United States Air Force 2006-2012

Joshua Weston

Joining the USAF directly out of high school, Josh entered at 18 years old and was a C-17 loadmaster out of Charleston AFB. Over his 6 years, he received his instructor and airdrop qualifications, traveled to 54 countries, received multiple air medals, received OEF and OIF campaign medals, and left the active duty military as an E-5 (staff sergeant).
He and his wife have lived in Dallas, GA since 2020 and he is the owner of Weston Tree Service. 

United States Army 1972-1975

Kenneth Richard

Donated by the American Legion Post 111

United States Army 1980-1983

Linda Rogers

Army E5 Buck Sergeant

United States Navy 1949-1953

Loran Wills

Served aboard the USS Antietam during the Korean War. 

United States Navy 1985-1989

Matthew M Jones 

OS3 . Served on the USS Canesteo AO-99

United State Army 1969-1972

Michael Jerry Waddell

Michael served in the army and fought in the Vietnam War. He led his troops into battle putting himself first in line for combat. He received many medals for his bravery and sacrifices. Amongst his many awards and medals were the Purple Heart and Medal of Honor. Michael was shot in 9 different areas of his body but yet still lived to tell about his combat days. He lived a very Patriotic live until the age of 65. He was a part of the Shriners and Masons. He had 6 children and so many grandchildren even he could not keep count. He was a native to Paulding County where he left behind a plethora of family and friends.

United State Marine Corps 1968-1971

Mike Smith

Mike Honorably served as a MP and was stationed on Paris Island , South Carolina, during the Vietnam War. Mike married my sister Shirley and has been my brother for 58 years. Like a Marine he is always there when I need him. We love ya Smitty! Thank you for your service.

United State Army 1969-1971

Mike Tibbetts

Army Military Police

United States Army 1972-1974

Ned Lester

Donated by the American Legion Post 111

United States Air Force 2011 - Present

Nicholas Banks

He grew up in Dallas and is a graduate of Paulding County High School class of 2009.

United States Air Force 1979-1983

Rocky Tolbert

Donated by the American Legion Post 111

United States Army 1985-1993

Ron Burnette

Ron served as a military policeman and was the personal bodyguard for the four star general who oversaw Europe.  He lived in Germany from 1985-1988.  

United States Army 1943-1945

Roy H. Carder

Donated by the American Legion Post 111
Bronze Star
WW2

United States Marine Corps 1943-1951

Russom Lester

US Marine Corps SSGT. Served in WWII and Korean War. Born 5/28/1925, Died 4/30/1983.  Wife is Hallie Hutchens Lester. Son is Tony Lester. Mother is Louise Russom Lester. 

United States Navy 2025 - Present

Rylan Holden

Rylan Holden was born in Cobb County and grew up in Dallas, GA until he moved to Alabama in Middle School. Rylan is currently serving in the US Navy

Active United States Army

Sabrina Stockton

Donated by the American Legion Post 111

United States Navy 2011-2016

Stuart K Jones

Petty office 3rd class. Rank MMN3. CVN 72 Abraham Lincoln and CVN 65 USS Enterprise

United States Air Force 1991-2014

Tammy Cole

Donated by the American Legion Post 111

United States Army

Taylor Phillips

Korean War

Donated by the American Legion Post 111

United States Navy 1962-1966

Terry Jones

PT 3 served at NAS Norfolk VA

United States Army 2000-2005

Terry Jones

Served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; medically discharged due to injuries sustained during wars

United States Army 1942-1946

Tom Watson Rowell

Donated by the American Legion Post 111

United States Navy 1943-1944

W.G. "Pug" Austin

Donated by the American Legion Post 111. 

United States Army 1960-1962

Wayne Kirby

Kirby is a lifelong resident of Dallas. He served as a MP in the US Army and was stationed in Germany.

United States Navy 1963-1990

Wendell O. Rakestraw

Donated by the American Legion Post 111

United States Navy 1951-1954

Wilbur Rakestraw

Donated by the American Legion Post 111

United States Army

William Eugene Ayers

William E. “Billy” Ayers was a graduate of Dallas High School in 1966 and in May 1968 he was
drafted into the United States Army. Billy received his Basic and AIT at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He
then attended NCO School at Fort Benning, Georgia. From here to Fort Gordon, Georgia and
then to Vietnam where he arrived the first of May 1969.
For the next eleven months Billy served in combat in all areas of Vietnam. He distinguished
and brought credit to his unit in the receiving of the Combat Infantry Badge, two Army
Commendation Medals with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Air Medal, two Bronze Stars Medals with
Oak Leaf Cluster and “V” device, Silver Star, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal,
and his unit, Company C, 2d Battalion 28th Infantry, received the Vietnam Civic Action Award
“Unit”.
In presenting the Silver Star, Colonel A.G. Hume, Chief of Staff, recognized Billy “for gallantry
in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in
the Republic of Vietnam: On this date, Sergeant Ayers was serving with his on a counter-
insurgency operation in an area of unknown enemy activity. As the friendly unit maneuvered
through the treacherous region, it was suddenly subjected to intense hostile automatic
weapons and grenade fire from several well-concealed enemy bunkers. Disregarding his
personal safety, Sergeant Ayers exposed himself to hurl grenades into enemy placements. His
courageous initiative silenced several enemy positions and enabled his comrades to move to
more secure locations. His exemplary professionalism significantly contributed to the success of
the encounter. Staff Sergeant Ayers ‘ unquestionable valor in close  combat against hostile
forces is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon
himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.”
In receiving The Air Medal, Billy was recognized for “distinguishing himself by meritorious
achievement, while participating in sustained aerial flight, in support of combat ground forces
in the Republic of Vietnam. During the period of 9 July 1969 to 9 November 1969 he actively
participated in more than twenty-five aerial missions over hostile territory in support of
counter-insurgency operations. During all of these flights, he displayed the highest order of air
discipline and acted in accordance with the traditions of the service. By his determination to
accomplish his mission, despite of the hazards inherent in repeated aerial flights over hostile
territory, and by his outstanding degree of professionalism and devotion to duty, he has
brought credit upon himself, his organization, and the United States Army.”
In the book “Charlie Company”, which according to its authors Pete Goldman and Tony
Fuller, “is about sixty-five of those nearly forgotten men who... soldiered in the late 1960’s in a
gook-hunting, dirt-eating, dog-soldiering combat infantry unit called Charlie Company”… Billy’s
Company. It tells of their lieutenant and some other being caught in the rattle of AK-47 fire.
Some of the men jumped down into a crater, all but the new lieutenant. They guessed at first
that he had been killed out in no-man’s-land, and when they heard him crying during a lull in
the firefight, they were sure he had been wounded. Billy went over the top of the crater to get
him. He lobbed a couple of grenades ahead of him, scuttled into a storm of bullets and hauled
the lieutenant’s prostrate body back into the crater. The lieutenant was not dead. “It was”,
according to another officer (Lt. Kennish), “the bravest thing I had ever seen.”
Billy’s accolades didn’t stop in the Army, they continued throughout the rest of his life. He
married a Sears co-worker, Linda Watson Ayers, in 1972 and remained married to her until the
day he died 43 years later. They had a daughter, Shay, in 1975 and a son, Ryan, in 1978. He had
four grandsons, Austin, Dallas, and Houston Holmes, and Landon Ayers.
In the late 1970’s, after many fires in the community, Billy, along with some other men in the
community, founded the Ridge Road Volunteer Fire Department. Billy served as the Fire Chief
from 1981-1984. He served as a deacon and served alongside his wife for many years at New
Georgia Baptist Church. He enjoyed playing the piano and singing in the choir and on occasion
he would sing solos. Both of his children followed in his musical abilities and when they were in
the band he served on the band boosters and chaperoned on competitions and football games.
He coached his daughter’s softball team at Ridge Road Ball Park in the 1980’s. He also played on
a softball league himself. He worked for Sears nearly twenty years and over twenty-five years at
America’s Mart in Atlanta, where he retired January 2015.
The exemplary life of Billy was viewed by many as nothing more than heroic. His life can be
summed up in his Citation for the Army Commendation Medal, “His unrelenting loyalty,
initiative and perseverance brought him wide acclaim and inspired others to strive for
maximum achievement.”
On December 25, 2014, his last Christmas on Earth, he gave his son and daughter a copy of
the book “Charlie Company”. On the inside cover he wrote, “Hope you enjoy - maybe this gives
an insight on my time in the land of the cool water buffalo. I pray you will never have to see and
do the things I have. Love Dad,  SSG Billy Ayers.
Today Billy resides in Canton, Georgia in Section 2, Grave Number 2526 in Georgia National
Cemetery where he received his final military honors on July 21, 2015. 

Air Force 2017 - Present

Zachary Stowe

Zachary is a Georgia native; born in Monroe GA in October 1998 and graduated from Paulding County High School in May 2017. He completed BMT in Lackland TX his MOS being communication/navigation. The KC135 & C130 have been his assigned aircrafts. Duty stations have been Fairchild; Mildenhall and currently Ramstein and he’s been deployed multiple times. Zachary has enjoyed serving his country; he travels and plays golf during his down time.