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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!