New Post Officers Installed for 2018-2019

July 17, 2018 Whittier, CA

At the regular monthly meeting, July 17, 2018, the American Legion Whittier Post 51 installed new officers for the legion year 2018-2019.

Elected were Louie Adame, Post Commander, Dennis Knight – 1st Vice Commander, Diana Palmer, 2nd Vice Commander, Gil Soto – Service Officer, Byron Hobbis – Finance Officer.  Appointed Officers are: Patrick Dowd – Adjutant, Carlos Zamorano – Asst Adjutant, Al Granados – Chaplain, Fred Aikey – Asst Chaplain, Nick Rangel – Sgt-At-Arms, Bob Sainz – Asst Sgt-At-Arms, Fred Shacklett – Historian, Aaron Mendoza – Post Bugler and Frank Ventura – Boy Scout Liaison.

Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be on August 21, 2018 at the Whittier Senior Center.

By fredgold1

An eight-year member of the American Legion, having served as the 2nd Vice Commander (2013-2014), 1st Vice Commander 2014-2015, Adjutant (2015-2016), Judge Advocate (2016-2017), and is currently the post Historian (2015 to present). Additionally, served as the Judge Advocate of District 19 (2016-2018) and Historian for Area 4 (2017-18). A 4-year member of California American Legion Press Association (CALPA) and the National American Legion Press Association (NALPA). Also a graduate of the American Legion Extension Institute (2012) and the editor of the Post 51 bi-monthly newsletter called “Answering the Call” and holds the office of the post Media and Communications Commissioner. During my Navy career, trained and gained certifications in shipboard navigation and amphibious operations. My Navy rating (MOS) was that of a Quartermaster, final rank Petty Officer 2nd Class (E-5). Additionally, served with distinction, while embarked in the USS Hancock (CVA-19), which participated in the April 1975 rescue of approximately 500 American personnel in Operation Eagle Pull from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which was then followed by the rescue of approximately 7000 US personnel in Operation Frequent Wind from Saigon, South Vietnam. My military service included assignments with the Assistant to the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Command at Naval Air Station Alameda, CA and an assignment with the Admiral’s staff, Commander US Navy Philippines. Other duty stations were the USS Oriskany (CV-34) during its final cruise in late 1976 and the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in 1977, until transfer to the Naval Reserve in late 1978, then separation from active duty and receiving an Honorable Discharge. My military awards are Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service medal, National Defense Service medal, Humanitarian Service medal (2 awards), Expeditionary Forces medal (2 awards), Vietnam Service medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal, and Surface Warfare Officer (Enlisted) badge. Outside of the Legion, I'm an engineering manager and a two-time Technical Honors recipient at Raytheon Company with 21 years of dedicated service. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the UC Berkeley and post graduate studies with certifications in Technical Program Management, Change Management and Systems Engineering from UCLA. He is married and resides in Santa Fe Springs with his wife, Pamela and enjoys his time with his family, including two grandchildren.