The Congressional Veteran Commendation is a nominations-based program designed to recognize both the military service and community service of Veterans living in the 31st Congressional District of Texas. These honorees are exceptional Americans who served our country as a former member of the United States Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard). The nomination packet may be self-submitted by the Veteran or submitted by a nominator acting with permission on the Veteran’s behalf. A Review Board will review the packets and make recommendations to the Congressman. The 2023 Congressional Veterans Commendation recipients will be honored at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Temple College, 2600 South First Street, Temple, Texas 76504.
ELIGIBILTY: Veteran must currently reside in the 31st Congressional District of Texas which includes Bosque, Burnet, Coryell, and Hamilton counties, and parts of Bell and Williamson counties. To confirm your federal representative and congressional district, please click Find Your Representative www.house.gov. Veteran was active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or was a reservist called to active duty.
- Veteran was honorably discharged or retired from the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Veteran has demonstrated exceptional service to their community.
NOMINATION PACKET (required documents)
- TX 31 2023 Nomination Form (must be fully completed)
- Recent color photo of the Veteran (head and shoulders shot preferred).
- Copy of Veteran’s DD214.
- Support Documents (three-page maximum): copies of news clippings, military records, or photos that further identify the Veteran’s military and community service. Do not include any original documents.
PACKET DEADLINE: All nomination packets must be received by Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 5:00pm in the Belton, TX District Office. Late or incomplete packets will not be considered. Please submit to:
US Congressman John R. Carter-TX 31
ATTN: Cheryl Hassmann
2180 North Main Street (Suite 1-10)
Belton, TX 76513.
2023 Congressional Veteran Commendation Nomination Form
For more information: Email Cheryl Hassmann, Service Academy Liaison and Congressional Programs Coordinator at Cheryl.Hassmann@mail.house.gov
2022 TX-31 Congressional Veteran Commendation Award Recipients
Charles Auldridge, U.S. Navy (Leander)
Richard Arlington Briggs, Jr., U.S. Army (Killeen)
Tracey Lindette Brown Greene, U.S. Army (Harker Heights)
Carl Doering, U.S. Army (Georgetown)
Mark Erskine, U.S. Army (Temple)
Mitch Fuller, U.S. Army (Hutto)
Benny Koshy, U.S. Army (Temple)
Juan Rivera, U.S. Army (Killeen)
Glenn Towery, U.S. Navy (Round Rock)
George Willey, U.S. Navy (Austin)
2021 TX-31 Congressional Veteran Commendation Award Recipients
David Lee Maserang
Ken Cates
Theodore 'Ted' Acheson
Jim Yeonopolus
Joseph F. Kiefer, Jr.
Richard Archer
Rodney Wayne Gilchrist
Gene Worley Davenport
John E. Byrne, Jr.
Jason Shaw
2020 TX-31 Congressional Veteran Commendation Award Recipients
Charles L. Baker, U.S. Air Force (Georgetown)
Denise R. White, U.S. Coast Guard (Georgetown)
Terry L. Craig, U.S. Army (Cedar Park)
Mary Lopez-Dale, U.S. Army (Cedar Park)
Manuel Reyes, U.S. Army (Round Rock)
Wayne Hall, U.S. Army (Round Rock)
Stephanie Stoebe, U.S. Army (Round Rock)
Dan West, U.S. Marine Corps (Hutto)
Gilbert Vickers, U.S. Navy (Liberty Hill)
Jon H. Burrows, U.S. Air Force (Temple)
Edward Thomas Whittle, U.S. Army (Temple)
John D. Footman, U.S. Army (Harker Heights)
William “Bill” Shine, U.S. Army (Harker Heights)
Jim Kilpatrick, U.S. Army (Killeen)
Earl Williams, U.S. Army (Nolanville)
Jim Reed, U.S. Army (Salado)
Garland Haynes, U.S. Army (Killeen)
2019 TX-31 Congressional Veteran Commendation Award Recipients
Walter Brown - U.S. Army
Tony Dale - U.S. Army
Daniel Elswick - U.S. Army
K.C. Hawkins - U.S. Army
Edward LeBlanc - U.S. Army
John T. Potts, Jr. - U.S. Air Force
Hugh D. Shine - U.S. Army
William Simmons - U.S. Army
Anthony J. Skubi III - U.S. Army
John M.Sykes, Jr. - U.S. Army
Harlan E. "Rip" VanWinkle - U.S. Army
2018 TX-31 Congressional Veteran Commendation Award Recipients
Cynthia E. Davis - U.S. Navy
Adrienne Evans-Quickley - U.S. Army
Bill Dean - U.S. Army
Jackeline Fountain - U.S. Army
Terry Fountain - U.S. Army
Gonzalo Garza - U.S. Marine Corps
Jerry L. Kovar - U.S.Marine Corps
Martin Palmer - U.S. Army Reserve
W.C. "Pat" Patterson - U.S. Army
Julian A. Roadman - US Army Air Corps
William Simmons - U.S. Army
2017 TX-31 Congressional Veteran Commendation Award Recipients
Pete Aranda, Jr. - U.S. Army
Skip Blancett - U.S. Navy
Larry Bush - U.S. Marine Corps
Pat Christ - U.S. Army
Dennis DeWine - U.S. Army
Phillip Duprey - U.S. Army
James W. Harrell - U.S. Marine Corps
Rufus Honeycutt - U.S. Marine Corps
Barry Richard - U.S. Air Force
Gery Brent Truitt - U.S. Army
Raul G. Villaronga - U.S. Army
Will Williams - U.S. Army
2016 TX-31 Congressional Veteran Commendation Award Recipients
Troy R. Cole, Sr. - U.S. Navy
Roberto Vasquez - U.S. Marine Corps
George White - U.S. Army
Robert Halverson - U.S. Army
Donald Schliesser - U.S. Army
Otis Evans - U.S.Army
Pete Taylor - U.S. Army
Elijah King, Jr.- U.S. Army
Shirley Stephenson - U.S. Women's Army Corps
Frank Thompson - U.S. Army
2015 TX-31 Congressional Veteran Commendation Award Recipients
Albert Campbell - U.S. Army
Richard Hernandez Sr. - U.S. Army
Roosevelt Huggins - U.S. Army
Eula Mae Jett - U.S. Army
Jerri Lynn Jones - U.S. Marine Corps
Guadalupe Lopez - U.S. Army
Frank Minosky - U.S. Army
Robert Shoemaker - U.S. Army
Major Stewart - U.S. Air Force
Jim Torres - U.S. Air Force