Crapo Highlights Third Year of #MilitaryMonday Honorees

Washington, D.C.--Since Veterans Day 2019, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) has honored 38 Idaho veterans and servicemembers in a social media campaign he launched called, “Military Monday.”  Idaho is home to many veterans and currently-serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces demonstrating exemplary military service during their careers.

“Idaho’s veterans and servicemembers represent the best of strength, service and sacrifice,” said Crapo.  “Idaho’s heroes have gone above and beyond both in service to our nation and in service to their communities.  Recognizing their efforts is one small way to honor these individuals and remind them how much they are respected and appreciated.”

Brief biographies of the 2022 recipients are below.  Longer-form biographies are available on Senator Crapo’s website.

• January 10, 2022: Retired veteran Ramiro Hernandez: Army veteran Ramiro Hernandez proudly served in the U.S. Army for four years as a 12B 1P Combat Engineer Paratrooper and in the Idaho National Guard for sixteen years, where he served as a combat medic as well as in chemical reconnaissance before his retirement.  Veteran Ramirez had the unique opportunity on his second deployment to Iraq to serve as part of the Personal Security Detail for dignitaries and entertainment celebrities, including former Speaker of the House of U.S. Representatives, John Boehner, and the late U.S. Senator John McCain.

• February 14, 2022: Army National Guard Sergeant First Class Sam Browning: Idaho National Guard DET 3 Platoon Sargent and Fire Support Non Commissioned Officer (FSNCO) Sam Browning began his valiant service as a member of the Army Reserve 1016th unit out of Pocatello shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.  He was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan on separate occasions.

• March 14, 2022: Army Reserve Servicemember Donavan Hammond: Donavan Hammond, from Lewiston, Idaho, has served as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for the past three years.  From a young age, Donavan has dreamed of having the honor and opportunity to serve his country as a soldier.  During his junior year of high school, he enlisted in the Army Reserve and spent the following summer working to achieve that goal by completing military basic training, more commonly known as boot camp.

• April 11, 2022: Air Force National Guard Member Layne Short: Layne Short is a member of the Idaho National Guard, and previously served in the United States Air Force on active duty for 14 years.  Born and raised in Mountain Home, Short deployed multiple times and served as a Munitions Systems Specialist.  Commonly referred to by airmen as AMMO, this career field is tasked with protecting, handling, storing, transporting and assembling of non-nuclear munitions.

• May 16, 2022: Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Robert D. “Bobby” Earley: CSM Bobby Earley has served as a member of the Army National Guard since December 2022.  He has served as a part of the 1-148th Field Artillery Regiment and the Field Artillery Master Gunner Division.  CSM Earley is a Battalion Command Sergeant Major and responsible for the health, welfare and morale of all battalion soldiers, as well as a senior advisor to the Battalion Commander.  He is also a security guard at the Idaho National Laboratory.  Earley has been deployed to Iraq twice--in 2004 and in 2010--and has received various awards and medals.

• June 14, 2022: Retired Army Veteran Paul Andrew Espinoza: Veteran Sergeant First Class (SFC) Paul Espinoza retired from the U.S. Army after twenty years of service from 1985 to 2005.  He served in the 82nd Airborne Division located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as well as in the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington.  SFC Espinoza deployed several times for missions in South America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. As a Special Forces Engineer MOS-18C assigned to the Operational Detachment Alpha Team, SFC Espinoza was responsible for performing and teaching tasks in demolitions, explosives, field fortifications, and employing warfare tactics and techniques in infantry operations.

• July 12, 2022: Marine Veteran Corporal (CPL) Luke Ellsworth: Veteran Luke Ellsworth served in the United States Marine Corps from September 2015 to September 2019.  CPL Ellsworth served as a member of the 7th Marine Regiment based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California.

• August 8, 2022: Major (MAJ) Christopher Lavelle: Major Lavelle has been a member of the Idaho National Guard for 22 years.  He is currently serving as the Executive Officer for the 116 Brigade Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Twin Falls.  He has completed three deployments and received numerous awards for his service including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

• September 12, 2022: Veteran Jesse Coyne: Veteran Army Second Lieutenant (2LT) Jesse Coyne served in our nation’s military for 13 years, from 2004 to 2017.  He joined the Army Reserves as an enlisted PsyOp Soldier before transferring to active duty in 2007.  In 2009, Coyne was commissioned as Infantry 2nd Lieutenant.  During his time in the Army, he deployed twice two Iraq and once to Afghanistan.

• October 10, 2022: Veteran Mark Knapp: Veteran Mark Knapp served in our nation’s military for 4 years from 2004 to 2008.  He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2004, and now resides in Rathdrum, Idaho. Knapp served in active duty for two years and joined the Reserves following his active duty.  Knapp deployed with his unit to Iraq, even though his deployment caused him to serve past his end of active service date.

• November 14, 2022: Veteran Eric Bolich: Veteran Eric Bolich served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, from 1992 to 2012.  During his time in the Army, Bolich deployed three times, once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan.   His job as a combat heavy engineer led him to building roads, parking lots and the link.  He also worked in retention, helping fellow soldiers make decisions about their military careers and reenlistments.

• December 12, 2022: Veteran Marvin Barnes: Veteran Marvin Barnes served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant.  For most of his career, he served in various Combat Control Technician positions in the Aerospace Control and Warning Systems field--more commonly known as radar operations.  He served at installations in Minnesota, Labrador, Florida, lowa, Montana, Greenland, Iceland and Alaska. In Labrador and Iceland, Barnes was part of control teams intercepting Russian aircraft as they traversed to and from various locations in Russia.  While assigned at the 12th Missile Warning Squadron at Thule, he was involved monitoring the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission as it returned to Earth.  In addition to his Control assignments, he served for a year as an Air Force Recruiter in Chicago, IL, and was then selected to teach both the enlisted and officer recruiting courses at the Air Force School of applied Aerospace Sciences on Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in Texas for three years.  Barnes remains involved with veterans as a member of the Joining Forces Magic Valley.

For 2023, the social media campaign will expand to include another group of Idaho heroes--those Missing in Action (MIA).  Crapo is a longtime proponent of eliminating obstacles preventing families and caseworkers from accessing the records needed for recovering America’s MIA.  As the lead sponsor of the Bring Our Heroes Home Act, the new #MIAMonday campaign will honor one of the 360 Idahoans who remain unaccounted for from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars and other conflicts. 

Each month will alternate between honoring a living veteran or servicemember and an individual that remains unaccounted for.  Individuals honored by Senator Crapo have provided permission for their photos to be shared by Senator Crapo and his office.  The #MilitaryMonday and #MIAMonday feature takes place on the second Monday of each month, though the next recognition will take place on Monday, January 23, 2023.  Check Senator Crapo’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the next recipient.  Recipients from previous years can be found by clicking here. 

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