Sherry Eppers, Author at Highlands Ranch Veteran Memorial

Alan D. Duff

Sherry Eppers — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 15:18:37 +0000

Alan D. Duff was commissioned a 2LT in the Infantry from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1980 and was assigned to the 197^th Infantry Brigade. Military training included certifications from US Ranger School, Airborne Training, Mortar Platoon Leaders Course, Jungle Warfare Training in Panama and Winter Warfare Training in Ft. Greeley, Alaska. After serving two years in the infantry, he transferred to Army Aviation for flight training in the UH-1H “Huey” Helicopter at Ft. Rucker, AL. Upon graduation from flight school, his first assignment was in the Republic of Korea with the 128^th AVN Co (Air Assault). Upon his return to the US, then, CPT Duff, completed the Aviation Officers’ Advanced Course before completing qualification training in the UH-60A Blackhawk Helicopter.

He married in 1985 to Kathryn Poe and remains married to her to this day. CPT Duff was then assigned to the 10^th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as Aviation Detachment Commander in Ft. Devens, MA and served for two years in this role before leaving active duty in 1987. From 1987 to 1992, he served in the US Army Reserves as an Aviation Officer and a US Military Academy Liaison Officer where he was promoted to Major. In 1992, he left reserve duty and focused more of his time on his young family and his professional career in human resources.

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James R. Kauffman

Sherry Eppers — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 19:46:37 +0000

CE2, Seabees
United States Navy
1992-1997
Bahrain

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Gerhard Paul Olschner

Sherry Eppers — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 16:08:22 +0000

Gerhard Paul Olschner was born February 23, 1929, in Bayonne, NJ. His parents emigrated from Berlin, Germany in 1923. He spoke German until playing with kids in the neighborhood, he first learned to speak English. At the age of 20, after 2 years at Bayonne Technical College in New Jersey, Gerhard, or Paul as he was known most of his life, volunteered to be in the USAF in 1950 as the Korean war was beginning. After basic training, he was sent to Engineering School at Fort Belvoir, VA. Then on to Japan, and then Kunsan AB, Korea, 1952-53 and lastly to Wright-Patterson, AFB, Dayton, OH, where he was honorably discharged in December 1953. He returned to New Jersey, to continue his education and to get a job as an Electrical Draftsman at Stavid Engineering, where he met his future wife, Carolyn Beattie. They had four children, Fred, Lisa, Eric, and Kurt and 4 grandchildren: Thomas, Robert, Kathryn & Cameron. In 1972 his employer, Johns-Manville, moved his family to Colorado where most of the family still reside. Paul passed away at age 91, April 3, 2020. He is deeply missed!

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Kurt J. Olschner

Sherry Eppers — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 16:08:12 +0000

Kurt J. Olschner was born April 20, 1967, in Princeton, NJ, the youngest of four children. In 1972 his father’s employer moved the family to Colorado. Kurt graduated from Cherry Creek Schools in 1985. He then graduated from Colorado Institute of Art in 1987, studying photography. In 1988 Kurt proudly enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserve at Peterson Air Force Base. He served in Iraq in Desert Shield for 3 months in 1990-1991. After that, he was sent on 2-wk deployments, annually, to several places, including Hawaii, Germany, South Korea, Alaska, and several other locations. He moved to Blaine, WA for 2.5 years, and then moved backed to the Denver area, where he worked for Pentax, Great West Life, and Columbine Health in Fort Collins. Sadly, after a yearlong and valiant battle, he died of Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia on March 22, 2021. Kurt was a wonderful husband to his wife, Amelia, a great father to their children, Kathryn and Cameron, and a good man who was active in his church and loved Jesus! He is very sadly missed!

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Robert L. Schoep

Sherry Eppers — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 19:47:53 +0000

Sgt. Robert L. Schoep was born and raised in Orange City, Iowa. He attended the University of South Dakota earning a degree in Business Administration, with a Major in Accounting, and later attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, earning a graduate degree in Banking and Finance. He was drafted into the US Army in 1968 with basic training at Fort Ord, California and advanced Military Police training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, after which he received his orders for Vietnam in March, 1969.

During his 14 months in Vietnam, he was assigned to Headquarters, 1^stLogistical Command (II Corps), in Intelligence and Security near Qui Nhon (Long My Depot), Binh Dinh Province. He worked in the Tactical Operations Center as Intelligence Sergeant. His awards include the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service. He was honorably discharged from service in May, 1970 and moved to Colorado.

He moved to Highlands Ranch in 1999, where he lives with his wife, Joanne. He has two sons, David and Brian, and two daughters, Jana and Tara. He is a retired CPA and bank holding company Vice President and Controller.

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Douglas M. White

Sherry Eppers — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 14:16:40 +0000

Douglas M. White and his family moved from Des Moines, IA to Highlands Ranch, CO in 1984. He grew up in Highlands Ranch, until he departed for the Army at the age of 17. Met his wife while stationed at Fort Polk, LA in 2000. Five days after meeting his brand new baby girl, MSG White deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in the spring of 2003 with the 3^rd Armored Calvary Regiment from Fort Carson. While serving in the Army, MSG White earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Trident University International. He brought his own family back to the Ranch in 2006, where he still lives with his wife, Emmalyn and their daughter and son. In the spring of 2020, MSG Doug White retired from the US Army after nearly 21 years.

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Courtland Wilson

Sherry Eppers — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 14:15:25 +0000

Courtland Wilson graduated from Highlands Ranch High School in May of 2005, and within 30 days of his HS graduation he was on his way to Army basic training in Fort Benning, GA.

After graduating Army Infantry and Airborne School, Courtland was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany and was assigned to Bravo Company 1-18 IN, 1st Infantry Division – The Big Red One. His unit deployed to Ramadi, Iraq in late 2006 for a 15 month deployment during “The Surge” (the bloodiest time period of the Iraq War). During this deployment, his unit conducted hundreds of foot patrols, countless urban raids, a dozen High Value Target raids with NSW personnel (SEAL Team 5), and multiple humanitarian missions providing food, water, electricity, and jobs to the local population.

After returning from Ramadi, Courtland’s unit was reflagged to 172nd Infantry Brigade and deployed to Iraq again in 2009 for a 12 month deployment in the Diyala Province near the Iranian border.

His roles included Rifleman, SAW Gunner, AG Gunner, Jump Gunner for M2 Bradleys, HMVEE Driver and Gunner, and team leader.

Courtland departed the Army in February 2010, and shortly after enrolled at MSU Denver and studied journalism with an emphasis on photojournalism. After earning his degree, Courtland started a wedding photography company and has since then photographed over 180 weddings. He now lives in Sacramento, CA with his wife, Whitney, and their three dogs.

Bio written Nov 2022

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