honor our local veterans

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Aadland, John F.
Rank/Branch: Master Sergeant, USAF
Service Dates: 3/86 to present
Stationed: Travis AFB

"On 3/19/03, I was assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 380th Expeditionary Wing, in southwest Asia. We received the war order from the president and the Pentagon to begin the 'Shock and Awe' campaign over Baghdad. We were the second tanker to depart that night, heading into the kill zone over Iraq."

Beaton, Kevin J.
Rank/Branch: 1st Lieutenant, USA, Airborne
Service Dates:4/66 to 5/69
Stationed: Fort Campbell, KY - Vietnam 101st Airborne

"The Fourth of July is a celebration of the human spirit that was manifested more than 200 years ago by a relatively small group of people that decided to live free of tyranny."

Brockman, Gene
Rank/Branch: Sergeant (Surgical Nurse), USA Medical Corps
Service Dates:9/45 to 2/48
Stationed: Camp Stoneman, Pittsburgh

"Most memorable are the camaraderie and long-term friendships that formed immediately. And the life-long lessons that I learned while in the service are still with me."

Busskohl, Charles "Chuck" D.
Rank/Branch: Captain, USAF
Service Dates:1956 to 1958 (USAF); 1960 to 1962 (IA ANG)
Stationed: Texas, Iowa

"Most memorable is being an Instrument Instructor at Perrin Air Force Base."

Daleke, Dick
Rank/Branch: Captain, USN
Service Dates:1953 to 1986
Stationed: NAS Alameda; NTC, San Diego; USS Bon Homme Richard; USS Coral Sea; USS America; USS Oriskany

"Most memorable is flying from Navy Aircraft Carriers day and night in the Tonkin Gulf in support of VN air and ground operations."

Deatherage, D. Gary
Rank/Branch: Captain, USA
Service Dates:1963 to 1967 (active); to 1970 (reserve)
Stationed: Fort Sill, Fort Bliss, Fort Ord

"My most memorable moment is graduating from OCS Artillery (Fort Sill, Oklahoma)."

Dentz, Joseph "Joe"
Rank/Branch: Major, USMC
Service Dates:6/59 to 11/66
Stationed: Pensacola; Cherry Point; Iwakuni, Japan; El Toro; Da Nang, Vietnam

"I always remember pulling off of targets and having the Forward Air Controller say something like 'Nice work. You saved our butts."

Dentz, Joseph "Joe"
Rank/Branch: Second Lieutenant, USMC
Service Dates:1/08 to present
Stationed: Quantico

"My most memorable moment to date was my commissioning ceremony where I became an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, officially receiving the lifelong title that few men and women hold: United States Marine."

Difazzio, Jacob V.
Rank/Branch: Staff Sergeant, USA
Service Dates:1999 to present
Stationed: Fort Lewis, Fort Carson, Carson City

"Most memorable is being in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 as an infantry man, searching for terrorists."

Drysdale, Robert
Rank/Branch: Retired Lt. Commander in the U.S Navy
Service Dates:1968 to 1992
Stationed: 1968-69: 6 months in the Mekong Delta and 6 months in and around the DMZ. Danang Chu Lia Cuan Viet Dong Ha are a few places I worked . I served on two old LST's LST 839 Iredell County and LST 515 Caddo Parish. 1970-71 assigned to staff of CINCPACFLEET. Admiral in charge of the Pacific Fleet Pearl Harbor Hawaii. 1971-1992 Reserves. Last tour was Naval Investigative Service in New York City.

"As for the Fourth of July it has great meaning to me the first of which is Freedom, second would be Opportunity and I would sum it up with the last line of the Declaration of Independence 'We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor'. It would be great if we had a few politicians that lived by those words."

Duke, James "Jim" W.
Rank/Branch: Lieutenant Colonel, USMC
Service Dates:1951 to 1979
Stationed: Parris Island, Quantico, Camp Pendleton and more

"Serving with 'Chesty Puller' while a Second Lieutenant and he was a general. I got to know him and his wife."

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