Bill served in the US Army, 70th Division Infantry, 276th Regiment, during World War II. In January 1945, he and 180 platoon mates were captured by German troops during the battle of Wingen-sur-Moder and were held in a church in Wingen, France where Bill was hit with a piece of shrapnel from a shell that came through a stained glass window and exploded near the alter of the church. After four days in captivity, his platoon was liberated by American forces as they re-took the town. His decorations are a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. His army unit received a Presidential Unit Citation for its collective valor. Bill received undergraduate and law degrees from USC and practiced law in Southern California for over thirty years. Bill is 94 and lives on Balboa Island.

Ed is a 1966 graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma University and holds masters degrees from Pepperdine University and the University of Minnesota. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1967. He has served as the Commanding General of Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia, and the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. From 2004-2006 Ed served as the U.S. Military Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military Committee at NATO headquarters in Brussels, representing the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in deliberations and actions on the Military Committee, the highest military authority of NATO. He also worked closely with military representatives of NATO and Partnership for Peace member nations to develop policy recommendations for the political authorities of the Alliance. He retired as a Lieutenant General in 2007. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf, Legion of Merit with two gold stars, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and gold star, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Harry was a B-17 pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force 457th Bomb Group during World War II from November 1942 to December 1945, and on reserve duty until 1963. On Sept 12, 1944, eight hundred and fifty bombers flew in formation to hit at targets deep in Germany, including the 457th Bomb Group with Harry piloting his 7th bombing mission in a B-17 named “American Eagle.” Northeast of Berlin the bombers turned south towards the aluminum works at Lauta and encountered heavy anti-aircraft flak. The congested skies caused Harry’s Group Commander to take evasive action, which shuffled the deck with another bomb group, causing the 457th to break formation and scatter. The Luftwaffe used that opportunity to strike with 50 to 60 planes at the out-of-formation bombers. “American Eagle” was attacked by FW-190 fighters, whose cannon shells hit the B-17’s bomb bay, riddled the cockpit causing it to catch fire, and shot its tail off causing it to spiral down, shake violently and then explode in mid-air. Harry was knocked unconscious by the blast. When he regained consciousness, Harry found himself in the v of the windshield. He tried to climb through a window, but realized he was floating to the ground in the wreckage of the cockpit. He climbed out at about 800 feet and opened his parachute as pieces of wreckage fell around him. On the ground, he never saw any of his crew. Harry was captured 3 hours later and spent nine months as a prisoner of war in Stalag #1 at Barth on the Baltic. He was the only survivor of the 9-man crew. Harry’s decorations include the Air Medal, Purple Heart, ETO Theater medal. American Defense medal, American Theater medal, and a World War II Victory Medal. Harry is 97 years old, resides in Corona del Mar, and is a docent at the Lyon Air Museum.

Pat was born on March 16, 1946 in Seattle. He was drafted after high school graduation, was sent to Vietnam with the US Army 9th Infantry Division, and served as a radio operator assisting his company commander with troop directions. After ten months of combat duty, Pat was wounded and lost his right foot. He was awarded the Silver Star for service above the call of duty. When Pat returned home, he earned a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management and enjoyed 35 years in the Food Brokerage business as a salesman. Pat now plays golf three times a week, and his favorite course is Pebble Beach.

Frank is a 1981 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a 1986 graduate of the Defense Information School. In his final active duty assignment, Frank was the U.S. Navy’s Chief of Information, serving as principal spokesman for the Department of the Navy and providing strategic communication counsel to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations He previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense responsible for overseeing Department of Defense efforts to shape department-wide communication doctrine, organization, and training for the joint forces. As director of the strategic communication integration group secretariat, Frank also led efforts for strategic communication auspices of the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He served as the special assistant for public affairs to the Chief of Naval Operations., and then as special assistant for public affairs officer for the Bureau of Naval Personnel; Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet; Joint Task Force Middle East; Cruiser Destroyer Group 12; and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. He has also served as director of public affairs and congressional notification at the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (2), Legion of Merit (2), Meritorious Service Medal (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal (2), and the Navy Commendation Medal (3).

Commissioned a lieutenant in 1988, Greg’s Navy Reserve tours included the USS Bristol County, Naval Hospital San Diego, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 17 and Assistant Fleet Chaplain, Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific. Greg’s Reserve Marine Corps assignments as Command Chaplain included the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment and Marine Aircraft Group 46. Greg was recalled to active duty in February 2003 for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as Command Chaplain, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing RBE, and as the acting Wing Chaplain. After mobilization, Greg was selected as Deputy Force Chaplain, Reserve Matters, Marine Forces Pacific, in 2009 as Deputy Chaplain of the Marine Corps for Reserve Matters at the Pentagon, and in 2010 as the 17th Deputy Chief of Chaplains for Reserve Matters and Director of Religious Programs on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, Marine Forces Reserves. Greg retired from the Navy in 2013. His decorations include the Legion of Merit (2 awards), Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards). Greg is the Pastor and Head of Staff at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bakersfield.

Tom is a 1964 graduate with distinction of the United States Naval Academy, receiving the NAAA Sword and the Cooke Memorial Fund Award. Tom was a 3-year football letterman as a center and inside linebacker and the captain of the 1963 Navy Cotton Bowl team quarterbacked by Roger Staubach, that season’s Heisman Trophy winner, which finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation. As an Ensign, Lieutenant and Admiral, Tom completed three active duty tours and several billets at the Academy. At sea, his leadership positions included commanding officer of the USS Truet, commander Destroyer Squadron Twenty-six, commander Cruise Destroyer Group Twelve, including commander of the Eisenhower Battle Group during Operation Desert Shield. His naval service also included Chief, Navy Legislative Affairs, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy from 1991 to 1994 and Director of the Navy Staff at the Pentagon from 1994 to 1995. After a 31-year career, Tom retired in 1995 as a Rear Admiral. In 2010, he received the USNA Distinguished Graduate Award. He also serves as a director of the Naval Academy Foundation and as a trustee of its Athletic and Scholarship Program.

Steve was the founding sponsor of Military Appreciation Day in 2015. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967 to 1970 and is a combat decorated, disabled Veteran of the Vietnam War. Steve’s decorations include the Purple Heart Medal with Silver Star, Vietnam Wound Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Marine Corps Combat Action Medal. His combat unit received the Navy Meritorious Unit Citation Medal for Actions Consistent with the Awarding of the Bronze Star. Mr. Wilburn is a senior, internationally recognized energy executive with over thirty-five years of experience in the development and implementation of innovative, industry changing and highly successful, alternative energy projects and wastewater treatment technologies. He was the former VP of Business Development of the Allied Signal Corporation. At this stage in his career he has successfully developed dozens of energy and water projects worldwide totaling over $2 billion.

After graduating from Princeton in 1969, Jay served 7 years in the Navy, flying A-6 Intruder carrier based jet bombers and as a staff officer with NATO in Naples, Italy. He flew almost 200 combat missions in Vietnam during the Linebacker air campaigns in 1972 over North and South Vietnam. While working for NATO, Jay was in charge of the Southern Region of Europe’s nuclear strike plan and also obtained a Master’s in Business Administration through the Boston University overseas program. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, 11 Strike/Flight Air Medals, 2 Individual Flight Medals, 2 Navy Commendation Medals with Combat “V”, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. After leaving the Navy, Jay earned a law degree from the UC Hastings and practiced estate planning law in Orange County for over 30 years. He has volunteered for many years as a member of the Hoag Planned Giving Advisory Committee. Jay and his wife Penny reside in Newport Beach.