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ADAB, Roberto Abad
Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
 
Of Los Angeles, California. Abad died due to enemy action in An Najaf Province, Iraq. He was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Died on August 6, 2004 at age 22.

ACOSTA, Genaro
Specialist, U.S. Army
 
of Fair Oaks, California. Acosta was on patrol when his Bradley vehicle hit and detonated two improvised explosive devices in Taji, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), Fort Hood, Texas. Died on November 11, 2003 at ange 26.
ACOSTA, Steven
Private First Class, U.S. Army
 
Of Calexico, California. Acosta died from a non-hostile gunshot wound in Baqubah, Iraq. He was assigned to C Company, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Died on October 26, 2003 at age 19.

AITKEN, Lowell A
 
Colonel USA, CA SMR, Ret. I was drafted in 1943, and assigned to the Tank Destroyer Command in Texas. Due to need in the Pacific Theater for Amphibian Tractors to overcome Japanese beach obstacles and coral reef barriers, my battalion was transferred to Fort Ord for training as an Amph Trac Battalion. Upon completion of training, we were shipped to Bouganville and joined the 37th Division for the upcoming invasion of the Philippines. In January 9th, 1945 we took part in the assault landings on Luzon Island and continued the attack to Manila. After the liberation of Manila, the Battalion joined the 11th Airborne Division to liberate the prisoners of the Los Banos Internment Camp. Together the two American units rescued 2,654 US prisoners without any casualties. After the Luzon campaign, I was transferred to a new unit in Luzon. It was the 3rd Battalion of the 123rd Infantry, 33rd Division. The division had just been pulled off the line to prepare for the Kyushu landings in Japan when the war was ended. My role as a rifleman ended there, happily. The whole division was loaded onto transports and sent to Japan, Osaka and Kobe, as the occupying force. It was enjoyable for the six months I was there and as luck would have it, I was given the job of Battalion Operations Sergeant.
 
I returned to California in February 1946 and re-enrolled in the University of California at Berkeley, graduating four years later.
 
The Army offered me a regular commission as a 2nd Lt., and off I went, again to Fort Ord. Three weeks later somebody started the Korean War and for some reason Infantry 2nd Lts. Were in great demand. I ended up jumping out of airplanes at Fort Benning, GA, and then was headed toward Korea with the 187 Airborne Regiment. Needless to say I eagerly awaited the assignment but by the time I arrived in Japan, the 187 had been pulled back to Japan in reserve. I didn't want to sit in Japan so volunteered for assignment to the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. I ended up as a platoon leader in the 9th Infantry and later was transferred to the G 2 Section of the 2nd Division headquarters as Operations Officer. I served until the day the truce was declared and returned to the US. After Korea I went to the 11th Airborne Division in Kentucky, then to the Infantry Advanced Course at Ft. Benning. After attending the Army Language School, Presidio of Monterey, to study German, I was assigned to Germany.
 
I had an intelligence assignment which allowed me to travel all over Germany. Then I was given an assignment as the Liaison Officers post to the West German Army. After three years I was transferred to Vietnam. There I was assigned as an intelligence officer, 7th Corps covering the Highlands of Vietnam. Afterwards, I was again returned to Germany, to my previous post as Liaison Officer to the West German Army. After my tour, I again returned to Vietnam. After that assignment, I retired from active service.
Returning to California I was requested by the Adjutant General of the State to aid in establishing the State Military Reserve. Strictly a volunteer position, I served as the G3, Operations, for over five years, until I again retired.
 
ALVAREZ, Ramon F.
Sergeant, U.S. Army

U.S. Army, December 1981-July 1995. My time there was truly an experience to remember. I volunteered to serve and if I had to do it again I would. Along with my buddy Sgt. Barry O'Donnell we went to serve after arriving at Ft. Jackson, got trained and ready for war. I was with the 333rd Special Troops Co. under Col. Gruatzmacher. Was in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia & Southern Iraq. Was the Aerial Port of Debarkation NCO for incoming soldiers, I was proud to serve and be part of history!

ARNBERG, Wilber Harding
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army (retired)

Born: November 2, 1920, San Leandro, CA. Raised: Oakland, CA Died: June 8, 2004, Walnut Creek, CA
Nickname: "Will"
Entered Service: Enlisted regular Army Medical Service from Santa Cruz, CA April 1937 and September 1939. Graduated Medical Administrative Corps officers Candidate School Class #2, Carlisle Barracks, PA. Discharged as Technical Sergeant. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant Medical Administrative Corps, Army of the United States, 24 December 1941.
Duties Performed:
Served in all positions in 34 1/2 years: Field Administrative, Dispensary and Hospital Units in grades 2nd Lieutenant through Lieutenant Colonel.
Please note:
(My husband phrased this info in another way-as follows: Duties were Adjutant, Administration of Military Justice, Food Services Supervisor, Inspector General and Commander, Military and Civilian Personnel, Operation and Training).
Organization Assignments:
11 th Medical Regiment, Schofield Bks, T.H. Station Dispensary, Ft. Kamehameha T.H..Station Hospital, Hamilton Field, CA, Officer Candidate School-Carlisle Barracks, PA, 63rd Medical Battalion, Ft. Ord, CA, 63rd medical Battalion, Ft. Lewis, WA, 596 Ambulance Co., Ft. Lewis, WA, ETO and PTO. Oakland Regional Station Hospital, Oakland, CA, 2nd Medical Battalion, Ft. Lewis, WA, 155th Station Hospital, Yokohama, Japan, U.S. Army Hospital, Camp Roberts, CA, 6513 ASU Reserve Gp, Los Angeles, CA, Student Det AMSS, Brook Army Med. Ctr., Ft. Sam Houston, TX, 56th Medical Bn (Sep) EUSAREUR, Crailsheim, Germany and Neu-Ulm, Germany 10th General Dispensary!, Frankfurt, Germany; TOY University of Maryland, MD; 43rd Medical Group, Ft. Lewis, WA, Madigan General Hospital, Ft. Lewis, WA (Detailed Inspector General), Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI (Detailed Inspector General), Hq. U.S. Army Medical Laboratory, Fort Baker, CA. Medical Holding Company, Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, CA Retired: on Medical Disability at Letterman General Hospital 10 December 1971. * On retirement lived in Alameda, CA and then Walnut Creek, CA. Award: Received Surgeon General's Bronze Medallion for over thirty years service. Please see also enclosed papers re other Awards and Decorations. Other U.S. Army assignments: My husband also went to Korea, and I know he was stationed in England early in WWar II.
Other awards also received:
ADSM; ACM; EAME; APCM; WWII Vic Med; Overseas bars; AOM (Ger); AOM (Jap); KSM; CRWMP; UN Svc Med; Af Res Med; NDSM (OLC); Merit Svc Med.
 
AMUNDSON, Carl P. Jr
Colonel (Retired) Honorary Brigadier General.
 
When I was a senior in High School, Pearl Harbor was attacked and World War II was declared. I was ready and willing to go. I listed in a Service Command Unit School where I completed a course in Radio Theory, which was sponsored by the U.S. Signal Corps. In 1943 I volunteered for active service and was sent to the Asiatic Pacific Theater. I was a communication specialist serving as transmitter electrician and repairman, inspected both high and low frequency transmitting equipment and a facilities designer with the 3910th Signal Company.
 
I participated in the capture of Saipan Palan Islands and established a fleet and air to ground station on Imian and received the Presidential citation for outstanding service. I also was sent to the Island of Fiji to establish and design communication units. Also served in Guam, Santo Domingo, and Guantanamo Bay. To perform assigned duties, I was often at the top of a telephone pole installing an antenna when an air raid siren was blasting away. My duties were also to ensure that all communications systems were properly installed and in working condition. I was given an honorable discharge at the end of WW II. Following my service, I was employed by the Department of Defense, providing technical assistance to various posts, camps and stations in the United State. I volunteered for service in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and was assigned to the 221st Signal Corps Division in the photo combat unit covering all aspects of the war. Following this assignment I served as Chief Engineer for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Station Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
 
I followed in my parent's footprints. In 1914, my father, Carl P. Amundson Sr. joined the National Guard in WW I and was attached to the 42d "Rainbow" Division in New York. The Division served under General Pershing, they were shipped to France and he was in the last battle in the Argon Forest, which lasted from 26 Sep to 11 Nov. 1918. He was wounded during the onslaught in the muddy trenches for days full of shrapnel. My father Carl Sr was "gassed" by chemical warfare used by the German army troops. The American troops were issued gas masked but they were not effective against the mustard gas, which caused extreme blistering on bare skin. My mother Leah was a registered nurse and was on duty at local hospitals to care for the wounded soldiers upon their return to the USA.
 
I stayed involved with the Signal Corps Headquarters in Fort Monmouth N.J. until 1972. I served as a Technical advisor/inspector for the Western U300nited States National Guard Units to support Major joint forces field exercises such as Desert Strike and the National Guard Armories to assist in the readiness programs.
 
In 1979 the Governor of the state of California appointed me as Colonel in the California State Military Reserves. During a ceremony at the National Guard Headquarters on November1992, I was further presented a promotion to Honorary Brigadier General in the California State Militia.

ARROYOAVE, Jimmy Javier
Staff Sergeant, USMC Iraq Veteran
December 12, 1973 to April 15, 2004
 

Staff Sergeant Jimmy Javier Arroyave was born on December 12, 1973 in Cali Valle, Columbia. He grew up in Northern California where he enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 17, 1993 under the delayed entry program. On December 7, 1993, he attended Marine Corps Recruit Training in San Diego, CA.

On March 9, 1994 after completing Boot Camp, Prorate Arroyave was assigned duty at the School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, CA for Marine Combat Training.

After the completion of Marine Combat Training he was ordered to the Marine Corps Engineer School at Camp Lejeune, NC where he earned his MOS as a Hygiene Equipment Operator 1(1171). His first duty station as a Hygiene Equipment Operator raps with Marine Wing Support Squadron-372 aboard Camp Petodleton, CA.

In December 1998, Corporal Arroyave was directed to report to Headquarters Battalion, Camp Fuji, Japan for duty while station there he was promoted to Sergeant. After a tour of duty overseas, Sgt Arroyave was assigned to I MEF Headquarters Group, Camp Pendleton, CA. While assigned to I MHG, he attended the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy's Sergeants Course.

On November 1, 2002, Sergeant Arroyave was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He graduated from the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy's Career Course at Camp Pendleton on October 1, 2003. SSgt Arroyave was transferred to 7th Engineer Support Battalion in December 2003. He was assigned to Utilities Platoon, Support Company as a Water Team Leader. In February 2004, SSgt Arroyave deployed with Combat Service Support Battalion - 1 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

SSgt Arroyave was involved in a non-combat vehicle accident in AR Ramadi Iraq where SSgt Arroyave died April 15, 2004

His awards include a Navy Achievement Medal, three Good Conduct Medals, three Meritorious Unit Commendations, two National Defense Medals, a Presidential Unit Citation, a Sea Service Deployment ribbon, and a Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service ribbon.

From: Carmenza M. Brennan
Mom

ATKINSON, Stan
Korean era Veteran
Retired Sacramento news anchor and reporter.
 
In those days the Pentagon drafted in regional call-ups, so Stan volunteered for the draft in November, 1952 - probably a few months before they would have normally "gotten" him - so that he could go through basic with the buddies he grew up with in Santa Barbara and Ventura.
 
During his 16 weeks of basic at Fort Ord, at the urging of his company commander, Atkinson signed up for OCS. Then, he married his high school sweetheart and decided against the added time commitment for becoming an officer. In spite of his change of heart, he was still in the pipeline to attend "leadership school", a 6-week "prep school" for OCS. But he wasn't headed for OCS. So, in an exit interview when he was asked what he did, Atkinson said he had been a radio announcer. "Oh, good," was the response, "You'll make a good instructor!"
 
Stan was sent up to the base "faculty" (that was the teaching system then - base instructors, not cadre - as an assistant instructor. Before long he was teaching classes for the "general subjects committee", himself. Classes like "rules of land warfare", "personal hygiene", "military intelligence" and the like. They were all indoor classes, a blessing with Fort Ord's bad weather.

Thus, as soon as 300 hot and sweaty, sleep-deprived, tired and dirty recruits showed up in class and took a seat, many would promptly go to sleep. The trick, Atkinson found, was to keep them awake. Like - after saying quietly to those awake - "Don't respond to my command" - hollering "tenn-CHUNN!" The sleepy culprits would spring to their feet! Big laugh from everyone else.
 
Atkinson and 3 other privates had arrived at "general subjects" at the same time. They all became known as the "golden boys" for their success at getting "superior" grades (the best possible) after periodic "armed force field forces" inspections. In fact, Fort Ord base commander, MG Robt Mc Clure sent word to the "golden boys" that if they kept getting "superiors" he would keep their fannies out of Korea - and more - give them waivers in rank. Thus all 4 of the "boys" ended up as sergeants in their last 5 months of service (as draftees, 2 years then).
 
"General subjects" was an interesting place. EM's, NCO's and officers essentially were all doing a fairly "rarefied" thing so rank wasn't really a factor. Socializing was the rule - a great bunch of guys having a pretty good time together.
 
Gen Mc Clure was an avid golfer (daily, we heard - and why not in the Pebble Beach - Monterey area).

He was responsible for building, on base, what today are regarded as two exceptional courses "Bayonet" and "Back Horse". So when Ken Venturi, already a top amateur golfer, came out of basic, Mc Clure snapped him up and 'buried' him for a while in the "general subjects" supply room.

His comrades in arms didn't see much of Ken but the general and his golfing pals did.
 
There was some real talent in the group. Ray Cortines, who became superintendent of schools in both New York and San Francisco. And then there was Clint Eastwood - greatly envied by us regular instructors.

Not because he would become one of the world's top actors - back then, who knew? Atkinson and all the 'line' instructors were obliged to look "perfect" - creases on shirts and bloused trousers that would cut your finger. Brass and boots so highly-polished that they would reflect an object miles away. Clint was a swimming instructor. Uniform of the day, every day, blue sweatshirt, khaki pants, and tennis shoes, messy or otherwise. Clint always said he was going to be an actor. So upon discharge, he and another "general subjects" pal set off for Hollywood. Clint made it, the other fellow didn't.
 
Stan was discharged in November of 1954 - a sergeant, honorably, having had an experience that in many ways would help prepare him for a lifetime in television. Standing in front of 900-1200 trainees a day, trying to make often boring material interesting, and being "on stage" and "in charge" were all experiences that contributed to his success in his career.
In the summer of 2002, Atkinson satisfied a life-long desire and spent a day at the beaches at Normandy. For him like entering the ultimate "cathedral" of patriotism and sacrifice. To Stan, those are his heroes.

Just a few years before his retirement, Stan was awarded the California Military History Medal by the California State Military Museum for his long and ongoing dedication to the military of his country.
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