On July 31 Gilbert and Wayne Davis of Alliance received Quilts of Valor at a surprise meeting inside The Custom Shop.
Gilbert Davis was first to be honored by the Quilts of Valor Foundation, Panhandle Blocks, and American Legion Riders, followed by his son Wayne.
The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
Quilts of Valor have been presented in every state and to individuals from every branch of service.
Quilts of Valor have awarded 225,016 quilts in all five branches in all 50 states and even in other countries. The Quilts of Valor community today includes over 9,000 members and volunteers across America who make and award quilts. More information is available at qovf.org
Panhandle Blocks group started in March 2018 and currently has over 30 members. There are 13 groups in Nebraska and we are the only one in western Nebraska. They have celebrated over 80 veterans in several surrounding communities including: Alliance, Hemingford, Gordon, Chadron, Crawford, Hay Springs, Lewellen, Scottsbluff, Sidney and Ogallala. They often present in cooperation with American Legion Riders, Legion Posts or other organizations who celebrate veterans.
Volunteer member of QOV and Panhandle Blocks Kathy Dye said, "Well guys thank you for your service...thank you for leaving your home and family...and all you hold dear to stand in harm's way, defending our country."
Master Sergeant Gilbert L. Davis
Master Sergeant Gilbert Davis was born May 18, 1934 in Gordon. He graduated high school in Chadron in 1952. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on Feb. 1, 1955.
After basic training Gilbert was sent to Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas for technician school to be a jet engine mechanic. After finishing school he was sent to Thule Air Force Base in Greenland. There he worked on boilers and radiators.
After a year there Gilbert was sent back to the United States and worked on planes at the Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. From there he went to Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. He traveled to Vietnam from June 29, 1966 to March 28, 1967.
Gilbert came back to the United States after Vietnam and was sent to Colorado Springs, Colorado and then to Elendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. In Alaska he worked on the F4 Phantom as an aircraft maintenance superintendent.
Gilbert Davis retired after serving 20 years, 7 months in the Air Force on Sept. 1, 1975.
Technical Sergeant Wayne L. Davis
Technical Sergeant Wayne Davis was born no Jan. 2, 1964 in Chandler, Arizona. He graduated high school in Alliance, Nebraska in June of 1982 and then enlisted in the United States Air Force on Oct. 16, 1986.
After basic military training, Wayne attended Aircraft General Maintenance School at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.
Wayne's first duty assignment was to the 51st Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea. There he was a repair and reclamation specialist on F-4, and OV10 aircraft.
Sergeant Davis was reassigned in 1988 to the 2952nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. There he was dual airframe qualified on F-4's and learning on F-16's. His time at Hill Air Force Base was taken up with temporary duty's and a Desert Storm excursion.
Wayne was relocated to Ramstein Air Base in Germany in 1992 as a phase inspection technician with the 526th Fighter Squadron. After two years the Ramstein commitment changed and the aircraft were transferred to Aviano Air Base in Italy. During this transition period he was also part of the 512th Fighter Squadron for deactivation purposes. Wayne assisted in the transfer of the phase equipment and tooling to Aviano while continueing phase inspection operation during the deployment in 1994.
Davis then received orders to the 412th Combined Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He spent four years as a flight-line technician filling several positions as crew chief, expediter, phase augmentee, and modification dock assistant.
In 1998 Sergeant Davis returned to the 649 Combat Logistics Support Squadron at Hill Air Base in Utah. There he completed numerous deployments totaling 385 days. He has performed as a crash damage technician, dock chief, deployment team chief, and Aircraft Battle Damage Repair Instructor.
In Jan. 2005, Wayne married his high school sweetheart Tracy, they had not seen each other for 20 years. They relocated to Alliance.