Our Grandview Family Veterans Day Donald Adkins Air Force, Retired Senior Master Sgt. Donald Adkins, USAF, retired from the US Air Force in 1987 after a 20 year career. He served as an Air Traffic Controller in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. His experience also included numerous tours throughout the US. Donald is the grandfather of Emily Barboa, Class of 2014. I joined the U. S. Navy from a local recruiting office here in Denver a year Reilanda Anckle after I graduated from East High School in 1985. My first tour of duty, after Basic training in Orlando Florida, was in Ne Makri Greece for three years. I initially worked as a cook, called a Mess Management Specialist. Navy After my tour in Greece I was sent to Guantanamo Bay to meet my Ship, the USS Puget Sound, (AD-38) a Tender Destroyer Ship. While assigned there for a couple of years I toured the middle east. Our ship went through the Suez Canal and we crossed the equator, not necessarily in that order. When my tour on board my ship ended I went to Military Police Investigator School at Lack land Air Force Base TX and off to Hawaii after training. I stayed in for several years and got out in 1993 for a brief time to take care of my grandparents while participating in the active Navy Reserves here at Buckley Air Force Base. I went back in to Active Duty in 1998 and had to change my job from Military Police Investigator and I became a Religious Program Specialist for the duration of my time in the Navy, excluding my timed served as a Navy Recruiter (2005-2008). I retired into the Navy’s Fleet Reserve in March of 2010 and officially retired from the United States Navy in February of 2014 after 30 years of active duty and 5 years in Navy Reserves. I am proud to have served my country. Reilanda is the mother of Amber Santiago, Class of 2016. Col. Courtney Arnold I knew at a very young age that I wanted to join the military and become a pilot. I figured that, if I wanted to be a pilot, then there was no better way to do so than in the military. My father, uncle, and Air Force, Air Force Reserves, brother had all served in the military, so it was something that I was already familiar and comfortable with. During my freshman year of Alaska Air National Guard college, I enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program and received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force when I graduated. After college, I went to Pilot Training and 12 months later I graduated as a USAF Pilot. For the next 25 years, I flew the USAF C-130 transport aircraft all over the world. I flew in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Restore Hope, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In those years, I was a member of the active-duty Air Force, then the Air National Guard, and finally with the Air Force Reserves. When you meet someone who is currently serving or has previously served in the military, you are meeting someone who has sworn an oath to defend this country. And ultimately, swore an oath to give their life in defense of this country. That is as selfless as a person can be. They were all-in, any time, and any place. Each of them is worthy of our gratitude and thanks. Col. Arnold is the father of Ryan Arnold, GHS Class of 2018. Major Stanton F. Benson, who is a decorated veteran of both World Major Stanton F. Benson War II and the Korean Conflict. He received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 6 bronze stars, The American Army Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He was a special liaison for the Army Air Corps to General Patton's Third Army, which he followed through Europe after landing at Normandy 2 weeks after D-Day. Prior to that, he worked as part of the air defense of London at Biggin Hill. He was present at the liberation of the Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, and even in the late years of his life (he passed away in 2008), could not bear to talk about the horrors he witnessed in those terrible places. My Dad was a staunch defender of our freedom and of this country, and I have been greatly blessed to have had a father of such honor, integrity, kindness and warmth. He was buried after a service with full military honors in Salt Lake City, Utah. Major Benson is the grandfather of Connor Lindsey, Class of 2015. Don Black Navy Don served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955, Petty Officer 2nd Class, Aircraft Electrician. Don is the maternal grandpa of Eric Eisaman, Class of 2015. Lt. Col. Ray Bonita began his military career after graduating from the Lt Col. Raphael Bonita State University of New York at Potsdam. In June 1992, he graduated as a 2ndLt from the United States Marine Corps 150th Officer United States Marine Corps Candidate Course in Quantico, VA. He attended US Navy Flight School in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi TX. In May 1995, he received his aviator wings and was then assigned to fly the AH-1W Super Cobra at Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton, CA. From July 1995 through May 2000, he deployed overseas twice as part of the 15th and 31st Marine Expeditionary Units. In May 1999, he graduated as an AH-1W Weapons and Tactics Instructor from Marine Air Weapons Tactics School-1, MCAS Yuma AZ. In May 2000, he rejoined with the Ground Combat Element and served as the Battalion Air Officer/Forward Air Controller for 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance in 29 Palms, CA. In October 2005 he transitioned from active duty in the Marine Corps to the USAF Reserves. He continued flying until October 2008, until they moved their family to Colorado. His final military assignment until retirement in 2013 was at NORAD in Colorado Springs, CO. His billets included the Senior Air Defense FAA Liaison Officer and Reserve Training Officer. Ray is the father of GHS student Isabelle Bonita, Class of 2021. LCDR W.T. Boykin, Jr. USNR MSC Sworn in to the US Naval Reserve on September 16th 1986 as a Lieutenant (Junior Grade) and honorably discharged on December 1st 2006 reaching the rank of Lt. Commander Medical Service Corp. LCDR Boykin spent most of his military time serving with the Marines in Fleet Hospital as a hospital administrator. He attended Combat Casualty school (C-4); served on the Admirals staff in Korea for 17 days; Director of Administration for Fleet Hospital Ft. Dix, NJ; training evolutions at Bethesda Naval Hospital as well as the Navy Medical Department at Foggy Bottom in DC; evolutions at Ft. Bragg Army Hospital, Camp Lejeune Naval hospital along with Alameda Naval Air station. Expert marksman pistol and Navy Achievement medal. Lieutenant Boykin is the father of Miles Boykin, Class of 2017. Mack Brown, Jr. Air Force Mack Brown, was in the Air Force and served during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. He retired as a Senior Master Sgt. after 20+ years of service. He was born on November 11, 1928 and passed away on August 15, 1999. Mack Brown, Jr. is the grandfather of Matthew Fourroux, Class of 2017. Charles G (Gregg) Bruch enlisted as an Apprentice Seaman in the U. S. Naval Reserve during 1947 upon reaching the age of 17. He participated in weekly Cmdr. Charles G. Bruch, Ret. training drills at Naval Reserve Training Centers in Cheyenne, WY, Denver, CO, and Elizabeth, NJ. During this time he made four two-week training- Navy cruises on Navy ships and progressed to the grade of Petty Officer 2nd Class as an Electronics Technician. During 1952 he was selected to attend the Reserve Officer Candidate School at the Long Beach, CA, Naval station. After graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1954, Gregg was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and called to active duty, serving two years in the Public Works Departments of the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA, and the Fleet Air Defense Training Center, Dam Neck, VA. Gregg continued to serve in multiple places as an Assistant Resident Officer of Construction, Operations Officer, Officer in Charge of a Seabee Construction Detail, Project Manager for facilities, Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, Public Works Officer and Officer in Charge of Construction, and Director of Engineering in the I-Corps Base Development Office, He retired as a Commander in 1974, having served 27 years. His ribbons and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Naval Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Navy Unit Commendation (Civic Action), and Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation. Cmdr. Bruch is the grandfather of Mariah Bengtson, Class of 2016. Eve Casiano US Marines Eve Casiano is the first in her family to be born in the United States. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and raised to be proud of her American citizenship, she was the first in her family to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. She joined the Marine Corps in 1983 and served 4 years on active duty and 2 years in the Reserves in the Signals Intelligence field (MOS 2621 & 2651). She served all 4 years of active duty at HQTRS. Marine Corps/the Pentagon in Washington D.C.