Gary D. Hendricks served from 1961 to 1970. His first tour of duty was in the Navy. He was at the first atomic test range in 1962 off Johnson Atoll. He was in Vietnam right at the beginning in 1964 aboard the USS Oklahoma City.

His second tour of duty was in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970. He was stationed in Haver, Montana; Sioux City; and Miako Jima, which is the island south of Okinawa in the Pacific Ocean.

Upon completion of his military career, Hendricks worked for the railroad for 33 years.

Maj. Nate Conlon joined the Iowa National Guard in December 2006, joining the same unit that his grandfather served in.

-Submitted photo
Maj. Nate Conlon of the Iowa National Guard stands next to a Quilt of Valor he received from the Fort Dodge Area Quilters during a presentation at 716 Main in Humboldt.

He attended Officer Candidate School. Upon earning his commission, he had the honor of having his grandfather pin on his very first rank, symbolizing not only the continuation of a family tradition, but also passing of responsibility, leadership and dedication from one generation to the next.

He served in Afghanistan in 2011 during a critical period of the war. He was deployed to Iraq in 2020 guarding the American embassy and again in 2025.

In addition to his military service, Conlon obtained a degree from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake with a major in criminal justice, a resource for both his military and civilian careers. He is a juvenile court officer and is a member of the Humboldt Fire Department. In December, he will celebrate 20 years of service to his country in the National Guard.

The presentations were made at 716 Main.