Jeffrey Wombold: A Decade of Deep-Sea Service
marc.zarefsky2023-04-01T20:49:30-05:00Growing up in Southern California, Jeffrey Wombold enjoyed the sea, but it didn’t truly consume him until he joined the Navy in 1971.
Daniel Tatar: Four Consecutive Tours of Duty
marc.zarefsky2022-10-26T22:49:09-05:00QM3 E-4 Daniel Walter Tatar grew up on the South Side of Chicago with a brother and a sister. He worked from a very young age: first delivering papers for a news stand in grammar school, then at Sears after school in high school.
Joe Spinazzola: On the Brink of Nuclear War
marc.zarefsky2022-09-18T15:30:32-05:00Two months before Joe Spinazzola graduated high school, his father sat him down and presented three options for 17-year-old Joe’s future. One week later, Joe announced his chosen path.
Tom Oshgan: Honeymoon Surprise
marc.zarefsky2022-08-30T21:41:49-05:00Imagine the surprise reaction to the draft letter Tom received upon returning from his honeymoon. With little hesitation, Tom enlisted in the Navy. Not wanting to serve on land in Vietnam, along with his interest in flying and ships, choosing the Navy was an easy decision.
Frank Darrington: Navigator for the Apollo 13 Recovery
marc.zarefsky2022-08-30T21:42:03-05:00During his time in the Navy, Frank crisscrossed the Pacific on two ships, sailing thousands of nautical miles and crossing the international date/timeline and the equator. But there is one trip that he’s not been on and is looking forward to: his one-day, 600-mile Honor Flight Chicago plane ride to D.C.
Paul Barrath: From Naval Reserve To Active Duty During the Vietnam War Years
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T06:12:44-05:00Growing up in a military family, it was not a difficult decision for Paul Barrath to make the decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy.
Ronald Dascher: Flying With The Blue Dragons
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T08:08:18-05:00Ron was born on a farm near Freeport, Illinois in 1936, one of six kids. He and several buddies from his neighborhood in Freeport left high school halfway through senior year to sign up for the military.
Thomas Corzan: Three Decades in The Navy
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T06:18:52-05:00When Tom turned 18, he took to heart the Navy slogan, “Join the Navy and See the World.” He enlisted and did just that.
Kenneth Albert: Blood, Sweat and Tears on the Mekong River
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:41:55-05:00“Join the Navy and see the world!” But in Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Ken Albert’s case, it was not “see the world” but more like “be in the line of fire 24/7 for as long as your Vietnam tour of duty lasts.”
The Galvans: A Band of Three Brothers
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:17-05:00Growing up, the Galvan brothers, Manny, Felix, and Lu, did almost everything together. As young adults, all three entered the military and served during Vietnam – sometimes even in the same village.
Leon Wilson: From Blue Water to Brown Water Navy
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:39-05:00Leon H. Wilson was born and raised in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago. Leon, wanting more adventure than what he was experiencing on the South Side of Chicago, made the decision to join the U.S. Navy at the age of seventeen years old.
Thomas Workinger: Flying Midshipman to Flying the ‘Friendly Skies’
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:54-05:00Thomas G. (Tom) Workinger was born in 1928 during the Great Depression and grew up and attended school in Terre Haute, Indiana. He “watched” as World War II engulfed the planet.
Bonnie and Jack Cordaro: A Story of Love and Service
marc.zarefsky2022-04-10T20:12:54-05:00Bonnie and Jack Cordaro have a unique story. They both served their country at different times in different places. While many military spouses met through their service, Bonnie and Jack served separately and met at a social for young professionals in Chicago.
Dominick Calamino: Following in His Parents’ Footsteps, Twice
marc.zarefsky2022-04-10T20:14:51-05:00When Dominick Calamino, Jr. was attending Chicago Vocational High School in the mid-60’s, the U.S. Army was drafting young men to serve in the Vietnam War.
Bill Baker: Underwater Demolition and Cartography Expert
marc.zarefsky2022-04-09T21:38:13-05:00William “Bill” Baker grew up probably as far from the sea as one could in the States. Born in Minneapolis on January 5, 1940, he lived in Maple Lake just north and west of the Twin Cities, surrounded by farm country.
Howard Fry: Red Crown Shoots Down 15 MiGs
marc.zarefsky2021-11-04T10:15:24-05:00During high school, Howard was a member of Junior ROTC. Thus, he learned basic military skills including marching and handling a rifle.
David Grauer: Gunner on the Destroyer
marc.zarefsky2021-11-04T10:13:59-05:00David Grauer feels bad that he never saw combat in World War II. He is also very glad he never had to kill anybody.
Jane Moyers: “Craps” as a Recovery Method
marc.zarefsky2021-10-01T12:02:19-05:00When Jane Moyers graduated from Madonna High School, she was already determined to pursue a career in nursing.
Donna Glielmi: A Data Systems Technician
marc.zarefsky2021-09-29T20:25:00-05:00When Donna Glielmi and her fraternal twin sister were born in Chicago in 1955, her mother hadn’t known that she was pregnant with twins.
Mary Arvidson: 30 Years of Intelligence Work
marc.zarefsky2021-09-29T20:08:33-05:00With her good high school grades, Mary Arvidson was assigned to become a Traffic Analyst, tracking radio signals from foreign military units.