We would like to recognize our two nominees for the American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award.

Representing the Fishers Police Department, our Post Winner was Detective Tracy Jones. Representing the Indiana University Police Department, our runner-up was Detective Wayne Franklin.

We extend our sincere congratulations and appreciation to both detectives for their dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe. Thank you for your outstanding service.

In the photo above from Left to Right: Commander Alicia Gahimer, Det Tracy Jones, Department Historian Clifton Morlan

In the photo above from Left to Right: Commander Alicia Gahimer, Det Wayne Franklin, Department Historian Clifton Morlan

Congratulations to Cadet Analise Campos for being selected as the Fall 2025 IU Indianapolis Police Cadet of the Semester. Cadet Campos was nominated by SGT Botts, Training Coordinator IU Police Department.

We are proud to be a Silver Sponsor for the HSE Girls Wrestling Team.

The HSE Girls Wrestling team made it to JV State!

So proud of our wrestlers for an incredible showing at JV State today. Their hard work, grit, and determination were on full display on the mat! 

 Patel — 2nd Place

 Broyles — 3rd Place

 Nguti — 3rd Place

 Matsika — 4th Place

 Becker — 5th Place

 G. Rodriguez — 5th Place

Congratulations to Post 360 Charter Member Jose Sandoval for 20 years of service with Indianapolis EMS.

University Veterans Post 360 was proud to nominate Lieutenant Nikolas Natali for the American Legion, Department of Indiana’s Law and Order Person of the Year Award. Lt. Natali exemplifies service well beyond the standard expectations, demonstrating exceptional leadership, dedication, and performance across a wide range of responsibilities. Since his promotion in May 2024, he has effectively managed the campus fleet, served as the quartermaster liaison, coordinated the Field Training Officer (FTO) program during a period of substantial hiring, and led the revitalization of the Emergency Response Group (ERG) unit. Additionally, he provides oversight for Operation Pull Over and the bicycle patrol unit. Lt. Natali performs these duties with outstanding professionalism while continuing to fulfill his core responsibilities as an operations lieutenant. His tireless commitment to excellence and public service makes him highly deserving of this prestigious recognition.

University Veterans Post 360 proudly nominated Sergeant First Class (SFC) Matthew Schneider, who was selected as the American Legion, Department of Indiana’s National Guard Military Person of the Year for 2025.

SFC Schneider has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, unwavering dedication, and exemplary professionalism throughout his military service. His commitment to excellence reflects great credit upon himself and the National Guard.

The award was presented to SFC Schneider by Department Commander Rob Burkhart during the Indiana American Legion Department Convention. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to SFC Schneider on this well-deserved recognition.

We would like to congratulate Dr. Joe Hayes on his upcoming promotion at Indiana University Indianapolis. Please click the link below to read the story.

https://today.iu.edu/live/news/45923-associate-vice-chancellor-for-auxiliary-services-appoi?fbclid=IwY2xjawK_1LhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETEyUFRBT29MVFlRQmVETUdrAR7RaU9X0E4xuD_qKIraBV-hbjePl6miqmB5bo8AZEOuZMvrEdS32uVeDY87RQ_aem_lmSHqMjLGhQYEmB97YH_Ow

Here is an article written about Hellen when she was preparing to turn 105 year old.

Friday, March 4, 2022

105-year-old Navy veteran recalls World War II, life in the WAVES:

“We were a patriotic generation.”

By Kirsten Clark

Indianapolis — Hellen Eloise Holder Guthrie was a 24-year-old working as a secretary at a law firm when a pair of Navy recruiters shared just how exciting a life as a sailor could be. So, in August 1943 the Spencer, Ind., native joined the W.A.V.E.S (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) of the U.S. Navy.

More than 100,000 women would answer the call to be a WAVE, marking the first time women were permitted to join in capacities other than nursing.

“The Navy sounded interesting,” she said. “My brother was in the Army, and he worked alongside General Patton, even.”

Guthrie was assigned to Hunter College in the Bronx to get acquainted with the Navy and learn what her next role would be. When she completed her time at Hunter, Guthrie moved on to yeoman school in Stillwater, Okla. It was there she was selected to work in the elite intelligence arm of the U.S. Navy.

“I went to the first training course at Hunter College, then went to yeoman school,” said Guthrie. “There were nearly 400 students who began, and they only took the top 40 students to work in codes and cyphers.”

Petty Officer 1^st Class Holder became a Specialist Q and headed to Washington, D.C. where she would remain, working as a cryptographer in the Japanese section until the end of the war.

“The Navy is a wonderful place to be and to get an education,” Guthrie said. “We learned the war had ended when they came in and told us ‘Germany had surrendered’! So, we went down to Dupont Circle and had a Coke to celebrate. We were a patriotic generation.”

Not only was Guthrie part of the first class to enter the Navy’s program at Hunter College, but she was also part of the first group of occupants to enter the newly-built Naval Barracks in Washington, D.C.

“We lived in the first WAVE living quarters ever built for the Navy, but they encouraged you to move after you made the rank of 2^nd class because the barracks weren’t big enough to house all the new people coming in,” she said. “We were allowed to go find our own place to rent, but we still ate our meals in the mess hall.”

Guthrie rubbed shoulders with some famous people during her time in the Navy, from first ladies to movie stars.

“If you went to dinner and fried chicken was on the menu then you knew Eleanor Roosevelt was having a meal there,” said Guthrie. “I saw her many times there; she even would sit down right beside you and eat.

“D.C. was a wonderful place when I was there. I even met Robert Taylor – he was a lieutenant in the Navy.”

When the war ended, Guthrie returned to Spencer where she lived with her maternal grandparents. Her brother returned as well, bringing a friend with him who would later become Guthrie’s husband of 62 years.

“Ralph was covered in dirt from a motorcycle ride the first time I met him,” Guthrie said. “He didn’t know how to pick green beans from the garden for dinner, which I thought was funny. He was pretty endearing and very charming – a good, good man.”

Ralph Guthrie served as a mess sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he worked as a baker in Irvington, Ind. The two had a son, Gene, and later lived in Indianapolis. Guthrie was 91 when he passed away in 2009.

When Gene entered high school, Guthrie went to work at the Indiana Statehouse, serving in various roles in politics for many years. She met Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, was host to Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush, and was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash in 1983 for outstanding service to the state by then-Governor Robert Orr.

At a Spencer High School reunion in 2012, Guthrie was the last living graduate from her high school class of 28 students. On April 30, she will celebrate 105 trips around the sun.

“I never thought I’d live this long,” she said. “There really is no secret to it, but I’ve lived an interesting life. My time in the Navy was an experience that you never forget, and it was something that I was very happy that I did, particularly because of the people you get to meet and the opportunities. It was wonderful.”

Jose and a coworker were recognized for an “amazing scene time” (3 minutes to be exact) and successfully got the patient to a trauma center quickly enough for a Thoracotomy to be done in the ER. Thank you so much for what you do to serve members of our community.

In January of this year, Bartholomew County Emergency Operations rolled out an awards program to recognize our dispatchers for the hard work they put in day after day.

This awards program includes pins that can be worn or displayed and covers a multitude of aspects including training milestones, years of service, and performance-based recognition.

On July 16th, 2024 three of our dispatchers received awards for a job well done.

Congratulations to Hannah, Nathan, and Janel for representing Bartholomew County and the 911 profession.