It’s been over 60 years since Terrence Huebner was killed in action in Vietnam, but his fellow Anthony Wayne High School graduates – Doug Mold, Rick Myers and Ralph Whalen – remember him well.
“In a class of 150, we all knew each other,” said Myers, as he enjoyed a special Veterans Day breakfast sponsored by the school on Nov. 5. “He was a nice guy. He was quiet, taller than most, and well-liked.”
Huebner, who was in the Army, was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969. Mold, who joined the Navy and was selected for the Seabees, served a one-year tour in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Myers was in the Army National Guard.
“The general feeling among the young men at that time was that it was our duty to serve our country,” Mold said of the trend to join the military in the 1960s.
While Whalen didn’t serve – as he was training to become a vascular surgeon – he did spend two weeks a year for five years on rotation at Landstuhl, Germany Regional Medical Center, treating soldiers who were fighting in the Middle East.
“This man supported the military and saved many soldiers’ lives,” Myers said, pointing to Whalen.
The Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the high school provided an opportunity for veterans to mingle over a hot breakfast while sharing stories of AW graduates whose names were added to the Military Wall of Honor this year.
Sharon and LeRoy Roberts attended on behalf of their grandson, Garrett Mintz, a 2019 graduate who served in the Army National Guard and is now a teacher in Tiffin. Joshua Gerity, a 2002 graduate, joined the Army in 2010, and came to the breakfast with parents Rob and 1979 graduate Tonia (Young) Gerity.
Jake Cope wore a United States Marine Corps hat and vest as he stood with his son, Brian, and daughter-in-law, Sarah Cope in front of the wall that now bears the name of his grandson, 2024 graduate Jake Cope. The younger Cope must have been inspired by his grandpa’s stories of the Marines, and decided his sophomore year to join “the few, the proud, the Marines.” He is now training at Camp Pendleton in California.
Ronda (Whitaker) Cobb, a 1978 graduate, wanted to go to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, but was selected as an alternate. Instead of waiting a year, Cobb joined the United States Merchant Marine Academy, graduating with a degree in marine engineering. While at the high school to see her name added to the wall, she shared a brochure about the USMMA with counselors, in order to inform students of the benefits – chiefly that graduates can then join any military branch as an officer.
Following the breakfast, the veterans were treated to patriotic music by the band and Close Harmony Choir and a reading of the names by Principal Jon Burke. Chris and Karen Brennan came to honor Karen’s late brother, Gary Buerk. A 1961 graduate, Buerk joined the Air Force for two years, and spent most of his life involved in community theater, including his own 3B Productions.
Seth Carmody, a 1992 graduate, was among those who stood as the band played his branch’s song. He joined the Air Force because he was in need of funding for college, Carmody said after the ceremony.
“It was a great avenue for tuition assistance. And after my first enlistment, I wanted to continue,” said Carmody, who is now the deputy director of sustainment at the 180th Fighter Wing – a place that he describes as “family oriented” and “full of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
The 180th Fighter Wing’s command chief, Master Sgt. Brian Rozick, was the guest speaker, telling the students his own story of military service that has taken him all over, eventually landing at the 180th as a firefighter, fire chief and now second in command. His job is to ensure that the 1,100 people are organized, equipped and ready to do their job at a moment’s notice, and that includes defending the nation.
“After traveling the world for 28 years, I have seen that the United States of America is by far the greatest country on the face of this planet. We have all been given a gift to be here. It doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by a lot of hard work,” Rozick said.
The United States is one of the few countries that has an all-volunteer force, and that means that it’s filled with people who want to serve. Even those who are not interested or able to serve in the military can do their part to give back, through volunteering, being politically active, being an educator – anything to keep the country moving forward, he said.
“You live in the greatest free country in the world. Work at it. Try to do something that makes this a better place,” he said.
The Anthony Wayne High School Military Wall of Honor, established in 2019 to recognize the sacrifices of AWHS alumni and employees who have served, or are actively serving in the armed forces, stands as a permanent testament to their dedication and courage, said assistant principal Stephanie Buckenmeyer. The wall now has 733 names of alumni or district staff who have served or are currently serving, arranged by decade and listing the names and branch of service.
“For all of their dedication and sacrifices, we thank them, their friends and their families,” Buckenmeyer said. “We also extend our gratitude to the troops that are currently serving both domestically and overseas.”
Names are being accepted for the 2026 Military Wall of Honor inductees. For information, email [email protected].
This year’s inductees, their graduation year and branch of service include:
Earnest James Davis, 1958, Air Force
James Young, 1958, Navy
Gary Buerk, 1961, Air Force
David Gluntz, 1964, Army
Terrence Huebner, 1964, Army
Wayne Graves, 1965, Army
William Hayes, 1966, Army
Ronda (Whitaker) Cobb, 1978, Merchant Marines
Lawrence Studer, 1978, Air Fore
Debbie (Hertzfeld) Pantle, 1979, Air Fore
Joseph Perkins, 1982, Marines
Chester Reed, 1986, Navy
LeAnne Thomas, 1987, Navy
Dawn Thomas, 1987, Navy
Seth Carmody, 1992, Air Force
Peter Smith, 1992, Air Fore
Randy Mead, 1999, Army
Joshua Gerity, 2002, Army
Dennis Ankenbrandt, 2008, Air Force
Christopher Podbielniak, 2013, Marines
Kaitlyn Casper, 2019, Air Force
Garrett Mintz, 2019, Army
Jake Cope, 2024, Marines
Abigail Rutz, 2024, Air Force
