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PALO ALTO ROTARY CLUB ARMED FORCES DAY RECOGNITION November 14…2005 This is a tribute to current members of the Palo Alto Rotary Club who served their nation during both peacetime and war HOW THIS CAME ABOUT… RALPH ADAMS gave some year book photos of a fellow West Pointer to HIG HIGGINS who suggested we do a special on said illustrious Club member. (Who shall go nameless). But with the approach of Armed Forces Day we decided to add a few non-West Pointers to the mix. So stand at ease and enjoy a bit of history. Military Service: Entered West Point at age of 17 in 1961. Became a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Force in 1965 Assigned to a Combat Control Team at Langley AFB Then on to an Army Pathfinder unit. Training included 150 parachute jumps, including high altitude jumping. Did counter-intelligence work around the world. Left the service in 1969 Ralph Adams Military Service: Entered West Point at age of 17 in 1961. Became a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Force in 1965 Assigned to a Combat Control Team at Langley AFB Then on to an Army Pathfinder unit. Training included 150 parachute jumps, including high altitude jumping. Did counter-intelligence work around the world. Left the service in 1969 Ralph Adams “The down side of military life was that it was tough on my family. No one knew when I would leave and for how long I’d be gone.” “On the other hand, it was one of the best times in my life!” Preparing for reconnaissance flight over Germany John Bracken J.B. Preparing for reconnaissance flight over Germany John Bracken Commissioned in the Field Artillery at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Served as liaison pilot in Europe with the 42nd (Rainbow) Infantry Division. Chief mission was directing artillery fire while piloting a light plane. Military Service: Army 1941 to 1946 Retired in the Reserve as a Major. John Bracken “My most memorable experience was being chased in the Bavarian Alps by a German pilot flying a captured American Thunderbolt P-47” “It was like this one only it had been repainted in its entirety coal black” John & Marion Wedding Day July 30…1942 Favorite song: “All the Things You Are” By Jerome Kern Active Duty: 1943 to 1946 Military Experience: 21st. Infantry Battalion Camp Roberts…California Spent the war years as a Training Instructor. Rate at Discharge: Sergeant ROBERT R. BULMORE Active Duty: 1943 to 1946 Military Experience: 21st. Infantry Battalion Camp Roberts…California Spent the war years as a Training Instructor. Rate at Discharge: Sergeant ROBERT R. BULMORE Favorite song: Glenn Miller’s “String of Pearls” Time in the service: Active Duty: July 1945 to June 1950 Reserve: Sept 1951 to July 1967 Rank on separation: CDR USNR Bill Busse Time in the service: Active Duty: July 1945 to June 1950 Reserve: Sept 1951 to July 1967 Rank on separation: CDR USNR Bill Busse DUTY STATIONS: University of Southern California Ottumwa Iowa Pre-Flight Corpus Christi…Texas Pensacola…Florida Whidbey Island…Washington Barbers Point…Oahu Agaña…Guam Alameda…California FAVORITE SONG… Frank Sinatra singing “I’ve Got a Crush on You” Bill Busse “The Navy…What a deal!!! Without the Navy I would never have gone to college and in turn met that cute blonde at USC. To top it off they gave me flying lessons, but didn’t ask me shoot at anyone…friend or foe” US Naval Reserve: June 1944 to December 1945 Stationed at the Naval Ordinance Laboratory Washington DC “I did technical work in the development of advanced Naval ordnance weapons systems such as underwater mines and torpedoes. High tech for its time.” Lyle D. Connell US Naval Reserve: June 1944 to December 1945 Stationed at the Naval Ordinance Laboratory Washington DC “I did technical work in the development of advanced Naval ordnance weapons systems such as underwater mines and torpedoes. High tech for its time.” Lyle D. Connell “We did our testing nearby at the Amphibious Training Base Solomons, Maryland” “My rank at separation was Ensign USNR” Entered the Navy: July 1943 Became an Ensign: June 1944 “In October, 1944 I joined the USS Douglas A. Munro, a new Destroyer Escort. Aside from a brief (and rough) trip to Casablanca, we spent the rest of the war in the South Pacific, doing lots of escorting and some shore bombardments. On V-J day we were patrolling between the Philippines and Okinawa.” Jack Dorgan Entered the Navy: July 1943 Became an Ensign: June 1944 “In October, 1944 I joined the USS Douglas A. Munro, a new Destroyer Escort. Aside from a brief (and rough) trip to Casablanca, we spent the rest of the war in the South Pacific, doing lots of escorting and some shore bombardments. On V-J day we were patrolling between the Philippines and Okinawa.” Jack Dorgan “Following V-J day we went to Shanghai. After some glorious days there, we were sent to Hong Kong, ‘to show the flag.’ Then it was back to the States. In February, 1946 we entered San Francisco Bay. I was discharged from the Navy in July, 1946” Jack receiving the coveted Rotary Club Blue Badge Navy Service: 1944 to 1946. “Shortly after enlisting the Germans and Japanese surrendered. I guess they heard I was coming.” “Was a Radio-Gunner aboard PBMs. Achieved the illustrious rank of Aviation Radioman 3rd Class.” Dick Freeman Navy Service: 1944 to 1946. “Shortly after enlisting the Germans and Japanese surrendered. I guess they heard I was coming.” “Was a Radio-Gunner aboard PBMs. Achieved the illustrious rank of Aviation Radioman 3rd Class.” Dick Freeman Johnston Island “Ended my career working the tower on Johnston Island which is now a toxic waste dump. Dick Freeman “My favorite song was ‘In the Mood’ Wasn’t that everybody’s?” Infantry…US Army 2nd Lieutenant May 1969 Active Duty May 1970 to January 1972 Infantry School: Columbus…Georgia “I was sent to Fort Ord…everyday expecting to ship out to Viet Nam. Ran a “quick fire” range utilizing BB guns for practice before live fire.” Bill Fogarty Infantry…US Army 2nd Lieutenant May 1969 Active Duty May 1970 to January 1972 Infantry School: Columbus…Georgia “I was sent to Fort Ord…everyday expecting to ship out to Viet Nam. Ran a “quick fire” range utilizing BB guns for practice before live fire.” Bill Fogarty “Orders never arrived for Viet Nam. When asked, I say that my military career was shooting BB guns and defending the beaches of Monterey County” Favorite song: We Gotta Get Out of this Place By TheAnimals “I was one of the lucky ones!” From 1946 to 1948 attached to the 1st Army Transportation Corps at Camp Kilmer NJ Favorite song: Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade Wes Gardiner “I was one of the lucky ones!” From 1946 to 1948 attached to the 1st Army Transportation Corps at Camp Kilmer NJ Favorite song: Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade Wes Gardiner From 1951 to 1953 a 1st. Lieutenant with the 1st Field Artillery at Fort Drum, NY. Later went to Fort Sill, OK. No shots fired in anger! On to Stanford and graduate school. “I was one of the lucky ones!” Surgeon in U.S. Medical Corps 1952 to 1954 Sy Greenstone & The War in Korea Surgeon in U.S. Medical Corps 1952 to 1954 Sy Greenstone & The War in Korea Incoming wounded Our fleet of ambulances Sy Greenstone & The War in Korea Our base from the top of the hill Change of Command ceremony Sy Greenstone & The War in Korea Medical Ward Home Sy Greenstone & The War in Korea A visit from Home Sy Greenstone “I once operated 10 to 12 hours daily for three weeks…cleaning wounds, amputations, setting fractures, etc. Reward was R & R in Tokyo “My worst experience was trying to save two Korean children who stepped on a land mine.” “My best experience was visiting Freedom Village for prisoner exchange at the end of the war.” Sy Greenstone “If you get the feeling that M*A*S*H 4077 was pretty authentic…it was. I had the pleasure of consulting on two of the episodes.” Rank: Captain Received a Bronze Star “Even 105 years later I am not cleared to tell you where I was or what I did. Suffice it to say I was in Army Counter Intelligence from 1952 to 1955.” Rank: Can’t say! Special awards: Can’t say! Jack Hendricks “Even 105 years later I am not cleared to tell you where I was or what I did. Suffice it to say I was in Army Counter Intelligence from 1952 to 1955.” Rank: Can’t say! Special awards: Can’t say! Jack Hendricks “Needless to say, I caught a lot of big fish!” Jack Hendricks A final salute to one and all! The Original Sergeant-At-Arms! Warren “Hig” Higgins The Original Sergeant-At-Arms! Warren “Hig” Higgins Active Duty: 1942 to 1947 Active Reserve: 1947 t0 1968 Military Experience: “Very dull. All duty in U.S.” Rank at Separation: Colonel US Army Infantry 1953 to 1956 24th & 34th Infantry Regiments in Korea Company Commander on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Asst. Regimental Supply Officer Sasebo, Japan Last assignment: Brooklyn Army Base while finishing College at CCNY Lou Kavanau US Army Infantry 1953 to 1956 24th & 34th Infantry Regiments in Korea Company Commander on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Asst. Regimental Supply Officer Sasebo, Japan Last assignment: Brooklyn Army Base While finishing College at CCNY Most Military Adventure John Kidd’s Most Military Adventure John Kidd’s Most Military Adventure US Naval Base…Subic Bay…The Philippines John D. Kidd Subic Bay Utilities Conservation Officer and Coordination Officer…1959 to 1961 “Able to squeeze 4 or 5 weeks of highly dangerous adventure with Phyllis in Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand” Rank on Separation: Full Lieutenant “Don’t forget to salute me!” John D. Kidd Branch of Service: Army Air Corps 1942 to 1944 Served as a Bombadier/Gunner on B-17s in the Eighth Air Force in England…35 missions including D-Day. Bill Kirk Branch of Service: Army Air Corps 1942 to 1944 Served as a Bombadier/Gunner on B-17s in the Eighth Air Force in England…35 missions including D-Day. Bill Kirk “Bombs Away!” Bill Kirk Favorite Song: “Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder” Bill Kirk A Memory: “I met my father and uncle for dinner twice in London. My father was a Navy Lieutenant in WW I and rejoined for WW 2. “Dad & me in England” My uncle, Vice Admiral Alan G. Kirk, was Navy Chief under Ike for the Normandy invasion. Bill Kirk Active Duty 1957 to 1958 Active Reserve 1958 to 1965 Fort Sill, Georgia, Officer’s Training School And Fort Ord, California Rob Lancefield Active Duty 1957 to 1958 Active Reserve 1958 to 1965 Fort Sill, Georgia, Officer’s Training School And Fort Ord, California Rob Lancefield Being an Army “brat” I am basically Gung Ho, but also realize that the Army has it’s flaws, as do most of us.” Favorite song of that era: “Colonel Bogey’s March” “I was Christmas help.” 1956 to 1962 “The deal was six months at Fort Ord and five and one half years in the Ready Reserve” “Was a sergeant in the Civil Affairs Military Government Unit …The 351st.” Laurie Liston “I was Christmas help.” 1956 to 1962 “The deal was six months at Fort Ord and five and one half years in the Ready Reserve” “Was a sergeant in the Civil Affairs Military Government Unit …The 351st.” I was drafted and served in the Army from November 1956 to September 1958. Worked in the Judge Advocate Generals Office (JAG) in Frankfurt, Germany Bruce Liedstrand I was drafted and served in the Army from November 1956 to September 1958. Worked in the Judge Advocate Generals Office (JAG) in Frankfurt, Germany “I served as a Platoon Sergeant in the 361st Regiment of the 91st Infantry Division from October 1942 to October 1945 “Went from Anzio all the way north through Rome, Florence, the Apennines, the Po Valley to Gorizia on the Yugoslavia border. “The carnage was unbelievable. On the bright side, the Italians were very happy to see us.” Bill Love “I served as a Platoon Sergeant in the 361st Regiment of the 91st Infantry Division from October 1942 to October 1945 “Went from Anzio all the way north through Rome, Florence, the Apennines, the Po Valley to Gorizia on the Yugoslavia border. “The carnage was unbelievable. On the bright side, the Italians were very happy to see us.” Bill Love “It was a life changing experience. We believed in our cause and put our lives on the line for our country, our families and each other. I received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.” Favorite song: “White Christmas” Bill Love “A few years ago Irene and I visited the Rotary Club of Florence. We came to find that, during the War, three of us were in Florence at about the same time…an American, German and Italian. And we were all breaking bread together as Rotarians. Time in the service: June 1943 to April 1946 Rate at Discharge: Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Duty Stations: Sampson Naval Base…Geneva…NY Aboard USS Auk…a Minesweeper Participated in invasions of North Africa… Southern France…and Normandy. (Recovered bodies of those who didn’t make it ashore.) Favorite song: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” David Negrin Time in the service: June 1943 to April 1946 Rate at Discharge: Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Duty Stations: Sampson Naval Base…Geneva…NY Aboard USS Auk…a Minesweeper Participated in invasions of North Africa… Southern France…and Normandy. (Recovered bodies of those who didn’t make it ashore.) Favorite song: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” David Negrin While stationed at the Sampson Naval Base… I met Shirley and the rest is history! Active Duty: US Army 1952 to 1954 Military Experience: Aircraft Maintenance Officer/Instructor Efficiency Report: “His relaxed, easy platform manner insures the effect and interest of his audience.” Rank at Separation: 1st. Lieutenant Favorite song: “As Time Goes By” John O’Keefe Active Duty: US Army 1952 to 1954 Military Experience: Aircraft Maintenance Officer/Instructor Efficiency Report: “His relaxed, easy platform manner insures the effect and interest of his audience.” Rank at Separation: 1st. Lieutenant Favorite song: “As Time Goes By” John O’Keefe Floyd Bennett Naval Air Station Brooklyn Active Duty: 1942 to 1945 Duty Stations: Treasure Island California and (Drum role) The Mark Hopkins Hotel for three years. Adak, Alaska on our way to invade Japan. “Invasion was called off in August 1945 so we played poker and table tennis until released soon thereafter.” To sum it up: “I had really tough duty!” Rank at Separation: Warrant Officer Daryl Pearson Active Duty: 1942 to 1945 Duty Stations: Treasure Island California and (Drum role) The Mark Hopkins Hotel for three years. Adak, Alaska on our way to invade Japan. “Invasion was called off in August 1945 so we played poker and table tennis until released soon thereafter.” To sum it up: “I had really tough duty!” Rank at Separation: Warrant Officer Daryl Pearson Joined NAVY in 1942 and Served during WWII and Korea. Flew PV2s out of Eniwetok and Tinian during WWII and PBM Mariners during the Korean War patrolling the China Coast. PV2 PBM (Lost all my photos in a fire on Dec. 13, 1993) Jack Riddle Joined NAVY in 1942 and Served during WWII and Korea. Flew PV2s out of Eniwetok and Tinian during WWII and PBM Mariners during the Korean War patrolling the China Coast. PV2 PBM (Lost all my photos in a fire on Dec. 13, 1993) Jack Riddle Ended NAVY career at the Bureau of Aeronautics Planning logistics support for WWIII as the oldest Lieutenant the Navy ever had. “I wouldn’t have missed it and I’d never do it again!” Favorite song: “Laura” Bob Smithwick Bob Smithwick Dr. Smithwick at work. Bob Smithwick Active Duty: USS Montrose Pacific Theater 1941-1947 Active Reserve 1947-1960 Bob Smithwick “The USS Montrose was a troop transport also configured as an auxiliary hospital ship. At war’s end we brought GIs home from the Pacific Theater.” Served in the Navy from November 1955 to February 1959 Four months in Newport RI at Officer Candidate School Two months as a Recruiting Officer at Stanford University Art Stauffer Served in the Navy from November 1955 to February 1959 Four months in Newport RI at Officer Candidate School Two months as a Recruiting Officer at Stanford University Art Stauffer Balance of time as Chief Engineer and Cargo Officer Aboard the USS Navasota Art Stauffer “This was my Navy. In spite of my skills our skipper made Admiral and I was not court martialed!” “During the Taiwan Quemoy/Matsu crisis we fired our one 5 inch gun at the Chinese and exited at flank speed!” Navy Midshipman’s School Chicago 1943 Warren Thoits Navy Midshipman’s School Chicago 1943 Military Service: Received wings at Bryan Air Force Base in Texas. Flew the F-86D Sabre On to Ohio State & Univ. of North Dakota for MBA Wayne Thomas Military Service: Received wings at Bryan Air Force Base in Texas. Flew the F-86D Sabre On to Ohio State & Univ. of North Dakota for MBA Wayne Thomas Then back to flying. “Went from England through Western Europe, to Iran, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Tunisia.” “I saw a lot of the world, but it was difficult on family life. I was years on military alert.” Retired as a Lt. Colonel Wayne Thomas Then & Now Favorite song: By the Rolling Stones “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” Military Duty: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1956 to 1958 Platoon Leader with 23rd Combat Engineering Battalion, 3rd Armored Division in Hanau, Germany during height of the Cold War. Favorite song: Auf wiedersh’n George Wheaton Military Duty: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1956 to 1958 Platoon Leader with 23rd Combat Engineering Battalion, 3rd Armored Division in Hanau, Germany during height of the Cold War. Favorite song: Auf wiedersh’n George Wheaton That’s “lonesome George” on the far left “Our mission included bridging and rafting the Main and Rhein Rivers, carrying the Division’s Tanks and self-propelled artillery. George Wheaton Separated from Active Duty as a 1st Lieutenant Military Duty: West Point Class of ‘40 7th Division Fort Ord…California 133rd Infantry Regiment from the invasion at Anzio to the liberation of Rome. 143rd Infantry Regiment from landing in Southern France to Bad Tolz, Germany. 100,000 German soldiers surrendered to his battalion. “The most eventful day of my military life. It was the end of the war for me.” Sam Webster Military Duty: West Point Class of ‘40 7th Division Fort Ord…California 133rd Infantry Regiment from the invasion at Anzio to the liberation of Rome. 143rd Infantry Regiment from landing in Southern France to Bad Tolz, Germany. 100,000 German soldiers surrendered to his battalion. “The most eventful day of my military life. It was the end of the war for me.” Sam Webster From the West Point “Howitzer” “A master at tennis and squash, a champion of these sports - his gallery was composed of ‘not fans,’ ‘but friends’ and they were legion.” Sam Webster Also from the West Point “Howitzer” Sanford Harvey Webster, a Senatorial appointee from Kingston, Rhode Island, “Admired by all for his tenacity, resourcefulness, and conviviality, he held a place in the affection of his classmates”…. Known by his buddies as “Sammie!” Sam & Kim “Ten minutes after this picture was taken we were separated for three years. I still have Kim’s dress hanging in my closet.” Favorite song: “I’ll be seeing you” Rank at Separation: Full Colonel Sam…What a loveable guy! And thanks for being the inspiration for this endeavor! Welcome Home One and All!