Executive Director

Franklin A. Flesher, NMHM Executive Director, entered the United States Army as an enlisted soldier in 1952. He was commissioned in 1958 and retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. During his career he was Ranger and Jump certified saw 2 tours in Viet Nam. He was stationed at Ft. Benning, Ft. Hood, the Pentagon, the Air Force Staff College and has attended the University of Akron and Missouri Western State University. Frank is also the founder of the NMHM.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Lt. Colonel Frank Flesher USA (Retired).  Ranger and airborne qualified, he gave 28 years of service to the United States Army and 18 plus years of selfless dedication to the National Military Heritage Museum and Society.

Chairman of the Board

   A native of South Dakota, Commander Helen Thompson enlisted in the Navy in 1978. After five years of active duty, then Data Processing Technician Second Class Thompson joined the Naval Reserve and pursued her education. Commander Thompson received a commission in the Naval Reserve after graduating from Winona State University in 1989.
   In 1991, Thompson entered graduate school, where she earned a master’s degree in Information Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. In 2002, CDR Thompson completed the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer (CIO) Certification Program.

  Her 25+ year Naval career has included tours as; Medical CIO, Joint Forces Command, Communications Officer/CIO, EMF Dallas in support of Operation Iraq Freedom 2004-2005, CIO and Officer in Charge of OHSU Dallas Detachment V Wichita KS , Deputy CIO, Commander Naval Reserve Force, New Orleans, Louisiana; CIO, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia and Naval Hospital Great Lakes, Illinois.
   Thompson’s awards include 4 Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal and many other service decorations.
   Thompson’s professional career includes more than a decade of experience in information technology (IT) in the health care industry where she is widely published with articles on Strategic IT planning. She has worked in the acute, behavioral and managed care markets and has experience working with federal, public, and not-for-profit organizations.
   She is now serving as the Reserve Staff Officer for the Naval Personnel Command Assignment Branch, Millington TN. CDR Thompson is employed in the civilian sector as the CIO for Heartland Health in St. Joseph, Missouri.
   CDR Thompson and family are residents of St. Joseph, MO and have a son in the US Army.

Secretary

David Ward joined the United States Marine Corps in January of 1971. He went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego, Ca. Ward was a squad leader, promoted to PFC on graduation and went to Infantry Training at Camp Pendleton, Ca. PFC Ward was assigned to Aircraft Electronics School at NAS Jacksonville, Fl. From there he served in the first and third Marine Air Wings in El Toro, Ca., and Iwakuni, Japan. Sergeant Ward was released from active duty in December of 1975. Sgt. Ward received various awards for being there, and proudly shot Expert rifle in all rifle qualifications and Sharpshooter pistol in all qualifications in the service that considers every Marine a rifleman.

Sgt. Ward (ret.) used his GI bill to go to college then went on to graduate school and Medical School. He is currently an Emergency Department physician in Kansas. Dr/Sgt. Ward was released from active duty during a time of social unrest in this country. He vowed that the disrespect that was shown to his fellow patriots should not be shown to servicemen and women in the future. His dedication to the National Military Heritage Museum is derived from the belief that education about our (The United States of America) military heritage will prevent that injustice from happening again.

Members

David Hindman

Born in Meservey, Iowa, Dave Hindman was drafted into the US Army in 1969. Just prior to induction Polly and he were married. Dave attended Basic and Advanced infantry Training at Fort Polk, La. Dave served with the 25^th Infantry Division in Cu Chi Vietnam where he was assigned to the 3^rd Battalion Field Artillery. We had the most fire power of any battalion in the division. Four batteries of 155 Howitzers and 1 battery of 175’s.  When the 13^th colors were re-deployed back to Hawaii he was assigned to 1^st Cavalry Division at Ben Hoa. Sergeant Hindman was discharged on January 1, 1971, leaving the Army with several awards, including the Bronze Star.

Dave attended Iowa State University and Missouri Western State College graduating with a BS in Computer Science. Dave has worked for several major national corporations and currently working for Heartland Health and running a farm near Maysville, Missouri. He is active several social organizations, in the VFW, the Dekalb County Memorial Post, and the American Legion.

Ken Nold

Ken Nold received basic and advanced training under One Station Unit Training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, graduating as a 13B Cannon Crew member. Assignments included 1st Battalion 3^rd Field Artillery Regiment Second Armored Division, Ft. Hood, Texas. 4^th Battalion 14^th Field Artillery Regiment, 72^nd Field Artillery Brigade, Bamberg, Federal Republic of Germany. 6th Battalion 41^st Field Artillery Regiment 3^rd Infantry Division, Kitzingen, Federal Republic of Germany. 3^rd Battalion 17^th Field Artillery Regiment, 214^th Field Artillery Regiment, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
 
Awards and decorations include Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (5 oak leaf clusters), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (three campaign stars) Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Valorous Unit Award, Drivers Badge-W, Sharpshooter Badge Rifle, Expert Badge Grenade.
 
Civilian education includes Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Missouri Western State College. Ken has traveled as an Emergency Department nurse throughout the U.S. He is also active in Civil Air Patrol. 'Rock of the Marne!'

Biographic information of the following members will be forth coming.

John Grimes

Zane Brickey

Jessie Rivera

Truman Hardey