NOVEMBER 7, 2021
MARSHALS from page 1
and completed his medical field service training at Ft. Sam Houston in Texas. From 1953-55, he served as a medical officer at USA Hospital at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He was honorably dis-
• Army – Barry Rosenblatt
Lt. Col. Barry Rosenblatt began his military career in the Army in 1972. He served in the medical corps where he performed advanced trauma surgery as a dentist, helicopter medical evacuation, and trained others in setting up mash units. Seven years ago, Barry took painting, welding and photography classes through the Mesa Art League Arizona Art Alliance Program and the Boeing Funded Mesa Art Center Veterans Art Program. These days his art can be viewed at a gallery he shares with his wife, Susan Paige, on Main Street in Mesa.
VETERANS
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charged as a captain in the Army Reserves in 1955. Alex moved his wife and two children – soon to be three – to Chicago, where from 1956-58 he was a full-time faculty member of the Chicago Medical School. He practiced medicine in a private prac-
tice in the area for close to 50 years while continuing to teach there as an associate professor as well as a voluntary faculty member of Cook County Hospital. He retired to Scottsdale in the late 1990s, where he has become active in veteran affairs, becoming a member of the
Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. At age 98, he said he remembers his military years with fondness – especially the camaraderie – and often wished he had never left the service. He is joined in the parade by the following service marshals:
Ensign Oakley J Ray was born in Gilbert in 1920 and is 101 years old. He served in the Navy 194346. He was the payroll officer aboard the USS Estes, the ship upon which he witnessed the raising of the U.S. flag over Hiroshima. After WWII, Ray returned to Mesa, where he and his wife. Janet Anderson, raised 10 children. He received degrees in both accounting and law from Arizona universities. The Oakleys have 88 grandchildren, 330 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.
Cpl. Sam Ingram enlisted in the Marines in 1961 in Los Angeles, making him a “Hollywood” Marine, and he’s proud of it. As a member of the 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, Calif., he boarded a ship for Cuba shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis. Later, he set sail to the Mediterranean and finally to Vietnam, where he received his discharge. The VA provided the funds for Sam to complete an accounting degree at Franklin University. He is now retired and resides with his wife in Tempe.
Col. Robert “Bob” Jeffrey was a top fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force and flew critical missions in Vietnam. On Dec. 20, 1965, his F-4 Phantom took a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire and he was forced to eject in enemy territory. He endured 2,611 days in captivity at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. He commanded numerous aircraft both in his military and civilian careers. His military decorations include: Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with V device and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with palm, POW Medal, and many others.
• Navy – Oakley J Ray
• Marine Corps – Sam Ingram
• Air Force – Bob Jeffrey
• Coast Guard – Jason Roberts
Chief Petty Officer Jason Roberts served with the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army before transitioning to the Florida National Guard, law enforcement, and eventually enlisting with the U.S. Coast Guard. He was one of the initial first responders on scene after the destruction of southern Louisiana during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He is credited with saving the lives of more than 75 people during these round-the-clock operations. Roberts earned degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Arizona State University. He retired from active military service in 2018 after a combined 27-year career and continues to serve his community in ministry with Rock Point Church.
Parade units in the past have carried special tributes to fallen warriors. (Special to the Tribune)
PARADE SPONSORS The East Valley Veterans Parade is supported by: Premium Sponsors • Arizona Dept. of Veterans Services • East Valley Tribune
• Signarama-Chandler • 960 The Patriot Stars & Stripes Sponsors • Albertsons-Safeway • Downtown Mesa Association
• • • • • •
Geico of Mesa Larry H Miller Ford MD Helicopter Mesa Community College Mesa Hohokams SRP
Patriot Sponsors • Copa Health • Gateway Bank • Mesa Secure Storage • Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club • Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport • Virginia Berg • Visit Mesa
Special thanks for the support of the City of Mesa.
