Category Archives: Vet Encounters

Army Crew surrounds Marine

Now this crew was tough. Far Right is Robert he was both a Marine and Army soldier. First a Marine 1987-1988 where he made Chesty Puller proud by having a little trouble or too much fun and found himself to be a civilian again after a year in our Corps. That's ok when the war broke out after 2001, Robert got himself into the Army and served us as a Combat Engineer and Human Resource Specialist. He deployed to Iraq twice 2003 and 2009-10. Paul on his left was first Army Guard 1980-1991 then Army 1991 to 2008 as a Combat Engineer. He served during Desert Storm in Germany and was a Staff Sergeant. To my left is Richard Vietnam Veteran 1966-1969 two tours with 85th Engineers building roads and air strips all over Vietnam.

Army Scout

Alexander here checked in with the Captain. Alexander was a Cavalry Scout. Served us all from 2019 to 2022. He was a Specialist and found himself deployed all over Europe. From Germany, Romania, Albania, Poland, Bulgaria. This scout served with HHC 116th Cavalry Regiment. Awesome guy and family, enjoyed meeting and talking with him very much.

Lt. Colonel West Pointer

Here is Jason he is a 1992 Graduate of West Point. Senator Hatch sponsored this future cadet turned LtCol. US Army Intelligence Officer. Jason served us all from 1992 to 2012. His tours of duty took him to Afghanistan, Korea, England, Guantanamo Bay and to Lackland Air Base Joint Intelligence Information Operations Command. Jason attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College as well.

Air Force Proud

Meet Robert, a proud US Air Force Veteran and Fireman. He served us all from 1978 to 1984 as a Sergeant. He served at Air Base Eielison in Alaska, Air Base Edwards California, Air Base Seymour Johnson in North Carolina, and Air Base Shepard in Texas. HIs time in service as a fireman took him to England and during his time he was trained him up to be at the ready for the Space shuttle missions.

US Navy-Army and Air Force!

Meet Allen. "Hat trick" Allen, what a story of service he has. US Navy 1984-1999, US Army 1999-2003, US Air Force 2003 to 2005. Starting as a Torpedo-man 2nd Class Petty Officer on guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG67). Allen participated in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom. Five deployments. During 2003, Sergeant Allen was in Iraq with the Army Guard's 489th Garrison Engineers. After 20 years of service Allen retired from the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant with the Air Force reserve's 419th Combat Logistics Support in 2005.
USS Shiloh

Air Cav Door Gunners US Army

Meet Larry he served us in Vietnam 1969-1975. Larry was a Sergant and door gunner on Huey helicopters with US Army's infamous 1st Air Catvalry. He served two tours in country and had many close calls when in combat. Sadly he now suffers the effects of Agent Orange. Larry's brother Dale was also a US Army door gunner during the war with 1st Cavalry Division 7th Air Cavalry Regiment. Dale was a Staff Sergeant and served us 1969-1978. Dale was highly decorated with Bronze Star, Air Medals and Purple Hearts. SSGT Dale survived 8 helicopter crashes. Dale came home and continued to serve our country by helping our veterans at the Veterans Administration. Sadly Dale suffered multiple health complications and cancer from the effects of Agent Orange. Dale ended his own life after the effects were to great to overcome. May we never forget the sacrifices Dale and his brother both made while serving in that war.

Veterans!!!!!

Meet Gary US Navy 1969-1972 we met at the convoy to Shriners Hospital for kids.
Meet Jerald, US Army 1969-1971 Missile tech Spec-4. He also was at the Shriner Hospital convoy for kids.
Ok everyone, this is Daniel we met at Home Depot he came to the USA in the 1980's from South Africa. HIs Dad and he promises to send me photos and bio fought with the British in WW2. His father was in a South African Battalion sent to Italy to battle the Nazi's early 1942. His father was at the Battle of Monte Cassino, the liberation of Rome with Patton's 3rd Armor. He is a patriot and loves this country and our flag as much as anyone.
Meet Andy, US Air Force retired! 1979-2000. He was visiting from Colorado Springs and we met at Home Depot. He served us all for 21 years was a Tech Sergeant working with Space systems. That is global GPS, Missile Warning systems. He is a American Legion Rider Post 209 Colorado Springs which he helped start. Great guy patriot. I could have stayed at HOme Depot all day but I had to leave so many patriots among us and so many to meet and honor.
Now you all know I was at Lagoon Park. There are so many great patriots working here at this Utah treasure of a business. Meet Captain...Captain meets Captain. Joe here served us all in the US Air Force as a Security Forces Police Officer, He served from 1977-1992. He is a proud veteran, patriot and squared away secutrity officer at Lagoon. I really enjoyed sharing stories with him and hope to see him again.
Meet Gary srved us all 1964 to 1968 as a Staff Sergeant US Army Infantry. Was with 8th Special Forces served in Panama.
Ok these two were super patriots that fired the Captain up. We have Jessica she served us all in the US Air Force Security Forces from 1991 to 2011! Way to go Jessica the whole 9 yards. Master Sergeant Jessica served in Kuwait and Iraq 1997. Her Step Dad is a Marine who served during the Vietnam War. Tim here served us all with the US Army 2011 to 2016, served in Korea as a Specialist worked on power generaton for our deployed camps. They fully support the Captain and we look forward to getting together again. Ohra
Another meeting fo the Captains. Captain meets Captain here is a Captain in the Air Force who served us all from 1993 to 2008 as an aquisition engineer. The Captain ran the Pilot training for KC-10 tankers, and other aircraft.
Now you know this campaign is all about veterans and first responders. So meet Aliza she has been an EMT for a year now certified with EMT Utah and is a student at Weber State in the Criminal Justice program. She wants to be an FBI Agent one day. I have no doubt they will want her. She is also studying two foreign languages and she is a true patriot serving us all. On the friendly staff at Lagoon ready render aid at the park as an EMT.
Another Lagoon EMT Dallin has been certified and working for us all since May of this year! He is the new guy
Ok here comes a combat Army veteran. This is Corporal Kyle, he served us all from 2006 to 2010. Love this guy he was a Motor T guy like the Captain but he was on a Gun Truck with the 109th GTC Gun Truck Company served in Iraq 2006-07 for 15 months. Very proud Army and loved giving the Captain some gruff for being a Leatherneck.
Ok look out Field Grade Officer on Deck. Meet Sal, he was a LtCol in the US Army. He served us all in Bosnia, Afghanisran and Korea. He has been in and out of the reserves and active duty from 1981 to 2019
Another great employee of Lagoon who works as an EMT and is a true patriot supporting our campaign.
This is a loaded one. A first responder and Army Veteran married to a Marine. Meet Sierra she served 2017-2018 injured while in service as a PFC. Her husband Marine 0331 Infantry Machine gunner served us 2015-2019 and deployed with Marine Infantry Battalion with an Expededitionary Unit.
Meet Shane here he served us in the US Navy 1986 to 1999. An Electricians Mate. But that was not enough so he joned the Air Force serving us all at a Tech Sergeant 1999 to 2011! He was a "Port Dog" loading delivery in C-17's C5's and C130's.
Meet Dayton, Marine veteran 1997 to 2005. He was a Corporal working HIgh Frequency Radio. Semper Fi Brother
Meet Bill, US Navy veteran and married to a Marine veteran. Now that is a true Navy Marine Corps team. Bill is one of the long time organizers of the Bonneville Chevy Club members who puts the Lagoon show together. Thank all so much for this show it is fantastic. My favorite one so far!
Ok this is Jerry he served us all as a Master Seargent US Army 1985-2011 he was a Supply guy. HIs brother Jay served us in the Marines as a Lance Corporal and he was a weather specialist! Their Grandfather (hope to get photos) was a WW2 Marine served in the Pacific at Guadalcanal. Their Dad served in the Air Force in Greenland 1961-1964.
Jay 1983-1987
Meet Carl. A pilot and Air Force Veteran and huge supporter of Gartforvets. We share the same barber! Carl loved the Gunship winnebago and I hope to get with him for some more details about his service and his Dad's service in WW2. Stand by.
And now we have another Captain Meets Captain. Marine and Marine young and Old Corps under the EGA. Sterling here is an Infantry Marine served from 2016 to 2021. Deployed with 31st Marine Expededitionary Unit and member of 1st Battalion 4th Marine Regiment. He is currently in the National Guard trying to get a command billet with a Marine Corps Reserve unit in Utah. He is the proud father of 4 beautful children and a proud veteran and supporter of this campaign. Thanks Skipper...Semper Fi!

Family of Patriots

WW1 to today a family of Veterans

I had the pleasure of meeting Eric and Deanna at the Gartforvets & Kaiser Willys Jeep Rally  August 27th at Heber, Utah. Eric and Deanna traveled in from Colorado to participate with their Flat Fender CJ-3A.  Fantatstic people and very patriotic.  Here they have submitted their family members who have served us all.  This is a family of patriots. From youngest to oldest…

This is Krys, Eric and Deanna's Grandaughter at her graduation from basic in Feb. 2022. Thank you for stepping up to serve us all Krys.
Proud parents of their daughter LIz who served us all in the Navy from 2001 - 2014.
Eric's brother Paul who served and retired from his service to us all with the US Army. Look at all those service stripes he did us all proud.
Now Eric's Dad and Uncle. Arthur Eric's Dad on the right a Sergeant 1st class during the Korean war and his uncle Lorren US Navy.
Now this is Eric's Grandfather Roy Pardew who served us all during WW1. He served in the Navy aboard the USS Oregon. He worked on board as a butcher on the mess decks. Ths photo was taken in 1919 which was an important year in the USS Oregon's service.
Here she is, just awesome commisioned in time to serve during the Spanish American war July, 1898. She was an awesome battle ship which projected American power all over the world.
This photo take at the start of WW1 1914. She seved us well Spanish American War, Philiipinne War, served in China 1903, WW1 time frame she escorted our troops who interviened in the Russian revolution at that time. She then took a break and was decommissioned 1919 after participating in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

Now it gets interesting when WW2 kicks off and thereafter what happens to her and where some of her parts are:

Oregon was redesignated with the hull number IX-22 on 17 February 1941. After the United States entered World War II with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the Navy determined that Oregon ought to be sold for scrap to free resources for the war effort. She was accordingly struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 2 November 1942 and was sold to ship breakers on 7 December. In March 1943, she was towed to Kalama, Washington to be broken up, but after the work began the Navy decided that Oregon would be of use during the planned reconquest of Guam scheduled for mid-1944, either as a storage hulk or as a breakwater. The Navy requested that the breakers stop after the superstructure had been cleared and her internal fittings and equipment had been removed and to return her. She was then loaded with ammunition to support the forces that would invade Guam and towed there as part of the invasion fleet.

The vessel remained moored in Guam through the end of the war in 1945 and for several years thereafter. During this period, on the night of 14–15 November 1948, Oregon broke free from her moorings during Typhoon Agnes and drifted away. After an extensive search, aircraft located the vessel adrift some 500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi) southeast of Guam. The ship was towed back to Guam, and she remained there until 1956, when on 15 March she was sold to Massey Supply Corporation, which in turn resold her to Iwai Sanggo Company of Kawasaki, Japan. She was then towed there and broken up.

Several parts of the ship remain in Portland; her military foremast was erected in 1956 at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park and her wheel is held in the collection of the Oregon Historical Society. Both of her funnels also survive, but are not on public display.

Thank you both for coming out to support my campaign and for following through and forwarding me your family of patriots photos so that I could honor them here.  Friends for life, see you during my trip across America.  Capt. Scott