Senior NCO Academy dedicates Medal of Honor display

  • Published
  • By Carl Bergquist
  • Air University Public Affairs
In dedicating the Wall of Honor on Tuesday at the Air Force Senior NCO Academy, Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Norman, SNCOA commandant, said everything in the academy needs to have a purpose.

The purpose of the wall is to pay tribute to the six Air Force enlisted members who have received the Medal of Honor.

"To that end, we looked at the Wall of Honor, and felt we could do a better job of honoring those who have come before us," he said to the audience at the SNCOA auditorium. "The project is the work of the class of 09A who made this legacy donation to the academy."

Master Sgt. Jeff Kunkle, the artist who painted the sepia-tone portraits of Tech. Sgt. Forrest Vosler, Airman 1st Class William Pitsenbarger, Staff Sgt. Maynard Smith, Airman 1st Class John Levitow, Staff Sgt. Henry "Red" Erwin and Staff Sgt. Archibald Mathies, was on hand for the dedication and said he was extremely pleased to be present. Sergeant Kunkle also did the etched glass panels that adorn the academy's clock tower.

"To say this is a proud moment for me is a serious understatement," he said. "To get the opportunity to leave a legacy like this is superb, but to get to do it twice is incredible."

The sergeant said his attendance at the SNCOA led to his getting the job to do the portraits, and it was Chief Norman who made the decision to let him attend the school.

"I had a physical problem that didn't allow me to participate fully in the physical training portion of the course, and that normally means going home," he said. "But, Chief Norman made a leap of faith and allowed me to stay. That led to first doing the etched clock panels and now doing the portraits. It is humbling. There is no other way to put it."

Chief Norman said he never regretted his decision to let Sergeant Kunkle stay at the academy, and he feels, "Jeff has done more for the academy than we did for him."

Also in attendance for the dedication was Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley, and he said he was very pleased with the ceremony and the portraits.

"The portraits are phenomenal. A fantastic job," the chief said. "That also goes to the staff and students of the SNCOA for their efforts to continue enlisted heritage."

Sergeant Kunkle, whose home base is Ramstein AB, Germany, said the portraits took about three months of working weekends and nights to complete. He said Chief Norman talked with him about the project while he was attending SNCOA, and later called him to say the time was right and ask if he was ready to begin the work.

"I told him I was ready and very happy to do the paintings," he said. "I come from a long line of military members, with three brothers, a sister and our father all serving in the Air Force. There has been a Kunkle in the Air Force since 1952. It's in my blood and my family's blood."

Chief Norman said the dedication marked a great day for the SNCOA, and he personally was very pleased with the new display at the school.

"I couldn't be more proud to be the commandant of the SNCOA, and the work Sergeant Kunkle has done leaves me speechless," he said. "It is the right type of tribute to those men, and it makes me proud to be an Airman."