First Bank partnered with the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight (GSLHF) and the St. Louis Blues for “First Bank’s Tribute to the Greatest Generation” honoring World War II veterans and “First Bank’s Tribute to Soldiers Not Forgotten” honoring those who served during the Korean War. Throughout the St. Louis Blues hockey season, we pay tribute to a different veteran each month. The veterans are proudly introduced to cheering fans. Our goal is to not only honor these veterans but to raise awareness of the Honor Flight program. First Bank makes a donation to GSLHF each time the Blues score first and every time the team wins during the regular season. As a result, First Bank made a $8748 donation to GSLHF during the 2018-2019 season.
Helen Kevrick (First Sergeant, U.S. Marine)
First Sergeant Helen Kevrick served in the Marine Corps from 1953 to 1956. She was one of the first two women to go through drill instructor school with men.
Jesse Anderson (Sergeant, U.S. Army)
Sergeant Jesse Anderson served in the Army from 1947-1952. During one of the major Korean War battles, he was wounded and received the Purple Heart.
Vincent Boemer (Corporal, U.S. Army)
Corporal Vincent Boemer served in the Phillipines during WWII and was awarded a purple heart.
Alfred Villagran (Tech Sergeant, U.S. Army)
Tech Sergeant Alfred Villagran was stationed in Thurleigh, England as part of the 369 Bomb Squadron, having flown on 35 missions.
Marshall Phillips (Corporal, U.S. Army)
Corporal Marshall Phillips was stationed in Italy during WWII and aside from delivery of medical supplies to troops, he had the job of delivering bodies of soldiers to an American cemetery to be buried.
Raymond Sutton (Petty Officer, U.S. Navy)
Mr. Sutton served in the Navy from 1949-1956 and through the Korean War. He was assigned to the USS Lewis (DE-535) where he was on-board for four years. He credits his "good angel" for staying with him and keeping him safe through the war.
Charles Riva (Tech Sergeant, U.S. Army)
Mr. Riva served in the Army as a Tech Sergeant from 1943-1945 during World War II. He received an arm wound from a mortar by Japanese forces. He received a Purple Heart because of the injury even though he says it was "just a scratch".
Jose Salazar (Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine)
Mr. Salazar served in the Marine Corps as a Staff Sergeant (SSGT) from 1949-1952 during the Korean War. He went to cooking school at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and then served in the Chosin Reservoir in the frigid mountains of North Korea. The men in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir saw the fiercest fighting of the entire war.
Bill Loftus (Sergeant, U.S. Army)
Sergeant Bill Loftus was in the 10th Corps, 200th Armored Field Battalion, 8th Army during the Korean War. Mr. Lofuts' unit followed the infantry on the front lines in many of the major battle sites including the Punchbowl, Bunker Hill, Bloody Ridge, and Heartbreak Ridge. He was the commander of an open self-propelled track unit.
David Fullgraf (Captain, U.S. Air Force)
Mr. Fullgraf served in the Army Air Corps and was a pilot on a B-24 Liberator in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. During the Korean War, he served in the Air Force as a pilot on a RB-36 Peacemaker, attached to the 72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron.
Ruby Foster (U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps)
Ms. Foster was in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. She chose to serve at St. Louis City Hospital. At that time, 80% of the nurses staffing civilian hospitals were Cadet Nurses!
Ralph Goldsticker (2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force)
Mr. Goldsticker (“Goldyâ€) worked in a dry goods store when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
Laurence Lumpe (Private 1st Class, U.S. Army)
Mr. Lumpe was assigned to the American Graves Registration and was sent to what is now Florence, Italy.
Gregory Lopez (Corporal, U.S. Army)
Mr. Lopez was attached to the 348th Combat Engineering Battalion when he was sent to join the amphibious forces of the US Army, the 5th Engineering Special Brigade, which specialized in sea landings.
Anthony Saputo (2nd Class, U.S. Navy)
Mr. Saputo was attached to the Seabees and was assigned to help build and repair parts of France including an orphanage and an air field.
Gordon Smith (Machinist Mate 2nd Class, U.S. Navy)
Mr. Smith survived the attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
John Wren (2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Army)
Second Lieutenant John Wren was with the 461st bomb group in the 15th Air Force stationed at Torretta Field in Italy.
Roland Gantt (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army)
WWII Veteran and Master Sgt Roland Gantt was featured during First Bank’s Tribute to the Greatest Generation at the St. Louis Blues game.
Warren Nelson (1st Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force)
A very humble Mr. Nelson said that the heroes of the Pacific were the Marines who took over the islands.
Frank Fontana (Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army)
94 year old Technical Sergeant;Frank Fontana was a member of the first MASH group ever formed.
Grace Steck (1st Lieutenant, Army Nurse)
First Bank Honor Flight - A Tribute to Army Nurse Corps First Lieutenant Grace Steck.
Jerome Huelsman (Corporal, U.S. Army)
First Bank has the privilege to escort WWII veteran Jerome Huelsman and his family to the Blues game.
Raymond Dierkes (Ship Fitter 2nd Class, US Navy)
First Bank and the St. Louis Blues had the privilege of escorting 93 year old WWII veteran Raymond Dierkes and family to the game.
Joseph Kuc (Sergeant, US Army)
First Bank - A Tribute to Joe Kuc US Army Sergeant.
Edward Olszewski (Aviator, US Navy)
First Bank - A Tribute To Naval Aviator Edward Olszewski.
James and William Luttrell (Sergeant, US Marine)
First Bank and the St. Louis Blues had the privilege of escorting James and William Luttrell and family to the game.
Harold Rathmann (First Sergeant, US Army)
First Bank Honor Flight - A Tribute to Harold Rathmann US Army First Sergeant.
Harriet McGuire (Nurse, US Navy)
First Bank - A Tribute To Naval Nurse Harriet McGuire.
Bud Jolley (Corporal, US Marine)
Tribute to the greatest generation - Bud Jolley.
Jim Thorpe (Corporal, US Marine)
Watch a tribute to Marine Corporal Jim Thorpe.
Wilbur Robins (Seaman First Class, US Navy)
First Bank - A Tribute To Navy Seaman Wilbur Robins.
Joe Brader (Private First Class, US Army)
Honor Flight - Joe Brader.
Robert Hale (Sergeant, US Army)
A tribute for Sergeant Robert Hale.
Robert Bareford (Sergeant, US Army)
First Bank - A Tribute To Sergeant Robert Bareford.
Max Zebelman (Medic, US Army)
HonorFlight - Max Zebelman.
Howard Pruett (Sergeant Major, US Army)
A tribute to the brave Sergeant Major Pruett.
Don Johnson (Radio Operator, U.S. Navy)
Honor Flight - Don Johnson.
Bill Bruns (Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army)
Tribute to Staff Sergeant Bruns.
Charles Kohler (Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine)
First Bank - A Tribute To Sergeant Charles Kohler.