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Three local World War II veterans were in Frankfort Wednesday as Governor Andy Beshear commissioned them Kentucky colonels.
Sgt. Jim Ethridge of Trigg County, Staff Sgt. Henry Breithaupt of Christian County and Cpl. Elwood Richardson of Christian County received thanks and honor for their service.
Governor Beshear is quoted in a news release as saying, “We can never do enough to thank these veterans who, as young men, risked their lives to stand up to tyranny and forever changed the course of history. I am honored just to be in their presence. As a small thank you for their selfless service to our nation, I am proud to honor each of them as a Kentucky Colonel.”
Ethridge was only 15 when he joined the army and spent six years in World War II, in addition to service in the Korean War. Breithaupt served in World War II, the Korean War and in the Vietnam War during his 21-year military career and worked a second career as a truck driver until his retirement in 1999.
Richardson spent 21 months in World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of operations and is entitled to wear the American Theater ribbon with two bronze stars.