10 Military Service Members The #MountainTribe Wants You To Remember On Memorial Day

10 Military Service Members The #MountainTribe Wants You To Remember On Memorial Day

Posted by Chelsea Nickerson on 28th May 2017

At The Mountain one of the only things we’re more proud of than our t-shirts, is our customers.

The Mountain Tribe is filled with extraordinary people, and we can’t begin to express how grateful we are for each and every person who decides to purchase our apparel, so when we get the chance to honor them we seize the opportunity with both hands.

Earlier this month we asked our customers to share with us the military service members in their lives, so that we could help commemorate them on Memorial Day. The following men and women are just a handful of the soldiers submitted. Please take a moment to read about their contributions to our country and remember their sacrifices in honor of Memorial Day.

The full list of names submitted can be seen on our Memorial Day Dedication page. Thank you to all who participated.

If your loved one was randomly selected to be featured on our 2017 Limited Edition Memorial Day T-shirt and you would like to purchase additional shirts it is now available here.

1St. Lt. Salvatore S. Corma 

“Sal was one of the nicest people on this earth. Selfless and compassionate, he held his men and himself to a higher standard. He was always positive and determined to finish any job. He helped with anything a human could and beyond anyone that needed help. He was willing to put himself in harm's way to keep his man safe. He was a true soldier of GOD. Sal's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Nato Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Basic Parachutist’s Badge and Ranger Tab.”

-Submitted by Dumitru Tomsa

Anthony Waring

“Private Anthony Waring, service number 5716163. His unit was the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He was killed in action on the 16th of June, 1969, in South Vietnam. He was 21, a year younger than I am now. He was my grandfather who gave up his life in the line of duty in the Vietnam War. We are Australian, not American, but I still honor his memory and sacrifice every day. My father was born while he was away in Vietnam and he died before he got a chance to meet him. I never met the man, and unfortunately know little about him, but he is a hero in my eyes all the same. He is on the left in the picture.”

- Submitted by Mark Stephens

Clarence Kenneth Brashar

“Served in WWI, wounded in France and his neighbors letters were returned marked KIA, so his broken-hearted family moved west. After a long recovery, he returned home to find his family had moved on. He started west to look for them and stopped in NM when he met my grandmother.”

- Submitted by Rachel Kafer

Colonel William Post

“My father is my hero. He spent 33 years in the Army. Started out as an NCO and retired as a Colonel. He did 2 tours in Vietnam as a Green Beret and a chopper pilot. He also did one tour in Operation Desert Storm. He overcame a massive stroke and prostate cancer. Finally, liver cancer claimed him on December 19th, 2016. He was a true warrior and my kind loving daddy, my hero. I miss him everyday.”

- Submitted by Sean Post

Elmer Lewis

“My dad's dad was always funny. I remember whenever we went to visit he would give the biggest hugs that would squish you to death. No matter whether you had just gotten there or were leaving. It was great to hear him tell stories from WWII. He would tell you when the history documentaries were wrong, and he would argue with the TV. The picture is of him in his uniform back in the the day.”

- Submitted by Rebeccah Carley

Petty Officer 2 James M. Wheeler

“Kasten, Sergeant Kory A. (affectionately known as Captain K), 43, died peacefully surrounded by his family and friends on April 27, 2017, in St. Louis, Missouri. Kory was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Alice and Ed Kasten. He graduated from Oakville High School in 1990, and immediately enlisted in the Marines proudly serving his country from 1991 to 1994. He married Kate Moeckel in 2006 and became the proud father of Jonathan and Zoe. Kory is survived by his wife Kate, son Jonathan, daughter Zoe, and sisters Natasha Baker and Kerry Kasten. He was known by all for the Big Love he spread and for his unwavering courage during his difficult battle; never once focusing on the negative but always finding a way to stay positive.”

- Submitted by Kelly Pressler

Sgt Randy Jay Matheny

"Randy's older sister joined the Nebraska National Guard in 2002, and in 2003 her unit deployed to Iraq. When she returned 12 months later, she convinced Randy to join as well. Never one to miss a challenge, he did join, and in 2006 they both were deployed to Iraq in different units. Staff Sgt Karen Matheny returned home, Randy did not. Sgt Randy Jay Matheny was killed on February 4, 2007 of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad while in support of Operation Iraqi freedom. His sister said Randy wanted to out-do her, and he sure did by giving the ultimate sacrifice…"

- Submitted by Jan Collins, proud mother 

Harold S. Gagnon Sr

“My grandfather, Harold Stanley Gagnon Sr, was born March 21, 1925 and died December 26, 1996. He was a member of the United States Army. He served in World War II. He was in the 375th Infantry and the 90th "tough ombre" division. He earned a Purple Heart and 2 bronze stars. Best father and grandfather you could ask for.”

- Submitted by Nina F Richards

Gerald L. Maxwell

“I grew up listening to my dad's stories about the Navy. Not all of them were sunny, but they were certainly never boring. He enlisted during the Vietnam era voluntarily. Even though he was an only child, he was turned down for the draft. Dad didn't have to go into service, but he wanted to. He was never one to brag, and always very humble, but dad had an ornery sense of humor, and it was infectious. He told the best stories, and was never afraid to laugh at himself, often in a hilarious but maybe too honest manner. I miss his stories more and more these last 5 years now that he's been gone. I don't believe I'll ever stop.”

- Submitted by Tina Maxwell-Smith


The Mountain’s Memorial Day Dedication is in partnership with Operation Hat Trick, a non-profit committed to helping wounded service members and Veterans in need. 

A portion of proceeds from each Hero Collection t-shirt sold goes directly to Operation Hat Trick, and today, in honor of Memorial Day, we’ll be doubling those donations.

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Operation Hat Trick Hero Collection