Peter volunteered to join the U.S. Marine Corps on 04/10/1968. He served Our Country in Vietnam with the 9th Marine Division, assigned to the 1st Marine Air Wing Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265. He was honorably retired from the U.S. Marine Corps on 06/01/1972 because of numerous permanent combat wounds in Vietnam.
Peter currently holds Active Memberships in the following Veteran organizations:
American Legion Post 201 (LTM), Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Association (AVVBA) (LTM), Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) (LTM), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) (LTM), Johns Creek Veterans Association (JCVA) and Color Guard, Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Chapter 576 (LTM), VetBuds and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) (LTM).
Director of the JCVA “Veterans Blanket Outreach Program.”
He is currently an active member of the St. Benedict’s Men’s Group, Knights of Columbus (KofC) for over 43 years (several councils), Past Faithful Navigator for the Fr. Mychal Judge Assembly 3086 in Cumming, GA.
The majority of his professional life was spent at Bell Laboratories/AT&T/IBM. Peter retired from AT&T after 26 years. He also retired from IBM after 16 years.
Married 41 years to wife Mary and two adult children.
*Lifetime member (LTM)
Jerry Tiarsmith served in both the US Navy and Army starting as an enlisted sailor, rising thru the ranks until he was commissioned in 1976. His military service took him around the world with extended tours in Japan, the Philippines, and Europe. He saw service in the Persian Gulf. He served with and alongside various foreign military services and has the honor of being awarded the French Commando Badge.Jerry first joined the Johns Creek Veterans Association in May 2014. He has served on the board of directors in various capacities since 2015, including as Membership Director, and was instrumental in helping to bring the Wall That Heals exhibit to Johns Creek in 2017. Jerry introduced Wreaths Across America to the Veterans Memorial Walk in 2022 and raised over$1500.00 to support that initial effort. In October 2022, Jerry was appointed to interim Chair of the Veteran Assistance Committee and was elected as Vice President of the revamped VeteranAssistance Program for the 2023-24 cycle. On June 3, 2023, under Jerry’s leadership, the Association conducted its first ever Ride for Vets and community wide PACT Act Registration Rally with associated fundraising activities to support the John Timpe Veteran Assistance Fund raising over $4,000. The Veteran Assistance Committee, Chaired by Jerry, is developing its policies, procedures, budget and financial management tools to help serve area veterans in need. To date, veterans with diverse needs have been assisted by the caring caseworkers of the Committee; their work is on going.
Janice Hiers is a Retired Lt. Col. USAF Nurse Corp. She served Active Duty and Reserves for 20 years with honorable service and decorations. She retired from the Active Reserves in 2000. She hails from Oshkosh, WI and the daughter of a career CWO 4 Army National Guardsman. Janice has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of WI- Oshkosh and a Masters Degree in Human Relations with an emphasis in Counseling from the University of Oklahoma. She has carried certifications in Case Management. Janice retired after 45 years total in the nursing profession in various capacities ( military and civilian) Janice was also an Adjunct Professor for 10 years.
Janice is married to Tony Hiers, US Army Veteran. She has one daughter, son n law (Navy Veteran), two grandsons and a bonus family of a son, daughter, and granddaughter. She is a member of Mount Pisgah UMC, American Legion, Georgia Military Women, Society of Air Force Nurses Military Officers Association of America, VFW, past Rotarian President and Business Womens Club. She is an active member of JCVA, and Director at Large – Women’s Programs. Janice’s efforts have impacted the growth of women membership, supporting women veterans, and leads the JCVA Annual Women Veterans Day Ceremony. Her name is listed on the Women’s Memorial Wall in Washington DC. She is still serving and remains instrumental in supporting women veterans. In retirement she enjoys family time in Roswell, GA, photography, friends, sports, and shopping. She is an avid Braves and Green Bay Packer fan.
Dick was born in Miami, Florida and grew up with a lot of nautical
experience from owning several boats since he was 12 years old. Likewise,
in July of 1959, after graduating from Andrew Jackson High School, he
decided to join the Navy’s “Kiddie Cruise” program. After a short term in
the Navy, he entered the University of Miami in September of 1963 with a
partial scholarship as a miler, 2-miler, and cross-country member of the
Miami Hurricanes track team.
Graduating in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in education, he decided to
return to his alma mater high school as a track and football coach for the
next few years, then had the opportunity to join Shell Oil Company as the
sales and marketing manager of their 17 service stations between Miami
International Airport and Key West, Florida.
Those years of experience provided him the opportunity to join Petersen
Publishing Company in 1973 who produced several magazine publications for
the interest and activities of those interested in sports cars, 4-wheel
off-road trucks, motorcycles, scuba diving, and of course.., boating.
In 1985 he launched his own Holcomb & Associates advertising and marketing
firm which is still today delivering the needs for successfully publishing
magazines for those interested in playing golf and the golf industry
including Golf Illustrated, Golfweek, and Troon Magazine.
Throughout all these years of successful experiences he still has strong
remembrances of the Navy and still owns a boat.., and he restores the
meaningful days of his high school teaching years by being a substitute
teacher at Holy Redeemer and Mount Pisgah schools.
His previous positions as the Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator within the
Knights of Columbus council and assembly within Saint Brigid Catholic Church
have been and will always be a proud memory of his participation in building
the Bostian Gazebo, the Vietnam Wall That Heals, the sponsoring of the
Afghanistan Memorial, and the “good deeds that were done” for all of our
service members, our veterans, and their families over the years.
William and Mary ’66, Williamsburg, VA
Denbigh, VA – High School Teacher: Earth Space Science, Chemistry, Physics, Varsity Baseball Coach ’66 – ‘67
Air Force Pilot (22years – 5 years active duty)
9 th Special Ops (C-47) Nha Trang and Tuy Hoa, Vietnam 1969
C-141 McGuire AFB, NJ (Instructor, Standardization Flight Examiner)
Eastern Air Lines F/O / Captain (’73 -’74) (’78 – ’91)
Type Ratings (B-727, B-757, B-767, CE-500, DC-3 C-47), DC-9, L-300 (C-141)
Chief Pilot – Av Atlantic Air
Director of Training – Private Jet/National Airlines, Atlanta
Director of Operations – Viscount Air Lines
Travis AFB, CA, C-141-Air Reserve Technician – Chief of Standardization and Training
FAA Flight Standards Aviation Safety Inspector
Principal Operations Inspector (GS-15) – Delta Air Lines Certificate Management Office
Atlanta ISO Quality Management Systems Auditor/Senior Auditor/Lead Auditor