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Maxine Lay Boeve - Original Rosie the Riveter
Maxine Lay Boeve was born on February 17, 1924, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She grew up in Holland, Michigan, where she has spent most of her life. In 1940, Maxine moved to Washington State when her father accepted a position at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington.
Before the move, the family sold some of their belongings at auction and shipped the rest to Washington. Harold, who would later become Maxine’s husband, drove Maxine’s sister, Clover, their mother, and their dog, Red, across the country. Enjoying the sights along the way, they arrived at their new home on 16 acres.
After completing the twelfth grade, Maxine took a neighborhood job with her friend, Harold. When Harold was drafted to serve our country, Maxine returned to Grand Haven, Michigan, to say goodbye as he boarded a train for boot camp. Harold’s father encouraged her to attend the National Youth Administration School at Grand Haven High School. Determined to learn a trade, Maxine woke up at 4:00 a.m. each day and walked to school.
There, she trained in the machine shop and learned to operate an engine lathe. When the course ended, she returned home to Washington to be with her parents.
After just two weeks, Maxine decided to apply for a position at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in the X-31 Machine Shop. She was hired to work on the second-floor balcony operating a turret lathe, earning a starting wage of $0.80 per hour. Although she began in an entry-level position, the training she had received allowed her to quickly advance to more sophisticated machines and increasingly precise work.
Maxine threaded 10-inch bolts in various sizes and threads, worked on large gate valves, and machined plumbing components for ships. The Navy Yard regularly serviced wounded aircraft carriers, battleships, submarines, and other naval vessels in its dry docks. Some of the aircraft carriers arrived with Japanese suicide planes still embedded in them. On one memorable occasion, President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived aboard a large yacht and spoke with the workers. Maxine proudly served at the Puget Sound Navy Yard for three and a half years.
When Harold returned home on furlough, the two were married. Through careful saving and the purchase of War Bonds, Maxine had accumulated $2,000. Together, they purchased 40 acres just north of Holland, Michigan, where they established their homestead.
Today, Maxine is 102 years young and continues to live in Holland, Michigan. Her faith remains the foundation of her life. In her own words, “In God she trusts!”
FRANKLIN BROWN, SIGNALMAN SECOND CLASS, US NAVY, WORLD WAR I
Franklin Brown is a lifelong Michigan resident who continues to live independently in his home in Clinton Township.
Born on May 12, 1925, in Detroit, Michigan, his early years were marked by hardship. During the Great Depression, his parents divorced and his mother became gravely ill. He and his four siblings were separated, with some of the children adopted by other families. Frank and one of his sisters were never adopted and spent several years together at the State Public School in Coldwater before eventually being reunited with their father.
He attended several schools in the Flint area and graduated from Otisville High School. A few months before his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the United States Navy. Trained as a signalman in Chicago, he served with the U.S. Naval Armed Guard in both the European and Pacific theaters of World War II. He was present at D-Day plus one, delivering critical supplies to support the Allied invasion of France. Following Victory in Europe, he was preparing to support the invasion of Japan, but fortunately, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the war to an end.
After returning home, he built a successful career in drafting, working for several companies, including Sherman Products, Chrysler Corporation, and Modern Engineering at the General Motors Technical Center.
In 1949, he married the love of his life, Laura. Together they shared 60 wonderful years of marriage until she passed away in 2009. Their legacy includes two daughters, four granddaughters, seven great-grandsons, and two great-granddaughters.
Retirement has been anything but idle for him. A lifelong golfer, he spent many years volunteering at the Buick Open Golf Tournament. He also volunteered with the rehabilitation department at St. Joseph Hospital/Henry Ford Macomb and currently serves at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in the base library. In addition, he remains an active member of Romeo United Methodist Church.
Now in his second century of life, he credits his longevity to regular exercise, clean living, a loving family, and, as he humbly says, "a bit of luck." His resilience, service to our nation, dedication to his community, and devotion to family make him a remarkable example of the Greatest Generation.
It is our distinct privilege and honor to recognize Franklin Brown for his courageous service to our nation during World War II.
FIRST SERGEANT KEITH FISK, UNITED STATES ARMY (RETIRED)
First Sergeant Keith Fisk dedicated nearly 30 years of service to the United States Army, answering the call to serve during the Cold War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Global War on Terror.
Keith began his military career in March 1987 after completing Infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Inspired by a proud family tradition of military service that included his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and numerous relatives, he carried forward a legacy that continues today with members of the Fisk family still serving our nation.
During his active-duty career, Keith served as a Mechanized Infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Division and deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As a Mechanized Squad Leader attached to a tank unit, he led soldiers during combat operations in southern Iraq and participated in the capture of enemy prisoners of war and the clearing of enemy bunkers under combat conditions.
Following ten years of active-duty service, Keith transitioned to civilian life before returning to the Army Reserve in 2003, where he entered the Military Intelligence field. In 2008, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving in Baghdad and providing critical intelligence support that helped protect American forces. Throughout his distinguished career, Keith held numerous leadership positions, including Operations NCOIC and First Sergeant of Alpha Company, 372nd Military Intelligence Battalion. He also served as Acting Battalion Command Sergeant Major while awaiting a permanent assignment.
His exemplary service earned him numerous military decorations, including multiple Bronze Star awards, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Behind Keith's remarkable military career has been the unwavering support of his wife, Leanne. Their story began in high school in Jackson, Wisconsin, and their marriage became a partnership built on faith, perseverance, sacrifice, and love. Together, they navigated the challenges of military life, including overseas assignments, combat deployments, and long separations. They traveled throughout Europe while stationed in Germany and built a home and family grounded in the values of hard work, humility, and commitment.
Keith and Leanne are the proud parents of three daughters and have devoted their lives not only to serving their country, but also to raising a family founded on faith and strong values.
After nearly three decades of dedicated service, First Sergeant Keith Fisk retired from the United States Army in February 2025, leaving behind a legacy of courage, leadership, and selfless service. His career stands as a testament to the sacrifices made not only by those who wear the uniform, but also by the families who stand beside them.
We are proud to honor First Sergeant Keith Fisk, United States Army (Retired), for his extraordinary service to our nation and for the example he has set as a soldier, husband, father, and leader.
Lance Corporal, Rodney Charles Fuller, United States Marine
Rodney Charles Fuller was born in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1949, the youngest of nine children. He lived in Davisburg with his mother and father before moving to Atlanta, Michigan, where he attended high school. Sadly, Rodney lost his father when he was only 11 years old and his mother when he was 17.
As the Vietnam War raged, Rodney and several friends decided they did not want to be drafted into the Army. They had been told Army life in Vietnam was miserable. Instead, they planned to join the Navy. Their plan was quickly foiled when they discovered so many other young men had the same idea that there was a six-month delay before they could enter the Navy.
So, Rodney joined the United States Marine Corps in 1968. He attended basic training in San Diego, California, which prompted some of his friends to jokingly call him one of the "Hollywood Marines." Following training, he was assigned to the 26th Marine Regiment.
Private First-Class Fuller was immediately sent to Da Nang, Vietnam. This would be the last military base—and the last hot meal—he would see during his service in Vietnam.
Upon arrival, PFC Fuller was quickly engaged in combat operations in the A Shau Valley. Just seven days after arriving in-country, he was standing next to a fellow Marine who stepped away to relieve himself. His buddy snagged a trip wire, detonating a mine that shredded Rodney's left leg with shrapnel.
He was medevacked directly from the jungle to a hospital ship offshore, where he remained for ten days while surgeons removed the largest pieces of shrapnel and patched him up. For his wounds, PFC Fuller received his first Purple Heart and was promoted to Lance Corporal.
Following his recovery, a transport helicopter dropped him into a rice paddy to join the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines—the legendary "1/9," known throughout the Marine Corps as The Walking Dead.
His new company greeted him as they began operations in the area known as Hai Van Pass, south of the DMZ. Lance Corporal Fuller would spend the next five months living and fighting in the jungle alongside the 1/9. These were the Marines that Ho Chi Minh himself had vowed to eliminate from the face of the earth.
On every mission, the Marines remained on constant alert for ambushes. In this area, the enemy frequently used tunnels and spider holes to harass American forces. While moving with his platoon, Lance Corporal Fuller came under fire from a Viet Cong fighter concealed in a spider hole. The first round shattered his kneecap. The second pierced his thigh and lodged in his hip—where it remains to this day. His injuries were severe.
Once again, he was medevacked, this time to the Naval Hospital in Guam, where he underwent surgery to repair his battle-damaged leg. He was later transferred to Okinawa, where he remained for the next three months to complete his tour.
During his military service, Lance Corporal Rodney Fuller earned the following decorations and awards:
• Three Purple Hearts
• National Defense Service Medal
• Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device
• Rifle Sharpshooter Badge
• Vietnam Service Medal with one campaign star
• Combat Action Ribbon
What happened next in Rodney's life reflects the stark dichotomy experienced by so many returning Vietnam veterans.
Lance Corporal Fuller boarded a commercial flight out of Okinawa with seven other servicemen and members of the public. They were still wearing worn jungle fatigues, stained white with dried salt from months of sweat and combat.
He arrived at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in California, where he was discharged from the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines in February 1970. No one greeted them, no one thanked them, and no one helped them. Shortly after returning home, Rodney received his third Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat.
Back in Michigan, some friends wanted to set him up on a date. They showed a young woman named Bernadette Falen two photographs—one of Rodney in his Marine Corps uniform and one of Rodney's brother in his Army uniform, she chose Rodney. They quickly fell in love and were married within a year. Together, they raised four sons.
Rodney initially attempted to work as a bricklayer, but his combat injuries made the work nearly impossible. He eventually found employment near Holly, where Bernadette had grown up, and built a career with AC Delco in Flint before retiring.
Sadly, the love of his life, Bernadette, suffered a debilitating stroke. For the next ten years, Rodney cared for her. Remarkably, he describes those years not as a burden, but as some of the best years of his life. Bernadette passed away in 2018. Then, in 2023, the wounds of war finally claimed both of Rodney's legs.
Lance Corporal Rodney Fuller embodies the spirit of the United States Marine of his generation. He learned early that it was often easier not to tell people he had served in Vietnam. He didn't wear a hat. He didn't join organizations. He didn't seek recognition; he simply wanted to avoid the hostility that too many Vietnam veterans encountered when they came home.
Rod Fuller is a humble, decent, and proud man who will tell you with absolute sincerity, "I am no hero. I proudly served my country, just like everyone else." Rod navigates his world without complaint, without anger, and without despair. Instead, he speaks of his blessings.
Rod, you are your sons' hero, you were Bernadette's hero, you are our hero. Thank you for your dedication and service to our country.
Command Sergeant Major Joseph N. Haddad
United States Army – Iraq / Afghanistan
There are veterans whose service can be measured by rank, medals, and years in uniform. Then there are those whose lives represent something even greater—the American dream, loyalty to country, devotion to family, and a lifetime dedicated to serving others.
It is our privilege to honor one of those individuals, Command Sergeant Major Joseph Nadhim Haddad.
Born in Highland Park, Michigan, to Iraqi immigrant parents who came to America seeking opportunity and freedom, Joe embraced the values of faith, family, and service from an early age. At just seventeen years old, he joined the United States Army Reserve as a Military Policeman while pursuing degrees in Criminal Justice from Oakland Community College and Wayne State University.
During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, despite being offered the opportunity to remain stateside because of his Iraqi ancestry, Joe chose to honor the oath he had taken and deployed in service to his country. His fluency in Arabic and understanding of Iraqi culture enabled him to defuse a potentially deadly prisoner riot, demonstrating the calm leadership and professionalism that would define his career.
Following the war, he reunited with his fiancée, Manar, and together they built a beautiful family with their three children, Joseph, Jade, and Mark.
Joe also dedicated himself to serving his community through law enforcement. Joining the Troy Police Department in 1997, he became the department's first Chaldean-American police officer and was later recognized as Troy Police Officer of the Year.
Over nearly three decades in uniform, he rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, becoming the first Chaldean American to attain the Army's highest enlisted leadership rank. Along the way, he earned numerous honors, including the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and The Order of Saint Maurice.
Yet if you ask Joe what he is most proud of, he is unlikely to speak of rank or medals. He will tell you about his family, the Soldiers and police officers with whom he served, and the privilege of living the American dream his parents envisioned when they came to this country.
We honor a Soldier, we honor a police officer, and we honor a husband, father, mentor, and leader. Above all, we honor a man who dedicated his life to something greater than himself.
Thank you for your dedication and service Command Sergeant Major Joseph Nadhim Haddad.
ROBERT WOODCUM, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, US ARMY, KOREAN WAR
Robert "Bob" Woodcum was born in 1937 in Pontiac, Michigan, the youngest of seven children born to Oscar and Eva Woodcum. Raised in a hardworking family, he learned early the values of faith, perseverance, and hard work.
In July 1955, anticipating the draft, he enlisted in the U.S. Army with several friends. After basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he boarded the troop ship Mitchell bound for the "Far East," eventually arriving in Korea. The journey included severe seasickness and the unique experience of crossing the International Date Line and literally sleeping through Christmas.
Assigned to the 7th Division, 707th Ordnance Corps, he used the welding skills he learned in his family's well business to repair equipment in support of troops serving near the front lines. Conditions in Korea were harsh, with primitive living quarters and brutally cold winters, but he persevered and completed 16 months in Korea and 21 months of active service before returning home in April 1957.
Like many veterans of his generation, he quietly returned to work and built a remarkable life of service. He eventually founded his own well-drilling company in 1976 and spent decades serving communities across Michigan. In 2017, he was honored as the Michigan Ground Water Association's Driller of the Year.
His commitment to others continued through VFW Post 334, where he distributed Buddy Poppies and raised funds to support fellow veterans. An avid outdoors man and longtime member of the North Oakland Sportsman's Club, he believes in a simple truth: "Whatever you put into life, that's what you get back out of it."
A soldier, craftsman, volunteer, man of faith, and proud American, PFC Robert "Bob" Woodcum has lived a life of quiet service and extraordinary example. It is with our deepest gratitude and appreciation that we honor Korean War Veteran Private First Class Robert "Bob" Woodcum, United States Army, and celebrate his lasting contributions to his family, community, and country.