Paul is a Marine veteran of Gulf 1, where he served as an Avionic Technician on Marine Corps F-18s
In his civilian life he continues to put his Avionics Technician skills to work for Delta Airlines but says his passion is in Culinary Arts.
Sara Brannan an E4 Army veteran who served in Desert Storm and the Gulf War. Sara is transferring from another Post and is also a life member of VFW. She has four children and is a school teacher. Cdr. Crabtree swore Sara into the post and members gave her a round of applause.
Sara is shown at left with Officer of the Day Jim Collins.
Steve is shown being welcomed into the Post by Commander Terry Crabtree. A Vietnam veteran, Steve was a MAT team advisor embedded with the “ruff-puffs” in II Corp. 1970-1971.
Steve told us: “ I was in the Army for five and a half years and made Captain when I left Viet Nam in April, 1971. Finished up in Baumholder, Germany after eighteen more months as Company commander with the 268 Armor BN. I’ve worked the aviation Industry for nearly forty years-Currently own my own machine shop and am still working-part time with my son. Been married for 44 years and have a son, daughter and teenage granddaughter. My wife was also in the military (1Lt) when we got married after I came home from Nam. We’ve lived peacefully in Mill Creek for the past 30 years. “
Bill Fox is from Oak Park, Illinois. He enlisted in the Army in 1966 and served until 1972. He was a rotary aviator. He served in Vietnam May 1968 – May 1969 in C/3/17 Cav. He Jlew armed LOH’s in search & destroy missions in support of the 25QR ID Tay Ninh area. Bill later Jlew VIP Huey’s in Germany with 5QR Corps Aviation. Awards include the Air Medal and Bronze Star. He is now an accountant and resides in Edmonds with wife Dana. They have twin daughters and 2 granddaughters.
Joe is an Edmonds native. He is a transfer VFW member and a retired Regular Army LTC. He served from 1967-1988 as a Military Intelligence Officer. Vietnam service was Jun 1968-Jun 1969. He was an Assistant Professor of Military Science for 2 years at the University of Washington. Joe’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal. Joe has a degree from Seattle University and a Masters from Clark University. Joe and Margaret reside in Edmonds and have 2 children.
Duane BowmanDuane is originally from Seattle. He served with the Army from Aug 1970 – Mar 1972. He was trained as a supply clerk. He served in I Corps, Vietnam Jun 1971 to Mar 1972 both as a supply clerk and as an infantryman. He has a BA Urban Planning from Western Washington University. He is now retired and is a Mountlake Terrace food bank volunteer.
Kevin BridgefordKevin served with the Army and Army National Guard from 1984 through 2005 and retired as a Master Sergeant. He was trained as a Signal Support Specialist and Communications Chief. Kevin deployed to Iraq, LSA Anaconda, Mar 2004 to Mar 2005 with the 81st Armored Brigade of Seattle. He also served at Camp Casey, Korea. Awards include the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M’ device. He works now as an Ultrasound Product Support Engineer. Hunting is a hobby and he is a Hunter ED instructor with WA Fish & Wildlife. Kevin and Carrie have 3 children and reside in Bothell, his hometown.
Joshua CrabtreeJosh served with the Army 2000-04 and was trained as a combat engineer. He served in Kosovo and Kuwait. Josh was with the 70th Engineer Battalion 1st Armored Division in the Iraq War 2003‐4. Awards include the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal (2). Josh graduated from the UW. He is a foreign service specialist with the State Department. Josh and Natalia reside in Mukilteo and have a daughter.
Daniel DoyleDan served in the Navy 1966‐69. He was trained as a corpsman and served in that role in Vietnam in 1968. He was with Bravo 3rd Recon 3rd Marines and was delivered to Khe Sanh the 1st day of the siege via a Caribou aircraft. He recalls running out the back ramp as it was still moving. He later went to Quang Tri, also in I Corps. Awards include a Presidential Unit Citation and the Fleet Marine Combat Operations Insignia. Dan is a retired professor at Seattle University. He and Cathy reside in Edmonds. They have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Christopher MazerolleChris is an Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan with 10 years of service. Trained as an Army diver, Chris often served in combat engineer units when deployed. He was in Iraq 2005-6 in 1-66 Armor 1st BN 4th Infantry Division. Chris was wounded after a roadside bomb attack. He served in Afghanistan 2010-11 in 1st Brigade Combat Team 101st Airborne Division. Awards include a Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal (3). Chris was raised in Edmonds and now resides in Lynnwood. He is employed as a commercial diver.
Nick is originally from Boise, ID and joined the Marines there in 2001. He served until 2005. He completed two tours with the 1st Force Service Support Group during the initial invasion of Iraq and later was stationed at the MEK Compound in Fallujah. He received two Meritorious Promotions to Lance Corporal and Corporal. Awards include the Good Conduct Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2). Nick works as a mechanic and plans to attend Seattle Maritime Academy, QMED program. He is an active hiker, climber, skier and part time yoga instructor. His dream is to own a yacht. Nick and fiancé Paula reside in Edmonds.
Alden GilliandAlden is originally from Galveston, TX. He joined the Army in 1986 and served for 7 years. He served in Korea 1988-90 in the 3rd MI Brigade maintaining Mohawk OV-1 observation aircraft. Awards include the Army Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal (2). Alden is a Senior Mechanical Designer with Esterline. He and wife Rose live in Mukilteo and have a daughter. Alden enjoys kayaking.
Gary WaldermanGary is originally from Centereach, NY. He joined the Air Force in 1979 and retired in 2000. Gary served in Turkey with HQ SOCEUR as part of Desert Shield/Storm in 1991. He was an Intelligence Officer. Awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation and Achievement Medals. Gary is a Job Coach in the Everett School District. He and wife Clare live in Edmonds and have 2 children.
Clare WaldermanClare served as an Army nurse 1984-91. She served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq 1990-91 as part of Desert Shield/Storm. In 1992 she joined the Air Force and retired in 2000. Awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2) and Army Commendation Medal (2). She continues as a nurse in Everett. Originally from Villa Grove, IL, she and husband Gary live in Edmonds. They have 2 children.
Joan WyantJoan is originally from Cochranville, PA. She joined the Navy in 2005 and served for 10 years. She is a WESTPAC veteran serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill CG52 and USS Ingraham FFG61 during 2005-2008. She was a Surface Warfare Officer. Joan also served Kabul, Afghanistan 2009-10. Awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2) and Army Achievement Medal (2). Joan resides in Edmonds.
Rod FritschAt the August Post meeting, we welcomed yet another comrade to the fold.
Rod is retired Navy having served 1991-2011. He is originally from Jefferson, WI. Rod served two tours in Bahrain, 2009-10 and 2010-11, performing Mine Countermeasure duties for the 5th Fleet.
He also served in Turkey in 1997 as part of Operation Northern Watch enforcing an Iraq no-fly zone.
Rod was an Avionics Technician and performed training, management and logistic engineer duties.
Sea duty included stints on the USS Tarawa, USS Iwo Jima and the RFA Lyme Bay. (RFA Lyme Bay is a Bay-Class auxiliary landing ship dock of the British Royal Navy.)
Awards include the Navy Achievement Medal (4), Navy Good Conduct Medal (6) and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2). Rod resides with his wife Maureen in Arlington, WA. They have 4 children. He is currently enrolled in college.
If you happened to be watching the evening news on NBC, FOX, or C-SPAN during the recent Memorial Day ceremonies in Washington, D.C., you probably saw our very own Harry Miller being interviewed. Harry, who is a long-time member of the Post , moved to Washington two years ago following the death of his wife. He has a son who lives nearby, and Harry is a resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
Harry was one of the 24 residents from the home to attend the 70th Anniversary of V-E Day at the WW II Veterans Memorial and was selected to lay a wreath at the memorial. The representative from New Zealand, Defense Attache Commodore Keating, presented Harry with a commemorative coin. Based on the role he played in the moving ceremony, media representatives sought him out for his views and reflections on his service. He was more than pleased to express his “opinions” to Russian journalists regarding relations between our two nations.
Last December, Harry participated in another ceremony that commemorated the Battle of the Bulge, combat in which Harry participated. At that time, he was asked to lay a wreath at the Battle of the Bulge section of the WWII Memorial. In addition to his service during WW II, Harry served in Korea and was involved in the planning of B-52 strikes in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.