Saluting Our Veterans
County of San Diego, California sent this bulletin at 11/08/2011 05:11 PM PST
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Before we enjoy the Veterans Day holiday, we are recognizing current County employees who have served in the armed forces. If you are a veteran who would like to be included, email us your name, branch of service, a brief (150 words or less) description of any key events, stories or achievements, and if possible, include a picture.
Diane Cook, Purchasing and Contracting
Eight years active duty service with the US Army. I am a disabled veteran who participated in Desert Storm as a combat medic. Throughout my military career I was stationed in some exotic and not so exotic places just to name a few: Ft Leonard Wood Missouri, Ft Sam Houston Texas, Tripler Army Medical Center Hawaii and Madigan Army Medical Center, Washington. While serving I became a Department of Defense Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, one of only 50 of us at the time Army wide.
Norm Taylor, General Services
US Army, ’62-’65. Ist Inf. Div., 33rd Arty. Berlin Brigade, ’63.
Carlos Renstrom, Parks & Recreation
I served as a Human Resources Specialist (42A) in the U.S. Army. I was stationed in Columbia, South Carolina and Schofield Barracks in the island of Oahu, Hawaii, where I completed active duty.
During active duty, I was part of the Personnel Action Center for the 84th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) in the 25th Infantry Division (Light) providing Human Resources services to 600 soldiers and their families. I was in charge of processing military personnel promotions, demotions, personnel actions, leadership briefings, data processing as well as making sure that soldiers and their families were receiving military benefits and counseling as needed during deployments. In 2004, I received the Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Marksman on M16 and M249 Rifle, Expert on Grenade and Overseas Medal.
Anne Greenstone, HHSA
I joined the Air Force Nurse Corps after college to earn the GI Bill to pay for grad school. I was assigned to Carswell AFB Texas 3/ 1972-3/ 1974. In early May 72 all active duty men on the base (pilots, crew, nurses) were hurriedly assembled and flown to Viet Nam in one night for the Tet offensive. Noise from departing planes kept me awake all night. All male RNs were gone. I worked the orthopedic ward caring for the war wounded . What a rambunctious group, mostly ages 18-20. One night I was surprised by flight staff entering the ED with a group of ill men- POWs coming home to Texas. I separated in March 1974. I went directly to UCLA. I was awarded my MN degree from UCLA in 1978. The GI Bill paid for living expenses. I earned it. First Lieutenant Anne V. Greenstone USAF NC.
James Boyd, County Counsel
1972 – 1975 U.S. Army, Special 5, US Army Legal Services Agency, Europe
1975- 1977 U.S. Army Reserves (E-5)
1977 – 1980 U.S. Marine Corps, Lance Corporal until Enlisted Commissioning Program (OCS), 1st Lieutenant, Infantry
Dale Santee, Alternate Public Defender
Colonel Dale W. Santee was the senior individual mobilization augmentee to the staff judge advocate, HQ Pacific Air Force, Hickam AFB, HI. Commissioned as a reserve officer through the Direct Appointment Program, he served on active duty as an Air Force judge advocate from January 7, 1979 to August 8, 1983. He deployed twice in support of peacekeeping operations in Bosnia with the Tanker Task Force based in Pisa, Italy for Operations Deny Flight and Joint Endeavor. In December 1996, he deployed to Istres, France in support of Operation Joint Guard. From August 2000 to December 2000, Colonel Santee deployed for Operation Southern Watch to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the first reserve Staff Judge Advocate of an Air Expeditionary Force (AEF 9). He was an adjunct instructor at the Judge Advocate General School, Montgomery, AL, Pacific Joint Operations Law Exercise, HI and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, San Remo, Italy.
Robert Contreras, Housing and Community Development
I served in the United States Navy from January 1976 until January of 1980. That is what brought me to San Diego. I enjoy my time in the Navy, especially the traveling. But what I remember most is meeting persons from my hometown of Schertz, Texas. The most memorable one was when I arrived at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. I was checked in by an Air Force sergeant who I had met when I was a teenager. I lived next to a Air Force base and I often hung at the gym. This sergeant worked with my uncle. Boy, was he surprised to see me. After I finished my enlistment, I decided to stay in San Diego as I fell in love with the city on my first visit.
Greg Locke, General Services
I served 21 years of active duty with the United States Marine Corps. The leadership traits that I witnessed while in the Marines Corps is something I have tried to emulate on a daily basis and will continue to for the rest of my life. I have lived in a number of unique areas of the world; I spent four months living in a tent in Yechon, Korea, spent time in the western Egyptian desert, saw the rainbows are formed when the desert sands blow off the coast of Tunisia in the evening and saw my daughter born in a hospital in Japan. I hope that all the Veterans will enjoy this special holiday on November 11, 2011.
Manuel Garcia (right) with former County employee Robert Roberson.Manuel Garcia, HHSA
Active Duty
United States Army Feb. 1973 to July 1976
52nd Construction Engineer Battalion
220th Field Artillery,
Fort Carson, Colorado
United States Army Ready Reserve-1976-1987
129th Med. Evac. Hospital (Must Unit)-Admiral Baker Field
177th Transportation Company-Camp Pendleton
Tom Philipp, Auditor & Controller
Submarine Service – Cold War (1977-1983). Nuke machinist on USS HADDO SSN604. Home port – San Diego. Longest submerged – 45 days when Iran held US hostages. How does it feel underwater? A bit like an airplane, especially when they do ‘angles and dangles.’
Jay Patterson, ARCC
Rank: Dental Technician 1st Class
Branch: United States Navy (Retired)
Service: March 1976 to March 1996
Specialties: Medical/Dental Administration & Oral Surgery Technician
Commands:
(a) Overseas Command: NAS Agana Guam [Sep 76 to Mar 79]
(b) Sea Commands:
USS Coronado (AGF-11) [Apr 81 to Apr 82] – Persian Gulf Command Ship
USS Hunley (AS-31) [May 82 – Dec 83] – Holy Loch Scotland
USS Long Beach (CGN-9) [Jan 87 – Jun 90] – Pacific Fleet
USS Rushmore (LSD-47) [Aug 93 – Mar 96] – Pacific Fleet
Shore Commands:
(1) Naval Hospital, NAS Whidbey Island WA
(2) Naval Regional Dental Center, San Diego, CA
(3) Naval Supply Center, San Diego CA
(4) Fleet Dental Office, US Pacific Fleet
Notables:
(a) Sailed around the world in 1987.
(b) Set foot on every continent on this earth.
(c) Five tours of duty to Persian Gulf region (combat and non-combat).
(d) Lots of memories…
Kristie Makowsky, HHSA
I joined the United States Army right out of high school. I served for four years, on 3 different bases – Fort Polk, LA, Fort Gordon, GA and Fort Jackson, SC. I was the first female Radar Technician recruited right after the Vietnam war. I learned a lot in the Army and my veteran’s benefits are the only reason I was able to purchase my home. My son is following in my path and will be reporting to Fort Jackson, SC in March 2012.
Moises Rivera, Probation
USN 1989-1993. I served on the USS Vincennes CG-49.
Sue Baker, HHSA
My name is Suzanne (Coffman) Baker. I was Suzanne E. Rafferty when I served in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps from 1969 until 1971. My duty station was Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where I worked as a 1st Lieutenant in the 1000 bed hospital Wilford Hall. Though I worked on many medical-surgical units, my most memorable was my rotation to the burn unit where two of my patients were pilots that had been shot down in Vietnam. Military nursing was a good experience for me, and I was honorably discharged as Captain.
Jessie Frank, Public Works
I served in the USMC for more than twenty seven years. Participated in Desert Shield/Storm in 1991. My family can trace service in the Military for every conflict starting with the French and Indian Wars.
Daniel E. Chesler, HHSA
U.S. Navy, served on ships escorting tankers during the ‘Tanker War’ and had a front row seat during Operation Preying Mantis.