Craighead County Veteran's Monument Foundation

05/26/2026

We had a great turn out Yesterday !
God Bless all of our Veterans and their families!

Watch Video

https://youtu.be/wVCrKrxpkNQ

04/19/2026

Today April 18, 1942
Real History
Doolittle s Raid happened as an answer for what the Japanese did to Pearl Harbor!

Thank God For Doolittles Raiders!
Real American Hero’s!

The Doolittle Raid (also known as Doolittle's Raid or the Tokyo Raid) was an air raid by the United States on the Japanese capital of Tokyo and other places in Honshu during World War II. Launched on 18 April 1942, it was the first American air operation to strike the Japanese archipelago. Although the raid caused comparatively minor damage, it demonstrated that the Japanese mainland was vulnerable to American air attacks. It served as an initial retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and provided an important boost to American morale. The raid was named after Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, who planned and led the attack. It was one of six American carrier raids against Japan and Japanese-held territories conducted in the first half of 1942.

Under the final plan, 16 B-25B Mitchell medium bombers, each with a crew of five, were launched from the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Hornet, in the Pacific Ocean. There were no fighter escorts. After bombing the military and industrial targets, the crews were to continue westward to land in China.

On the ground, the raid killed around 50 people and injured 400. Damage to Japanese military and industrial targets was minimal, but the raid had major psychological effects. In the United States, it raised morale. In Japan, it raised fear and doubt about the ability of military leaders to defend the home islands, but the bombing and strafing of civilians created a desire for retribution—this was exploited for propaganda purposes.[4] The raid also pushed forward Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's plans to attack Midway Island in the Central Pacific—an attack that turned into a decisive defeat of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) by the US Navy in the Battle of Midway. The consequences of the Doolittle Raid were most severely felt in China: in reprisal for the raid, the Japanese launched the Zhejiang-Jiangxi campaign.

Of the 16 crews involved, 14 returned to the United States or reached the safety of American forces, though one man was killed while bailing out.[5][6] Eight men were captured by Japanese forces in eastern China (the other two crew members having drowned in the sea), and three of them were later executed. All but one of the 16 B-25s were destroyed in crashes, while one of the planes landed at Vladivostok in the Soviet Union.

Because the Soviet Union was not officially at war with Japan, it was required, under international law, to intern the crew for the duration of the war. The crew's B-25 was also confiscated. However, within a year, the crew was secretly allowed to leave the Soviet Union, under the guise of an escape—they returned to the United States or to American units elsewhere by way of Allied-occupied Iran and North Africa.

Doolittle initially believed that he would be court-martialed for missing his primary targets.[7] Instead, he received the Medal of Honor and was promoted two ranks to brigadier general.

04/15/2026

If you want to help honor our Veterans!

01/24/2026

Our Doughboy stood Vigilant in January 1957 steel stains today thanks to our veterans for freedom.

 Jonesboro's plight drew nationwide attention. Pictures of the ice storm.
Jonesboro, appeared On WMCT,
Memphis television statien, Monday night. Some of the photos were shown on the NBC newscast from New York Tuesday night. All of the film was shown this morning on Dave Garroway's network
"Today." local viewers reported. The scenes were on Garroway's show just after 8 a.m., and he identified Jonesboro as being hardest !

12/24/2025

Christmas Eve:
Craighead County was Represented at Bastogne! REMEMBER our Veterans!

12/03/2025

12/03/2025

Subject: Pearl Harbor Day Observance Saturday Dec 6th
Subject: CCVMF Sponsors – 84th year Observance of Pearl Harbor Day at Craighead County Courthouse

JONESBORO, AR:
On the anniversary of “Date that will live in Infamy”, the Craighead County Veterans Monument Foundation will have a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony at the Doughboy monument at 10:00 a.m. on , December 6th

W Danny Honnoll, Pres Craighead County Historical Sociery/ Chman Pearl Harbor Observance will be keynote speaker this year. #

Rich Norris is president of the Craighead County Veterans Monument and will give a brick report at observance.

“We have special veteran bricks in honor of those who died at Pearl Harbor and in the Philippines on Dec 7th and 8th – 1941.” Honnoll said. On December 7, 1941, more than 2,400 American lives were lost that day. S1C Gene Hardin and S1C Charles C. Sevier were killed on the while on board the USS Arizona. They were both from Craighead Co., Arkansas. Also killed during the Japanize attacks in the Philippines was 2nd Lt. Lonnie Basil Wimberley of Jonesboro and was the first recorded KIA from Jonesboro. With this local connection to the happenings of December 7, 1941, we should all stop and take a moment of silence in honor and memory of all that died that terrible day. This past year the CCVMF found another Jonesboro/Craighead County native who’s remains are still on the USS Oklahoma – The remains are of FC3 Robert Lamb Pribble born in Jonesboro, Feb 22, 1922. The family moved to Monroe, La while Pribble was in school.

Honnoll encourages all churches and organisations to stop this Sunday for a few minutes of silence or prayer for those who gave their lives on December 7, 1941!

It was 84 years ago on Sunday, December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and plunged the United States into World War II. It is appropriate to remember that twenty years ago this past September 11th we were again attacked, and that hundreds of young men and women are now far away from home defending us while serving as soldiers, sailors, aviators, marines, and coastguardsmen. There is often a terrible price for our freedom and that price is paid by our troops. All veterans, family, and friends of veterans are invited to attend.

If you would like to honor a veteran, you can buy a brick for $50 by going to
http://www.craigheadcountyveterans.org filing out the brick form and mailing it in.
The CCVMF places the bricks in May and November of each year to honor Craighead County Veterans. The CCVMF will have copies of the book “Veterans of Craighead County” printed, in 2010 and it has numerous articles about veterans over the years, with historical facts about Craighead County. You can buy a copy for $40 on Saturday.

Please attend and tell others about this event. For more information contact: Honnoll at 870-926-2985 PO

11/08/2025

Veterans Parade Nov 1, 2025 - thanks Mike Wilbanks for taking pictures for us.

10/30/2025

This Saturday - come Support our/Your Veterans

10/14/2025

This years Veterans Parade
Nov 1, 2025 !

“Honoring 250 years of Veterans - Army-Navy- Marines and all Veterans!”