Faces of Sussex service: ten local veterans whose service made the news

Here are ten Sussex County veterans whose service made the news in 2025 and 2026, at a quilt presentation, a post ceremony or a bus ride to Washington. Each story links to where it was first told.

Gary Morris, Lincoln · Air Force, Vietnam · Purple Heart

Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Gary Morris, a Lincoln veteran, enlisted in March 1964 and served 27 years. In May 1967, rockets and mortars hit Bien Hoa Air Base in Vietnam around 2 a.m., and shrapnel struck him in both arms. The Purple Heart Patriot Project chose him as Delaware's representative for its 2026 mission, April 27 to May 1. (Purple Heart Patriot Project, Dec. 16, 2025)

Dan Tidwell, John Taylor and Carl Roosa · Honor Flight

Thirty-five local veterans boarded buses at American Legion Post 28 in Long Neck at 7 a.m. for an Honor Flight day at the memorials in Washington this spring. Marine veteran Dan Tidwell was selected to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. Air Force veteran John Taylor was moved by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon at the Lincoln Memorial. Carl Roosa, who served in the Navy and the Air Force, made the trip too. About 12 hours after they left, a Delaware State Police helicopter escorted them home up Route 24. (Cape Gazette, May 1, 2026)

Kenneth Paul and Roger Maurice Cain · Quilts of Valor

On Feb. 21, the Piecemakers quilting group wrapped two veterans in Quilts of Valor at Open Arms Seventh-day Adventist Church in Milton. Kenneth Paul served seven years in the Navy starting in 2007. Roger Maurice Cain served nine years in the Army starting in 1983, then six years in the Army Reserve in Seaford. (Cape Gazette, March 4, 2026)

John Bartley, Ocean View · Navy, 1971 to 1976

The VFW recognized John Bartley in its "Still Serving" program for the work he does long after his Navy years. He's a docent at the James Farm Ecological Preserve, teaches in the Osher and "UD by the Sea" programs and taught at the college level for 23 years. (VFW, Dec. 9, 2025)

Capt. Dave Diefenderfer, Rehoboth Beach · Navy Reserve, 30 years

Dave Diefenderfer started in the Seabees and spent 30 years in the Navy Reserve, including nine months in Iraq and a year in Afghanistan, where he commanded a 600-person battalion. Last November, at 62, he was set to retire on Nov. 30 and was finishing a three-year term as commander of VFW Post 7447, the Cape Gazette reported. (Cape Gazette, Nov. 11, 2025)

Kevin Molloy · Army · American Legion Post 17

American Legion Post 17 in Lewes named Army veteran Kevin Molloy its Legionnaire of the Year. Post Commander Michael Mulligan said Molloy has counseled more than 300 veterans on their benefits and filed more than 267 claims for them. (Cape Gazette, Nov. 11, 2025)

George McCarthy · Army Air Corps, World War II

George McCarthy was serving in Kunming, China, on D-Day. He was 101 when the Fort Miles D-Day ceremony recognized him in June 2025. (Cape Gazette, June 14, 2025)

Who should be next?

These ten are a start. We want Tuesday's special edition full of them.

Tell us about your veteran

Our Veterans Day special edition comes out Tuesday, and we want it full of Sussex County veterans. Tell us about your veteran, or your town's veterans: a parent, grandparent, neighbor, coach or friend.

Send us:

• Their name, branch and when they served
• Their town in Sussex County
• A few sentences about them, in your words
• A photo, if you have one and they're OK with us running it

Send it with our Tell us form by Monday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m., or email it to [email protected] with "My veteran" in the subject line. It's free, and every veteran we can confirm gets a place in the edition.