiers  continued training at Fort Hood, Texas, before traveling to Kuwait.

“The 35th Combat Aviation Brigade units fly AH-64A Apache attack helicopters, OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopters, UH-60 Blackhawks utility headquarters, C-23 Sherpa cargo plains and C-12 Huron transport planes. The 35th Combat Aviation Brigade deploys to an area of responsibility to provide command, control, staff planning and supervision of combat aviation brigade operations. The brigade's units are capable of performing unit, intermediate and depot-level aviation maintenance. Missouri is one of only five locations in the U.S. with the capability to perform depot-level aviation maintenance.”

While deployed (for 1 year), the brigade’s mission was to be the command and control headquarters for the aviation elements in Kuwait.

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - The 35th Combat Aviation Brigade conducted a ceremonial event, awarding the combat patch, while currently deployed to a combat theater Aug. 29, 2012 here at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.
Awarding the combat patch or shoulder sleeve insignia to wear on the upper right shoulder of the Army combat uniform denotes the wartime service of the 35th CAB.
The 35th CAB was reorganized under the 35th ID, January 2009. This is a monumental achievement to be awarded the 35th ID “Santa Fe” patch. It symbolizes a unit with rich heritage and honor, as the veterans before were heroes and fought victorious over the German Nazis.
For many soldiers this is the first time they have been awarded a combat patch. It is a great tradition and as combat veterans the soldiers of the 35th CAB are authorized permanent wear of the SSI of 35th ID for as long as they wear the uniform.
The 35th CAB is stationed here in Kuwait to build and maintain partnerships in the region in order to support stability and security; it is the distinct honor to provide such service to our country and the great state of Missouri.
Follow the 35th CAB on Facebook .

35th CAB soldiers return home

Sedalia News-Journal (Sedalia, Missouri) May 1, 2013 Local

“A total of 123 soldiers with the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade were welcomed home at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 1 after spending nearly a year deployed in Kuwait in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom.”

A brief, but special ceremony in their honor was held at 10:30 a.m. at the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Guest speaker was Gov. Jay Nixon, who thanked the soldiers for their service. Maj. General Steve Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, also addressed the soldiers and thanked them for their sacrifices. Sedalia Mayor Elaine Horn also attended the ceremony and welcomed the soldiers home just before they were reunited with their families.

Upon their arrival in Sedalia, the Missouri National Guard soldiers, led by Col. Mark L. McLemore, 35th CAB commander, were greeted and thanked by supporters lined up along Thompson Boulevard while three buses (two Arrow tour buses and one smaller bus), accompanied by Sedalia Police and combat vets riding motorcycles, made their way to the fairgrounds from Whiteman AFB.

	from the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade

The above information is from: Military Role Call: The Littrell Family of Mississippi County, Missouri, The Littrell Family Journals Volume IV. (click here)
also:  Littrell Family Veterans Video

sources:

• sedalia News-Journal
• DVIDS 
• 35th CAB on Facebook .  
• joint exercises

reposted from 2016:   228

Blaine Scot Davis: US Navy

Blaine is the grandson of Billy & Alberta Davis and great-great-grandson of John & Kizzie. Blaine is a third generation sailor following in the footsteps of his grandfather Jesse Lee Davis, and his grandfather Billy Davis.
Blaine Scott Davis served in the US Navy, (2008-2013) aboard the Destroyer, USS Benfold as a CTTs or Technical Cryptologic Technicians???

In 2012 Blaine and the USS Benfold were in Bahrain: ”Arabian Gulf -and conducted joint exercises with components from Camp Buehring in Kuwait. Blaine’s cousin (2nd cousin, once removed) Garrett Littrell was stationed at Camp Buehring in Kuwait at the time.

BENFOLD conducted independent Ballistic Missile Defense deployment to FIFTH and SEVENTH Fleet that included tracking the launch of a North Korean Ballistic Missile. BENFOLD also participated in numerous exercises that included coordinating nearly a dozen Coalition aircraft for MCM Defense, as well as exercises for Maritime Infrastructure Defense, and Strike Warfare.

”Arabian Gulf - Guided-missile Destroyer USS BENFOLD (DDG 65) conducted the first annual BENFOLD 100 Cable Run in support of Wounded Warrior Project.”  from the Benfold’s website (click here)

“To those who make things like this happen, bringing the family together, remembering those lost, not present and for the family we love. Thank you. I read this and it made my day. It's good to know I have a great family back home and that even the ones I've never met are backing me. I hope to make it to one of the reunions soon!” -Blaine Davis            October 27, 2012

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USS Benfold, returning! Welcome home, shipmates  [12-19-2012]

“…BENFOLD and her crew are eastbound to homeport San Diego, CA where she will receive a Combat Systems modernization upgrade in 2013. CDR Rich LeBron (Commanding Officer of USS BENFOLD) remarked “We look forward to returning to the Gulf after our SRA. BEN will return to Fifth Fleet just as we left it: 100% Ready, 100% of the Time!”
BENFOLD is an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer, assigned to Destroyer Squadron ONE. She is returning to her homeport of San Diego, CA after a 7 month independent Ballistic Missile Defense deployment to FIFTH and SEVENTH FLEET’s…” READ MORE

BENFOLD conducting Diving OPS in the CAG. (Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jayme Pastoric

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The above information is from: Military Role Call: The Littrell Family of Mississippi County, Missouri, The Littrell Family Journals Volume IV. (click here)
also:  Littrell Family Veterans Video

reposted from 2016:   63