John Fulk Suggested by Kellie

Chair Smitty's Presentation:

Our next recipient to be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award is John Fulk, Class of 1987. A Bloomington resident, John was promoted to Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard during a promotion ceremony at the National Guard training center in Marseilles, IL on September 16, 2018. The ceremony was held during a break in training while the 108th Sustainment Brigade prepared for deployment later in the year to Iraq. Fulk has more than 28 years of military service and has been a member of the Illinois Army National Guard since 1998, currently serving as the Commander, Medical Detachment, Joint Force Headquarters, Springfield, IL.  He received a direct commission in 2001 and was first assigned as a Physician Assistant for 123 rd Field Artillery Battalion in Marion, IL. He has commanded medical units at the company and battalion level and served as a medical officer on staff at battalion and brigade levels. He deployed to Iraq 2006 and served with 2/130 Infantry Battalion as the Battalion Surgeon. In 2009, he deployed with Afghan Regional Security Integration Command - West and served as a Combat Advisor at Camp Stone in Afghanistan. The presiding officer for the promotion ceremony was Major General Michael Zerbonia, Commander, Illinois Army National Guard. “John is an outstanding officer who is successfully applying the experience as the 108th Multi-functional Medical Battalion to his current assignment, ensuring the medical readiness of the Illinois Army National Guard,” Zerbonia said to the attendees. “It is an honor to be promoted with soldiers from my former brigade as you prepare for your deployment to Iraq,” Fulk said. “I am thankful for the support of my family and for this opportunity to continue to serve the state of Illinois.” Fulk grew up in Olney and attended Regents College and then graduated from the University of Nebraska Physician Assistant Program. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; and the Iraq Campaign Medal. In civilian life, he is a Physician Assistant at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, IL. John is the son of Kellie Bussard Cook and the late John A. Fulk. Present for the ceremony was his wife, Dr. Nona Fulk and two daughters, Emily and Olivia. To show John’s dedication to service and compassion for others, I want to share with you an article that was featured in the Bloomington Pantagraph newspaper last year on Veteran’s Day entitled “A soldier’s thank you.” When physician assistant John Fulk met Bill Buehler, he didn’t see a 93-year-old man in a hospital bed at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center. He saw a young U.S. Marine who spent three years, 10 months and seven days as a prisoner of war during World War II. So, the next day, Fulk, of Bloomington, returned to Buehler’s bedside, this time in uniform as Lt. Col. John Fulk of the U.S. Army Illinois National Guard. He shook Buehler’s hand and presented him with a challenge coin. “ The purpose of the challenge coin is to acknowledge a soldier for good deeds,” Fulk said. “I can’t imagine what he went through”, Fulk said. “Something inspired me to return. I needed to pay my respect. The best way I knew how was to let him feel that brotherhood again.” “It was really touching,” said Buehler’s daughter, Shaunna Lucas of Bloomington. “I was very grateful,” Buehler said. Buehler, a Clark County native, volunteered for the Marines in June 1940 and was on Wake Island when it was attacked by Japanese forces in 1941 and he was among those taken prisoner. The article was accompanied by a photograph showing John presenting Bill Buehler with the challenge coin. John is unable to be here today due to his deployment to Japan. However, John prepared a message for us to present at the ceremony. John’s brother, Britt will accept the award for him.

 

 

 

John Fulk

 

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/18/2018) John Fulk, a Bloomington resident, was promoted to Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard during a promotion ceremony at the National Guard training center in Marseilles, IL on September 16, 2018.  The ceremony was held during a break in training while the 108thSustainment Brigade prepares for a deployment later this year to Iraq.

 

Colonel Fulk has more than 28 years of military service and has been a member of the Illinois Army National Guard since 1998, currently serving as the Commander, Medical Detachment, Joint Force Headquarters, Springfield, IL.

 

He received a direct commission in 2001 and was first assigned as a Physician Assistant for 123rd Field Aertillery Battalion in Marion, IL.

 

He has commanded medical units at the company and battalion level and served as a medical officer on staff at battalion and brigade levels.

 

He deployed to Iraq in 2006 and served with 2/130 Infantry Battalion as the Battalion Surgeon.

 

In 2009, he deployed with Afghan Regional Security Integration Command – West and served as a Combat Advisor at Camp Stone in Afghanistan. 

 

The presiding officer for the promotion ceremony was Major General Michael Zerbonia, Commander, Illinois Army National Guard.

"John is an outstanding officer who is successfully applying the experience as the 108th Multifunctional Medical Battalion to his current assignment, ensuring the medical readiness of the Illinois Army National Guard,” Zerbonia said to the attendees.  

"It is an honor to be promoted with soldiers from my former brigade as you prepare for your deployment to Iraq,” Fulk said.“I am thankful for the support of my family and for this opportunity to continue to serve the state of Illiniois.”

 

Colonel Fulk grew up in Olney and attended Regents College and then graduated from the University of Nebraska Physician Assistant program.

 

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal,  ArmyCommendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

 

In civilian life, he is a Physician Assistant at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, in Normal, IL.

John is the son of Kellie Bussard Cook and the late John A.Fulk.

Present for the ceremony was his wife Dr. Nona Fulk and two daughters Emily and Olivia.