Vol. 52, No.43
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
November 05, 2014
Special Section
Local Events
Entertainment
Sports
Student Corner
Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 5
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pages 8,9
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Honoring a Local Veteran by Jo Anne Disney El Monte
Veterans Day is a time to remember all of the brave men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces. This day we honor local El Monte Army veteran, Mr. Frank Chavez. He enlisted in the Army in 1969. After bootcamp, he was transferred to Hawaii where he received training in military intelligence. From there, Frank was sent to Vietnam to a city called Cu Chi. He was part of the 25th Infantry and his assignment was to act as a “Tunnel Rat.” What is a tunnel rat?
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Frank explained that in the military in Vietnam, no U.S. currency was allowed. All currency was exchanged for MPC, Military Pay Currency. It seems that there was a black market of U.S. currency and drugs being transported by the Viet Cong. They were able to exchange the currency and drugs via tunnels, including using military coffins to smuggle the contraband being shipped back to the U.S. Frank completed his military service in 1972. When he was discharged, Frank decided that he wanted to pursue a career that had an “element of danger” to it. He decided to enter the law enforcement field. At that time, the military had a “transition period” for veterans and Frank was able to receive 6 weeks of training and then began his first job
in Juvenal Hall as a counselor. Frank and his wife Pat, his high school sweetheart, moved to El Monte around 1979. He worked for the Los Angeles County Probation Department until 1985. Then Frank worked for the State of California Department of Corrections as a parole agent until his retirement in 2005. Frank shared with me that in 1999 he was diagnosed with congenital epilepsy. He explained that while he was in the military he never had a seizure. He experienced what he calls “triggers” but they never manifested into seizures. Since his retirement, Frank has become very active in volunteering with the VFW in El Monte, Post #10218. Frank’s position with the VFW is “surgeon” as he shares new medical information with other veterans. In 2010 Frank
Courtesy photo Frank Chavez
Courtesy photo Jo Anne Disney
had 2 major brain surgerhelped him. Currently he ies in hopes of controlling takes medication and only his seizures. Local Veteran Honored continued on page 6 They partially
Mountain View School District Students Celebrate Red Ribbon Week by Michele Earle El Monte
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Mountain View School District schools were busy this week as they joined schools across the nation to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the National Red Ribbon Week campaign, the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. Students throughout the District took part in a variety of school events encouraging them to live a healthy drug free life through daily messages, skits, theme days and rallies. Schools were decorated with red ribbons and throughout the week held essay contests, poster contests, wear red days, and other activities promoting the week’s theme, “Love yourself. Be Drug free.” Students recited the Drug Free Pledge and participated in fun theme days like “Put a Cap on Drugs Day” at La Primaria School where students wore their favorite hats; “Tie Yourself to a Healthy Lifestyle” at Madrid Middle
Parkview students showed their commitment to live drug free lives by wearing the color red. The kindergarten through sixth grade students created a sea of red as they recited the Drug Free Red Ribbon Week Pledge.
School where students wore neck ties; “Team Up Against Drugs” at Twin Lakes School where students wore their favorite team jersey;
“Turn Your Back on Drugs” Cogswell School where blue at Baker School where staff jeans were the preferred and students wore their clothing; “Sock it to Drugs shirts backwards; Red Ribbon Week continued on page 10 “I’m a Jean-ius” at