F E O W R G T E S T E L The IssaquahPress
Wednesday, May 21, 2015
By Greg Farrar
Plaques mounted across the ceiling of Norman ‘Crash’ Nash’s Squak Mountain home denote the squadrons and stations in his career as a U.S. Navy pilot.
‘Crash’ Nash found ‘glamour’ in flying By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com There was a very simple reason why Norman Nash signed up for the Navy in November 1957 at age 21. “I wanted to fly airplanes and the Navy gave me the opportunity to do just that,” Nash said. “I just always loved to fly.”
In fact, though he spent 31 years in the Navy before retiring in June 1988, Nash said he barely spent any time aboard a ship of any kind. “I spent most of that time in planes,” he said. While Nash flew jets aboard aircraft carriers and served a year in Vietnam, he also spent a big chunk of his career at the Naval
Air Weapons Station, China Lake in California. Nash said he helped test a lot of ordnance that was later used in Vietnam, some of which was developed specifically for use there. As for his own time in the Vietnamese conflict, Nash flew off the USS Ranger, an aircraft carrier, for one year. He noted he was using some
of the ordnance he helped test. He didn’t really have a lot to say about his time overseas, except to specifically state he was not a hero. According to Nash, the heroes were the 18- or 19-yearold Navy personnel who spent their time in what he called one of the most dangerous environments possible: the deck of an aircraft carrier.
“So much is going on all at once,” Nash said, stating there are dozens of ways to get yourself hurt or killed, whether you get blown over the side by a jet or hurt by an airplane landing or catapulting off the deck. When asked, Nash said he See NASH, Page2
Bill Drummond: Electronics wizard and Army veteran By Neil Pierson npierson@ sammamishreview.com Issaquah resident Bill Drummond wasn’t on the front lines during World War II, but he played an important behind-the-scenes role in helping end one of the great conflicts in American history. Drummond, 88, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, living there and in South Dakota before his father landed an engineering job in Seattle in 1936, when Bill was 9 years old.
Shortly after his 18th birthday, Drummond did what most young men were doing and enlisted in the U.S. Army. The war was reaching its conclusion — victory in Europe had been declared on May 8, 1945 — but Drummond felt a strong call to serve his country. “I was so unhappy with what the Nazis and the Japanese warlords were doing to people all around the world that I wanted to get out and stop them,” he said. Drummond was shipped to California for basic training,
Bill Drummond spending time at Fort Ord and Camp Roberts. “I don’t remember feeling overworked,” he said of the
experience. “Sure, it was a lot of calisthenics and things like that, but I was in pretty good shape, so it didn’t bother me.” Drummond was told he was “a little too small to go out and shoot at people,” so instead of heading to the Pacific combat theater, he returned to Washington upon completion of basic training and began working as a radio repairman. The remainder of his 18 months in the Army, he said, consisted of “diddling around with the radios that didn’t work,” marching in parades and cleaning up the
barracks. He has no regrets about his military career. “I don’t remember feeling let down, he said. “I felt that, if the guys out fighting needed backup, we were the people that were backing things up and keeping things going for them, so they’d get their supplies and medical treatments.” Drummond’s service time entitled him to the G.I. Bill of Rights, and he used the money See DRUMMOND, Page 2
PATRIOTIC PASSION
Flag forever flies at home of veteran Cliff LeCompte By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com
Cliff LeCompte’s Renton home is easy to spot. It’s the gray one where, without fail, an American flag softly rustles in the wind. The red, white and blue unfurls above his doorstep 365 days a year. “My patriotism is a passion,” LeCompte said. “I fly the flag every day. Every morning I put it up and every night I take it down.” LeCompte, a Vietnam War veteran, treats Old Glory with a reverence that only those in uniform might truly apBy Christina Corrales-Toy preciate. Vietnam War veteran Cliff LeCompte takes pride in instilling the imporThe flag boldly waves outside his door, serving as a symbol of freedom tance of service and patriotism in his children, pictured in frames posi-
tioned on a wall in his Renton home.
Contributed
Cliff LeCompte served as a Navy radio operator on the USS Somers, a guided missile destroyer, for about a year.
and patriotism. It also represents a very personal “thank you” to those who answered the call to arms in supSee LECOMPTE, Page 8
Flintoft’s Funeral Home and Crematory is proud to honor our community’s veterans.
B2 • Wednesday, May 21, 2015
The Issaquah Press
We honor the 19 who gave the ultimate sacrifice Freedom isn’t free. Since the birth of this country, men and women have been willing to fight and die for Americans to be free to live their lives as they choose.
And the number of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice is staggering. More than 1.3 million men and women have died in wars fought by or on behalf of this country since 1775.
Men and women have also been willing to sacrifice their personal time, by serving in times when war was not on or imminent. They have done all types of jobs that people in the civilian
sector do, but instead did them in service to this country while they stood ready to defend our lives, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We at The Issaquah Press
salute, honor and thank the men and women from our community who have paid all types of sacrifices to keep themselves, their families and everyone else free. We hope you will do the same.
Paul Alfred Ambrose
Robert Arndt
Robert Baskett
Clifford Benson
James Patrick Brady
Elizabeth Erickson
Private, U.S. Army, 701 T.D. Battalion July 9, 1924 – May 31, 1944 Graduated from Issaquah High School in 1942. KIA in Anzio, Italy. Buried in Hillside Cemetery.
Corporal, U.S. Army, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division Died at age 21. Born: May 6, 1946 Died: July 29, 1967 He was shot in early 1967, but recovered; was back in action only a few days when he was killed in Dinh Tuong Province, South Vietnam. Buried in Hillside Cemetery.
Sergeant, U.S. Army, 8th Infantry April 7, 1925 – July 15, 1944 Graduated from Issaquah High School in 1943. KIA in Normandy, France. Buried in Hillside Cemetery.
Second lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force, 737th Bomb Squadron, 454th Bomb Group Shot down in Croatia on April 21, 1944.
Corporal, U.S. Army, Scotch Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Born: March 7, 1949 Died: June 18, 1969 KIA in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam. Buried in Greenwood Memorial Park, Renton.
Woman Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) Died in a training exercise over Sweetwater, Texas, in May 1944. Buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Seattle. Because WASPs were considered civilians, she never received a military burial. She was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal by President Obama.
Peter Erickson Private, U.S. Army, 18th Engineer Regiment Died: Aug. 10, 1918 Buried in Suresnes American Cemetery, in Suresnes, France. From the Sept. 27, 1918, Press: “A large congregation attended the memorial service Sunday afternoon at Issaquah in honor of Peter Erickson, the first of the boys from Issaquah to die in the service of his country. The oration delivered by the Rev. S. V. Warren touched a high note of patriotism.
Emmett R. McDonald Captain, U.S. Air Force Born: July 27, 1939, MIA May 31, 1966, Declared dead: Feb. 11, 1975 Missing in air loss/crash in North Vietnam. (Remains never recovered.)
Carl Albert Larson Robert Hoskins
Harold Gleason Private first class, U.S. Army, 301st Infantry Regiment, 94th Division Born: Feb. 6, 1916 Killed March 2, 1945, while serving as a medic near Serrig, Germany. Buried in Hillside Cemetery. (no photo available)
Jack McQuade Private, U.S. Army Air Force, 481st Service Squadron, 46th Air Service Group Born: Nov. 28, 1920 Killed April 18, 1945, in accidental bomb explosion. Buried in Hillside Cemetery.
Lance corporal (mortarman), U.S. Marine Corps, H&S Company 5, Mar 1 Mar Div Born: Sept. 14, 1949 Died: Nov. 25, 1968 KIA in Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Buried in Hillside Cemetery. (no photo available)
Louis Petersen Flight officer, U.S. Army Air Force, 422nd Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group Killed Aug. 6, 1944, when the B-17 he was co-piloting was hit by flak and crashed near Vollradisroda, Germany. Interred in Germany; later brought home to Greenwood Memorial Park, Renton.
Information is incomplete and/or conflicting for the 19 local veterans killed while serving in wartime. Photos also could not be located for three of them. If you have information or photos, email editor@isspress.com or call 392-6434, ext. 227.
Corporal, U.S. Army 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Division Died Oct. 9, 1918 Buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, in Romagne, France. (no photo available)
Robert Philp Staff sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force, 589th Bomb Squadron, 387th Bomb Group Shot down near Mayan, Germany, where his crew was attacking a railroad viaduct, on Dec. 23, 1944.
Joseph Albert Tondreau Fireman first class, U.S. Navy/ Naval Reserve MIA or buried at sea Dec. 18, 1944. Tablets of the missing are at Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines.
George C. Larsen Private first class, U.S. Army, infantry, Born: Feb. 17, 1926 Died: June 14, 1945 184th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. KIA by a grenade attacking Hill 181 in Ryuku, Okinawa, Japan. Buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Laurence J. Lortie Second lieutenant U.S. Army Air Force 45th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group MIA June 1, 1945, somewhere between Iwo Jima and Osaka, Japan; weather may have been the reason for the loss.
John Raymond Smart Second lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force, 443rd Bomb Squadron, 320th Bomb Group MIA Oct. 23, 1943, over the Tyrrhenian Sea near Giannuitri Island. The crew of the downed B-26 was seen in life rafts but Air-Sea Rescue boats could not locate them, and no one from the crew was ever seen again. Tablets of the missing are at Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.
Robert Watson Staff sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force, 375th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy; reported MIA between January and April 1944; crew of plane was never found. Tablets of the missing are at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
Drummond from page 1
By Greg Farrar
Norman ‘Crash’ Nash holds a model of the Grumman A6 Intruder that he flew in combat and has the most experience piloting. The framed wall photograph is of him piloting one over Mount Whitney in 1979 out of the Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, California.
Nash from page 1
didn’t have many flights that stood out in his memory as especially dangerous or challenging. He did mention a night catapult flight in a plane that was off balance because of the large amount of bombs it was carrying. There are two more unusual flights that undoubtedly stick out in his memory. Early in his career, Nash said he collided with another plane and ended up having to land on a carrier with only one engine. Another flight also featured a mid-air collision with another plane Nash was flying in formation with — or was supposed to be. In any case, those incidents earned him the nickname of “Crash Nash.” Nash admits to the nickname
without any prompting or sign of displeasure. “It was the other guy’s fault both times,” he added. Nash grew up in Colorado, but ended up spending 10 years at the Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island. He reached the ranks of executive officer and commander during his time at Whidbey and eventually would retire a Naval Captain. He was living in Hawaii when he retired, but said he knew he wanted to move back to this area — a great place to raise a family, he said — and did so with his “perfect Navy wife” and three children. “It takes a special temperament to be a serviceman’s wife,” Nash said, a temperament which his wife Kristen apparently has in abundance. To a large extent, two of his children are following in their parent’s footsteps. Daughter Jennifer Harri-
son is married to an Army lieutenant colonel and living in Okinawa, Japan. His son Randy flew helicopters for the Navy and now flies rescue choppers for a private firm. A third son, Matthew, has worked for Island County for many years. Nash has been and still is involved in the local community. He has been a volunteer with the Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery since its inception and now serves as vice president of the board of directors. Surprisingly, Nash has not flown much since he left the service. “I never had any real interest in civilian planes,” he said. “Now, I’d love to get back in a jet.”
Cmdr. Norman ‘Crash’ Nash stands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. America stationed in the Mediterranean Sea in 1974. Contributed
In loving memory of SSgt. Dale and Lt. Alice Lee
to study electronics engineering at the University of Washington. He had worked for Seattle City Light prior to his enlistment. He moved to Pittsburgh for a year to work for Westinghouse Electric Co., but quickly returned to Seattle when a job opportunity with Boeing popped up. He stayed there for 27 years, working on various test equipment designs, primarily with Minuteman missiles. Before retiring in May 1989, he also spent a year working on commercial aircraft. Drummond bought a 1 1/2-acre property on the Sammamish Plateau in 1992, enjoying his early retirement years by maintaining his home, trimming trees and loads of hiking. In 2002, he sold the property and moved to Issaquah. He’s a well-known figure in the community, serving for the past three years as a board member for the Issaquah Senior Center, and is an active parishioner at Issaquah Church of Christ. Drummond’s Christian faith has been a huge part of his life for the past 41 years. A small framed sign in his living room proclaims “Jesus is Lord, and I am glad.” He works with basic computer languages, and he records hymns on his computers, which take up much of the space in his living room, a sign that he’s still very much interested in electronics. As he looks back on his military adventures, Drummond expresses relief in helping his country move on from a difficult time period. “I’m glad that I did help with the war effort, because I felt that the war should be won, and won as quickly as possible,” he said. “I know that we were very jubilant at V-J (Victory in Japan) Day, and of course, it was nice to get over gasoline and food rationing and things like that, and get back to a more easy life.”
The Issaquah Press
Wednesday, May 21, 2015 •
B3
Archie Adair
Buford R. (Bud) Ambrose
Albert Anderson
Rodney Albert Anderson
Vern G. Anderson
Allen Sherman Anderson
Daniel T. Anderson
Vigo E. Anderson
Gilbert R. Andress
Born: May 5, 1911 Died: Feb. 18, 1985 Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Germany in World War II Details of service: While with the 83rd Infantry Division in Germany, was awarded the combat infantryman’s badge for displaying exemplary conduct in action
Deceased Highest rank achieved: SK2 (store keeper second class) Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: South Pacific — USS Saginaw Bay Dates of service: Feb. 15, 1943 to Feb. 5, 1946
Born: Feb. 28, 1892 Died: Oct. 1969 Highest rank achieved: Fireman Second Class Branch of service: Navy Where served: U.S.S. New York Dates of service: May, 17, 1917 to May 7, 1918
Born: Apr. 16, 1925 Died: Nov. 16, 2000 Branch of service: Army Where served: Europe Details of service: served in World War II in the 97th Infantry Division and drove a jeep
Born: Nov. 23, 1927 Died: May 16, 2008 Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: Navy and Army Where served: Fort Lewis, Fort Lawton, Whittier (Alaska), Port of Embarkation in Seattle Dates of service: 1946 (Navy) then discharged after eight months, drafted again in 1951 Details of service: in Seattle, was a military police officer at the main gate, in Alaska unloaded ships
Highest rank achieved: E-3 Branch of service: U.S. Navy Dates of service: Dec. 2, 1972 to April 7, 1977 Details of service: Hull tech, was on the USS Samuel Gompers, USS John Paul Jones, USS Kitty Hawk; was off the coast of Vietnam from late 1973 until mid-1975; finished enlistment in dry dock at Bremerton shipyard overhauling the Kitty Hawk
Branch of service: U.S. Navy Highest rank achieved: ET2 Where served: Atlantic Theater two years aboard USS Pocono, flagship of the Atlantic Fleet Details of service: Served as electronic technician (UHF specialist); President Truman was often aboard the ship, using my radio shack and equipment. Years of service: 1946-1948
Born: Sept. 1, 1944 Highest rank achieved: 1st Lieutenant Branch of service: Marine Corps Where served: motor transportation, First Marine Division Dates of service: March 1967 to June 1970 Details of service: spent 25 months in Vietnam
Highest rank achieved: Carpenters mate third class Branch of service: U.S. Navy, SeaBees Naval Construction Wounded in action: Gun explosion caused tinnitus Where served: Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa Dates of service: July 7, 1943 to March 6, 1946
John Arnold William Ernest Arndt Highest rank achieved: Baker second class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Pacific Dates of service: March 1943 to December 1945
Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Commander Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: U.S., Cuba, three tours in Vietnam Dates of service: August 1955 to January 1982
Michael Bloch Florence Blankenship Born: 1922 Highest rank achieved: Storekeeper First Class Branch of service: Navy Where served: Washington, D.C., Bureau of Ships Dates of service: 1944-46
Born: Oct. 25, 1939 Highest rank achieved: Airman First Class Branch of service: Air Force Where served: Hahn Airbase, Germany Dates of service: 1960-64 Details of service: assisted in base chapel and forecasted weather for pilots
Edward E. Authier Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant colonel Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Germany, Korea, Vietnam and U.S. Dates of service: 1960 - 1980 Details of service: Was a senior Army aviator
John Michael Barry Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: Vietnam Details of service: 1st Marine Air Wing, 3rd Marine Division; served in combat at Khe Sahn Combat Base during Tet and the Siege of Khe Sahn in February 1968; I Corps below the DMZ; in combat in Vietnam from December 1967 to August 1969 Dates of service: February 1966 to February 1972
Jim Briody
John Brooke Born: 1933 Highest rank achieved: Specialist SP3 Branch of service: Army infantry Where served: Hawaii Dates of service: 1955-56 Details of service: worked as a guard for prison duty and combat training
Gaius Sunday Buxton Highest rank achieved: Signalman third class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Signalman on staff of Commander Transport Division 60 in the Pacific area on the USS Grimes; Okinawa Campaign, initial occupation of Tokyo Bay Area and Nagasaki, Japan Dates of service: 1944-1946
Jean-Michel Christopher Highest rank achieved: EM2 (electricians mate second class) Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: USS City of Corpus Christi Dates of service: August 1992 to August 1998
Robert R. Coward Born: June 6, 1939 Highest rank achieved: Adjutant 3 Branch of service: Navy, Aviation Machinist Mate Where served: aircraft carriers, U.S.S. Kearsarge CVA 33 — U.S.S. Oriskany CVA 34 Dates of service: Sept. 10, 1957 to Sept. 10, 1961
Highest rank achieved: Corporal; airman second class Branch of service: Air National Guard/Air Force Reserve/U.S. Naval Reserve Where served: United States Dates of service: Jan. 23, 1946 U.S.N.R to June 4, 1946; June 1948 A.N.G. to June 1952; May 1, 1951 U.S. Air Force to Dec. 20, 1951
Greg Beman
William Bentz
Born: Aug. 17, 1948 Highest rank achieved: E4 Branch of service: Marine Corps Where served: Dong Ha, Vietnam; six miles south of the DMZ Dates of service: 1966-1970 Details of service: combat engineer, 3rd Marine Division, served in combat, gunshot wound, received Purple Heart
Highest rank achieved: Staff sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: South Pacific, New Guinea Philippines; Fort Lawton, Wash. Dates of service: 1943-1946, 19481949
Walter Lee Brazelton
Dan Boni Born: Aug. 25, 1924 Branch of service: Navy Where served: Motor machinist’s mate second class unit Dates of service: Sept. 17, 1943 to March 31, 1946 Details of service: served in combat in the South Pacific for two years; Ship PGM8 received two letters of commendation for services in Northern Solomons and the Philippines
Highest rank achieved: Army PFC and Navy MR3 Branch of service: Army and Navy Where served: 41st Infantry Division 146 Field Artillery (Army); USS Ticonderoga; USS Coral Sea Details of service: Multiple cruises with Pacific Fleet to the Far East Dates of service: Army 1955-58; Navy 1958-62
James R. Darst Born: Jan. 1, 1927 Died: Oct. 27, 2011 Branch of service: U.S. Navy Dates of service: 1945-1947 Details of service: served aboard a landing-craft carrier in the Pacific Theater during World War II
Paul Thomas Boone
Louis Boni Born: Nov. 24, 1918 Died: 2003 in Issaquah Branch of service: Navy, water tender Dates of service: April 3, 1942 to Nov. 29, 1945, and the Korean War Details of service: served in combat in the Pacific during World War II and the Korean War
Born: Sept. 26, 1924 Died: Oct. 7, 2009 Highest rank achieved: Flight officer Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Where served: P-51 pilot in combat in the Philippines, New Guinea and other places in the South Pacific Details of service: He was in Japan after the bomb was dropped, and ferried numerous planes from the islands to storage areas. Dates of service: 1943-1946
Christopher Brown Sr. Highest rank achieved: ABH 3rd class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: CVN 68 USS Nimitz Details of service: Served in Atlantic Fleet with multiple cruises to the Mediterranean area Dates of service: March 1979 to March 1983
Joseph Elmer Chevalier Born: Aug. 3, 1925 Highest rank achieved: Coxswain on the USS PGM19 Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Okinawa and Ryukyus Dates of service: August 1942 to January 1946
David Wayne Bracken Born: 1917 Died: 1979 (in Issaquah) Highest rank achieved: PFC Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Aleutian Islands Details of service: Signal Corps Dates of service: 1942 to 1945
Highest rank achieved: First sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: 508th MP BN, Military Police; Fort Lawton, Wash.; 61st MP Co., France; 62d MP (RAFP) Co.; USAREC, Bloomington, Ill.; Special Forces Thailand-Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam; 1st Infantry Division Fwd., Germany; and Fort Lewis Dates of service: October 1956 to December 1977
David Hardman Black Sr. Born: Nov. 5, 1945 Died: Feb. 24, 2008 Highest rank achieved: SP5 E-5 (T) Feb 1969 Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Thailand (1966-68) Korea (1970) Dates of service: 1965 to 1977 Details of service: Served in Vietnam in 1972 and was exposed to Agent Orange; received the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal (second award), two overseas bars and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm; buried at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Ky.
Carl B. Bridges Deceased (at age 70) Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Stationed on the USS Braine Dates of service: 1952-1956
Wayne E. Busby
Thomas Strander Carlisle Born: March 28, 1923 Deceased: 2007 Branch of service: Marine Corps Dates of service: 1943-1946 Highest rank achieved: 1st Lieutenant Details of service: In 1942, enlisted as aviation cadet; in 1943, completed flight training, receiving his aviator wings and commission as 2nd Lieutenant
Paul Eugene Bartholomew
Highest rank achieved: LTJG Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Served in Korea for one year Dates of service: 1953-1955 Details of service: Was landing craft control officer on the USS Logan
Angelo Boni Born: Dec. 26, 1926 Died: July 24, 2006 in Issaquah Highest rank achieved: Private Branch of service: Army Dates of service: June 22, 1945 to Nov. 11, 1946
Roger Lee Brown
Highest rank achieved: Specialist 5 (E-5) Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: U.S. Military Liaison Mission, West Berlin and Potsdam, East Germany Dates of service: 1961-1964
Harry G. Behrens
Christopher Brown Jr. Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: 2nd Infantry Division, 3rd Stryker Brigade Details of service: Fought in every major battle in Iraqi Freedom, including Fallujah, Mosul and Baghdad; received two Purple Hearts, Commendation for Stryker Vehicle Commander under hostile engagements; Personal Commendation Medal for Operation Iraqi Freedom Dates of service: November 2004 to present
Milton Bronsdon Highest rank achieved: Interior Communications Second Class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: served on U.S.S. Grand Canyon AD28, traveled to Mediterranean countries, England, Norway, Cuba Dates of service: 1955-1958
William Michael Cooper Born: April 25,1940 Highest rank achieved: Master sergeant Branch of service: Air Force, Marine Corps Where served: served in combat, Vietnam Conflict, first Marine platoon to land, stayed until 1967 Dates of service: USMC September 1958 to June 1967 Details of service: also in the Air Force and then the Reserves from 1980 to April 2000, retired after 29 years; from the Air Force: Meritorious Service Award, Commendation Medal, Outstanding Unit Award, Nave Unit Commendation, Air Force Training Ribbon; from Marines: Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Born: 1920 Died: 1995 Highest rank achieved: Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class; ratings held — S1c, AMM3c, AMM2c Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: NRAB Seattle, NRAB Pasco, Hed Ron 14-2, FAW14, Hed Ron Fleet Airwing Six-FAW-4 Dates of service: April 1942 to October 1945
Bud Butterfield Born: Oct. 17, 1934 Highest rank achieved: Chief Petty Officer Branch of service: Navy Dates of service: 1951 to 1971 Details of service: first served aboard the USS Saint Paul Heavy Cruiser, stationed in many locations from San Diego to Alaska, retired upon returning from service in Vietnam
Fred Butler Highest rank achieved: Colonel Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Vietnam, Germany and U.S. Dates of service: Jan. 8, 1963 to Jan. 31, 1990
Donald (Bud) Wayne Cochran
James Gerard Day Born: July 24, 1953 Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: Marine Corps Where served: Marine Corps Aircraft Wing Dates of service: 1972-74 Details of service: ranked as a pistol and rifle sharpshooter, received the National Defense Service Medal
George W. Croft Jr. (Bud) Highest rank achieved: E9 (master chief petty officer) Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Pacific Theatre, WWII Wounded in action: In Pearl Harbor hospital recovering from appendectomy when the Japanese began bombing Pearl Harbor. Ran out to veranda to see the entire Harbor as it was being bombed. Read his story in the military section on AncientFaces.com. Dates of service: 1941-1971
Born: Dec. 1, 1921 Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant Branch of service: Army Where served: 634th Ordinance Ammunition; Oro Bay, New Guinea; Manila and Lati, Philippines; Hirasaki, Japan Dates of service: May 1942 to January 1946 Details of service: served in combat; Bud’s transport to the WWII Pacific war zone began in San Francisco, where he boarded the David C. Shanks with nearly 5,000 other G.I.s. While serving in New Guinea, he was burned with mustard gas. He landed in Japan with the first American invasion forces where he remained until the end of the war.
Theodore Vernon Colbert Sr.
Phillip James Conway
Born: Jan. 22, 1922 Died: Jan. 6, 2012 Highest rank achieved: PFC/ Special Weapons Group Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: World War II, in the Pacific Region and fought in the Russell and Solomon islands, on Rendova Island, and in Guam and the Guadalcanal Islands, and stormed many beaches Dates of service: Nov. 12, 1942 to May 5, 1945 Details of service: awarded the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon 1 star for New Georgia Group Operations
Born: Feb. 22, 1926 Highest rank achieved: Coxswain on the USS Renshaw Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: World War II — Solomon Islands, Marianas, Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian, Guam Details of service: He was the coxen charged with ferrying the “big shots” to shore and transporting work crews around the ship or to shore in a “gig.” Dates of service: 1943 to 1946
Issaquah Valley Grange and the Anderson/Bracken family salute our local veterans
B4 • Wednesday, May 21, 2015
Colin Corbett Born: Jan. 14, 1931 Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: Army Where served: northeastern France and California Dates of service: six years in the 1950s Details of service: supply depot, toured Europe, Nike missile base in San Francisco, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Chemical Corps, small corps gas masks and chemical training for chemical warfare
Lee Cook
Dallas Cross
Born: Mar. 14, 1941 Highest rank achieved: Master Chief Petty Officer Branch of service: Navy Where served: all over the world, Europe and the Far East Dates of service: 1961-88
Highest rank achieved: PFC, U.S. Army Infantry (twice achieved) Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., and Fort Meyer — Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Va. Dates of service: Active service, Sept. 11, 1957 to Sept. 10, 1959; Army Reserve, 1959-1962 Details of service: Drill platoon in The Old Guard Regiment, 1957; worked with the Secret Service as bayonet-guarded cordon lines to limit access to the President and visiting heads of state
Thomas D. Donegan
Jack Dompier
Born: Dec. 1, 1946 Highest rank achieved: RM3 Branch of service: Navy Dates of service: 1966-1970 Details of service: served in combat; the first tour to Vietnam was aboard the Destroyer USS Chevalier off the Vietnam coast in 1967-68. The last 2 1/2 years was spent on PBRs (River Patrol Boat) at PBR Mobile Base 1, north of Danang. One river that was patrolled was the HUE river.
Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant colonel Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Panama, England, Europe, Korea Wounded in action: Suffered machine gun leg wounds while leading a rifle platoon into Germany in February 1945 Dates of service: January 1940 – July 1946, July 1952 to January 1965
William Falkenstein
David T. Evans Born: Oct. 2, 1943 Died: 2002 Highest rank achieved: 1st Lieutenant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Tour of duty was from 19671969 in Heidelberg, Germany Dates of service: 1967-1969 Details of service: Military Police and Criminal Investigation Division
Mark W. Gilliam Born: Feb. 3, 1959 Highest rank achieved: Engineman Second Class Branch of service: Navy Where served: on the USS Ketchikan and at the Naval Torpedo Station, Keyport, Wash. Dates of service: 1976-82 Details of service: four-year Good Conduct award
Born: Dec. 22, 1913 Died: Dec. 18, 2001 Highest rank achieved: Master sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: WWII — New Guinea; Korean War — Seoul, Korea Dates of service: 1940-1960
Gerald Patrick Darst Born: March 17, 1932 Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: Army Dates of service: 1951-1952 Details of service: served in combat in Korea
Charles Dorian
Highest rank achieved: Petty officer first class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: San Diego; Great Lakes, Ill.; Pearl Harbor; Camp Lejeune, N.C. Dates of service: Aug. 11, 1994 to present
Raymond C. Davis
William Dixon
Born: July 8, 1941 Highest rank achieved: Radarman third class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Far East, Pacific, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Details of service: Served on the USS Washburn and USS Cabildo Dates of service: 1959 to 1963
Highest rank achieved: Bos’n mate second class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Mediterranean and Pacific Theatres Dates of service: October 1942 to January 1946
W.J. (Joe) Dodge Died: June 3, 1982 Highest rank achieved: Private (infantry) Branch of service: U.S. Army (Samuel Company) Where served: Georgia, not deployed Dates of service: Discharged May 3, 1919
W.J. (Joe) Dodge Jr. Highest rank achieved: AO3 (aviation ordnance man third class) Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: USS Hancock CVA-19, Southeast Asia Dates of service: October 1961 to November 1963
Ralph Carl Eikenberry
Bob Doyle
Born: Sept. 27, 1921 Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: Coast Guard Where served: North Atlantic, Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; Great Lakes; World War II Greenland, New York Dates of service: June 1942 to March 1972 Details of service: served on seven ships in the North Atlantic, Caribbean, Great Lakes, North Pacific and South Pacific Oceans; was Chief Coast Guard Communications from 1964-67 and Deputy Director, Office of Telecommunications, in the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1967-72; is one of the “fathers” of the current satellite communication system for ships
Alice L. Davis
Born: Jul. 29, 1931 Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: Army Special Forces Where served: Kentucky Dates of service: August 1952 to March 1955 Details of service: never left the states
Pete Favini Born: 1894 Died: 1977 Branch of service: Navy Dates of service: World War I Details of service: served in WWI aboard the USS Theodore, where he made seven trips to France, and then crashed on the reefs of France
Tauno L. Erickson
Joel Estey
Highest rank achieved: Technical sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Signal Corps Where served: Southwest and Central Pacific theaters Medal awarded: Bronze Star Dates of service: May 1942 to October 1945
Highest rank achieved: E-5 Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Served in combat in I Corps South Vietnam, Da Nang Chulai; mostly in the field throughout tour of duty; American 196th Light Infantry Details of service: Wounded by booby trap; earned a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars Dates of service: 1967-1969
Duane W. Englund Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: Army Engineers Where served: Europe, Philippine Islands Dates of service: July 1943 to January 1947
Barry A. Feder
Delbert E. Fleming
Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant colonel Branch of service: U.S. Army, retired Where served: Fort Polk, La., active duty; reserve units in Oregon and Washington; active duty for six months during Desert Storm (first Gulf War) Dates of service: Commissioned in 1969; active duty 1973-1975; reserves 1975-1995
Highest rank achieved: Chief petty officer Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Vietnam on various ships and commands Dates of service: 1957-1977
Highest rank achieved: Staff sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps infantry Where served: Served in a combat zone in Korea for six months in 1950 in the 7th Marines; was wounded at Chosin Reservoir and was air evacuated to Japan Dates of service: 1946-48; 1950-51
John E. Flood Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Supply Corps Dates of service: Three years
Norma Ernsting-Emmons Highest rank achieved: Storekeeper Second Class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Milledgeville, Ga.; and Bremerton, Wash. Dates of service: March 2, 1943 to July 12, 1945
Tyler Lenwood Fraker
Luther E. Franklin
Born: June 11, 1970 Highest rank achieved: E-4, fuels specialist Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Where served: Spain during Desert Shield and Dahran, Saudi Arabia, during Desert Storm Details of service: 406th TFTW Dates of service: October 1990 to October 1994
Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Branch of service: Navy Where served: continental USA and GTMO Details of service: naval aviator Years of service: active duty, 1953-57; active reserve: 195758; inactive reserve 1958-73
William Clinton Geil
Born: July 26, 1947 Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant Branch of service: Marine Corps Where served: Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego; Okinawa; Vietnam; Camp Pendleton in California Dates of service: 1965-71 and 197577 Details of service: served in Vietnam in 1967, at An Hoa and Hill 55 in the 155mm Artillery Battery, Third Battalion 11th Marines, First Marine Division, I Corps; received the Combat Action Ribbon and meritoriously promoted to Sergeant in Vietnam
David Germani
Wayne Geiger
Stanley Pete Favini Born: March 7, 1923 Died: Aug. 25, 1987 Branch of service: Navy Where served: USS Monterey aircraft carrier Dates of service: World War II Details of service: served on USS Monterey aircraft carrier, ship was on the Japanese coast ready to attack when the Japanese surrendered
Brandon Christopher Galvan Born: Jan. 8, 1990 Highest rank achieved: Private First Class Branch of service: Army Where served: 1-1 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, First Infantry Division, Combat Aviation Brigade Dates of service: May 2013 to present Details of service: just returned home May 5, 2014, from combat service in Kandahar, Afghanistan; received Gold Coin of Honor
Louis Charles Giraldin Highest rank achieved: Radioman second class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: North Pacific Ocean Dates of service: April 12, 1944 to Feb. 21, 1946
David Hayes Highest rank achieved: Journalist first class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where Served: USS Simon Lake; Diego Garcia; USS Kittyhawk; Naval Station Sandpoint, Naval Station Everett Dates of service: 1987-1998
The Issaquah Press
Robert C. Harper Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: U.S. Army Signal Corps MOS 1187 Where served: U.S. and Germany Dates of service: December 1952 to November 1954
Ray Giaudrone
Durward M. Garrett Highest rank achieved: Lt. Col. Branch of service: Air Force (retired) Where served: service included WWII, occupation forces in Japan, troop carrier duties from Guam covering the entire South Pacific, the Berlin airlift, the Korean Conflict, and The Cold War era including Vietnam while serving in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Dates of service: enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in June 1943 and retired in June 1966 Details of service: served on B-17, B-29, F-2,C-54, KB-29, KC-97 and KC 135 aircraft and was instructor navigator/ master navigator
William Daniel Gilley Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Panama; Fort Columbia, Wash.; and Fort Stevens, Ore. (the forts guarding the mouth of the Columbia River) Details of service: Hurt very seriously in an accident as they fired one of the 10-inch disappearing guns at Fort Columbia early in 1942. Was unable to serve afterward and was discharged. Dates of service: 1936-1942
Doris Gross Highest rank achieved: Link instructor, involved in American Legion, first woman vice commander Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Corpus Christi, Texas Dates of service: 1941-1945
Highest rank achieved: MM 1st Class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Navy Post Office Dates of service: 1941-1945
Highest rank achieved: E4 Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: 1st Marine Division; served in combat in Danang, Vietnam, from May 1969 – May 1970 Dates of service: November 1968 to May 1970
Sabatino Germani Born: Dec. 19, 1922 Died: 1998 Branch of service: Navy Where served: Repair Facility Guam, Shore Patrol, USS Hector, USS Yellowstone and Fleet Reserve Dates of service: 1939-63 Details of service: electronic technician in World War II, Korea and Vietnam
Kenneth Lee Hampton Joseph L. Grove Born: March 16, 1942 Highest rank achieved: Sgt. First Class Branch of service: four years active duty Air Force, six years Navy Reserve, 10 years Army National Guard Where served: four years at the Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; six years with the Navy Reserve in Alaska and Arkansas, and 10 years with the Arkansas Army National Guard Dates of service: 1960-1964; 19852002 Details of service: active duty Air Force 5040th Supply Squadron, US Navy Reserve and Army National Guard 875 Combat Engineers
Born: Nov. 12, 1931 Highest rank achieved: Staff sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Security Agency Where served: Korea Details of service: Served until the truce was signed Dates of service: 1952 to 1955
Roger L. Heric Died: 1994 Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Germany, 749th Tank Battalion Details of service: The 749th fought with the 76th Division, April 7-30, 1944; was wounded in action
Gordon Hanson Born: 1926 Highest rank achieved: Private Branch of service: Canadian Army Where served: Chilliwak, British Columbia Dates of service: March 1945 to September 1945 Details of service: engineering division
Born: Jan. 16, 1925 Highest rank achieved: Colonel Branch of service: Army Dates of service: World War II, 1943 to 1974 Details of service: plane crashed in Germany and he was a POW for 44 days, received $44 in compensation and bought his wife a watch
Judson Burns Harper Born: Dec. 8, 1936 Highest rank achieved: Gunnery sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: Korea and Vietnam Details of service: Awarded Combat Action Medal, two air medals, six good conduct medals, Navy commendation, served as aerial gunman on CH-46 helicopters Dates of service: Dec. 10, 1953 to June 30, 1973
James Thurston Hoganson Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army, infantry Where served: 40th and 24th Infantry Divisions in Korea Details of service: Served in combat in Korea as a medical tech Dates of service: May 1953 to March 1955
Brown Bear Car Wash and Snoqualmie Valley Hospital honor our veterans.
Ron Howatson Highest rank achieved: CD3 Branch of service: U.S. Navy — Seabees Where served: Korea 1952-1954
Randolph (Randy) Carter Harrison Born: June 21, 1944 Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: Army Special Forces Where served: U.S. and South East Asia (Vietnam/Cambodia) Dates of service: Regular Army active duty: January 1966 to June 1971; Army Special Forces Reserve: March 1989 to March 1993 Details of service: enlisted infantry, attended Infantry Officer’s Candidate School, commissioned as second lieutenant, completed basic airborne training, Special Forces Qualification, Special Forces Officer’s Intelligence Course, Defence Language Institute Course/Vietnamese, two tours of duty in Republic of South Vietnam totaling 27 months in country
The Issaquah Press
S. William Hollingsworth
Archie Howatson
Born: 1925 Died: 2010 Highest rank achieved: PFC (private first class) Branch of service: U.S. Army 100th Infantry Wounded in action: Wounded in combat in France, Nov. 1944 Dates of service: World War II January 1944 to August 1945
Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Hawaii for 26 months; Served during combat in Okinawa, Japan, with the 892nd Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Co. in the 10th Army; he was a mechanic who kept the vehicles moving Dates of service: Jan. 5, 1942 to 1945
Daryl E. Johnson Born: December 1927 Died: October 2009 Highest rank achieved: Seaman first class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Washington, D.C. Dates of service: 1945-1946
Erik Johnson Highest rank achieved: Second class petty officer Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Iraq Dates of service: 1994-2006
Shirley Beining Hilgemann
Ewert Hilgemann
Highest rank achieved: E5/SP5 Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: 9th Adjutant General Fort Lewis; HQ U.S. Army Element, Brunssum, The Netherlands Medals awarded: Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal Details of service: We married one year before joining the U.S. Army. Would do it all over — the marriage and serving. Dates of service: 1975-1980
Highest rank achieved: E5/SP5 Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: 9th Adjutant General Fort Lewis; HQ U.S. Army Element, Brunssum, The Netherlands Medals awarded: Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Expert (M16) Details of service: Married my high school sweetheart one year before joining the Army. She convinced me that serving together would be fun. It was. Dates of service: 1975-1980
Roy Inui
Reed W. Jarvis
Bonnie Eugene Johnson Jr.
Donnas D. Johnson
Born: Oct. 6, 1945 Highest rank achieved: Specialist 4th Class Branch of service: Army Where served: 5th of 46th Light Infantry Brigade attached to 198th Light Infantry Brigade, located in Chulai below Danang Dates of service: January 1967 to January 1969 Details of service: served in combat in Vietnam, mortar man (killing radius is 50 meters; mortar would go up 5 miles)
Highest rank achieved: T5 Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Was an allied translator, interpreter section; served in combat in the Philippines for two months Details of service: Received Presidential Unit Citation, Congressional Gold Medal (2011), Philippine Liberation Medal, others Dates of service: 1944-1946
Died: April 1, 2012 Highest rank achieved: Colonel Branch of service: U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, Washington National Guard, Washington State Guard Where served: Korea, Persian Gulf Details of service: Active and reserve Dates of service: March 1951 to June 2001
Born: July 5, 1925 Died: March 29, 2012 Highest rank achieved: ETM 3C Branch of service: U.S. Navy Dates of service: Jan. 1, 1944 to May 31, 1946 Details of service: Great Lakes Naval Air Station in Radio Training School, radio operator, World War II veteran
Highest rank achieved: YN1 Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Mare Island Naval Shipyard; Alameda Naval Airbase Dates of service: 1950-1954
Arthur E. Landdeck
Gene Klineburger
Rolland R. Kiefel
Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Utah, California, Arizona Dates of service: 1942-1945
Highest rank achieved: Storekeeper second class (SK2) Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Atlantic, Mediterranean, Gulf of Mexico aboard USS Exultant, USS Rigel, USS Des Moines, USS Conway Dates of service: June 6, 1958 to June 6, 1964
Margaret (Slate) Larsen Howard E. Landdeck Highest rank achieved: AX3 (aviation antisubmarine warfare technician, third class) Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Ream Field, Imperial Beach, Calif.; USS Bennington Dates of service: Nov. 17, 1961 to Aug. 31, 1965
Born: April 12, 1930 Highest rank achieved: Staff sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Where served: Korea Details of service: As one of very few female radio repair technicians, she worked to prepare Presidents Truman’s and Eisenhower’s planes for flights in the Pacific. Dates of service: 1951-1954
Jack Loppnow William Kenneth Loken Born: Oct. 1, 1930 Highest rank achieved: JO3 Branch of service: Navy Where served: Whidbey Island Naval Air Station & Commander Submarine Force Pacific Fleet Dates of service: Jan. 17, 1951 to Dec. 3, 1954 Details of service: Journalist
Born: 1921 Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant Branch of service: Air Corps Where served: Iwo Jima and the United States Dates of service: 1942-46 Details of service: all over the United States and Iwo Jima
Lucille E. Lundstrom Branch of service: U.S. Army Highest rank achieved: First lieutenant Where served: General nursing care on the hospital ship Marigold, Zone of Interior and in the European and Southwest Pacific Theaters of operation Details of service: Was the youngest nurse on the Marigold at age 22; Bronze Star (4) AsiaticPacific Campaign Medal; Bronze Star (2) European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Bronze Star (2) Philippine Liberation Medal Years of service: Dec. 31, 1943 to Feb. 1, 1946
Edith Rose MacDougall
Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant commander Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Served in combat in Korea for 18 months Details of service: On senior ship in Inchon Harbor at the time of the truce in 1953; commanding officer of USS Lenawee APA 195; navigating officer of USS Lenawee APA 195 Dates of service: May 17, 1943 to July 1, 1966
Bruce Leavitt Born: Nov. 20, 1925 Highest rank achieved: Signalman Second Class Branch of service: Navy Where served: European Theatre, Asian Theatre Dates of service: December 1941 to December 1946 Details of service: visited North Africa, Italy, Scotland, Wales, England, Okinawa and the Pacific Islands
Deceased (at age 58) Highest rank achieved: Mechanics mate Branch of service: Navy — WAVES Where served: Cedar Falls, Iowa; Norman, Okla. Dates of service: 1943-1944 mother of former Mayor Ava Frisinger
Deceased (at age 76) Highest rank achieved: Lt. junior grade Branch of service: Navy Where served: South Pacific; Atlantic Dates of service: 1943-1945 active duty; reserve to 1954; father of former Mayor Ava Frisinger
Kathleen R. Merrill Melvin Miller Born: Nov. 5, 1922 Died: April 25, 2010 Branch of service: Navy Where served: Philippine Theatre Dates of service: 1942-1945
Highest rank achieved: Specialist 4 Branch of service: U.S. Army/Reserve Where served: Various states including Indiana, South Carolina and Colorado Dates of service: March 1983 to December 1989
Born: 1956 Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant colonel Branch of service: Army and Air Force Reserve Where served: West Point, Korea, Fort Lewis, Guam, Hawaii Dates of service: 1974-2000 Details of service: Military Intelligence officer; six years active Army and 17 years in Air Force Reserve
Deceased Highest rank achieved: Yeoman Third Class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Japan, Hawaii, Philippines Dates of service: 1959-1963
Richard C. Larson
D.C. ‘Duke’ Livingstone Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: Marines Where served: continental U.S. Dates of service: 1956-64
Edward Prior Leahy Born: April 1, 1923 Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant JG Branch of service: U.S. Navy/ Marine Corps Where served: 4th Marine Division — Iwo Jima, Marshall Islands, Tinian, Saipan Details of service: Injured and taken to the hospital on the third day of attacks on Iwo Jima Dates of service: 1942 to 1945
Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant commander Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Patrol Squadron 46 (VP-46); Vietnam 1972-1974 Dates of service: July 1969 to September 1974
Highest rank achieved: E-7 Branch of service: U.S. Coast Guard Where served: Marine Patrol; Marine Inspection; served in combat in Korean waters marking channels for troop ships for six months Details of service: Served from Korean Waters — Bering Sea Patrol — ice breaking for dew line; teaching firefighting school at T.I. Coast Guard Academy; and up and down the East Coast all in different groups. Wrote book for Marine Corps on the new Marine Corps in 1985. Dates of service: 1952 until retirement
Chad Magendanz Born: May 24, 1967 Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Branch of service: Navy Dates of service: 1985-1997 Where served: SSBN 730 & 729 Details of service: Submariner specialty, Navy Achievement Medal
Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: Vietnam Dates of service: 1966-1972
Sean S. Lewis Highest rank achieved: Private first class Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Dates of service: 2011 – present
Ledo J. Malmassari
John A. Marsh
Died: Oct. 25, 1998 Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Korea – Third Infantry Division Dates of service: 1950-1952
Deceased Highest rank achieved: Private Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: 75th Infantry Division Details of service: Served in combat for one year in the European Theatre; received Purple Heart for being wounded during the Battle of the Bulge
Kenneth MacKenzie Born: Nov. 9, 1920 Died: Aug. 25, 2003 Branch of service: Navy Where served: USS Memphis and later Harrisburg, Penn. Dates of service: 1943-1946 Details of service: served on the USS Memphis, patrolling waters between Brazil and Africa; later stationed at a supply depot in Harrisburg, Penn.
Urban V. Masset
Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: USS Forrestal CVA59, Sixth Fleet (Mediterranean) Dates of service: 1966-1973
Larry R. Kulin
Born: Aug. 3, 1919 Died: Nov. 26, 2010 Highest rank achieved: Tech Sergeant 5th Grade Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: 2nd Armored Division Headquarters Company 66th Armored Regiment Details of service: Fought in World War II — North Africa, Sicily, Holland, France, Belgium and Germany Dates of service: February 1941 to July 1945
Born: May 17, 1918 Died: Jun. 14, 2012 Dates of service: 1944-1946 Details of service: stationed at Harrisburg, Penn., as the store-keep where she met and fell in love with Kenneth MacKenzie; discharged in 1946
Bob McCoy
Ken Konigsmark
Born: April 25, 1921 Died: March 9, 2003 Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army, 1393rd Engineer Construction Battalion; entry and training – Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Ark. Where served: During WWII, in the Pacific Theater – In the Philippines was in the Battle at Luzon Dates of service: June 15, 1942 to Dec. 23, 1945
Steven W. Lewis
Ivan A. Lee
Gladys MacKenzie
Jeremiah Fraser Pitts MacDougall
Robert C. Lyon
Steve Johnson Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Vietnam Dates of service: August 1967 to August 1969
B5
Neal Harley Howard
Scott Wayne Johnson Highest rank achieved: E4 AMH/ AMS Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: VAQ – 129 Viking Dates of service: 1978-1988
Wednesday, May 21, 2015 •
Norman W. McLean
Ed McKee Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Air Force, turret gunner Where served: Served in combat in 12th Air Force in Corsica, fall and winter of 194445; 23 bombing missions over European Theater Dates of service: Sept. 16, 1940 to Sept. 14, 1945
Deceased Highest rank achieved: Seaman first class Branch of service: U.S. Coast Guard Where served: Alaska Dates of service: April 21, 1943 to March 18, 1946
Don A. McWhirter Born: March 1, 1931 Highest rank achieved: S/SGT Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Dates of service: May 23, 1949 to Nov. 7, 1952 Details of service: HRRC Where served: Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, through basic training, permanent party at HRRC until discharged
John Meek
Thomas M. Mechler Born: Feb. 26, 1932 Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant Branch of service: Air Force Dates of service: September 1950 to September 1954 Details of service: Airborne radar mechanic, 434th and 464th Troop Carrier Wings
David V. Merritt
Highest rank achieved: SFC (sergeant first class) Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Okinawa, Vietnam, India, Bolivia, Greece and Afghanistan Dates of service: July 1954 to July 1957; September 1959 to November 1976
Bellewood Retirement Living, Eastside Family Dentistry, NAPA Auto Parts of Issaquah and Imelda Dulcich PR & Social Media thank our veterans.
Born: Sept. 30, 1961 Highest rank achieved: Sgt. Branch of service: Army Where served: in combat, Persian Gulf War (Aug. 22, 1990 to April 1, 1991), one of first 10 Washington Army National Guard reservists deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield Dates of service: Nov. 1, 1984 to May 16, 1992 Details of service: Combat Engineer, 317th Engr BN & 116th RAOC
Leonard Miles Born: Dec. 16, 1920 Died: 2005, (in Issaquah) Highest rank achieved: PFC, washman Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Sitka, Alaska Details of service: Received the Victory Medal Dates of service: 1945 to 1946
B6 • Wednesday, May 21, 2015
The Issaquah Press
John A. ‘Tony’ McIntosh
Alan Ray Miles
Michael Dean Miles
Born: Jun. 8, 1942 Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: Army Where served: Second Battalion, Second Infantry, Fifth Division; Headquarters Company, Third Brigade, 50th Armored Division Dates of service: 1964-66 Details of service: served in combat for 10 months in 1966
Born: July 18, 1947 Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: Vietnam Details of service: Received the Purple Heart for shrapnel in the leg, Presidential Unit Citation, 2nd Battalion and 9th Marine Division Dates of service: 1967 to 1968
Born: Oct. 10, 1951 Highest rank achieved: Lance corporal Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: Okinawa Details of service: Meritorious Unit Citation and National Defense Service Medal, 5th Marine Division, Fleet Marine
Force Pacific Dates of service: 1970 to 1972
David John Mitman
John Mizenko
Duncan Mulholland
Kevin J. Murphy
Richard Murphy
John Norman Naegle
Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: USS Coral Sea Years of service: 1951-1953 Details of service: Served as flight engineer for top secret Martin Mercator intelligence-gathering aircraft, flying spy missions into Soviet airspace from Port Lyautey, Morocco. During one mission, his plane was fired at by a Soviet surface to air missile. (It missed.)
Born: 1934 Highest rank achieved: radar specialist Branch of service: Army Where served: Rhode Island Dates of service: 1955-57 Details of service: worked with Nike missile surface-to-air battery control when fired
Highest rank achieved: Staff sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Where served: 3595th GIDIST Supply Squadrons; Nellis Air Force Base 1951-52; NCOIC Base Supply Nagoya, Japan, 1952-54 Details of service: Received good conduct medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal and United Nations Medal Dates of service: November 1950 to November 1954
Born: March 17, 1957 Highest rank achieved: Lt. Colonel Branch of service: Army and Air Force Where served: U.S. and overseas Dates of service: June 1979 to June 2000 Details of service: Army Infantry and Intelligence, Air Force Intelligence
Born: March 10, 1923 Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: Army Air Corps Where served: Shemya Air Station, Alaska Dates of service: July 1943 to October 1949 Details of service: On his first mission, he flew one of six planes out of 18 that returned from bombing Japan; on his 23rd and last mission, he was shot down Dec. 7, 1944, over Sakhalin Island. Was a POW in Russia.
Born: May 1, 1942 Died: Jan. 4, 1999 Highest rank achieved: Commander Branch of service: U.S. Coast Guard Details of service: Coast Guard Academy graduate with honors in 1964; Master of Science in engineering, University of Michigan – Naval Architecture 1969; Engineering Mechanics 1970; Ph.D. Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering 1980; Détente Delegation to USSR 1974-75; served on several “wind” class ice breakers Dates of service: 1964-1985
Michael O’Connor
Donald Nelson Norman B. ‘Crash’ Nash Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Service included two combat tours in A-6 Intruders in Vietnam Dates of service: 1957-1988 Details of service: naval aviator; served in attack squadrons and weapons test facilities, was an aircraft carrier operations officer, squadron commanding
Born: Jan. 11, 1928 Died: 1969 Highest rank achieved: Specialist Branch of service: Army Where served: in combat in the Korean Conflict for a little more than a year Dates of service: 1950-1953 Details of service: Headquarters Company
Ruben Nieto
Gerald A. Nelson Born: July 26, 1944 Highest rank achieved: Specialist 5 Branch of service: Army National Guard and Military Policeman Where served: California Dates of service: January 1964 to January 1970 Details of service: Outstanding military policeman of our company in 1967
Gary C. Newbill Highest rank achieved: Major Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Where served: Virginia; California; Okinawa, Japan; The Philippines and Vietnam Dates of service: January 1965 to March 1968 (active duty)
Born: May 4, 1946 Highest rank achieved: Spl. 4 Branch of service: U.S. Army Dates of service: June 1966 to March 1968 Details of service: Radio Operator (RTO), 1st Cavalry Div/7th Cavalry Regiment
Ernest R. Nyberg Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Force Where served: South Pacific – Tinian Island Wounded in action: B-29 crashed off Iwo Jima, three men survived out of crew of 10, Ernie made 17 missions, some over capital of Japan Dates of service: 1943-1945
Vernon M. Parrett, M.D. Charles D. Parker Died: Nov. 7, 2010 Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: U.S.; Okinawa, Japan; Vietnam Dates of service: Sept. 9, 1954 to Sept. 30, 1974
Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: U.S. Army, medical Where served: Served two years in the Valley Forge Army Hospital in officers’ ward, tuberculosis unit Dates of service: 1944-46 and 195254
Highest rank achieved: Seaman first class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Aleutians Islands Alaska; Japan; USS Jarvis DD-799 Dates of service: Dec. 16 1943 to May 19 1946
Born: Sept. 15, 1925 Highest rank achieved: Air cadet Branch of service: U.S. Army/Air Force Where served: Various bases in the U.S. Dates of service: 1943 to 1945
Robert Ploss Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: U.S. Air Force (B-17 pilot, physician U.A. Air Force medical) Where served: 11 combat missions over Germany; POW Mission Austria to France; two food drops to the Dutch; flew Atlantic twice Dates of service: 1943-1952
Highest rank achieved: Specialist 4th class Branch of service: U.S. Army/ Washington National Guard Where served: Camp Murray, Wash., 181st Support Battalion, Company D Dates of service: August 1977 to May 1983
Frank Valentine Schroeder John Schroeder Born: Feb. 23, 1888 Died: Jan. 10, 1973 Highest rank achieved: private Branch of service: U.S. Army Dates of service: Muster out telegram Nov. 16, 1918, according to discharge papers. Start date unknown. Details of service: Last assigned school for cooks and bakers. Was a cook at Camp Lewis, now known as Fort Lewis. These photos are mostly in alphabetical order. However, many photos that came in this year are at the end of the section. We accept photos and information about veterans all year. Email them to editor@isspress. com.
Born: Feb. 10, 1894 Died: Sept. 6, 1977 Branch of service: U.S. Army Details of service: Fought in France during World War I
Sarah Pommer Born: Dec. 12, 1943 Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Branch of service: Navy Dates of service: 1966-1969 Details of service: USN Nurse Corps, hospital nurse, amputee specialist
Hugh Gordon Ross No photo available Highest rank achieved: Petty officer 2 Branch of service: U.S. Navy, cryptograph tech Where served: Strategic nuclear deterrence in South China Sea during Vietnam War; Combat Zone vet, 1972-1973; nuclear submarine force Dates of service: January 1971 to January 1977
Edward Schaefer Born: June 10, 1911 Died: 1986 in Spokane Gale Robert Schroeder Highest rank Born: March 1935 achieved: Technician Deceased: June 2005 fifth grade (Tec 5) Highest rank Branch of service: achieved: Master U.S. Army Sergeant Where served: Served Branch of service: in combat in the Army European Theater, Where served: last February 1944 to unit 409th Engineer November 1945; Company, Reserve 3429th Ord Mam Co. Dates of service: Details of service: “A 1954-1963 and man who loved his 1976-1994 country” Details of service: Dates of service: airplane mechanic 1943-1945
Leroy Olson Born: Oct. 28, 1921 Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Junior Grade Branch of service: Navy Reserves Air Group IV Where served: Pacific Theatre during World War II Dates of service: August 1942 to December 1942 Details of service: fighter pilot in Air Group IV flying F6F-3 Air Grumman Hellcats; saw action under Admiral Halsey and flew off of the USS Essex, including the first carrier-based raid on Tokyo involving more than 1,200 targets; decorated with Air Medal Citation for meritorious achievement, skills and courage
Wayne Pommer Born: Jan. 1, 1943 Highest rank achieved: SGT Branch of service: Air Force Dates of service: 1966-1970 Details of service: administrative specialist; 941stMAG, 97stMAS, 62nd SPS
Charles Edwin Runacres Jr. Born: Sept. 17, 1917 Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Branch of service: Navy Where served: USS Wedderburn DD684 Dates of service: 1942-1945 Details of service: served in combat in the Pacific for three years and three months, survived three tornadoes while at sea and one kamikaze attack
Elmer John Petett
Hugh Asher Preston Jr. Born: April 29, 1924 Died: May 1, 2014 Highest rank achieved: Seaman First Class Branch of service: Navy Dates of service: Feb. 11, 1942 to Feb. 19, 1946 Details of service: At 17, Hugh fudged his age and was accepted into the Navy. He served four years during World War II on the USS Aaron Ward III in the Pacific Theatre. He was on watch at the wheelhouse when the ship was attached off Okinawa on May 3, 1945. Twenty-five planes attacked and six kamikaze planes crashed into its decks, towers and engine rooms. The attack lasted just under an hour and left the ship in dire condition with many wounded. Hugh was one of many heroes on board the ship that day.
Highest rank achieved: Pharmacists mate second class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: USS Alshain in the Asiatic Pacific and Philippines Dates of service: July 1943 to March 1946
Meindert Pillie
Reuben Allen Richard Highest rank achieved: SP4 Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Co. E 122nd Mnt. Bn. USAREUR Dates of service: January 1968 to December 1969
Died: March 10, 2010, at age 95 Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Corps Where served: Instructor at 349th Flexible Gunnery Training Squadron, Tyndall Field, Fla. Dates of service: Oct. 21, 1941 to Sept. 17, 1943
Highest rank achieved: Petty officer second class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: In the Pacific, aboard the carrier USS Lexington, as radio gunman Wounded in action: Received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Purple Heart Dates of service: 1942-1945
Born: Feb. 9, 1923 Highest rank achieved: WT3/C Branch of service: Navy Where served: USS Ludlow during World War II Dates of service: 1944-1946 Details of service: served in combat in World War II, American Area, Victory medal, Asiatic Pacific
Michael M. Riste
Gilbert Purschwitz
Dave Sao
Born: April 16, 1939 Highest rank achieved: Pfc Branch of service: Army Dates of service: July 16, 1957 to July 15, 1959 Details of service: communications, 1st Army Division (Big Red One)
Highest rank achieved: Staff sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Where served: Strategic Air Command Dates of service: March 1966 to March 1970 Details of service: Munitions specialist, sent to Anderson AFB in Guam and Utapao AFB in Thailand, team chief of a team that was responsible for loading hundreds of bombs each day on B52 bombers in support of the Vietnam War, and loading and caring for nuclear weapons stateside.
Don Riggs Born: Seattle, 1936 Highest rank: PFC Branch of service: Army Where served: Okinawa Dates of service: October 1959 to January 1962 Details of service: producer for The Voice of the United Nations Command, broadcasting propaganda radio programs to North Korea and China; returned in time to work at the 1962 World’s Fair
Elmo Jerome Sagedahl Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: Pacific area Dates of service: May 26, 1944 to Aug. 31, 1946
William Edward Seil
Daniel S. Segon Highest rank achieved: Private Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Germany Dates of service: 1966-1967
The Issaquah Sportsmen’s Club salutes our local veterans.
Deceased Highest rank achieved: SP5/E-5 Branch of service: U.S. Army, transportation Where served: 1st Cavalry Division Details of service: Served three tours of duty in Vietnam Years of service: Oct. 25, 1966 to Nov. 15, 1983
Robert Howard Rockwell (Rocky)
Helen Sabin Born: April 10, 1923 Highest rank achieved: Radioman Third Class Branch of service: Coast Guard Where served: New York, New Jersey, Seattle Dates of service: 1943-45 Details of service: attended boot camp in Florida, worked in communications, one sister was an Army nurse and the other a nurse cadet
Louis Ortiz
Jeston J. Phillips
Russell D. Peery
Jay Robert Rodne Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant colonel Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps/ still serving in the U.S. Marine Reserve Where Served: Persian Gulf War (1991); Somalia (1992-93); Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kuwait & Iraq (2003) Dates of service: 1990-present
Philip Pitruzzello Highest rank achieved: Aviation Radioman Second Class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Atlantic Fleet, Pacific Fleet Dates of service: June 1942 to September 1945
Gerald Francis Petersen Norman Peery
Branch of service: Air Force Dates of service: 1962-1966 Details: Michael joined the Air Force right out of high school because his older brother did and found out it was the easiest. In those days you either joined a branch of your choice or else they drafted you into the army.
Deceased (at age 66) Highest rank achieved: Colonel Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Where served: World War II, Korea and Vietnam Dates of service: 1944-1975
Highest rank achieved: PFC (private first class) Branch of service: U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Recon, RTO (radio telephone operator) call sign Papa Kilo, nickname Crash Where served: Vietnam 1969-1970 (The Blackscarfed Gunslingers) Dates of service: 1968-1970
The Issaquah Press
Lee F. Scheeler Born: April 10, 1926 Died: April 21, 2015 Highest rank achieved: PFC Branch of service: U.S. Army/Air Force Where served: Germany Details of service: Served in 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division Rifleman in Belgium, France and Germany; awarded WWII Victory Medal, EuropeanMiddle East-Africa Campaign Medal, Army Occupation Medal and Belgian Fouragere; chaplin of the Post 79th Snoqualmie Dates of service: 1944 to 1946
Mary Ellen Holmes Sheridan Born: Sept. 7, 1927 Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Branch of service: Navy Where served: Pentagon; White House; Kodiak, Alaska; Long Beach, Calif.; Kansas City, Mo. (recruiting); Newport, R.I. Dates of service: 1953-1960 Details of service: received a letter of commendation from the chairman, Joint Chief of Staff
Pete Sims Born: Oct. 28, 1919 Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: Army, infantry Where served: Germany, France, Austria Dates of service: 1941-46 Details of service: served in World War II combat and occupation, received a Bronze Star and Bronze Star Clusters, Company Commander, kept in contact with 17 out of 178
Norm Smith Highest rank achieved: Classified Branch of service: Army – counter intelligence Where served: Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. Dates of service: 1956-59 Details of service: Worked in background investigation and wanted to go to Germany, but was never sent overseas
Wednesday, May 21, 2015 •
William A. Somsak
Cody D. Sorteberg
Jack Richard Steidl
William Britton Striker
Highest rank achieved: Boatswain’s mate third class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Marshall Islands, USS Midway Details of service: Received two medals; operated landing craft Dates of service: 1942-1944
Born: Feb. 25, 1992 Highest rank achieved: E4 (corporal) Branch of service: Marine Corps Where served: Afghanistan 2012, Japan/Korea 2013/2014 Dates of service: January 2011 to present Details of service: weapons company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, served in combat
Highest rank achieved: PFC (private first class) Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Corps Where served: Jackson, Tenn. Dates of service: 1941-1944
Born: Dec. 12, 1907 Died: Oct. 1, 2003 Highest rank achieved: T-4, sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army, Big Red 1 Where served: Omaha Beach Normandy, Sicily, Tunisia, European – African Campaign, Middle Eastern front – Ardennes Wounded in action: Leg wounds, shrapnel, received Silver Star and Bronze Star Dates of service: July. 6, 1942 to Sept. 2, 1945
Jay Anthony Vanni
John Swanson George H. Swanson Died: 1992 Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Corps Where served: United States Dates of service: 1943-1945
Died: 2001 Highest rank achieved: Staff sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Corps Where served: Missouri and Alberta, Ferry Command Post planes to Russia Dates of service: 1942-1945
Alonzo Lee Sweet Born: Nov. 18, 1938 Died: 2003 Highest rank achieved: Corporal Branch of service: U.S. Navy Dates of service: April 27, 1956 to Oct. 16, 1959
Henry D. (Hank) Thomas
Frank R. Troutman
Born: April 21, 1944 Highest rank achieved: lieutenant commander, unrestricted line Branch of service: Navy Where served: nuclear power submarines and surface combatants Dates of service: February 1963 to March 1983 Details of service: nuclear qualified, qualified in submarines, surface warfare qualification, Navy Commendation Medal recipient
Deceased Highest rank achieved: Colonel Branch of service: U.S. Army/Air Force Where served: Pacific, Italy Dates of service: May 1940 to January 1984 Details of service: APTO-US-MTO
Dwight Eldon Waggoner David S. Waggoner Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant colonel Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Vietnam, Central America, U.S. Wounded in action: Purple Heart awarded Dates of service: 1968-1993
Winston Matthew Yourglich Highest rank achieved: PhM3c (photographer’s mate third class) Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: South Pacific Wounded in action: After his ship, the USS Houston, was torpedoed, Winston swam in shark-infested waters in the China Seas for four hours before being picked up. Dates of service: Oct. 11, 1943 to April 13, 1946
Born: August 23, 1922 Died: Oct. 9, 2009 Highest rank achieved: Seaman third class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: South Pacific Details of service: American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal Dates of service: April 1943 to November 1945
Geoff Warren
Joe Wallis Born: Oct. 2 1931 Highest rank achieved: Commander Branch of service: Navy Reserve Where served: Korean War Dates of service: January 1954-57 Details of service: spent 22 years in the reserve on the USS Thomas 833 destroyer in Iwo Jima, Japan and Hong Kong
Highest rank achieved: CDR Branch of service: U.S. Coast Guard Dates of service: 1992 to current Details of service: continues to serve in the Coast Guard Reserve; is the senior reserve officer for Sector Puget Sound in Seattle; has mobilized for national disasters such as the Deepwater Oil Spill, the Haiti Earthquake and Hurricane Katrina; flew C-130s while stationed at Kodiak, Alaska, and Elizabeth City, N.C.
George Van Leeuwen Born: May 18, 1921 Died: 2012 Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Branch of service: Army/Air Force Where served: in combat in the South Pacific Dates of service: 1943-1945 Details of service: pilot, flew C46
William James Weatherford
Born: March 8, 1925 Highest rank achieved: MAM 2C Branch of service: Navy Where served: NTS Farragut, Idaho, Acorn 21 NAB Navy 825 NAS, Seattle, PSCU 5NB, Bremerton, served in combat in Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands for 15 months Dates of service: July 1943 to March 1946 Details of service: Awarded Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal — 1 star and World War II Victory Medal
James H. Van Winkle Died: Feb. 9, 2008 Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944, one month before high school graduation. Deployed to Japan and in transit, the Japanese surrendered before he arrived. James went from front line duty to a clerk typist in the office due to termination of the war. Stayed in Japan in civil service and returned stateside from Kanagawa, Japan, on Nov. 5, 1946
Matt Winzen Born: Jan. 22, 1925 Highest rank achieved: MM1C Branch of service: Navy Where served: Panama Canal, South Pacific Fleet Dates of service: 1943-45 Details of service: enlisted at 18, assigned to nucleus crew for USS Dennis in Panama Canal; participated in many invasions, most notably the battle of Leyte Gulf; ship picked up 445 survivors from the aircraft carrier St. Louis; served on the destroyer escort the President flew in and protected carriers
Jack Yusen Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Pacific Theater: Home Front, Atlantic sub scare, Leyte Gulf Details of service: Served aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts amid World War II, until Japanese forces sunk the destroyer escort in the Battle of Leyte Gulf — the largest naval battle during World War II; some sailors survived the attack only to bob in the shark-infested Philippine Sea until rescuers arrived days later
Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: European Theater of Operations Details of service: combat, World War II, Prisoner of War, Germany, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division
John Benak
Austin Vickery Wiggins Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: Saipan in the Mariana Islands Dates of service: 1942-1946
James Wood Born: May 8, 1950 Highest rank achieved: RM3 Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Vietnam, three tours Details of service: Radio Teletype Task Group operator, Yankee Station Dates of service: 1968 to 1972
George Westlake
Robert Edward Wolahan
Born: Feb. 21, 1919 Highest rank achieved: Colonel Branch of service: Army Where served: 1941-1945 France and D-Day Dates of service: Retired 1972 Details of service: Colorado, Fort Lawton
Born: Nov. 23, 1932 Deceased: Dec. 10, 2010 Highest rank achieved: PNC (chief) Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Korea and Vietnam Dates of service: 1950-1970
James C. Leonard No photo available Branch of service: Army, 423rd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division Where served: European Theater of Operations Details of service: combat, World War II, Prisoner of War, Germany
Douglas E. Harris
Veterans fight, work and live together
Veterans at Bellewood got together for a group photo last week. In the back row, left to right, are Art Dusto, Jack Nelson, Joe Mantz, John Brooke and Lee Olson. In the middle row, left to right, are Florence Blackenship, Jim Thompson, John Mizenko, Gordon Hanson and Herb Lyons. Al Levy is in front.
Dates of service: Oct. 21, 1941 to Dec. 23, 1946
Deceased (at age 76) Highest rank achieved: Tech sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Europe, Italy, North Africa Wounded in action: Purple Heart awarded Dates of service: 1941-1945
Born: Jan. 30, 1949 Died: Feb. 16, 1989 Highest rank achieved: E5 Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Dates of service: 1970-1973 Details of service: served three years, stationed in Yuma, Arizona, and Japan
Born: Dec. 23, 1932 Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army, Infantry Where served: 3rd Infantry Division, Korea and 28th Infantry Division, Germany Details of service: Received Bronze Star with V-Device Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Stars and United Service Medal, National Defense and Army Occupation (Germany) Medals Dates of service: Jan. 22, 1951 to Jan. 8, 1954
Edward C. Harris No photo available Born: April 16,1916 Died: March 19,1974 Details of service: served three years as a Merchant Marine in Alaska, World War II
Gordie Blume Born: Aug. 25, 1948 Highest rank achieved: Captain Branch of service: Air Force Where served: Southeast Asia, Alaska, Europe, Mediterranean, Pacific, U.S. Dates of service: January 1973 to June 1979
Marvin Otto Lemke
Harvey Williard Sampson Born: June 5, 1926 Died: Nov. 6, 2011 Highest rank achieved: CS3 Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: Asiatic Pacific Dates of service: May 26, 1944 to Aug. 25, 1952 Details of service: cook, served on the U.S.S. Des Moines, CA-134
Irving Levin
Contributed
Highest rank achieved: Aviation machinist first class Branch of service: Coast Guard
Dallas L. Waggoner
Clinton H. Brown
Died: 2014 Highest rank achieved: SFC Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: Japan, Korea, Germany, Redmond Nike site Dates of service: 1948-1968 Details of service: Squad leader, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division; specialty was Nike Hercules surface-to-air missiles
Ernest Milton Swanson
David Les Yeisley
Neil (Sol) Winikoff Born: March 31, 1920 Died: Oct. 11, 2013 Branch of service: Army Where served: North Africa and Europe Dates of service: February 1942 to November 1945 Details of service: served in North Africa and Europe as a cryptographic technician, served in ETO with signal outfit encoding and decoding classified messages by means of army codes and devices; familiar with Army means of maintaining signal security and proper storage of secret documents; languages: English, Yiddish, Italian, French, German and some Russian
Highest rank achieved: Petty officer third class Branch of service: U.S. Navy Where served: two six-month tours to Persian Gulf on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson as catapult officer Details of service: Letter of Commendation; graduated from Central Washington University with degrees in science and business; (lived in Issaquah for 36 years) Dates of Service: 1993-1997
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Highest rank achieved: Lt. Colonel Branch of service: Army Air Corps, later U.S. Air Force, 452nd Bombardment Group World War II Where served: European Theater of Operations Dates of service: 1942-1965 Details of service: combat, B-17 navigator, World War II, Prisoner of War, shot down over Germany, continued career after the war
Born: Oct. 3, 1920 Died: March 7, 2014 Highest rank: Aviation Machinists Mate 1st Class (Petty Officer 1st Class) Branch: U.S. Navy Details of service: served in Pacific Theatre during World War II; he was retired Navy, serving from 1942 to 1975
Robert M. Leinbach No photo available Branch of service: U.S. Army Where served: European Theater of Operations Details of service: combat, World War II, Prisoner of War, Germany, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division
Ralph F. Krantz
Boyd Peterson Born: Feb. 10, 1930 Died: July 3, 2014 Branch of service: U.S. Army
Thank you
No photo available Branch of service: Army Air Force Where served: European Theater of Operations Details of service: combat, World War II, Prisoner of War, Germany, 710th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group
Paul and Michelle Winterstein, Bob Brock, (in honor of) Oscar Jensen, Dave and Roberta Waggoner, Jeff Johnson, Hamilton and Maureen McCulloh, Ken Konigsmark, “Crash” Nash, Bryan Weinstein, Robin Spicer, Jim Harris, Tola Marts, Lorraine Morton, Rob and Nina Milligan, and Citizens for Tim Flood for contributions.
Kiwanis Club of Sammamish, Bellevue Honda, Al and Jean Erickson, Las Margaritas Restaurant, Klahanie Family Dentistry, Fischer Meats and Amante Pizza thank our veterans for their service.
The Issaquah Press
Wednesday, May 21, 2015 •
Glenn Fulton
Frank Cole
Donald Semon
Randal Nelson
Robert Nelson
Thomas Gentsch
David Porter
Name: Glenn Fulton Born: Nov. 20, 1925 Died: April 26, 2015 Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Corps Dates of service: started in 1943 and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1946
Born: July 31, 1940 Died: Sept. 13, 2014 Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Dates of service: 1962-1964 (three years) Details of service: combat, Vietnam
Born: April 14, 1925 Died: Sept. 25, 2014 Branch of service: USMC Dates of service: retired Highest rank achieved: Lt. Col. Details of service: joined the Marine Corps in 1942, fought in Korea, was reservist and trained troops at Camp Pendleton, California, commanding reservist officer at Sandpoint Naval Base
Born: Oct. 22, 1919 Died: July 19, 2014 Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Dates of service: 1944-1946 Details of service: combat, served in Okinawa and Tientsin, China, and was awarded the Purple Heart
Died: July 22, 2014 Born: June 30, 1925 Branch of service: Navy (Air) Skyhawk Squadron Dates of service: July 1943 to March 1946 Highest rank achieved: Combat Aircrewman Details of service: trained as a pilot during World War II, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific
Born: May 30, 1927 Died: July 21, 2014 Branch of service: U.S. Army Dates of service: 1945-46 Details of service: served in the infantry and medical corps
Born: Dec. 27, 1937 Died: Nov. 10, 2014 Branch of service: United States Navy Details of service: served in the Pacific and during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Kenneth Schmelzer
Susan Gail Hatherly Wood Pete Norby Born: April 29, 1966 Branch of service: U.S. Navy Dates of service: 1989-1993 Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Details of service: combat, Surface Warfare Officer, USS Cowpens (CG-63), Operation Southern Watch 1992-1993, Navy Achievement Medal
Born: Oct. 9, 1956 Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Dates of service: 1975-1979 Highest rank achieved: Sergeant
Gerald T. Reinert Donald Mason Clayton Hagen Born: Aug. 23, 1942 Died: June 8, 2014 Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Details of service: 17 years, served two tours of duty in Vietnam and received the Presidential Unit Citation and several other accommodations
Born: Dec. 16, 1931 Died: March 21, 2015 Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Dates of service: March 1951 to 1954 Highest rank achieved: Sergeant
Harold Bloom Jr. Born: 1948 Died: Sept. 25, 2014 Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Highest rank achieved: Captain Details of service: Aircraft Commander flying the KC-135 around the world, breaking the speed of sound in a T-38
Born: Dec. 31, 1927 Died: Feb. 25, 2015 Details of service: served in the Philippines as an encryptionist during the Korean Conflict
Born: Aug. 29, 1925 Died: June 12, 2014 Branch of service: United States Navy Details of service: honorably served his country on the USS Dixie throughout the South Pacific during World War II
Jerry Dean Tant
Mark Sampson
Born: July 27, 1959 Died: 2015 Highest rank achieved: E8 Branch of service: U.S. Coast Guard Where served: combat, Vietnam (July 30, 1961 to June 15, 1964), Korea (June 27, 1953 to July 27, 1954) served on USCGC Kukui Dates of service: Sept. 22, 1952 to July 31, 1979 Details of service: BMCS, Earned the national defense service medal for Korean service, added a Bronze Star to the NDSM for service in Vietnam; his unit earned a meritorious unit Commendation; USCG Cuttermans insignia (permanent), USCG Coxwains Badge
Born: Dec. 6, 1971 Highest rank achieved: E5 Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps Where served: combat, Iraq, Gulf War Dates of service: 1991-2005 Details of service: 31st Special Opts Wing, 58M SOW, 58th MOS, 58th MXS – 16th CRS, two achievement medals, two national defense, Korean Defense Service
Stanley C Harris No photo available Born: Jan. 31, 1943 Died: March 8, 2011 Dates of service: 1963-1969 Details of service: served six years in the National Guard
LeCompte
A ‘sea-going’ family LeCompte joined the Navy fresh out of high school at the tender age of 18. The decision was both the continuation of a “sea-going” family tradition — his older brother was already in the Navy and his father was in the Coast Guard — and a chance for LeCompte to escape a toxic environment. “My stepfather was not the nicest person in the world,” LeCompte said. “He’d say, ‘If you don’t like it, get the hell out,’ and I did.” So, the fresh-faced 18-year-old from Oregon traveled to San Diego in 1969 for boot camp. He’d go on to specialize in electronics and serve as a high-speed code operator. It was there that he, most memorably, learned to smoke. After a particularly grueling session, LeCompte remembers his superior calling for a smoke break. He didn’t smoke at the time, so he stood there awkwardly wondering what he should do. He quickly learned that without a cigarette, it wasn’t much of a break at all. His superior ordered him to clean the area and pick up the cigarette butts. “Next time he said smoke break, I had a cigarette,” LeCompte joked. Boot camp wasn’t for everyone, LeCompte said. He recalled colleagues jumping fences and trying to run away.
Photos contributed
Cliff LeCompte served aboard the USS Somers (above) in 1972. LeCompte served in the ship’s radio shack, pictured at right. They just didn’t realize that as soon as you got off the plane arriving for boot camp, there’d be someone right there ready to yell in your face. There was a catch, though. The fence just acted as a border between the Navy and Marine Corps boot camps. “So they would climb the fence, thinking they were getting away,” LeCompte said, laughing. Passing the time After boot camp, LeCompte’s next stop was the Naval Communications Station in Guam. He handled radio communications, allowing people to call home while also initiating internal transmissions, which was no easy feat at the time. “Communication back then was using the atmosphere and frequencies, monitoring the weather and sending signals,” he said. In the “radio shack,” where the radio operators worked, LeCompte remembers playing a game — a lucrative drawing straws-type game that resulted in a prize for the winners. Using the patch cords plugged into different equipment, one person would grab a bundle. Most of the cords would be “cold,” but one would be “hot.” “Every body would grab one and the guy that got shocked would have to buy Cokes for the rest,” LeCompte said. It took some work to find
Charles Earl Sampson Born: June 24, 1955 Highest rank achieved: Sgt. Branch of service: U.S. Air Force Dates of service: 1973-1977 Details of service: 509th Bomb Wing, avionics
“We would meet up with an ammunition ship and have to carry bullets and powder casings over,” he said. “Those things we’re like 60 pounds.” In one particularly thrilling episode, the USS Somers had to serve as bait, while overhead bombers determined the location of a set of camouflaged enemy artillery guns in Vietnam’s Haiphong Harbor. “Our job was to go into the harbor and draw the fire from the guns,” he said. “So we went screaming in, then turned around, all the while they’re firing and water is going everywhere. “We finally get out of range, and then we hear from the bombers. They say, ‘Ok, we’re ready when you are, go ahead and make a run,’ after we already went for it.” Thankfully, they didn’t have to do the operation a second time, even though some wanted to try it again, LeCompte said. He also served as a “spotter” for a time in Quang Tri, the northernmost point of South Vietnam. A helicopter would fly him inland and drop him off. He’d then hike above the Ho Chi Minh Trail, survey the scene and radio back to a ship with directions on where to fire. All the while he lugged a PRC-25 on his back. The bulky, backpack-like field radio unfortunately stuck out like a sore thumb, LeCompte said. “It’s that square box on the back with the long antenna that screams, ‘Shoot me, shoot me, shoot me,’” he joked. LeCompte was never injured, though, and exited active duty unscathed in about 1973.
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port of their country, he said. It’s the same “thank you” that LeCompte and his fellow veterans did not receive when they returned from Vietnam. “When we got back, we came home, took off our uniform and hid it in the closet,” he said. “Thankfully, it’s so different now, so very, very different.” That became apparent after Sept. 11, 2001, when LeCompte attended a Seattle Mariners game where a complete stranger acknowledged him in a way that continues to touch his heart. LeCompte doesn’t leave the house without his Vietnam Veteran ball cap. He was wearing it that day while exploring Safeco Field and stopping for a smoke break. As he readied his cigarette, a man flagged him down and ushered his son along. “Wait,” the stranger said to LeCompte, “I wanted my son to meet a real hero.” It was about three decades after he returned from Vietnam, but finally, LeCompte said, he was acknowledged as “a fighting man.”
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things to pass the time, he said. Guam was, after all, a very small island, populated by “thousands of servicemen.” LeCompte learned to scuba dive and joined a drama club. “It was a place to socialize,” he said of the club. It helped that there were women, too, though they were all either wives or daughters of fellow officers. The club would perform at outdoor theaters across the island. Occasionally, they’d serve as the featured entertainment, taking the place of whatever movie was on the American Forces Network. “We did things like ‘Harvey,’” he said. “They were usually plays that required very few women, because there weren’t many there.” On to Vietnam After spending more than a year in Guam, LeCompte was assigned to the USS Somers, a guided missile destroyer. There, LeCompte continued to work as a radio operator.
His duties, as described in a 1972 cruise book, included managing the ship’s “communication with the outside world.” “Through the efforts of our stalwart radiomen and signalmen, Somers is able to receive the latest news and football scores, send (private) messages to friends on other ships, and occasionally receive and send operational message traffic.” The cruise book, basically a yearbook of the crew’s time at sea, said radiomen “must be typist, crypto specialist and radiotelephone talker rolled into one.” Very few ships crossed the Pacific Ocean alone, LeCompte said, and the Somers was no different. The destroyer’s primary duties included plane guarding — protecting air carriers — and gunline — serving as a naval gunfire support. LeCompte recalled sitting off the shore of Vietnam and providing gunfire support as battles raged on land. He also remembered how heavy each shell of ammunition was.
Evergreen Ford, B&E Meats, Heroic Knight Games, artbyfire, Earth Pet, Revolve Consignment, Rehabiltation Options of Issaquah, Mandarin Garden and the Johnson family salute our veterans.
Memorial Day Nowadays, LeCompte focuses much of his energy in volunteering with the Issaquah Veterans of Foreign Wars organization. He takes great care in honoring, supporting and acknowledging local veterans, he said. Whether that’s participating in a Memorial Day ceremony, visiting wounded veterans at a VA hospital or simply spending time with fellow veterans, LeCompte said he feels it’s his duty to give back. “There is that camaraderie of veterans who have been in action,” he said. “There’s that understanding — ‘I’ve got your back.’ And that doesn’t end when you come home.” This Memorial Day, you’ll find LeCompte outside the Issaquah Home Depot handing out poppies, a symbol honoring those who lost their life in combat. “Memorial Day isn’t about mattress sales,” he said. “It’s three days to remember the sacrifices that our military made through the years to ensure that this country stays free and independent.”