Rock Valley veteran to address Memorial Day crowd

This year's guest speaker at Hartley's Memorial Day services comes with an extensive background in both the military and American Legion.

David Honse, of Rock Valley, grew up mostly in Rolla, Mo., where he completed high school. In 1983 at age 17, he enlisted in the Missouri National Guard as a 12C Ribbon Bridge Specialist and later entered into regular Army service in 1987 as a 12B Combat Engineer.

Honse served with the 20th Engineer Battalion stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky., until the spring of 1990. In May of 1990 he was transferred to Germany to serve with the 54th Engineer Battalion in Wildflecken on what was then the border between East and West Germany. In August of 1990 after the invasion of Kuwait, the 54th Engineer Battalion was put on alert status to move to southwest Asia as part of the 1st Armored Division.

From December of 1990 to May of 1991, Sgt. Honse served as squad leader for a mechanized engineer squad in the sands of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. Upon returning to Germany he was named as the NCOIC of a major remodeling project as part of an American/German community improvement initiative.

In March of 1992 Honse returned with his family to the United States and ended his military career in April of 1993 after 10 years of combined service. During his service he was awarded multiple certificates and medals of accomendation. Since that time he has held various positions in multiple companies, including building two of his own businesses.

Honse currently works for A&I Products in Rock Valley as the department coordinator for facilities and logistics. He joined the American Legion Post 321 in 2010 and has held the positions of Post Commander, Post Adjutant, County Commander, District Vice Commander, District Commander, and Department Sergeant at Arms as well serving on many committees.

He is currently an endorsed candidate for Department Vice Commander for 2023-24. He and his wife, Shelly, have seven children.