Military Alumni

Military High School Alumni

Honoring Our Heroes

This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!

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Honored Military Alumni


Class of 0
, Years

Ajay Liebelt
Ajay Liebelt
Class of 1988
Navy, 4 Years

I went into the Navy right after graduating from 1988-1992. I was stationed in Yokuska Japan right after boot camp for a few years. I was also over in Desert Storm. My last year was in San Diego.
Barbara (Bonine) Holcomb
Barbara (Bonine) Holcomb
Class of 1983
Army, 20+ Years

28 years, Army Nurse, Brigadier General; currently serving as Commanding General, Southern Regional Medical Command, Ft Sam Houston, TX. Deployed 1990-1991 Desert Shield/Desert Storm; 2002 Former Yugoslavic Republic of Macedonia; 2010-2011 Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn.
Bernard Brendt
Bernard Brendt
Class of 1964
Navy, 20+ Years

Retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer after 30 years of naval service.
Carla M. Lawrence
Carla M. Lawrence
Class of 1978
National Guard, 20+ Years

I started out my military career in the Active Duty Army, basic training at Fort Jackson, SC and AIT (31M- field radio operator) at Fort Gordon, GA. After graduating, I was stationed overseas, Cambria Fritsch Kasern,, Darmstadt Germany, for 30 months and after active duty, joined the Army National Guard, serving in several units across Montana, but assigned to HQs in Helena for most of my tour in the National Guard. While in the ARNG, I obtained an administrative MOS as well as an MOS as a legal assistant in the JAG section reaching the rank of SSG (E-6), and then attending warrant officer candidate school at Fort Rucker, AL to become a warrant and retired as a CW3 in 2004.
Cerie Kimball
Cerie Kimball
Class of 1970
Army, 20+ Years

Quartermaster Officer
Chris Meidinger
Chris Meidinger
Class of 1983
Army, 4 Years

I joined right after graduation, then added airborne training and spent almost all four years in Germany in the 1st Armor Division.
Craig McDonald
Craig McDonald
Class of 1972
Navy, 36 Years

Carrier aviation in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Central and South America. Staff tours in the Pentagon and Pakistan.
David Wheeler Jr.
David Wheeler Jr.
Class of 1987
Army, 10 Years

I served in the US Army from 1987 - 1995
I worked in Wire system Insaller (telephone Tech)
I also served during Dessert Sheild and Dessert Storm.
I received the Good Conduct Medal and Army Commadation Medal.
Dax VanFossen
Dax VanFossen
Class of 1996
Navy, 5 Years

Operations Specialist Second Class---Aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 Aircraft Carrier From 1997 to 2001. Made two Deployments to the Persian Gulf, prior to the Iraq War.
DONALD FERGUSON
DONALD FERGUSON
Class of 1981
Navy, 10 Years

DESERT SHELD & STORM
Ed Littleton
Ed Littleton
Class of 1965
Navy, 20+ Years

Enlisted in 1968. Served enlisted career as Data Systems Technician. Then entered a commissionsing program and graduated from Univ. Of Washington with a BS in Oceanography and commission as an Ensign in 1975. Served on submarines and other posts. Last duty station was as Officer in Charge of Mitchel Field in Garden City, New York. Retired with 20 years service in 1988.
Erik Homme
Erik Homme
Class of 1987
Army, 20+ Years

Montana Army National Guard 1986-1991
Washington Army National Guard 1991-1996
Minnesota Army National Guard 1996-present
Active Duty in Minnesota since 1991
Mobilized in 2012 in support of OEF (Afghanistan)
James R Thompson II (Jim)
James R Thompson II (Jim)
Class of 1961
Air Force, 20+ Years

Pilot
Jason Orthman
Jason Orthman
Class of 1989
National Guard, 18 Years

Served in IRAQ 2008, deployed to Italy and Germany
Jeff Newby
Jeff Newby
Class of 1989
Army, 18 Years

Desert Shield/ Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom 03-04
Ft Bragg NC
Ft Carson CO
Ft Hood TX
Cp Casey Korea
Cp Hovey Korea
Jeremiah Duncan
Jeremiah Duncan
Class of 2003
Navy, 5 Years

2 years as SH-60 Helicopter plane captain aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. 2 and a half years as a U.S. Navy Seabee. Three tours in support of OIF.
Jeremiah Duncan
Jeremiah Duncan
Class of 2003
Navy, 5 Years

2 years as SH-60 Helicopter plane captain aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. 2 and a half years as a U.S. Navy Seabee. Three tours in support of OIF.
Jeremy Orthman
Jeremy Orthman
Class of 1995
Army, 12 Years

Currently a Special Agent with Army CID
Jonathan Merikan
Jonathan Merikan
Class of 2003
Marine Corps, 6 Years

3 tours in Iraq going to be Cop in Florida now
Josh Stratton
Josh Stratton
Class of 1988
Army, 16 Years

active army 1988 till 1997 participated in desert storm. Montana national guard 1998 to present
Ken Price
Ken Price
Class of 1971
Air Force, 20+ Years

Served as an Air Force Nurse Corp officer from 1979 through 2000. Assignments included San Antonio TX, Minot ND, Iraklion Crete, Greece, Washington DC, Scott AFB, IL, Mountain Home, ID.

I'd do it all over again!
Kip Fondrick
Kip Fondrick
Class of 1984
National Guard, 20+ Years

I joined the Army National Guard in Miles City in December of 1983 and served for 30 years both as an enlisted medic and an Infantry Officer mostly with the MN Army National Guard. My deployments include: Stabilization Force 14 in Bosnia as a Battle Captain with 2nd Battalion 136th Infantry; Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-07 for 17 months as a Battalion Liaison Officer for 2-136th Combined Arms Battalion to the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division; and Operation Enduring Freedom 2011-2012 as an Infantry Team Chief with the NATO Training Team - Afghanistan.
Leslie Chistensen
Leslie Chistensen
Class of 1989
Army Reserves, 20+ Years

Just Cause, Desert Shiel/Storm, Iraqi Freedom. Fort Bragg NC, Fort Sam Houston TX, Yongsan, Korea, Camp Henry Korea, Camp Hovey, Korea, Fort Hunter Liggett CA.
Linda Combs Ebersole
Linda Combs Ebersole
Class of 1964
Army, 5 Years

Army Nurse Corp
Mark A Turnquist
Mark A Turnquist
Class of 1981
Navy, 4 Years

MM2, I served on board the USS Wabash AOR-5, 1984 I made the all Navy Wrestling team and trained in Pensacola, Florida. I have 28 laps around the world at sea. I saw 16 countries. Served in the Iranian/ Iraqi war , received the Navy Expedition, good conduct and Humanitarian medals.
Mathew Ashley
Mathew Ashley
Class of 1993
Army, 8 Years

AIT & BNCOC (Ft McClellan, AL)
82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Battalion, C Battery (Ft. Polk, LA)
2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Squadron, 502nd MI Company (Ft. Polk, LA & Tuzla, Bosnia)
1st Armored Division, 501st MI Battalion (Dexheim, Germany & Tuzla, Bosnia)
229th MI Battalion (Russian Basic Course, DLI, Monterey, CA)
223rd MI Battalion (California National Guard, San Francisco & Sacramento)
Matthew Hom
Matthew Hom
Class of 1995
Army, 12 Years

Military Police, Paratrooper and Jumpmaster,
Duty assignements-Ft Bragg NC, Schweinfurt Germany, Bamberg Germany
Deployments to Date: Bosnia '97, Kosovo'01, Afghanistan '02, '05-'06, '07-'08 and counting!!!
Michael G. Mohler
Michael G. Mohler
Class of 1968
Army, 2 Years

Disabled Viet Nam Combat Vet
Server with the L and C Troop 1st of the 11th A.C.R. 1969
Ret. Army 1970
Natalie Wright
Natalie Wright
Class of 2002
Navy, 4 Years

Served as a Hospital Corpsman.
PORTER J. POOL
PORTER J. POOL
Class of 1962
Army, 3 Years

ARMOR
Riemann Goerg Furigay
Riemann Goerg Furigay
Class of 2003
Navy, 4 Years

My duty station is in San Diego California and am assign the the ship USS Peleliu which LHA 5 as ABH(aviation boatsmite handler) or better yet I work on the flight deck handling aircraft and it's crew. And being on a ship I have traveled around the world for both mission and others.
Rodney Blow
Rodney Blow
Class of 1972
Navy, 6 Years

Entered into the nuclear power field as an electronics technician (communications). Served aboard USS Enterprise and USS Nimitz (plank owner). Left service in 1978 to pursue career in electrical utility industry, specifically nuclear power plants.
Sharon O'Connor McDaniel
Sharon O'Connor McDaniel
Class of 1978
Army, 19 Years

Military Police, Fort Polk, Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Germany, Fort Jackson, Fort McClellan, Fort Detrick, MD
Suzanne French
Suzanne French
Class of 1982
Army, 6 Years

Staff Sergeant Military Police Officer
Tim Gruba
Tim Gruba
Class of 1988
Air Force, 20+ Years

USAF 1988 to 1998. North Dakota Air National Guard home of the Happy Hooligans 1998 to 2014. Jet engine technician for 18 years and computer tech the last 8.
van wright
van wright
Class of 2002
Marine Corps, 5 Years

Served 5 years in Marine Corps Signals Intelligence which included time in Iraq.
Van Wright
Van Wright
Class of 2002
Marine Corps, 4 Years

Served in the USMC for 4 years.
Victor Rel
Victor Rel
Class of 1985
Navy, 8 Years

Electronics Technician 2nd Class
Will Nelson
Will Nelson
Class of 1962
Army, 3 Years

Captain, 27th Combat Engineer Battalion, 45th Group, 18 Brigade, I Corps, South Vietnam. Facilities Engineer Presidio of San Francisco

Classmates Spotlight

Custer County District High School Classmates

Patrick Sloan
Class of '66

Alumni Stories

High School Alumni Stores

Read and submit stories about our classmates from Custer County District High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Cowboys.

School News

Returning for the Bucking Horse Sale!

Hi all,
I'm headed back to Miles City for the Bucking Horse Sale next week. This will be my first return to the s...
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Our Custer County District High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Custer County District High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Miles City are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!