Grand Marshal Sergeant Dot Hunter United States Army
Dorothy (Dot) Hunter was born in California in 1967, growing up with two sisters and two brothers as a military dependent traveling across the United States. She is the mother of 3 sons and a daughter and has 9 grandchildren. Two of her sons served in the US Army. Her oldest grandson is in the Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
After serving as a US Border Patrol Agent in Texas for 8 years, she joined the US Army as a combat medic at the age of 39 during the Gulf War surge in 2006. Dot graduated basic training from Ft Jackson and AIT at Ft Sam Houston, then was assigned to Ft Carson in Colorado. Her first deployment in 2007 was to Iraq where she served with 2nd Battalion 12th Regiment 2nd Infantry Division in Baghdad. Her unit returned home and deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 where she served in the 3rd Squadron 61st Cavalry Regiment 4th Infantry Division in Kunar Province.
After returning home and re-enlisting for nursing school, Dot graduated from Ft Sam Houston, Texas with honors. She then transferred to Ft Lewis, Washington at Madigan Army Medical Center until her honorable discharge in 2014.
After completing college, working as a medical examiner death investigator for several years, Dot is now retired and volunteering her time with veterans since 2022.
Grand Marshal Specialist 4 Joseph Houle United States Army
Joseph (Joe) Houle was born in 1946 to Joseph and Fern Houle in Hindsdale NH. He moved to Montague MA and attended schools in Montague and Turners Falls MA.
Joe was drafted at 19 in to the Army. His basic training was at Fort Dix, NJ. Additional training was at Fort Campbell in KY. As a member of the 379th Signal corps, Joe served in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia for 12 1/2 months.
Joe returned to Fort Campbell until his discharge in July 1968.
Joe spent most of his working career driving semis over the road or as a mechanic.
Joe is an active member of Poteau DAV 63 and Spiro VFW Post 4884.
Joe is married and has two daughters, two sons and a deceased daughter. He has numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Gary was born in Elma, Washington in 1946 to George and Louise Ludwig. He grew up in Seattle, Washington. He joined the United States Navy in 1962.
He attended
· Boot camp in San Diego, CA
· “A” school in Dam Neck, VA
· Sub school in New London, CT
· Hawaii for USS Barbero
· “E” school for Polaris missiles in Virginia
· Newport News, Virginia for George C Marshall which he is a plank owner.
· “B” school in Dam Neck, Virginia
· Leadership training in Norfolk, Virginia
· Taught in Dam Neck, Virginia
· New London, Connecticut for USS Andrew Jackson and USS Benjamin Franklin
Gary then returned to Charleston. From there he went to Guam by going around the tip of South America. He spent 3 years in Guam on the USS Hunley and the USS Proteus (Sub Tenders), then shore duty in Kingsville where he served as Chief of Police and instituted the drug program. Gary retired in 1984. He was hired onto the Bremerton, WA shipyard and retired from there after 20 years.
He married Wanda in 1976. He is the proud dad of 3 girls and one boy. Gary continues volunteering with the DAV post 63 in Poteau.
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