Major General Kent Hillhouse U.S. Army (Ret.) is a Vietnam War Veteran and President of the Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation.  He served with the 11th Armor Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam from ’67-’68.

Kent’s first real introduction to discipline and leadership was through high school football. He credits his coaches as his leadership role models. They understood the power of motivation to inspire their team. Kent’s coaches wanted their players to be disciplined, to understand the meaning of “team” and to realize that it took hard work and perseverance to succeed.

This early exposure became for Kent, his recipe for survival while serving in Vietnam. “Discipline got you through the day which usually started at 0500 hours with a search and destroy mission lasting until we moved into a new Night Defensive Position at sunset. Discipline got you through every night of sleep deprivation while monitoring on the radio, the ambush patrols, and listening posts unless it was my turn for ambush patrol. Discipline got you through the small skirmishes involving RPG teams and snipers that occurred almost daily. But when the rubber really met the road as in bayonet fixing time, it was discipline that forced you to stay calm, think about your training and focus on the mission - engaging and killing the enemy and, of course, surviving. For me the fear came after the firefight when I had time to think about what happened.”

In Vietnam as a Platoon Leader Kent experienced different challenges, “In Vietnam we had a saying amongst the officers – ‘You can’t manage someone up a hill to die; you have to lead them up.’ I could not be close to my men – no buddy-buddy stuff, could not talk about my girlfriend, etc. We all got to drink one canteen an hour of hot muddy water to stay hydrated. Two field issued C-rations (“C-rats”) a day kept us nourished. Sucking on one half of the undissolved coffee tablet (from the C-rats) kept us awake while on ambush patrol. … I made sure my guys knew that my goal was to ensure their safe return home. Obviously, that did not always happen. But, at least they knew I was not making irrational decisions and I was trying to keep them alive.”



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Remembering Peter J McGirr

Peter McGirr served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, flying the formidable Northrop P-61 Black Widow, the first American aircraft specifically designed as a night fighter.

On the night of April 11, 1945, Peter and his crew of three aboard their aircraft, Frontdoor 50, took off from Pontedera Airfield at 20:56 hours for an intruder and bombing mission targeting the Ghedi Aerodrome. After confirming takeoff with base command, all contact was lost. Despite repeated attempts to reestablish communication, Frontdoor 50 was never heard from again.

That very night, according to Smithsonian Magazine, marked the most successful single night of combat for the P-61 Black Widow during the entire war. U.S. night fighter crews downed 14 Luftwaffe aircraft, many of them Junkers and transport planes, as they attempted to resupply encircled German forces.

Peter McGirr's final mission was part of this pivotal night—his courage and sacrifice is forever linked to a turning point in the air war over Europe.

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Dr. Clyde R. Horn is a combat Vietnam Veteran who served with distinction in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade from 1967 to 1968. Today, he is a semi-retired, licensed psychotherapist and a passionate advocate for fellow Veterans.

After returning from the war with deep questions and invisible wounds, Clyde began a long journey of healing and discovery. He first pursued a Master’s in Theology and a second Master’s in Education, working in churches as both a minister and therapist. Determined to provide more focused care, he went on to earn a third Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, and later, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Throughout his life, Clyde has combined his professional work with personal healing. As a form of creative expression and therapy, he turned to photography—ultimately publishing a book titled PTSD in Pictures & Words, available at www.rp-author.com/horn.

Diagnosed with PTSD from his wartime experience, Clyde made a powerful choice: not to live as a victim, but to live with purpose. A 100% disabled Veteran, he now meets weekly with a group of fellow disabled Veterans in Silicon Valley, gathering every Friday morning for breakfast. This program, hosted by the Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation, provides a space for camaraderie, support, and healing. There, Clyde offers guidance on navigating the VA disability system and openly shares his ongoing journey toward recovery.



His life is a testament to resilience, service, and the strength found in community.

Remembering George Hughie Burris

George Hughie Burris hitchhiked from his hometown of Enid, Oklahoma, all the way to California with a fierce determination to serve his country. Family stories say that by the time he arrived, the soles of his shoes were nearly worn through.

At just sixteen years old, he lied about his age, claiming to be seventeen so he could enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He completed boot camp training in San Diego and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division. This unit played a critical role in coordinating Pacific Theater operations during World War II.

On July 21, 1944, George was among the first wave of Marines to storm the beaches of Guam. He was tragically killed in action during the assault by a shrapnel wound to the head. He was just seventeen years old.

George Hughie Burris is buried in the U.S. military cemetery in Guam, a lasting testament to his courage and sacrifice.

Board Member Jim Free reflects:

“I think about him almost every day.”

Today — and every day — we remember him.