Veterans Way Honorees

Michael David Luck was raised and currently resides in New Hartford, Iowa. He was employed and retired from Viking Pump. Mike was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam war. He honorably served from 1969-1971. Mike served in Vietnam until seriously wounded on July 17th of 1969. He has since spent his life of distinguished service by being a contributing member of the community of New Hartford as a member of the New Hartford Fire Department, city council and eventually spent many years as the city’s mayor. The wounds of war have been with him since that tragic day in Vietnam. He returned home and started a life with his wife Beverly and has three sons. The family has grown larger over the years. Mike is fighting a battle with Parkinson’s Disease that may be contributed to exposure of Agent Orange during his time fighting for our country. He is truly a hero and serves as a mentor for others to follow.

Thomas R. Lown was born in 1948 in Independence, Iowa. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1966. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 – 1973 (Damage Control, USS Hornet, Vietnam, 1968-1969).

SFC William A. Kopf is a native from Waterloo, IA. He is married to Ashley Kopf and they have 3 children. Son Coen W Kopf, Daughters Kira Rae Kopf & Kyla Mae Kopf. He enlisted in the army as a Signal Support System Specialist on 28 May 2003. He attended basic training at Fort Benning GA and completed AIT at Fort Gordon, GA where he was awarded the MOS 31U. SFC William Kopf joined the Army in 2003. He attended Basic Combat training at Fort Benning Georgia, He then went on to Fort Gordon where he was awarded the MOS 25U. After attending Army Airborne School at Fort Benning William was assigned to the 2nd of the 82 Aviation Battalion. After serving in the 82nd Airborne Division till 2006. SFC Kopf was moved to Smith Barracks in Baumholder GE, where he served in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team 1st Armored Division. SFC Kopf served 18 months forward deployed to Iraq in service of operation Iraqi freedom where he was awarded the Combat action badge while assisting in evacuation and treatment of injured teammates following an Improvised explosive device activation. SFC Kopf joined the Active Guard Reserves in 2012 to continue his service. He has served as a Squad Leader, A training NCO, A communications NCOIC, and a Platoon sergeant an Advanced Individual trainer and small group leader for advanced leadership course instructor and as active first sergeant. In Columbus Ohio, Salt Lake City Utah, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, Fallbrook, California. He is currently forward deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve assigned as a Joint Network operations NCOIC.

Dennis was born on January 17, 1949, in Charles City, IA to Carroll and Edna King. He was the second oldest of six children and grew up on a farm in Marble Rock. He graduated from Rockford High School in 1967. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served from December 1967-July 1969 as a medical assistant and then was placed on disability retired. Dennis also worked for Oliver Farm Equipment Company, later known as White Farm in Charles City for a period of time. He was united in marriage to Sandy LaBounty in 1970 in Cedar Falls. The couple later divorced. Dennis was a kind and gentle man. He was a great Dad who put his children first. He was the type of person who would do anything for anyone and would often snow plow other’s driveways and sidewalks in his neighborhood. Dennis enjoyed listening to music, especially country music. He liked to drink coffee and visit with others. Dennis loved Harley Davidson motorcycles and going for a ride. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and laid-back and easy-going demeanor. Dennis passed away January 16, 2024

Dale Kimball served at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, as a Private First Class. He was a Waterloo police/detective.

During Larry Hoskin’s military career he was thought as a dental lab tech.

Carl “Jim” Hook was born in Waterloo on July 27, 1930. He graduated from Waterloo East in 1948. Jim enlisted into the Army Airborne serving with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans) during the Korean Conflict, where he was awarded 3 Bronze Stars and one Bronze Arrowhead for his service. After his military service he worked for his father at Hook’s Radiators in Waterloo. Jim took over the business which became Hook’s Inc., selling used cars and eventually becoming one of the largest recreational vehicle dealers in the area. After selling the business in 1988, Jim relocated to Mesa, Arizona but continue his membership in the Waterloo American Legion. He passed away on December 26, 2023.

Robert Hibbs was a graduate of Cedar Falls High School. He was the first (now) UNI graduate and Iowan to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War.