Charter Draped for Past Commander Dennis Gassland
Dennis Lein Gaasland passed away peacefully on March 26, 2015, in Edmonds, WA. He enlisted in the Navy and served his country proudly during World War II ending up at the liberation of the Philippines as a Radarman 2C. Before arriving at the Philippines, the navy brought him throughout the south Pacific, just about circling the perimeter, being stationed on one tropical island after the other. After shipping out of San Francisco, with the obligatory goodluck coin toss as his ship passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, his first stop was New Caledonia. From there, he went to the Soloman Islands, New Hebrides Island, Guadacanal, the Russel Islands, then to the Phillipines through Leyte Gulf at Tacloban, then Dulig, then Guiuan, Samar, then finally to Calicoan Island where he was when the war ended. Then he headed home via Okinawa to Seattle. After the war ended, Dennis returned to Washington and he and Helen were married on November 22, 1947, in Seattle. They were married for 67 ½ years until his death. After the Navy, Dennis went to the University of Washington on the GI bill, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1952. Dennis was a successful businessman, working for law firms in Seattle, while also being involved with the Kiwanis, and teaching business classes at Edmonds Community College. Because of his love of his country and Navy background, Dennis became involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Edmonds branch, serving as the Commander. He was also active with the American Legion in Lake Stevens. The Post honored him at the April meeting and covered the Charter in his memory.