Howard Fox

Mailman 3rd Class, U.S. Navy
1943–1946, WWII
Resident, Belmont Village Senior Living

“It was an exciting time that I will never forget. I was assigned to the USS Kennebago, a fleet tanker and filling station to the fleet. We were the essential part to the first line fighting ships, as we carried their fuel. Our ship supplied the last of the fuel for the battleships that destroyed the Japanese fleet in the battle of the Philippine Sea.”

The background image shows Howard’s father, C. Maynard Fox, U.S. Navy, WWI.

James N. Augustine

Captain U.S. Army
1965–1970
Resident, Belmont Village Memphis, TN

“I served stateside. I was a finance officer. I used to travel on planes with money—it was strapped to my arm and I carried a service revolver.”

Eslie Sanders Cashie

Captain, U.S. Air Force
1958–1965
Resident, Belmont Village Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA

“I started as an airman and immediately applied for direct commission as an officer after basic training. I was chairman of the non-appropriated or nongovernment funds and was in charge of the private school, bowling alley, NCO club and officers club on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. I was the only African-American female who was not a nurse and I was treated very well, from the General to the enlisted men. It was the greatest time of my life.”

Bill Clark

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force
1939–1960
Resident, Belmont Village Sunnyvale, CA

“I signed up after seeing the Flying Cadets at Randolph Field. The war started three months later. I was assigned to Langley Field, where we bombed submarines that were close to Puerto Rico. After nineteen months, I was given an appointment to West Point via my Missouri Congressman. I was in the P-51 Fighter group in Japan when the war ended. I received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. I worked as a contracting officer in peacetime Germany.”

Lillian Offen

Commander, U.S. Navy
30-year veteran, WWII, Korea
Resident, Belmont Village Senior Living

“I served as a nurse during World War II and the Korean War on a navy medical ship. In Korea, I was on the USS Haven and cared for injured soldiers and Korean civilians who did not have access to medical care. I was sad to see so many young men hurt like that. The doctors and nurses were substantial, hardworking people. I was proud to be associated with them.”

R. C. Levis

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
1943–1946, WWII; 1951–1953
Resident, Belmont Village Westwood, Los Angeles, CA

“As part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, two war experiences brought me to Europe. I was actively involved with German prisoners and in the reconstruction of France. My exposure to European culture as a Native American was one of the most influential in my life. It influenced my studies in philosophy and religion and my subsequent career in teaching and education. It was through being stationed in Paris that I met the woman I eventually married.”

David Smith

Lieutenant J.G., U.S. Naval Air Corps
1942–1947, WWII
Resident, Belmont Village Encino, CA

“I enlisted at seventeen years old so that I could become a pilot. I thought that if I was to die, the cleanest way would be in an airplane crash. I was piloting one of the first planes to bomb Japan and we lost a lot of men in those flights. It was terrible. Our young lives ended right there, but it taught us responsibility. I was proud to have served.”

Martin Schwartz

Radar Man 3rd Class, U.S. Navy
1943–1946, WWII
Resident, Belmont Village Buffalo Grove, Chicago, IL

“It is difficult to think about the war and being away from my wife and daughter. I was always thinking about how they were doing. The war is like watching a strange movie, but you’re there. At times it isn’t exciting and then the action part starts. Then it is more like a dream. Especially when you find out who is still alive. I was thankful to be in the Navy and not the Army.”

Robert Meiborg

Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force
1938–1945, WWII
Resident, Belmont Village Geneva Road, Chicago, IL

“It was long periods of boredom followed by moments of sheer terror.”

Lee J. Broussard

Electricians Mate Third Class, U.S. Navy
1945–1948, Korea
Resident, Belmont Village Burbank, CA

“I went into the Navy at eighteen because I thought that it would be a good thing. I started in basic training in San Diego. I took electrician classes so that I could fix anything on the ship. I did not see battle, but we patrolled in the Pacific Theater, mainly Korea. I had a ball.”