Fallen Heroes Memorial

Private First Class Kermit Harold Labelle Jr. joined the Marine Corps at a very young age. Kermit lost his life from multiple fragmentations to the side of his head and body from an attack in the Quang Tri Province in South Vietnam; he was 18 years old. Growing up, Kermit lived in different places in Interior Alaska such as Kantishna, Healy, Livengood, and Noorvik. Kermit, along with his brothers, attended Wrangell Institute and Mount Edgecumbe High School where Kermit graduated early in 1965. Kermit’s family states that he took risks and liked to lead. Kermit joined the Marines in 1966 at the age of 17. His family tried to talk him out of joining, but he told them, “I will be a better person for serving our country.” On July 28, 1967, PFC Kermit LaBelle took an extra watch to cover a fellow soldier, where he then lost his life; he had 41 days left to serve in Vietnam.

Wayne E. Jones joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17, serving from 1950-1954, most of the time with the 1st Marine Aviation Group maintaining their aircraft. His enlistment ended with the reduction of the USMC forces at the end of the Korean conflict, and he left the service as a Marine Sergeant with the Korean Service Medal. Wayne moved to Alaska in 1958, and he and his brother joined the Alaska State Police in 1960, the first brothers to serve on the force together. In 1961, he and Trooper Tom Sweeney manned the Delta trooper post with their wives acting as radio dispatchers and matrons when needed. At age 30, Jones chose to enlist in the United States Army where he attended flight school. His tour in Vietnam began in January 1967, where he flew for the 18th Aviation Company. CWO Jones was awarded the Air Medal sixteen times in seven months. On August 17, 1967, CWO Jones, WO Don Harger his co-pilot, and Sp5 Joseph Benson the crew chief left Nha Trang to return to their home field at Pleiku in the Central Highlands. Unfortunately, weather conditions worsened as they were flying, which caused their plane to crash, with no survivors.

Gilbert Ketzler Jr. was born on June 18, 1948. He was drafted into the Army via selective service and began his tour on July 17, 1969. PFC Ketzler served with the 44th Medical Brigade, 85th Evacuation Hospital. Ketzler died through accidental homicide via friendly fire on October 10, 1969, in South Vietnam, Thua Thien province.

Gary was born on July 20, 1948, in Hemlock, Michigan, to parents Arno R. and Alice L. (Wardin) Bluemer. A 1966 graduate of Hemlock High School, he received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1970 from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. While attending Michigan Tech, he was a member of the Arnold Air Association of Michigan Tech and the R.O.T.C. During his senior year at Tech, Gary received the University President’s Award and the American Legion Gold and Silver award.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon his completion of the Reserve Officers Training Corps program with the U.S. Air Force and advanced to the rank of Captain prior to his death. After being awarded his silver wings at Reese AFB, Texas, he was assigned to Eielson AFB, Alaska. There he flew the O-2A Super Skymaster observation aircraft as Squadron Forward Air Controller with the 25th Tactical Airlift Support Squadron at Eielson AFB, Alaska.
Gary fell in love with Alaska as soon as he was stationed at Eielson and made the North Pole his home. He loved the Alaskan outdoors and its many opportunities for hunting, especially moose hunting. He flew his bush plane throughout Alaska many times for hunting trips. We were told he had to set it down in remote locations and then had to carry it out in parts to reassemble it to be ready for his next trip.
Gary died in a USAF training accident while co-piloting an O-2A Super Skymaster aircraft on December 9, 1974, near Delta Junction, Alaska. Posthumously, Gary was awarded The Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service from the Department of the Air Force and The Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.

Roland Edgar “Skip” Chevalier Jr. was born in New Bedford, MA, on March 8, 1949. After high school, Chevalier joined the US Army, where he served for 8.5 years in the 82nd Airborne. During his tenure in the Army, he was stationed at Ft. Richardson in Anchorage and served as a Military Police Officer in the Drug Enforcement Unit. He decided to stay in Alaska upon his discharge in 1976 and pursued a career in law enforcement.
Chevalier joined the Alaska State Troopers on June 21, 1976. He worked as a drug enforcement officer on the joint task force for three months before joining the 27th Recruit Class at the DPS Academy in Sitka, graduating in November of 1976. Skip was a student pilot and served in the Arctic Flying Club’s maintenance division. He loved hunting, skiing, and served as a board member on the Fairbanks Citizens Advisory Committee. Trooper “Skip” Chevalier Jr. lost his life in the line of duty on April 3, 1982.

Christine (Christy) Pennington will always be remembered as a cheerful, energetic, loving, and helpful friend. She and her young son Jonathan Patterson died early one March evening outside Fairbanks in a vehicle accident as she was responding to an emergency call of a man complaining of chest pain. Christy was engaged to marry Johnnie Patterson, a 20-year-old firefighter, that year in August. At the time of her death, she was survived by her parents Henry and Janet Pennington of Kodiak; her sister Linda, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents. Christy died on March 15, 1991.

Officer Lamm began his law enforcement career in October 1993, working as a Police Officer with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Police Department and as a Reserve Police Officer with the North Pole Police Department in North Pole, Alaska, where he lived. In February 1995, Officer Lamm began with the Fairbanks Police Department as a police officer. From the day he began his career in law enforcement, Officer Lamm excelled in every task he put his mind to, from working patrol, to working massive amounts of overtime, to being on the tactical team before he was killed. Officer Lamm took great pride in his career and loved his work.
Officer Kevin Lamm was shot and killed after responding to a subject removal call. He was fatally wounded while giving his two partners a chance to escape the apartment. This is the officer and man that everyone knew in Kevin Lamm. After a 90-minute standoff, the tactical team entered the residence and found the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officer Lamm had served with the Fairbanks Police Department for 3 years. He is survived by his wife, Holly Lamm, whom he had married only 12 days prior to his murder, his son Elliott Lamm, parents, and two brothers. Off duty, Kevin Lamm was a consummate family man, who could give the shirt off his back to help out any family member or friend. We truly lost a good person on January 1, 1998.

Staff Sgt. Stephen John Sutherland was born November 7, 1972, in Woodbury, New Jersey. On January 28, 1998, Stephen chose to enlist in the United States Army. Staff Sgt. Sutherland completed his Basic Training and AIT in Kentucky. His first duty station was Fort Carson, Colorado, where he met his loving wife, Maria. Staff Sgt. Sutherland was stationed at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska; he lived with his wife and two children in North Pole.
Staff Sgt. Stephen Sutherland lost his life on November 12, 2005, five days after his 33rd birthday, while serving in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. While on patrol, SSG Sutherland’s unit’s vehicle rolled into a crater created by an IED. Staff Sgt. Sutherland was the unit’s gunner and did not have time to retreat inside of the vehicle. Stephen’s legacy includes his three children: Omar, Victor, and his namesake, Stephen. As said by his wife Maria, “Not a day goes by that he is not missed. He was a wonderful, loving, kind man. This world is a better place because he was once a part of it.”

PFC Joseph Isaiah Love-Fowler of North Pole, Alaska, was born January 12, 1984. He loved playing guitar with his dad and shooting pool with his mom. He gave his younger sisters advice, and sometimes warnings, about boyfriends. He also loved music, from the alternative rock group Cake to classical cello music by Yo Yo Ma. After graduating from Fairbanks Youth Alternative school in 2003 with a 4.0 grade point average and working at a local concrete company for a short time, Love-Fowler enlisted in the Army in March 2003 and was sent to basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, joining the Army so he could eventually attend college and study architecture.
Trained as a combat engineer, Love-Fowler was assigned to the 84th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), where he served in Bravo Company as a carpentry and masonry specialist. In the fall of 2005, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On April 9, 2006, PFC Love-Fowler was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during convoy operations in Balad. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, and Purple Heart.

Derek was born in Fairbanks on February 15, 1983. He attended Ticasuk Brown Elementary, North Pole Middle School, and graduated from North Pole High School (NPHS) in 2001. He loved hockey, playing in the Fairbanks Amateur Hockey League and as a goalie for the North Pole Patriots. Derek coached many children and passed on his love of the sport. On his MySpace page, he has a quote: “If there is no hockey in heaven, I’m not going.”
Music was another of Derek’s passions, and, under the direction of his favorite teacher and mentor Bruce Hanson, he sang in the NPHS Mannerchor, jazz, and concert choirs. He loved to hunt, shoot paintballs, play computer games, and watch videos with friends.
Derek attended basic and advanced training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in January 2004 and was stationed at Fort Drum, New York, in June of 2004. His awards include the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge. He was trained as a combat military policeman and made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country.
Sgt. Derek Stenroos was killed by an IED while serving in Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division out of Syracuse, NY.

Battalion Chief Philip E. Rounds started his firefighting career in the Air Force in 1972, stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base. In 1974, he was transferred to Eielson Air Force Base where he was a Staff Sergeant at the Fire Department until 1979 when he became Assistant Chief. In 1985, he accepted a position as a Fire Captain with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Fire Department where he eventually rose to Battalion Chief. During his years at the University, he became an instructor for the Fire Science program, not only teaching hundreds of future firefighters’ skills and tactics locally but also teaching firefighters around the state. He was named Firefighter of the Year in 1999.
Battalion Chief Philip E. Rounds passed away on November 21, 2008, after a battle with lung cancer caused by cumulative fire exposures and effects.

Sgt. Joel David Clarkson was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, on October 8, 1986. In high school, Joel joined ROTC and decided that he wanted to be an Army Ranger. In February of 2006, Sgt. Clarkson enlisted with the United States Army. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, Sgt. Clarkson was assigned to the Ranger Indoctrination Program at Fort Benning, Georgia. Clarkson was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment where he served as a grenadier, Squad Automatic Weapon Gunner, and a team leader.
Sgt. Joel Clarkson died on March 16, 2010, during direct-fire combat while serving in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Even in death, seven lives were given a second chance through Joel’s organ donations. Sgt. Clarkson is survived by his wife, Cassandra, and their son Orion; his parents, Karen and Steven Clarkson; and his older sister Jessica.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Johnathan B. McCain, 38, of Apache Junction, Ariz., was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He died on November 13, 2011, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries caused by an improvised explosive device.
SFC McCain graduated from Chandler High School. He was an avid bow hunter and a talented artist. He and his wife, LeAnne, had just celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary. SFC McCain enlisted in the Army in 1992. He served in Kaiserslautern, Germany; Fort Hood, TX; and Fort Bragg, NC, before arriving in Alaska in 2000. He had previously been deployed to Iraq twice, where in one deployment, he had been injured in a mortar attack. He served as a platoon sergeant.
SFC McCain was eligible for full military retirement in 18 months. He was planning on teaching college-level military classes and already had an offer from Idaho State University. His father, Bob McCain, said his son was a talented artist. His work was featured in a 2009 military publication with a photo showing him autographing a print he drew for fellow soldiers in Iraq. He also took widely recognized photos of mosques in the towns of Baqubah and Khan Bani Sa’ed, as well as military vehicles and helicopters.
“It just killed me he had to deploy a third time. He was totally 100% in love with the military and his country. He felt what he was doing was needed.”
To My Dearest Son: I will miss you so much. Your strong personality, true convictions, and your incredible patriotism, but your smile and your infectious laugh will stay with me forever. You have been such a wonderful blessing and inspiration to me in your short time here. Thank you so much for being our son, an incredible soldier, and an awesome husband and father. You will be sorely missed, but we will join you someday in our Godly heavens! Thank you son for being my hero!! ~ Sharon Gainey, Florence, South Carolina.
(Note: Additional context from correspondence indicates his widow, LeAnne, and their four children sought recognition in North Pole, Alaska, as it was their home of record at the time of his death.)

Staff Sgt. Steven J. Wengelewski Jr. was born on June 24, 1973, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Steven served in the US Navy from 2001-2004 and transferred to the US Army from 2004 up until the date of his death in 2013. He was a highly decorated soldier, with six tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. SSG Wengelewski passed away from a motorcycle accident on November 8, 2013, in Columbus, Georgia. Steven loved motorcycles, family, and friends. He is survived by his wife Sonia and his nine children.

Trooper Gabe Rich was born in Sayre, Pennsylvania, but moved to Fairbanks shortly after birth. He graduated from Lathrop High School in 2006. He attended both Montana State University and the University of Alaska in Anchorage. He completed the University of Alaska – Fairbanks Tanana Valley Campus Law Enforcement Academy in 2008. He spent four years working as a patrolman with the North Pole Police Department before deciding to become an Alaska State Trooper in 2011. Trooper Rich worked in Fairbanks patrol for the majority of his 3 1/2 years as a Trooper, then moved to the Rural Unit in November 2013. He is survived by his fiancé, Angie; sons Lenox and Malakai; and parents David and Patty Rich.

Sgt. Scott Johnson was born in Fairbanks and grew up in Tok where he graduated from Tok School in 1987. He graduated from Southern Oregon State College in 1991 with a bachelor’s of science in Criminology. Johnson was a North Slope Borough Police officer from 1991 until 1993. He graduated from Municipal Police Academy in Sitka in 1992. He worked as a patrol shift supervisor, armorer, defensive tactics instructor, and hostage negotiator, among other things, while with NSBPD. In 1993, he made the switch to Alaska State Troopers and graduated from the Public Safety Academy in December of that year. Afterward, he headed to Fairbanks where he worked as a patrol trooper; investigator; was a field training officer; was a canine officer, instructor, and canine unit supervisor; was the assistant team leader of the Northern Special Emergency Reaction team (SERT); and finally rural unit sergeant. He is survived by his wife Brandy; daughters Hayly, Hana, and Halene; parents Bud and Pam Johnson; and siblings Brian and Shaun Johnson.

Allen David Brandt was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, on March 12, 1982, to Gary and Jonita Brandt. He spent his childhood days roaming the woods of Michigan and developing his love for the outdoors, hunting, and fishing. Shortly after graduation from Sturgis High School in 2000, Allen moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, Allen’s attention was directed to serving the Fairbanks community in Law Enforcement. He began his career with the Fairbanks Police Department in 2005 and was sent to Washington State for training with Police Corps. Allen rapidly excelled in his service as a police officer and won multiple awards and commendations from the State of Alaska for his dedication to Impaired Driving Enforcement and Traffic Enforcement. In 2015, he was promoted to Patrol Sergeant, a position he served in until his death. Allen was an outspoken advocate at the Fairbanks Police Department for morality and strong character and was instrumental in impacting many in the Fairbanks community in a positive way.

While at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Allen met Natasha Rae Allen, beginning what they both described as a ‘fairy tale’ relationship. After courting for a short period of time, they married in July 2005. They had four children together: Fritz, born in 2008; Kate, born in 2010; Claire, born in 2011; and Belle, in 2014. Their home was one filled with love, vitality, and service to God and community.

Allen was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying frequent hunting and fishing adventures. He always marveled at the wonders of God’s creation and was thankful for every opportunity to enjoy new experiences. He was also a pilot and greatly enjoyed flying.

Throughout all of his experiences, Allen was a man of vibrant faith in God and took every opportunity to share his faith in God and the Bible with co-workers, friends, family, and acquaintances. His abiding love for God evidenced itself in his faithful service through several churches throughout the North Pole community, including great personal sacrifice to help start the True North Baptist Church in 2016. He was a faithful and integral member of that church until the time of his death.

Allen was always a man with a great sense of humor. He had deep and unshakeable character and dogmatically stood for truth. After the ambush that eventually claimed his life, Allen spent his last week and a half in the hospital, sharing the good news about salvation through Jesus Christ with hospital staff, visitors, friends, and co-workers. His unshakeable confidence in God was clearly displayed as he shared God’s truth and faithfully prayed for the spiritual well-being of all those he came in contact with. His continuing legacy is clearly seen in his diligent service to God, community, his family, and the many close friends that he impacted.