Sierra Mountain Times

Tuesday, November 11th is Veterans’ Day. Do you know any veterans? (asked in Sonora)

“Me! I’m a vet! I was in the Navy, a Corpsman, a medic, stationed in San Diego from 1960 to 1963. I was in and out before all the stuff happened in Vietnam. But my brother, Frank, was over there as a combat door gunner and crew chief on a helicopter, in the 101st Airborne, in 1968. He came home alive, but he lost a lot of friends. I salute any veteran, ANY veteran! My dad, Louis, served in WW II. He was a B-17 belly gunner in the Army Air Corps. My youngest brother, Dennis, was in the Army, in Korea, on the 38th Parallel. And I had two cousins, one in the Army, the other in the Air Force. We were all military, and not one bit ashamed of being in the military. I did my time, and I served my country!” – Moe Tresenrider, Sonora (logging truck driver)

“I served in Vietnam. I got out in ’67, after a year there. I came out a Specialist 5, same rank as a Buck Sargeant. I was in communications. My dad, Eugene served in WW II. He was a Naval gunner. Veterans’ Day means honoring the commitment the veterans gave to this country, for our freedom.” – Jerry Cummings, Columbia, (bartender)

“Yes, I do! Rusty, Don, Jim, Moe, lots of veterans! My brother, Steve. Veterans’ Day is the day to honor the people who put their lives on the line for all the rest of us. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to live like we live now. And it would be a much worse place than it is.”—Leslie Schatz, Sonora, (housewife)

“The veteran that I know is my son, Michael. He was in the Navy between ’94 and ’98, stationed up in Washington. And, he’s very special because he wanted to change his life, and he wanted to make this country better. So he decided to join the Navy, and worked as a mechanic, on the jets. We’re very proud of him. He was a petty officer, an air structural mechanic. He belonged to the VAQ 132 Squadron. Also, my husband, Paul was in the Army; and I’ve known other veterans who were in Vietnam. And I’m just thankful for my freedom. And every time I watch my grandchildren play, I know that somebody gave their life, gave their time – or gave of their family, so that my family can play and live in peace.” – Pat Padavana, Soulsbyville, (ad services/wedding coordinator)

“I know many, hundreds, thousands of veterans – all over the United States! I travel a lot all over the U.S., speaking at functions. I work with the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. I work with the Army Special Operations Charities. I went into the service in 1968. And, I’m a veteran of the Vietnam War. I served in the armed forces until 1990. I retired out of Delta Force, our counter-terrorism force, as a squadron Sgt/Major. I was in Special Forces. A lot of people called us “Green Berets”.  I also served as operations Sgt/Major for British/French forces in Berlin. Veterans Day is everything. But, unfortunately, it generally turns into a holiday for people to go do all their shopping. To me, it’s a day we honor veterans of all wars we fought in. It’s a day to reflect on the freedoms that we have, as a result of those veterans.”—Jon Cavaiani, Columbia, (Medal of Honor Recipient/ military retired/NHRA Veterans’ Ambassador)