HONORING OUR VFG VETERANS

U.S. ARMY

Felix Morales

Felix Morales

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army

TIME PERIOD: 1969-1970

FINAL RANK: Sergeant E-5

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam

OPERATION: Cliff Dweller

Robert R. Brown

Robert R. Brown

BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army Infantry

TIME PERIOD: 1968-1971

FINAL RANK: 1st Lieutenant

CAMPAIGN: Airmobile Operations, 1970-1971 & Operation Lam Son 719 in Laos with American and ARVN troops

Herman Christensen

Herman Christensen

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Army

TIME PERIOD: 1966-1969

FINAL RANK: Staff Sergeant, E-6

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam

DETAILS: He enlisted and completed training and was deployed to Vietnam where he spent his time while working in the HHC, Headquarters of 12th Combat Aviation Group. He served under three different Colonel's and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, E-6. He was there during the Tet Offensive while the Vietcong attacked from a compound named Widow's Village. He received the Bronze Star Medal and Good Conduct Medal for service.

Veronica Buddell

Veronica Buddell

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army

TIME PERIOD: 1991-1999

FINAL RANK: Sergeant (E5)

Adolph Garcia

Adolph Garcia

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army

TIME PERIOD: 1964-1967

FINAL RANK: E5


(in memory of) Thomas L. Allison

(in memory of) Thomas L. Allison

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Army

UNIT: First Infantry Division (the Big Red One)

TIME PERIOD: 1952-1954

FINAL RANK: Corporal

LOCATION: Wildlicker, Germany

Terrance Strouse

Terrance Strouse

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army

TIME PERIOD: 3 years, one month, 7 days

FINAL RANK: E5

DETAILS:  Helicopter mechanic in the 159th Assault helicopter battalion of the 101 Airborn Division. Headquarters (Camp Eagle) located just South of the Former Imperial City of Hue near Phu Bai. Served in Vietnam from November 1968 through December 1969. I acted in support of all major campaigns in the I Corp area from Da Nang north to the North Vietnamese border

Gilmore Jones

Gilmore Jones

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army

TIME PERIODIn those days you were drafted for a total of 8 years, 2 years active service and 6 years reserve which could be served either inactive or active. Drafted in 1953, entered service January 1954, separated January 1956, Specialist 3rd Class E-3

FINAL RANK: Honorable Discharge January 1962 Sargent 1st Class E-5

DETAILS: No Campaigns, but classified as Korean Veteran being as anyone in the service within two years after the armistice was sign in July 1953 were classified as such. Photo at Jump School Fort Bragg NC.




(in memory of) Harlow Hosford

(in memory of) Harlow Hosford

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Army, 2nd Divison, 23rd Regiment

FINAL RANK: 1st Lieutenant

DETAILS: TI&E Officer

Dale Hosler

Dale Hosler

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army

TIME PERIOD: 1947-1953

FINAL RANK: Sergeant First Class

CAMPAIGN: Korea

Donald L. Neal

Donald L. Neal

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army

TIME PERIOD1952-1955

FINAL RANK: Corporal

CAMPAIGN: I spent the three years staying clear of campaigns with flying bullets in Virginia, Illinois, Washington and Japan.




Larry Suhl

Larry Suhl

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Army

TIME PERIOD: 1967-1970

FINAL RANK: Spec 4

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam

U.S. NAVY

Bud Robinson

Bud Robinson

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Navy

TIME PERIOD: February 1952 to December 1953

FINAL RANK: Yoeman 2nd Class

DETAILS: Stationed at Staff Headquarters, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii entire tour of duty

(in memory of) Paul Behringer

(in memory of) Paul Behringer

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Navy (Seabees Special Forces)

TIME PERIOD1970-1974

FINAL RANK: Petty Officer Second Class

Paul Ratto

Paul Ratto

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Navy, Brown Water Navy - Mekong Delta

TIME PERIOD: Four Tours – Vietnam 1967, 1968, 1969 & 1970

FINAL RANK: E-5 Quartermaster

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam

(in memory of) Robert Melgard

(in memory of) Robert Melgard

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Navy

SHIP: He served on a sub-chaser patrolling the waters in the Coral Seas.

TIME PERIOD: 1943-1945

FINAL RANK: Radarman 2nd Class (RDM2C)

DETAILS: (a fun story his daughter shared) Dad said as the war was winding down in the Pacific, they started sending troops home on the President Monroe, a luxury liner that the Navy took over as a troop ship.  While on the ship homeward bound, Japan surrendered, and they celebrated, but their skipper said they would be celebrating for 2 days, as they crossed the International Dateline during that day, so they got to repeat the day and celebrate again!  He also said one of the men swam in the ships pool as much as possible, so he could say he swam home!  

John Morris

John Morris

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Navy 

SHIP: Destroyer

TIME PERIOD: January 1959 - September 1962

DETAILS: The first half of my service was on the Destroyer Samuel N Moore DD747. On this ship I went to Alaska, Japan, China (Hong Kong), Guam, Hawaii, and the Philippines. The second half I was on a harbor tug boat YTB 401 stationed in Adak, Alaska. We took full advantage of the great fishing, crab and shrimp. The picture is on the tug boat in Adak.

Ernest L. Rodrigues

Ernest L. Rodrigues

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Navy

SHIP:  USS Enterprise V1 Division (help launch & recover planes on flight deck)

TIME PERIOD: 1968-1970

FINAL RANK: Aviation Boatswain Mate

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam

(in memory of) Glenn Skinner

(in memory of) Glenn Skinner

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Navy

TIME PERIOD: 1955-1961

FINAL RANK: FT2 - Fire Control Technician 2

CAMPAIGNS: Served aboard the Aircraft Carrier, USS Hornet, during the Cold War with deployments in the Pacific Rim and East Asia, including China and Japan.

Gary Melvin

Gary Melvin

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Navy 

TIME PERIOD: 1958-1963

FINAL RANK: Petty Officer - 3rd Class Yoeman

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam, Quemoy Matsu

Ken Smith

Ken Smith

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Navy

TIME PERIOD: 3 years and nine months of active duty

FINAL RANK: Aviation Storekeeper 3rd class (E-4)

DETAILS: 
I was stationed on Guam for 18 months followed by duty at Lemoore during which I served on the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga. In 1975 I joined the California Air National Guard and retired in July of 2005 with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9).

Gerald E. Naura

Gerald E. Naura

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Navy

TIME PERIOD: 1958-1962

FINAL RANK: Quartermaster Second Class (E-5)

Don Glass

Don Glass

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Navy 

TIME PERIOD: April 1967 - July 1970

FINAL RANK: Second Class Petty Officer 

DETAILS:  I was with Naval Construction Battalion #8 serviced out of Port Hueneme, California and deployed overseas to south Vietnam as a security division which was in the time of the fall of Hue (the capital of South Vietnam). Then I became a construction Electrician and worked on camp and area power through Vietnam. I served 22 months in South Vietnam before getting out in 1970.



Robert Timothy Butler

Robert Timothy Butler

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Navy

TIME PERIOD: 6 years

FINAL RANK: E4

DETAILS: Tim served on the USS Caiman (submarine) and on a destroyer during the Vietnam war.

U.S. MARINE CORPS

George Gardner

George Gardner

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Marine Corps

TIME PERIOD: 1964-1984

FINAL RANK: First Sergeant

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam

DETAILS: Traffic control systems technician – Installed the first 00ILS (Instrument Landing System) in Yuma, Arizona

Robert Walker

Robert Walker

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Marine Corps 

TIME PERIOD: 3 years

FINAL RANK: Corporal

CAMPAIGN:  Vietnam

DETAILS: Top left photo is of Robert and his cousin Linda in his Dress Blues uniform. Top right photo is of Robert in Advanced training before Vietnam.

Donald L. Dueker

Donald L. Dueker

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Marine Corps

TIME PERIOD: 1959-1963

DETAILS: Marine Air Repair Squadron - 37, 3rd Marine Airwing El Toro CA

John Scott Sr.

John Scott Sr.

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Marine Corps

TIME PERIOD: 1943-1946

FINAL RANK: Corporal

CAMPAIGN: WWII

DETAILS: Able Battery, 1st Battalion. 10th Marine Artillery Regiment, 2nd Marine Div. WWII Pacific Theatre Saipan ~ Tinian and Okinawa ~ Japan

U.S. AIR FORCE

(in memory of) Merle Peterson

(in memory of) Merle Peterson

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Air Force

TIME PERIOD: 1941-1945

FINAL RANK: Staff Sergeant

CAMPAIGN: WWII

DETAILS: Ball Turret Gunner

Larry Timmons

Larry Timmons

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Air Force 

TIME PERIOD: 1964-1968

FINAL RANK: Sergeant

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam



Bruce McAbee

Bruce McAbee

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Air Force

TIME PERIOD: 4 years

FINAL RANK: Sergeant

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam War - serving 1 year at Udon Thai Air Force base in Thailand

Craig Hickerson

Craig Hickerson

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Air Force

TIME PERIOD: 4 years

CAMPAIGN: Vietnam

DETAILS: Dog handler

Tencil Scott

Tencil Scott

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Air Force 

TIME PERIOD: 1968-1972

FINAL RANK: E5 - Staff Sergeant

DETAILS: My last 13 months, I was NCOIC, Accounting & Finance, 51st Air Base Wing, Osan Air Base, Korea.  While there, I was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service.




John Hayes

John Hayes

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  U.S. Air Force

TIME PERIOD: September 14th 1967 - September 15th 1971

FINAL RANK: Sergeant

SPECIALITY: Medical Supply Specialist

SECONDARY SPECIALIST: Medical Helper Medic 

STATIONS:
1) Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Tx
2) Sheppard AFB, Witchta Falls, Tx
3) Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska
4) Forbes AFB, Topeka, Ks

U.S. COAST GUARD

Larry R. Mullen

Larry R. Mullen

BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Coast Guard

TIME PERIOD: 1961-1965

FINAL RANK: E5 2nd Class Engineman

DETAILS: Search & Rescue, Port Security, Aids to Navigation.

BASED IN: Alameda, California | Tongue Point, Astoria, Oregon | Colombia River Light Ship | USCG Balsam out of Ketchikan, Alaska (earthquake 1964) Storis Icebreaker out of Kodiak, Alaska

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