Click on a photo below to learn more about each of LifeNet’s Military Veterans.

Brandon Etheredge
Army National GuardBrandon Etheredge, Paramedic
Brandon Etheredge is a Paramedic with LifeNet in Hot Springs. He currently serves in the United States Army National Guard. His favorite thing about serving is meeting new friends.

Ryan Field
Army, 2004-2008Ryan Field, Paramedic
Ryan Field is a Paramedic with LifeNet. He served in the United States Army from 2004-2008 as a 13F Forward Observer. He served with 2nd Infantry division South Korea for one year and the 1st Cavalry Division for 3 years. He fought in northern Baghdad from 2006-2008 with the 1st Squadron 7th US Cavalry.

Billy Forbis
Army, 1979-1980Billy Forbis, Paramedic
Billy Forbis is a Paramedic with LifeNet. He served in the United States Army from 1979-1980. The thing he enjoyed most about his time in the military was having the opportunity to serve.

Joe Fritz
Army, 1983-1991Joe Fritz
Paramedic
Joe Fritz is a Paramedic at LifeNet. He served in the United States Army from 1983-1991. His M.O.S. was 11B3V (E-6/SSG;Infantry/Airborne/Ranger). Joe was was stationed in Ft. Lewis, WA and Ft. Richardson, AK. He also deployed to Central America, the Middle East, and Asia.

Michael Hand
ArmyMichael Hand, EMT
Michael Hand is an EMT with LifeNet in Hot Springs. He served in the U.S. Army for 20 years and was stationed in Germany, Hawaii, and North Carolina. His deployments and combat tours were Macedonia, Kosovo, Nigeria, Republic of Georgia, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, and Peru. He also parachuted out of airplanes and helicopters on a regular basis.
The things he enjoyed most about his time in the Army included the travel, seeing different cultures, and the comradeship and brotherhood.

Michael Harper
ArmyMichael Harper
Flight Medic
Michael Harper is a Flight Medic on LifeNet Air. He served in the United States Army 101st Airborne Division and 160th Special Operations Air Regiment as a Medium Lift Helicopter Repair and as a Chinook Mechanic/Crew Chief. He was deployed to Desert Shield / Storm.

Ashley Hopfinger
ArmyAshley Hopfinger, SSC
Ashley Hopfinger is a Systems Status Controller (SSC) for LifeNet. She served in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Bliss in 6-1 Cav, 1BCT, 1AD. She worked as an intelligence analyst in the S2 section and created numerous modified combined obstacle overlays (MCOOs) based on conventional and counterinsurgency (COIN) warfare that were used for tactic training and education.
The thing she enjoyed most was the comradery and connections she made both professionally and personally. She still keeps in touch with many of her past military friends. She also met her husband in the Army.

Donald House
Army, 1990-2001Donald House
SSC
Donald House is a Systems Status Controller (SSC) for LifeNet. He served in the United States Army from 1990-2001. He enjoyed the closeness and bonds developed with his fellow soldiers. “There is no tighter bond that those forged in combat when your life depends on those to your left and to your right. There is a structure and camaraderie that cannot be described to those outside of the military that have never experienced this,” he said. Donald spent the majority of his time as a combat medic but ventured into counter-terrorism in his later years.

Jonny Long
Marine Corps, 1979-1982Jonny Long
Operations Manager
Jonny Long is a Paramedic with LifeNet. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1979-1982.

Tyler McGoogan
Army, 2011-2015Tyler McGoogan
Information Systems Technician
Tyler McGoogan is an Information Systems Technician at LifeNet. He served in the United States Army from 2011-2015.

Haylee McKnight
Army, 2014-2020Haylee McKnight
EMT
Haylee McKnight is an EMT at LifeNet in Texarkana. She served in the United States Army from 2014-2020.

Jay Morgan
Army, 1988-1994Jay Morgan
EMT
Jay Morgan is an EMT with LifeNet. He served in the United States Army from 1988-1994. The thing he enjoyed most about being in the military was serving in other countries and learning about their customs and cultures.

Kelly Murchison
Air Force Reserve, Army National Guard, 2000-2010Kelly Murchison
SSC
Kelly Murchison is a Systems Status Controller for LifeNet. She served in the Air Force Reserve and the Army National Guard from 2000-2010.

James Pappas
Army, 1985-1999James Pappas
Paramedic
James Pappas is a paramedic in Texarkana. He served in the U.S. Army from 1985-1999. The things he enjoyed most about the military were serving his country, seeing the world, and being able to experience so many things. He also enjoyed flying and taking care of injured soldiers.
James was a Sergeant who served in Germany, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.

Andy Perkins
Army National Guard, 2005-PresentAndy Perkins
EMT
Andy Perkins is an EMT in Hot Springs. He has served in the U.S. Army National Guard since 2005.
The thing he enjoys most about his service to our country is the camaraderie.
Andy is a sergeant who did one tour to Iraq and one tour to Kuwait.

Cheyenne Phillips
Army, 1996-2001Cheyenne Phillips
Paramedic
Cheyenne Phillips is a paramedic in Hot Springs. He served in the U.S. Army from 1996-2001. The thing he enjoyed most about the military was being part of the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.

Brad Ragsdale
Marine Corps, 2002-2006Brad Ragsdale
EMT
Brad Ragsdale is an EMT with LifeNet. He served in the Marine Corps from 2002-2006. During his time in service, he did three combat tours in Iraq.
The things Brad enjoyed most about serving in the military were the lifelong friendships that were made.

Tyler Rutledge
Air ForceTyler Rutledge
Paramedic
Tyler Rutledge is a paramedic with LifeNet in Texarkana. He served in the US Air Force for six years.
The things he enjoyed most about his years of service were being fortunate enough to travel the world and meeting many people who served their own country as our allies.
Tyler spent the majority of his enlistment stationed at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas. He was an Inflight Refueling Specialist on the KC-135 Stratotanker and ended his enlistment as a Staff Sergeant.

Brian Smith
Navy, 2001-PresentBrian Smith
Operations Manager
Brian Smith is an Operations Manager for LifeNet’s Texarkana Division. He has served in the United States Navy since 2001. The thing he has enjoyed most about being in the Navy is the travel. Brian is a Chief Petty Officer who served in Iraq (2005 – 2007) and in Afghanistan (2013 – 2014).

Daniel Stramp
Marine Corps, 1995-1999Daniel Stramp
QI / Education Manager
Daniel Stramp is the QI / Education Manager for LifeNet’s Hot Springs Division. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1995-1999. Daniel served two years in Security Forces and then 2 years in the infantry as an anti-tank assaultman and demolitions (0351). He was stationed in Virginia, Hawaii, and Okinawa.

David Stanley
Navy, 1981-1987David Stanley
Paramedic
David Stanley is a paramedic with LifeNet. He served in the US Navy from 1981-1987. During that time he was responsible for the every day up keep and maintained readiness for the mission at hand.
The thing he enjoyed most about the Navy was seeing the world.
“At that time, I had only read in books. My father had taught me a lot in getting ready for my adult life, but it was the Navy that molded me and toughened me up for the every day challenges,” he said.

Devan Steen
Air Force, 2009-2011Devan Steen
EMT
Devan Steen is an EMT with LifeNet. He served in the United States Air Force from 2009-2011 in cyber transport systems. The thing he enjoyed the most about the Air Force was the brotherhood and family that never goes away.

James Stine
Air Force, 1985-1989James Stine
Paramedic
James Stine is a Paramedic with LifeNet. He served in the United States Air Force from 1985-1989.

Randy Takacs
Air Force, 1981-1992Randy Takacs
Operations Supervisor
Randy Takacs is an Operations Supervisor for LifeNet in Stillwater. He served in the United States Air Force from 1981-1992. The thing he enjoyed most about serving our country was the people. Many of the friends he made in the Air Force he is still in touch with today.

Ronnie Weaver
Army, 1991-1999Ronnie Weaver, Operations Manager
Ronnie Weaver is an Operations Manager for LifeNet in Hot Springs Village. He served in the United States Army from 1991-1999. He enjoyed serving his country and meeting his obligations and duty.

Suzette Westerman
Navy, 1986-1987Suzette Westerman
Paramedic
Suzette Westerman is a Paramedic at LifeNet. She served in the United States Navy from 1986-1987. The things she enjoyed most about her time in the Navy were structure and serving.