Common Sky Veterans
William “Bill” C. Armstrong, CPL.
263rd Field Artillery Battalion, 26th Yankee Division, Third Army, WWII
Bill Armstrong grew up in Berkeley, CA. Despite his severely myopic eyes he attempted to volunteer for almost every branch of the military before finally being accepted by the Army. He was primarily responsible for driving ammunition trucks for Patton’s army and was part of the spearhead attack on the surrounding Germans at Bastogne. While finishing out his tour in Vienna after the war, he met and married his current wife, a former Russian Army officer who had been taken prisoner by the Nazis.
John Beletsis, T-5 CPL.
89th Infantry Division, Third Army, WWII
John Beletsis grew up in New York City and joined the Army at his earliest opportunity after the start of the Second World War. Because the Nazis had begun targeting medics, he was part of a wave of volunteers that were arbitrarily trained to replace the depleted ranks in the European theatre. He served as a combat medic during the invasion of Germany and was part of the company of men that liberated the first Nazi concentration camp (Ohrdruf, a Satellite of Buchenwald) encountered by Allied forces after crossing the Rhine. Grappling with the horrors of his experience on his return, John became a psychologist and dedicated his post-war-life to healing himself and others.
Alan D. Cutter, LTJG.
Naval Advisory Group, Classified, Vietnam
Alan Cutter grew up in New England and enlisted in the Navy to avoid being drafted into the Army. His goal was to avoid ever going to Vietnam. After prolonging his training for as long as possible by volunteering for a diverse set of skill set programs, his uniquely acquired skills (including fluency in various Vietnamese dialects) got him involved in intelligence work in Danang. His duties included but were not limited to: The management of a classified Vietnamese death squad, the interrogation of enemy combatants and other clandestine operations. In response to the extreme nature of his experience, Alan became a minister when he returned to the states. He is extremely active in his community and together with a wide range of religious leaders he is exploring new programs that help reintegrate returning soldiers into normal society.
Kenny Harris, E-4 CPL
1st Marine Division, Marine Force Recon, Vietnam
As a Navy Hospital Corpsman, Kenny Harris served as a combat medic attached to a unit of Force Recon Marines. He and his team were regularly sent on missions behind enemy lines for reconnaissance and surgical strikes. After being seriously wounded in combat, he was reassigned to a hospital unit in country. Kenny received a Purple Heart for his wounds and a Presidential Unit Citation for his service during the war. He has struggled with serious PTSD ever since his return to the US and has never felt at home.
Donald “Don” W. Jardine, CPL.
B Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Division, WWII
A native of San Francisco, Don enlisted in the Marines at 17 years old immediately following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He survived some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific. Besides taking, and then defending, Guadalcanal, he became one of only 36 survivors out of 240 men in his company to walk off of Peleliu island. He and his unit received three Presidential Unit Citations for outstanding performance in battle at Guadalcanal and Peleliu. After the war, Don became a very successful international banker. He worked for many years with the country of his former enemies, developing longstanding friendly relations with his Japanese colleagues. He also worked with banks and bankers in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and has worked closely with people throughout the Middle East as well.
James E. Long III, E-6 SSGT.
278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, TN National Guard, OIF
James Long was raised in Tennessee and enlisted in the National Guard there after 9/11, hoping to serve his country at home. Instead, he was sent to Iraq. While overseas, his unit was attached to several separate Army Divisions including: The 1st Infantry Division and the 101st Airborne Division. During his tour and with each of his assignments James saw regular combat. He received the Combat Action Badge for his tour, an Army Commendation Medal and a Bronze Star for individual bravery after rescuing a fellow soldier under fire. James is struggling with a disabling case of PTSD and with a mild traumatic brain injury due to bomb concussions. He is the only member of his unit that has not yet returned to Iraq for a second tour due to difficulty adjusting to life after war.
Sean O’Neill, SGT.
1st LAR Battalion, 1st Marine Division, OIF
Sean O’Neill was raised in Fremont CA and joined the peacetime military at 17, with an eye toward adventure and travel. He ended up serving two tours in Iraq. He was part of the initial invasion of Iraq and, during his second deployment, the battle for Fallujah. He was wounded in a firefight but continued to fight alongside his fellow Marines. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries and a Navy Achievement Medal with V-Device for Valor, for his actions. After the war, Sean went back to college and is currently enrolled in law school.
Theodore “Ted” Pallas, CPL.
52nd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Army Division, Korean War
Ted Pallas grew up in San Francisco until he was drafted into the Army and sent to Korea. While deployed as a front line field artillery spotter, Ted was on duty during a combat action that left him seriously wounded and taken prisoner by the assaulting Chinese. Forced north under brutal conditions, with severe injuries to his feet and toes that made walking excruciating, he endured the long trek to North Korea and the infamous Pyok Dong Camp #5. He spent nearly two years in the POW camp, before being released at the end of the war. He received the Purple Heart for his injuries and the Freedom Medal.
James “Jim” G. Pulis, SGT.
2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Vietnam
Jim Pulis was born and raised in San Francisco. He fought in the first major land battle involving US ground forces in Vietnam - Operation Starlight, upon which the film “We Were Soldiers” was based. During his tour Jim was involved in multiple combat actions. He and his unit received a Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Citation, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. Jim also struggled with PTSD after the war, and by his own admission has never truly recovered from his experience. He now lives in Petaluma with his wife.
Larry Rezendes, E-4 CPL.
7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment, US Army, Vietnam
Larry Rezendes grew up in Oakland CA until he was drafted into the Army after he graduated from high school. Serving in Vietnam in the height of hostilities, he was a door gunner on a helicopter until a disagreement with his CO landed him in the infantry. He served in the Pleiku /An Khe region of Vietnam. Larry earned two Bronze Stars with V-Device for his individual acts of bravery under fire, selflessly rescuing his squad behind enemy lines. He was also awarded a special medal from the Vietnamese government for valor in combat. Regular combat exposure left Larry with PTSD and a chronic drug problem. He struggles with depression and spent his 50th birthday in San Quentin Prison. He now lives with his aging mother and works to create some peace in his life.
Dan P. Richard, CPL.
Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Korean War
Dan Richard grew up in Virginia, and joined the Marine Reserves to avoid being drafted. Shortly after enlisting, the conflict in Korea broke out and, with minimal combat training, he found himself storming the beaches of Inchon, thirty days after being called up to active duty. He is among the few survivors of the battle surrounding the Chosin Reservoir. He served there at Yudam-Ni in the bitter brutality of the North Korean winter and survived against tremendous odds. In the dead of night, he and his unit marched through waist deep snow across steep terrain to rescue Fox Company, trapped and surrounded atop Fox Hill. He received a Combat Action Ribbon with two combat stars and various medals from the ROK (Republic of Korea).
Russell S. Rodgers, PFC.
2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, WWII
Russell Rodgers grew up in Atlantic City and due to being legally blind in one eye, was rejected three times by the military before the Army finally relented and allowed him to enlist. Despite poor eyesight, he ended up in the legendary 101st Airborne Division, jumping for Operation Market Garden and participating in the Battle of the Bulge where he defended the city of Bastogne. He received the Bronze Star for bravery, a Purple Heart for battle injuries and a Combat Infantry Badge. His grandson currently serves in Iraq.
Kenneth W. Sargent, MSGT
MEU Service Support Group, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, OIF / OEF
Kenny Sargent grew up in the Midwest, and always wanted to be a Marine. He served his entire adult life in the military and loved his job unconditionally. During his second tour in Iraq Kenneth was severely wounded when a round went through his eye and out the side of his head resulting in a traumatic brain injury. He has gone through a terribly difficult rehabilitation period where he even needed to re-learn how to speak. His deepest disappointment is that he was unable to stay with his young Marines in combat. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries and a Meritorious Service Medal. He was recently separated from the military (2008).
Fred Tittle, E-8 MSGT.
2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Vietnam / Gulf War
Fred Tittle grew up on a farm in the segregated South and made the Marines his career. He began by serving a combat infantry tour in Vietnam as a team leader where he lost most of his unit to injuries or death, and at one point lost all of his squad. He received a Navy Commendation for his bravery in action, a Meritorious Unit Commendation and a Combat Action Badge. Due to an illness, he retired from the military after 30 years of service, and went to divinity school at Princeton. He is now a minister and currently works with Iraq and Afghanistan vets, suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury. Additionally he is working towards the creation of a new treatment program to help in their healing process.
William “Denny” D. Weisgerber, SSGT
Item Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Korean War
Denny Weisgerber grew up in Idaho and served in Korea where he led his men through a number of combat actions until he lost his leg during an assault on a fixed Chinese position. He was awarded the Navy Cross for returning to rescue a fellow wounded Marine and carrying him down a hill while under heavy fire and while wounded himself. He received the Purple Heart for his wounds and his unit received a Presidential Unit Citation and a Navy Unit Citation. Denny adjusted well after the war and lives with his wife in Milpitas, CA. He has remained active with the Marines.
Anthony “Tony” Yaquinto, SSGT.
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Korean War
Tony Yaquinto grew up in San Francisco, and always wanted to be a pilot and used to jump off the roof of his house to see what it felt like to fly. Despite being told by his recruiter that the Marines needed pilots he ended up in the infantry. He served in Korea, distinguishing himself in battle, and winning the Silver Star for bravely defending a poorly reinforced outpost while waves of enemy soldiers regularly assaulted his position for several days. Tony received two Purple Hearts for wounds suffered in combat. He has suffered from PTSD in postwar life and volunteers extensively with the VA, helping young veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan adjust to their homecoming. He chairs the local Purple Heart organization and recently received a Presidential award for his volunteer work.
263rd Field Artillery Battalion, 26th Yankee Division, Third Army, WWII
Bill Armstrong grew up in Berkeley, CA. Despite his severely myopic eyes he attempted to volunteer for almost every branch of the military before finally being accepted by the Army. He was primarily responsible for driving ammunition trucks for Patton’s army and was part of the spearhead attack on the surrounding Germans at Bastogne. While finishing out his tour in Vienna after the war, he met and married his current wife, a former Russian Army officer who had been taken prisoner by the Nazis.
John Beletsis, T-5 CPL.
89th Infantry Division, Third Army, WWII
John Beletsis grew up in New York City and joined the Army at his earliest opportunity after the start of the Second World War. Because the Nazis had begun targeting medics, he was part of a wave of volunteers that were arbitrarily trained to replace the depleted ranks in the European theatre. He served as a combat medic during the invasion of Germany and was part of the company of men that liberated the first Nazi concentration camp (Ohrdruf, a Satellite of Buchenwald) encountered by Allied forces after crossing the Rhine. Grappling with the horrors of his experience on his return, John became a psychologist and dedicated his post-war-life to healing himself and others.
Alan D. Cutter, LTJG.
Naval Advisory Group, Classified, Vietnam
Alan Cutter grew up in New England and enlisted in the Navy to avoid being drafted into the Army. His goal was to avoid ever going to Vietnam. After prolonging his training for as long as possible by volunteering for a diverse set of skill set programs, his uniquely acquired skills (including fluency in various Vietnamese dialects) got him involved in intelligence work in Danang. His duties included but were not limited to: The management of a classified Vietnamese death squad, the interrogation of enemy combatants and other clandestine operations. In response to the extreme nature of his experience, Alan became a minister when he returned to the states. He is extremely active in his community and together with a wide range of religious leaders he is exploring new programs that help reintegrate returning soldiers into normal society.
Kenny Harris, E-4 CPL
1st Marine Division, Marine Force Recon, Vietnam
As a Navy Hospital Corpsman, Kenny Harris served as a combat medic attached to a unit of Force Recon Marines. He and his team were regularly sent on missions behind enemy lines for reconnaissance and surgical strikes. After being seriously wounded in combat, he was reassigned to a hospital unit in country. Kenny received a Purple Heart for his wounds and a Presidential Unit Citation for his service during the war. He has struggled with serious PTSD ever since his return to the US and has never felt at home.
Donald “Don” W. Jardine, CPL.
B Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Division, WWII
A native of San Francisco, Don enlisted in the Marines at 17 years old immediately following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He survived some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific. Besides taking, and then defending, Guadalcanal, he became one of only 36 survivors out of 240 men in his company to walk off of Peleliu island. He and his unit received three Presidential Unit Citations for outstanding performance in battle at Guadalcanal and Peleliu. After the war, Don became a very successful international banker. He worked for many years with the country of his former enemies, developing longstanding friendly relations with his Japanese colleagues. He also worked with banks and bankers in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and has worked closely with people throughout the Middle East as well.
James E. Long III, E-6 SSGT.
278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, TN National Guard, OIF
James Long was raised in Tennessee and enlisted in the National Guard there after 9/11, hoping to serve his country at home. Instead, he was sent to Iraq. While overseas, his unit was attached to several separate Army Divisions including: The 1st Infantry Division and the 101st Airborne Division. During his tour and with each of his assignments James saw regular combat. He received the Combat Action Badge for his tour, an Army Commendation Medal and a Bronze Star for individual bravery after rescuing a fellow soldier under fire. James is struggling with a disabling case of PTSD and with a mild traumatic brain injury due to bomb concussions. He is the only member of his unit that has not yet returned to Iraq for a second tour due to difficulty adjusting to life after war.
Sean O’Neill, SGT.
1st LAR Battalion, 1st Marine Division, OIF
Sean O’Neill was raised in Fremont CA and joined the peacetime military at 17, with an eye toward adventure and travel. He ended up serving two tours in Iraq. He was part of the initial invasion of Iraq and, during his second deployment, the battle for Fallujah. He was wounded in a firefight but continued to fight alongside his fellow Marines. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries and a Navy Achievement Medal with V-Device for Valor, for his actions. After the war, Sean went back to college and is currently enrolled in law school.
Theodore “Ted” Pallas, CPL.
52nd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Army Division, Korean War
Ted Pallas grew up in San Francisco until he was drafted into the Army and sent to Korea. While deployed as a front line field artillery spotter, Ted was on duty during a combat action that left him seriously wounded and taken prisoner by the assaulting Chinese. Forced north under brutal conditions, with severe injuries to his feet and toes that made walking excruciating, he endured the long trek to North Korea and the infamous Pyok Dong Camp #5. He spent nearly two years in the POW camp, before being released at the end of the war. He received the Purple Heart for his injuries and the Freedom Medal.
James “Jim” G. Pulis, SGT.
2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Vietnam
Jim Pulis was born and raised in San Francisco. He fought in the first major land battle involving US ground forces in Vietnam - Operation Starlight, upon which the film “We Were Soldiers” was based. During his tour Jim was involved in multiple combat actions. He and his unit received a Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Citation, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. Jim also struggled with PTSD after the war, and by his own admission has never truly recovered from his experience. He now lives in Petaluma with his wife.
Larry Rezendes, E-4 CPL.
7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment, US Army, Vietnam
Larry Rezendes grew up in Oakland CA until he was drafted into the Army after he graduated from high school. Serving in Vietnam in the height of hostilities, he was a door gunner on a helicopter until a disagreement with his CO landed him in the infantry. He served in the Pleiku /An Khe region of Vietnam. Larry earned two Bronze Stars with V-Device for his individual acts of bravery under fire, selflessly rescuing his squad behind enemy lines. He was also awarded a special medal from the Vietnamese government for valor in combat. Regular combat exposure left Larry with PTSD and a chronic drug problem. He struggles with depression and spent his 50th birthday in San Quentin Prison. He now lives with his aging mother and works to create some peace in his life.
Dan P. Richard, CPL.
Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Korean War
Dan Richard grew up in Virginia, and joined the Marine Reserves to avoid being drafted. Shortly after enlisting, the conflict in Korea broke out and, with minimal combat training, he found himself storming the beaches of Inchon, thirty days after being called up to active duty. He is among the few survivors of the battle surrounding the Chosin Reservoir. He served there at Yudam-Ni in the bitter brutality of the North Korean winter and survived against tremendous odds. In the dead of night, he and his unit marched through waist deep snow across steep terrain to rescue Fox Company, trapped and surrounded atop Fox Hill. He received a Combat Action Ribbon with two combat stars and various medals from the ROK (Republic of Korea).
Russell S. Rodgers, PFC.
2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, WWII
Russell Rodgers grew up in Atlantic City and due to being legally blind in one eye, was rejected three times by the military before the Army finally relented and allowed him to enlist. Despite poor eyesight, he ended up in the legendary 101st Airborne Division, jumping for Operation Market Garden and participating in the Battle of the Bulge where he defended the city of Bastogne. He received the Bronze Star for bravery, a Purple Heart for battle injuries and a Combat Infantry Badge. His grandson currently serves in Iraq.
Kenneth W. Sargent, MSGT
MEU Service Support Group, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, OIF / OEF
Kenny Sargent grew up in the Midwest, and always wanted to be a Marine. He served his entire adult life in the military and loved his job unconditionally. During his second tour in Iraq Kenneth was severely wounded when a round went through his eye and out the side of his head resulting in a traumatic brain injury. He has gone through a terribly difficult rehabilitation period where he even needed to re-learn how to speak. His deepest disappointment is that he was unable to stay with his young Marines in combat. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries and a Meritorious Service Medal. He was recently separated from the military (2008).
Fred Tittle, E-8 MSGT.
2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Vietnam / Gulf War
Fred Tittle grew up on a farm in the segregated South and made the Marines his career. He began by serving a combat infantry tour in Vietnam as a team leader where he lost most of his unit to injuries or death, and at one point lost all of his squad. He received a Navy Commendation for his bravery in action, a Meritorious Unit Commendation and a Combat Action Badge. Due to an illness, he retired from the military after 30 years of service, and went to divinity school at Princeton. He is now a minister and currently works with Iraq and Afghanistan vets, suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury. Additionally he is working towards the creation of a new treatment program to help in their healing process.
William “Denny” D. Weisgerber, SSGT
Item Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Korean War
Denny Weisgerber grew up in Idaho and served in Korea where he led his men through a number of combat actions until he lost his leg during an assault on a fixed Chinese position. He was awarded the Navy Cross for returning to rescue a fellow wounded Marine and carrying him down a hill while under heavy fire and while wounded himself. He received the Purple Heart for his wounds and his unit received a Presidential Unit Citation and a Navy Unit Citation. Denny adjusted well after the war and lives with his wife in Milpitas, CA. He has remained active with the Marines.
Anthony “Tony” Yaquinto, SSGT.
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Korean War
Tony Yaquinto grew up in San Francisco, and always wanted to be a pilot and used to jump off the roof of his house to see what it felt like to fly. Despite being told by his recruiter that the Marines needed pilots he ended up in the infantry. He served in Korea, distinguishing himself in battle, and winning the Silver Star for bravely defending a poorly reinforced outpost while waves of enemy soldiers regularly assaulted his position for several days. Tony received two Purple Hearts for wounds suffered in combat. He has suffered from PTSD in postwar life and volunteers extensively with the VA, helping young veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan adjust to their homecoming. He chairs the local Purple Heart organization and recently received a Presidential award for his volunteer work.