Tag Archive: Gil Loomis

Never Forget… 

It has been a difficult year in which we have experienced the loss of a number of our comrades. This is the latest group departing our ranks. May they all rest in peace and never be forgotten.

Norm Goldstein

Norm Goldstein was one of our few remaining WWII veterans, serving in the Navy as a Torpedoman, mostly in shore stations, servicing torpedos for Aircraft. Following his WWII service, Norm graduated from the UW with a teaching certificate in 1950. He taught at Ballard High School, Mountlake Terrace High School and as Dean of Students, Athletic Director, and Varsity Basketball coach at Edmonds Community College. He would have celebrated his 100th birthday on January 6, 2023. 

Gil Loomis

Gil Loomis was a VFW Life Member at large before joining our post. Corporal Loomis served in the Army Infantry from 1947 until 1952. He was in Korea for Occupation duty beginning in 1948. When war broke out in 1950, Gil was with I Company, 31st Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. He was shot in the hand and forearm, suffered frostbite and was eventually evacuated from the battlefield. Awards include Purple Heart w/ 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal w/ 3 bronze service stars and the Good Conduct Medal. He also led the Lynnwood Chapter of Disabled American Veterans. 

John Shelton

John Shelton enlisted in the Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam in 1959 where he served as a sniper. He was severely wounded in Vietnam and has been confined to wheelchair ever since. He went to UCLA and four years later emerged with a baccalaureate degree in psychology going on to earn a masters degree and ultimately a PhD in behavioral psychology. Dr. Shelton had a long and successful practice ministering to thousands of patients. John and his wife had just recently moved to Spokane, Caroline’s home town, after many years in Edmonds. As our long time Post Guard, we will miss John’s presence at the front desk signing us into meetings, collecting meal money and selling raffle tickets. 

Dick Simmons

Dick Simmons served as an officer in the Navy on supply ships, including the AE class, which resupplied the carrier task forces with bombs and other munitions. Later in the Vietnam years, he served on an LST, (Landing ship tank) delivering such munitions. After the Navy, he followed a career in journalism, working as a reporter and editor for the Seattle P.I. Dick was our Post adjutant for several years and was a frequent member of our color guard at parades and other events. Recently, he was living in a memory care facility in edmonds prior to his recent passing. 

Gil Loomis Receives Korean “Ambassador for Peace” Medal

Gil Loomis Receives Korean Ambassador for peace MedalGil Loomis recently became the latest of VFW Post 8870’s members to receive this award. Korean War veterans who served in country or in Korean waters during the Korean War, June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953 are eligible for the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal. The medal is an expression of appreciation from the Korean government to US service men and women who served in the Korean conflict.

Gil Loomis Receives Korean Ambassador for peace MedalOther members have received this recognition, including several during an award ceremony held at the Edmonds Community College Veterans Day observance in 2016. Congratulations Gil and all the other recipients.

 

EdCC Veterans Day Event Honors Korean War Vets

Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal

Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal

Six members of Post 8870 were among 23 Korean War veterans honored by Edmonds Community College at their annual Veterans Day celebration November 2. The event filled the college’s Black Box Theater to standing room only.

The highlight of the event was the awarding of the Korean Ambassador for Peace medal to the Korean Veterans present. The medals were presented by the Korean consul general in Seattle, Moon Duk-ho. The proclamation accompanying it reads: “The Republic of Korea thanks these veterans for the service [they] performed in restoring and preserving our freedom and democracy.”

EdCC Veterans Day Event Honors Korean War VetsPost 8870 member Jim Adams, Tom Hallums, Gil Loomis, Paul Poppe, Phil Sacks and Dan White were so honored.

The director of the college’s Veterans Resource Center, Navy retiree Chris Szarek, said, “Our campus chose to honor Korean War veterans as a way of ensuring that the brave men and women who served there know that their service is appreciated and to remind us of an often forgotten conflict.”

Other speakers at the event included state representative Cindy Ryu, who as Shoreline mayor was the first Korean American woman to be mayor of a U.S. city. Lynnwood Mayor Nicola Smith and Edmonds CC President Dr. Jean Hernandez also spoke. Our immediate past commander, Jim Blossey—also a Korean War veteran—was emcee for the program.

Korean War Vets gathered for a group photo following the ceremony. Legion and VFW members were joined by unaffiliated veterans

Korean War Vets gathered for a group photo following the ceremony. Legion and VFW members were joined by unaffiliated veterans