Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Military News

Sergeant First Class Thomas E. Rutherford retired recently from active duty military after more than 20 years total service. Since retirement, he has become the Publications Editor and electronic bulletin board system manager for the Arkansas Press Association in Little Rock.

During a retirement ceremony at the Malvern National Guard Armory he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Metal along with a Certificate of Appreciation for service in the Armed Forces of the United States signed by President Bill Clinton; a Certificate of 20-year service from the Department of the Army, National Guard Bureau; a Minuteman Lapel Button; and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Arkansas National Guard signed by Major General Melvin Thrash and Governor Mike Huckabee. His award citations read in part, "Throughout his military career, Sgt. 1st Class Thomas E. Rutherford set the standards by which excellence is measured. His outstanding professionalism is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military, and reflects great credit upon himself, the Arkansas Army National Gurard and the United States Army."

Rutherford, a 1973 graduate of Gurdon High School, served his first eight years in the military in the United States Marine Corps. He is the son of Charles and Nancy Rutherford of Arkadelphia. He and his wife, Laveda, and daughters, Melissa and Shauna reside in Malvern.

He has also earned the folowing awards during his career: five awards of the Army Commendation Medal; six awards of the Army Achievement Medal; the Navy Achievement Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with Bronz Star; two awards of the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; three awards of the Army Good Conduct Medal; the NCO Professional Developmentf Ribbon with numeral three device; the Armed Force Reserve Medal; three awards of the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal; the Army Overseas Service Ribbon; the Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; the Army Service Ribbon, two awards of the Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon; the Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal; the Arkansas Commendation Medal; the Arkansas service Ribbon; the Arkansas Emergency Service Ribbon; The Arkansas Recruiting Ribbon; Marine Corps Meritorious Mast and the Marine Corps Rifle expert Marksmanship Badge, sixth award.