On November 11th, let us remember all of our veterans, past and present. We especially remember those State Police members who gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country:

Tpr. Earl R. Wilkinson – Troop A – May 24, 1942 – Second Lieutenant Wilkinson was on active duty with the United States Army Air Corps when his bomber crashed in a swamp near Houlton, Maine.

Tpr. Peter J. Formosa – Troop B – January 13, 1943 – Staff Sergeant Formosa died as a result of a military auto accident at Hempstead, New York. He was assigned to the U.S. Army, 826^th Guard Squadron, Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York.

Tpr. William C. “Milt” Ratner – Troop C – July 11, 1943 – First Lieutenant Ratner was killed in action over Sicily, Italy, during a bombing mission.

Tpr. Bryant P. Stickles – Troop C (BCI) – September 11, 1944. – Marine Sergeant Stickles was assigned to coordinate the advances of two combat units on the Island of Saipan and was attempting to reach one unit from the other when he was killed by an enemy sniper.

Tpr. William O. Johnson – Troop B – April 12, 1945 – Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Johnson was killed in action as a result of a Kamikaze attack while serving aboard the USS Rall in the South Pacific.

Tpr. Charles E. Hover – Troop G – June 5, 1945 – First Lieutenant Hover died in a plane crash over northern Italy.

Tpr. John J. McKenna IV – Troop F – August 16, 2006 – Captain McKenna left a covered and concealed location and attempted to render aide to a fallen solider when he was killed by enemy sniper fire outside the Iraqi city of Fallujah. He was a member of the United States Marine Corps as served as Platoon Commander of Company B, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. For his actions that day, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

Also, to those former members of the State Police who gave their lives in defense of their country:

Arthur J. Nealon – Troop B – October 26, 1951-Captain Nealon was a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was killed in action while fighting the enemy in North Korea.  He had resigned from the State Police and joined the NYPD – 52 Pct.

Alfred F. Simpson – Troop K – August 9, 1967 – Marine Lance Corporal Simpson was killed in action in Vietnam. He had been a member of Troop K from 1955 – 56.  He was a Korean War veteran and was the recipient of three purple hearts.

Anthony A. Kaiser – Troop C – March 17, 2007- Specialist Kaiser was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade.  He died of wounds from small-arms fire after his unit encountered enemy forces in Baghdad, Iraq.  He had resigned from the State Police in 2005 and joined the Army.