About

1SGT Craig Brown (ret)

Board Member / Director / DAV Officer

First Sergeant Craig Brown honorably retired from the United States Army after 26 years and 9
months of faithful and dedicated service to the Nation, including two combat deployments in support
of operations in Iraq. Throughout his distinguished career, First Sergeant Brown exemplified the
Army Values and upheld the highest standards of discipline, accountability, and leadership.
Serving in positions of increasing responsibility, he led Soldiers from the front, earning their trust
through strength of character, fairness, and unwavering resolve. As a senior noncommissioned
officer, he was entrusted with the welfare, training, and readiness of America’s sons and daughters,
a responsibility he carried with pride and steadfast commitment.
Behind every successful Soldier stands a resilient family. Throughout years of deployments, field
exercises, and long hours of command responsibility, his wife, Donna, remained the constant
source of strength and support. Her sacrifice, devotion, and loyalty formed the foundation that
allowed him to serve with distinction.
First Sergeant Brown’s legacy is defined not only by rank or ribbon, but by the Soldiers he
mentored, the standards he enforced, and the example he set. Rooted in West Virginia values and
forged through service and sacrifice, his life reflects honor, courage, resilience, and an enduring
commitment to family and country.

—- THIS WILL DEFEND —-

Col. Bill Carson

Founder

As a retired Military Surgeon, Col. Carson has a deep care of duty to all soldiers of all branches of service.

PFC Ben Cowger

Website Administrator

PFC Ben Cowger is a U.S. Army veteran and 12B Combat Engineer who served in DMZ South Korea, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, and Bosnia before building a global engineering career supporting major infrastructure, defense, and space-related projects on all continents except Antarctica. He brings that same discipline and mission-focused precision to preserving and protecting the stories of fellow veterans.

Anita Groves

Board Member

Anita Groves is a resident of Nicholas County and a graduate of Nicholas County High School. With nearly 40 years of experience in the finance industry, she has built a career centered on fiscal responsibility, sound decision-making, and leadership. Anita served 10 years as a Licensed Relationship Manager, Vice President with KeyBank in Vancouver, WA before returning home to West Virginia, where she has served for more than a decade as Branch Manager III, Vice President with United Bank.

Anita and her husband, Fred, reside in Canvas, West Virginia. They are proud grandparents of 6 grandchildren.

Anita has dedicated her life to meaningful community service. She previously served as President of the Nicholas County Community Foundation and currently serves as Vice Chair of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority. She also serves as Treasurer for Friends R Fun Child Development Center, as a board member for the Nicholas County Fair, and as a board member of the Veterans Freedom Museum. Anita is an active member of the Summersville Rotary, the Summersville Chamber of Commerce, and the Grand Order of Royal Leprechauns.

Her past leadership includes serving as Audit and Finance Chair for Nicholas Community Action Partnership, Secretary of the Nicholas County Park Board as well as a former board member of the Shelter Workshop board.

Stephen postalwait

Board Member

Stephen Postalwait is the President and Founder of Backpacks 4 Veterans, a West Virginia nonprofit dedicated to supporting homeless and at‑risk veterans with essential supplies, resources, and dignity. Based in Summersville, he leads statewide outreach efforts, builds partnerships with shelters and service providers, and operates The Patriots Post, a veteran‑focused gift shop that helps sustain the mission.

Beyond his nonprofit work, Stephen is deeply involved in strengthening his community. He serves on the Nicholas County Park Board and the Nicholas County Fair Board, where he helps guide planning, logistics, and community engagement. He is also the Chairperson of the Recovery Subcommittee for the Nicholas County Intervention Coalition, working to address substance use, prevention, and recovery across the region. In addition, he serves on the Nicholas County Republican Executive Committee, contributing to local civic leadership.

Stephen’s work is rooted in service, recovery, and a commitment to ensuring that no veteran is forgotten. Through hands‑on outreach and community collaboration, he continues to build programs that provide hope, stability, and support to those who served.

FRED ALLEN (CSM)

Board Member, Commander VFW Post 6106, DAV

Fred Allen; Through his career took every opportunity to make a better soldier and move forward in the ranks. He obtained many schools to include a second infantry MOS, demolition specialist, equipment operator, sapper training and a Military Science degree from Charleston University and obtaining his instructors certification he instructed at the WVOCS program at Camp Dawson as a demolition, weapons, and tactical instructor for 10 years.

During his career always staying mission orientated his most important and personal objective was the development, training and care of his soldier that served with him and his subordinates.

In January 2003 during activation for Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, he started the activation as 1SG/promotable with the responsibility of 140 soldier and obtained the rank of CSM with the new responsibility of 525 soldiers. His proudest accomplishment of this 16-month activation was survival and the return of all his men to their families from such a dangerous and enduring war.

Fred Allen is now retired from service with highest rank of CSM of the 1092^nd Engineer Bn with a distinguished military career start in 1970 as a private in the Combat Engineers and ended in December 2011 at the rank of CSM and 40 years and 6 months of service.

William (bill) l. walters, USaf

Board Member

Born at Wheeling, WV on Sept. 26, 1949.

Married for 50 plus years to Cindy. They are the parents of two daughters and one son; grandparents of three granddaughters and one grandson; and three great-grandsons.

In his teen years, Bill was active in Boy Scouts of America receiving both Eagle and God and Country awards in 1964.

Bill graduated in 1967 from St. Clairsville High School in St. Clairsville, Ohio. He received an associate degree in electronic engineering from Belmont Technical College St. Clairsville, Ohio and in 1975 graduated from Kent State University, Akron, Ohio with a BS in industrial technology in 1977.

Bill served in the United States Air Force from 1969 to 1973 stationed at Nellis AFB and Udorn Royal Thai AFB as a flightline avionics repairman in electronic countermeasure on the F-4 fighter jet.

1977 -1995 Bill worked for several Shell Mining Companies: foreman at R&F Coal Co. in Ohio, plant manager at Turris Coal Co. in Illinois, mine manager at Turris Coal Co. in Indiana, and manager of safety, training and human resources at Evergreen Mining Co. in West Virginia. 1995-2003, Bill worked in insurance sales and as an independent financial planner. Lastly from 2005- 2010, Bill worked at Fola Operations West Virginia finishing as the safety supervisor of two surface mines and three coal preparation plants.

Highlights of his professional career were the selection of the Vanderrick preparation Plant at Daylight Indiana as one of the top nine teams in Shell Oil Company with an employee number greater than 20,000. The team of six people focused on safety, environmental excellence, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance and financial strength. The second occurred when the Fola Coal Surface Mine operated as one of the safest mines in the United States during 2009-2010. Throughout his workstations Bill came to the conclusion that good people do good things while great people do great things!

After retirement, Bill was owner of Walnut Grove Antiques at Mt. Lookout, WV until 2021. He is an active Christian of the Summersville Memorial United Methodist Church. Bill has been on the Board of Directors at Brown Oaks in Summersville, WV, a historic home on the National Register for the past eleven years. Bill is an active life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6106, a member of American Legion Post 131, a life member of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 46 and a board member of the Veterans Freedom Museum all located in Summersville, WV.

ltc Debbie tompkins (RET)

Board Member / Museum Curator / Chief Financial Officer / VFW Quartermaster

Debbie Tompkins is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army whose distinguished military career began in 1982 when she enlisted as a young Private. Through determination, steady leadership, and an unwavering commitment to service, she rose through the ranks over a 25-year career, retiring honorably in 2007.
During her time in uniform, LTC (R) Tompkins served in numerous assignments both stateside and overseas, including service in Operation Desert Storm. Her career took her to multiple countries and operational environments in support of Army missions. Her service was recognized with numerous commendations, campaign honors, and service medals reflecting her professionalism, leadership, and dedication to mission readiness and troop welfare.
Upon retiring from the United States Army, Debbie served as the Senior Army Instructor for the Nicholas County JROTC program for 10 years, mentoring and guiding students in discipline, citizenship, and service.
Today, she serves as Museum Curator and Chief Financial Officer for the Veterans Freedom Museum and Quartermaster for VFW Post 6106.
Family & Community
Debbie has been proudly married to her husband, Donald, for over 25 years. Together they have built a strong blended family of eight children, seventeen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. The family’s tradition of military service continues, with one grandchild currently serving in the United States Army.
Grounded in faith, family, and service, LTC (R) Debbie Tompkins remains deeply committed to her community.

JACK E. ALLMENDINGER JR., BT1(SW), USN (RET.)

Board Member

Jack E. Allmendinger Jr. is a retired United States Navy Boiler Technician First Class (Surface Warfare) who served honorably from 1980 to 2000. During his naval career he specialized in propulsion systems, boiler operations, and the maintenance of critical engineering systems that support shipboard power and propulsion.

Following his military service, Jack built a career in utilities and industrial plant operations, working with organizations including Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Fluor Corporation, Grifols Therapeutics, and Sodexo. His work focused on the operation, maintenance, and repair of boilers, steam systems, chillers, cooling towers, pumps, and other essential plant utilities.

Jack remains actively involved in the veteran community. He serves as Commander of American Legion Post 131 and is a Life Member of DAV Post 46, a member of VFW Post 6106, and serves on both the Nicholas County Veterans Council and the Veterans Freedom Museum Board. Through these roles, he continues supporting veterans and helping preserve their stories and service.