November 2021 We Celebrate our Veteran Heroes
“Are you free to speak your mind?; Are you free to express your opinion?; Are you free to worship?; Are you free to work to achieve your dream?; Are you free from fear that you or your loved ones will be harmed?; Are you free to love?; Are you free to live? If your answer is “YES”-then Thursday is a special day to celebrate and say “THANK YOU” to our brothers and sisters; aunts and uncles; moms and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers, husbands and wives, relatives, neighbors and friends who stood up and pledged to fight for our freedoms. Their service and sacrifice should always be remembered.” Tricia Chicagus, President, Kurka Children’s Health Fund
We salute the many School Nurses, Student Health and Human Services, teachers and school staff who are currently serving in the Military Reserve Units. Thank you to all who have served our country in the the past years and respectful remembrance for those who served and have passed away.
We remember Kathryn L. Kurka, the founder who served during WWII. She shared her experiences with many of us over the years. Kathryn “Kay” joined the Army Nurse Corps and sailed to India in 1942. There she was assigned to the 73rd Evacuation Hospital in the Burma Jungle, where there was a constant threat of fighting and bombing. Conditions were either hot and humid or very cold and wet. For every Allied Soldier wounded in the Burma struggle in 1943, 120 fell sick. The malarial rate was a staggering 84% of the total manpower. The Army sprayed DDT on mosquito infested areas and ordered all personnel to wear protective clothing after dusk regardless of the temperature. Scrub Typhus was another major problem. An extremely high level of nursing care was needed to deal with diseases, and troops suffering from exhaustion, malnutrition, and amoebic dysentery. Plane crashes and truck accidents occurred frequently across this difficult terrain. Nurses stationed in the isolated jungle hospitals in the India-Burma Theater, worked under primitive conditions in a trying climate. Many served longer than the the traditional two-year assignment and suffered low-morale. They performed a necessary task but received little recognition in this demanding but forgotten theater of war.
Kay was a nurse anesthetist and managed a ward of seriously injured service men. Many were amputees and every day was heart breaking. She lived in unheated, leaky tents with dirt floors surrounded by snakes, rats and insects, enduring monsoon conditions. Kay felt her work in Burma made her more sensitive to the needs of the deprived. She never regretted her military service and kept in touch with those who served with her for decades.
Thank you to our current military forces especially those in harms way. Your services won’t be forgotten.
Memories:
“My husband Joe is an Army Veteran. His father and brother were both Army Veterans. Joe’s two uncles were both killed on D-Day of WWII. My brothers Ralph and Albert Miranda were both Veterans: Marines and Coast Guard. Proud of them for their services to our country, we are! A large American flag proudly waves in our front yard every Veterans Day.” Dee Apodaca, Board Member
“I am surrounded by military heroes: I lost my own father John Gallardo, a graduate of Garfield High School in 1945, while liberating the Philippines; four cousins, my brother and my husband all served in the Vietnam War; my oldest son served during the Iraq War. I consider myself fortunate to have been in a family with these proud patriots!!! Although they were not veterans, I have three aunts who were “Rositas” the riveters, one while still a high school student at Garfield HS. I don’t believe we thank veterans enough for keeping us safe and away from danger. It breaks my heart when I see veterans who are homeless and /or suffering from PTSD. I often wonder if their lives took a turn for the worse because of their service. Good Bless all veterans and their families.” Maria Reza, Board Member
“My father, Nathan Soltoff, served in World War II. He survived the Battle of the Bulge. He was away from my mother and me for 3 1/2 years. All of my uncles served in the military. Erics’s uncle, Dean Morgan Schmitter, was a Navy fighter pilot in the Pacific. Eric Schmitter, my husband, was an officer/physician during Vietnam. My son, Jacob David Schmitter attended the U.s.Naval Academy and has recently bee promoted to Captain in the US naval Reserves. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan multiple tours. I am so proud of their service to our nation.” Marilyn Schmitter, Board Member
Karen Maiorca, Board Member shared that her father served during WWII and was over seas when she was born. They met in person 2 1/2 years later. Her Grandfather served in WWI in France. Her Grandmother was a “Rosie the Riveter” during WWII. Her father-in-law was a navigator in a B17. He was shot down over the North Sea. He and the bombardier were the only survivors. He was captured by the Germans and a POW for the rest of the war. Several other uncles and cousins have served one the years. They are remembered often.
“My dad, Clifford Mallouf joined the Army at age 17 (picture below), lying about his age, so he could join in WWII. His two brothers, Othell and Jerry joined the Navy and Air Force. One brother’s battleship was bombed and sank in the Pacific, he was one of the few survivors. They followed their Dad, my grandfather Richard who fought in France during WWI . My Grandmother (their mom) joined the war effort along with many other women here in Los Angeles, by rolling up her sleeves to became a riveter. My own mom’s bother Leo Perea joined the Navy. Today, my son-in-law, Jared Scudder is a veteran Marine who served in Iraq. I am so proud to have benefited from all their patriotic efforts.” Sharon Swonger, Board Member
