Vet Achievements

RODNEY G. CRESS

He is well known for his sports records in high school and college.

He is also well known for his law enforcement career.

He currently volunteers as a veteran advocate.

He is past Vice-Chairman of Rowan County Housing Authority.

 He serves as co-founder of Faithful Friends No Kill Shelter.

He served 3 years on Rowan Cabarrus Community College Law Enforcement Advisory Committee.

 He is a Life Member of the DAV.

Received 2007 Certificate of Appreciation from North Carolina National Guard Family Readiness Program

 Received the 2011 Governor's Award for Volunteer Service helping with veterans and animal welfare.

 Received the 2011 Humane Society Susan J. Gloeckler Memorial Award for animal welfare.

Received 2011 Certificate of Recognition by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

 Received 2011 Certificate of Appreciation by Soldier's Angels for military donations.

Received 2011 Barringer Award of Excellence from the North Carolina Society of Historians for military history.

Received the 2012 Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award for community and veteran service.

Received 2015 NC Order of the Long Leaf Pine, state highest civilian award, presented by Congressman Richard Hudson for 31 years of veteran advocacy.

2016 Senator Richard Burr's Veteran Coalition Committee member.

Inducted 2021 NC Military Veterans Hall of Fame

In 2008 he began a homeless veteran housing program where he received $232,609 from HUD, which currently houses 90 veterans through the Rowan County Housing Authority. He has many more accomplishments too numerous to mention including the naming of the Yadkin River Veterans Memorial Bridge on I-85. Guest speaker at numerous military events throughout the state, including invited by staff of Donald Trump to meet him and present the Pledge of Allegiance at his event.

He has several decorations for his military service as a Sgt. Squad leader in the jungles of Vietnam and two (2) Bronze Stars, including the Bronze Star w/Valor, which was presented by Senator Richard Burr, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge. Graduate of Non-Commissioned Officer Training Course.

Former Lt. with Rowan County Sheriff Dept and has been a sworn deputy for 50 years.

SUPPLIMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS

My Veteran Achievements:

*Solo collected 2,250 books and shipped to troops in Iraq in 2006.

*Collected 27,000 tubes of lip balm donated by FillTech USA shipped to troops in Iraq in 2010.

*Committee member for Flight of Honor for WWII vets in 2010.

*Formed Political Action Committee (PAC) for veterans in 2010.

*Guest Speaker (4) at Honor Our Heroes at Cornerstone Church for veterans.

*Guest Speaker on Veterans Day at local churches.

*Guest Speaker several local schools.

*Guest Speaker Cabarrus County Air Force ROTC Dining Out 2012.

*Spoke before county commissioners against current VSO job performance in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.

*Spent 16 months for approval of memorial marker for Civil War Medal of Honor recipient in Salisbury National Cemetery in 2009.

*Fought to change state Medicaid fiduciary laws affecting veterans in 2013.

*Volunteer veteran advocate with numerous assists for veterans’ claims.

*Meet several times yearly with veteran liaison from the office of Senator Richard Burr, Senator Thom Tillis and Congressmen Richard Hudson and Ted Budd.

*Published numerous newspaper articles on behalf of veterans.

*Medal of Honor Historical Society published my recent story about Medal of Honor recipient in September newsletter.

*Delivered 65,000 Sani wipes and 3500 tubes of lip balm to troops donated by FillTechUSA of Rockwell, NC in 2011.

*May 2008, as Vice Chairman of Rowan County Housing Authority, I applied for and received $232,609 under HUD for homeless veterans in Rowan County which has now housed 90 veterans under Section 8.

*Recently honored at Norfolk Naval Base for veteran service in 2010.

*Life Member DAV. Past Senior Vice Commander Chapter 96

*Committee Member 2012 Vietnam Veterans Homecoming Celebration at Concord Motor Speedway.

*Bronze Star /Valor, Bronze Star/Meritorious

* Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Marksman

*2013 Keynote speaker VA Memorial Day Event

*Instrumental in naming new I-85 bridge to Yadkin River Veterans Memorial Bridge.

*January 2015, arranged shipment of 79,000 tubes of lip balm donated by FillTech to our military in 3 states.

*2015 published in newspaper a 13-story series of Forgotten Battles of WWII.

*Governor's Award for Volunteer Service (veteran)

*MLK Humanitarian Award (veterans)

*NC Society of Historians Award of Excellence (military history)

*2016 recipient of Order of the Long Leaf Pine, (NC highest honor) for 31 years of veteran advocacy.

*2016 member of Senator Richard Burr's 9-man veteran collation team.

*Delivered Pledge of Allegiance at presidential rally for Trump.

2021 Inducted into NC Military Veterans Hall of Fame.