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Hudson Catholic Tribute
To Our Veterans of the Armed Services
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To our Veterans of the Armed Services,
'In service to others' is a Lasallian mantra that Hudson Catholic has always sought to impress upon its students and graduates as a worthy way to lead our lives.
Your choice to serve our nation is perhaps the highest calling a person can make to live their life in service to others.
This special edition of Building The Legacy is aimed at celebrating all our Hawk Veterans and highlighting the service of many of them.
On this occasion of Veterans Day, as our part of a grateful nation that salutes you, please accept the gratitude being conveyed to 95 Military Hawks on record, on behalf of the entire Hudson Catholic community, for your courage, your service to our nation, and for the sacrifices made by your families.
From The Home of The Hawks
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The Origins of Veterans Day | |
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In 1918, at the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Allied Supreme Commander, Marshal Ferdinand Foch signed the Armistice of Compiegne on a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne, France, ending the fighting of Wold War I and setting the stage for the surrender of Germany and the Peace Treaty of Versailles the following year. Even so, 2,738 men died that day.
In the United States, Congress in 1938 declared Armistice Day, November 11th, as a national holiday to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. In 1954, Armistice Day was officially renamed to Veterans Day.
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Our Military Veterans
Lasallians demonstrating the ultimate
'Service to Others'
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Within the ranks of Alumni, there are more Veterans of the Armed Services than those we have profiled here. We have 35 known Veterans from whom we were unable to obtain information about their service for inclusion herein, nine of whom were unable to receive our request and this communication. We are grateful to each and every one.
Among 'known' military veterans, they number 38 Army, 26 Navy, 17 Marine Corps, 13 Air Force, 2 Merchant Marines, and 2 Coast Guard, with three Hawks serving in multiple branches -- Joe Kelly '81, Jack Dunne '83, Billy Neil '87. Two -- Marlon Jackson '97 and Billy Neil '87 -- made the ultimate sacrifice.
In total, our 95 Hawk Veterans, including three Army Colonels and three Naval Commanders, have given an estimated 935 years of service to our country, at home and around the globe, in the name of freedom. And it all started with 10 Pioneer Hawks from the Class of '68 who went into service following their school days at the height of the Vietnam War.
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Long before any Hawk could volunteer or be drafted into the Armed Forces, a veteran of the Vietnam War came to Hudson Catholic as a member of Faculty in 1969, then-Captain Ken Dandorph U.S. Army served a total of 28 years in the Army, before and after his time at Hudson. Following his service at Hudson Catholic, he reenlisted in the Army and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before his retirement from service. Try as we might, even with the application of 'Monkey Mechanics', we could not locate a photo from Mr. Dandorph's Army days.
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Serving Our Country Today
Please offer prayers for their safe deployments and safe returns home from overseas.
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We start with Staff Sergeant Thomas Bender III '04, U.S. Army serving deep inside Syria (exact location withheld for security reasons) as a Task Force Wolverine in the 1-114th Infantry Division. He has six years' service, just re-upped, and is expected to remain on duty in the Middle East into 2025. He is the son of Hall of Famer Thomas F.X. Bender, Jr. '69.
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Lieutenant Colonel Michael Sarro '97 U.S. Army has served 22 years and counting. His service includes multiple combat deployments, including a year in Taji, Iraq in 2006 as a communications officer, two deployments to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2012 in Kandahar province conducting Civil Affairs operations dealing with the local populace and leadership to build resilience against Taliban influence, and two assignments to East Africa in 2015 and 2016 in the counter Al-Shabaab mission in Northern Kenya and Somalia. Finally out of harms way, he is presently serving in Oahu, Hawaii at Fort Shafter as the Chief Civil-Military Operations Officer for US Army Pacific, with primary focus of CIV-MIL coordination with partner countries involving Humanitarian Assistance/ Disaster Relief exercises and training.
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Lt. Weeshamar Senatus '19, U.S. Army graduated West Point Military Academy (first Hawk ever) in May 2024 and commissioned as a Lieutenant. She is the first Hawk female graduate to serve in the U.S. military. At press time, we were trying to find her present assignment, which we will pass along in the Alumni Spotlight in future.
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Petty Officer Dominik Camooso '21 U.S. Navy is our youngest active Veteran. In his 3.5 years of service, he has been through three Overseas Deployments and, when reached for his story, was deploying again the very next day. Whereabouts unknown at this time.
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Spc. Marlon Jackson '97 U.S. Army KIA 11-11-03. Age 25, died in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He had been assigned to A Company, 94th Engineer Battalion (Heavy Combat), 130th Engineering Brigade, based from Vilseck, Germany. He died of injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device on a road in Tampa, Iraq.
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 |  | Staff Sergeant William 'Billy' Neil '87 (HOF) U.S. Navy / U.S. Army Special Forces KIA 3-22-08, age 38, 14 years service, died when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province near Sperwan Ghar in southern Afghanistan on March 22, 2008 while serving with Company C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). Upon graduating Hudson Catholic, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served four years, but his service to our nation was not complete. After five years he gave up his Wall Street career to enlist in the Army in 1998. He served the 4th Ranger Training Battalion at Fort Benning, GA, went to Army Rangers School, passed the Special Forces Qualification, and became a Green Beret in 2006. Staff Sgt. Neil was a highly decorated soldier, receiving, among other awards and decorations, the Army Commendation Medal, six Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, and the Parachutist Badge. Posthumously, he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
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Robert Mullaly '69 U.S. Navy, Vietnam Veteran, Taps 5-1-95. | |
Seaman Daniel Gilberti '69 U.S. Navy, Vietnam Veteran, Taps 4-15-06. | |
Aircraft Firefighter Eduardo Pena '00 U.S. Marine Corp Taps 9-14-07. | |
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Pioneer Hawk Specialist 4th Class Kevin Adams '68 U.S. Army Taps 12-8-16 was inducted into the Army on June 1, 1970 and soon deployed to Vietnam, serving there until he was wounded. Six feet away from a landmine when it blew up, he was able to save the lives of three other soldiers, for which his heroism was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged in May 1971.
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Pioneer Hawk Captain Brian Nodine '68 U.S. Army Reserve Taps 5-10-20. After graduating from St. Peter's College ROTC in 1972 as a 2nd Lieutenant, he served in field artillery. He was fond of joking that he spent eight years in the Army Reserve - at Caven Point!
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Pioneer Hawk Combat Engineer Charlie Hart '68 U.S. Army Taps 10-10-20 volunteered on the Buddy System in September 1968 with classmate Robert Behson. They served in Vietnam, re-upping not once but twice for a total of three tours of combat duty in Vietnam. They spent the last year serving in the 864th Engineer Battalion. Needless to say, Charlie and Bob remained close friends for the rest of their lives until Charlie's passing. That is Charlie on the right, Bob on the left, somewhere in hostile territory, in the accompanying photo.
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Pioneer Hawk Corporal Robert Weinel '68 U.S. Marine Corps Taps 11-17-20 entered the Corps October 1, 1969 and was honorably discharged on September 23, 1971, his 21st birthday. He was stationed at Camp H. M. Smith on the island of Oahu, Hawaii during the Vietnam War, assigned to duty in Disbursements on the basis of his finance background -- he had worked at Dean Witter prior to entering the Marines. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and was a Rifle Marksman.
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Corporal Robert Kucks '89 U.S. Marine Corps Taps 9-3-22 at age 51, served for six years, immediately following his graduation to his Honorable Discharge in 1996. He served as an Infantry Squad Leader as part of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Division. He was deployed in Somalia and fought in Operation Restore Hope. "Bubba" once had the honor to provide security for President George H. W. Bush. He also assisted in the withdrawal of United Nations Peacekeepers from Somalia under Operation United Shield, receiving Letters of Commendation for Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, along with the Meritorious Mast Award. He was an expert marksman / sharpshooter used in hostage situations. Semper Fi.
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Major Ed Macauley '95 U.S. Army Taps 11-15-22 served over 10 years. Ed joined the Army Reserves as a high school junior and, as a sophomore at Seton Hall, joined the ROTC. Upon graduating, he entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant. He served two tours in Iraq with the 31st Combat Support Hospital and was one of five critical care nurses selected to work in the ICU at Camp Bucca. He was selected to escort and provide care on several MEDEVAC missions, and served as a triage officer and then a treatment nurse while providing lifesaving care to dozens of casualties during one of the largest mass casualty incidents since the Vietnam War. He was commended for his actions and awarded the Combat Action Badge, two Army Commendations, and an Army Achievement Medal, in addition to a long list of other accolades and accomplishments. Ed passed away suddenly at the age of 45.
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Pioneer Hawk James Coyle '68 U.S. Marine Corp Taps 12-28-22. Joined the Marines immediately after graduating Hudson Catholic.
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John Sheedy '69 U.S. Army Taps 1-5-23. John's wife Lisa (deceased) was also a retired military veteran.
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Second Class Petty Officer Greg Aiello '92 U.S. Navy served initially from 1992 to 1994, and returned for a second stint, from 2003 to 2012, a total of 11 years service. He is among the most experienced wartime Hawks, having deployed to multiple war zones, all in the Middle East. Everything in his service career was wrapped up into Preventative Counter Terrorist Operations. Through the post-Gulf War in Iraq and Operations Desert Falcon, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Iraqi Freedom, and the Global War on Terror, Greg boarded ships and searched containers for weapons, drugs, terrorists, and explosives, provided protection detail for two major oil platforms by performing security sweeps, security checks of the platforms and ships, set up checkpoints for ships within a certain range of the oil platforms, and provided fast boat protection against the terrorists of Iran.
Greg was exposed to the devastating fires, burn pits and chemicals that are now afflicting and have taken the lives of so many who served our country, and these Vets are not receiving the help and services they need and deserve. Please pray for Greg's health.
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Retired and Revered Veterans | |
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Pioneer Hawk Combat Engineer Robert Behson '68 U.S. Army served three tours of combat duty in Vietnam, joining in September 1968 on the Buddy System with classmate Charlie Hart. Their last year (1971) was spent serving in the 864th Engineer Battalion together. Bob stayed active in military organizations, twice serving as Commander of VFW Post 1302 Kearny, NJ. Bob is in the foreground at his induction into the Army, only weeks following Hudson's first graduation.
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Pioneer Hawk, Commander Jack Deschauer '68 U.S. Navy served 22 years -- 1972-1994 -- the first six years as a Surface Warfare Officer. The Navy sent him to NYU Law School, and then transferred him to the Judge Advocate General's office, to serve as a JAG for 16 years. He spent the last six years at The Pentagon and served as Director of Senate Affairs for three Secretaries of Defense.
Jack's 'little brother', Commander Rich Deschauer '72 U.S. Navy served 21 years that included four sea tours, the last as Deputy Supply Officer on the USS Enterprise. He participated in the Grenada and Beirut operations and a Persian Gulf deployment. He attended the Naval Postgraduate School and received a Masters in Acquisition and Contract Management. His last assignment was Director of Business Operations for the Defense Contract Management Command Office at the Boeing Defense Plant in St. Louis, where he managed 39 aircraft and missile contracts valued at $7 billion.
The accompanying photo is of Hawk, USN, and Deschauer Brothers -- Jack on the left, Rich on the right, along with Jack's son Christian on the flight deck of the USS Enterprise in 1993.
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Pioneer Hawk, Captain Matt Donohue '68 U.S. Army Reserve was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the day he graduated from St. Peter’s College in May 1972 and served eight years. Having completed the Reserve Officers' Training Corp (ROTC) program, he had committed to two full years of active duty, but due to the wind-down of the Vietnam War, was assigned to the Army Reserve, where he served through 1980 until receiving an Honorable Discharge. | |
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Pioneer Hawk Sr. Chief Aviation Electronic Technician Philip Myers '68 U.S. Navy served 24 years, 1969-1993, that included 9 deployments, the first to Cam Ronh Bay, Vietnam, followed by The Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Diego Garcia (a British Indian Ocean Territory), Kenya, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Greenland and Antarctica. As if standing at the South Pole were not distinctive enough, Phil commemorated the visit with his reenlistment to the Navy. In 1987, he received the Navy Achievement Medal aboard the USS Constellation. Phil is pictured in fatigues at NAF Cam Ronh Bay, Vietnam in October 1971.
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Pioneer Hawk Walter Vogel '68 U.S. Navy served from 1969 to 1971 aboard the USS Simon Lake, lead ship submarine tender.
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Specialist 4 Nelson Báez '69 U.S. Army served from May 1972 to January 1974. Stationed in Fort Dix, two days before he would be deployed, his orders were rescinded and he was assigned, officially, as a Personnel Management Specialist participating in occupational classification and management of manpower resources, and supervising personnel management activities. In practice, because the Army was drafting troops from Puerto Rico, Nelson was tasked with reviewing the test scores and skills of Spanish-only-speaking draftees for placing them in the proper and most effective positions for the military.
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Captain Mike Meyer '69 U.S. Army served three years on active duty from 1973 to 1976. His assignments were all stateside at various installations. | |
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First Class Petty Officer Charles Meyers '69 U.S. Navy served eight years, from 1969 to 1977 as an Electrician Mate, including deployment to Nuclear Submarine Service.
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Radarman 2nd Class Dennis Stafford '69 U.S. Navy enlisted soon after graduation and served from 1969 through 1973. He was deployed twice to WestPac, off the coast of Vietnam, aboard the Destroyer Escort John R. Perry. In 1972, he transferred to Landing Ship Barnstable County, transporting troops and tanks into hostile areas.
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Colonel Alex Webster '69 U.S. Army served 35 years in the USA Chaplain Corp, 1985-2010 and earned numerous decorations. He was deployed for one year each to Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, and Kyrgyzstan over 2005-2010. At right is a photo taken in Iraq while visiting the International Zone in Baghdad, as the Eastern Orthodox Theatre Asset for Third Army. Here, the Chaplain is ministering several Georgian soldiers approaching the Holy Cross at the end of the Divine Liturgy and receiving an icon of St. George the Great-Martyr -- naturally, their favorite -- and the blessed bread ("antidoron" in Greek). His Master Sgt. counted three American Orthodox in attendance, along with 200 Georgians, all of whom received the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ prior to resuming their dangerous missions on convoys and as gate guards. Are those camo vestments?
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Captain Robert Wolfe '69 U.S. Marine Corps
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 | | Lt. Commander Steven Bulwicz '70, U.S. Navy Pilot with 534 carrier landings in 21 years of service, enlisted as a Naval Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate in 1973. Upon his successful solo flight in the T34-B, he was commissioned as an Ensign and selected for jet training, qualifying aboard the USS Lexington aircraft carrier. He was awarded his Naval Aviation Wings in 1976, going on to pilot the T-2C Buckeye, the TA-4J Skyhawk, the A-6 Attack Squadron jet, the A-7B Corsair II, the EA-6B Prowler Electronic Attack jet, the F-4J Phantom, F-15B Eagle, F/A-18 Classic Hornet, and the SH-3D Sea King. His record includes landings aboard eight different carriers: the USS Lexington, Coral Sea, Ranger, Kitty Hawk, Constellation, Carl Vinson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Steve also served as a Naval Aviation Safety School Mishap Investigation Instructor, an EA-6B Flight Instructor, and an EA-6B Prowler Safety Officer. He retired from active service in 1994. Photo aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt in North Atlantic, 1988; aircraft is a Grumman EA-6B Prowler. In 1988, transit on USS Theodore Roosevelt from the Norwegian fjords back to Norfolk encountered a fierce storm. The Fleet Admiral, wanting to test the airwing capabilities in challenging conditions, launched experienced crews to fly at night out of range of a suitable land-based divert known as Blue Water ops. He experienced gray water with 12-24’ swells occasionally breaking over the bow. On return, the flight deck was pitching up and down with winds at 45 mph. On his first three landing attempts the bow abruptly pitched up as the stern dropped, causing the Tailhook to miss the wires each time. He had to do nighttime inflight refueling from an A-6 tanker aircraft twice before a successful landing on the 4th attempt.
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Commander John Sarao '72 U.S. Navy was the first Hawk to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, or any service academy, and served as an Officer on active duty for 28 years and reserve duty for two years (1976 to 2006). He served on Nimitz-class aircraft carriers for a number of those years as a nuclear engineer-qualified surface warfare officer, including deployments in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Afterwards, he was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa under, first, the Navy Commander for the Middle East, then joint US Central Command. He returned to the Naval Academy as a Company Officer for two years, overseeing training of 120 midshipmen, and spent a year in Saudi Arabia advising Saudi naval forces.
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Lieutenant Colonel Donald Daly '75 U.S. Air Force, 21 years of service (1980-2021). He served most of his career in support roles, e.g., industrial engineering, HQ staff, and teaching, with assignments to Ramstein AB Germany and The Pentagon.
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Specialist 4 Larry Sansevere '75 U.S. Army served from April 1976 to December 1978 with the 15th Finance Section/36th Engineer Group at Fort Benning, GA.
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Gunner's Mate Chief Kevin Carpenter '77 U.S. Naval Reserve served for 24 years 1994-2018. Following 9/11, he participated in mobilizations to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa bordering Somalia.
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Lieutenant Steve Dzitko '77 (HOF) U.S. Naval Reserve received a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, following which he gave 13 years of service to the country in the U.S. Naval Reserve, thereafter, dedicating his professional life to the continued safety and security of the United States’ maritime industry.
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Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Balesteri '78 U.S. Marine Corp pilot, 23 years active service, started flying the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter in the USMC in 1985. He spent two six-month tours in the Mediterranean aboard the USS Inchon and the USS Guam. In 1990, he transferred to the KC-130 aircraft, which is used as a refueler in the USMC; he flew and instructed on it for 10 years, taking him to over 20 countries on 5 continents. Chris is pictured with his KC-130 Transport tanker for aerial refueling.
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Sergeant First Class Michael McKnight '78 U.S. Army served 16 years (1981-1997), including in Operation Desert Storm Nov '90 - Apr '91. Photo is of Mike as a Platoon Sergeant in Bosnia.
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Colonel William Costello '79 U.S. Army gave 26 years of active service to our nation (1983-2009), notably with deployments to Somalia and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Here, he is seen in a Coast Guard fast boat around Guantanamo.
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Major Joseph O'Donnell '80 U.S. Army attended the University of Scranton where he earned an Army ROTC scholarship that paid his tuition and earned him a commission as a Second Lieutenant in Armor upon his college graduation. His service of 21 years (1984-2001) included commanding a Tank Company in Desert Shield/Storm, teaching ROTC at his alma mater, and training Reservists in the Southeast United States. His service included time in Korea, Panama, France, and Kuwait. Photo taken on Thanksgiving 1990 in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield. Joe's Army Unit was selected to host and have dinner with President George H.W. Bush. The crowd of soldiers in the background were awaiting the President's arrival.
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Electronic Warfare First Class Petty Officer Steven Leitz '82 U.S. Navy served ten years (1986-1996) aboard the USS Iowa (1986-1988) and USS Thorn (1989-1993), with deployments to the Persian Gulf 1988, Mediterranean Sea 1990, Black Sea 1991, and North Atlantic 1992. He is pictured with his wife, Jan, at the Navy Ball in 1995.
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Captain George Macchia '82 (WOH) U.S. Air Force served six years, from 1986 to 1992, including from November 1990 to April 1991 in Desert Storm with the 1702 Air Refueling Provisional Squadron based at Seeb Airport in Muscat, Oman as a navigator on a KC-135 air refueling tanker. In 30 combat missions (two a day, four hours each) over Saudi Arabia at the Iraqi border and over the Persian Gulf, his tanker refueled warplanes on their way to and from attacking Iraqi forces. He is pictured at the Desert Storm Homecoming Parade in Manhattan in April 1990. His last MOS was as Instructor Navigator assigned to the 509th Aerial Refueling Squadron based at Griffiss AFB, Rome, NY.
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Colonel Tom Steffens '82 U.S. Army, pictured here in 2004 at Balard Airfield in Iraq during a one-year deployment, served 27 years active duty, retiring in 2012. His experience also included a tour of six months in Sinai, Egypt in '86-'87 as part of a Peacekeeping Force. He recently retired from his role as Deputy CFO for the Department of Defense, and claims that this role has probably been much harder than any of his deployments!
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Master Sergeant John 'Jack' Dunne III '83 U.S. Marine Corps/U.S. Air Force Reserves served 22 years, the first six in the Marine Corps Infantry, 1983-1989, then returned home and began a career with the Bayonne Fire Department, ultimately becoming a Battalion Fire Chief and one of the most decorated members in the history of Bayonne’s Bravest. He responded to the WTC after the 9-11 attacks to do his part in the rescue and recovery operation, an experience that called him back to military service, for 16 more years, this time as a firefighter in the Air Force, where he deployed twice in support of the Global War on Terror, including a tour of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Once again, he rose through the ranks, becoming a Fire Chief, and was promoted to Master Sergeant. Jack currently serves in the prestigious leadership position of State Vice Commander, Department of New Jersey American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans organization.
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Sergeant First Class Roy Hellesto '85 U.S. Army served 20 years, from 1987 to 2007, in Germany, Arizona, Washington DC, and Ft. Carson Colorado, and deployed to Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraq, and Korea. | |
| |  | Lieutenant Colonel Brian O'Connor '85 U.S. Air Force served 22 years active duty and another four in reserve duty, following a break in service. He had three major deployments and 12 shorter deployments where he performed a Command and Control mission as an Aeromedical Evacuation Team Chief, coordinating exercises and missions to care for injured, wounded and infirm Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines around the globe. Overseas, Brian served in Germany (in-charge of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center's Emergency Department for four years), Okinawa (three years and numerous extended exercises), Qatar (as Operation Commander with military responsibility for all doctors, nurses and medical technicians, and twice as Team Chief and Deputy to direct the movement of wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan to Germany, the United States or their country of origin), Korea, Italy, Peru (consulting on modernization of Peru's Aeromedical Evacuation system), and Brazil (consulting their Air Force on requesting international assistance in the event of a terrorist attack during their Olympic Games).
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Master Sergeant Mike Albanese '86 U.S. Air Force served 24 years, in which he was deployed to Africa for Operation Restore Hope (Somalia), and to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. This photo was taken in Iraq of Mike, left., and an Army helicopter pilot with whom he worked.
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Pioneer Legacy Hawk Staff Sergeant Shawn Morris '88 U.S. Army Reserve, son of Harry Morris '69, served 20 years, including a wartime deployment to Baghdad, Iraq in September 2008 through June 2009.
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Corporal Luis Fernandez '92 U.S. Marine Corps is another Hawk grad who put off college to go directly into the military to serve our country -- from 1992 to 1996. He was an M1A1 Tank Crewman with the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.
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Staff Sergeant Malon Augustave '97 U.S. Army served 20 years (1998-2008) and deployed six times -- to Bosnia, Kuwait, Afghanistan twice, and Iraq twice.
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Corporal Jeff Ramos '97 U.S. Marine Corps served six years active duty, also enlisting straight out of Hudson, along with Edgar Cinense ’97, to 2003, then went on to reserve duty through 2005 in an artillery company as part of the 3rd Battalion that provided heavy fire communications support (from Scotch Plains, NJ) for combat troops on the ground in Iraq, and liaison support, linking Marine detachments.
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Submarine Officer Matt Giambusso '98 U.S. Navy is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and became a submariner. He deployed to the USS Hartford from Groton, CT, a fast-attack submarine in support of the Global War on Terror, taking him to the Mediterranean and South America. Later did a stint at The Pentagon as an Operations Planner before ending his eight years of service. Matt is a Legacy Hawk, the son of '71 Hawk Louis Giambusso,
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Master Sergeant Brian Church '99 U.S. Marine Corp served 21 years (2001 to 2023), including six deployments -- four to Iraq, one to Saudi Arabia, and one to Spain; and, assignments at Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain, and in North Carolina for squadrons in Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare, Fighter Attack Training, Recruiting Command, Aviation Logistics, and Headquarters. Although retired from active service, Brian continues to serve our nation, working for the Dept. of Defense at the NAVSUP Ammunition Logistics Center out of Naples, Italy as a Logistics Assistance Officer for the Mobile Fleet Support Team in Ordinance, in the Navy’s European and African Theater.
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Corporal Brian Tedino '99 U.S. Marine Corps served four years of active duty, 2003-2007, twice deployed to the Western Pacific.
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Combat Medic Lorne Rocha '00 U.S. Army served 21 years -- eight years active duty, 13 years Washington State National Guard -- in Surgical Trauma. The accompanying photo was taken in Poland in 2022, not long before Ukraine was invaded.
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Sergeant Goncalo Duarte '01 U.S. Army joined the service following graduation and served six years, from 2001 to 2007 as an Airborne Infantryman, assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2002, June through December, and again, to Iraq in August 2003 to April 2004. He is one of a small number of Hawks to deploy to multiple conflict areas during his service. His varied experience also includes participation in the humanitarian aid mission to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Accompanying photo taken in Iraq.
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Infantry Team Leader Rick Tauber '04 U.S. Army served three+ years, 2009 to 2012. Stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado (4th Infantry Division), he deployed to Basra, Iraq for one year in March 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning two campaign stars. Rick is pictured with his wife, Caitlin.
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Staff Sergeant Davian Rima '05 U.S. Marine Corps served 10 years, joining in 2014 and retiring just this year. He performed roles in systems integration management and satellite communications support, especially enjoying his participation in NATO's 2018 defense exercise, Trident Juncture in Norway. He is pictured with his bride, Alli.
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Gunner's Mate 1st Class Anthony Kurasz '07 U.S. Navy / Chief Gunner's Mate Naval Reserves, eight years and two years, respectively, from 2012 through 2022. Experienced in Surface / Expeditionary Warfare, earning the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (x3), War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation.
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Completing The Honor Roll | |
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We wish to acknowledge the following Hawk Veterans for whom we were unable to obtain information about their service records or photos of them in uniform.
Mark Muller '69 USA
Rich Paolino '69 USCG*
John Pszonek '69 USN
Maury Walsh '69 USAF*
Frank Roselle '75 USN
Joe Cavallo '76 USMC
Matt Dolan '77 USAF*
Louis Barcarola '78 USAF
Wayne Hall '78 USMC*
Joseph Kelly '81 USA, USN
John Menke '82 USN
William Ramsey '82 USA
John Tkaczyk '82 USA
Chris Brown '84 USN
Romwaldo Tayam '86 USAF
Marc Donohue '90 USN
Nicholas Fabbricatore '90 USMC
Alim Wilson '91 USA
Shane Thalman '92 USA
Matthew Hawk '93 USCG
Steven Ferrer '94 USAF
Lester Hernandez '96 USMM
John Rogers '96 USAF
Edgar Cinense '97, USMC
Patrick Flaherty '97 USA*
Michael Kilinski '98 USN
Paulo Manzo '98 USAF
Michael O'Leary '00 USA*
Philip Salinardi '00 USA *
Trident Villanueva '00 USA*
Edward Cortez '01 USN
Julian Sanchez '01 ANG
Jonathan Ward '01 USMC
Daemon Robinson '03 USAF*
Michael Smalls '05 USMC
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Names with an * denote those for whom we are aware of their Veteran status, but for whom we do not have email addresses, so were unable to request their input for this Special Issue of 'BTL'. Nevertheless, we wish to acknowledge their service to our country and include them in our expression of gratitude and Hawk Pride. | |
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We Regret Having Missed Any Hawk Veterans
Please Put Us in Touch with Them
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by sending their email address to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org
or send our Vets to hudsoncatholic.org/stay-connected
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Also, if you have any questions about anything you have read,
or might like to get in touch with any of our soldier Hawks,
-- write to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org --
and we'll do our best to accommodate your request
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A Grateful Nation Thanks You For Your Service | | | | |
