Category Archives: Vet Encounters

Meet Dave on my right and his beat Partner on patrol lower Manahattan, NYC. Dave is not only a veteran Police Officer but a Marine Corps Infantry NCO and Army veteran. Dave has combat deployments in Iraq behind him and will soon be ready to retire from the NYPD. Dave is a highly motivated patriot who has and is serving us honarably now. He is mentoring all the younger police officers and is a credit to his department. It w as an honor to meet him and his partner while I was back in NYC. Semper Fi Dave.

Vet Encounters

US Army

September 20, 2022 thecaptain@gartforvets.org Leave a comment

Young patriot future First Responder. Love and respects America!

Frank J. Bonomo. Firefighter. Fire Department City of New York. New York. Age: 42. Year of Death: 2001. Frank was a loving husband‚ son‚ brother and incredible dad to Joseph‚ 4 and Juliana 1. He lived a full life enriched with many friends. He was an achiever in life.

Meet Pleasant Grove Police Officer Ruiz he also performed and sang our national anthem at the T2T run event!

Meet Ron he served us all in the US Navy 1964-1970. He served on the USS Coral Sea Aircraft Carrier as a Jet Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd class Petty Officer. He served in Vietam 1965-1967.

Meet Terry he served us all as a Marine infantry Sergeant with both the 27th Regiment and 4th Regiments in Vietnam. He served 13 months was awarded multiple Purple Hearts during combat 1968. His unit faught the less talked about February Tet offensive as well as the Mini Tet.

Vet Encounters

Never Forget SSGT. Landon Leo Hencscheld

September 13, 2022 thecaptain@gartforvets.org Leave a comment

This young man represents the very best of our American spirit. A patriot that joined our “all voluntary military services” which I fear many young people take for granted. He was raised to embrace all the good our nation has to offer. Sadly, he as many before and after him had tragically suffered wounds from his service in a war zone. He was a fighter that faught to overcome his wounds and health complications that followed. With his family by his side he finally succumbed to his fight and returned to a better place on of all days December 7th 2013. We will never forget his service to us all, especially those he served with in the field as a medic.

I had the honor to meet his mother Janet and father Don at Gunnison’s 9/11 remember memorial activities this year. They have taken tragedy and loss and turned it into a way to honor, heal and raise awarness for those who serve today and those who have sacrificed so much. Many who have lost a family member struggle to find the strength to do such things but like their son they are strong and proud and they manage to do this for us all. What a family, what a man they raised up to be. They are patriots of the highest order and a Gold Star Family to keep in our prays.