Crapo Recognizes Fourth Year of #MilitaryMonday Honorees

Washington, D.C.--Since Veterans Day 2019, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) has honored 50 Idaho veterans and servicemembers in a social media campaign he called, “Military Monday.”  Idaho is home to many veterans and currently-serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have demonstrated exemplary military service during their careers.  The 2023 campaign expanded to include Idaho heroes Missing in Action (MIA).

“Many Idahoans represent the best our nation has to offer in sacrifice through the United States Armed Forces,” said Crapo.  “Idaho’s military and veteran heroes have gone above and beyond both in service to our nation and in service to their local communities.  It has been an honor to recognize their efforts in even one small way and remind these individuals how much they are respected and appreciated.”

Brief biographies of the 2023 recipients are below.  Longer-form biographies are available on Senator Crapo’s website.

• January 23, 2023: Retired veteran Bill Mullen: Bill Mullen of Mountain Home, Idaho, served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years.  He now works for the U.S. Department of Defense and is a dedicated member of the American Legion.  He has served in a number of roles for Post 101, including Commander and is the co-creator of the Legion Off Road Riders, a coalition of American Legion and Auxiliary members that use off-road vehicles to share the purpose and good work of the Legion.

• February 13, 2023: MIA servicemember Frank P. “Bud” Hayes: First Lieutenant Frank P. “Bud” Hayes grew up on a farm in Filer, Idaho.  He joined the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II as a pilot.  At the end of the war in 1945, while retrieving an Army reconnaissance unit off the Culasi, Panay Philippines coast, Lt. Hayes’ PBY-Catalina was hit by a rogue wave, broke apart and sank.  He did not return from overseas and is still classified as MIA.  Read the latest update on Hayes’ status HERE.

• March 13, 2023: Retired veteran Mark McClure: McClure served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years, having deployed four times to the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Bahrain and the Mediterranean Sea.  He highlighted bright spots on his missions that helped restore his faith in humanity.  McClure currently serves as the Clark County Sheriff.

• April 10, 2023: Veteran Samantha Martinet: Martinet served in the U.S. Marine Crops for 13 years.  She currently resides in Moscow, Idaho.

• May 8, 2023: Veteran John Nanninga: John Nanninga enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve in World War II.  He deployed to Pearl Harbor, where he heard the war was over shotly after he arrived.  Nanninga resides in Lewiston.  To watch a full interview with him, please click HERE.

• June 12, 2023: Retired veteran Darryl Heisey: Sergeant First Class Darryl Heisey served in the U.S. Army for twenty years.  He felt called to military service due to his family’s lineage and history of service.  Heisey is a man committed to his faith, and served as an Army Chaplain Activities Specialist.  Following his retirement, Heisey moved to Idaho, serving as a Veteran Service Officer in Kootenai County and as a State Veteran Service Officer for 16 years.  He currently lives in Hayden.

• July 10, 2023: MIA servicemember Roderick Mayer: Commander Roderick Mayer graduated from Lewiston High School in 1957 and the University of Idaho in 1961.  Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy as an officer and pilot for Fighter Squadron, where he flew over 80 missions.  His aircraft was hit by enemy artillery on October 17, 1965.  Although his radio intercept officer David R. Wheat was discovered as Prisoner of War and released seven years later, Mayer remains unaccounted for.

• August 14, 2023: Veteran William Mostoller: Corporal Mostoller served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a light armored vehicle mechanic.  His duties were to help maintain vehicles during daily combat operations against the Taliban.  Cpl. Mostoller received the Navy Achievement Medal with a V for Valor for his quick action extinguishing two fires in the engine compartment of a Light Armored Vehicle he was traveling in that struck an improvised explosive device during a reconnaissance patrol.  Cpl. Mostoller now resides in Hagerman and is the CEO of Magic Valley Fit personal training.

• September 11, 2023: MIA servicemember Ray Frank Jardine: Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Ray Frank Jardine registered for the military on June 30, 1942, and served as a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps, and, later, the U.S. Air Force in World War II and the Korean War.  On March 29, 1951, a B-29 Superfortress with twelve crew members, including Jardine, departed Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, on a bombing mission.  Less than two hours into the mission, the aircraft’s pilot reported two engines failing.  Extensive searches have yielded no trace of the aircraft and its crew.  Jardine remains unaccounted for.

• October 16, 2023: Veteran Katrina “Tea Jay” Adams: Born in Pocatello and raised in Inkom, Tea Jay Adams served in the Army National Guard for eight years, and trained as a radio telecommunications specialist.  She currently works as a protective security officer and security escort and runs a doggy daycare.

• November 10, 2023: Retired veteran Damon Darakjy: Damon Darakjy attended North Idaho College for two years before joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1991, later with the Army National Guard, and finally, retiring from the U.S. Army as a chief warrant officer 4.  Darakjy is the current commander of the Coeur d’Alene American Legion Post 14 and lives with his wife of 30 years.

• December 25, 2023: Retired veteran Denine V. Moyer Miller: Lieutenant Colonel Denine Miller proudly served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps for 20 years.  She set many achievements, including being the first nurse in the Idaho Army National Guard.  She was the first Idaho Guardsman to get a degree through the Continuing Education Program.  Following her retirement, Miller completed her Ph.D. in Adult Education and Organizational Leadership, and taught at Gooding High School.

Individuals honored by Senator Crapo provided permission for their bios and photos to be shared by Senator Crapo and his office.  Recipients from previous years can be found by clicking here. 

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