Quilts of Valor: Veterans honored with quilts sewn with thankfulness
Published 11:32 am Tuesday, May 20, 2025
The seven Quilts of Valor made by The Cotton Patch Quilters for local veterans. (MARY HUFF | CONTRIBUTED)
James R. Greene is wrapped in his Quilt of Valor from The Cotton Patch Quilters. (MARY HUFF | CONTRIBUTED)
Terry “T-bone” Mason was honored with a Quilt of Valor for his nearly 25-year military career. (MARY HUFF | CONTRIBUTED)
Billy W. Mims is wrapped in his Quilt of Valor from The Cotton Patch Quilters. (MARY HUFF | CONTRIBUTED)
Kenneth Moates was recognized for his service in the United States Army in Vietnam. (MARY HUFF | CONTRIBUTED)
Thomas Edward “Buster” Wright endured three months of firefighting in Vietnam during his combat tour. (MARY HUFF | CONTRIBUTED)
Petty Officer E-4 Glen Chaffee in front of his Quilt of Valor. (MARY HUFF | CONTRIBUTED)
Maplesville resident Petty Officer E-6 Patrick McMurray received a Quilt of Valor on May 8. (MARY HUFF | CONTRIBUTED)
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor
Each May just before Memorial Day, The Cotton Patch Quilters hold a special tradition to honor local veterans for their military service and present them with a Quilt of Valor to surround them with thankfulness and warmth from their community.
On May 8, the tradition was kept strong with seven veterans — the United States Army’s Sergeant James R. Greene, Master Sergeant Terry “T-bone” Mason, Staff Sergeant Billy W. Mims, Sergeant Kenneth Moates and Sergeant Thomas Edward “Buster” Wright, and the United States Navy’s Petty Officer E-4 Glen Chaffee and Petty Officer E-6 Patrick McMurray, receiving their quilts at a presentation in downtown Clanton on Sixth Street North. Each quilt was hand-crafted for the veterans by the Chilton County quilting group. Each quilt was a different design, but all were patriotic with red, white and blue colors.
“The Cotton Patch Quilters thank all of these veterans for their selfless service to the United States of America, and we thank their families for their love, support and sacrifice,” the presentation said.
Sergeant James R. Greene
James R. Greene, a local native from Clanton, served in the United States Army from 1966-1969 reaching the rank of Sergeant. Greene served in the Army during the height of the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. He began his military career taking basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, followed by Postal Services training at Fort Benjamin, Indiana. Greene went to Vietnam and served a one-year tour at Long Bien Post, which was a crucial supply and logistics hub in the area. Greene returned to the United States and did tours of duty at Fort Stewart, Georgia and Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.
Greene received a handful of honors for his military service which include the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
Master Sergeant Terry “T-bone” Mason
Clanton native Terry “T-bone” Mason spent nearly 25 years in the United States Army and saw action in some of the most prominent military engagements in recent history. Mason reached the rank of Master Sergeant, began his military career in 1983 and saw nearly 20 combat deployments during his time in the forces. Mason saw action with Special Forces and other government agencies in the first Gulf War in Operations Desert Storm and Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He also served in Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Korea and numerous bases in the United States before his retirement in 2007.
Mason’s extensive military career earned him a plethora of honors that include the Combat Infantry Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Fast Rope Insertion and Extraction Systems Master Badge, the Army Commendation Medal with three devices, Army Achievement Medal and numerous service ribbons.
Staff Sergeant Billy W. Mims
Billy W. Mims of Clanton served in the United States Army from 1964-1968 during the height of tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Mims reached the rank of Staff Sergeant and served in Germany before going to Vietnam during the height of that conflict. Mims was wounded in Vietnam and received the Purple Heart for his combat wounds. Mims also received the Combat Infantry Badge, Army Expert Rifle Badge, Army Sharpshooter Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Devise.
Sergeant Kenneth Moates
Clanton’s Kenneth Moates served in the United States Army from 1964-1968 serving during the height of tensions between the United States in Vietnam and with the Soviet Union. Sergeant Moates began at Fort Benning, Georgia before moving to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for advanced communications training.
Moates served with the 2nd Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment in Germany when his duties were towards the Cold War efforts, and he served with the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division — the only division to send five battalions to Vietnam, in the central highlands of Vietnam as well. Following his combat tour, Moates returned stateside to Fort Hood in Texas as his unit’s Communications Chief.
Sergeant Thomas Edward “Buster” Wright
Thomas Edward “Buster” Wright, a native of Orrville, served in the United States Army from 1966-1969 reaching the rank of Sergeant. He took basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia, followed by Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and assignments at Forts Bliss and Hood in Texas.
Wright then was deployed to Vietnam to Camp Anari, Pleiku as a mortar operator. However, he was immediately reassigned as a rifleman and joined the Company C, 4th Infantry Division in War Zone C to conduct search and destroy operations in the central highlands of Vietnam near the border of Cambodia. Over the next three months, Company C was involved in extensive firefights with the enemy that often came up from the ground through intricate tunnel networks.
Wright received the Purple Heart for his efforts during those firefights and was submitted for a second one. Following his combat tour, Wright was assigned to the S4 logistics staff at Fort Carson in Colorado before he was honorably discharged. Along with his Purple Heart, Wright received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal for his service.
Petty Officer E-4 Glen Chaffee
Chaffee, a native of Kellyton, served in the United States Navy from 1970-73 reaching the rank of Electrician’s Mate, Third Class (Petty Officer, E-4), and was responsible for maintaining and repairing electrical systems and equipment. Chaffee’s main duty station was the Naval Station in Newport, Rhode Island, but he also served at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia — which is now a joint training base for Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Forces. Chafee served aboard many high-powered ships, including the destroyer escort USS Dealy, DE-1006, before she was decommissioned in 1972.
Petty Officer E-6 Patrick McMurray
Patrick McMurray from Maplesville spent 10 years in the United States Navy from 1969-79 and reached the rank of Radioman First Class (E-6, Petty Officer). McMurray’s primary rate was as a radioman, but he trained as a cryptographic equipment operator and maintenance technician, electrician and electronics technician as well. His cross-training made him very valuable aboard submarines like the USS Carbanero, the USS John Adams, the USS Henry Clay, the USS Tigrone and the USS L. Mendel Rivers that supported military operations in Vietnam and deterrence efforts during the Cold War.
McMurray was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal and the Battle Efficiency “E” ribbon. McMurray also volunteered on the U.S. Navy Human Resources Council.
