Living Veteran Award honors Marine and Soldier; Tony Hurst

The Dubois County Veterans Council will honor Sgt. 1st Class Anthony “Tony” Hurst with the Living Veteran Award Saturday 2 p.m. at the American Legion Post 493, 2543 Cross Street, St. Anthony.

The award will be made during the annual Veterans Day ceremony honoring all services and local veterans.

Hurst was born March 19, 1969 in Jasper, to Guy and Joann Hurst. He attended the Greater Jasper School system and upon graduation from high school enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps. After basic training, he completed military police officer training with honors.

While in the Marine Corps, Hurst served one year in lwakuni, Japan, about 10 miles south of Hiroshima. He transferred back to the United States and served in the Marine Corps Logistics in Albany, Ga. and was honorably discharged January 19, 1992.

On January 24, 1994, Hurst volunteered in the U.S. Army. He was assigned to an armored division and completed basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. where he again graduated with honors. He was assigned as a Master Gunner of the M-1 Abrams tank.

In the next 16 years of his service, Hurst attended numerous military training schools and was an tank instructor to commissioned officers. He served three years at Fort Lewis, Wash. and three years at Fort Hood, Texas. He then transferred to Freiberg, Germany assigned to the 1st Armored Division. He then deployed to Kuwait and Macedonia for nine months.

Later, Hurst was assigned to the 135th Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Iraq. His platoon provided foot and motorized patrols while maintaining supply routes with four tanks and five Humvees. His platoon located and disarmed 97 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), trained Iraqi soldiers, and captured enemy insurgents.

While there, he survived eight IED explosions and a car bombing. His platoon was the most decorated in the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Sgt. 1st Class Hurst has acknowledged he is very thankful that all of his men survived and returned to the United States.

During his military service, Hurst received 29 medals and commendations including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

He and his wife Jennifer have a son, Anthony Jr. and daughter, Hailey, attending Jasper High School. Hurst’s stepson Shawn is employed at Kimball Electronics. Sgt 1st Class Hurst is a life member of VFW Post 673 Jasper.

All veteran organizations from Dubois County will be represented for this event in honor of Veterans Day.

Chaplain Darlene Merkely opening with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance being recited.