Photo Gallery
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2025 Veteran Spotlight
Bill Lamb
Senior Chief Lamb, “Bill” is a Florida native from Ormond Beach where he grew up
loving the outdoors. He moved to Tallahassee in 1984 after graduating high school, and
worked for the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. While working at
Game and Fish, he met his wife, Shirley.
Bill started his military career by joining the Florida Army National Guard in 1985. He
completed his Basic Training, Advanced Infantry Training and Airborne School at Fort
Benning, Georgia. Assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry, He served as
Fire Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant and held the MOS of 11B and 11C.
His training included Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic and Advanced
Non-Commissioned Officer School, and Jungle Warfare Operations School, Fort
Sherman, Panama.
In 1996, he joined the Naval Reserve, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14,
“SEABEES”. His infantry training lead to him becoming a Seabee Military Instructor and
Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist. He also held the billets of Battalion Career
Counselor, Detachment 11 OIC, Company OIC, and Alfa Company Chief.
In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Senior Chief Lamb deployed to Iraq in 2004.
While deployed he served as Tactical Movement Team Chief, 1st Marine Expeditionary
Force Movement Control / Watch Chief ( Fallujah, Iraq), and Battalion KIA/WIA Officer.
Senior Chief Lamb retired in 2009 after 24 years of service. The Lambs live in
Crawfordville, Florida and have been married for 38 years. He is both a graduate and
retired Assistant Director, Facilities Design and Construction of Florida State University.
Billy and Shirley recently completed the restoration of a 1952 M38. The Korean Era U.S.
Navy Seabee jeep serves as a memorial to the 7 Seabee Brothers lost in Iraq,
affectionately known by the Battalion as “The Seven”. You Will Never Be Forgotten.
Jason Barbknecht
Jason Barbknecht grew up in rural Minnesota, hunting and fishing in most of his spare
time. After high school, in 1990 Jason joined the Marine Corps. As a diesel mechanic,
he deployed with the 2nd Marine Division as part of Combat Service Support
Detachment 26. After 9 months with the TOW gunners, Jason returned to Camp
Lejeune. In the fall of 92, Jason met his wife Sandi who was also a Marine stationed
there. In 94, Jason left active duty and moved to Ft. Wayne Indiana where Sandi had
already obtained a job supporting the same radios, she supported in the Corps. Jason
joined the Army National Guard at that time, spending 2 years in the infantry and his last
3 years as a range instructor and competitive shooter for the rifle team.
With his contract up in 1999, Jason chose a new path closer to home and joined the Air
National Guard as a munitions specialist. Jason deployed in 2004 to Qatar, supporting
F-16 and F-15 flights into Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2005, the decision was made to go
back full-time in the military as active guard. This time Jason would be a parachute
rigger for ejection seats and packing survival equipment for pilots. The next deployment
would be to Balad Iraq in 2007. After that deployment Jason transferred to being a
survival trainer for pilots. In 2012, he went to South Korea to help train the Vermont Air
National Guard who were TDY there. In 2013, Jason transferred back to munitions. His
final deployment was in 2018 to Afghanistan, which was a unique one. Jason and his
oldest son were both there for 6 months together. On Jason’s 47 birthday, he and his
son raised a flag together in a building known as “the Taliban’s last stand”.
In 2020, Jason retired from military service. He spent a couple years teaching a police
mountain bike course, with e-bikes, to law enforcement around the country. After that
Jason decided to be his own boss, focusing on his bowfishing charters and hunting
guide service.
Jason currently lives in Indiana with Sandi, his wife of 32 years, and their
youngest son Noah. His volunteer work includes guiding disabled hunters, Hometown
Heroes, teaching women and youth at National Wild Turkey Federation events, and he
coordinates/hosts outdoor sportsman events for Big Brothers & Big Sisters.
David Freeman
My name is David Freeman. I have a wife of twenty-five years, and three daughters. I was born
in 1976 in Decatur, Texas and then moved to Alvor, Texas where I lived until June of 1989. In
July of 1989, I moved to Frederick, Oklahoma and officially became an Okie. In 2008, my
family and I moved to Lawton , Oklahoma where we currently reside. In August of 2003, I
joined the Army and attended basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia. I did one combat tour in
Iraq from November 2005 to November 2006. Our team’s primary mission was convoy security
and patrols during which we logged over 40,000 miles. In November 2011, I was medically
retired due to injuries and illness that occurred during my time in Iraq. Following my time in
Iraq, I earned my associates degree in Applied Science and Technology. My college time was cut
short due to six surgeries that had longer recovery times than anticipated. In 2020, I became a
taxidermist and have spent my time honing my craft since then. In the past several years, I have
volunteered as a pro staffer for a veterans organization to help veterans like myself adjust to the
transition back to civilian life. I love everything there is to do in the outdoors, particularly deer
hunting. I spend as much time as possible hunting and fishing. If you cannot find me in the
woods you can find me with my family, devoting time to them, especially my grand children.