WEST PLAINS, MO: Ozark Spring Chapter National Society Daughters of American Revolution (OSCNSDAR) honored two local veterans. The Patriot of the Month and Quilt of Valor® (QOV) recipient for September 2021 was awarded to Mr. Joe Darrell Lovelace, Sergeant United States Army, Vietnam Veteran of West Plains.
Mr. Douglas Ray Tripp, Lance Corporal United States Marine Corps, an Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran from Mountain View, Missouri received his September 2020 Patriot of the Month award (delayed due to the COVID Pandemic) and the September 2021 Quilt of Valor® during the Ozark Spring Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, at the October 2021 ceremony.
Mr. Joe D. Lovelace, Sergeant United States Army, 50th Infantry Platoon, 4th Infantry Division, entered the military in 1966 and served in Vietnam 1967 through 1968. He received among his service ribbons the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device for heroism, Combat Infantry Badge and Vietnam Service, Campaign Medals, and the Good Conduct Medal. Upon graduation from dog handler training, Joe was a Scout Dog Handler of a German Shephard, “Buck,” an Infantry Platoon Scout Dog, where they participated in the campaign called the “Nine Days in May,” one of the largest and most savage actions between the American and North Vietnamese forces seen by the 4th Infantry Division.
Joe was interviewed by Author, John D. McLaughlin, formerly of West Plains to provide background for the portrayal of a fictional character in two books, In the Shadow of the Mountain and Lambent Pass that tells the story of many men and women like Joe and Buck the Scout Dog who served their country during the Vietnam War. Joe and his wife, Vicki have two daughters and one son.
Douglas Ray Tripp enlisted in the Marines in 2005 following high school graduation, fulfilling a dream of his since eighth grade. After Douglas completed basic training at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Lance Corporal Tripp was assigned to Echo Company 2/7. A Marine Corps Unit that Douglas said, “was well known on the front to go where no one else wanted to go.” After serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom at Falluja, Iraq, and Operation Enduring Freedom, Sangin, Afghanistan he was honorably discharged in 2009.
Douglas is married to Katrina, and they have two Australian Shepherds, Brigg, and Griffin.
Quilts of Valor® (QOV) is a single lifetime award presented to active military or veterans. It is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. It is awarded to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war. The Quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.” To use the term Quilt of Valor® or QOV, the quilt must be a specific size, must have a label with required information, it must be awarded (it is not a gift) and it must be recorded. https://www.qovf.org/
If you are interested in learning more about DAR membership or its programs, visit www.mssdar.org, or contact Chapter Regent, Cindy McKee-Pirch at (417) 629-4102, or if you would like more information about this topic please contact Teresa Taylor Mace at (417) 861-2190 or TeresaTaylorMace@gmail.com.
