Jackson VA Honors Eight Veterans During 2025 Wall of Honor Ceremony

The G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center honored eight Veterans during its 2025 Veterans Day Wall of Honor Ceremony, recognizing their exceptional service, leadership, and contributions to the nation and community.

The annual ceremony celebrates Veterans who exemplify the core values of duty, honor, and commitment—both in uniform and in their civilian lives. Each inductee’s story reflects courage, perseverance, and a lifelong dedication to helping others.

Dr. David M. Walker, a U.S. Air Force Veteran and current Network Director for the VA Southeast Network (VISN 7), served as this year’s honorary inductee and guest speaker. A former director of the Jackson VA, Dr. Walker’s career in military medicine and VA leadership has been defined by innovation, integrity, and a commitment to improving Veteran care.

The 2025 Wall of Honor class includes:

• Robert Henderson Smith, Sr., PhD, U.S. Army Veteran and World War II service member, whose five decades in higher education helped shape generations of students and community leaders.
• Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dexter Marvell Brookins, PhD, U.S. Army Veteran, combat leader, and former professor of Military Science at Jackson State University, who continues to mentor and advocate for Veterans.
• Colonel John J. Pitchford, Jr., U.S. Air Force Veteran and former Prisoner of War, recognized for his extraordinary bravery and endurance during more than seven years of captivity in Vietnam.
• Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Jeffrey Adams, U.S. Army Veteran with more than 30 years of service, including 12 years in Special Forces, who continues to serve his community through volunteer work.
• Sergeant Major Joe Albert Dettor, U.S. Army Veteran, whose career spanned from Vietnam to Operation Desert Storm and whose leadership philosophy continues to inspire those he mentored.
• Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Lucius Wright, U.S. Army Veteran, combat aviator, and long-time educator, recognized for his distinguished military career and decades of mentoring future leaders.
• Specialist (Ret.) Kayla Michelle Riggs, U.S. Army Veteran and Mississippi trailblazer, the first woman from the state to graduate from the Army’s Infantry training program and serve in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Each inductee’s name and biography will be permanently displayed on the facility’s Wall of Honor, symbolizing a legacy of service that continues beyond military duty. The plaques will be officially added to the wall in the coming weeks.

“This year’s inductees represent the best of who we are as a nation,” said Executive Director Michael B. Renfrow, FACHE. “Their courage and character remind us of the impact one individual can make through service to others.”

The Wall of Honor display is located outside of the Veterans Canteen Service Retail Store at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center.