The Kentucky National Guard will hold its annual Memorial Day observance at the Kentucky National Guard Memorial in Frankfort.
Five names will be added to the Memorial that honors Kentucky National Guard men and women who died in the line of duty, bringing the total number of names on the Memorial to 296 soldiers and airmen since 1912. Of the new names being added, one died in 1945 during World War II, one died in 2019, two in 2021, and one in 2022 during federal service on the southwest border.
Those names being added are:
Major George N. Hembree
10 July 1893 - 16 May 1945
· Major George N. Hembree, 51, of Richmond, Madison County, KY died on May 16, 1945, in Amarillo, TX from massive head injuries when he was struck by a gasoline truck at the Amarillo Army Air Field. He was serving on Title 10 Federal Active Duty status at the time of his death. He had been stationed in Honolulu since October 1944 and was returning home on medical leave, after which he was to have been admitted to a hospital for medical treatment. An all-round college athlete and veteran of World War I, Major Hembree was a medical administrative corps officer with the 137th Hospital Company, 113 Medical Regiment, 38th Division, Kentucky National Guard in Richmond, KY when his unit was federally activated in January 1941. At that time, he was a member of the faculty of Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College. He came to Richmond in 1920 as head coach of all athletics at the college. Hembree was the associate professor of physical education and coach of the baseball team at Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College when he went into federal service. Coach Hembree is credited with discovering and mentoring Earle Combs a professional baseball Hall of Famer with the three-time World Series Champion New York Yankees and other baseball diamond luminaries. Born in Barbourville, Major Hembree was a graduate of the Berea Academy and the University of Kentucky and did post-graduate work at Bowling Green Business College and the University of Illinois. The death of Major Hembree was reported in newspapers across the country. He was interred at the Richmond Cemetery in Richmond, KY.
Major Travis E. Riley
18 Apr 1976 - 15 Aug 2019
· Major Travis E. Riley, 46, of Mount Washington, Bullitt County, KY died on August 16, 2019, of a service-connected illness. He was a decorated combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. Travis Riley joined the Army at age 18, later served in the Kentucky National Guard with the 198th Military Police Battalion and rose to the rank of Major. Travis loved and served his country with immense pride and dedication. Major Riley is buried in the Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, KY.
Sergeant First Class Derrick K. Pool
26 Nov 1985 - 12 Jun 2021
· Sergeant First Class Derrick K. Pool, 35, of Paducah, McCracken County, KY died on June 12, 2021, from injuries sustained when the motorcycle he was operating ran off the road at night and struck a tree. He was serving on Title 32 Active Guard-Reserve Duty status at the time his death. Pool served 15 years with the Kentucky Army National Guard and was the Readiness Noncommissioned Officer for the 438th Military Police Company in Murray, KY. He was a Veteran of the Iraq war. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Companion Medal, Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal, Kentucky Merit Ribbon, Kentucky Commendation Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, and Expert Marksmanship Badge. SFC Pool held the following Military Occupational Specialties: Military Police Officer, Automated Logistics Specialist, and Unit Supply Specialist. He was also a Master Resilience Trainer, Master Fitness Trainer, Senior Gunner and Battler Staff NCO. Sergeant First Class Pool was posthumously awarded the Military Police Regimental Association’s Order of the Marechaussee, Bronze, Award and is buried in the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Paducah, KY.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Natalie A. Wamsley
8 September 1985 - 30 November 2021
· Chief Warrant Officer 2 Natalie A. Wamsley, 36, of Georgetown, Scott County, KY died on November 30, 2021, due to breast cancer while serving on Title 32 Active Guard-Reserve Duty status. Born in Louisville, Natalie enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard in 2003 while she was still in high school. She joined because of her grandfather’s military service and her involvement in the Junior ROTC program at Male High School in Louisville. She came from a long line of veterans but was the first woman in her family to join. As an enlisted Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer, Natalie served as a Human Resources Specialist at the company and brigade level including a deployment to Iraq in 2011. At the time of her death, CW2 Wamsley was serving as the Human Resources Technician for Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 138thField Artillery Brigade in Lexington, KY. Natalie Wamsley was appointed a Warrant Officer 1 on March 19, 2018, following multiple rounds of chemotherapy and surgery for an aggressive form of breast cancer that was initially discovered while attending Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS). Undeterred, Warrant Officer Candidate Wamsley completed WOCS, but delayed her appointment to receive medical treatment. She was prescribed aggressive radiation therapy which she received five days a week, all while preparing to be commissioned as a warrant officer by working out throughout her treatments. Natalie completed chemotherapy treatments January 30, 2018, and immediately came off medical profile early in order to take the physical fitness test to commission. She passed the test, impressing herself and others with her score. She was commissioned in front of a large crowd of friends and colleagues, all inspired by the soldier standing in front of them. She was pinned by her husband, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ronald Wamsley who said he had never been prouder to be her husband. Together they were the only warrant officer husband-wife pair in the Kentucky National Guard. CW2 Wamsley was known by her friends, peers, and colleagues as a natural leader who always went above and beyond with her “No quit, No excuse” attitude. She inspired others to be better every single day in every part of life. In a 2019 interview with National Guard News and Citizen Soldier Magazine, Natalie said her mantra during treatment became, “Your illness does not define you, your strength and courage does.” Natalie served 18 years with the Kentucky Army National Guard. He was a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was interred with full military honors at the Crestlawn Memorial Cemetery in Georgetown, KY.
Sergeant First Class Johnnie L. Patrick, II,
2 January 1976 - 10 January 2022
· Sergeant First Class Johnnie L. Patrick, II, 46, of Irvine, Estill County, KY died on January 10, 2022, in El Paso, TX of a cardiac condition while serving on Title 32 Full-Time National Guard Duty orders in support of the Southwest Board Security Mission known as Operation Guardian Support. Born and raised in Estill County, Patrick served in the Kentucky Army National Guard for over 20 years. Following the events of 9/11, he enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard in October 2001 and was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Brigade in Ravenna, KY. During his tenure with the Infantry Battalion, he performed all his duties in an outstanding manner and expertly accomplished jobs of increasing responsibility. During later assignments with the 301st Chemical Company, 299th Chemical Company, Det 1, 207th Engineer Company, and HSC, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade he demonstrated maturity and attention to detail above his peers. His duty positions ranged from Team Leader, Squad Leader, Senior Mechanic, Motor Sergeant, and Full-Time Military Technician Shop Supervisor. From January 21, 2003, through September 25, 2003, Patrick was deployed to Bosnia and Germany in support of the NATO-led Stabilization Force mission. He was later mobilized for the War on Terror in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom serving from June 27, 2006, through December 24, 2007, in Iraq. At the time of his death, Sergeant First Class Patrick was deployed with HSC, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as an Augmentee to Joint Task Force North a joint service military command tasked to support our nation’s federal law enforcement agencies in the identification and interdiction of suspected transnational criminal organizations’ activities conducted within and along the approaches to the continental United States. A truly dedicated and proud Soldier, SFC Patrick worked tirelessly to ensure that all missions were accomplished on time and to the most exacting of standards. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, five Army Reserve Components Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Antarctica Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal w/Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/Mobilization Device and Silver Hourglass, three Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO Medal, the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal, three Kentucky Service Ribbons, two Kentucky State Active Duty Ribbons, the Kentucky Counter Drug Ribbon, and the Mississippi Emergency Service Ribbon. SFC Patrick was interred with full military honors at the Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Irvine, KY.
The Kentucky National Guard Memorial is located at the entrance to Boone National Guard Center off the West Plaza Connector and next to Capital City Airport in Frankfort.
The event is free and open to the public. Parking is located nearby.