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SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

Santa Clarita Veterans salute as the Pledge of Allegiance is recited during the City of Santa Clarita 2022 Veterans Day Ceremony. Each year an event honoring veterans is held on Nov. 11 at Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall.

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ach November, millions of people recognize the service and sacrifice of military veterans on Veterans Day. Initially commemorated as Armistice Day but renamed Veterans Day in 1954, the holiday is a federal holiday. The first Armistice Day was observed in 1919.

When is Veterans Day observed?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes that Veterans Day is always observed officially on Nov. 11, regardless of which day of the week that happens to be. Because Veterans Day falls on a Saturday this year, the federal observation date was Friday, Nov. 10.

Why is Nov. 11 so significant?

Nov. 11 is a significant day in world history because it marks the signing of the armistice between the Allies of World War I and Germany at 5:45 a.m.

on Nov. 11, 1918. Though the formal peace treaty, the Treaty of Versailles, was not signed until 1919 and hostilities between the sides continued for hours after the armistice was signed, the day is still viewed as the end of World War I.

What distinguishes Veterans Day from Memorial Day?

The VA notes that Veterans Day honors all those individuals who served honorably in the miliary during both wartime and peacetime. Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who lost their lives in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. Veterans Day is a day to honor and commemorate the brave men and women who have honorably served in the U.S. military during wartime and peacetime.

INDEX List of Veterans ..................................................... A5

SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter performs a fly-over during the 2022 City of Santa Clarita Veterans Day Ceremony.

A2 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · THE SIGNAL

Deborah Nance U.S. Army D

Vietnam-era —­Newhall Resident

eborah Nance, who answers to “Dee,” describes her mother as the “grandmother” type. “Her funeral was filled with nieces, nephews, grandkids, friends,” Nance said. “They talked about how she was their grandmother, even if it wasn’t by blood.” Nance grew up watching her mother, the only girl of 11 children, take care of her brothers. As a child, Nance recalls going to Illinois, where her mother was from, various times to bring home a sick uncle. “So when my mom passed, then I became the ‘grandmother.’”

Early life

Nance was born Aug. 7, 1956, to Patience Elizabeth and Raymond Oliver Nance in St. Louis, Missouri. Her mother was 44, and her father was 61. “I don’t know what he was thinking,” she said, laughing. Nance was the youngest of three, born on her oldest sister’s 25th birthday. Her mother was a typical Illinois woman who taught her to say “Yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am.” “I put my parents through so much,” she said. “I wasn’t a bad kid — I would just do stupid, mischievous stuff.” Her family lived above the confectionery store her mother owned until Nance was 10. That’s when her mother had a heart attack. “They thought she was going to die, so they shipped me to live with my oldest sister in California,” Nance said. “Then she got better, and they ended up coming out. My sister got them an apartment right up the street.”

Military life

Her father, who was a cook in the Army during World War I, died when Nance was 17. She was a waitress at Denny’s at the time, and everyone kept telling her how sorry they were. “Back in those days, everyone knew the waitress,” Nance said. “So I told my friend, ‘If one more person comes in and tells me that they’re sorry about my daddy, I’m joining the Army.’” Not even 10 minutes later, it happened again, so, true to her word, she signed up for the service. “The day after my 18th birthday, they came and picked me up.” She was sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama, for basic training, where she learned about the “rough stuff.” “That’s when you’re crawling in dirt and acting like there’s a war,” Nance said. Then, she went to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, for advanced individual training, which is when she found out she had chosen a position that entailed overseas duty. “The recruiter didn’t tell me that a post office (assignment) is overseas duty only because civilians work the post office in the states,” Nance said. “They give you a piece of paper and tell you to pick out what you want to do.” Infantry? Nope. Artillery? Nu-uh. Mechanic? No way. Post office? “That’s OK.” When she got her orders, she was hoping for Italy. Instead, she got Germany. “I thought, ‘Am I reading this right? Germany?’ I was only 19 years old,” she said. It didn’t take her long after arriving in Germany to meet someone — a fellow soldier. “Lo and behold, I got married and he started beating the crap out of me,” Nance said. “He used to do crazy stuff to me. But I didn’t want to tell my mother because she had just lost the man that she had been with for 50 years. And what could she do? I was in Germany.” This continued until her neighbor, a German lady, knocked on her door after her husband had left for work one day. She only spoke a little English, but told Nance, “No more, no more.” “And that kinda got the ball to rolling, and I got help,” she said. “The military got involved and helped me change my MOS so that I could get out of Germany. At that point, when you are an abused wife, you just want a way out — you aren’t thinking — and whatever it is, you’ll take it.” Nance was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to work as a legal clerk. Not even two months later, she found out she was three months’ pregnant. Because she wasn’t divorced, she felt obligated to tell her husband, and he immediately changed his MOS and followed her to Fort Sill. In June 1977, with only two months left in her enlistment, Nance had a baby girl. “He kidnapped my daughter when she was a month old,” Nance said. Nance and her roommates drove from Lawton, Oklahoma, to San Antonio to rescue her daughter. “I brought my daughter to my mom in California until I got out,” she said. “I wasn’t going to re-enlist after that.” On Aug. 9, 1977, Nance was honorably discharged as an E-5 sergeant.

After the military

It was only when she got back to California after her enlistment that she was able to get a divorce. She “never looked back” after getting her daughter back. Meanwhile, throughout her enlistment, Nance had been sending her mother nearly all of her paycheck, minus $100 for living expenses. “She never spent a dime of all that money I sent her — I was shocked,” Nance said. “So then when I came home, she had all that money saved up.” It was enough for a down payment, so Nance and her mother bought a house in Lake View Terrace. Nance got a job at the post office and joined the National Guard, where she continued serving as a legal clerk for one weekend a month and two weeks during the summer. She continued with the guard for eight years and completed her time in the military

in August 1985 as a staff sergeant. Eventually she remarried, an older man this time, but shortly into their marriage, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. “I didn’t have anybody to help me take care of him, and I was taking care of my mother and my kid,” Nance said. “So I retired from the post office after 16 years.” After battling the cancer for a year, her second husband died. They had been married for six years, but he had never updated the insurance paperwork. “So, when he died, his wife that he hadn’t been with in 20-some years got everything,” she said. “That’s when I had to get away.” Nance moved into a mobile home park in Castaic, where she decided to go into her third career, nursing. “Everyone told me I should be a nurse because I took care of him and my mom.” She began working for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in 1997. Since then, she has worked every unit at the hospital and won awards for excellent service and the American Red Cross Hero award. She was also the chief union steward for 14 years. “I just really like my job,” Nance said. “I get along with everybody. If I go into a patient’s room, and it’s dirty, I’m going to clean it up. If that patient needs to go to the bathroom, I’m not going to call the (nursing assistant). I’m going to take them to the bathroom. We’re all nurses, we’re all supposed to take care of these patients, and that’s what I do.” In September 2008, after Nance turned 54, she had a heart attack. “My mom had her heart attack at 54, and both my sisters had passed away at 54,” Nance said. “So here I am at 54: In my head, I was thinking, ‘This is it.’” When she felt the symptoms of a heart attack, her nursing kicked in and told her to take an aspirin to thin her blood, which is ultimately what saved her life. Nance then decided to transfer from the medical floor to the psychiatric ward, thinking it would be less strenuous. “They have takedowns every day,” she said, laughing. “Every psych nurse has been attacked — it’s part of the job. I’ve seen it all.”

‘Truly blessed’

Nance takes pride in being the nurse who sits and talks to her patients, which she believes makes a big difference. In 2016, she went back to school to get her associate’s degree in nursing at College of the Canyons, which is what led her to discover the Veteran Enriched Neighborhood being built in Santa Clarita. She had been living in her mobile home for 20 years, when her son, Chris, saw an ad for the Veteran community. She didn’t believe she would qualify for the house, but her son told her to “leap out on faith.” “So I did, and I got qualified for it,” Nance said. “I’m truly, truly blessed.” Through the Homes 4 Families program, Nance was sent to UCLA for post traumatic stress therapy, which is required of all applicants. “All of a sudden, I’m crying like a baby,” she said. “If you would have asked me if I had PTSD, I would’ve said ‘no.’ I wasn’t really in a war. I was stationed in Germany, and I’m a Vietnam-era veteran, but there wasn’t a war (there). Yet, I ended up having PTSD from the physical abuse of my first marriage.” Nance went through the entire PTSD program and she appreciates Homes 4 Families for it. “I didn’t know I was carrying that 40 years later — it was just bottled up in there,” she said. Although Nance hasn’t had an easy life, she still says it’s a good one. Now, she is a mother of two and grandmother to two granddaughters, and her mother’s influence still resonates. “My momma always told me to treat people the way you want to be treated,” she said. “I raised my kids the same way, and my daughter raised my granddaughters the same way.”

Courtesy Photo

Left: Nance, second from left, was one of only three women in her Army boot camp class. Right: Nance works in an office as a clerk in the 1980s, during her time in the National Guard.

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · A3

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THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · A5

The Santa Clarita Valley Signal publishes the following list of names (in alphabetical order), of all known veterans from the Santa Clarita Valley, who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. We publish this list to thank those for their sacrifice. Anyone wishing to add a name to the list, may contact The Signal via email at Letters@SignalSCV.com. Happy Veterans Day! —The Signal

Aboulafia, Joe Acuna, Daniel Acuna, Robert Adams, James Adams, Willie Adams, Winston Adkins, Dennis Adkins, Glen Age, Pacola Agnes, Gregory Aguilar Sr., George C. Aguilar, Gabriel Aguilar, George Aguirre, Jay Ahn, Thomas Alba, Anthony Albert, Tom Aleman, Angelo Alexander, Dean Aliano, George Allen, Fred C Allsman, Jonathan Allsman, Manning “Mike” Alphie, Shane Alva, Steven Alvarado, Jose Alvarez, Oscar Jose Alvidrez, Frank Amdahl, Lowell Amstutz, Marvin Anaya, Wayne Anderson, Edward Anderson, Jerry Anderson, Ron Andrews Sr., James Andrews, Don Andrews, Dan Angulo, Michael J. Aposhian, Ed Aquilani, Mario Arguello, R. Anthony Argueta, Issac Argueta, Jose Arispe, Tito Ariss, Rushdi Arnett, Lawrence Arnold, Fred Arnold, Robert Arnot, Jack Asam, Ken Ashcraft, John Austin, Edmond Avalos, Juan Azevedo, T.J. Baby, John Backman, Terry Baerenz, Peter Bailey, Duane Bain, Kimberlin Baird, Richard Bajgrowicz, Dennis Baker, Brian Bakunas, Vic Baldwin, Dan Ball, Chris Ballam, Maria Ballhorn, Sean Balsz, Henry Bamber, Norman Banda, Ramon Baptist, Victor Barber, Robin Barclay, Florence Barker, Rick Barlow, Gabriel John Barlow, Lucas Gardner Barlow, Perry Barnes, Melvin

Barnes, Michael Barnett, J. Barnett, Trevor Barr, Michael Barragan, David Barreras, Aurelio Barrows, Jim Bartash, Chris Bartash, Dennis C. Barth, James Barthe, Fred Bauerle, Bernie Beall, John Beam, Roy Beauer, Michael Beck, Tom Beckett, Barry G. Bedford, Gregory Beener, Ortha “Alice” Behrens, J. B. Belding, Ned Belisario, Alvin Bench, Evan Benitez, Anthony Benham, Robert Bennett, Harry Bennett, York Bernal, Clayton Bernards, Doug Bernards, Jeff Bernier, Bertrand Bernson, William Bertoldo, Geoffrey Besel, Randolph “Julian” Beverly, Nathan Bice-Bey, Charles Billy, Steve Binkley, Kenneth Bird, Stephen D. Bird, Stuart Black, John Blackson, Ralph Blake, Fred Blancher, Jr., Edwin G. Bland, Jon Blankenship, Owen Blayhut, Don Bledsoe, Jack Bleiler, Les Blumel, Jim Blumenfeld, Steven Bodeau, Paul Boggio, David Boller, George Bomben, Raymond Boon, Donald Boone, Al Boone, James Borcher, Steven Borella, Bob Borella, Bruce Borgen, Edward Bost, Jack Bostwick, Harry Boswell, Todd Bouchard, Dennis Boudoin, Charles Boyd, Doug Boyd, William Boydston, David Boydston, Dean Boydston, Doris Boydston, Kenneth Boydston, Norene Boydston, Ronald Boydston, TimBen Boydston, Wayne Boyer III, Samuel H. Boyle, Frank

Bradley, Daniel Bradshaw, Robert Bragdon, Randall Brandriff, Stephen Brannon, George Bressell, Edgar D. Brockway, Don Brodt, George Broline, Robert Brown, Bruce Brown, Bruce P. Brown, George Brown, Kaitlan Brown, Roger E. Brown, William Brownell, Orville Bruce, Robert Bruns, Tim Buchan, Jonathan Burnell, Robert Burnett, David Burns, Wayne Buscarina, Ken Buxkemper, David Byers, Charles L. Cahill, Hugh Callas, Nick Campbell, Robert J. Campbell, Thomas Canaday, Harold Canevari, Ronald Canzoneri, Corey J. Caprioli, Michael Cardenas, Christopher Carl, Roger Carlson, Eric Carlson, Peter Carroll, John Carroll, Patrick Carson, Don Carter, Frederick Carter, Fredrick Carter Jr., John Carter, Paul Carter, Robert L. Casas, Christina Case, Thomas Casebolt, Mike Cassidy, Pete Casson, Jim Castillo, Richard Catlett, James Catron, Lee Celauis, Dalton Cenci, Daniel Cesaroni, Richard Chaffin, Edward H. Chaffin, Howard L. Chambers, Andrew Chapman, Dan Chase, Kristine Chiarello, Joseph Child, Jerry Christensen, Harry Cisneros, Alexander Clark, Ronald Clarke, Ralston A. Cleary, John T. Clifton, William Cobb, Gary Cochran, Russel Cockerell, Stanley Coffey, Jason Coffman, Ed Cohen, David Coleman, John Colley, Edward Collier, Terry M. Collins, Charles F.

Collins, Greg Collins, Robert Collins, Wayne Colonello, Dan Comer, Kevin Comer, Robert Comerford, Daniel Comerford, William Compton, Robert Conant, Andrew W. Conant, Timothy J. Cone, Richard Contant, Ron Contreras, Ramon Cook, Henry Cook, Michael Cook, Richard Cook, Stephen Cooke, Jeffrey Cooper, Bill Cooper, Dwayne Coppinger, Thomas Cornick, Kimberly Corso, John Cortes, Steve Cortez, John Costanzo, Frank Couch, Jesse Coward Sr., Melvin V. Cox, Daniel Cox, Kent Coyle, John Craig, Danny Craig, Keith Crathorne, Wayne Crawford, Jack M. Cross, Jack Cross, Lon Crossley, Bryan Cruikshank, R. Cruz, Herald Cuevas, Xavier Cummings, Larry Curameng, Samuel Curry, Keith Cusick, Mike Cusumano, Gary D’Amico, Michael Dalby, Michael Dalton, Rick Dammeier, Patrick Damour, Dennis Danihel, Leo Danis, Robert Dapp, Michael Darnell, Carl Dauer, Emily Daugherty, Gary Davidson, Clifford Davis, Robert Davis, Weldon Degnan, James Dekay, Ron Deldotto, Jay Delgado, Hernan Dell, Wayne Dellamalva, Gary Dennington, Michael Dennis, David DeRosa, Cody Destackelberg, John Dettman, Robert Deutsch, John Dewhurst, Gail DeWit, Ben Diekman, Carl Diem, Robert Dierckman, Tom Dieters, Louis J.

DiGiovanni III, Frank Dinsenbacher, William Disilverio, Robert Dobrow, Dave Dobrow, Pete Dolan, Steve Dolson, David H. Domino, Gary Donahue, J. Donnelly, Jerry Dortch, John L. Doty, Eugene Doty, Jim Drexel, James Drexel, Jim Drexl, Jim Dritz, Steven Duben, Steven DuBois, John Dunay, Ed Duncan, Clarence Duncan, Leonard Dunn, Russell Duquette, William Duxbury, Kevin Dyer, Clint Easter, Paul J. Eastwood, Richard Eaton, Richard Edwards, Barry Edwards, David Edwards, Jeffrey Edwards, John Effertz, Don Eigel, Dennis Lee Eisler, Fred Eisler, Lloyd Ekeberg, Eric Ekstrom, Richard Eldart, Donald Elliott, John “Jack” Ellis, Joseph M Ellis, Robert Ellis, Sean Ellrodt, Bernie Elson, James Elwood, Loretto Emard, Ambrose Enamorado, Daniel Endo, Joe Endress, Robert Eng, Kevin Enright, Scott Erickson, Calvin Erickson, Steven Ernst, Donald Escobar, Juan Estes, Dan Estey, Michael R. Estrella, Romel Evans, John Eveland, Wilbur Fahlstrom, Mats Farmer, Chris Farr, Donald Farragher, Dennis Farrell, Robert Fatta, Angela Fechser, Mark Feigerle, John Feldman, Paul Feldmann, Ernst Fender, Joseph Ferdman, Benjamin Fernandez, Ted Fessler, Fred Festa, Eddie J. Festa, Edward B. Festa, Rick T.

A6 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · THE SIGNAL

Fielder, Jo Ann R. Filing, Paul Fimbres, Michael Fiscus, Troy Fisher, James Fisher, Jeannette Fisher, Roy Fitzgerald, Tommy Flatt, Dale Lee Don Fleming Flittner, Gary Flores, Ricardo Floyd, Gary Fontana, Carl Foote, Jim Forte, Ernest Fortine, Bruce Foster, Michael Fowler, Joseph Fowler, Michael Fox, James Franco, Jesse Franklin, Richard Franklin, Scott Franz, Mike Fredrickson, Richard Fretheim, Gene Frothinger, Fred Fuka, Ronald Fullerton, Gary Furutani, Ken Futrell, Johnny Ray Futrell, Marvin Gadbois, Christian Galarneau, Dean Galarneau, Robert Gallagher, Billie Gallimore, Terry Gamboa, Ernest Gandy, Albert Garcia, Charlie M. Garcia, James Garcia, John Garcia, Mike Gardner, Jason Garrecht, John Garth, Winston Gartland, David Gasior, Robert Gaudio, Ralph Gauthier, Richard Gaxiola, Luis Geiger, Harold Gerbing, John W. Gerdwagen, Martin Gerken, Mark Gerst, Douglas Dale Gesin, Fred Gibbs, Randall Gibbons, Michael Gilbert, David Gilbert, Robert Gill, Bob Gillum, David Gilman, Dave Ginger, Allen Giordano, Robert J. Girton, Patrick Glass, Bernie Gleim, Paul M. Glenn, Keith Godfrey, Richard Goldsberry, Charles Goldstein, Jess Gomez, Joe Gontarz, Ted Gonzalez, Ed Gonzalez, Ernest Good, Robert Goodlin, Victoria Gordon, Dustin Gorham, David Gormley, Bob Gormley, Robert Goslin, Gordon Graber, David B. Graham, Don Graham, George Graham, Ronald Granger, Richard Grant, Irvin Grant, Thomas Graves, Joseph Gray, Jay Greaves, Andre Green, Carol

Green, Jean Greenberg, Joshua Greenquist, Robert Greenwood, Donald Grevilius, Nil Gribble, Rex L Griggs, Robert Grossi, Robert Grossman, Karl Gruber, Fred Guerrero, Martin Gunnarson, Rudolph Gutierrez, Eric Haaff, Leon da Hackett, Jim Haddix, Carl Hager, Steven Hagstrom, Wallace Hahnlein, Gunter Halbfinger, Melvyn Hall, Cody Hall, John D. Haller, Austin “Buzz” Haller, Howard Halloran, Michael Hammock, Cecil Hansen, Clayton Hanson, Robert Haralson, Jimmie L. Harder, Edmund Hardie, Richard Harms, Kenneth Harper, Robert Harrell, Joe Harris, Bob Harrison, Charles Hartfield, Denita Hasler, Kenneth Hassen, Kenneth Hatami, Jon Hatter, Thomas Hawkins, Dwight Hawkins, Robert F. Hazard, Robert Heagey, Robert Heberer, Donald Hebert, Jared Hedges, John Heinisch, Matthew Heinisch, Robert Heintzman, Jim Helm, Craig Hemphill, Thomas Henderson, Daniel Henke, Floyd ‘Skip’ Henneberque, Ed Henry, Chris Henson, Jerry Hermann, Roy R. Hernandez, David D. Hernandez, John R. Herr, Chad Herrera, Alfonso Hershey, George Hickey, Bill Higgins, Stephen Hildreth, Gale Hinze, Jeffrey Hocutt, George Hodge, Carl Hoff, Jerry Hoffman, Edward Hoffman, Richard Hogan, Ed Hogan, James Holguin, Ralph Holland, Dell Holland, Heber Hood, Kimberly C. Hoover, Edwin Hopp, Steve Horanberg, Guy Horanberg, Patricia Hotton, Robert Houlett, Kenneth M. Houston, Bob Houston, Ivan Hruby, John Huenemeier, Steven Humelbaugh, Frank Humphrey, Edward Humphries, Joe Hunt, Dale Hurt, George Hurtado, Jose Hutchings, Richard

Ickes, Roger Ihms, John Irace, William Irwin, Jason Isaacs, Roy Isgrigg, Thomas Ito, Harold Jackson, David James, Henry Jargmillo, Alex Jarnagin, James Jauregui, Michael Jeffrey, Dick Jenkins, Mark Jensen, Gerald Jensen, Paul Johns, Dennis Johnson, Breon Johnson, Philip Johnston, Paul Jones, Alexa L. Jones, Andrew Jones, James Jones, Malcom Jones, Orpheus Jones, Richard Jones, Samuel Jones, Steven Jones, Thomas Junker, Dennis Kahovec, Curtis Kalhusdal, Peter Kalin, Ben Kaplan, Robert Karpinski, Walter Karppinen, Robert Karr, John Katan, Robert Katz, Bernard Kazmer, David Keene, George Kellar, Bob Kelley, Joseph Kelly, ‘Rj’ Kennedy, Charles Kennedy, Steve Kerner, Ken Kerner, Stanley Kessinger, James Kidd, Ronald Kim, Danny Kircher, Theodore Kirshner, Sidney Klehn, Hank Klem, Erik Knapp, Ronald Knight, Steve Knoles, Bradley Koehler, Mike Kofnovec, Robert Kopecky, Frank Kornbau, Joe Kort, Barney Koscheski, Ted Kovacs, Martin Kramer, Ned Krego, Walt Kremkow, Alan Kremkow, Raelynn Kricher, Ted Krider, Glenn Krudis, Todd Krumrei, William H. Krygoski, Jacob Kryszan, Dan Kuemmel, Edward Kulzer, Pete Kurt, Peter Kurtz, Lynn L’Heureux, David La Motte, Richard Lafferty, Quinton Lagrasta, Richard Lamplugh, John Landrum, Peggy Lane, Aldabert Lanfranco, Brad Lang, Charles “Woody” Lang, Robert Lankes, Paul Larbarbera, Gerard Largrotta, Ned Larsen, Alvin D. LaRue, Brock Lathrop, Bruce Lay, George

Laymon, Robert K. Lebouvier, William Ledbetter, Ronald E. Ledbetter, Shaun Lee, James C. Lee, Tom Leggio, Robert Lemieux, Jerry Lemmons, Eric Lemmons, Wyatt Lemos, John Lems, Paul Lenon, Parrish Lentini, James Lentini, Jim Leon, Steven Leonard, Scott Levario, Jaime Levine, Richard M. Lewandowski, Victor Lincoln, John Lindgreen, Erik Lineberry, Gary Lionetti, Fred Listing, Hal Litton, Mary Lofdahl, James Lombardi, Pat Londono, Julio Loney, James Long, Breezy Long, Eddie Lopez, August Lopez, Jennifer Lopez, Martin Lopez, Moises Lopez, Victor Lowrance, Michael A. Lucero, Maneul G. Lucid, William Ludwig, Scott E. Lugo, Charles Lukas, John Lukes, John Luna, Kenny Luna, Rodney Luna, William Lund, Lawrence Lusian, Dave Macaya, Dominic MacCulloch, David MacEwan, Robert Mack, John MacKenzie, Gordon MacLachlan, John MacMillan, Kimball MacMurdo, Jeffrey Mahon, Judith M. Maier, Wayne Maitland, Scott Mallary, Aaron Malone, Regis Mangers, James Manzer, Darryl Marachino, Lou Marania, Timoteo Marazzito, Joseph Marazzito, Joseph Dale Marcial, Frank Marder, Jerome Marks, Kenneth Marquart, Allen Marquez, Aurora Marquez, Benjamin Marshall, Bruce E. Marshall, Jennifer Marsolek, Norbert Martin, George Martin, James Martin, John R. Martin, Tommy Martinez, Enrique Martinez, Oscar Martuscello, David Martuscello, Bryan Masumoto, Alan Maxwell, Mike Maycott, George Mayer, John Mayo, Daniel Mc Kenzie, Darryl McAdams, Gary McBride, William McCalla, Zachary McCallon, Gregory McCarthy, James

McChesney, Gordon McClure, Richard McDonald, Hugh McElhone, Rodney McGrady, Mike McGuire, Jim McJunkin, Pete McKeeth, Karl McKenzie, Darryl McLean, Dale McMeekin, Bob McMullen, Jay McMullen, Thomas McNab, Michael Meagher, Michael Medrano, Ricardo H. Mehmen, Rodger Meisenheimer, Thomas Mekelburg, Scott Melin, Roy Mendoza, David Merwin, Tim Messerschmidt, Alvin Metcalf, Marvin Michaud, Harold R. Miglin, J. Miguel, Anthony Milek, John Miles, Richard Miller, Danny Miller, Gerald J. Miller, Henry Miller, Jake Miller, Kenneth Miller, Leonard Miller, Robert Millhench, Bruce Milligan, Gary Mills, Jeffrey Miranda, Bill Miranda, Robert Mitchell, Charles Mitchell, Clement Mock, Eugene Moffat, John Moir, Robert Mollet, Jean Monnier, Jason Monroe, Victor B. Moomjean, Paul Mooney, Robert F. Moore, Earle Mora, Alex Morales, Leonard Morgan, Marcus Morgan, Max Morgan, Richard Morris, Chuck Morris, David Morrison, Jean Morrison, Michael Morrow, David Moylan, Charles Mull, Douglas Mullinix, Rodger Mullins, John Murillo, Lorenzo Murphy, Gil Murray, Gary Myers, Richard Nakama, Paul Narvell, David Neill, David Nelson, Danny Nelson, Jeff Neri, Salvatore Newland, Jakob Nickel, Thomas Nobile, Dennis Noriega, Humbert Norman, Dave Norton, Frank Null, David Null, Gary A Nungesser, Abe Nutter, Gregory O’Connell, Charles J. O’Connell, Larry O’Hagan, Patrick O’Leary, Charles O’Rourke, Lionel Obarski, Russell E. Odekerken, Alexander Odell, Jack Ogle, Travis Oerum, Joseph M.

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · A7

Olivero, Phil Olsen, Ted Orefice, Attilio Orman, Arthur Orser, Denis Orteg, Leonard Osugi, Roy Otero, Rudy Pacleb, Andrew Pajarillo, Xanthe Palmieri, George Palomino, Joe Parrott, Dennis Partridge, Margaret Pastora, Carmon Path, Robert B. Patik, Joseph Patton, George B. Pavini, Rudolph Payne, Isaac Paz, Eloisa Pearson, Jeremy Pearson, Nicholas E. Pease, Ronald Penoyer, Robert Perez, Ronald Peters, John Petersen, Bruce Petersen, Karl Petersen, Kenneth Peterson, Jerry Peterson, Roger Petkunas, Dan Petzold, Douglas Peyton, Joseph Michael Pfeil, Thomas Pfister, Ben Phares, Ross Phillips, Randal M. Phillips, William Kc Philpott, Gary Pichardo, William Piedra, Fabian Piedra, Raymond Pilarski, James Place, Daniel Plascencia, Jose Plizga, Albert Poldson, Dan Polinsky, Edwin Pollard, William Pope, Thomas C. Popejoy, Gary Popejoy, James Gary Porlier, Clay S. Potts, John Poulin, Ed Powanda, Michael S. Powery, Chalmer Precht, Aaron J. Precht, Peter J. Priestley, William Pryor, Ed Pulley, Robert Pulliam, Timothy Purdy, William Putnam, Lance Putnam, Ramses Putt, Kenneth Putz, Lawrence Quaintance, Lee Qualls, Robert Quezada, Dorian Quinn, James D. Quintero, Sergio Quiroz, Danny Raggio, Paul

Raiche, Donald Ramirez, Christopher Ramirez, Maria Ramirez, Richard Ramirez, Robert Ramsey, Richard Raub, Robert Ray, Michael Rayburn, Sally Reade, Eric Reagan, Terence Real, Carl Reaves, Roger Rebman, Larry Reed, Charles “Chuck” Rehard, John Reibsamen, Pierce Reinhardt, Bob Reinitz, Gerald Renolds, Thomas D. Reyes, Gerardo Reyes, Larry Reyes, Rommel Reynolds, William J. Reynolds, William L Rhoden, George Rhodes, Ervin Rhodes, Ervin L. Rhodes, Gerald Rice, Billy Rice, Leonard Riggs, Doral Rimac, Don Rinker, Ken Rivas, Juan Robb, Randall Lee Roberts, George C. Roberts, Steve Robertson, Robert Robertson, Tom Robinson, James Robinson, Michael Robinson, Thomas Robles, Ray Rodgers, George Rodgers, Michael Rodriguez, Albert Roelofs, Richard Rogers, Gordon Rogness, Gary Root, William Roque, Lawrence Rorick, Lew Rosas, Jeffrey Rose, Donald Rosen, Victor Ross, Edwin Rowe, Hansford Rubaloff, David Ruddell, Eugene Ruiz, Robert Rungreang, Chirankura Sanchez, Augustine Sanchez, Benjamin Sanchez, Fernando Sanders, Edward Santa Maria, Rick Saria, Ric Sartin, Kenneth Satterthwaite, Michael Saunders, Virgil Scaramella, Francis C. Schaustal, Leonard Schena, Carl Schlau, Donald Schleifer, Doron Schlund, Jerry

Schmich, Carl R. Schmidt, Eugene Schmidt, Stephen Schmidt, Vernon Schneider, Val Schramling, Lee Schrick, Durward ‘Woody’ Schultz, Raymond Schutz, Eugene Schwartz, Gerald Schwartz, Stanley Schwartz, Walter Scobie, Robert Sega, John J. Seidler, Robert Sellheim, Michael Selmon, Victor Selznick, Lew Seung, George Sexton-Espiriti, Joseph Shane, Thomas Shanks, Ned Sheldon, Robert Shepard, Rick Sherayko, Peter Sherman, John Sherman, Wayne Shulman, Lee M. Sibis, Ed Siebuhr, Thomas Siecke, Robert Siegen, Mark Silver, Samuel Simpkins, Jack Simpson, Gary Sinclair, Jim Singerman, Ron Singmaster, James Sipes, William Sitomer, Steven M. Skyler, Allen R. Slaughter, Donald Slavin, Kenneth Sluder, Max Smisko, Bill Smith, Doug Smith, Michael Smith, Raymond Smith, Rodney Smith, Sandra Smith, William Snavley, Jeffrey Snelling, Charles Snyder, Leonard Solomona, Aaron Song, Kenneth Soria, Miguel Sosa, Elvir Sowers, David Spaniel, William Spiller, Donald Spraker, James Sproul, Myron E. St Clair, Matthew Staack, Gerry Stahl, Robert Stanfield, Skip Staudt, Jan Stawecki, John Stawecki, Matthew Stawecki, Peter Steinhart, Shane Stefko, Mary Stephens, Larry Stephenson, Carl

Stern Sr., Dana Steven, Geltz Stone, Barbara Stone, George J. Stone, James Strand, Ralph Strauss, Bryan Suarez, Pablo Sugasawara, Dennis Sullivan, Thomas B. Summers, Theodore Swailes, Gary Tallent, Robert Tanaka, Craig Tardif, Elmer Tate, Phillip Tatlock, Norman N. Taylor, Eugene Taylor, Galen Tazio, Armando John Teeman, Bridget Temple, Gregory Teran, Heriberto Tew, Dixon “Bud” Thaxton, Duane Therasse, Nelson Thieme, Kyle Thill, Richard Thomas, Emery Thomas, Eugene Thomas, Leland Thomas, Renard O. Thomas, Robert “Mike” Thompson, Artie Thompson, Van Thuerk, Ervin Thy, Harry Tindall, Dennis Tippet Jr., Bill Tippet, Bill Tippit, Chris Toledo, Phil Tolentino, Josette Tolentino, Marlon Tompkins, Ken Torrance, John Towns, Carthel Tresnak, Carl Tripp, Gordon Tran, Liem Trinkley, Francis Troesch, Thomas Michael Trudeau, Paul Tucci, Maurice Tucker, John Tucker, Tommy Turner, Dale Turner, Fred Turner, William Tyler, Larry Tyree, Paul Udoff, Martin Uhrig, Doña Uhrig, Steve Uhrik, Gene Valenzuela, Romer Vallin-Flores, Stone Van Den Berg, Eugene Van Voorhis, Ron Vance, Gregory Vangilson, Jyssica VanMeter, Jason Vanrooy, Frank Varner, Chris Varner, Lewis Veenstra, Boyd

Venne, Tony Ventrice, Robert Verdasco, Roberto Vergon, Richard W. Villegas, Luis Vita, Joseph Vleet, Andrew Van Vogeley, Karl J. Volpe, Luigi Waggoner, Robert Wagner, Kenneth Wakelin, Jim Walker, Joseph Waller, Louis Walline, Rolland Walter, George Walton, Stanley Ward, Dennis Ward, William Ware, Ralph C. Warner, Samuel H. Watanabe, Tosh Watkins, Randy Webb, James Weber, Clyde Webster, Donald Wendlenner, Volker Wennerholm, Daniel Wenz, Patrick Werner, Otto Wescott, Daniel West, Robert Gary Whalley, Ronald White, Eric Whitehead, James Whitney, Terrence Widdison, Steve Wiewiora, Thomas Willett, Charles R. Williams, Andrew Williams, James Wilner, Barry Wilson, Don Wilson, Jarrett Wilson, Larry Winter, Randall Withers, Robert D. Witzel, Dennis Woerter, Carl Wolf, Donald Wood, David S. Wood, Patricia (Boone) Woodings, Mike Woods, Dave Woods, Francis “Hank” Woods, Gary Woods, Scott L. Woolner, Robert Wright, Christopher Wtizel, Dennis Wuerl, Doug Yadlosky, Paul R. Yamamoto, Howard Ysais, Richard T. Zaharris, Gerald E Zasueta, Ernesto Zayon, Herman Zazueta, William Zennie, Donald J. Zoeteway, Charles Zucker, David

A8 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · THE SIGNAL

Arden Moser U.S. Army

Korean War – Valencia Resident

C

pl. Arden Moser is a man who has been recognized by his country, and who has heard theaters across the country applaud his music. But the day he gave her the compass was the day he got the only approval he ever truly wanted. He now sits in a room filled with items such as his military commendations, trumpets that shared the stage with jazz legends and wood drums he played while teaching musicians in Kenya. And yet the item he carried in his pocket every day to show people was that compass. He’s been called an Army Ranger, television producer and band leader. But most of all, he likes that her kids called him “Dad.” However, before Arden Moser could have that compass, he and his company would need to find their way home after being caught 9 miles behind enemy lines during the Korean War.

Northern Ohio

Arden Moser was born Jan. 1, 1929, in Carey, Ohio, where we would live with his parents and older sister until the family moved to his beloved hometown of Upper Sandusky, 15 miles south of Lake Erie. He learned to play and love music while there, but receiving a formal arts education was almost out of the question. “My sister had been able to go to college on scholarship, but I had never been as smart as my sister and scholarships for (me) were out of the question,” he said. But by the time his high school graduation came, Moser had concocted a plan that would get him to college for free, and at the same time he could continue to play his music. “I decided to join the service,” he said. “I went in there for one reason and it wasn’t because I was patriotic … It was because they had finally settled on the G.I. Bill.”

Heading out West

“I made it clear to (the recruiters) that I was only doing it so I could afford school,” said Moser. “So, I talked them into putting me into the band training service.” On July 1, 1947, Private First Class Moser arrived at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he was ordered to take up a trumpet in one hand and an M-1 rifle in another. And unlike the other greenhorns, who only had to complete 13 weeks of basic military training, Moser was required to complete the standard training in addition to eight weeks of drilling with the 5th Division Band. When he had finally completed his training, the military-trained rifleman and trumpeter was once again shipped off, but this time to Fort Bliss, Texas. The young musician, who had only joined the Army to pay for college, remarked that it was his first experience playing in a professional band.

Back from the South

Following World War II, the U.S. Army went through a period of “demobilization,” meaning that budget cuts by President Harry Truman had taken the once large military from 12 million personnel to 1.5 million personnel by 1947 — a 90% overall decrease, according to the Office of the Chief of Military History, U.S. Army. “I was so scared and I asked them, ‘But what about my G.I. Bill? I only joined so that I could go to college,’” Moser recalled. His commanding officer presented him with a solution, telling him to “join the reserves.” After returning home on Nov. 30, 1948, with a year of service, Moser would get married, find work, complete at least one year of school with the money he had saved, and sign up for the reserves.

during the first few months of the Korean War. After returning home, Moser finally finished college, worked in TV stations as a producer across the country and continued to play in bands. But while his professional life continued to flourish, his home life had quickly deteriorated. While he had three daughters who “he still loves dearly,” the divorce papers between him and his first wife had already been drafted. Then, on a business trip to the Atlanta area where he had lived for a handful of years after the war, Moser decided to call up an old neighbor of his by the name of Mary Faith. “She gets on the phone and says that she had just got divorced,” said Moser. “To which I responded, ‘Mary Faith, what a coincidence, because I am getting divorced, too. Would you like to go to dinner with me?’” Moser says they had not seen each other in 17 years, but by the end of that first date they “had fallen in love.” The very next morning he called his lawyer, and told him to send the divorce papers through. On his way home from calling the lawyer, Moser was walking by a storefront when a “little plastic compass inside the display” caught his eye. “Mary Faith the previous night had said the divorce had left her ‘feeling lost,’” he explained. “So, I bought the compass, went home and inserted a little piece of paper inside the clasp that read, ‘So that you may never get lost again.’”

Found

Moser and Mary Faith married on Dec. 30, 1983, and were together for the next three decades, “She had Alzheimer’s and it forced us to move to an assisted living home together,” said Moser. “And one day, after years of not thinking about it, I saw that compass sitting on her nightstand. And although she was very sick at the point, she always remembered to pick up the compass before she left her bedroom during the day and always put it back on the nightstand at night.” After Mary Faith died, Moser continued her legacy by carrying that compass every day. “She was a very special lady and marrying her was the finest thing I ever did in my life,” said Moser. “She was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, and still to this day that compass was the most important thing I ever owned.”

The Far East

In what would be considered one of the first major global incidents as a result of the Cold War, the “police action in Korea” resulted in the mass deployment of U.S. forces to the peninsula through the summer and fall of 1950, according to the Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army. However, due to Truman’s call for mass demobilization in the years immediately following the war, the same policy that had removed Moser in the first place, now considered him a different kind of asset. “I went from being in the band, to having some guy looking at my records and saying, ‘He’s had some training already so let’s make him a (1st Ranger),’” said Moser. An elite airborne light infantry group, 1st Ranger Infantry Company was used only during the Korean War, and has been described as a small group of special forces who specialized in “irregular warfare.” “We had to learn everything from riflery, to scouting to even survival training in case we had pushed too far and were cut off,” said Moser. “It was a lot of heavy lifting and a lot of crawling through the mud.” For his part in the Korean War, Moser served as the “typical” Ranger, he said, working to creatively disrupt or impede enemy logistical operations all the while pushing further and further behind Chinese military lines. And by Jan. 16, 1951, the Rangers were called upon to readily throw themselves into known Chinese ambushes as their elite group, with a trumpeter among them, provided the vital intelligence and pressure needed for an American and United Nations counteroffensive.

Feeling lost

Moser was honorably discharged from the 1st Ranger Infantry Company on July 30, 1951, after serving in the 5th Division band, Army Reserves and Army Rangers for a total of four years, one month and 18 days. Moser ended as an E-3 corporal and earned a Korean service medal for his conduct

Arden Moser during World War II.

Left: Arden Moser playing he trumpet. Right: Moser (far right) at a mortar position in Korea.

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · A9

Thank you, veterans. Our country and community are strengthened by your service and sacrifice. For resources, visit kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov/veterans

@SupervisorBarger @KathrynBarger @SupervisorKathrynBarger KathrynBarger.LACounty.gov

Councilwoman Laurene Weste and retired Air Force Veteran James A. McCarthy

A10 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · THE SIGNAL

Kathy Ellis U.S. Army Reserve

Post-Vietnam to Iraq War-Era Stevenson Ranch Resident

K

athy Ellis describes retiring from the U.S. Army Reserve as a bride would describe her post-wedding. “I put away my uniform like a bride puts away her wedding dress,” Ellis said. “I actually went to the cleaners and said, ‘I want to preserve my Army uniform.’” After 30 years of service, Ellis wanted it boxed up as a remembrance.

Early life

Ellis was born Aug. 11, 1948, to Sophie and Adam Kerko in Buffalo, New York. Both of her parents were first-generation immigrants who spoke Polish, yet she and her siblings weren’t taught that because, “Back then, you forgot everything about where you came from.” Her parents grew up “dirt poor,” and they had to drop out of school early on. “It was real poverty,” she said. “We didn’t have much money, either; but I never thought we were poor.” Ellis was the youngest of four and, while she said she was probably the “brattiest” and the “most spoiled,” her mother often called her the “black sheep.” “Growing up, I just had a different outlook on life,” she said. “I was always challenging, always questioning.” Ellis spent her teen years challenging herself, determined not to go to public high school and, instead, go to a private Catholic school. Because her family couldn’t afford it, her mother arranged for her to clean classrooms to pay for half of her tuition, but Ellis was a natural-born leader and convinced her friends to help her. The nuns were patient with Ellis, and although she often got into trouble, she attributes her success to them. “They encouraged us that we all didn’t have to be homemakers, which was a different perspective at that time,” she said. “They told us everything was possible.” When she graduated, Ellis wanted to go to college, but “back then, the boys were educated — the girls were not.” But, that didn’t stop her. After taking a year off to raise enough money to buy a car, Ellis began medical assistant classes at Erie Technical Institute. Her drive didn’t stop there. A few years later, she decided to double-major in political science and history at the University at Buffalo. She wanted to be a lawyer, and even took the law school aptitude test before her mother died in 1977, leaving Ellis with some money. Ellis had lived with her parents until she was 27, so she decided to use the money to purchase a condominium. Her mother had helped her acquire all of her previous loans, and now that she was gone, the bank was telling Ellis she was “borderline.” It was that financial situation that ultimately led her to the Army Reserve. Ellis was working as a surgical assistant for a periodontist at the time, and learned about a “civilian-acquired skills program” that would allow her to join the Reserve and only have to complete a two-week boot camp, so she joined on May 20, 1978. Her commander was able to write a letter to the bank, explaining her additional income, which allowed her to purchase the condo.

Military life

Before she enlisted, her recruiter had told her not to join the dental unit because she would never be able to promote to officer, but she thought “recruiters always lied” and chose not to believe him. It didn’t take long for Ellis to realize she should’ve listened to him, and a year later transitioned to the civil affairs unit as a truck driver. During this time, Ellis had quit her full-time job to continue her studies, and was working toward her master’s degree in business administration. When the Cuban refugee crisis arose in 1980, Ellis had to drop her classes to travel to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, for two weeks to assist in processing the influx of people. “That’s where you got to see the action, really,” she said. “There were a lot of poor families, infirm, mentally ill.” When she returned, she continued working toward becoming an officer and worked various jobs in civil affairs, eventually deciding she wanted to become a finance officer. “I had to learn quickly, and I did,” she said. “I read, I asked questions and I figured it out.” Ellis was sent to Germany three times throughout the years for two-week exercises with the German army. On one trip, she was even able to meet the mayor of Cologne, who “was telling me my place was in the home.” “When you’re an officer, you have to be a diplomat, so you just take it,” Ellis said. “They didn’t have women in their military then, just doctors … but they treated me always with respect.” Ellis remained a finance officer until 1987, when her family moved to Ohio for her husband’s work. Because she wanted to remain in finance, she was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, for schooling. “I was pregnant at the time, and they weren’t going to let me finish my advance course because I had to go to the field,” Ellis said. Although she was able to convince the chaplain and doctor to give approval, the director of the school still didn’t want to allow it. “Women came across in covered wagons and had babies and went back to work — that was my argument,” she said, chuckling. She was eventually given the OK, allowing her to graduate and return to the

Defense Supply Center in Columbus, Ohio, where she continued as a finance officer. “It was no longer one drill weekend a month,” she said. “I was gone a lot. I did a lot of traveling.” Just a year later, she was asked to become headquarters commandant, which led to a promotion to major in 1989. “That’s when my lack of training comes through,” Ellis said. “I had never taken formation, never learned how to salute properly.” A few months later, the Ellis family moved first to Denver, then to Sacramento a year later. “I always stayed behind to sell the house, make sure the kids finished school and figure things out,” she said. “When I did leave, I remember all the enlisted circling my car and saluting me, and it made me cry. So now we’re in Sacramento and again same thing happens — I don’t have a unit.”

Finding a new position

Every move meant Ellis would have to find a new position to continue receiving enough active “points” to work toward retirement. “Somebody upstairs was looking out for me because each time I found a unit, it was basically luck,” she said. Her next position arose as a result of her experience with civil affairs, as it’s considered a special operations division. “You talk about ‘a man’s world,’ my first briefing at battalion headquarters, I walk in and it’s all guys, and they’re not even looking at me,” she said. Ellis took on various positions in Sacramento, including acting commander and cultural affairs officer, before finally moving to Stevenson Ranch. “This is the longest (time we’ve lived in a house),” she said. It was then that Ellis found an opening for assistant chief of staff, working in Los Angeles at the only Reserve Corps command that supported active duty. “It’s high-level personnel, now you’re in charge of thousands of soldiers in all these units,” she said. Ellis became a colonel in 2001 and transitioned from there to comptroller, where she worked to develop $60 million Army budgets. At the same time, she was sent to the Army War College for a two-year program to acquire a master of science in strategic studies. “You go in the summer for two weeks, then again the following summer for two weeks, but you’re constantly writing papers on strategy and war — it was very hard,” Ellis said. “But it was an honor.” Throughout her time in the Reserve, Ellis had taken various part-time civilian jobs, but in 2002, she had also begun a full-time position as an investigator for U.S. Investigation Services, a private company contracted to investigate security clearances. This allowed her to send her son to a Catholic high school. “They didn’t like the Army, the Army didn’t like the job, and they were constantly clashing with each other,” she said. Back in 1995, Ellis had told a colonel that she wanted to be the commander, “and someday I will be.” This dream came true in December 2003, when she was chosen as the group commander of the Army Reserve Center in Bell, California. “There was no sleep anymore — during wartime, you get burnt out,” she said. For the last five months of her Reserve career, Ellis took a leave of absence from work after she was given active duty orders back to L.A. to take over a full-time chief of staff position until she retired Aug. 30, 2008. “Long hours, but I didn’t have two jobs anymore, so I could focus,” she said. “That’s how I ended my career … Sept. 1, 2008, I was (a soldier) no more, and it happens just like that. One day, you’re giving orders — the next, you’re gone.” Throughout her career, Ellis received various awards, including a Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Post-military life

A few years after Ellis retired from USIS in 2013, she decided she wanted to get a culinary degree at College of the Canyons. However, “The Army told me I wasn’t considered a veteran,” she said, and therefore she didn’t qualify for education benefits. Ellis then had to contact the Department of Defense to prove she had done enough active duty days to be considered a veteran. “Those are the kind of arguments I had to go through my whole career,” Ellis said. Regardless of the challenges she faced, not only being a reservist, but also being a woman, Ellis still said, “To me, my first love was the military.”

Ellis retired from the Army Reserve as a colonel on Aug. 30, 2008.

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · A11

Land of the Free

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A12 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · THE SIGNAL

Edgar D. Bressell USMC Veteran – Valencia Resident

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local Veteran friend associated with The Young Marines informed me about Ed Bressell who had been invited to one of their events. Ed was instantly quite the celebrity wearing his awesome USMC uniform at The Young Marines ceremony and I could not resist reaching out to him. We recently met in his Valencia home and the hospitality extended to me by Ed, his lovely wife Joan and his delightful daughter Lydia was certainly appreciated.

Tragic Deaths

Edgar D. Bressell was born July 24, 1931, in Seminole, Oklahoma, where he lived with his parents and two younger sisters, however at age three, his father passed away so his mother moved her family to her hometown of Ames, Iowa. At age 5, Ed’s mother tragically passed away which led the three children to live with their maternal grandmother until Ed was nine years old. Ed next lived with an aunt and uncle in Denver where he attended North Denver High School but at age 16 and 17 he began visiting a local USMC recruiting office befriending several NCO’s. After finally wearing down his guardian aunt to approve, Ed enlisted with the Marine Corps in September 1948 and promptly departed for 12 weeks of Boot Camp training in San Diego, California.

Nuclear Testing

After Boot Camp, Ed was assigned to Naval Air Station, Moffett for one year near Sunnyvale, California. Next, Ed volunteered for a “Special Out Afloat” unit so he was sent to San Diego where he boarded a Sea Plane Tender Ship and departed for the Marshall Islands in February 1951. A seaplane tender is a ship that supports seaplane operations which is regarded by some as the first aircraft carriers appearing just before WWI. The Marshall Islands had been retaken from Japanese occupiers by U.S. forces in 1944 and later became a practice target site for atomic bomb testing. Nuclear testing began in 1946 on Bikini Atoll after residents were evacuated. After his ship participated in several tests of which Ed watched the ominous mushroom clouds in the distance, they returned to San Diego.

Drill Instructor

Once back to San Diego, Ed was assigned drill instructor over newly minted Boot Camp Marines for the next seven months which included attending Drill Instructor School. Next, Ed volunteered to serve in a security unit aboard an aircraft carrier, The USS Philippine Sea for eighteen months. Ed’s aircraft carrier was sent to the Korean Peninsula at the outbreak of the Korean War in support of United Nations ground troops, first during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter and then during the Inchon Landings and the Second Battle of Seoul. She subsequently supported UN troops during the surprise Chinese attack and the Chosin Reservoir Campaign. Ed’s aircraft carrier saw three tours of duty during the Korean War, receiving nine battle stars, however Ed participated in one tour of duty. Afterwards, Ed returned to San Diego for two more years for drill instructor schooling and training new Marines, plus he was promoted to Staff Sergeant (E-6). Next, he volunteered for one year to the Criminal Investigation Division which he said was challenging and rewarding.

Master Gunnery Sergeant

As Ed’s enlistment approached the end, he strongly considered leaving the

USMC to become a San Diego police officer, but when it came right down to it, he re-enlisted for six more years. During the next six years, he was a drill instructor and finally Master Gunnery Sergeant Edgar D. Bressell finished his career as Operations Chief of Battalion with the 1st Marine Division. Ed was honorably discharged February 1, 1963, but just before departure he applied with the Los Angeles Police Department and on February 4, 1963, Ed began attending LA’s Police Academy. He graduated in April and was assigned to the Hollenbeck Community Station in East LA for one year as a patrol officer. Ed’s next assignment was with the Accident Investigation Division and then he was off to the Central Division (now known as Rampart) where numerous notorious gangs operated. They currently include, 18th Street, Mara Salvatrucha, Echo Park, Rockwood, Crazy Riders, Temple Street, Witmer Street, Clanton 14, Burlington locos, Wanderers, Varrio Vista Rifa, Head Hunters, Diamond Street, Big Top Locos, and La Mirada Locos.

Law Enforcement

Ed experienced numerous LAPD assignments and he enjoyed the various challenges that each new experience came his way. As Ed excelled in law enforcement, he moved up to take on more and more responsibilities including Internal Affairs where he assisted LA’s City Attorney working out of City Hall’s 19th Floor offices. For 18 months, Ed investigated lawsuits brought against LAPD officers, but in 1969 he was recommended to handle drill instructor duties at LAPD’s Academy, a position that suited him well. Three years later, Ed was promoted to Detective II which he worked for the next 20 years retiring from LAPD in July 1991. During Ed’s career, he experienced the dark side of humanity, particularly during the 1965 Watts Riot and working homicides. He once had to view the remains of two boys who perished in an arsonist fire. But Ed wasn’t ready to fully retire so he landed a job with Los Angeles City’s Department of Public Safety as a background investigator.

Courtesy photos

(Above) Edgar with young Marines on March 17. (Right) Edgar USMC portrait.

A Great American

In 1994, Ed retired but along the way he and his detective buddies routinely patronized Pipers Coffee Shop at Western and Beverly Boulevard as they appreciated the fine service they received there. It turns out, that fine service was provided by none other than Joan, Piper’s most personable waitress, whom Ed was very much attracted to. During one evening at Piper’s a crook made the mistake of trying to snatch a lady’s purse and Ed promptly apprehended him. Ed instantly became a hero to her and soon they were dating, leading to their Police Academy wedding on August 8, 1981. Together they have four beautiful daughters, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. These days, Ed is a member of the American Legion and loves to attend as many Veteran & Military events as possible in his awesome USMC uniform, especially the annual Marine Corps Ball.

Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program

Courtesy photos

(Left) Edgar Bressell LAPD. (Right) Edgar and Joan’s wedding.

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The city of Santa Clarita Hometown Heroes Military banner program honors our city’s heroes with a banner featuring the military member’s photograph, name, rank and branch they serve. The banners are installed around Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day. To order a Hometown Heroes Military Banner to honor your hero, please visit Santa-Clarita.com/ Heroes.

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · A13

Honoring SCV Veterans on November 11

SIGNAL FILE PHOTOS

Vietnam veteran U.S.M.C. RJ Kelly, left, presents Vietnam U.S. Army veteran Jerry Whitney with a “Welcome Home” dog tag at the 2022 City of Santa Clarita Veterans Day Ceremony.

V

eterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of World War I. Veterans Day is to honor all veterans from all wars. The name was changed in 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially switched it to Veterans Day. Here are some ways you can participate in Veterans events around Santa Clarita.

Veterans Day Ceremony

Monday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. Veterans Historical Plaza, 24275 N. Walnut St., Newhall 91321 The Santa Clarita Valley loves to celebrate veterans and on Nov. 11 the city will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Veterans Historical Plaza in Old Town Newhall. The event will feature remarks by members of the Santa Clarita City Council, a featured veteran speaker, entertainment, a changing of the flag ceremony and veteran resources booths.

Santa Clarita Honors Veterans

How can you honor veterans on Veterans Day? Veterans Day is all about honoring those who served. If you see a veteran, offer thanks for a job well done. Many veterans probably don’t hear it enough and Veterans Day is the perfect opportunity to express your gratitude. The city of Santa Clarita also offers several programs to honor the service of SCV veterans including the Hometown Heroes Military Banner and Historical Plaza Commemorative Brick programs.

Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program

This program was established by the city of Santa Clarita to honor currently serving SCV members of the military. Banners are hung twice a year and locations can be selected from Canyon Country, Newhall, Valencia and Saugus. Honorees must be an active-duty military personnel that is a current city resident or an immediately family member of a current SCV resident. The family member

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for the Hardco which it was re Gangs unit, the office proximately announced that in crimes — will be “reima ap- and 50 lawyer Wednesday.told The Signal each Half of on other unit would be transfes from said. “renamed,” the gined” violen the Los The source County Distric ce, the source District source branch rred Angel The t Attorney’s es main unnam , who asked to said. In additio es, the source said.to Gascón’s staffAttorney Georg fice Hardc ree media D.A.’s Office did n to losing ed out of Of- profes also said DDAs who Narcotics ore Gang and Major tely not imsional reprisa fear of their deputy distric half remain withthose to comm respond to reques units have the Hardc l, said two t attorn of new unit ficially cut,” been “of- meetings occurr the During ent on Wedne ts a source one at 3 p.m. ed Wednesday, its approx ore Gang Unit eys, set up commwill be asked a March sday. within cotics and imately 700 to unity for the Major which includ cases — tionships to work liaison rela- ference, Gascón 17 news conunit and anothe Narneither conr at 4 p.m. that involve e complex cases evant law enforc with the rel- firmed nor denied murde dissolve cies ement er high-p a plan r and othto target the two rofile gang-r A1 MAIN specific agen- staff, when units, and to and specif gangs elated his clarification, asked for further effort to ic gangsters in reduce comm an referred back to unity See CUTS, A2 By Caleb

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NEWS

Archery Range

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE ROUTE

A8 A5

Warrant SPORTS details ult allegatio ns in RealtoSUBSCRIBE TODAY ca- Friday Tuesday 75¢r se

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SUBSCRIBE TODAY Dan Watson (Above left) - Friday /The Las Vegas 75¢ Tuesday miles from Errol Guintu droveSignal Weekender $1 Weekender $1 arrest taking advanWinnetka in Los Angele26 affid includes reda avit s, er, to practi tage of the warm cted acco weath case agai ce at the unt of Archer y Range Santa Claritanst Mike By com Bjorkman Guintu proud on Saturday. SignalSCV Perry Smith 661-259-1234 661-259-1234 (Above) ly takes Signal Managin grouping sexual interco g Editor at 55 yards. a photo of his urse with DULCE Magsu AGUADULCE a victim VERDE| | AGUA (Below VALVERDE CASTAIC| | VAL | | CASTAIC RANCH RANCH ci, left, STEVENSON | STEVENSON | ) VALENCIA | VALENCIA he | Shanil SAUGUS | SAUGUS Las | NEWHALL | NEWHALL | COUNTRY and COUNTRY CANYON Vegas CANYON known “wasshould have daughter of Castaic, lice Depar Metro PoHali, prepare to mentally or physic their third shoot Saturd13, cials releasetment offivisit to the of resisti ally incapable ay, d the warrant (Below left) arrest standi ng or underarcher y range. this ng the tailing the week deMagsuci take Hali, left, and allegations defendant’s nature of Shanil facing a conduct,” chery range aim at targets at accord local ing Realtor the araccused during their of sexual nal compl to the crimivisit. saultin ly asaint.

2018 TUESDAY, 2018 XXX, 3, XXXDAY,JULY

Forecast Forecast Today’s Today’s

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A tale of two rescues

Missing puppy found after having run away from scene of crash; animal was hungry, dehydrated when saved

SCV sta tio

g a Las Vegas woman in a

Bjorkman

Las book-signing daughter’s athotel room TuesdVegas courtr in a 7 years later, crash survivor glad to belastalive August. oom ay

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Signal Senior details Video of side of ae the‘us alter When firefighters rappelled down of force n between and suspect catio to rescue a driver whose car steep embankment ’ fight Sand Canyon Road is circ had gone over a precipice on depu ulate on thatSCV occar’s ties the last week, theydlearned socionealofmed ia

By Jim Holt

Staff Writer

By Emily Alvarenga and Caleb Lunetta

responded cupants had, until now, eluded them — a pup for service to a package theft named Bella. Station day on the around 6:30 p.m. call Writers wild environs from the pluckedofficia ls release The dog wasTuesd 17700 block Tuesd details ay’sForest peo- on son Street, by the very deputy of Daniel National of the AngelesCanyo accord Santa Clarita Country, -involved fight in Sheriff’s Station ing to an SCVhelpingnanimals. trained in “use Valley ple which of force” of Wildlife As they nearedsocial media employee Sherif Heather f’s Graham, an probe. prompted the locatio post. Tujunga Canyon Road, a encountered Little sheriff Way Station onSCV ’s deputi sepa man walkin n, they which winds its way through the mountains es first g with a the Santa Clarita Valley from Sunland,

Signal Staff

Smith en for 25th ters race District

arating spotted the puppy by itself in the rough terrain. This after a frantic weekend-long effort to find the 3-month-old dog. INDEX work, driving “Heather was on her way to Lottery . . . . . on . . . . . . Road, when she found (Bella),”

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Honor Roll Bricks are reserved for military veterans killed in the line of duty or for recipients of a Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Gallantry Cross or veterans who have otherwise been cited for bravery. These bricks have a star engraved in the bottom right corner. Service Roll Bricks are reserved for any military veteran, past, present, living or deceased. Community Bricks are available for organizations and individuals who wish to support military veterans or the Veterans Historical Plaza. To order a commemorative brick visit bit.ly/4f54U9e. See VETERANS, A14

A1 MAIN

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Coupons Home Improvement Business News Right Here Right Now Color Comics Entertainment Sports Sunday Magazine

Categories of bricks include:

Thank you to all the Veterans and Active Military for your service and dedication to keeping us safe!

Books Travel Pets Food Entertainment Senior Living Health Gardening City News Puzzles News Features

THURSDAY,

SATURDAY

Commemorative bricks are installed twice a year, once before Memorial Day and once before Veterans Day. Orders are accepted year-round and will be processed upon receipt. Allow 8-12 weeks for processing. A letter acknowledging your tax-deductible donation and a certificate — signed by the mayor of Santa Clarita — commemorating the service of the honoree will be sent to the donor address on the order form. The city can accommodate getting documentation ready for specific dates such as anniversaries, birthdays or holidays with enough notice. Bricks are available for a $100 donation. Orders for Memorial Day must be received by April 15 and Veterans Day by Oct. 1.

18 0

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ....................... $50 SIX DAYS A WEEK .............................. $160 $80 VETS/SENIORS ...............................$80 E-EDITION DELIVERED TO YOUR EMAIL ... $50

• • • • • • •

Historical Plaza Commemorative Brick Program

2 19 0 0 2 2 0 2 21 0 2 22 0 2 23 0 2 24 0 2

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must have lived in Santa Clarita at some point. Banners may be purchased by individuals or organizations. Cost of the banner is $191 for initial printing and $40 each year thereafter for storage and installation. Sponsorships are available. For more information email Billie Abreu at abreu@SantaClarita.gov or call (661) 255-4939. The order form can be found at bit.ly/3YyUzLG.

See FORCE

, A2

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to make The arrest By Jim Holt initial appear his affidav recounts Staff Writer Signal it Senior ance with defens e tion conduan investigay 2011 vid Vau attorne Dain whofollow LVMPD cted by anDavid LaChesn off, Bjorkm 200-foot-deep ing rawas found in aan’s follow updetective “to brief his car tion crashingdetenin after days Florid of druggi on reportvine a after s sixLake Hughes showed Road his off ofMarch 9 arrest. facilitated ng and drughappy he was to just how people “Mr. sexual Bjorkm saults” involv as- untaril lined an volas people Saturday ing Mikebe alive y appear Bjorkman, his ed inabout a copy of the book up for Vegas 48, Las of and erita Canyo Plac- ordeal. denies the vehemently use of gammn, and the His daughter, Lisa A. Kerr, and looks allega tions a hydrox wrote butyrate, “But Not Tocalled, forwar y- his a book or GHB daystory in court,” of Davidd LatoVau,” central nervou — a day: noffThesaidher Chesnear death s system chronicling father’s depressant Wedn esday,desperwhen reache the family’s known as colloquially experience, d himcomment, a “date and the long to find for ate search “and drug,” accord rape folks we remind recovery. road tonot DEA’s websit ing to the to she rush her father andto judgm Saturday, On ent.” e. Bjorkm at The Open held The a book-signing 27-pag charges an faces two one Soledad Book store ment docu- Canyon was sault as of sexual ascompiCanyon at Whites led af- Road. a ter Road a month Kerr allegations.result of the very humble,” dad isslong vestig“My in- so excited “He was rate counts The sepaMonday. saidation by LVMP Detect D signing. ivepeople the book to see Bjorkman allege that JasonatLafreniere, a“People digitally kept asking him 19-yeajust etrated r picture and then penn with you?’ ‘Can I get myvetera had And, he signed each book the See BJORK ‘Thanks same MAN,forA2the support,’”

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. . . . . . . By Kev Kurdog Sand Canyon Opinion . . . . . . . . . . Way for the . . . . . . . hlian Deanna Armbruster, spokeswoman . . . . . . . Signal Staff . . . . . . . Kerr said. Classified . A2 Writer (ofStation, to Signa . . . . . . . voting)said . . . . . . She said of the book-signing: l subscribe as Monday. . . . . . . . it curren . . . . . . . until .she waited exists,“She Weath the dog . A4 tly and . . . . . . . er . . . of butfollowed rs “I was very excited that there was Democrat to empow Earl Butle . . . . . . . side . . the . . . . . . . to pull found . . . A6 er over to the . . . . . . . , toa safe place r traffic coming in and out and (that announced Christy Smith people . . . . . . . said. “She jumped out and the dog road,” shemake Donna Ploch . . . . . . A5 there was) a buzz about our book. to a bit. But,voting she has entere Wednesday easier, was able to calm her (Belran off make it she more This book has touched a lot of Robert Samw unseat Rep. d the race to accessla)ible andandstill put her in the car. And, then she down and secure lives. Mike Garcia ay safe R-Santa andhere.” 6 , free,” brought her 38188 “My main purpose has alfraudSmith in the 2022Clarita, within 24 hours of the crash, 0000 The dog, said,found 3 to 3share with people, been ways calling as dehydrated and hungry when it Novem term electio middescribed was Private to forgive and also be forgiven ber’s party vehicl ns. race to safety. was forbrought The news the 25th es and, most of all, learn to forgive only please ConWay Station found the dog’s Rescuers at the of gressio her yourself.” candid media and arranged for them to socialDisonnal owner Signal file photo trict “a was annou acy textbo dog. ok pick up the afexamp early Wedne nced A tow truck operator watches as a Toyota Corolla reaches the surface le sday north of happens of what morning ter being lifted about 200 feet by a crane on to Lake Hughes Road See LA VAU, A6 when the on social system media. Smith, See FOUND, A6 Castaic on Sept. 30, 2011. David La Vau survived the crash. is a tioning well.”funclongtime Santa Clarita “To make resident, ing) more (votalso release accesSmith sible to video titled d a voters is incredibly Get This “Let’s tant, and impornounce her Done” to anno greate there is List candidacy. 0.2 percent, down by 0.04 per- Salviati, an Apartment r proof Garcia defeat Santa Clarita’s rate eclipses two-bedroom in Santa Clarita of that housing economist. Duan to the site. ed Smith than races likeBy Crystal by 333 votes is $2,564, and a one-bedroom cent, according percent, 2.1 of average state the SCV’s rent For mine the of were Much largest cit100Boats, of the that last Novem Only 21Cars, inso incred Signal Staff Writer RV’s, ber — a as well as the national average is $1,995. This marks a $4 ibly close,” - she added. growth can be attributed to a rents cles point that have seenMotorcy acknowledged decreased crease for two-bedrooms and a ies in America Smith growth in population A national study released this of 1.4 percent, but has Smith also for a one-bedroom fall over the past year, though general with opening rent compared to last month, online $3 increase denou week indicates an additional 24 saw modest in the Los Angeles metro area. line in her her “intentional nced Santa Clarita’s List from June. nouncement an- tion,” growth rate from year to year is renting platform Apartment disinfo Santa Clarita’s month-to- gains of less than 1.0 percent, video. referring now atrmaSee RENT, A6 In an 4.1 percent, a slight decline revealed Monday. at such as Santa Clarita, said Chris to the tacThe July median rate for a month rent change for July is The Signalinterview with tic as a form offrom last month’s 4.9 percent. “voter November’s, Smith said suppression.” “Most people vote proved don’t see that everymargin it that way, matters. vote tually but that’s whatcontex“We have thing that to do every- pens,” Smith said, hapNo strang ers only protecwe can to not CalMatters investiciting a No comm at your home • gation t the franch 24 hour ission ise All DMV s or Consignme security See SMITHHotel plans to donate Paperwork nt Fees Every weeke , A2 provid Concerts in the Park series nd, includ event proceeds to ing Friday ed return to Central Park set to Dropoff child’s battle against

rning

l news and The #1 locasource in the n informatiola rita Valley! C Santa 9/9/20 Winter Se

llingrate above state average City’s rent growth SELL YOU Sale Display LotR CAR SAFELY

College of the Canyon s tribute SCV’s Parking Lot fight

Hyatt joins Carter’s

to the greats

661-25

Danielle Korzhenyak AutoFairO 5-2622By nline.com For The Signal

Sanfilippo syndrome By Brennon Dixson

ita Poll City of Santa Clar Signal Staff Writer

After hearing about Carter Sarkar, his fight with Sanfilippo syndrome and the recent million-dollar movement to fund his clinical trial, the Hyatt Regency Valencia has announced that it will donate every dollar from its upcoming fireworks viewing event to the young boy from Austin Dave/The Signal (See additional photos at signalscv.com) Castaic. 2017 photo, Jennifer Sarkar carries her son Carter to a home “Our entire staff was deeply In this May The Sarkar family raised $978,467 to get moved by the article in Saturday’s on Ponderosa Street in Castaic. Sanfilippo syndrome. paper regarding Carter Sarkar and a clinical trial that might help Carter’s fight against the fight to save him from Sanfilippo would fund a clinical trial that could syndrome,” said Natasha Zambrano, develop muscle pains, experience give Carter a chance at life. in sales coordinator at Hyatt Regency seizures and then, ultimately, die “Over the years the structure has Valencia. “We at Hyatt would like their mid-to late-teens, said Jennifer been a gathering place to have an mother. Carter’s Sarkar, offering by fight to contribute to this festivities As a result, the family held a fun- unobstructed view of the our parking structure to the commuthe (and fireworks) from Six Flags,” nity to watch fireworks this upcom- draiser in the past month with to Zambrano said. dollars million a donate to goal ing Fourth of July.” Children who are diagnosed with the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization See CARTER, A6 Sanfilippo syndrome will likely Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, which

The crowd-pleasing Concerts in the Park series returns to Santa Clarita for a music-filled summer, starting this weekend at Central Park. Concerts in the Park are free public events put on by the city of Santa Clarita every Saturday night from July 7 until Aug. 25. The shows start at 7 p.m. Get ready to break out your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some tasty snacks from local vendors onsite and listen to some of your favorite genre tribute bands coming to the Saugus park. Here’s a breakdown of each band performing at Concerts in the Park:

NDAY … $50 U S & Y A D R U SAT EEK … $160 SIX DAYS A WN … $50 E-EDITIO 12/31/24 INDEX

Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Lottery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7

USA TODAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B3

July 7

Wanted, a Bon Jovi tribute band, is first up in the lineup of Concerts in the Park. Based out of Los Angeles, the band is made up of professional musicians. The rock ’n’ roll group had immense success, playing to sold out venues and garnering rave reviews. Wanted was finally created after numerous requests from agents and promoters who worked with the band on other projects. See CONCERTS, A8

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A14 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 · THE SIGNAL

VETERANS

Continued from A13

Santa Clarita Veterans Services Collaborative

23681 Newhall Ave., Newhall 91321 Hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (661) 753-3559 or www.scv-vets.org The collaborative was established in 2017 by Judith and Elliott Wolfe. The purpose was to get University of Southern California School of Social Work master degree candidates engaged in intern work providing mental health assistance and counseling to veteran students at College of the Canyons. Today, it is an all-volunteer non-profit 501(c)(3) tax deductible organization operating a complete Veteran Center. It provides an array of referral resources for all veterans, active military and their families. The membership of the Santa Clarita Veteran Services Collaborative consists of dozens of non-profit organizations, local businesses and individuals, providing services, much of it pro bono, to veterans in the SCV community who have served their country and may be in need of assistance. Find help for medical assistance, dental assistance, legal assistance, employment, housing, home care, financial advice and assistance and many other categories. To volunteer, visit www.scv-vets.org/volunteer.

Thank a Veteran 11th Annual Golf Event First and foremost, to our Veterans, this was a day to honor your service to our country and to say a heartful “Thank You” To our sponsors, who made this such a huge success, we couldn’t do this without you! On this Veterans Day weekend, let’s not forget those that have served and have given the ultimate sacrifice. With heartfelt thanks for taking it upon themselves the duty of guarding our freedoms while sometimes sacrificing their own dreams so that we may enjoy the liberties of this great nation. Thank you for your service. Grand Tournament Sponsor Valencia Pipe Company 4 Star Flag Team Hedman Partners LLP 3 Star command Club Pest Control, First Bank, Allen Marquart, Gruber Family, Trendex, Steven Wright( Morgan Stanley) 2 Star Warrant Team Helvig Family 1 StarTeam Hasler Family Hole Sponsors 146th Wing Alumni Association, Gil Ishizu 501st Infantry, Kontis Family, Sharon Jazina Breakfast Sponsors Matthews Family, Starbucks Lunch Jersey Mikes On Course Treats Anheuser Busch, Rhona Jukes Beer Sponsor Brian Shanaghan Printing donated by Pip Printing Special Thanks to all our veterans that donated their checks to support other veterans, such as the Pete Knight Disabled Veterans Home in Palmdale To The L.A. City Fire Station 8, Santa Clarita Recruiting Army Color Guard, Laker Girls, Brock Milburn our singer for and inspiring and memorable opening ceremonies To all our raffle sponsors and volunteers who made this day so wonderful, we send our great appreciation and heartfelt thanks!!!!!!! To Everyone that made this day so wonderful The Thank A Veteran Board is grateful and Humbled!!!!!

Crippen Mortuary

SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

L.A. County Dept. of Military Veterans Affairs

Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, 1816 S Figueroa St., Los Angeles 90015. 1-877-4LA-VETS Offices are open from: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. They are open Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For veteran services, email info@mva.lacounty.gov or call 1-877-4LA-VETS. A wide variety of veteran services are available through the county of Los Angeles. The L.A. County MVA can assist you with compensation, health and mental health services, education, death benefits and other needs. Appointments can also be made to speak to a case worker at the Santa Clarita Community Center, 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Suite G-0, Santa Clarita, CA 91350. For appointments visit mva.lacounty.gov/locations.

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661-255-0297 Jim Lewandowski ISAWC 1413A Todd Walther ISAWC 10664A Tom Baal ISAWC 7566A Chris Miller ISAWC 11780A Jason Beck ISAWC 1196A “Serving Santa Clarita Valley And Surrounding Communities With Pride Since 1974” Bouquet Canyon Road, Valencia

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www.CrippenMortuary.com Independently Owned, Operated & Preferred Since 1928

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