Mississippi Salute Podcast

David Hughes McElreath serves as our Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board Vice-Chairman and is a professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Mississippi. A native of Oxford, Mississippi, he comes from a law enforcement family. He began his law enforcement career in December 1972 when he was appointed a Patrolman for the Oxford, Mississippi Police Department. Over the next five decades, his ac...

Colonel Cynthia L. Smith is the Commander of the 186th Air Refueling Wing, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Mississippi. The 186th Air Refueling Wing provides over 1,100 personnel and eight KC-135R aircraft to Air Mobility Command for worldwide operations. Col. Smith is a traditional Guard pilot who has served multiple tours overseas. She has performed aircrew and staff duties supporti...

Richard Wilson is a native of Collierville, Tennessee, but now resides in our Mississippi Veterans Home in Oxford. Wilson served in the Navy during World War II and fought at Iwo Jima, witnessing one of the most iconic images in history. In this episode, Wilson discusses his journey as a small-town kid who leaves his home for the first time to join the military and the many places he's seen becaus...

Michael Watson is in his second term as Mississippi’s 36th Secretary of State. Before taking office as Secretary of State, Watson served three terms in the State Senate, representing District 51 in Jackson County. A graduate of Pascagoula High School and the University of Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and a law degree, Watson began his work in public service as...

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Stephen C. McCraney was appointed as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency by Governor Tate Reeves on January 28, 2021. Before assuming the role of Executive Director, Mr. McCraney served as the agency’s Deputy Director and Chief of Staff since February 2016. During his tenure, he has led 18 federally declared disasters, eight emergency mea...

On this episode of the Mississippi Salute Podcast, we feature one of our non-profit partners, Friends of Mississippi Veterans (FOMV).Jack Winstead, its Board Chairman, discusses the organization's formation, how they were instrumental in creating our two state veterans memorial cemeteries, and the fundraising they generate yearly to benefit those cemeteries and our Veterans Homes.

On this episode of the Mississippi Salute Podcast, we focus on our Veterans Memorial Cemeteries. William Rhine, Cemetery Director at our Kilmichael location (and U.S. Navy Veteran), discusses the various burial options, eligibility requirements and no-cost benefits for any Veteran who chooses our Cemetery system as their final resting place. Find out why our Memorial Cemeteries ranked amongst the...

On this episode of the Mississippi Salute Podcast, we focus on one of our pillars within the services we offer to America's heroes - the Mississippi Veterans Homes System. Our Veterans Homes serve approximately 600 residents in four facilities across the Magnolia state. Our skilled nursing teams and administrative staff provide compassionate and specialized care for each resident at the facility....

Mississippi Salute Podcast - Season Two Premiere AlertOur first episode of the season features James "Max" Fenn, Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board Chairman. Fenn is a United States Army and Marine Corps veteran and has experienced combat in several military and political conflicts. After his military service, Fenn has since served our state in various government and intelligence roles.

Major General (Retired) Jeff Hammond received his commission as a United States Army Officer upon graduation from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1978, where he served as team captain of the football team and starred as a quarterback. His military leadership roles include serving as commanding general of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division and commander of U.S. Forces during Operation...

World War Two Marine Veteran Tony Provenza shares his journey from Greenville, Mississippi, to his World War Two Service in South China and Japan.

In honor of Women's History Month, we feature Sheri Biggs, a Lt. Colonel of the Mississippi Air National Guard, on our Mississippi Salute Podcast. Biggs has served in the National Guard since 2012 and is a former Administrator at our Mississippi Veterans Home in Kosciusko. She sat down with Ray Coleman on the Mississippi Salute Podcast and shared how working in our Veterans Home System inspired he...

In honor of Women's History Month, we're proud to feature one of our Veterans Affairs Board Members, Colonel (Ret.) Deborah Coleman. Coleman served in the Mississippi National Guard for 27 years and currently serves in the Mississippi Legislative Budget Office. She sat down with Ray Coleman on the Mississippi Salute Podcast and shared her journey in the armed forces and why she continues serving t...

Major General (Ret.) Augustus Leon Collins is the first African-American to serve as the Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard (from 2012 to 2016). In this episode, he discusses his journey of more than 35 years of military service, his upbringing in northeast Mississippi and how a "chance" opportunity led him to join the United States Army.

Willie Simmons currently serves as the Central District Commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Transportation. The elected official has served in state government for close to 30 years, 26 of those as a senator in the Mississippi Legislature. Simmons, a Vietnam War Veteran, shares stories of his early life on his family's farm, his military service in the United States Army, and how it led...

Chris Ellis serves as our Executive Legislative Liaison. He is a retired Staff Sergeant with the Mississippi Army National Guard, having served 16 years with the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He was medically retired in 2017 due to injuries sustained in the line of duty. In this epidsode, Ellis provides an overview of the VA claims process and what you can do secure the best possible outco...

George Irvin, Sr. is one of seven members of the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board. He is a retired Brigadier General of the United States Army, having served 37 years. In this episode, Irvin, Sr. discusses his military service, his family's service history, and how his military skills and knowledge have transferred over into his civilian life.

David Smith is a World War II Veteran and a resident at our Mississippi Veterans Home at Kosciusko. The 97-year-old shares why he wanted to join the United States Armed Forces and recalls some of his most vivid war experiences.

Mark Smith serves as the Executive Director of Mississippi Veterans Affairs. He is a retired United States Army Colonel. In this first-ever episode of Mississippi Salute, Smith discusses his military history and passion for serving America's heroes. For more information on Mississippi Veterans Affairs and its services, visit www.msva.ms.gov.