Master Sgt. (Ret.) Donald Nathan Carr
June 27, 1951 - November 18, 2019

Donald Nathan Carr served our country both as a Soldier and Army Civilian for more than 42 years. His passion for Army journalism, storytelling and all things Army Public Affairs is legendary. He was a proud newspaperman of the old school who evolved as technology evolved, always believing that methods may change but the importance of telling Soldiers' stories never will. Master Sgt.(Ret.) and then Mr. Carr was a former member of the association's Board of Directors, the recipient of our 2018 Joe Galloway Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame that same year. Our professional development scholarship is named in his honor based on his generosity of time in mentoring others and his deep belief in lifelong learning. We honor him here for his lifelong selfless devotion to public service and especially for his friendship to all who knew him. ❤️🇺🇸

Donald Carr Obituary

Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Teresa Coble Salinas
June 28, 1982 - August 11, 2025

All of us at the association join the Army Public Affairs community to mourn the loss of Sgt. Maj. Coble, a dedicated public affairs professional who faithfully and selflessly served our nation for more than 20 years. SGM Coble was known for her professionalism, leadership, and commitment to telling the Army story.

We remember her here for her decades of selfless service, and honor her legacy which lives on in the many Soldiers and colleagues whose lives she touched throughout her distinguished career. ❤️🇺🇸

Ms. Adrienne Melvin Combs
October 25, 1952 - March 25, 2025

Adrienne Combs was a dearly beloved Army Public Affairs colleague and friend for all who served with her and knew her. Her more than 40 years of federal service demonstrated her lifelong selfless devotion to public service, and to Soldiers and their families every single day. During her career, Adrienne spent more than two decades taking the Army's elite ceremonial units, including the U.S. Army Drill Team and the U.S. Army Fife and Drum Corps, all over the world to showcase America's Army, the Strength of the Nation, and to let millions get to know the character, courage and selfless ethos of our Soldiers and their families. Her indelible, one-of-a-kind impact was both local and global - an enduring, timeless legacy. Adrienne was a member of the association Board of Directors and a recipient of our Ancient Order of Saint Gabriel award. Adrienne is remembered here with love and will be in our hearts always. ❤️🇺🇲

Adrienne Combs Obituary

Sgt. John Wesley Crosby
July 19, 1984 - August 13, 2025

Sgt. John Crosby was a proud veteran of the Army/Army National Guard. Deeply affected by the events of 9/11, Crosby joined the Oregon National Guard in 2005 as a Combat Medic Specialist. Sgt. Crosby later changed his military occupational specialty to Public Affairs Specialist in order to deploy with the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
During his 2007-2008 deployment in Iraq, Sgt. Crosby was awarded the Bronze Star due to his selfless act of applying aid in combat. Though he was deployed as a photojournalist, he still ran into fire when he heard the shouts for a medic.

Sgt. Crosby returned from Iraq and continued to serve in the National Guard on active duty in the Public Affairs Office. He was awarded Military Photo of the Year, U.S. Army Photojournalist of the Year and U.S. Army Commentary of the Year.

In 2015, Mr. Crosby began working with the American Legion Department of Indiana as their Communications Director. He went on to serve as Assistant Adjutant then Adjutant. Mr. Crosby was the youngest Adjutant in the country at that time. John Wesley Crosby devoted his life to serving our country and the veteran community. 
We remember him here with love, and with the respect and honor he so rightfully earned for his selfless service. ❤️🇺🇸

John Crosby Obituary

Col. (Ret.) Joan Frances Malloy 
February 28, 1947 - July 17, 2025

Col.(Ret.) Joan Malloy served in the Army and the active Army Reserve for a more than 32 years. She followed her uniformed service with years of service as an Army Civilian at various Army posts including her final assignment at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, D.C.  She retired from the Army Reserves in July 2004 and from Civil Service in 2007.
Col. Malloy was a seasoned Public Affairs Officer. Her expertise and counsel were relied upon in every assignment she held and at every level she served. Her lifelong selfless service was the model to emulate by any measure. Her impact will forever endure because of the many contributions she made to the career field and to the Army.
We remember her here with love, and honor her for her lifelong devotion to public service to our nation. ❤️🇺🇸 

Joan Malloy Obituary

Master. Sgt. (Ret.) David Lloyd Malone 
April 25, 1942 - March 31, 2026

Master Sgt. (Ret.) David Malone was a 20-year veteran of the United States Army. He spent most of his career serving overseas as the voice of AFN Europe (American Forces Network) to include Korea, Thailand, Panama, Belgium and Germany. He also served stateside to include the Pentagon. Somewhere along the way he picked up the nickname "Lips Malone" and it stuck. Master Sgt. Malone was known far and wide for his quick wit and legendary one liners. He loved to say he "had a face for radio" and will always be remembered for his motto: "Dignity at all costs!"  We remember Master Sgt. Malone here with love, honor, respect, and a smile for all "Lips" Malone meant to our public affairs family, our troops and their Families, our Army, and our nation. ❤️🇺🇸

David Malone Obituary

Mr. Thomas Erick Mani
July 9, 1943 - November 2, 2025

Tom Mani was a decades long Army Public Affairs  journalist and newspaper editor, loved by everyone who knew him. After starting out as a copy boy with the Washington Post, Tom was drafted during the Vietnam War and served in Korea. He put himself through law school at night at American University in Washington, D.C., while working full-time. He later became the editor of the Army newspaper, the Pentagram, where he mentored many young writers. Many Army journalists, photographers, and later-editors themselves trace their success to Tom's love of the craft and his commitment to sharing his experience and knowledge with others. He simply loved the work. He had a t-shirt that read something like, “There’s no greater joy than editing someone else’s writing.” For Tom, it was always for the goal of elevating the art. Tom worked hard, gave endlessly, and championed justice. We remember him here with love, respect, gratitude, and honor for his lifelong service to our nation, our Army, and to our Army Public Affairs community. ❤️🇺🇸

Thomas Mani Obituary

Lt. Col. Don Peters
October 29, 1970 - September 9, 2021

Lt. Col. Don Peters dedicated more than 30 years of his life to the Army, serving in both the Army National Guard and Active components, including a combat tour in Iraq. He served as an Infantry Company Commander in the National Guard before becoming a Public Affairs Officer. When he transitioned to the Active Component, he served again as an Infantry Officer before returning to the public affairs community. As a Public Affairs Officer, Lt. Col. Peters served as the Deputy for 18th Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg and in Iraq, with the Army Corps of Engineers, and in multiple assignments at the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs at the Pentagon. Peters received numerous awards for superlative service, most notably the association's Ancient Order of Saint Gabriel in 2017, a recognition for his significant contributions to the Army Public Affairs community and practice. We remember him here with honor, love, and respect for all he meant to our nation, our Army, and our Army Public Affairs community. ❤️🇺🇸

Don Peters Obituary

Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.) Edwin J. Pierce
Birth Date - August 22, 2026

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Sgt. 1st Class Edwin J. Pierce, who recently retired after more than 20 years of service.

All of us at the Army Public Affairs Association join the Army Public Affairs community in mourning his loss and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and teammates.

Pierce began his Army career in 2006 as an aviation crew chief, serving in that role for more than five years before transitioning to public affairs in 2011. He went on to spend the remainder of his Army career in the public affairs community, including nearly 14 years as a public affairs specialist and, beginning in 2024, as the Digital Management Division NCOIC at the Pentagon.

After more than two decades of service, Pierce had only recently begun his well-earned retirement. His loss is felt throughout the community and by the many Soldiers, colleagues and friends who served alongside him throughout his career.

Rest in peace, Sgt. 1st Class Pierce. ❤️🇺🇸

Arrangements are pending.We'll post here when we receive them.

Martha Jo Rudd
July 31, 1949 - November 2, 2022

Martha Rudd was one of the most experienced and most relied upon public affairs professionals of an entire generation. Her lifelong selfless career telling Soldiers' stories and representing the Army through public affairs was renowned. She was a student of the mission and purpose of Army public affairs, and it showed. Her expertise spanned from the tactical at Fort Belvoir to the strategic at Army Public Affairs at the Pentagon. She was a go-to colleague who either knew the answer or knew someone who knew. She always played for the team, with generosity and true desire to help those around her succeed. She loved what she did and she was the very best at it. She left us so very much too soon. We remember her here with love, and we honor her for her devotion to public service, her colleagues, to the Army, and to her beloved Army Public Affairs. ❤️ 🇺🇸

Martha Rudd Obituary

Sgt. First Class (Ret.) Tawanna Michelle Starks
June 30, 1971 - February 14, 2026

All of us at the association join the Army Public Affairs community in mourning the loss of Sgt. First Class Tawanna Starks. a beloved PA NCO and member of the Army Public Affairs family. She dedicated her life to her daughter, her family, to our Army, and the nation. Her light, beloved by everyone who knew her, left us far too soon. We remember her here with love, and we honor her for her passionate, selfless service. ❤️ 🇺🇸

Funeral services:
February 27, 2026, 10:30 a.m.

Master Sgt. Marcia J. Triggs
April 16, 1972 - May 6, 2011

Master Sgt. Marcia J. Triggs wasn’t just a communicator—she was a force in Army Public Affairs, ensuring the stories of Soldiers were told with clarity, truth, and impact. From her time as a military print journalist and public affairs specialist to her leadership roles at Army News Service and the U.S. Army Office of the Chief of Public Affairs at the Pentagon, where she was serving on 9/11, Master Sgt. Triggs simply set the standard for excellence in military storytelling.
Master Sgt. Triggs passed away while still on Active Duty in May 2011 but her impact on Army Public Affairs continues. Her legacy lives on through the association's MSG Marcia J. Triggs Award for Excellence, an annual award recognizing Army Public Affairs NCOs who demonstrate outstanding leadership and professionalism in their craft. In 2022, American Forces Network Bavaria honored her memory by renaming their station "The Master Sergeant Marcia J. Triggs Broadcast Center."
Master Sgt. Triggs was beloved by all around her for her selfless devotion to Army Public Affairs and to the Soldiers and professionals who served with her around the world.
We remember her here with love and with the honor so befitting a Soldier of her character, passion, and excellence. ❤️🇺🇸
 
Marcia Triggs Obituary