Hometown Banner Ceremony

Honoring Coronado Veterans Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 10:30 a.m.

Welcome & Introductions

Chuck Lucas, Hometown Banner Committee Chairman

Coronado High School NJROTC - Color Guard

National Anthem

performed by

Miss Jean Younce

Recognition of Avenue of Heroes Volunteers Richard Bailey, Mayor of Coronado

Presentation & Reading of the Biographies

Chuck Lucas, Hometown Banner Committee Chairman Jim Jamison, Hometown Banner Committee Member

After each biography is read, we ask Honorees and/or their

family and friends to come forward to receive an award from the Mayor.

Reception Please join us for refreshments in the lobby.

Everleigh D. “Chub” Willems

Solomon “Sol” Atkinson

Gordon D. Cady

Jack Christiansen

William F. Grimm

Wayne W. Hoffmann

Russell Lloyd Jr.

Scott Markel, MD

John B. McKinny

Donald F. Milligan

William B. Rennie

Hugh J. Rosania

Richard Sadlier

Kenton Stacy

Arcia Ola “A.O.” Turner

Mark K. Williamson

MAY 2019

HONOREES

EVERLEIGH D. “CHUB” WILLEMS Written by Katie Lehner

Everleigh D. Willems, better known to his friends and family as Chub, was born in Rockville, Missouri on December 26, 1916. He attended college in Warrensburg, Missouri. He taught school in a one room school house before he enlisted in the Naval Reserve Aviation Corps in September 1939. Chub became a Naval Aviator in Pensacola, Florida the following year on September 10, 1940.

He flew Grumman TBM (torpedo Bomber) Avenger and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission over New Guinea while serving on the U.S.S. Lexington. He was forced to abandon that ship on May 8,1942, during the battle of the Coral Sea, when the Lexington was struck by Japanese dive bombers and crippled. Chub spent four hours in the water before being rescued. The ship was later scuttled by a U.S. submarine.

After the battle of the Coral Sea he was transferred to Naval Air Station Coronado, and became a flight instructor. The Navy housed Chub at the Hotel Del Coronado, and it was there he met his future bride, Mimi. He retired from the Navy in 1959 with the rank of Commander, and spent his remaining years in Coronado with his wife Mimi who died in 1989. He is survived by his three children, Rev. Canon Jim Willems of Rhode Island, and Rick Willems and Wendy Tugend of Coronado. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Aaron, Dan, and Katie, and three great grandchildren.

SOLOMON “SOL” ATKINSON Written by Maria Hayward

Born in Metlakatla, Alaska, in 1930, Solomon “Sol” Atkinson departed his Inside Passage island to embark on a 22-year military career. Two years after enlisting in the US Navy, he volunteered for the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT)—the famed Frogmen of World War II—deploying to Korea and the Pacific. When President Kennedy established the US Navy SEAL Teams, Sol became a plank owner of SEAL Team ONE and the first Alaska Native/Native American SEAL.

Completing three combat tours to Vietnam, he earned the Bronze Star for valor and the Purple Heart. Additionally, he trained dozens of US astronauts. Fellow SEALs said of him: “Sol’s story will continue to be told by the men he trained, by the officers who relied on him, by the Frogmen who all respect him. An officer, a gentleman, an athlete, a friend, Sol Atkinson is all of these, but of all these traits, he is first a Frogman.”

Sol retired from the Navy after serving with Underwater Demolition Teams THREE, TWELVE, and TWENTY-ONE and SEAL Teams ONE and TWO.

Returning to Alaska, Sol continued to serve his people and nation as mayor of Metlakatla and a tireless veterans, Indian rights, and education advocate…efforts for which he was lionized with these words on the floor of the US Senate: “Sol…spent decades reaching out to his fellow veterans to make sure they receive the benefits, honor, and dignity they earned.”

Capturing Sol’s humility are words he spoke in accepting his many civilian awards: “everything I do is for my PEOPLE not myself.” Veteran, SEAL, patriot: Sol Atkinson has and continues to serve his nation with unsurpassed distinction.

GORDON D. CADY Written by Marcia Cobian

Gordon Duward Cady was born March 2, 1913,

in Port Huron, MI, son of Mr. and Mrs. Burt D.

Cady. Following his graduation from a military

prep school, he attended the University of

Florida in Gainesville where he earned an

Electrical Engineering degree.

Upon graduation, he joined the Navy as an

Aviation Cadet. Earning his Naval Aviator wings

at Naval Air Station in 1937, he was honored as

the most outstanding graduate.

He was assigned to a carrier battle group at

NASNI in 1937. Once he arrived in Coronado he

sent for his fiancée, Carolyn Sikes of

Gainesville; they were married on October

14,1937, in the living room of the Base

Chaplain. Their first home was at 327 Palm

Avenue.

The next several years were spent in flying

billets. The military was preparing for a conflict.

Cady was a flight instructor in Great Lakes,

moved around the country attending advanced training until July, 1943. In

September, 1943, he was assigned as the Commanding Officer of VF11

(Sundowners). The squadron departed from Coronado for the Pacific aboard the

USS Hornet in March, 1944. In July, 1944, he was promoted to Commander, and

then in August he was assigned to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, as the

Assistant Operations Officer for flying duties. Sadly, he was killed in a plane crash

on the USS Belleau Wood on August 30, 1944.

During his short but memorable career, he earned several commendations; the

most notable of those were the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross,

awarded posthumously.

JACK CHRISTIANSEN Written by Tom Christiansen

Friends, shipmates and family are gathered as

we celebrate the life and exploits of a great man,

Jack Christiansen. He was an immigrant to this

country and like many immigrants who have

come here, he worked hard, lived large and

loved his country. When War World II started

there was no question on if he was going or

not...HE WENT - and so began a remarkable

naval career that spanned decades.

His achievements were many, his influence on

his peers and those that he commanded,

great. The Admiral was awarded the Navy

Cross for sinking the Japanese Battle ship

Nagato. He was awarded the Distinguished

Flying Cross for shooting down a Japanese

torpedo plane during the Marianas Islands

Turkey Shoot; additionally, the Admiral was

awarded eight (8) Air Medals.

He married Gloria Moore and had two children,

Tom and Tina. During those early years as a

junior officer, shore duty was rare and

deployments were long - tough conditions for raising a family. After retiring from

the Navy, Jack and Gloria divorced. He told Tom and Tina “I’m broke and I’m

going to work for Grumman and make some money!” Jack did exactly that,

becoming the director of field operations and marrying Clare Demaline in 1972.

After retiring from Grumman, Jack and Clare moved to Whidbey Island in

Washington state where Jack spent many happy days plying the waters of Puget

Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca in his trawler “Navy Cross”. RADM John S.

Christiansen currently resides at Fort Rosecrans, where he can still keep an eye

on us.

WILLIAM F. GRIMM Written by Liz Patten

William F. Grimm was born May 18, 1927 in Centralia, Washington. He grew up there and in Piedmont, California. In 1945, at the age of 17, he was granted his high school diploma early in order to enlist in the Navy. Bill served as an enlisted sailor until the end of World War II and was then appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1950. He earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1951.

Bill married Edith (Ede) Huggins on New Year’s Eve, 1951. Together they had three children - Bill Grimm, Martha Workman, and Liz Patten.

Captain Grimm’s Navy career spanned 32 years, serving in both the Korea and Vietnam wars. Assigned to Patrol Squadron VP-21, he flew both the P4M Mercator and the P2V Neptune. He attended Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California from 1956-1959 and then taught at the Naval Academy. He commanded ASW Squadron, VS-38, deploying with them twice to Vietnam. As a Captain, Bill commanded Carrier Anti-Sub Air Group 53.

After a Pentagon tour and his final assignment on North Island, he retired in July 1977 having accrued 3,900 career flight hours, and 490 carrier landings, with 175 of them at night.

Bill’s many decorations include the Air Medal with Gold Star for meritorious achievement in aerial flight during Vietnam, the Korean Campaign with 5 stars, the WWII Victory Medal, the UN Service Medal, the China Service Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for the recovery of the unmanned APOLLO4 (AS-501).

After retiring from the Navy, Bill opened Grimm T.V. & Appliance in Coronado serving the community for years. Retiring for a second time, he was a fixture at the Coronado Golf Course. Captain Grimm passed away in his home on June 29, 2018 at the age of 91.

WAYNE W. HOFFMANN

Written by Dan’l Steward

Chaplain (Brigadier General) Wayne W. Hoffmann, AUS (Ret.), was born in Hollis, Long Island in 1937, attended public schools in New York, and matriculated at Wheaton College in Illinois. Graduating in 1959, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Infantry. He then enrolled in Columbia Theological Seminary, receiving his Master of Divinity in 1962, and transferred from the infantry to the US Army Chaplain Corps.

Temporarily assigned to the 1st Armored Division as it staged in Florida for the invasion of Cuba and support of OPERATION MONGOOSE, Chaplain Hoffmann then received orders to a unit serving near the Demilitarized Zone, Korea. He was subsequently assigned as staff chaplain, Oakland Army Base California, where he counseled soldiers during the early days of the Vietnam War.

Leaving active duty in 1965, Chaplain Hoffmann served as Brigade Chaplain to the Mississippi,

Indiana, and Florida National Guard at their respective headquarters. After graduating from the Army Command and Staff College—and later, the Army War College—he was assigned to Headquarters, Department of the Army. In 1991 he was activated for OPERATION DESERT STORM, promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and became the senior reserve chaplain. He held this position until his retirement in 1997, completing 38 years in the United States Army active and reserve components.

Chaplain Hoffmann’s civilian career encompassed ministerial and senior educational assignments in Mississippi; Indiana, Florida, Missouri, and California. Married in 1961, he and his wife have lived in Coronado since 1999.

RUSSELL LLOYD JR. Written by George Ferris

Lieutenant Colonel Russell “Russ” Lloyd Jr.,

USMC retired is a native of San Diego. He spent

many of his early formative years in Coronado,

where he attended Coronado High School and

was Captain of the swim team. After graduating

high school, Russ enlisted in the United States

Marine Corps Reserves in 1951 and was

commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant upon

graduating from Colgate University in 1954.

His first assignment was as a Force Reconnaissance

Officer, where he honed many leadership skills that he

would later use in combat. Notable service included

deployment on the USS FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT

(CV 42), two Vietnam combat tours with 1st Battalion,

9th Marine Infantry in Vietnam (1965-66) and Senior

Advisor Korean Marine Corps (1971-72), and

Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, DC. LtCol

Lloyd retired from the Marine Corps after 27 years in

1977.

Notable awards include the Legion of Merit with

Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Medal,

Bronze Star with Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with

Combat “V”, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. LtCol Lloyd’s

proudest achievement was earning the Navy Marine Corps medal when he single

handedly rescued a family of four from drowning in dangerous surf conditions off

the coast of Maine. LtCol Lloyd also had the privilege of personally escorting

President John F. Kennedy during the ceremonial review of the Honor Guard of

the Sea School at the Marine Corps Deport San Diego.

Upon retiring from the Marine Corps, LtCol Lloyd redirected his energy, earning a

PhD in Higher Education, and began a second career in the field of Higher

Education. Throughout his life, LtCol Lloyd has taken pride in serving others. He

became an Eagle Scout as a youth and then earned the Silver Beaver Award for

30 years distinguished service as an adult Scout leader. He also was a Rotarian

for 32 years, serving as President of his local chapter four times.

Russ retired to Fredericksburg, VA, with his late wife of 60 years Jean Busch Lloyd.

Together they raised five children and rescued numerous Labrador retrievers. He

has enjoyed the camaraderie of old service buddies, often on Volksmarches;

where he hiked all 50 States, 29 capitals, as well as parts of Mexico and Canada.

DR. SCOTT MARKEL

Written by Ken Ireland

Army Doctor Lieutenant Colonel Louis “Scott”

Markel’s story is one of heroism and courage;

overcoming grievous physical and

psychological wounds suffered as a 19-year-old

Medic in Vietnam to serve his fellow soldiers

and prisoners of war as a Doctor in the Gulf

War.

The Orange, California native was drafted into

the US Army as a Radio Operator; however,

while in training he agreed to become a Medic

instead, a decision that became life-changing.

Markel was wounded twice in Vietnam, earning

the Purple Heart both times. His second and

more significant injury occurred when his

platoon was ambushed, leaving him with

shrapnel in his body that would remain there the

rest of his life. He earned the Bronze Star for his

heroism under fire during that ambush.

Markel’s non-visible wounds, caused by the loss

of so many of his soldiers, also haunted him for

the rest of his life. The trauma of combat and his lengthy recovery inspired Markel

to become a Medical Doctor. After leaving the service he went to Seattle University

and then on to Medical School, earning a specialty in Internal Medicine. In 1984, he

felt called to service again and became a Doctor in the US Army Reserve, assigned

to the 129th Evacuation Hospital. In 1991 he was mobilized to serve as a staff Doctor

caring for prisoners of war, predominantly from the Iraqi Army’s “Republican Guard”

at the POW camp near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

After the Gulf War he left the Army Reserve and returned home, ultimately settling

in Coronado, raising a family and getting a second specialty as an

Anesthesiologist. His passion for medicine continued until he died in July, 2018.

Scott was “the bravest man I ever met” said his wife Evelyne, “he took the horrific

experiences of Vietnam and used them to motivate him to become a Doctor and

serve his fellow soldiers and others in need.”

JOHN B. MCKINNY

Written by Tom McKinny

John Blackhall McKinny was born on December

8,1922, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated

from Garden City High School in June of 1940.

Soon after Pearl Harbor, John joined the Civilian

Pilot Training Program. After successful

completion of the Navy's pilot training, John was

assigned to VT-13, a torpedo bomber squadron

on the USS Franklin, flying the TBF Avenger.

Soon after arriving in the Pacific Theater, John

saw his first “action.” On July 4th, 1944, his Air

Group 13 conducted a pre-dawn strike on the

Bonin Islands. Thereafter, Ensign McKinny flew

twenty-nine combat missions. In addition to two

Air Medals for meritorious actions against the

enemy, he received the Distinguished Flying

Cross for "heroism and extraordinary

achievement while in the vicinity of the Nansei

Shito Islands, in the face of extremely intense

and accurate naval and shore anti-aircraft fire,

he skillfully maneuvered his plane to a

dangerously close range and obtained a direct

hit …” sinking a medium Japanese cargo vessel.

Ensign McKinny was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of

Leyte Gulf. The citation reads in part, "...In the face of heavy and very accurate

naval anti-aircraft fire he participated in an aerial glide bombing attack against units

of the enemy fleet and scored a direct hit on an enemy carrier.”

After the war, John remained in the Navy and while stationed in Honolulu in 1946

he met Helen Williams, whom he would later marry. In 1956, they built their home

in Coronado at 907 First Street where they raised their family.

John retired from the Navy in 1968, having attained the rank of Commander. John

B. McKinny passed away on October 21, 2012, at the age of 89, the day that would

have been his 62nd wedding anniversary.

DONALD F. MILLIGAN

Written by Mary Jane Clements

Captain Donald F. Milligan was born October 23, 1924,

in Detroit, Michigan. His family subsequently relocated

to Salem, Ohio, where Don grew up.

In March of 1943 Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy and

served on the USS AMESBURY (DD-66), a destroyer

escort in the North Atlantic. He was selected for the V-

12 Officer Training Program and entered Denison

University in July 1944. He transferred to the University

of Kansas in July 1945, graduating in 1947 and was

commissioned an Ensign on June 16, 1947. He met

and married Patricia Taylor of Coronado in 1950.

In his early naval career, Don served on USS IOWA

(BB61), USS BADOING STRAIT (CVE116) and USS

LENAWEE (APA 195). He graduated from the U.S.

Naval Post Graduate School in 1953. He then served on

the staff of Destroyer Squadron THREE, was Aide to the

Commandant, THIRTEENTH Naval District and was

Executive Officer of USS JOHN A. BOLE (DD 755). In

September 1959, he took command of USS LEADER

(MSO 490), the first of his five commands at sea. He

graduated from the Army Command and General Staff

College in 1962, served on the staff of the U.S. Naval

Post Graduate School and then assumed command of

USS HOPEWELL (DD 681) in 1964. He took command

of Destroyer Escort Squadron SEVEN in 1965, which split its time between Subic Bay,

Philippines, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After serving in the Defense Communications Agency

(DCA) in Washington. D.C., Don returned to sea as commanding officer of USS NASHVILLE

(LPD 13) IN 1971 and then assumed command of Destroyer Squadron SEVEN in San Diego in

1972. His decorations included Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (Combat

“V”), Gold Star in lieu of 2nd award, World War II Victory Medal, United Nations Medal, Korean

Service Medal (2 Stars), and Vietnam Service Medal (4 Stars).

Don retired from the U.S. Navy in 1975, returning to Coronado having served in three wars,

commanded three ships and two squadrons. He always described himself as a “ship driver”

and a “West Coast Sailor”. He loved Coronado and wouldn’t have retired to any place else.

He continued to serve his community in a variety of ways. He volunteered in the Crime

Prevention Office of the Coronado Police Department, ran for a seat on the school board,

hosted a high school foreign exchange student, supported the Fourth of July celebration, was

a Deacon at Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Coronado

Men’s Golf Club and was a member of the National Sojourner Masonic veterans’ group.

We honor him here today in the presence of his family and friends. Don passed away in August

of 2009, a life well lived with honor and distinction.

WILLIAM B. RENNIE

Written by LTJG Courtney Avon

CDR William Rennie (Ret), a native of Pittston, PA,

enlisted in the United States Navy, from July 1949 to

October 1949. He was then selected for the Merchant

Marine Academy, from which he graduated September

1953. Upon graduating, Bill Rennie was commissioned

as an Ensign in the United States Naval Reserve.

Rennie was called to active duty and sent to Pensacola,

FL, for flight training September 1953 and was

designated as a Naval Aviator in November 1954.

Rennie then reported to Miramar Naval Air Station, San

Diego, and deployed to the Western Pacific aboard USS

Shangri-La. In July 1956, he joined Attack Squadron VA-

26 on Naval Air Station Moffett Field. During his time

there, the squadron received the Naval Air Weapons

Meet 1957 Kane Trophy as the Championship Air-to-

Ground Team in the U.S. Navy. Rennie was awarded the

Herman Trophy as the Individual Air-to-Ground

Champion flying the F9F8 Cougar Jet. He then

participated in another Western Pacific deployment,

aboard USS Kearsarge.

From 1958-1959, Rennie was a flight instructor at Naval

Air Station Memphis. In 1960, he served as No. 6 and

No. 3 on the Blue Angels, the Navy’s Flight

Demonstration Squadron. After departing from the Blue

Angels, he was chosen to be the Aide to the Deputy Commander-In-Chief Pacific Fleet in

Honolulu, Hawaii. During the Vietnam War, from 1963 to 1971, Rennie was assigned to USS

Bonhomme Richard, USS Hancock, USS Shangri-La and USS Ranger as a flight pilot flying F8E

Crusader Jet Aircraft.

During his time in service, Rennie was the executive officer of Fighter Squadron VF-111, “The

Sundowners” between 1969 to 1970 and later became commanding officer, 1970 to 1971. CDR

Rennie then became the operations officer aboard USS Ranger from 1971 to 1972.

Throughout his years of service, CDR Rennie was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, a

Bronze Star, 20 Air Medals and three Navy Commendation Medals. CDR Rennie retired from

active duty in 1973, with over 4,800 flight hours throughout his time in service. As a civilian, he

continued to fly various helicopters and planes, both single and multi-engine.

In 1976, CDR Rennie founded a company, Sun and Sea Properties, Inc., where he syndicated

and managed apartment and commercial office buildings. The Corporation is still in existence

today. On April 19, 2005, CDR Rennie (Ret), passed away at his home in Coronado surrounded

by family.

HUGH J. ROSANIA

Written by Jim Rosania

Captain Hugh J. Rosania served his country

with distinction for over 30 years in the US Navy

and National Guard. He served in three wars

and was awarded the Joint Service

Commendation Medal and the Legion of Merit.

Devotion to duty, service to others and care for

his family were the hallmarks of Hugh’s life.

Born in Somerville, New Jersey in January

1921, Hugh was the youngest of eight children.

He joined the National Guard and was attending

Rutgers University when he received an

appointment to the US Naval Academy, class of

1944. At Annapolis, he played attack on the

Navy Lacrosse team that won the 1943 National

Championship.

He graduated a year early in June, 1943, and

reported aboard the destroyer USS Wadsworth

in the Pacific, seeing action at Guadalcanal,

Okinawa, and was Officer-of-the-Deck during

the initial Marine landings on Iwo Jima.

After the war, Hugh served on several submarines including command of the USS

Entemedor in 1955 and command of Submarine Division 51 in 1962. In 1963, he

was promoted to the rank of Captain and assumed command of the USS Henrico,

an attack transport that participated in landing the first US combat units in Vietnam.

Then, Hugh was transferred to Pearl Harbor, as Operations Officer on the staff of

Commander in Chief, Pacific. His last assignment was at the Amphibious Base in

Coronado, training Navy Seals prior to their deployment to Vietnam.

He lived in Coronado a total of 43 years. He was a member of the Optimist Club,

and was a volunteer at the Historical Association and Public Schools. He was very

active at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, including service as Chair of the

Administrative Board.

Hugh passed away in 2008. His wife, Lois, still resides in Coronado. Hugh has

three sons - Tom, Jim and Rob; four grandchildren - Rebecca, Jimmy, Allison and

Colleen; and two great grandchildren - Will and Tommy.

RICHARD SADLIER

Written by June Mac Leod and Richard Sadlier

Commander Richard Sadlier joined the Air Force in

1959 and was sent to Clark AFB in the Philippines.

After 18 months at Clark, he took a concurrent

overseas assignment at RAF Wethersfield, in

England. In 1963, Commander Sadlier was

honorably discharged from the Air Force to attend

college. Upon graduation, Commander Sadlier joined

the Navy and, in 1967, graduated from Aviation

Officer Candidate School (AOCS) as an Ensign.

His first assignment was Viet Nam, but first to Fort

Rucker, Alabama, for UH-1 (Huey) transition,

gunnery and tactics; then to survival training in

Warner Springs, California. Arriving in Viet Nam in

1969, Rick's squadron moved, sometimes as often

as every 6 weeks between the South China Sea and

the Gulf of Thailand. During his duty in Viet Nam, he

flew 483 combat missions, sometimes" flying up to 6

combat missions in one day, and about 200 non-

combat flights.

In 1973, he was transferred to the west coast for sea

duty with Antisubmarine Squadron Two, HS-2. During

a deployment aboard the USS Enterprise, he was part

of the evacuation of Viet Nam. After that, he transferred to the Fleet Replacement Squadron at

NAS North Island as a flight simulator, ground instructor and a department head.

After many tours of duty that spanned over twenty years of service, Commander Sadlier

retired in 1986 and became a San Diego police officer, retiring as a detective. His many

military decorations include: Air Medal (22 Strike Flight 2 Single Action), Navy

Commendation, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation (2), Meritorious Unit Citation

(2), Good Conduct, Navy Expeditionary, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces

Expeditionary, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Viet Nam Service, VN Cross of Gallantry

(Brigade Level), Air Gallantry Cross, VN Campaign, RVN Meritorious Unit Citation

(Gallantry Cross and Civil Action Colors).

Commander Sadlier lives in Coronado with his wife, Diane (a retired police detective), and

has four adult children and five grandchildren. The Sadliers have a long history with the

military. Commander Sadlier’s father and father-in-law were retired WWII veterans and

their son is a retired Marine major. According to the Commander, “we are three

generations of family members who have proudly served our country.”

KENTON STACY

Written by LTJG Jasmine E. Spencer

U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy

was born July 16, 1983, and raised in

Greenville, Ohio. In August 2005, he enlisted

in the Navy and later attended Navy Diving

and Salvage Training Center and the Naval

School Explosive Ordnance Disposal. As an

explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician

he deployed four times and completed tours at

EOD Mobile Unit THREE, EOD Mobile Unit

SIX, EOD Training and Evaluation Unit TWO,

and EOD Mobile Unit ELEVEN.

In 2017, Stacy served as an EOD technician

team leader helping to advise and assist

Syrian Democratic Forces and Raqqa

Internal Security Force (RISF) personnel. On

November 9, 2017, while clearing

improvised explosive devices (IED) from a

hospital in Syria, an IED detonated seriously

wounding him. His teammates administered

casualty care, resulting in his survival. He

returned to the United States for intensive

care and rehabilitation but the event left him as a quadriplegic.

Although he has supported special operations forces in among the most

dangerous places on earth, his greatest challenge for himself and his family

will be his long road to recovery. His supportive wife, Lindsey has been

essential in his rehabilitation while raising four beautiful children – Logan,

Mason, Anabelle and Sadie.

His personal decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Navy

Achievement Medal (two awards), Army Commendation Medal (two awards),

Army Achievement Medal (two awards), Combat Action Ribbon, and various

unit and campaign awards. In October 2010, he was presented the USO

“Service Member of the Year” award.

ARCIA OLA “A.O.” TURNER

Written by Eva Yakutis

Born in the small, inlet town of Durant’s Neck,

North Carolina, on August, 24, 1914, Turner

enlisted in the Navy up the road in Norfolk, Virginia

after his graduation from high school in 1932. His

early naval career work focused on aviation

ordnance, and he served during not only

peacetime, but also the entirety of World War II and

Korea.

He was stationed on the battleship USS Idaho in

1933, transferring to the heavy cruiser USS

Northampton in 1934, and spending considerable

time in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His pilot training

started in 1939 at NAS Pensacola, and he rose to

the enlisted rank of Chief Aviation Pilot. Turner met

Rose O’Brien while stationed in Seattle, and they

were married in 1941.

After the Pearl Harbor attack and needing more

experienced pilots, the Navy commissioned him as

an ensign, or “Mustang," in 1942. That same year

he, notably, served on Midway Island and

participated in the Battle of Midway. For the next 20

years, he and Rose were stationed in many places,

including Coronado, while raising two boys, Michael

and Jerry, both Coronado High School graduates. His final tour, back again in Coronado,

began in 1957 and ended with his retirement in 1962 at the rank of Commander and NAB

Operations Officer.

Commander Turner received numerous prestigious honors while serving in the Navy,

many for meritorious acts while participating in combat missions over Japanese territory.

They include the Distinguished Flying Cross (with two stars), Air Medals (with two stars),

Purple Heart, Presidential Commendation with Combat “V”, Navy Unit Commendation,

and Asiatic-Pacific (with five stars), Philippine Liberation, Korean Service Medal, and

World War II Victory Medal.

He was wounded by shrapnel while in the Pacific War Area after his Black Cat PBY took

flak from a 20mm shell that exploded under the cockpit. He was honored for then assisting

two seriously wounded crew members on board that flight, making an emergency water

landing, and successfully delivering the crew and plane back to base.

Commander Turner passed away in 1993 in Tacoma, Washington. We honor him today

as a very deserving recipient of an Avenue of Heroes banner in Coronado.

MARK K. WILLIAMSON

Written by Joseph Ashby, Veterans’ Writing Group of San Diego

Mark Williamson, a young man who loved life

was removed from this earth on a sunny

September morning in 1986. Flying an F-14

Tomcat, he and Cdr. Stephen Carro both pilots

from NAS North Island Rework Facility. We’re

delivering the plane back from North Island to its

unit, VF-51, at Miramar Naval Air Station. Shortly

after takeoff, something went terribly wrong and

their aircraft lost power and nosed down. Both

ejected off of Point Loma. Cdr. Carro sustained

injuries and survived, but Mark sank to the

ocean’s bottom where he was found shortly after

by Navy divers.

The oldest of five children to Mahlon & Una

Williamson, Mark spent most of his youth in the

southwest. Inspired by his father, a highly-

decorated Vietnam Air Force pilot with two

Distinguished Flying Crosses, but also by the

great outdoors, Mark was active in scouting and

scholarly in school, gaining recognition by the

National Honor Society, and as a champion in

wrestling. At Montana State, he earned a BS in biology. He joined the Air Force

Reserves in 1976, and then the US Navy in 1978, attending OCS and then flight

school at Pensacola. Earning his wings. Mark was assigned to the Naval Aviation

Depot at NAS North Island until his untimely death. Mark was active in sports and

outdoor activities, and also loved writing, relating his adventures to his parents and

sisters.

We may never know what Mark Williamson’s talents may have brought to the

world, but we will always know and appreciate the love he held for his family and

the service he gave to his country.