The St. James community honored all Greene and Cocke County military veterans during an event Friday night at the St. James Community Center.

But two veterans -- former Vietnam "tunnel rat" James Gregg, of Greeneville, and retired U.S. Army First Sgt. Leonard Mattingly, of Cocke County -- received the Order of the Silver Rose, which recognizes veterans who have developed medical problems as the result of exposure to the herbicide "Agent Orange" during the Vietnam War.

The two veterans were accompanied by their wives, Carolyn Gregg and Donna Mattingly, during the ceremony.

The two women also draped ribbons bearing the Order of the Silver Rose medal around their husbands' necks after retired U.S. Army Master Sgt. Bill Thomason, of Parrottsville, read citations that accompanied the awards.

The family of the late Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark David Fabel, who died on Veterans Day, will receive Fabel's Order of the Silver Rose during a memorial service that will be held by the Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department at a later date.

Fabel was represented during the Friday night ceremony by an empty chair on which a folded U.S. flag and his Order of the Silver Rose documents rested.

A large contingent of Long Creek VFD firefighters attended the Friday night ceremony.

Before the ceremony, Gregg said he grew up in the St. James community and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967.

He noted that he kept a diary while serving in Vietnam and that he was his unit's "demolition" man and is now nearing completion of a manuscript of a book based on his diary.

A Nov. 20 article by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden of the American Forces Press Service noted that an "independent study" by the Institute of Medicine last month had resulted in "broadened health coverage by the Veterans Affairs Department for Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange."

According to the article, research found that three illnesses -- B cell leukemias, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease -- possibly are associated with Agent Orange exposure.

Those conditions join a list of related diseases for which Vietnam War veterans already receive compensation, such as prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, soft-tissue sarcomas, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma, the article said.

Veterans who served in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975 may qualify for monthly disability compensation and do not have to provide proof they were exposed to Agent Orange to qualify for health benefits, according to the article.

"We must do better reviews of illnesses that may be connected to service, and we will," Veterans Administration Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said last month. "Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence."

The U.S. military used Agent Orange herbicides in the Vietnam conflict from 1961 to 1971 to clear foliage that provided enemy cover. VA officials estimate that about 2.6 million military personnel who served in Vietnam were affected.

U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, House Veterans Affairs Committee chairman, recently released a statement calling for additional support of the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009. The bill would expand eligibility for presumptive conditions to veterans who were not directly "boots on the ground," such as sailors and pilots.

Current law suggests that location of service in Vietnam affects some of the qualifications for Agent Orange compensation.

"Time is running out for these Vietnam veterans," Filner said. "Many are dying from their Agent Orange-related diseases, uncompensated for their sacrifice. If, as a result of service, a veteran was exposed to Agent Orange, and it has resulted in failing health, this country has a moral obligation to care for each veteran the way we promised we would."

About 800,000 Vietnam veterans are estimated to be alive today and eligible for treatment for Agent Orange-related illnesses.

According to the VA's Web site, the department presumes all military members who served in Vietnam were exposed to Agent Orange. Also, some children of female Vietnam veterans may qualify for compensation, based on birth defects associated with the chemicals.

Also during the event in what once was the auditorium of the former St. James School, World War II veteran Paul Johnson, a 86-year-old Battle of the Bulge veteran, was honored for his World War II service.

In addition, an honor guard from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 102, of Newport, "presented arms" to honor deceased veterans.

The audience stood with their hands over their hearts as Taps echoed through the former school auditorium.

The "veterans salute" ceremony was conducted during a break in the regular third-Thursday performance at the St. James Community Center by Yesterday's Country Band, featuring Johnny Kiser.

Singer Kiser, who was dressed in an American flag shirt for the occasion, had led the band, and assorted guest performers, through nearly an hour of "classic country" and Gospel music songs, before the veterans salute.

The band returned to the stage after the veterans salute was completed.