honor our local veterans

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Ulrich, Roger E.
Rank/Branch: Captain, USMC
Service Dates: 1969 to 1972
Stationed: Vietnam, Okinawa, Camp Lejuene, Camp Pendleton, Quantico

"My most memorable moment is arriving in Vietnam on Dec. 7, 1970 and seeing what it was like."

VanDelinder, Harry R.
Rank/Branch: First Lieutenant, US Air Corps
Service Dates: 10/42 to 9/45
Stationed: England

"My most memorable moment is feeling elated when I completed my 35th mission over Germany as a B-17 pilot, finishing my tour, and I could go home. As my brother says, 'Those who have faced death have a fervor for life that the protected will never know.'"

Wardell, Ronald "Ron" S.
Rank/Branch: Captain, USAF
Service Dates: 5/57 to 9/66
Stationed: Niagara Falls; Ramstein AB, Germany; George AFB; Korat AB, Thailand

"In 1969, I was in charge of the casualty ward at Oakland Naval Hospital. Medrano was a Hispanic, the toughest Marine I ever saw, who had lost a limb and most of the skin on the back of his lower extremities. I operated on him about six times, never once hearing him complain, and I eventually saw him walking in uniform on his two legs."

Waters, Daniel "Dan" R.
Rank/Branch: Lieutenant Colonel, USA
Service Dates: 6/85 to present
Stationed: Panama, Fort Benning, Fort Campbell, Fort Bragg

"Most memorable are the raid on Rio Hato (Panama) during Operation Just Cause; returning from Kosovo to see my youngest son, Jake, take his first steps; and prior to my deployment in Afghanistan, watching my wife, Kim, be recognized by the Department of the Army for her selfless support and dedication to our nation."

Whalen P.E., Thomas A.
Rank/Branch: Lieutenant Commander, US Public Health Service
Service Dates: 1964 to 1968 (MSC USA); 1969 to 1972 (USPHS)
Stationed: San Antonio; Frankfurt and Munich, Germany; Charlottesville; Cincinnati

"As an environmental engineer in both the Army and Public Health Service, I was on the 'ground floor' of protecting the health and environment of our military personnel in Germany and general population in the United States."

Wheeler, Robert "Bob" G.
Rank/Branch: Chief Master Sergeant, USAF
Service Dates:12/62 to 12/82
Stationed: Clark AB, Philippines; Da Nang, Vietnam; Hamilton AFB; Hickam AFB; Udorn AB, Thailand; Governors Island; McClellan AFB; RAF Woodbridge; Scott AFB

"The nature of my work as a USAF pararescueman was extremely rewarding as I was able to save 28 lives in the 20-year career. All of these saves were in the open Pacific and entailed parachuting next to vessels, boarding adn treating injured personal. No one saved was more rewarding that another. The sea condidtions varied from calm to 40-kknot winds and high seas. many times getting to the patients was a challenge."

Sullivan, John L.
Rank/Branch: Major, USAF
Service Dates: 8/64 to 2/86
Stationed: Lackland AFB; Lowry AFB; Orlando AFB; Semback AFB, Germany, Minot AFB; University of Missouri, Columbia; Kelly AFB; Biloxi AFB; Langley AFB; DCA-Worms, Germany; Eglin AFB; Hickam AB; Camp Smith; Los Angeles AFS

"My most memorable moment is sitting in a snow bank on the side of the road at 3am, with 30-knot winds at 30 degrees below zero near Minot, North Dakota. The truck we were traveling in to a Minute Man Missile silo was on fire. The folks in Minot earn their pay!"

Sylvester, Manuel "Manny" R.
Rank/Branch: First Lieutenant, USA
Service Dates: 7/52 to 5/54; 1954 to 1958
Stationed: Camp Roberts, Korea

"My most memorable moment is when my regimental officer said to me, 'We have too many officers, you have to leave three months early."

Thomsen, Gary B.
Rank/Branch: Colonel, USAF
Service Dates: 4/65 to 3/89
Stationed: Laredo AFB; Reese AFB; Chu Li AB, Vietnam; Da Nang AB, Vietnam; Osan AB, South Korea; Cannon AFB; Langley AFB; RAF Lakenheath, UK; Bergstrom AFB

"My most memorable moment is when I was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. It was September 1971, west of Da Nang Air Base in Vietnam, and we had troops in a contact situation in Vietnam. We were able to bring close air support to bear, rescue the downed helicopter and crew and send the enemy scurrying away."

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