Kirk Ross Chandler proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969 to 1972, achieving the rank of Corporal. Deployed to Vietnam and Japan, he served as both a Rifleman and Radio Operator, roles that placed him at the front lines during one of the most turbulent chapters in American military history.

What began as a young man's desire for adventure grew into something far deeper — a profound appreciation for the brotherhood forged in service. The camaraderie of his fellow Marines remains one of the most powerful memories he carries, alongside a solemn and lasting remembrance of those who gave their lives and never came home.

Today, Kirk considers it a distinct honor and privilege to have served in the Marine Corps, a commitment he holds with great reverence. He is an active member of his community, where he takes pride in the many wonderful neighbors around him. He gives back through volunteering with the Texas Valor Project Annual Clay Shoot, continuing to support and honor the veteran community he holds so dear.

David Thompson is a United States Army veteran who served six and a half years, achieving the rank of Sergeant (E-5). Stationed at Hickam AFB in Hawaii, he served as a Combat Photojournalist (25SJ8), a role that placed him at the intersection of history and hardship. His service earned him two Army Commendation Medals and one Army Achievement Medal, recognitions that reflect a career marked by dedication and professionalism.

Among his most memorable moments was the honor of photographing President Reagan transferring the presidency to President George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol, a historic image captured through his lens, though his time in service also exposed him to the profound weight of documenting human suffering in the field.

Motivated by a deep love of country, Thompson holds firmly to the belief that the oath he swore to protect the United States carries no expiration date. He is especially proud of those he served alongside, a testament to the bonds forged in uniform.

Today, Thompson is an active and committed member of his community, valuing the neighbors around him and giving back through meaningful service. He is the founder of Veterans Outpost (vetoutpost.org), a 48-acre retreat dedicated to supporting veterans and law enforcement and is further involved through the American Legion and Congressman Keith Self's Veteran Advisory Board, continuing to serve long after his military career ended.

Hussain Fayad served in the United States Army for three and a half years, reaching the rank of E-4. As a 19K Tanker, he served in roles ranging from driver, loader, and gunner to 19D Squad Leader, Squad SDM, and Armorer, with deployments to South Korea and Fort Bliss. During his service, he earned three Army Achievement Medals and an Army Presidential Unit Citation. 

Coming from a family with a long tradition of military and first-responder service, Hussain says it's simply in his blood. One memory that has stayed with him is the realization of what a person is truly capable of when pushed to their limits—a lesson that has shaped his outlook ever since. He is especially proud of the many young soldiers he helped train and mentor during his time in service, and today he views being a veteran as embodying selfless service, pride, and honor. 

Now a member of the community, Hussain loves its beauty and the way neighbors look out for one another, and he takes special pride in seeing flags waving throughout the neighborhood thanks to the local flag service. 

He stays connected to fellow veterans by occasionally cooking breakfast for the Rockwall Area Veterans Breakfast Group, sponsoring the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation alongside a former battle buddy who chairs the organization, and dabbling—by his own admission, not very successfully—in the Veterans Golf Association.

Everette Hull served in the United States Army and the National Guard/Reserves for seven years, following two years of college ROTC, and rose to the rank of Captain in the US Army Finance Corps. He was stationed at Fort Riley in Manhattan, Kansas, and Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana, where his primary role was developing software for the Joint Uniform Military Pay System (JUMPS), a groundbreaking program that enabled the military to pay troops worldwide through electronic funds transfer long before tools like PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo existed. 

Inspired to serve by the Vietnam War, Hull looks back fondly on the camaraderie he shared with fellow service members as a memory that has stayed with him over the years. Today, he feels proud to have played a part in supporting the many veterans who put their lives on the line for our country, and he takes particular pride in having volunteered and served rather than simply talking about support for the USA. 

Now settled in the community, Hull enjoys the beautiful homes, golf course, and peaceful surroundings, along with the many neighborhood activities available, including golf, the pool, tennis, pickleball, walking paths, and lakes.

Trevor Steven Thurgood has served in the Navy as part of an air crew for five and a half years and counting, achieving the rank of First-Class Petty Officer (E-6) and serving as a Crew Chief. Stationed at Coronado Island, California (North Island), his service has taken him to fifteen different countries across every continent except Antarctica.

He was recognized for his role in helping evacuate personnel from Bahrain at the start of the current Iran conflict. Thurgood always imagined he would serve in the Navy, and one of the memories that has stayed with him most is meeting his wife, Kaylee, during his service.

Today, serving in the military means providing a safe country and a better future for his two children, Hunter and Lucy. He takes particular pride in having helped transport people and equipment for important missions. Having grown up in the area, Thurgood especially enjoys being surrounded by the great friends he made growing up in the community.

Charlie Baucom served in the United States Navy from 1978 to 1984, achieving the rank of Petty Officer First Class as an Electronic Warfare Technician stationed in Charleston, South Carolina. During his service, he earned the Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon three times, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal.

Growing up as the middle child of five in a family without the means to send him to college, and having spent too many summers working in tobacco fields, Baucom took the ASVAB test after high school, which pointed him toward electronic warfare and ultimately led him to the Navy. He spent 1,547 days aboard the USS Wainwright (CG-28), including more than 1,000 days at sea across three Mediterranean cruises, the Black Sea, the Panama and Suez canals, the North Atlantic, Cuba, and twelve Caribbean cruises, time that remains one of his most lasting memories.

Being a veteran means far more to him today than it did when he first got out, and he is especially proud of what he learned about getting along with people of all colors, cultures, and religions, forming bonds with shipmates he trusted like brothers through the close quarters of life aboard ship. He recalls being so happy to return to American soil that he literally kissed the ground, and looking back, he takes great pride in his service and in the country he believes is the greatest in the world.

In the community, Baucom enjoys the quiet and peaceful atmosphere, watching families walk their kids, grandkids, and dogs, and seeing neighbors tour decorated homes by golf cart during the Christmas season. Though now retired from active involvement, he previously served on the Habitat for Humanity Board, the YMCA Board, Aunt Char's Kidzone, the Greenville Sports Complex, and the Goodwill Children's Home, as well as serving as a church elder for several years.

Christopher Smith served in the United States Coast Guard for four years, achieving the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class (E-5). Stationed in Alameda, California, his primary role was drug interdiction, and during his service he was recognized as an Expert Marksman, an achievement he is especially proud of.

Christopher was inspired to join the Coast Guard by a desire to see the world, and one memory that has stayed with him is the Great Fish Calls. Today, he feels honored to have been able to do his part in serving his country, and he enjoys the friendly people who make up his community.  He has been a CalFire firefighter for the past 3 years.

Luke Hosman served in the United States Navy for 22 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant and serving as both a Nuclear Electrician and later a Naval Flight Officer. Throughout his career, he was stationed in Charleston, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Pensacola, and Oklahoma City.

He was inspired to serve so that the rest of his family wouldn't need to, and among the memories that have stayed with him are seeing inside the nuclear reactor core of an aircraft carrier, his time on recruiting duty, and briefing the president on nuclear options during an exercise.

Luke takes great pride in having made it through both nuclear power training and flight school, as well as in the unwavering support of his wife throughout it all. To him, being a veteran means belonging to a brotherhood and sisterhood that transcends branch of service or length of time served, an unspoken bond shared with those who understand what others have gone through, even if they never served together.

Matthew Jay Rounds, Sr. served in the US Army from 2004 to 2011, achieving the rank of Sergeant. During his first enlistment, he was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and deployed to Iraq for 15 months as a Cavalry Scout.

He then served a second enlistment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, deploying to Afghanistan for 12 months as a Blackhawk Crew Chief. Rounds felt called to serve during a time when his nation needed him.

According to his wife, who completed this questionnaire on his behalf because she knew his humility would prevent him from doing so himself, she is deeply proud of the man he is, his character, and his service to our country, noting that he is committed and dependable in everything he does and very deserving of this recognition.

Today, Rounds remains active in his community, regularly volunteering with Helping Hands through Lakepointe Church to help community members maintain and repair their properties. He also enjoys fishing the ponds in Buffalo Creek with his kids!

Jerry V. King proudly served in the United States Air Force for 24 years, achieving the rank of E-7 First Sergeant. Throughout his career, he served as an aircraft mechanic, maintaining C-141s, C-5s, B-52 Ds, Gs, and Hs, and KC-135s, before retraining into the First Sergeant career field after sixteen years.

His service took him to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas; Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois; Altus AFB, Oklahoma; Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas; Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota; Mildenhall AFB in England; and Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Among his proudest honors, King was selected as First Sergeant of the Year for Grand Forks AFB for his work caring for the base's largest squadron of over 600 airmen, and he was personally chosen to escort Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Jim Binnicker and his wife to an Airman Leadership graduation at Minot AFB.

King was inspired to join the Air Force by a friend, and the two departed for service just days after graduating high school. One memory that has stayed with him is the dedication of service members across every branch, knowing that without each person doing their job, missions could never have been accomplished. As a First Sergeant, he made it a point to be available to his squadron 24/7, always praising in public and addressing concerns privately, a commitment he remains especially proud of.

Today, being a veteran means giving back to his fellow service members and honoring the unbreakable bond shared among those who have served. King remains deeply active in the Rockwall community, where he serves as a "Paw Patrol" volunteer at Pullen Elementary, coordinates the Hunt County Veteran Honor Guard for military funeral honors, and belongs to the Christian Motorcyclist Association and the DAV Chapter 137, serving five counties. He also volunteers with Rockwall Citizens on Patrol, has completed both the Rockwall and Heath Citizens Police Academies, and co-founded a biweekly veterans' breakfast group that has grown from two friends to as many as 35 to 55 veterans. Additionally, King serves on his church's Missions Committee, and in August 2025 he was honored with a Congressional Veteran Commendation presented by Congressman Pat Fallon, recognizing him alongside other veterans from Rockwall County. King says he's always willing to help anyone in need, and the community's warmth and friendliness toward people of all backgrounds is something he truly enjoys being part of.

Gerald Ebeling served in the United States Army from July 4, 1990, to December 1992, achieving the rank of Private First Class (PFC), E-3, as a 76C Inventory Control Specialist. A Desert Storm-era veteran, he was stationed in Korea during the war and later served in Louisiana. During his service, he earned the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. Ebeling enlisted shortly after graduating high school, encouraged by a friend who joined alongside him, and what began as an opportunity turned into a formative chapter of his life.

Among his most vivid memories is a harrowing moment during basic training, when a live grenade slipped off his finger during a throwing exercise and shot into the air. His drill sergeant immediately tackled him to the ground and shielded him as the grenade detonated safely on the other side of a protective wall, then delivered a memorably colorful lecture on grenade-throwing technique, an experience Ebeling now looks back on as both terrifying and funny.

While he has at times wrestled with not having been sent to the front lines like the friend who enlisted with him, he has come to understand that the battlefield extends far beyond the front, and that every role, from logistics to support to planning, plays a vital part in accomplishing the mission. He is proud to have served alongside dedicated men and women committed to the nation in times of both war and peace.

Having moved to the neighborhood in November 2025, Ebeling and his family are still getting to know the area, but have already been impressed by how well-maintained the community is, how friendly its people are, and its convenient location. The family stays active through their church, volunteers periodically with Our Calling, a Christian organization serving unsheltered individuals in the Dallas area, and Ebeling mentors a young student at Grace Hartman Elementary School, meeting weekly to play games and spend time together, an experience he finds especially rewarding.

Doug Johnson served in the U.S. Navy for 29 years, rising to the rank of Captain (O-6) as a nuclear-trained submarine officer responsible for the supervision, operation, maintenance, and overhaul of nuclear submarines. His distinguished career included command as Commanding Officer of the USS Indianapolis (SSN-697) out of Pearl Harbor, where he completed two deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and North Arabian Sea, as well as command of Submarine Squadron Two in New London, Connecticut, overseeing the training and readiness of five attack submarines and the NR-1, the Navy's only deep-diving nuclear-powered research submarine at the time. He went on to serve as Deputy and Chief of Staff for Material and Maintenance under Commander Naval Submarine Forces in Norfolk, Virginia, overseeing the material readiness, overhaul, and modernization of all U.S. Atlantic Fleet submarines, and later served on the Chief of Naval Operations staff at the Pentagon, responsible for submarine force maintenance and modernization.

Johnson's earlier career included service as a Division Officer aboard the USS John Marshall (SSBN-611) completing five deterrent patrols, as Engineer Officer aboard the USS Daniel Boone (SSBN-629) completing two deterrent patrols and a refueling overhaul, and as Executive Officer aboard the USS San Francisco (SSN-711), where he completed the Navy's first submarine depot modernization period in Pearl Harbor and an Eastern Pacific deployment. He also served as a War Planner on the staff of Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet, as Executive Officer of the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board for the Atlantic Fleet, completed an Executive Fellowship at the Asia-Pacific Center in Honolulu alongside senior leaders from 19 Pacific Rim nations, and earned a Master's Degree in National Security and Strategy from the Naval War College. Over the course of his career, he received numerous unit, deployment, and personal awards, including three Legion of Merit awards and three Meritorious Service Medals.

Johnson was drawn to the Navy by the opportunity to serve in a challenging environment while developing technical leadership skills tied to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and one memory that has remained with him is watching night flight operations from the bridge of an aircraft carrier. Today, he is grateful for the opportunity to have served alongside so many exceptional people, calling it both an honor and a privilege to have weathered difficult times at sea with individuals whose resilience, technical knowledge, and resourcefulness saw them through.

Mark Strong served in the United States Air Force from 1987 to 1998, achieving the rank of Captain in the Medical Service Corps, where he led medical operations planning for the overseas deployment of military medical assets and authored the medical readiness training guide for the USAF. His career took him to Eglin AFB, Florida; Sembach AFB, Germany; Langley AFB, Virginia; Fort Detrick, Maryland; and the Pentagon, with deployments to Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone in Africa, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Panama, and multiple stateside locations. Over the course of his service, he earned numerous decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal with two devices, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two devices, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two devices, along with recognition as the United States Air Forces in Europe Young Health Care Administrator of the Year and the Air Force Systems Command Medical Readiness Officer of the Year.

Strong was inspired to serve by the values of honor, service, sacrifice, and integrity instilled in him growing up in the Midwest, and by the memory of four young men from his community of 1,000 who gave their lives in Vietnam, whose funerals he attended as a schoolmate. That experience left a lasting impression that giving back to his country needed to become a priority, and when the time came, he took his oath without hesitation. The memory that has stayed with him most from his service is the camaraderie shared with fellow service members, a bond he continues to cherish through the Veterans Breakfast Group he attends every other Wednesday, a gathering that has grown from 10-15 attendees in its early years to 55-60 today.

Having had the privilege of knowing veterans from World War I through the Gulf Conflicts and hearing their stories, Strong feels his own service was modest by comparison, yet he carries a lasting sense of pride in having been one of the few to serve, often reflecting on the saying "All gave some, some gave all" whenever he sees the flag.

He is especially proud of the sacrifices made by his family during his time in uniform, including the disruptions of relocations, new schools, and long separations, calling them the forgotten heroes of military service. He also speaks with particular pride of his wife, who served as a civil service nurse with the Department of Defense providing wounded warrior care to casualties less than 24 hours out of the theater of operations, seeing more frontline casualties than many active-duty nurses see in an entire career, missing only the uniform. Today, Strong and his wife have found a true sense of community in Buffalo Creek, describing it as home in the truest sense, built on fellowship and shared attitudes, interests, and goals.

To learn more about how you can become a partner with Stroll Buffalo Creek please reach out to Teri Preas
teri.preas@n2co.com
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