Veterans Radio On The River

Radio on the River was a gathering of Veteran Storytellers to raise funds for Veterans Radio America, Inc, a non-profit 401(c)3.

Our guests included: Captain Thomas Stempky who became a Gunship Platoon Leader in the 189th Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam 1968-69. While serving in that role, he was awarded a Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and 26 Air Medals with "V" device.  

Brian Gawne, CAPT, USN (retired) A combat veteran of six fleet tours in fighter aircraft, Brian served as Commanding Officer of the Navy’s first F-18F Super Hornet squadron. His staff experience includes consecutive tours in the Pentagon as a budget analyst and executive assistant in the Navy’s Programming Directorate (OPNAV N80), and division chief for the Director Navy Staff. He also served two years in Stavanger, Norway as a strategic plans officer assigned to NATO’s HQ North. He is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, holds a masters degree from the Naval War College, and has logged over 3500 flight hours in F-14 fighter aircraft as a Naval Flight Officer.

Maj. Gen. William A. Henderson was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a Marine pilot he flew 125 combat missions over South Vietnam, Laos and North Vietnam. From 1970-1974, he served as an F-4 check pilot and instructor. He left active duty and then joined the Michigan Air National Guard, flying F-100s and A-7s. He was named commander of the Michigan Air National Guard in 1992 and was promoted to major general in 1996.

William Kerkstra, USMC deployed four times during the War on Terror, three to Iraq and one in Afghanistan.