Veterans Tribute

Veterans Day is a day to remember. A day to remember all those service men and women who so bravely served our country. Aquinas believes in the importance of remembering and honoring them so they do not take the day off and instead celebrate veterans as a community by holding a prayer service. This gives the students a chance to reflect on what the day is about. We take the time to appreciate the sacrifices made by others to protect our freedoms, to know them, not as faceless strangers, but to truly see them and thank them. To that end, here are just a few Aquinas veteran alumni sharing their thoughts about the importance of service and how they celebrate Veteran’s Day.

Name

Tony (Anthony) Kedzior

Graduation Year

1967

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Army- 91G20 Social Work/Psychology Specialist E-5

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

I learned Prayer & Discipline by having (Jesuit Priest) for teachers.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

I go to the Cemetery, eat at different restaurants, and spend time at Vets Hall.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

Being a counselor for soldiers going and coming from war.

Name

Ted Alejandre

Graduation Year

1982 Branch of the Military that you

served or are serving

Air Force- Retired as Lt Col in 2019

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

It is an excellent career opportunity for high school students to consider, especially the United States Air Force Academy

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

Aquinas provided me with an excellent academic foundation, coupled with the ability to interact effectively with others and build collaborative and positive relationships. How do you celebrate Veterans

Day?

Enjoy time with my family and pray about the safety of veterans, especially those who continue to serve.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

Received the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and my 20 years of deployments to support 7th Air Force in South Korea. I was also activated during Operation Desert Storm and deployed to Japan where I supported operations in that theater including traveling to Iwa Jima.

Name

Jorge Ramirez

Graduation Year

1963

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Navy

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

It has changed.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

My time at Aquinas taught me tenacity. When times are tough, keep it together.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

With my fellow vets at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

Serving on an aircraft carrier and cruising around the world. Making the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

Name

Bernard Rothermel

Graduation Year

1959

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Army- GCA Radar Repairman in Germany

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

Although such service is often necessary, working in a government setting is not necessarily professionally fulfilling.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

Continuing the need for meeting and getting along with a variety of people.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

Quietly

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

It gave me the opportunity to live in a foreign country, travel widely, and live and work with a large range of people from all over the USA.

Name

Col Bob Gericke J.D.

Graduation Year

1963

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Army- After Vietnam I knew I liked the military, but didn’t want to move all over so I decided to spend another 18 years in a reserve component to get a retirement. After 36 years and 40 days I got the boot due to hitting the mandatory retirement age.

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

The military is a reflection of the best of America.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

The values and expectations are the same. Lux et veritas. Respect, diligence, risk taking and preparedness are the stuff of good soldiers, sailors and airmen. I especially urge women to consider the military as they are making great strides in the services that affect the views of the nation and the world.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

By communicating with military friends all over the country.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

Early on: being called out of the welcome briefing in Vietnam by a captain in a funny uniform. I thought I was in trouble. In reality he wanted to recruit me for a position in his Ranger company even though I wasn’t a school trained Ranger. I said yes and the rest is history. Mid career: My two commands (company and battalion) were awesome experiences where I was blessed to have some of the finest soldiers I could ever hope to meet. End of career: I was in a quiet, low profile position waiting to retire when the second Gulf war, the GWOT (global war on terrorism) began. I suddenly found myself as the executive officer of the biggest command and control unit for reserve medical assets in the Western United States. It was a challenge, but very rewarding. Name Jim Duffy

Graduation Year

1966

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Marine Corps- 3rd Battalion 12 Regiment Field Artillery,3rd Marine Division Headquarters Battery Fire direction control, Vietnam 1968/69

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

A million dollar experience you wouldn't pay a nickel for. It certainly didn't hurt me one bit though.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

I was able to do really well in testing in basic training. That helped me attend artillery school and finish first in my class.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

Spend time with my family.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

When the plane took off from DaNang and the stewardess told us to say goodbye to Vietnam. I was so lucky and blessed to make it home.

Name LCDR (Dr.) N. Glenn Ohaeri Sr.

Graduation Year

2002

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Navy

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

Military service allows for the opportunity for people to understand what true patriotism is and how people from all over the country and world make sacrifices that provide us our simple freedoms.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

The structure and discipline through sports and interactions with my peers prepared me for all dynamics I experience in the military. The healthy competition for academic and athletic excellence at Aquinas prepared me well!

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

I celebrate by making sure I reach out to military personnel who have come before and paved the way for people to serve.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

I am still active in my career, but to date working with SEALS, being stationed on an Aircraft Carrier (USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN), and traveling the world have been notable. But above all, the resiliency shown by my wife and children adapting to different environments and schools is most notable for me, their sacrifice is unparalleled from my vantage point.

Name

C Steven Figueroa

Graduation Year

1963

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Army-I served for almost 2 years in the US Army as a draftee. I was at the 45th Surgical Hospital (yes, a MASH unit, but not like Corp. Klinger), from Aug '68 to Aug '69, as a surgery technician. Upon my return I was honorably discharged and returned to civilian life.

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

Nowadays, without the draft, it is strictly all volunteers. I wish the draft was still utilized as it would grant those without any plans for their life, an option to explore careers available. Draftees only served for 2 years, whereas volunteers served for no less than 4 years and in most cases at least 6 years.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

Aquinas at my time was all male, so you had to deal with many types of personalities. Furthermore, with one exception, our teachers were all male, priests actually. The principal was Fr. Sullivan for my first 2 years at AHS, so after 4 years at AHS, I felt I could survive anything.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

For the most part, I don't because I was in for such a short time in comparison to others who chose to make military service a career. For the most part, I put out a flag to honor the vets.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

My year in the war zone of Vietnam has lasted me a life time. The surgery tech field was very active due to the fact that we had to get the wounded to surgery and then out as quickly as possible to give the wounded the best shot at recovery. The folks I worked with were great and very much team oriented. Luckily, due to social media I still maintain contact with some of them after so many years have passed.

Name

Col. USAFR Bill Canavan

Graduation Year

1963

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Air Force-Initially in 1969 I enlisted in the US Navy Flight Training Program. I was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1972 after the Vietnam War concluded. In 1974 I thought I would try one year in the Washington Air National Guard, a component of the Air Force Reserve. Here I began my career in computer, Communications Network systems management. Until 1986 I remained a a weekend warrior and worked in the private sector in sales and marketing. In 1986 I chose to work full-time for the Air National Guard at several Us locations and deployments in about 10 different countries, most for three or four weeks at a time.

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

It's not always fun but the rewards are great. It's adventurous, both physically and academically challenging and be prepared for the unexpected. Young and uncertain about what you might want to do professionally? This calling could be the most interesting place you can imagine to explore opportunities.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

My time at Aquinas instilled in me tenacity and I deep sense of faith both qualities carried me a long way both in trouble times and opportunities of personal choice.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

I attended a well-produced but brief veteran celebration and enjoy dinner with a few of my friends who also served in the military.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

There were many unexpected situations that I found myself in that were either boring or moments of Stark Terror. Towards the end of my career I played a part in the construction of the first permanent combined air operations center in Saudi Arabia. Some believed this might be the most important project of the year 1999 but who knows.

Name

Msgt Jerry Sullivan

Graduation Year

1960

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Air Force- Joined the Air Force the day after graduating Aquinas and spent the next 20 years 3 months and 18 days touring the world at Gov expense. AF is the only branch for families!

Name

Dr. Kevin O’Malley Ph.D.

Graduation Year

1981

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Navy- I continue to serve the Navy as a DoD civilian scientist, assigned to Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific.

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

Military service offers tremendous opportunities to be part of something bigger than yourself. All of us should seek challenges to benefit the greater good, and the military offers that in spades.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

Aquinas prepared me to pursue a life of transformational leadership, in which we encourage ourselves and encourage others to seek a higher moral purpose. Go Falcons!

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

At a tribute or ceremony at my children’s schools. Also, reflecting on family and friends who served with me

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

1. Liberating Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. 2. Enforcing the United Nations No-Fly Zone over Iraq after the first Gulf War. 3. Surviving almost 300 aircraft carrier arrested landings. Go Navy!

Name

Dr. William Abraham MD

Graduation Year

1974

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Air Force- Entered USAF in 1979, retired after 27 years in USAF Medical Corps in 2005.

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

After the draft ended in 1973, service in the US Military was voluntary. Service in the military is a great unknown, a totally different life, in the military you "do what you must and not what you want" . Some go into the Military as a legacy, for adventure, as a patriot, to find guidance and order in a dis-ordered life, to help pay for school or just to wear a uniform and take guidance from some other authority.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

I entered St. Thomas Aquinas HS in 1970, it was an all boys school at the time, and was fairly rigid with discipline. The more structured style of Aquinas between 1970-1974 was a beneficial foundation for me prior going to college at USC when I joined AFROTC and beyond

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

Remembering my colleagues who are no longer with us.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

Tues Sept . 11, 2001 is a day I'll never forget. I was on active duty and at Peterson AFB clinic in Colorado Springs C) and by the end of that day I was informed that our country would be going to war. The next day I assembled all my flight and told them, I don't know where, or who we'll be fighting, but we are going to war and some in that room will go. That was a tough set of days, because the unexpected became real.

Name

Col Daniel “Mel" Penny Jr

Graduation Year

1966

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Air Force- Served 29 years with Air Force Special Operations Command. Combat missions in Viet Nam and Panama.

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

Military service is very rewarding to the individual who wants to work hard. Entering with a Bachelor's degree an individual can earn Master's degrees and a doctorate degree.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

Most of the priests had worked hard to achieve their positions within the church and offered their minds to us as we studied in a "college preparatory" school environment. Discipline, responsibility and accountability were expected of Aquinas students between 1962-1966.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

I try to be with other Veterans exchanging stories and helping those who need a helping hand. I include my family if at all possible....all generations to make them understand that in many cases "Freedom is not Free. "

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

The memories of the men I served with in combat and throughout my career. Listening to a U.S. Army soldier saying to me, "Thanks. That is the first good night's sleep I've had in weeks, " as I flew above him and his company for six hours that night.

Name

RADM James Underwood

Graduation Year

1968

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Coast Guard- Graduated USCG Academy 1972. Served 33 years on Active Duty. Retired as Rear Admiral (RADM).

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

The services offer experiences I never would have imagined, and the experiences led to a life filled will with adventure and wonder. Best of all, the friendships you make last a lifetime.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

Aquinas provided me with the tools needed to succeed emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually in a world in which change is constant, danger is real, and preparation is a must. I learned self -discipline which guided me throughout my career.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

In quiet remembrance of all who have served our nation. I think of the men and women with whom I served and am thankful to God for who they were and still are. I celebrate the Veterans in my life every day, and try to avoid public displays that isolate their honor to one day a year.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

Being sworn in June 1968 - retiring June 2005 (and every day in between). "From Arctic zones to Aztec shores to Europe and Far East…

First Name

John Talbot

Graduation Year

1966

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Air Force- spent 29 years in the Air Force. Retired in 1996 as a Chief Master Sergeant.

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

It’s a chance to support our great nation and become a part of a fraternity that is with you forever. Opportunities are many - college tuition, Leadership, Travel, and become part of a group (veteran) that is with you forever. By seeing many parts of the world we understand the Freedoms we are fortunate to have.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

learning to speak Loudly, Clearly, and Distinctly (Father Earl LaRiviere's classes). Our values were formed at Aquinas, including integrity and discipline

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

at Fort Sam National Cemetery; also belong to Military Ministry at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Selma, Texas. We provide services at funeral mass for other veterans in our parish.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

Serving at DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, 1969 through 1970. Attaining the highest enlisted grade (E-9, Chief Master Sergeant). Being a First Sergeant, my last job was First Sergeant for the 18th Maintenance Squadron, where I was responsible for 986 Enlisted.

Name

Joe Wehrle

Graduation Year

1966

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Air Force- Retired as a 3-star general in 2003 as the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force.

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

It's a great opportunity to be a part of something that's bigger than yourself. The bonds of friendship developed over the years last a lifetime. A sense of patriotism and service to the American people.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

The study habits that were drilled into me were critical to any successes I had at West Point and throughout my military career.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

By remembering those that I served with that are no longer with us.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

130 F-4 combat missions in Vietnam. Commander of 3rd Air Force in Europe. Responsible for the safety and welfare of 57 thousand men, women and children. Commander of Joint Task Force Atlas Response...providing humanitarian relief for the flood-ravaged people of Mozambique in 2000.

Name

Charles Lemann Jr.

Graduation Year

1966

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Coast Guard- rank CWO3

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

Builds character

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

FR. Earl prepared all of us

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

I attend a Veterans Day celebration in church with school children.

Name

David C Gomez

Graduation Year

1966

Branch of the Military that you served or are serving

Army- Vietnam Veteran. Vietnam in-country: 1970-1971. A WWII Gold Star Family. Out my dad’s family, 6 out of 6 eligible for military service ( 5 men - 1 woman ) did so. In addition, their stepfather also served !! One of my uncles , the youngest sibling, was KIA ( Killed In Action ).

What do you wish people knew about Military service?

In the Gómez family, military service is an honor, privilege and a public service.

How did your time at Aquinas prepare you for your military service?

Faith. No soldier, airman or seaman goes to a combat zone without asking the Lord to give him/her the faith that their soul needs to live another day. You pray for your protection & for those that are around you — no matter what your MOS is. In a country deemed a combat zone, all bets are off.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day?

With other war veterans. Our Four Seasons community dedicated our Veterans Park by honoring Vietnam Veterans. All Vietnam Veterans were honored & appreciated. I finally heard and felt the WELCOME HOME we didn’t receive upon our return.

What were some of your most notable moments of your military career?

Sadly, the most notable moments came at the end of my service when arriving home in Northern California: sneers, rude, sick comments & ‘finger salutes’ !!