lest we forget 2014

8
L E S T W E F O R G E T By David Hayes [email protected] Randy Harrison is fascinated by history. The well-read, 69-year-old Squak Mountain resident is especially inter- ested in Homer’s “The Iliad.” “Everybody knows about Achilles, Ajax, Agamemnon and Paris. All the characters you hear about,” Harrison said. “Every now and then, if you read Homer, there’s one guy mentioned, one soldier who did something, not the big characters. “I thought maybe if I kept a good record of this, maybe in 500 years someone will stumble across this, in a safe somewhere, and say, ‘Wow, here’s a daily firsthand thing, by this guy.’” So, Harrison kept a journal during the Vietnam War. Never mind that was verboten for an intelligence offi- cer in the U.S. Army’s Special Opera- tions Group. It wasn’t the first time the brash, young man that Harrison was skirted the Army’s regulations. The son of a career Air Force pilot, growing up in a military culture, Harrison had always wanted to follow his father’s path. “He was my role model, my hero,” Harrison said. Unfortunately, the Air Force Acad- emy required perfect vision for pilots. Harrison’s hovered around 2,400 uncorrected. The tip of the spear After years adrift taking college courses, Harrison decided to steer his life right and enlist in the Army infantry. “If I can’t be on the tip of the spear, I don’t want” anything else, he said. “The tip of the spear for the Army is the infantry.” He didn’t tell his parents until after he enlisted and he didn’t tell the sec- Wednesday, May 21, 2014 Fortunate son BY DAVID HAYES Randy Harrison hugs his dog Burfoot inside his Squak Mountain home. Over his shoul- der is a print commemorating one of Harrison’s missions that went wrong yet garnered a Congressional Medal of Honor for helicopter pilot James Fleming, who evacuated Harrison’s squad under heavy fire from North Vietnamese. See HARRISON, Page B8 CONTRIBUTED Randy Harris goes on patrol through the jungles of Vietnam. Randy Harrison emerged from the Vietnam War unscathed, but with a new appreciation for life By Peter Clark [email protected] Col. William Geil has a great memory — though he says it’s hard to forget getting captured by Germans behind enemy lines. The 89-year-old Squak Mountain resident has seen his fair share of service in a career spanning more than three decades. He served over- seas in World War II and two tours in Vietnam. His time in the United States Air Force is only made more impres- sive by the three degrees he earned outside the military. Still, he plays it humble. “I don’t like bragging,” Geil said about his time as a prisoner of war. Speaking plainly, he said he didn’t find it anything worth bragging about. “I had a cousin that finished 25 mis- sions, while I finished my time in the war in a prison camp.” Now comfortably retired, Geil and his wife Fran split their time between an Is- saquah residence and one in Phoenix, Ariz. Geil first German POW earned freedom, three degrees “The whole damn town was coming out. When I saw their eyes, I knew I was in deep kimchi. I figured I’d had it.” — William Geil World War II and Vietnam veteran William Geil By Neil Pierson npierson@ sammamishreview.com In a small box that’s usu- ally tucked away in his home library, Issaquah attorney Jerry Pearson has several keepsakes from his three-year stint in the U.S. Marine Corps. Among the items are a set of dog tags made to com- memorate three of his fellow Marines; a brass dragon head he found in a village; and the two Purple Hearts he was awarded for combat-related wounds in Vietnam. The dragon head, in par- ticular, brings back a flood of memories for Pearson, who was born in Seattle before moving to Issaquah as a small child in 1951. He associates it with Ron Dexter and Lester Bell, two members of the Fifth Marine Division who were shipped to the jungles of Southeast Asia and never came home. “In some ways, you feel really proud of having served, and in other ways you feel all of these losses and confu- sions,” Pearson said. He graduated from Is- saquah High School in 1964, when the Vietnam War was gaining traction in America, and his modest 2.6 grade- point average reflected his disinterest in school. He dropped out of the University of Washington after one quar- ter, and didn’t last long at The Boeing Co. That’s when he found the Marines and a chance to con- nect with his family heritage, which has military connec- tions dating to the Civil War. Pearson’s father was in the Army Air Corps during World War II. “The veteran thing, to me, is almost like a connec- tive tissue kind of issue,” he explained. Among his memorabilia is a 1965 article from the Hono- lulu Advertiser. Pearson’s unit arrived in Hawaii aboard the USS Iwo Jima, and he and several Marines were walk- Marine Corps, Vietnam shaped Jerry Pearson’s servant nature By Christina Corrales-Toy [email protected] Dag Garrett knew he wanted to fly. It’s why during the tail end of World War II, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as a fresh-faced 18-year-old. Over the course of a year, Garrett transformed into a well-versed navigator, more than eager to hit the skies in support of his country. He would have to wait though, because just as he was about to deploy, the war came to an end. “They gave up. They heard we were coming,” he joked. Garrett was rather disap- pointed he missed the bulk of the war, but the Timber Ridge at Talus resident would see his fair share of action during a 23-year military career. The aftermath He initially remained grounded, serving as an in- structor in Louisiana, before BY NEIL PIERSON Issaquah native Jerry Pearson, surrounded by legal texts at his Pearson Law Firm office, is more than 40 years removed from his duties as a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. BY CHRISTINA CORRALES-TOY Dag Garrett holds a poster of newspaper clippings and photo- graphs from his stranded-at-sea ordeal in 1947. Issaquah veteran recalls the sacrifices Flintoft’s Funeral Home and Crematory is proud to honor our community’s veterans. See GEIL, Page B8 See PEARSON, Page B8 See GARRETT, Page B7 THE ISS AQUAHP RESS THE ISS AQUAHP RESS THE ISS AQUAHP RESS

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Page 1: Lest we forget 2014

LEST WE FORGET

By David [email protected]

Randy Harrison is fascinated by history.

The well-read, 69-year-old Squak Mountain resident is especially inter-ested in Homer’s “The Iliad.”

“Everybody knows about Achilles, Ajax, Agamemnon and Paris. All the characters you hear about,” Harrison said. “Every now and then, if you read Homer, there’s one guy mentioned, one soldier who did something, not the big characters.

“I thought maybe if I kept a good record of this, maybe in 500 years someone will stumble across this, in a safe somewhere, and say, ‘Wow, here’s a daily firsthand thing, by this guy.’”

So, Harrison kept a journal during the Vietnam War. Never mind that was verboten for an intelligence offi-cer in the U.S. Army’s Special Opera-tions Group.

It wasn’t the first time the brash, young man that Harrison was skirted the Army’s regulations. The son of a career Air Force pilot, growing up in a military culture, Harrison had always wanted to follow his father’s path.

“He was my role model, my hero,” Harrison said.

Unfortunately, the Air Force Acad-emy required perfect vision for pilots. Harrison’s hovered around 2,400

uncorrected.The tip of the spear

After years adrift taking college courses, Harrison decided to steer his life right and enlist in the Army infantry.

“If I can’t be on the tip of the spear, I don’t want” anything else, he said. “The tip of the spear for the Army is the infantry.”

He didn’t tell his parents until after he enlisted and he didn’t tell the sec-

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Fortunate son

By DaviD Hayes

Randy Harrison hugs his dog Burfoot inside his Squak Mountain home. Over his shoul-der is a print commemorating one of Harrison’s missions that went wrong yet garnered a Congressional Medal of Honor for helicopter pilot James Fleming, who evacuated Harrison’s squad under heavy fire from North Vietnamese. See HARRISON, Page B8

ContriButeD

Randy Harris goes on patrol through the jungles of Vietnam.

Randy Harrison emerged from the Vietnam War unscathed, but with a new appreciation for life

By Peter Clark [email protected]

Col. William Geil has a great memory — though he says it’s hard to forget getting captured by Germans behind enemy lines.

The 89-year-old Squak Mountain resident has seen his fair share of service in a career spanning more than three decades. He served over-

seas in World War II and two tours in Vietnam. His time in the United States Air Force is only made more impres-sive by the three degrees he earned outside the military. Still, he plays it humble.

“I don’t like bragging,” Geil said about his time as a prisoner of war. Speaking plainly, he said he didn’t find it anything worth bragging about. “I had a cousin that finished 25 mis-

sions, while I finished my time in the war in a prison camp.”

Now comfortably retired, Geil and his wife Fran split their time between an Is-saquah residence and one in Phoenix, Ariz. Geil first

German POW earned freedom, three degrees“The whole damn town was coming out. When I saw their eyes, I knew I was in deep kimchi. I figured I’d had it.”— William GeilWorld War II and Vietnam veteran William Geil

By Neil [email protected]

In a small box that’s usu-ally tucked away in his home library, Issaquah attorney Jerry Pearson has several keepsakes from his three-year stint in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Among the items are a set of dog tags made to com-memorate three of his fellow Marines; a brass dragon head he found in a village; and the two Purple Hearts he was awarded for combat-related wounds in Vietnam.

The dragon head, in par-ticular, brings back a flood of memories for Pearson, who was born in Seattle before moving to Issaquah as a small child in 1951. He associates it with Ron Dexter and Lester Bell, two members of the Fifth Marine Division who were shipped to the jungles of Southeast Asia and never came home.

“In some ways, you feel really proud of having served, and in other ways you feel all of these losses and confu-sions,” Pearson said.

He graduated from Is-saquah High School in 1964, when the Vietnam War was gaining traction in America,

and his modest 2.6 grade-point average reflected his disinterest in school. He dropped out of the University of Washington after one quar-ter, and didn’t last long at The Boeing Co.

That’s when he found the Marines and a chance to con-nect with his family heritage, which has military connec-tions dating to the Civil War. Pearson’s father was in the Army Air Corps during World

War II.“The veteran thing, to

me, is almost like a connec-tive tissue kind of issue,” he explained.

Among his memorabilia is a 1965 article from the Hono-lulu Advertiser. Pearson’s unit arrived in Hawaii aboard the USS Iwo Jima, and he and several Marines were walk-

Marine Corps, Vietnam shaped Jerry Pearson’s servant nature

By Christina [email protected]

Dag Garrett knew he wanted to fly.

It’s why during the tail end of World War II, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as a fresh-faced 18-year-old.

Over the course of a year, Garrett transformed into a well-versed navigator, more than eager to hit the skies in support of his country.

He would have to wait though, because just as he was about to deploy, the war

came to an end.“They gave up. They heard

we were coming,” he joked.Garrett was rather disap-

pointed he missed the bulk of the war, but the Timber Ridge at Talus resident would see his fair share of action during a 23-year military career.

The aftermathHe initially remained

grounded, serving as an in-structor in Louisiana, before

By neil Pierson

Issaquah native Jerry Pearson, surrounded by legal texts at his Pearson Law Firm office, is more than 40 years removed from his duties as a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

By CHristina Corrales-toy

Dag Garrett holds a poster of newspaper clippings and photo-graphs from his stranded-at-sea ordeal in 1947.

Issaquah veteran recalls the sacrifices

Flintoft’s Funeral Home and Crematory is proud to honor our community’s veterans.

See GEIL, Page B8

See PEARSON, Page B8 See GARRETT, Page B7

The Issaquah PressThe Issaquah PressThe Issaquah Press

Page 2: Lest we forget 2014

B2 • Wednesday, May 21, 2014 The Issaquah Press

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.

John Raymond SmartSecond lieuten-ant, U.S. Army Air Force,443rd Bomb Squadron, 320th Bomb GroupMIA 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 Philp

Staff sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force, 589th Bomb Squadron, 387th Bomb GroupShot down near Mayan, Germany, where his crew was attacking a railroad viaduct, on Dec. 23, 1944.

Jack McQuade

Private, U.S. Army Air Force, 481st Service Squadron, 46th Air Service GroupBorn: Nov. 28, 1920 Killed April 18, 1945, in acciden-tal bomb explo-sion. Buried in Hillside Cemetery.

Emmett R. McDonald

Captain, U.S. Air ForceBorn: July 27, 1939,MIA May 31, 1966, Declared dead: Feb. 11, 1975Missing in air loss/crash in North Vietnam. (Remains never recovered.)

Laurence J. Lortie

Second lieutenantU.S. Army Air Force45th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter GroupMIA June 1, 1945, some-where between Iwo Jima and Osaka, Japan; weather may have been the reason for the loss.

George C. Larsen

Private first class, U.S. Army,infantry,Born: Feb. 17, 1926 Died: June 14, 1945184th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. KIA by a grenade attacking Hill 181 in Ryuku, Okinawa, Japan. Buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Peter Erickson

Private, U.S. Army, 18th Engineer RegimentDied: Aug. 10, 1918Buried in Suresnes American Cemetery, in Suresnes, France. From the Sept. 27, 1918, Press: “A large congregation attended the memo-rial 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.

Elizabeth Erickson

Woman Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs)Died in a train-ing 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.

James Patrick Brady

Corporal, U.S. Army, Scotch Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry DivisionBorn: March 7, 1949Died: June 18, 1969KIA in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam. Buried in Greenwood Memorial Park, Renton.

Robert BaskettSergeant, U.S. Army, 8th InfantryApril 7, 1925 – July 15, 1944Graduated from Issaquah High School in 1943.KIA in Normandy, France. Buried in Hillside Cemetery.

Paul Alfred Ambrose

Private, U.S. Army,701 T.D. BattalionJuly 9, 1924 – May 31, 1944Graduated from Issaquah High School in 1942. KIA in Anzio, Italy. Buried in Hillside Cemetery.

Robert Arndt

Corporal,U.S. Army,C Company, 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry DivisionDied 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.

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 mil-lion 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 immi-nent. 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 happi-ness.

We at The Issaquah Press

salute, honor and thank the men and women from our community who have paid all types of sac-rifices to keep themselves, their families and everyone else free. We hope you will do the same.

We honor the 19 who gave the ultimate sacrifice

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 [email protected] or

call 392-6434, ext. 227.

Louis Petersen

Flight officer, U.S. Army Air Force, 422nd Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb GroupKilled 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.

Joseph Albert Tondreau

Fireman first class, U.S. Navy/Naval ReserveMIA or buried at sea Dec. 18, 1944.Tablets of the missing are at Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines.

Carl Albert Larson

Corporal, U.S. Army 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st DivisionDied Oct. 9, 1918Buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, in Romagne, France.(no photo available)

Robert Hoskins

Lance corporal (mortarman),U.S. Marine Corps, H&S Company 5, Mar 1 Mar DivBorn: Sept. 14, 1949 Died: Nov. 25, 1968KIA in Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Buried in Hillside Cemetery. (no photo available)

Harold Gleason

Private first class, U.S. Army, 301st Infantry Regiment, 94th DivisionBorn: Feb. 6, 1916 Killed March 2, 1945, while serving as a medic near Serrig, Germany. Buried in Hillside Cemetery. (no photo available)

Clifford BensonSecond lieuten-ant, U.S. Army Air Force, 737th Bomb Squadron, 454th Bomb GroupShot down in Croatia on April 21, 1944.

In loving memory of SSgt. Dale and Lt. Alice Lee

By Susan Erland

World War II veteran Hugh Preston was in the U.S. Navy well before he should have been.

“He went behind his father’s back and enlisted and came back and said, ‘I’m gone,’” his daughter Isabella Tobiason said. “He wanted to serve. He wanted to fight for his country.”

He was just 17.“He was extremely

proud of his service,” Tobiason said. “He loved nothing more than sitting around and talking about the war, talking about the ship, this happened this day, that happened that day. He had a photograph-ic memory.”

Preston, who died May 1, 2014, served in the Pacific Theatre on a “picket ship” off Okinawa near the end of the war with Japan. It was the USS Aaron Ward “the third,” a distinction he emphasized, because there were two prior ships named Aaron Ward.

The ship came under attack off Okinawa on May 3, 1945, and was hit six times by kamikaze planes that crashed into its decks, towers and engine rooms. Three of the planes car-ried bombs that detonated just seconds before the planes crashed, causing explosions and fireballs on impact.

At the time of the attack, Preston was on watch in the wheelhouse. Once the approximately 25 Japa-nese planes began their onslaught, the men operat-ing defense were able to destroy 10 of the oncoming planes, and all others not wounded — and many who were — did everything possible to keep the ship under power. They put out fires and tried to get the guns sighted on the next wave of suicide bombers. The entire attack lasted just over an hour.

When the attack ended, the ship was without pow-er, listing to one side, and only several feet above the water. The deck of the ship

was in ruins, fires were still raging and strewn everywhere were masses of red-hot twisted steel. There was a frantic effort by the crew and officers to douse the areas still burn-ing from spilled jet fuel or bombs. They were also dodging exploding am-munition above and below deck. Any place relatively undamaged was used to care for the wounded.

Several Navy ships had arrived on the scene to assist with transfer of the wounded and provide cover in case of a renewed attack. One of those, the USS Shannon, was even-tually able to secure a towline to the Aaron Ward and begin a 45-mile trip to Kerama Retto, to assess damage and attempt to regroup. Upon arrival, the officers and crew refused to leave their ship and in-sisted on staying on board to care for her.

Preston said the ship was made seaworthy enough to make the 7,000-mile trip to the Navy Yard in New York, where it was decom-missioned Sept. 29, 1945. Commanding Officer Wil-liam Sanders received the Navy Cross and said “he told them that he wouldn’t accept it just for himself, but said all of us deserved it, too,” Preston said.

“He loved that ship, and I think it was because of the journey back home,

and how it was destroyed,” his daughter said. “He always talked about the Aaron Ward.

“He remembered so many details,” she said of his military service. “He would talk to anybody who would listen about it.

“He talked to a lot of people about it. He would tell us about his friends. He would give us a lot of detail about things.”

In the book “Brave Ship, Brave Men,” writer Arnold S. Lott shares the rest of the story. Sanders took the home addresses of every

member of the crew and wrote a letter to each, quoting the citation for the Navy Cross as signed by the Secretary of the Navy, John L. Sullivan. He then added these words: “Al-though the above citation was presented to the C.O. of the Aaron Ward, he feels that by their heroic con-duct … all the personnel of that vessel merit the honor … and takes pleasure in commending you for your magnificent performance during that period and stating that you and your shipmates share equally in

the award bestowed in the name of the President of the United States.”

The ship and crew also received the Presidential Unit Citation award, stat-ing, “By her superb fight-ing spirit and the courage and determination of her entire company, the Aaron Ward upheld the finest tra-ditions of the United States Naval Service.”

After the war, Preston attended Arizona State University and then the University of Mexico City. He got married and had three children. After seven years, they divorced.

He was a great single dad, Tobiason said.

“I would look at him and I was amazed that he went through all the things he went through and he survived,” she added. “I always thought he was a hero, not just because he was in the military, but be-cause of the kind of father he was.”

Preston never married again. But he took his children all over the world, teaching them about other cultures and how to speak three languages.

The day before Preston died, Tobiason, knowing the end was near, talked with him about how she felt about him.

“I thanked him for rais-

ing us, and I told him he was the best father ever.”

Susan Erland is a volunteer at Providence Marianwood who does one-on-one nurturing visits with residents. Press Managing Editor Kathleen R. Merrill contributed to this story.

Brave ship remembered by brave man

PHotos ContriButeD

The Aaron Ward III is shown in photos before it was bombed (above) and after (right).

THANK YOUTo the people who made individual con-tributions to make this section happen, we thank you.

Karen AbelBob BrockFred ButlerCarson WoodworksArlene CarterCory ChristensenJim HarrisKen KonigsmarkChad MagendanzTola MartsHamilton and Maureen McCullohIn honor of Keith MerrillDona Mokin Mark MulletCrash and Kristen NashJim RockstadRobin SpicerBryan WeinsteinIn memory of the Swanson boys — George, John and Milt

ContriButeD

This photo of Hugh Preston and his mother was taken in 1941, when he was 17 years old. He enlisted without his parents’ permission.

Page 3: Lest we forget 2014

The Issaquah Press Wednesday, May 21, 2014 • B3

Archie AdairBorn: May 5, 1911

Died: Feb. 18, 1985Branch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served:

Germany in World War II

Details of service: While with the 83rd Infantry Division in

Germany, was award-ed the combat

infantryman’s badge for displaying

exemplary conduct in action

Allen Sherman Anderson Highest rank achieved: E-3

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Dates of service: Dec. 2, 1972 to

April 7, 1977Details 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

Buford R. (Bud) AmbroseDeceased

Highest rank achieved: SK2 (store keeper second class)

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Where served: South Pacific — USS

Saginaw BayDates of service: Feb. 15, 1943 to

Feb. 5, 1946

Gilbert R. AndressHighest 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,

OkinawaDates of service: July 7, 1943 to March 6, 1946

William Ernest ArndtHighest rank

achieved: Baker second class Branch of service:

U.S. Navy Where served:

Pacific Dates of service: March 1943 to

December 1945

Daniel T. AndersonBranch of service:

U.S. NavyHighest rank achieved: ET2Where served:

Atlantic Theater two years aboard USS

Pocono, flagship of the Atlantic FleetDetails of service:

Served as electronic technician

(UHF specialist); President Truman

was often aboard the ship, using my radio

shack and equip-ment.

Years of service: 1946-1948

Albert AndersonBorn: Feb. 28, 1892

Died: Oct. 1969Highest rank

achieved: Fireman Second Class

Branch of service: NavyWhere served: U.S.S.

New YorkDates of service: May, 17, 1917 to

May 7, 1918

Rodney Albert AndersonBorn: Apr. 16, 1925Died: Nov. 16, 2000

Branch of service: Army

Where served: EuropeDetails of service:

served in World War II in the 97th Infantry

Division and drove a jeep

Vern G. AndersonBorn: Nov. 23, 1927Died: May 16, 2008

Highest rank achieved: CorporalBranch of service:

Navy and ArmyWhere served: Fort Lewis, Fort Lawton,

Whittier (Alaska), Port of Embarkation in

SeattleDates 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

Vigo E. AndersonBorn: Sept. 1, 1944

Highest rank achieved:

1st Lieutenant Branch of service:

Marine CorpsWhere served:

motor transportation, First Marine Division

Dates of service: March 1967 to

June 1970Details of service:

spent 25 months in Vietnam

Edward E. AuthierHighest rank

achieved: Lieutenant colonel

Branch of service: U.S. Army

Where served: Germany, Korea, Vietnam and U.S.Dates of service:

1960 - 1980Details of service: Was a senior Army

aviator

John ArnoldHighest 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

John Michael BarryHighest rank

achieved: CorporalBranch 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 1969Dates of service: February 1966 to

February 1972

Harry G. BehrensHighest rank

achieved: LTJGBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

Served in Korea for one year

Dates of service: 1953-1955

Details of service: Was landing craft

control officer on the USS Logan

David Hardman Black Sr.Born: Nov. 5, 1945Died: 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 1977Details 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.

William BentzHighest 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, 1948-1949

Paul Eugene BartholomewHighest 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

Angelo BoniBorn: Dec. 26, 1926Died: July 24, 2006

in IssaquahHighest rank

achieved: PrivateBranch of service:

ArmyDates of service: June 22, 1945 to

Nov. 11, 1946

Dan BoniBorn: Aug. 25, 1924Branch of service:

NavyWhere served: Motor

machinist’s mate second class unitDates 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

Greg BemanBorn: Aug. 17, 1948

Highest rank achieved: E4

Branch of service: Marine Corps

Where served: Dong Ha, Vietnam; six miles

south of the DMZDates of service:

1966-1970Details of service: combat engineer,

3rd Marine Division, served in combat, gunshot wound,

received Purple Heart

Florence BlankenshipBorn: 1922

Highest rank achieved:

Storekeeper First Class

Branch of service: Navy

Where served: Washington, D.C., Bureau of Ships Dates of service:

1944-46

Roger Lee BrownHighest rank

achieved: Army PFC and

Navy MR3Branch of service:

Army and NavyWhere served:

41st Infantry Division 146 Field Artillery

(Army); USS Ticonderoga;

USS Coral SeaDetails of service:

Multiple cruises with Pacific Fleet to the

Far EastDates of service: Army 1955-58; Navy 1958-62

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

Christopher Brown Jr.Highest rank

achieved: SergeantBranch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere 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 engage-ments; Personal Commendation

Medal for Operation Iraqi Freedom

Dates of service: November 2004 to

present

David Wayne BrackenBorn: 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

Carl B. Bridges Deceased (at age 70)

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Where served: Stationed on the

USS BraineDates of service:

1952-1956

Paul Thomas BooneBorn:

Sept. 26, 1924Died:

Oct. 7, 2009Highest rank

achieved: Flight officer

Branch of service: U.S. Air ForceWhere served:

P-51 pilot in combat in the Philippines,

New Guinea and other places in the South

PacificDetails of service: He was in Japan after the bomb was dropped, and ferried numer-

ous planes from the islands to

storage areas.Dates of service:

1943-1946

Walter Lee BrazeltonHighest 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 LewisDates of service: October 1956 to December 1977

Michael BlochBorn: Oct. 25, 1939

Highest rank achieved:

Airman First Class Branch of service:

Air ForceWhere served: Hahn

Airbase, GermanyDates of service:

1960-64Details of service: assisted in base

chapel and forecast-ed weather for pilots

John BrookeBorn: 1933

Highest rank achieved: Specialist

SP3Branch of service:

Army infantryWhere served: Hawaii

Dates of service: 1955-56

Details of service: worked as a guard for prison duty and

combat training

Fred Butler

Wayne E. BusbyBorn: 1920Died: 1995

Highest rank achieved: Aviation Machinist’s Mate

Second Class; ratings held — S1c, AMM3c,

AMM2cBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served: NRAB Seattle, NRAB Pasco, Hed Ron 14-2, FAW-14, Hed Ron Fleet Airwing Six-FAW-4Dates of service:

April 1942 to October 1945

Jean-Michel ChristopherHighest rank

achieved: EM2 (electricians

mate second class)Branch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

USS City of Corpus Christi

Dates of service: August 1992 to

August 1998

Joseph Elmer ChevalierBorn: Aug. 3, 1925

Highest rank achieved: Coxswain on the USS PGM19Branch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

Okinawa and RyukyusDates of service: August 1942 to January 1946

Theodore Vernon Colbert Sr.Born: Jan. 22, 1922Died: 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

beachesDates of service: Nov. 12, 1942 to

May 5, 1945Details of service:

awarded the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon 1

star for New Georgia Group Operations

Robert R. CowardBorn: June 6, 1939

Highest rank achieved: Adjutant 3

Branch of service: Navy, Aviation

Machinist MateWhere served: air-

craft carriers, U.S.S. Kearsarge CVA 33 — U.S.S. Oriskany

CVA 34Dates of service: Sept. 10, 1957 to

Sept. 10, 1961

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

Bud ButterfieldBorn: Oct. 17, 1934

Highest rank achieved:

Chief Petty OfficerBranch of service:

NavyDates of service:

1951 to 1971Details of service: first served aboard the USS Saint Paul Heavy Cruiser, sta-

tioned in many loca-tions from San Diego

to Alaska, retired upon returning from service in Vietnam

Thomas Strander CarlisleBorn: March 28,

1923Deceased: 2007

Branch of service: Marine Corps

Dates of service: 1943-1946

Highest rank achieved: 1st

LieutenantDetails of service: In 1942, enlisted as aviation cadet;

in 1943, completed flight training, receiv-ing his aviator wings and commission as

2nd Lieutenant

Donald (Bud) Wayne Cochran

Born: Dec. 1, 1921Highest rank

achieved: Staff Sergeant

Branch of service: Army

Where served: 634th Ordinance

Ammunition; Oro Bay, New Guinea; Manila and Lati, Philippines;

Hirasaki, JapanDates 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.

The Issaquah Sportsmen’s Club salutes our local veterans.

Phillip James ConwayBorn: Feb. 22, 1926

Highest rank achieved: Coxswain on the USS

RenshawBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served: World

War II — Solomon Islands, Marianas, Marshall Islands,

Saipan, Tinian, GuamDetails 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

Milton BronsdonHighest 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, CubaDates of service:

1955-1958

Louis BoniBorn: 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

Jim BriodyHighest rank

achieved: Specialist 5 (E-5)

Branch of service: U.S. Army

Where served: U.S. Military Liaison Mission, West Berlin and Potsdam, East

GermanyDates of service:

1961-1964

Gaius Sunday BuxtonHighest 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, JapanDates of service:

1944-1946

William Michael CooperBorn: April 25,1940

Highest rank achieved:

Master sergeantBranch of service: Air Force, Marine Corps

Where served: served in combat, Vietnam Conflict, first Marine

platoon to land, stayed until 1967Dates of service: USMC September

1958 to June 1967Details 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

George W. Croft Jr. (Bud)Highest rank

achieved: E9 (master chief

petty officer)Branch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served:

Pacific Theatre, WWIIWounded 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

James R. DarstBorn: Jan. 1, 1927Died: Oct. 27, 2011Branch of service:

U.S. NavyDates of service:

1945-1947Details of service:

served aboard a land-ing-craft carrier in the Pacific Theater during

World War II

James Gerard DayBorn: July 24, 1953

Highest rank achieved: CorporalBranch of service:

Marine CorpsWhere 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

Page 4: Lest we forget 2014

Dallas CrossHighest rank

achieved: PFC, U.S. Army Infantry (twice

achieved)Branch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere 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,

1959-1962Details 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

B4 • Wednesday, May 21, 2014 The Issaquah Press

Lee CookBorn: Mar. 14, 1941

Highest rank achieved: Master Chief Petty OfficerBranch of service:

NavyWhere served: all

over the world, Europe

and the Far EastDates of service:

1961-88

W.J. (Joe) DodgeDied: June 3, 1982

Highest rank achieved: Private (infantry)

Branch of service: U.S. Army (Samuel

Company)Where served:

Georgia, not deployedDates of service:

Discharged May 3, 1919

Alice L. DavisHighest 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

Gerald Patrick DarstBorn: March 17, 1932

Highest rank achieved: CorporalBranch of service:

ArmyDates of service:

1951-1952Details of service:

served in combat in Korea

William DixonHighest rank

achieved: Bos’n mate second

classBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

Mediterranean and Pacific TheatresDates of service: October 1942 to

January 1946

W.J. (Joe) Dodge Jr.Highest rank

achieved: AO3 (aviation ord-nance man third

class)Branch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

USS Hancock CVA-19, Southeast Asia

Dates of service: October 1961 to November 1963

Raymond C. DavisBorn: July 8, 1941

Highest rank achieved: Radarman

third classBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

Far East, Pacific, Guantanamo Bay,

CubaDetails of service: Served on the USS Washburn and USS

CabildoDates of service:

1959 to 1963

Jack DompierBorn: 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.

Thomas D. DoneganHighest rank

achieved: Lieutenant colonelBranch of service:

U.S. Army Where served:

Panama, England, Europe, Korea

Wounded in action: Suffered machine

gun leg wounds while leading a rifle pla-

toon into Germany in February 1945

Dates of service: January 1940 – July 1946, July 1952 to

January 1965

Charles DorianBorn: Sept. 27, 1921

Highest rank achieved: CaptainBranch of service:

Coast GuardWhere served: North Atlantic, Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; Great Lakes; World War II Greenland,

New YorkDates 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 com-munication system

for ships

Bob DoyleBorn: Jul. 29, 1931

Highest rank achieved: CaptainBranch of service:

Army Special ForcesWhere served:

KentuckyDates of service: August 1952 to

March 1955Details of service:

never left the states

Norma Ernsting-EmmonsHighest rank

achieved: Storekeeper Second

Class Branch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

Milledgeville, Ga.; and Bremerton, Wash.Dates of service: March 2, 1943 to

July 12, 1945

Duane W. EnglundHighest rank

achieved: Sergeant

Branch of service: Army EngineersWhere served:

Europe, Philippine IslandsDates of service:

July 1943 to January 1947

Tauno L. EricksonHighest rank

achieved: Technical sergeantBranch of service:

U.S. Army Signal Corps

Where served: Southwest and Central Pacific

theatersMedal awarded:

Bronze Star Dates of service:

May 1942 to October 1945

Ralph Carl EikenberryHighest rank

achieved: Staff sergeant

Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps

infantryWhere served: Served

in a combat zone in Korea for six months in 1950 in the 7th

Marines; was wound-ed at Chosin Reservoir and was air evacuated

to JapanDates of service:

1946-48; 1950-51

Joel EsteyHighest 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

William Falkenstein Born: Dec. 22, 1913Died: Dec. 18, 2001

Highest rank achieved:

Master sergeantBranch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served:

WWII — New Guinea; Korean War — Seoul, Korea

Dates of service: 1940-1960

David T. EvansBorn: Oct. 2, 1943

Died: 2002Highest rank achieved: 1st

LieutenantBranch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served: Tour of duty was from 1967-1969 in Heidelberg,

GermanyDates of service:

1967-1969Details of service: Military Police and

Criminal Investigation Division

Pete FaviniBorn: 1894Died: 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

Stanley Pete FaviniBorn: March 7, 1923Died: Aug. 25, 1987Branch of service:

NavyWhere served: USS Monterey aircraft carrier

Dates of service: World War II

Details of service: served on USS

Monterey aircraft car-rier, ship was on the

Japanese coast ready to attack when the

Japanese surrendered

Delbert E. FlemingHighest rank

achieved: Chief petty officerBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

Vietnam on various ships and

commandsDates of service:

1957-1977

Barry A. FederHighest rank

achieved: Lieutenant colonelBranch 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

Luther E. FranklinHighest rank

achieved: LieutenantBranch of service:

NavyWhere served:

continental USA and GTMO

Details of service: naval aviator

Years of service: active duty, 1953-57; active reserve: 1957-58; inactive reserve

1958-73

Ray GiaudroneHighest rank

achieved: MM 1st Class

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Where served: Navy Post OfficeDates of service:

1941-1945

Louis Charles GiraldinHighest rank

achieved: Radioman

second classBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

North Pacific Ocean Dates of service: April 12, 1944 to

Feb. 21, 1946

Wayne GeigerHighest 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 1970Dates of service: November 1968

to May 1970

William Daniel GilleyHighest rank

achieved: Sergeant Branch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served: Panama; Fort

Columbia, Wash.; and Fort Stevens,

Ore. (the forts guard-ing the mouth of the

Columbia River)Details of service:

Hurt very seriously in an accident as they

fired one of the 10-inch disappear-

ing guns at Fort Columbia early in

1942. Was unable to serve afterward and

was discharged.Dates of service:

1936-1942

Doris GrossHighest rank

achieved: Link instructor,

involved in American Legion, first woman

vice commander Branch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

Corpus Christi, Texas Dates of service:

1941-1945

Brandon Christopher Galvan

Born: Jan. 8, 1990Highest rank

achieved: Private First Class

Branch of service: Army

Where served: 1-1 Attack

Reconnaissance Battalion, First

Infantry Division, Combat Aviation

BrigadeDates of service: May

2013 to presentDetails of service: just

returned home May 5, 2014, from combat service in Kandahar, Afghanistan; received

Gold Coin of Honor

Durward M. GarrettHighest rank

achieved: Lt. Col.Branch of service: Air Force (retired)

Where served: ser-vice 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 avia-

tion cadet in June 1943 and retired in

June 1966Details 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 Clinton GeilBorn: Jan. 16, 1925

Highest rank achieved: Colonel Branch of service:

ArmyDates 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 com-pensation and bought

his wife a watch

David GermaniBorn: July 26, 1947

Highest rank achieved: Staff

Sergeant Branch of service:

Marine CorpsWhere served: Marine

Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego; Okinawa; Vietnam; Camp Pendleton in

CaliforniaDates of service:

1965-71 and 1975-77

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 pro-

moted to Sergeant in Vietnam

Sabatino GermaniBorn: Dec. 19, 1922

Died: 1998Branch of service:

NavyWhere 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

Mark W. GilliamBorn: Feb. 3, 1959

Highest rank achieved: Engineman

Second ClassBranch of service:

NavyWhere served: 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

Joseph L. GroveBorn: March 16,

1942Highest 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: 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; 1985-

2002Details of service:

active duty Air Force 5040th Supply

Squadron, US Navy Reserve and Army

National Guard 875 Combat Engineers

Kenneth Lee HamptonBorn: Nov. 12, 1931

Highest rank achieved:

Staff sergeantBranch of service: U.S. Army Security

AgencyWhere served: Korea

Details of service: Served until the truce

was signedDates of service:

1952 to 1955

Gordon HansonBorn: 1926

Highest rank achieved: PrivateBranch of service:

Canadian Army Where served:

Chilliwak, British Columbia

Dates of service: March 1945 to

September 1945Details of service:

engineering division

Judson Burns HarperBorn: Dec. 8, 1936

Highest rank achieved: Gunnery

sergeantBranch of service: U.S. Marine Corps

Where served: Korea and VietnamDetails of service: Awarded Combat Action Medal, two

air medals, six good conduct medals, Navy commendation, served as aerial gunman on

CH-46 helicoptersDates of service: Dec. 10, 1953

to June 30, 1973

Robert C. HarperHighest rank

achieved: Corporal

Branch of service: U.S. Army Signal Corps MOS 1187

Where served: U.S. and GermanyDates of service:

December 1952 to November 1954

Randolph (Randy) Carter Harrison

Born: June 21, 1944Highest rank

achieved: CaptainBranch of service:

Army Special ForcesWhere 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 1993Details of service: enlisted infantry, attended Infantry

Officer’s Candidate School, commis-

sioned as second lieutenant, completed basic airborne train-ing, 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

David HayesHighest rank

achieved: Journalist first classBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere Served:

USS Simon Lake; Diego Garcia;

USS Kittyhawk; Naval Station Sandpoint,

Naval Station EverettDates of service:

1987-1998

Roger L. HericDied: 1994

Highest rank achieved: SergeantBranch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served:

Germany, 749th Tank Battalion

Details of service: The 749th fought with the

76th Division, April 7-30, 1944; was

wounded in action

Brown Bear Car Wash and Pearson Law Firm honor our veterans.

James Thurston HogansonHighest rank

achieved: Sergeant Branch of service: U.S. Army, infantry

Where served: 40th and 24th Infantry Divisions in KoreaDetails of service:

Served in combat in Korea as a

medical techDates of service: May

1953 to March 1955

Ron HowatsonHighest rank

achieved: CD3

Branch of service: U.S. Navy — Seabees

Where served: Korea 1952-1954

Colin Corbett Born: Jan. 14, 1931

Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service:

ArmyWhere served:

northeastern France and California

Dates of service: six years in the 1950sDetails 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

John E. FloodHighest rank

achieved: LieutenantBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served: Supply Corps

Dates of service: Three years

Tyler Lenwood Fraker Born: June 11, 1970

Highest rank achieved:

E-4, fuels specialistBranch of service:

U.S. Air ForceWhere served:

Spain during Desert Shield and Dahran, Saudi Arabia, during

Desert StormDetails of service:

406th TFTWDates of service: October 1990 to

October 1994

Page 5: Lest we forget 2014

The Issaquah Press Wednesday, May 21, 2014 • B5

Roy InuiHighest 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, othersDates of service:

1944-1946

Shirley Beining HilgemannHighest rank

achieved: E5/SP5Branch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served: 9th

Adjutant General Fort Lewis; HQ U.S. Army Element, Brunssum,

The NetherlandsMedals 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

Ewert HilgemannHighest rank

achieved: E5/SP5Branch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served: 9th

Adjutant General Fort Lewis; HQ U.S. Army Element, Brunssum,

The NetherlandsMedals 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

Reed W. JarvisDied: 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 GuardWhere served: Korea,

Persian GulfDetails of service: Active and reserveDates of service: March 1951 to

June 2001

Erik Johnson Highest rank

achieved: Second class petty officer

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Where served: Iraq

Dates of service: 1994-2006

Daryl E. JohnsonBorn:

December 1927Died: October 2009

Highest rank achieved: Seaman

first classBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

Washington, D.C.Dates of service:

1945-1946

Donnas D. JohnsonHighest rank

achieved: YN1Branch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served: Mare

Island Naval Shipyard; Alameda Naval

AirbaseDates of service:

1950-1954

Bonnie Eugene Johnson Jr.Born: July 5, 1925Died: March 29,

2012Highest rank

achieved: ETM 3CBranch of service:

U.S. NavyDates 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

Steve Johnson Highest rank

achieved: Sergeant

Branch of service: U.S. Army

Where served: Vietnam

Dates of service: August 1967 to

August 1969

Gene KlineburgerHighest rank

achieved: Corporal

Branch of service: U.S. Army

Where served: Utah, California,

ArizonaDates of service:

1942-1945

Rolland R. Kiefel 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 ConwayDates of service: June 6, 1958 to

June 6, 1964

Larry R. Kulin Deceased

Highest rank achieved:

Yeoman Third Class Branch of service:

U.S. Navy Where served: Japan, Hawaii,

PhilippinesDates of service:

1959-1963

Ken Konigsmark Born: 1956

Highest rank achieved:

Lieutenant colonelBranch of service: Army and Air Force

ReserveWhere 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

Arthur E. Landdeck 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 LuzonDates of service: June 15, 1942 to

Dec. 23, 1945

Howard E. LanddeckHighest rank

achieved: AX3 (aviation

antisubmarine warfare technician,

third class)Branch of service:

U.S. Navy Where served:

Ream Field, Imperial Beach, Calif.; USS

BenningtonDates of service: Nov. 17, 1961 to Aug. 31, 1965

Margaret (Slate) LarsenBorn: April 12, 1930

Highest rank achieved: Staff sergeant

Branch of service: U.S. Air Force

Where served: KoreaDetails 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

Edward Prior LeahyBorn: April 1, 1923

Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant JG

Branch of service: U.S. Navy/ Marine

CorpsWhere served: 4th Marine Division — Iwo Jima, Marshall

Islands, Tinian, SaipanDetails of service:

Injured and taken to the hospital on the third day of attacks

on Iwo JimaDates of service:

1942 to 1945

Bruce LeavittBorn: Nov. 20, 1925

Highest rank achieved: Signalman

Second ClassBranch of service:

NavyWhere served:

European Theatre, Asian Theatre

Dates of service: December 1941 to

December 1946Details of service:

visited North Africa, Italy, Scotland, Wales,

England, Okinawa and the Pacific

Islands

Ivan A. LeeHighest 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

Steven W. Lewis Highest rank

achieved: CorporalBranch of service: U.S. Marine Corps

Where served: Vietnam

Dates of service: 1966-1972

D.C. ‘Duke’ LivingstoneHighest rank

achieved: CaptainBranch of service:

MarinesWhere served:

continental U.S.Dates of service:

1956-64

Scott Wayne JohnsonHighest rank

achieved: E4 AMH/AMS

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Where served: VAQ – 129 VikingDates of service:

1978-1988

Richard C. LarsonBorn: Aug. 3, 1919

Died: Nov. 26, 2010Highest rank

achieved: Tech Sergeant 5th GradeBranch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere 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

Issaquah Valley Grange #581 and Bellewood Retirement Living thank our veterans.

Sean S. Lewis Highest rank

achieved: Private first classBranch of service: U.S. Marine CorpsDates of service: 2011 – currently

serving

William Kenneth LokenBorn: 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,

1954Details of service:

Journalist

Jack LoppnowBorn: 1921

Highest rank achieved: Staff

Sergeant Branch of service:

Air CorpsWhere served:

Iwo Jima and the United States

Dates of service: 1942-46

Details of service: all over the United

States and Iwo Jima

Robert C. LyonHighest 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; command-ing officer of USS

Lenawee APA 195; navigating officer of USS Lenawee APA

195Dates of service: May 17, 1943 to

July 1, 1966

Lucille E. LundstromBranch of service:

U.S. ArmyHighest 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) Asiatic-Pacific 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 MacDougallDeceased (at age 58)

Highest rank achieved:

Mechanics mateBranch of service:

Navy — WAVES Where served:

Cedar Falls, Iowa; Norman, Okla.

Dates of service: 1943-1944

mother of former Mayor Ava Frisinger

Jeremiah Fraser Pitts MacDougall

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

Gladys MacKenzieBorn: May 17, 1918Died: 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

Kenneth MacKenzieBorn: Nov. 9, 1920

Died: Aug. 25, 2003Branch of service:

NavyWhere served:

USS Memphis and later Harrisburg,

Penn.Dates of service:

1943-1946Details of service: served on the USS

Memphis, patrolling waters between Brazil and Africa; later stationed at a supply depot in Harrisburg, Penn.

Chad MagendanzBorn: May 24, 1967

Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant

Branch of service: Navy

Dates of service: 1985-1997

Where served: SSBN 730 & 729Details of service:

Submariner specialty, Navy Achievement

Medal

Ledo J. MalmassariDied: Oct. 25, 1998

Highest rank achieved: Sergeant

Branch of service: U.S. Army

Where served: Korea – Third Infantry

DivisionDates of service:

1950-1952

John A. MarshDeceased

Highest rank achieved: PrivateBranch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served:

75th Infantry DivisionDetails of service: Served in combat for one year in the European Theatre;

received Purple Heart for being wounded during the Battle of

the Bulge

Urban V. MassetHighest rank achieved: E-7

Branch of service: U.S. Coast Guard

Where served: Marine Patrol; Marine

Inspection; served in combat in Korean

waters marking chan-nels for troop ships

for six monthsDetails 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

Bob McCoyHighest rank

achieved: Lieutenant

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Where served: USS Forrestal CVA-

59, Sixth Fleet (Mediterranean)Dates of service:

1966-1973

Ed McKeeHighest rank

achieved: SergeantBranch of service:

U.S. Air Force, turret gunner

Where served: Served in combat in 12th Air Force in Corsica, fall and winter of 1944-

45; 23 bombing missions over

European TheaterDates of service: Sept. 16, 1940 to

Sept. 14, 1945

Norman W. McLeanDeceased

Highest rank achieved:

Seaman first classBranch of service: U.S. Coast Guard

Where served: Alaska

Dates of service: April 21, 1943 to March 18, 1946

Don A. McWhirterBorn: March 1, 1931

Highest rank achieved: S/SGT

Branch of service: U.S. Air Force

Dates of service: May 23, 1949 to

Nov. 7, 1952Details of service:

HRRCWhere served:

Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, through basic training, perma-

nent party at HRRC until discharged

Thomas M. MechlerBorn: Feb. 26, 1932

Highest rank achieved: Staff

SergeantBranch of service:

Air ForceDates of service:

September 1950 to September 1954Details of service:

Airborne radar mechanic, 434th and 464th Troop

Carrier Wings

Kathleen R. MerrillHighest rank

achieved: Specialist 4

Branch of service: U.S. Army/Reserve

Where served: Various states includ-

ing Indiana, South Carolina and Colorado

Dates of service: March 1983 to

December 1989

David V. MerrittHighest 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

Leonard MilesBorn: 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

MedalDates of service:

1945 to 1946

John MeekBorn: Sept. 30, 1961

Highest rank achieved: Sgt.

Branch of service: Army

Where served: 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

Melvin MillerBorn: Nov. 5, 1922

Died: April 25, 2010Branch of service:

NavyWhere served:

Philippine TheatreDates of service:

1942-1945

Neal Harley HowardBorn: Oct. 6, 1945

Highest rank achieved: Specialist

4th ClassBranch of service:

ArmyWhere served: 5th of

46th Light Infantry Brigade attached to 198th Light Infantry Brigade, located in

Chulai below DanangDates of service: January 1967 to

January 1969Details of service:

served in combat in Vietnam, mortar man (killing radius is 50

meters; mortar would go up 5 miles)

S. William Hollingsworth Born: 1925Died: 2010Highest rank

achieved: PFC (private first class)

Branch of service: U.S. Army 100th

InfantryWounded in action: Wounded in combat in France, Nov. 1944

Dates of service: World War II January

1944 to August 1945

Archie HowatsonBranch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere 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

movingDates of service: Jan.

5, 1942 to 1945

Page 6: Lest we forget 2014

B6 • Wednesday, May 21, 2014 The Issaquah Press

David John MitmanBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served: USS

Coral SeaYears of service:

1951-1953Details of service:

Served as flight engi-neer 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.)

John MizenkoBorn: 1934

Highest rank achieved:

radar specialistBranch of service:

ArmyWhere served: Rhode Island

Dates of service: 1955-57

Details of service: worked with Nike

missile surface-to-air battery control when

fired

Duncan MulhollandHighest 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 con-

duct medal, National Defense Medal,

Korean Service Medal and United Nations

MedalDates of service:

November 1950 to November 1954

Kevin J. MurphyBorn: March 17, 1957

Highest rank achieved: Lt. Colonel

Branch of service: Army and Air Force

Where served: U.S. and overseasDates of service:

June 1979 to June 2000

Details of service: Army Infantry and

Intelligence, Air Force Intelligence

Richard MurphyBorn: March 10,

1923Highest rank

achieved: CaptainBranch of service:

Army Air CorpsWhere served:

Shemya Air Station, Alaska

Dates of service: July 1943 to

October 1949Details 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.

Norman B. ‘Crash’ Nash Highest rank

achieved: CaptainBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere 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 opera-tions officer, squad-

ron commanding

John Norman Naegle Born: May 1, 1942Died: Jan. 4, 1999

Highest rank achieved: Commander

Branch of service: U.S. Coast GuardDetails of service:

Coast Guard Academy graduate with honors in 1964; Master of

Science in engineer-ing, 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 breakersDates of service:

1964-1985

Donald NelsonBorn: Jan. 11, 1928

Died: 1969Highest rank

achieved: SpecialistBranch of service:

ArmyWhere served: served

in combat in the Korean Conflict for a

little more than a yearDates of service:

1950-1953Details of service:

Headquarters Company

Gerald A. NelsonBorn: 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 1970Details of service:

Outstanding military policeman of our company in 1967

Gary C. NewbillHighest rank

achieved: Major

Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps

ReserveWhere served:

Virginia; California; Okinawa, Japan;

The Philippines and Vietnam

Dates of service: January 1965 to

March 1968 (active duty)

Ernest R. NybergHighest rank

achieved: Sergeant

Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Force

Where served: South Pacific –

Tinian IslandWounded in action:

B-29 crashed off Iwo Jima, three men survived out of crew of 10, Ernie made 17 missions, some over

capital of JapanDates of service:

1943-1945

Ruben NietoBorn: 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/1/7th

Cavalry Regiment, served in combat,

Vietnam, December 1966 to December

1967

Michael O’ConnorBranch of service:

Air ForceDates of service:

1962-1966Details: 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.

Leroy OlsonBorn: Oct. 28, 1921

Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant

Junior Grade Branch of service: Navy Reserves Air

Group IVWhere 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 involv-

ing more than 1,200 targets; decorated

with Air Medal Citation for meritori-ous achievement, skills and courage

Charles D. ParkerDied: Nov. 7, 2010

Highest rank achieved: Captain

Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps

Where served: U.S.; Okinawa, Japan;

VietnamDates of service: Sept. 9, 1954 to Sept. 30, 1974

Russell D. PeeryHighest rank

achieved: Specialist 4th class

Branch of service: U.S. Army/ Washington

National Guard Where served:

Camp Murray, Wash., 181st Support

Battalion, Company DDates of service: August 1977 to

May 1983

Norman PeeryHighest rank

achieved: Seaman first class Branch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

Aleutians Islands Alaska; Japan; USS

Jarvis DD-799Dates of service: Dec. 16 1943 to

May 19 1946

Vernon M. Parrett, M.D.Highest rank

achieved: CaptainBranch of service: U.S. Army, medical

Where served: Served two years in

the Valley Forge Army Hospital in officers’ ward, tuberculosis

unitDates of service:

1944-46 and 1952-54

Gerald Francis PetersenBorn: Sept. 15, 1925

Highest rank achieved: Air cadetBranch of service: U.S. Army/Air Force

Where served: Various bases in the U.S.Dates of service:

1943 to 1945

Elmer John Petett Highest rank

achieved: Pharmacists mate

second class Branch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served:

USS Alshain in the Asiatic Pacific and

PhilippinesDates of service:

July 1943 to March 1946

Philip PitruzzelloHighest 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

Meindert PillieDied: 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

Sarah PommerBorn: 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

Wayne PommerBorn: Jan. 1, 1943

Highest rank achieved: SGT

Branch of service: Air Force

Dates of service: 1966-1970

Details of service: administrative spe-cialist; 941stMAG,

97stMAS, 62nd SPS

Hugh Asher Preston Jr.Born: April 29, 1924Died: May 1, 2014

Highest rank achieved: Seaman

First ClassBranch of service:

NavyDates of service:

Feb. 11, 1942 to Feb. 19, 1946

Details of service: At 17, Hugh fudged his age and was accept-ed 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 wheel-

house 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.

Gilbert PurschwitzBorn: April 16, 1939

Highest rank achieved: Pfc

Branch of service: Army

Dates of service: July 16, 1957 to

July 15, 1959Details of service: communications, 1st Army Division

(Big Red One)

Jay Robert RodneHighest rank

achieved: Lieutenant colonelBranch of service: U.S. Marine Corps/still serving in the

U.S. Marine ReserveWhere Served:

Persian Gulf War (1991); Somalia

(1992-93); Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kuwait

& Iraq (2003)Dates of service:

1990-present

Reuben Allen RichardHighest rank

achieved: SP4Branch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served:

Co. E 122nd Mnt. Bn. USAREUR

Dates of service: January 1968 to December 1969

Don RiggsBorn: Seattle, 1936Highest rank: PFCBranch of service:

ArmyWhere served:

OkinawaDates of service: October 1959 to

January 1962Details of service: producer for The

Voice of the United Nations Command, broadcasting propa-

ganda radio programs to North Korea and China; returned in time to work at the 1962 World’s Fair

Robert Howard Rockwell (Rocky)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

Hugh Gordon RossNo photo available

Highest rank achieved:

Petty officer 2Branch of service:

U.S. Navy, cryptograph tech

Where served: Strategic nuclear deter-rence in South China Sea during Vietnam

War; Combat Zone vet, 1972-1973; nuclear

submarine forceDates of service: January 1971 to

January 1977

Born: Sept. 17, 1917Highest rank

achieved: Lieutenant Branch of service:

NavyWhere 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

Helen SabinBorn: April 10, 1923

Highest rank achieved: Radioman

Third ClassBranch of service:

Coast GuardWhere 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

Elmo Jerome SagedahlHighest rank

achieved: Corporal

Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps

Where served: Pacific area

Dates of service: May 26, 1944 to

Aug. 31, 1946

Dave SaoHighest rank

achieved: Staff sergeant

Branch of service: U.S. Air Force

Where served: Strategic Air Command

Dates of service: March 1966 to

March 1970Details 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 sup-port of the Vietnam

War, and loading and caring for nuclear

weapons stateside.

Edward SchaeferBorn: June 10, 1911

Died: 1986 in Spokane

Highest rank achieved: Technician

fifth grade (Tec 5)Branch of service:

U.S. ArmyWhere served: Served

in combat in the European Theater, February 1944 to November 1945;

3429th Ord Mam Co.Details of service: “A man who loved his

country”Dates of service:

1943-1945

Frank Valentine SchroederBorn: Feb. 10, 1894Died: Sept. 6, 1977Branch of service:

U.S. ArmyDetails of service: Fought in France

during World War I

John SchroederBorn: Feb. 23, 1888Died: Jan. 10, 1973

Highest rank achieved: privateBranch of service:

U.S. ArmyDates of service:

Muster out telegram Nov. 16, 1918,

according to dis-charge 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. Gale Robert SchroederBorn: March 1935

Deceased: June 2005Highest rank

achieved: Master Sergeant

Branch of service: Army

Where served: last unit 409th Engineer Company, ReserveDates of service: 1954-1963 and

1976-1994Details of service: airplane mechanic

Market Well, Imelda Dulcich PR & Social Media, Eastside Family Dentistry and NAPA Auto Parts of Issaquah honor our veterans.

Daniel S. SegonHighest rank

achieved: Private Branch of service:

U.S. Army Where served:

GermanyDates of service:

1966-1967

William Edward SeilDeceased(at age 66)

Highest rank achieved: Colonel

Branch of service: U.S. Air Force

Where served: World War II, Korea

and VietnamDates of service:

1944-1975

Michael M. RisteDeceased

Highest rank achieved: SP5/E-5Branch of service:

U.S. Army, transportationWhere served:

1st Cavalry DivisionDetails of service:

Served three tours of duty in VietnamYears of service: Oct. 25, 1966 to Nov. 15, 1983

Robert PlossHighest rank

achieved: CaptainBranch 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 twiceDates of service:

1943-1952

John A. ‘Tony’ McIntoshBorn: Jun. 8, 1942

Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Branch of service:

ArmyWhere served:

Second Battalion, Second Infantry,

Fifth Division; Headquarters

Company, Third Brigade, 50th

Armored Division Dates of service:

1964-66Details of service:

served in combat for 10 months in 1966

Alan Ray MilesBorn: July 18, 1947

Highest rank achieved: CorporalBranch 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

Michael Dean Miles Born: Oct. 10, 1951

Highest rank achieved:

Lance corporalBranch 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 PacificDates of service:

1970 to 1972

Louis OrtizHighest rank

achieved: Petty officer second class

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Where served: In the Pacific, aboard

the carrier USS Lexington, as radio

gunmanWounded in action:

Received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and

Purple HeartDates of service:

1942-1945

Jeston J. PhillipsBorn: Feb. 9, 1923

Highest rank achieved: WT3/CBranch of service:

NavyWhere 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

Charles Edwin Runacres Jr.

The photos in this section are mostly in alphabetical order.

However, photos that came in late are at

the end of the section. We accept photos and

information about veterans all year.

Email them to [email protected].

Page 7: Lest we forget 2014

The Issaquah Press Wednesday, May 21, 2014 • B7

Cody D. SortebergBorn: Feb. 25, 1992

Highest rank achieved:

E4 (corporal)Branch of service:

Marine CorpsWhere served:

Afghanistan 2012, Japan/Korea 2013/2014

Dates of service: January 2011

to presentDetails of service: weapons company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, served in

combat

Jack Richard SteidlHighest rank

achieved: PFC (private first

class)Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Corps

Where served: Jackson, Tenn.

Dates of service: 1941-1944

William Britton StrikerBorn: Dec. 12, 1907 Died: Oct. 1, 2003

Highest rank achieved:

T-4, sergeantBranch of service:

U.S. Army, Big Red 1Where served: Omaha Beach

Normandy, Sicily, Tunisia, European – African Campaign,

Middle Eastern front – Ardennes

Wounded in action: Leg wounds, shrapnel,

received Silver Star and Bronze StarDates of service: July. 6, 1942 to Sept. 2, 1945

Ernest Milton SwansonHighest rank

achieved: Aviation machinist

first classBranch of service:

Coast GuardDates of service:

Oct. 21, 1941 to Dec. 23, 1946

George H. SwansonDied: 1992

Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Corps

Where served: United States

Dates of service: 1943-1945

John SwansonDied: 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 SweetBorn: Nov. 18, 1938

Died: 2003Highest rank

achieved: CorporalBranch of service:

U.S. NavyDates of service: April 27, 1956 to

Oct. 16, 1959

Henry D. (Hank) ThomasBorn: April 21, 1944

Highest rank achieved: lieutenant commander, unre-

stricted lineBranch of service:

NavyWhere served: nuclear power submarines and

surface combatantsDates of service: February 1963 to

March 1983Details of service: nuclear qualified,

qualified in subma-rines, surface warfare

qualification, Navy Commendation Medal

recipient

Frank R. TroutmanDeceased

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

George Van LeeuwenBorn: May 18, 1921

Died: 2012Highest rank

achieved: LieutenantBranch of service:

Army/Air ForceWhere served: served

in combat in the South Pacific

Dates of service: 1943-1945

Details of service: pilot, flew C46

Jay Anthony VanniHighest 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 officerDetails of ser-vice: Letter of

Commendation; grad-uated from Central

Washington University with degrees in sci-ence and business;

(lived in Issaquah for 36 years)

Dates of Service: 1993-1997

Dallas L. WaggonerDeceased(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

David S. WaggonerHighest 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

Dwight Eldon WaggonerBorn: August 23,

1922Died: Oct. 9, 2009

Highest rank achieved:

Seaman third classBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere served: South Pacific

Details of service: American Area

Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal,

WWII Victory MedalDates of service:

April 1943 to November 1945

Joe WallisBorn: Oct. 2 1931

Highest rank achieved:

CommanderBranch of service:

Navy ReserveWhere served:

Korean WarDates of service: January 1954-57Details of service:

spent 22 years in the reserve on the USS

Thomas 833 destroy-er in Iwo Jima, Japan

and Hong Kong

Geoff WarrenHighest rank

achieved: CDRBranch of service: U.S. Coast GuardDates 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 mobi-

lized 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.

Austin Vickery WigginsBranch of service: U.S. Marine Corps

Where served: Saipan in the

Mariana IslandsDates of service:

1942-1946

James H. Van WinkleDied: 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 typ-ist 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

Neil (Sol) WinikoffBorn: March 31,

1920Died: Oct. 11, 2013Branch of service:

ArmyWhere served: North

Africa and EuropeDates 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 main-taining signal security

and proper storage of secret documents; languages: English,

Yiddish, Italian, French, German and

some Russian

George WestlakeBorn: Feb. 21, 1919

Highest rank achieved: ColonelBranch of service:

ArmyWhere served:

1941-1945 France and D-Day

Dates of service: Retired 1972

Details of service: Colorado, Fort Lawton

William James Weatherford

Born: March 8, 1925Highest rank achieved:

MAM 2CBranch of service:

NavyWhere 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 monthsDates of service: July 1943 to March 1946

Details of service: Awarded Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal

— 1 star and World War II Victory Medal

Matt WinzenBorn: Jan. 22, 1925

Highest rank achieved: MM1C

Branch of service: Navy

Where served: Panama Canal, South

Pacific Fleet Dates of service:

1943-45Details of service:

enlisted at 18, assigned to nucleus crew for USS Dennis

in Panama Canal; participated in many invasions, most nota-bly 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

Robert Edward WolahanBorn:

Nov. 23, 1932Deceased:

Dec. 10, 2010Highest rank

achieved: PNC (chief)

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Where served: Korea and Vietnam

Dates of service: 1950-1970

James WoodBorn: May 8, 1950

Highest rank achieved: RM3

Branch of service: U.S. Navy

Where served: Vietnam, three toursDetails of service:

Radio Teletype Task Group operator, Yankee Station

Dates of service: 1968 to 1972

Winston Matthew Yourglich

Highest rank achieved:

PhM3c (photogra-pher’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

David Les YeisleyBorn: Dec. 23, 1932

Highest rank achieved: SergeantBranch of service: U.S. Army, Infantry

Where served: 3rd Infantry Division,

Korea and 28th Infantry Division,

GermanyDetails 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

Jack YusenBranch of service:

U.S. NavyWhere 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 bat-

tle during World War II; some sailors survived the attack only to bob in the shark-infested Philippine Sea until

rescuers arrived days later

he was transferred to a special photo reconnais-sance unit in Japan.

Garrett was charged with providing aerial cov-erage of Japan and Korea for use in updating maps since the war’s ending.

“We would fly every day and take pictures. At the time, Hiroshima and Naga-saki had been bombed just a year before,” he said. “Hiro-shima was really destroyed. I don’t see how anything lived there. Seeing what a bomb could do was scary.”

In 1947, he was sent to Guam, where he was on the crew of a C-54 aircraft as-signed to transport troops and supplies to active mili-tary bases throughout the South Pacific.

One such trip, a trek from Australia to Guam, had a very special pas-senger, but Garrett didn’t know it at the time.

“My first wife, Nicky, was on one of those flights from Brisbane,” he said. “I flew her before I even knew

who she was.”Nicky was one of the

Australian civil workers the United States hired to work various jobs to sup-port military requirements, Garrett said.

The two started as friends, socializing among others while she played the piano and he and his fel-low servicemen sang at the local officer’s club.

She was hospitalized for a minor illness September 1947, and Garrett, being the smitten airman he was, offered to drive her home when she was better, assum-ing that his assignment that day didn’t have any hiccups.

“I told her, ‘Hey, I’ll pick you up, if our plane doesn’t go down,’ and I sort of laughed it off,” he said.

It was no laughing matter that same day when his C-54, carrying supplies to Manus Island off the northeastern tip of Papua New Guinea, did crash into the ocean.

Stranded at seaAn engine fire forced the

six-man crew to make a water landing.

When they saw the flames, the men burst into action, making use of their extensive emergency train-

ing, Garrett said.While two men tried to

extinguish the fire, another climbed into the co-pilot’s seat, where he initiated emergency procedures. The radio operator declared mayday, and Garrett trans-mitted the group’s position to someone that could help.

It was such a flurry of ac-tivity, Garrett said he never had time to fear for his life.

“To tell you the truth, when you’re 22, you think you’re infallible,” he said. “You’re so busy preparing for impact, you don’t even think about it.”

In an impressive feat of skill, the pilot safely landed in the “Pacific Ocean, 500 miles from nowhere,” and only the crew’s engineer sus-tained anything more than minor bumps and bruises.

The group boarded the deployed life rafts and watched from afar as the aircraft disappeared into the water.

“It somehow gave me a terrible feeling of loneli-ness as the tail sank out of sight,” Garrett said.

The rafts contained only an emergency transmitter and floppy hats to shield from the sun. Garrett still has his hat, guarding it

as a keepsake from his memorable mission.

It was Garrett’s re-sponsibility to identify the group’s position, while the radio operator continually transmitted it in hopes that someone would find them.

Seasickness began to overcome four of the six crew members, as day turned to night with no sign of help. Garrett was fortunately spared from the illness, but as the group remained stranded, he feared he had transmit-ted the wrong location.

“If nobody finds us, is there going to be room in the raft for me, because I didn’t send them the right position?” he thought.

Garrett needn’t have worried. Later that night, a C-54 from the same squadron found them. The plane was joined by a B-17 aircraft that lowered a boat for the stranded crew’s use.

But the group couldn’t find it as they attempted to navi-gate the waters in the pitch-black darkness. They waited for daylight, and the boat was still nowhere to be seen.

So began an altogether new waiting game, while dehydration started to set in among the crew mem-

bers, Garrett said.Another boat was

dropped later that after-noon, and this time, the group managed to find and board it, but the setbacks weren’t over. The hungry men found only spoiled food on board, and try as they might, they couldn’t figure out how to start the engine.

“Spoiled water, maggots in the rations, that kills your appetite right there,” Garrett said.

The crew pitched a sail and continued along through the night before a submarine came to the rescue. Once aboard, they feasted on a meal of steak and eggs.

The six men received a hero’s welcome when they returned to Guam, includ-ing a celebration later that night. Garrett’s date was Nicky, now feeling better and out of the hospital.

“That was our first date,” Garrett said. “Four months later, we were married.”

Remembering sacrificesAnnie, Garrett’s second

wife, remembers reading about the ordeal in the Ho-nolulu papers, where she was living with her pilot husband, George Head.

Little did she know, less

than 20 years later, she and Garrett would marry, after the deaths of both of their spouses.

Head, a military hero in his own right, died in a 1962 plane crash while transport-ing California Congressman Clem Miller. Around that time, Nicky lost her battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Annie and Dag Garrett met at a California officer’s club in 1964. Friends prod-ded them to talk to each other, but the two were reluctant. Dag asked her to dance and immediately told her, “I’m not ever go-ing to get married again.”

“That’s a heck of a thing to say when you just meet someone,” Annie recalled, even though she didn’t want to get remarried either.

The Garretts will cel-ebrate their 50th wedding anniversary June 19. Be-fore that, they’ll pause May 26 to remember the men and women who lost their lives on the battlefield.

“It’s so easy to forget all that they’ve done,” Dag said. “I’m lucky, I’m still here. There are so many that aren’t. They go through hell and high wa-ter so that we can be here and experience freedom.”

Garrettfrom Page B1

ContriButeD

Dag Garrett is the co-pilot on a photo reconnaissance unit over Japan and Korea in 1946.

Kiwanis Club of Sammamish, Bellevue Honda, Al and Jean Erickson, and Las Margaritas Restaurant thank our veterans for their service.

Gordie BlumeBorn: Aug. 25, 1948

Highest rank achieved: CaptainBranch of service:

Air ForceWhere served: Southeast Asia, Alaska, Europe, Mediterranean,

Pacific, U.S.Dates of service: January 1973 to

June 1979

Lee F. Scheeler

Born: April 10, 1926Highest rank achieved: PFC

Branch of service: U.S. Army/Air Force

Where served: Germany

Details of service: 4th Infantry Division

Rifleman, 22nd Infantry, chaplin of the Post 79th Snoqualmie

Dates of service: 1944 to 1946

Mary Ellen Holmes Sheridan

Born: Sept. 7, 1927Highest rank

achieved: LieutenantBranch of service:

NavyWhere 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 SimsBorn: Oct. 28, 1919

Highest rank achieved: CaptainBranch of service:

Army, infantryWhere 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: ClassifiedBranch of service:

Army – counter intelligence

Where served: Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind.

Dates of service: 1956-59

Details of service: Worked in back-

ground investigation and wanted to go to Germany, but was

never sent overseas

William A. SomsakHighest rank

achieved: Boatswain’s mate

third class Branch of service:

U.S. Navy Where served:

Marshall Islands, USS Midway

Details of service: Received two med-

als; operated landing craft

Dates of service: 1942-1944

Page 8: Lest we forget 2014

ond recruitment center he wore contacts.

During a final physical for officer candidate school, however, an astute physi-cian, a captain who hap-pened to be an eye doctor, took one look at his record and asked the obvious, “Do you wear contacts?”

Harrison knew he was busted.

“I take them out, and I couldn’t see the wall, much less an eye chart,” he said.

The only duty the doctor could approve for Harri-son was quartermaster or judge advocate, any paper shuffling assignment. Just not combat.

Undeterred, Harrison tossed his record into the trash bin at the rear of the medical facility.

When his first sergeant asked a few days later if he knew where his file was, he answered truthfully, “I don’t know.”

The sergeant pulled out a new file, filled in a few blanks, scribbled an illegible signature and put it away.

“Bingo. Done,” said Har-rison, happy he was headed for Airborne training.

Don’t volunteer for SOGAt a competitive time for

officer candidates trying to get into Special Forces Intelligence, he signed up for a one-year course in Vietnamese language that guaranteed a slot in Spe-cial Forces in the Vietnam 5th Group.

Preparing to leave, a ser-geant friend with three tours in Vietnam under his belt told Harrison the only thing he had to remember was don’t volunteer for SOG.

“‘You don’t have to know what it is. Just don’t volun-teer for it,’ he told me.”

A year and a half later, finally in Vietnam in Au-

gust 1968, standing in the adjutant general’s office, waiting for assignment, he was asked, “You speak five languages? Including Viet-namese? You ever think about SOG?”

“I have trained all this time, I don’t know what it is, only that I was told if you join SOG you die,” Harrison said. “I’m not going start my time here by chickening out. So, I said, ‘OK.’”

SOG’s cover name was “studies and observation group.” Harrison said it was actually a special operations group that performed deep, recon missions in Cambo-dia, observing the enemy’s activities across the recog-nized border.

“Technically, they were illegal missions,” he said.

When Harrison agreed to take command of the recon company, he said he had the audacity to tell his superiors he would only take the job if he could take missions, too.

“The motto of infantry school, which is the best leadership motto for cor-porate, family or soldiers, is two words — follow me,” Harrison said. “I can’t send anyone into that inferno

unless I go myself, to un-derstand conditions, see how individual teams oper-ate and know what addi-tional training they needed or what was not working. They basically said, ‘OK.’”

The six-man squad’s as-signments were either five-day insertions where they observed an area, or 10-day insertions where they ob-served a river or road.

“There were times we were so close to the enemy, I could hear them and write down what there were saying,” he said.

Extremely fortunateDespite his best prepa-

rations, Harrison said his unit had the highest sustained casualty rate (unavailability for combat due to injury or death) in American history — more than 100 percent.

Harrison said in all his time in Vietnam, he was extremely fortunate to avoid the casualty list.

Once, he was allowed to return to the states to take care of a “Dear John” letter situation. Another time, he missed a mission to give the senior officers a briefing. Both times, his

replacement “took a bullet meant for me.”

He recently gave a eulo-gy in Spokane and reunited with three fellow soldiers, who’d received grievous wounds in Vietnam.

“Sitting there looking at these guys with permanent wounds, I realized I put in 27 months Vietnam and never got a scratch,” Har-rison said.

To this day, he wears a bracelet bearing the name Harold W. Kroske. Another friend who was killed in the line of duty, Harrison uses it to remind himself of how things could have turned out differently.

“Unfortunately, I tend to be impatient, a char-acteristic I guess I have,” he said. “So, I wear this to remind myself, every day, several times a day, how incredibly, indescribably fortunate I am.”

On the A-teamHarrison rode the wave of

his good fortune to prosper-ous careers, including as a foreign correspondent for the Orlando Sentinel and a 20-year stint in public rela-tions for The Boeing Co.

When Harrison came out

west to take that position, he didn’t know anybody. To find other like-minded souls, and since his kids from his first marriage were out of the house, he decided to give public service back to the coun-try he so believes in. He visited the recruiter’s office on Gilman Boulevard and at age 44, he enlisted in the Army Reserve, signing on with the Special Forces Group. This time, he had to go in a sergeant, on an A-team.

“I was a year older than the A-team leader’s father,” Harrison said. “Hey, but one weekend a month, I got to jump out of airplanes, blow stuff up, fire automatic weapons and drink beer.”

During his tenure with the unit, the first Gulf War ignited. While individual members of his Reserve unit volunteered to par-ticipate in operations, the unit itself was never re-called to active duty. Har-rison said a number of his guys subsequently went on to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan operations as part of civilian security contractors.

I’m too old for thisIn about 1994, when

it was time to re-up, he changed his mind.

During a routine night training mission, after jumping out of a plane over Fort Lewis, he looked down.

“You’re not supposed to

look down, but everybody does,” he said.

It looked like he was head-ing straight for a big tree.

“Not a good thing,” he added.

He wiggled his para-chute straps to maneuver around the tree, but only managed to inadvertently turn into the wind, a much worse situation that accel-erated him uncontrollably to Earth.

“I hit the ground so hard, I knocked myself out. I knocked the webbing out of my helmet,” he said. “I was out cold.”

When he finally came to minutes later, the airplane had circled around and was making preparations to drop a second lift of parachutists.

He got up, looking for the tree that caused his woes, only to discover he had landed in an empty field. In the low light, he had mistaken something flat and circular on the ground for a tree.

“I pranged the hell out of myself and thought that this was a sign,” Harrison said. “I’m too old for this.”

That was his last jump. He decided then and there that the United States Army no longer needed his services.

He has since remarried, retired and written a nov-el, “West From Yesterday,” just to prove he could. These days, among vora-cious reading, he remains active as a master docent for the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery and is a chair-man on the city’s Develop-ment Commission.

Harrison said his jour-nals have been used by other authors, both with permission and without, to good affect and bad. Al-though just one of his sons has asked to read them, he keeps them locked up in a safe, ready to be discov-ered in 500 years, ready to recount the tales of just one little guy who played his part in a big war.

The Issaquah Press Wednesday, May 21, 2014 • B8

Harrisonfrom Page B1

By DaviD Hayes

Randy Harrison looks at his old green beret he wore during the Vietnam War, that he now keeps in his ‘hooray for me’ room in his Squak Mountain home, wondering how it avoided moths.

volunteered for the draft in 1943, only a few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“I wanted to be a hotshot fighter pilot,” Geil said about signing up for the military.

He went through about a year of college before he took a test to enlist, ultimately finding himself a plane navigator.

The waning days of the war took him to England, where a fateful mission to Berlin and back would change his life. A compres-sion problem caused one of the plane’s four engines to seize up and Geil said the pi-lot did not react accordingly.

“A more experienced pilot would have turned back, but he was being

stupid,” he said. “I’m busy as hell as a navigator and then the next thing I know we are in a tailspin.”

The pilot righted the plane, but more engines were lost and the oil pres-sure dropped dangerously. The crew quickly deter-mined they could not get the plane back to friendly borders and decided to bail out while in the air.

Bailing out into more troubleGeil told the story with

acute recollection of squeezing himself out of the plane’s hatch with his parachute on his back. He said the opening was small and it took off one of his boots on the way out. He described falling through the air, looking behind him and seeing his boot flying off into the distance.

He landed safely on the ground, gathered his parachute and ran to hide

in nearby trees. Unfortu-nately, locals noticed the evacuating crew.

“The whole damn town was coming out,” Geil said. “When I saw their eyes, I knew I was in deep kimchi. I figured I’d had it.”

That sinking feeling only grew when German soldiers escorted him to a holding cell, removed his sidearm and held rifles to either side of his head while he showed them how to remove the weapon’s magazine.

Afterward, they searched him, finding all the things he had secreted about in his cell in case of escape, and gave him food.

“They gave me a boiled potato sort of thing, which was not very tasty,” he said. “But I ate as much as I could. I was starting to learn how to be a prisoner of war.”

Geil spent 44 days in prison camps around Ger-

many, mostly in Moosburg. He spoke of his time there, telling fellow American troops what songs were popular at the time and sleeping on cold floors. He said a clandestine radio existed in the camp some-where, where the prison-ers could hear about the continued Allied success in the war. He suspected it was only a matter of time before the camp was liber-ated. Still, he doubted he would survive.

“It was a panicky time,” he said. “Being a POW is a life-changing event. I figured I wouldn’t make it.”

But make it, he did. Gen-eral George Patton’s army came through and liber-ated the town. Geil remem-bers seeing a tank use its gun to lift up the gate and break it down.

“Man, we were all there cheering, about six or eight deep,” he said.

Pulling him back inHe recuperated and

returned home to marry his high school sweetheart and finish college. His life returned more or less to normal and it didn’t take long before he considered re-entering the military for further credentials. How-ever, he said a month after he re-enlisted, the Korean War started.

“I thought, ‘Jesus, I’m working this system wrong,’” Geil said, smiling. “When I went out, damned if they didn’t pull me right back in.”

Though he didn’t have to go overseas for his service in the Korean War, he ended up traveling abroad for the Vietnam War. There, he flew planes with a variety of functions, from transportation to combat.

“I finally got to be a fighter pilot when I was 42 years old,” he said.

Geil retired in 1974,

hardly believing he spent so long in service.

“I left the military with 31 years, one month and 15 days, retiring as a full colonel,” he said.

Retirement did not slow him down. He went on to earn a Masters in Business Administration and another business degree in construc-tion, graduating the third time alongside his son.

He and his wife raised three kids during his long career, and he said he thought his military service helped him and his wife raise a tightknit family.

“I think our family was closer because we got to travel,” he said.

He said his time in the military helped him build a life he valued greatly.

“A lot of times, I think back, and I think a lot of these decisions probably saved my life,” Geil said. “The military was good to me when I look back on it.”

ing along the beach from Pearl Harbor to Waikiki when a reporter stopped them to ask questions.

In the article, the other Marines ex-pressed some fear and hesitation about their upcoming deployment, but not Pearson: “We’re all very anxious to get there,” he’s quoted as saying. “…There’s a real purpose to going over there, and I’m all for it.”

Nearly 50 years later, Pearson is a bit apologetic, but mainly steadfast toward his feelings at the time.

“That’s what it was in the moment — gung ho,” he said. “Absolute clarity.”

Forming connections with men from dif-ferent states, races and religions is some-thing Pearson continues to cherish about his Marine Corps days. One of the deepest connections was with Lester Bell, a young African-American from Miami.

Racial strife was consuming the U.S. in the 1960s, but Pearson felt he avoided much of that growing up in Issaquah. Bell and other black Marines had a singing group modeled on The Temptations, and Pearson was invited to join.

“He taught me how to dance, and I taught my grandkids how to dance the way Bell taught me to dance,” Pearson said, strutting around the room.

One night, Bell and Pearson were on guard duty in a bunker outside of Da Nang. To pass the time, they pulled a tarp over the bunker so they could turn

on a light and play cards.“Every once in a while,” Pearson said,

“we’d throw a hand grenade out the window, and it would roll down the hill and blow up. And we’d get a call from (a superior) going, ‘What the hell is going on out there?’

‘Well, sir, we thought we heard some-thing out there.’

‘Oh, OK, good men.’“We’d pull the tarp back down and play

cards.”Bad times often overshadowed good

ones, of course.On the way to Vietnam, the troops

stopped in the Philippines to get acclima-tized to the tropical heat and humidity. Pearson saw men throwing coins into a river. It took him a few days to realize it was a river of sewage.

“They would throw coins in there, and some of the young Filipino kids would dive in to get the coins,” he said. “… It’s almost like, if you were from a different culture or a different race, you weren’t one of them. Then, when we got into Vietnam, it got worse.”

When Ron Dexter — Pearson’s friend from South Dakota — was killed in com-bat, it spurred an angry outburst from another Marine.

“The next day, he went through a vil-lage and opened fire on people he should not have opened fire on,” Pearson said. “The discipline … between when to pull the trigger and when not to, it’s largely based on your training, but it’s also influ-enced by your emotional life.”

The war devolved into a cat-and-mouse game, he explained. The Americans would capture a hill, for example, then re-

treat and allow the enemy to retake it. That pattern repeated itself, with a few Marines killed every time.

“After a while, and I don’t know how long it took, it became not about American foreign policy, not about the war, it became about sur-vival,” Pearson said.

It took Pearson nearly 20 years to begin dealing with the psychological effects of Vietnam. His sense of humor evaporated; he wasn’t comfortable being in a room with a lot of strang-ers. His intensity sparked a “volcanic reaction” in others, he said, which contributed to his first marriage end-ing in divorce after 17 years.

Working with a Veterans Ad-ministration psychologist, Pearson recounted the gory details that led to post-traumatic stress disorder. It was difficult, he said, because veter-ans don’t want to cry, don’t want to betray the military’s ultra-masculine culture. But he began to understand the consequences of walking around with unchecked aggression.

Today, Pearson specializes in personal injury claims, and works alongside second wife Michele at Pearson Law Firm in Issaquah. They have been married 25 years. His Marine Corps background likely pushed him into law, he said, be-cause of the similarities.

“There’s something about being able to do something that remedies a problem or prevents a harm,” he explained, “and then using the information to show people how to do things in a more safe way.”

ON THE WEBOne of Randy Harrison’s more harrowing recon missions into Cambodia is recounted by the helicopter pilot, James Fleming, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts to Harrison’s squad, at http://yhoo.it/1gkzNb6.

Pearsonfrom Page B1

Geilfrom Page B1

Fischer Meats, Heroic Knight Games, artbyfire and Earth Pet salute our veterans.