Member Spotlight

JANUARY 2009 - This month, we will kick off recognizing Gill Perez, our {interim} Quartermaster. Gil was born and raised in El Paso. He enlisted in the USAF and served 26 years, retiring in September, 2007. He now works for the City of Abilene, as a Zoning Inspector. Among the medals Gil earned are the Iraqi Campaign Medal and 2 Meritorious Service Medals. Gil served as a Weapons Loader on planes from the F-4, F-15, F-16, F-111, and B-1 Bomber. After several deployments to Korea and around the world, Gil says the most memorable thing about his service was during his first of three tours to Balad, Iraq, (as Weapons Safety), where he says he couldn't believe the contrast between what it was like there and the horror stories from the media. He says you could really see how our presence affected the Iraqi people, in a positive way.

February 2009 - This month, I would like put the spotlight on Comrade Vernon Breeding, a WWII vet, Life Member of our Post. Vernon was a distinguished Naval Aviator, and as such was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medals, A Presidential Unit Citation, and 3 Bronze Stars. All were from the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns in 1945 with the VPB-118 and PB4Y-2 Privateer Squadron, the first squadron of our Navy's long range patrol planes. He and his squadron completely shut down the shipping lanes from China to Japan across the Yellow Sea. Comrade Breeding says it seems as though it all happened just yesterday...Salute, Comrade, Thank you and God Bless!!!!

� 2000 - 2009

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Page last updated: 29 April 2010