VFMAC Alumni Class Notes

1939

The newest VFMA&C alumni regiment chapter was formed in honor of one of our distinguished and well-known alumni, called the BG Alfred A. Sanelli '39 Society of the Delaware Valley by the alumni in the Philadelphia area. The society promotes the goals, desires and benefits set forth by VFMA&C, intending to provide a network for members to promote their businesses and careers, and to assist recent graduates in furthering their education and careers. Membership includes, but is not limited to, any VF constituents, such as VF alumni, parents, faculty and friends of the Forge. Monthly local Society Luncheons featuring keynote speakers are planned. While there is no cost to join or maintain membership in the Society, members will be responsible for any luncheon costs. To submit a Membership Form for the Alfred A. Sanelli '39 Society of the Delaware Valley, click here.

1944

A Colgate classmate of Mr. John Hill '44, called the alumni office to request that his Forge classmates get in touch with him. Mr. Hill has been hospitalized for a couple of months recovering from three operations and is receiving messages at the following: Medical Center in Springdale 164 Battleship Road Camden, SC 29020

1948

Stan Willis '48 reports the following: "My wife and I retired from New York City to a small town in Florida in 1990 after flying around the world. I had been writing with a by-line the pre-opening U.S. stock market comment and following the market action for Reuters international financial wire. My wife, Beverly Burn, did TV commercials. Our address is 105 E. Lake Drive Blvd., Sebring, FL 33875. We kept our apartment in Manhattan at 46 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10024. "Prior to Reuters, I covered the stock market for Dow Jones News Service and worked there for 12 years. Early in my journalism career, I was an on-the-street reporter for WNEW (AM), which no longer exists, and for WORK, and I was news director of WHN, also off the air now - all in New York. For 15 years I also did free lance interviews for the Voice of America English to Africa service and traveled some there. "Currently, I am (slowly) revising a novel about the TV news business in NYC and reading contemporary American literature while growing "dooryard" citrus and investing in stocks and bonds."

1950

George Saigh '50 was recently promoted to Deputy Director of Bergen County Community Transportation. He deals with transporting the elderly and disabled. "Of course, most of the people I talk to or transport are younger than me," he says. He encourages fellow VF alums to write at e-mail address gs7320@msn.com.

1960

Jimmy Sturr '60, also known as "The Polka King," won his 14th Grammy Award February 8 for Best Polka Album. His 2003 album "Let's Polka 'Round" from Rounder Records continues his tradition of guest stars by featuring banjo virtuoso B�la Fleck, saxman Boots Randolph, and Charlie Daniels. The album features a variety of sounds, but there is a definite �country� accent to many tunes, to which one review reported, "Sturr excels at country as much as polka." Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra have recorded over 100 albums and have been consecutively nominated for a Grammy 16 times.

1961

Colonel Gordon E. Wise '61, USAR, Texas Army National Guard, retired on February 26, 2003. He received the Legion of Merit from MG Wayne D. Marty, the Adjutant General of Texas, in a ceremony in Austin, TX. His assignment was as chief judge for the Texas National Guard.

1963

Octavio Vallarino �63 earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A & M University in 1968. He is a real estate developer in Panama. Since 1980, he has built several projects in Panama City. Some of his past, present and future projects can be seen on Octavio's website at www.desarrollobahia.com. Octovaio is interested in contacting some of his classmates and is planning to attend this year's Homecoming Weekend, May 2 - 4, 2003.

Michael A. Stevens '63 is searching for his classmate, Joseph L. Accardo '63. If anyone knows his whereabouts, please contact VFMAC Director of Alumni Relations Charles Spencer at bgans@vfmac.edu.

	COL Lloyd F. Sammons '63, Special Forces, USAR was awarded The Legion of Merit on 10 August 2002 for exceptionally meritorious service as the Commander Area Support Group Falcon, Kosovo and the Southern Balkans. The award was presented by LTG Dodson, Deputy Commanding General, United States Army, Europe in a ceremony at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.

1964

David Keefe �64 was appointed by the United States Department of State as the commander of the 605 American police officers now policing in Kosovo. As the Colonel, he has operational control over the American contingent, one of 52 contingents sent there to police the country and to establish a Kosovo Police Service. Prior to his promotion, David was Chief of Kosovo Police Service Training.

1969

Timothy P. Conway '69 is currently Director of Operations at Watkins Security Agency, Inc., a Baltimore-based security company. In this position, he manages approximately 500 officers at sites around the city. Watkins also does security for BWI Airport and stadiums for the Orioles and the Ravens. Conway is also an Assistant Professor in the Criminal Justice program at the University of Maryland University College.

1970

Lt Col Bob Jaegers '70, USAFR, presented classes on Law of Armed Conflict, International Humanitarian Law, Code of Conduct, and Rules of Engagement to the Botswana Defense Force General Staff in Gaborone in January. He is now the Air Force Reserve JAG at US SOUTHCOM. Bob still prosecutes in West Palm Beach, Florida. He has a wife, Denise, and two children: Heidi,16 and Robert C., 14.

1971C

Paul R. Tate Jr. '71C, has moved to Georgia. He is now employed by the University of Georgia in Athens as a Fire Safety Inspector. He is looking to connect with any alumni in the greater Atlanta area who might be interested in getting together. Friends may contact him at ptate@esd.uga.edu.

1976

LTC Tom Kiermaier '76, '78C recently moved back to Tennessee to be near his two grandchildren. He is currently the president of Kiermaier Bavarian Roasted Almonds, Inc. and the senior partner in Image Builders Printing and Omega Mail Services, both located in Nashville, TN. Tom says he would enjoy hearing from old classmates. You may contact him via email at tkiermaier1@comcast.net.

1977

After graduation from VFMAC, Mr. Richard Kuong, Band '77, proudly served 12 years (active/reserve) in the U.S. Marine Corps and attained the rank of Major. He had the "privilege to command 'the world's finest warriors' in artillery and infantry platoons and an infantry company, as well as serve on an infantry battalion staff." He credits his experience at Valley Forge in helping to prepare him well for the many challenges of the Marines. In addition to 17 years at Merck & Co., an engineering firm, and attaining an undergraduate and graduate degree from Drexel University and Penn State University, Mr. Kuong has pursued his passion as a professional writer since 1989. Recently, he has published a book, Paradox of the Soul, Management Advisory Publications, Wellesley, MA, which is a collection of 15 moving stories of fiction. VFMAC receives mention in the book. For a flavor of its content, check out: www.bookzone.com/paradox/test. Mr. Kuong can also be contacted through the publishing company's e-mail at jaykmasp@aol.com.

1979

David N. Virok '79 and his wife, Kathy, are the proud parents of young triplets: David James, Emily Ann and Daniel Paul. They live in Hamilton Township, NJ and Dave looks forward to hearing from his classmates at mbhilbilly@aol.com

1979C

Joseph RedCloud-Lehner '79C was recently an instrumental contributor at a Western Shoshone delegation meeting in South Dakota. The Western Shoshone Nation and the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council formed an alliance to protect both nations treaty lands from efforts by the US to consummate the US's forced claim to the land of both the Western Shoshone Nation of the Great Basin and the Black Hills Sioux Nation. Any fellow alums interested in contacting Joseph may do so via telephone (605) 867-5821 or email joeredcloud@usa.net.

Thomas M. Van Eck '79C is currently assigned to the 38th Medical Brigade in Chester, PA. He is a full-time Army Reservist working at the James W. Reese USAR Center. He also plays TAPS on his trumpet for Military Honors.

1984

Fernando A. Pou '84 would like to hear from friends and former classmates! He is currently married and has three children: Elsa, Fernanda, and Fernando. He can be contacted at e-mail address fapou@hotmail.com.

1984C
Scott N. Smith '84C has been named to the new post of Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer for American Electric Power and is responsible for enterprise-wide risk management. He joined American Electric Power in 2001. Previously, he served as vice president of risk management for Global Consumer Bank, a division of Citigroup. He has also served as Vice President of Risk Management at First Fidelity/First Union, as a national bank examiner at the U.S. Treasury Department, and as a captain and engineer in the U.S. Army. Scott earned a bachelor�s degree in finance from Drexel University.

1985

From 1998-2001 Randall C. Miller Jr. '85, Field Music, was teaching English at a junior high school and three elementary schools in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan for the JET Program. After learning more Japanese, he returned to teach English at an English kindergarten in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. In 2002, he opened his own private English school called "FUN FUN FUN ENGLISH" in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. He has had two books published for use as texts in teaching English. The books are currently being sold throughout Japan. He also publishes a pen-pal magazine, which he started two years ago. He would be interested in hearing from classmates from his years at The Forge (1982-1985) or any other alumni. He can be reached at the email address: dgaf@gaea.ocn.ne.jp. Randall C. Miller Jr. '85 is pictured in a flyer advertising his school (in the green shirt).


Major Michael E. Masley '85 has recently completed his assignment as Commander Headquarters Company, United States Army and will now assume the position of S 3 Percom in Korea. He encourages classmates to reach him at: MASLEYM@USFK.KOREA.ARMY.MIL

1987

Michael E. "Micky" Pegg '87, B Company, has recently moved to the Philadelphia area. He married Kimberly Tierney on August 7, 1999. They purchased their first home in Havertown, PA in 2001. He is currently working on his master's degree at the University of Pennsylvania. The greatest thrill for the Peggs came June 4th, 2002 when their first child was born, a daughter, Tierney Elizabeth Pegg, 20 � inches, 7lbs, 12oz.

1988

Capt. Dan McSweeney '88 is Public Affairs Officer for the 24^th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Nassau, which left Camp Lejeune September 3 for a six-month deployment. McSweeney says, "Getting across the ocean will take about 10 days. Most fun are the man overboard and abandon ship drills...We'll stop in Spain for a few days and then we're off to Kosovo for a month. After that, we'll go through the Suez and enter the Central Command Area of Operations (Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, etc.). This promises to be a memorable float, regardless of whether or not any real-world ops come into play. Morale is high and there is the sense that we're doing something meaningful, especially because of the send-off we had during our onload." "Capt David Hanna and Officer Barry Pikaard, members of the NY/NJ Port Authority Police Department, came down to see us off and made some remarks about the significance of service, both civilian and military. The PAPD has "adopted" us for this float and we're looking forward to honoring the memory of the 37 officers they lost in the World Trade Center attacks, wherever we find ourselves over the next seven months." Capt Hanna and Officer Pikaard presented a white flag with an artist�s rendition of the World Trade Center superimposed on the American flag. The Marines immediately hoisted it above an M1A1 Abrams tank before heading out to the amphibious assault ships. "On September 11th, we're planning to hold a memorial ceremony on the flight deck and will hoist the flags presented to us by the Port Authority Police," McSweeney said. You can track the unit's progress at www.24meu.usmc.mil.

1989

James C. Montano '89, '91C reports that it has been a very exciting and rewarding time since he left VF. After graduating from VFMC, he completed two undergraduate degrees from the University of Connecticut (Political Science and Sociology) and went on to earn his master's degree in Psychology from UConn in early in 2001. "Throughout all of my studies," he says, "I feel the class that prepared me most for the rigors of academic life was the Study Skills in College course I took at the Academy - I still have the text book to this day!" Montano was married in October 2001 in Newport, RI and currently works as the associate Director of Development for a liberal arts college in Connecticut. Should any classmates, staff or faculty wish to reach him via email, they can do so at email: jamescmontano@hotmail.com.

1990

Richard Forno '90, '92C has published his third book, Weapons of Mass Delusion: America's Real National Emergency. In the book, published by PageFree Press / Potomac View Press, Forno "provides a critical, curmudgeonly, and sometimes humorous look at many of the institutions and mindsets influencing America's society and wonders why the public isn't taking a more active role in staying informed and assisting in the governance of their great nation." Forno "contends that the real national emergency facing America isn't terrorism or weapons of mass destruction, but the ongoing problems within American society that many Americans and their elected leaders refuse to admit to themselves." More information about the book, and Forno's past publications, can be found at http://www.infowarrior.org. Forno can be reached at rforno@infowarrior.org.

1991

Jason Hultgren '91, B Company, was recently promoted to Assistant Vice President and Senior Mortgage Consultant with Wachovia Wealth Management in Atlanta, GA. Jason has been with Wachovia and legacy First Union for 5 years and, prior to that, was with Norwest and Wells Fargo Mortgage. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1995 with a BA in Government and International Studies, having attended college on an Army ROTC Scholarship. "I greatly value my experiences at The Forge and how it prepared me for life and business," he says.

Sean Casey, �91, �96C is currently employed as a New York City Police Officer after having been a U.S. Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, U.S. Army from 1991-1994. Casey was recently married on October 5, 2002. He and his wife, Jennifer, currently live in Mt. Kisco, NY. He would love to hear from any alumni in the area and can be reached at SJCasey72@aol.com.

1992

Shawn M. Gralinski ''92 (right) was promoted to Captain (US Army) on March 1, 2003. He is currently stationed at Fort Stewart, GA and has been Commander of the 179th Military Police Detachment since June of 2002. Friends can email him at smgralinski@hotmail.com.

1993

Michael Starz '93 of B Company is currently assigned as the Aide-de-Camp to the 2nd Infantry Division ADCM. He lives with his wife Phyllis and Chocolate Lab in Uijeongbu, South Korea. 1LT Starz graduated from West Point in 2000 and received a commission as an Infantry Officer. He and Phyllis would enjoy hosting any graduate visiting Korea. Please contact them at StarzMS@usfk.korea.army.mil or 011-740-1270 if in Korea.

Richard M. Waite II '93, '95C recently completed the 16-week Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Police Academy and the six-week KY Fish & Wildlife Academy. He has accepted a position as a Wildlife & Boating Law Enforcement Officer with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. He was previously working for Kentucky State Corrections.

1993C

After leaving Valley Forge, Mark O�Hara �93C graduated from Fordham University in New York. "After college," he tells us, "I branched Military Intelligence and spent some time on active duty as a counterintelligence agent working within the refugee population from Kosovo. Then I worked for five years as the District Attorney of New York�s representative to a federal money laundering task force in Manhattan, where I was awarded, 'outstanding intelligence specialist of 1999' by President Clinton." Currently, O'Hara is attending Northeastern University School of Law in Boston and clerking for the Chief Judge of the District of Massachusetts, the Honorable William G. Young. He was married to Lauren Hein on May 25, 2002 and they currently live in Boston�s South End.

William F. Bina IV '93C, currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia and is attending George State University's Master of Business Administration Program. He is now married.

1994

Jay C. Whittle '94 and Beth Ann Mason will be exchanging wedding vows in the summer of 2003. Jay is currently attending Widener University School of Law and works for the State of Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation. The couple plan to live in the Pike Creek, DE area after their wedding.

1995

Hector Arguello '95 of E Battery currently resides in Washington, DC. For the past four years, he has worked in the office of Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL21), serving as the Systems Administrator and Legislative Assistant for banking, veterans and transportation issues. He welcomes email from fellow alums at: Hector.Arguello@mail.house.gov.

1997

Rodrigo Simoes '97 is currently residing in Pensacola, FL, where he has been since graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in May of 2002 with the rank of Ensign in the U.S. Navy. He is currently in the advanced stage of Naval Flight Officer training and will be winged in December 2003. He will be flying either the S-3B Viking, F/A-18FS Super Hornet, or the F-14 Tomcat. Anyone wishing to contact Rodrigo can email him at Rodrigo496@cox.net.

Mark Menendez '97 graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001 and is currently a Lieutenant (Junior Grade) and a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the USS Ross based out of Norfolk, VA.

Cpl. Christopher M. Sawitsky '97, USMC was deployed to Kuwait on February 13, 2003. Christopher is with the 1st Marine Division, 6th Comm. Battalion. Before deployment, Christopher was completing his final semesterat St. Joseph's College on Long Island for his bachelor's degree in psychology. His classmate, L.Cpl. Ignacio Carrera '97, USMC, has also been deployed and serves with Christopher.

1998C

Gregory Robert Ball '98C (pictured here in the center) was recently selected by Georgetown University to serve as a Graduate Fellow in the Center for the Study of the Presidency. The Center Fellows Program is a unique educational initiative offering 65 undergraduate and graduate students form leading colleges and universities a year-long opportunity to study the U.S. Presidency, the public policymaking process, and our Chief Executive's relations with Congress, allies, the media, and the American public. The Center provides Mentors drawn from the public policy community and government to help the Fellows define their proposals and also support the writing and editing of an article that is brought to publishing standards during the academic year. Greg has been honored to receive a Center Fellowship named after one of The Center's elder statesmen, Ambassador Max Kampleman. Ambassador Kampleman has served nine presidents and continues to contribute to the Republic on national boards and commissions. More information can be found at www.thepresidency.org.

2000

Louis Graffeo '00 was recently selected for the position of Cadet Basic Training Commander for the Class of 2007 at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Graffeo, originally from Toms River, NJ, was an Air Force prepster at the Forge during the 1999-2000 academic year. Holding the rank of Cadet Colonel, Graffeo will be responsible for the professional development of more than 1,200 members of the USAFA Class of 2007 this summer.

SPC Douglas Starliper '00 serves with the 82nd Airborne Division. He recently returned from a six-month tour in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In February 2001, Bryson Jon Obenski '00 enlisted in the United States Army. He completed Basic Training at the US Army Training Center, Ft. Sill, OK, where he was an Honor graduate (top 10% of his class). PFC Obenski was stationed with the 1-10 FA at Ft. Benning, GA and was promoted to SPC in November, 2002. He is currently serving in Kuwait.

2002

Larry Fitzgerald '02, a sophomore wide receiver at the University of Pittsburgh, has been named the Big East Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Panthers� 37-26 victory over Texas A&M Saturday. Fitzgerald, who leads the country with an average of 145.8 receiving yards per game, caught seven passes for 135 yards (19.3 avg.) and three touchdowns. His three scores covered 34, 5 and 49 yards.


Read more Class Notes in The Forge magazine.
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