Veterans Service

The following veterans will be honored on Monday, June 6, 2016 at the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery-John Sevier, Knoxville, Tennessee. The Memorial Service will begin at 1:30 PM at the cemetery. These veterans from East Tennessee died without family to claim them or homeless in our community.

Sergeant Deborah Elaine McCallie Atkins Smith Easler, age 57, born April 17, 1958 in Bexar County, Texas to Joseph Tate McCallie and Cecile N. Myers McCallie of Monroe and Loudon counties. She was a resident of Loudon, Tennessee during her childhood years and joined the United States Air Force on April 15, 1986. She served with honor with the 89 Services Squadron, Air Mobility Command until July 31, 1992. Deborah was a Food Service Specialist and served three years of foreign service. She was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air force Good Conduct Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Shirt Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, NCO Professional Military Education Graduate with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Training Ribbon. Deborah was married to Johnny L. Smith during her Air Force service, and later married to Edward W. Easler of Washington County, TN in 1988. Deborah had been a resident of Knoxville and was homeless when she passed away on February 7, 2016.

Sp4 Leonard David Fairchild, Jr., age 70, was born February 18, 1945 in Lenoir, North Carolina. He entered the United States Army on November 9, 1966 and served until September 16, 1968. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and Sharpshooter Badge Rifle M-14. He attended service school at Fort Campbell, Kentucky January to April 1967. Leonard had attended two years of university level classes. He died February 11, 2016.

Seaman Recruit Michael Lee McRill, age 55, born April 14, 1960. He was a 1977 graduate of Mattoon Senior High School in Mattoon, Illinois. Michael entered the United States Navy on February 28, 1979 and served until June 29, 1979. During his time in the service he was stationed at Great Lakes, Illinois. Michael Lee McRill died in Knoxville, Tennessee on January 26, 2016.

Private Calvin Coolidge Cherry, Jr., age 65, was born March 24, 1951. He entered the United States Army from his hometown of Oak Ridge, Tennessee on November 1, 1976. He was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion Advanced Individual Training Brigade. United States Army Information Technology Center, Training and Doctrine Command. Private Cherry served in the US Army until his release on April 1, 1977 at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was awarded the Marksman (M-16) badge during his service. Calvin Cherry died April 16, 2016.

Private First Class Richard Eugene Traxler, age 81, of Blount County, passed away May 21, 2016 at Blount Memorial Hospital. Richard Traxler was born June 1, 1934 in Muskegon Heights, Michigan. He entered the US Army in April 1954 in Detroit, Michigan and served honorably the term of his enlistment of three years. Private First Class Traxler was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. He was a longtime resident of Maryville, Tennessee and was well known and respected in the veteran community.

E-3 Fireman Robert Lowell Burk was born April 18, 1943 in San Antonio, Los Angeles County, California. He enlisted from his home of record of Norwalk, Los Angeles, California and served in the United States Navy from April 26, 1960 to March 27, 1964. His last assignment was aboard the USS Bexar APA237. he served two years and seven months of foreign and/or sea service. Robert passed away May 4, 2016.