County lands new veteran service officer

Former Air Force serviceman Thomas Ornberg is now the new Miller County veteran service officer. Ornberg, who is from Rhode Island, served in the Air Force for 24 years.
Former Air Force serviceman Thomas Ornberg is now the new Miller County veteran service officer. Ornberg, who is from Rhode Island, served in the Air Force for 24 years.

Last week, Miller county hired Thomas Ornberg, of Rhode Island, as its new veteran service officer.

Ornberg replaces Ray Harmon, who served as the county's VSO for 10 years.

Ornberg, himself a U.S. Air Force veteran, served for 24 years after joining the service in 1994 at age 19.

While in the Air Force, Ornberg served primarily in aircraft refueling while stationed overseas in such areas as Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Guam, in addition to having state-side assignments at Little Rock Air Force Base and Andrews Air Force Base.

"In the Middle East, we had our share of stand storms," he said.

Besides refueling and working with Air Force fighter, bomber, transport and rescue aircraft, Ornberg added that he also has extensive experience refueling U.S. Navy, Marine and Army combat, transport and rescue aircraft - including helicopters.

Ornberg said he was actually stationed at Andrew Air Force Base the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

"At that time, we didn't know if we were in for more terrorist attacks or not,"he said. "We stayed on alert for several days."

Ornberg, who retired from military service March 31, 2018, said having several of his wife's family members living in places like Queen City, Texas, and other scattered areas throughout the Texarkana region is one of the main reasons he sought a job here locally.

Although today is Columbus Day and the courthouse is closed, Ornberg said veterans needing service can start calling Tuesday and Thursday this week and in the weeks to come to set up appointments.

Miller County's new veteran service office number is 870-330-9847.

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