2024
May 27: 70th Annual Memorial Day
The Freedom Committee of Orange County
Founded 1995 by CWO l Jack R. Hammett (1922-2014), WWII, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Nonprofit Public Benefit Public Benefit Corp. with 501 (c)(3) Exempt Status
Incorporated May 11, 2011, 13 Anniversary May 2024
All donations go to the FCOC. There are no employees only all volunteers including the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors are volunteers
they do not receive compensation.
See flyer here.
2021
Mar 29: National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Veterans gather during a wreath laying in Costa Mesa, CA on Monday, March 29, 2021. The group met at a local church due to permitting and COVID-19 concerns. The date marks Vietnam War Veterans Day that honors the service of Vietnam veterans and the sacrifices of their families. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jun 9: The Untold Military History Story – Gary Tegel, Senior Chief, U.S. Navy
May 31: Memorial Day Ceremony – Freedom Committee of Orange County, Harbor Lawn Mt. Olive Mem Park
May 12: Dancing in Elephant Grass – Douglas Milliken, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Vietnam War
Apr 28: Sinking of the Gambier Bay, 1944, Battle of Leyte – Robert Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy
Apr 14: 1967 Attack on U.S.S Liberty by Israeli Defense Forces – Don Pageler, Crypto Technician, U.S. Navy
Mar 29: National Vietnam War Veterans Day – Hammond Salley, Major, U.S. Army
Mar 24: Medal of Honor Day – Cathy Ehlere Metcalf, MOH Foundation, Daughter, MOH Walter Ehlers
Mar 10: WWI – Sinking of HMS Otranto – Chase Wickersham, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Feb 24: Every Marine a Rifleman – Dwight Hanson, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Gulf War
Feb 13: Dress Blues Inspection & Presentation, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corp – Gary Tegel, Senior Chief, U.S. Navy
Feb 10: Air Defense of CONUS, Cold War – Al Harvard, Major, U.S. Army
Jan 27: C-141 Flying Route: USA-Vietnam 1967-71; + FAC 50th Anniversary – William Mall, Major General, U.S. Air Force, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada
Jan 13: The Jets don’t Fly unless the Oiler comes by! – Robert Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy, Cold War
2020
Dec 9: A Secret War – Vietnam – John Stryker “Tilt” Meyer, S/Sgt, U.S. Army, Vietnam War
Nov 25: Artillery Supported by Quad 50’s and Dusters – Chase Wickersham, 1st Lt., U.S. Army, Vietnam War
Nov 11: Veterans Day – Nuvision Credit Union – Gas Card Giveaway – honoring 200 veterans and featuring Freedom Committee WWII veteran David Hayward, B-25 pilot, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Air Force, WWII
Oct 28: Adventures in Reconnaissance – James Lockhart, Major, U.S. Army, Vietnam War
Oct 14: Grunts in the Jungle – Frank Pangborn, 1st Lt., U.S. Army, Vietnam War
Sep 23: Flying CH-47 Chinook Helicopter in Combat – John Hendrickson, Lt. Col., U.S. Army, Vietnam War
Sep 9: U.S. Army Medic – Wallace Ziegler, Sp-4, U.S. Army, Vietnam War
Aug 26: Missile Systems, U.S. Navy – George Chambers, FTCS, U.S. Navy, Cold War
Aug 12: Army Helicopter Pilot, Vietnam, ‘64-‘65 – Pat McLarney, Chief Warrant Officer 2, U.S. Army
Jul 22: Life as an Infantryman – Doug Milliken, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Vietnam
Jul 8: My Career in the U.S. Navy – Gary Tegel, Senior Chief, U.S. Navy
Jun 24: Minuteman Missile Launch Officer – Kenneth Cornelison, Captain, U.S. Air Force, Cold War
Jun 10: My Cold War Career – Wayne Scott, Colonel, U.S. Air Force
June 15: Flag Day Ceremony, Anaheim – Representation by Victor Real, Sergeant E-4, U.S. Marine Corps
May 25: Memorial Day Ceremony – Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park, Costa Mesa
May 13: Presidential Helicopter Service – Victor Real, Sergeant E-4, U.S. Marine Corps
Apr 8: Experiences of a Chopper Pilot in Vietnam – James Grimm, Chief Warrant Officer 2, U.S. Army
Mar 11: Siege of Khe Sanh – Army combat experiences, Hamm Salley, Major, U.S. Army
Feb 12: A Medical Specialist in Vietnam – Account of Robert Casillas, E-5, U.S. Army
Jan 8: Combat Missions of a Tank Commander – Dennis Lumley, E-4, U.S. Army, Vietnam War
2019
Dec 11: Never Again – Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 – Pearl Harbor Survivor John A. Hughes, Major, U.S. Marine Corps, WWII, South Pacific, interviewed by Dwight Hanson, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Dec 11: The Ghost Squadron of Vietnam – Bob Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy; Capt. Steve Tucker, Captain, U.S. Marines
Dec 9: Boot Camp & Platoon 353 – Vietnam experiences of David H Coop, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Nov 13: Destroyers and What I Did on One Tin Can – Lucky Walch, Quartermaster E-3, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. Jenkins
Oct 9: Medical Expertise in Vietnam – Wallace “Wally” Ziegler, Spec. 4, Medic, U.S. Army
Sep 11: U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Battle of the Bulge – Muriel Philips “Phil” Engelman, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Nurse Corps, WWII
Sep 8: Hail to the Heroes – Pacific Symphony concert honoring veterans and active-duty service members, Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa
Aug 14: Understanding the High Cost of Freedom – Graves registration, George Ciampa, Pfc, U.S. Army, WWII
Jul 10: Nuke Alert & Combat Missions – Vietnam experiences of Gary Barnhill, Captain, Fighter Pilot, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam
Jul 4: Nuvision Freedom Ride and BBQ – Nuvision Credit Union – 4th annual Freedom Ride – Huntington Beach – San Juan Capistrano – Cooks Corner, to honor those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom. Nuvision has been supporting our military and veterans for 80 years. Attendance: 225 riders. Nuvision donation: $5,500 to support The Freedom Committee of Orange County’s “Living History Program.”
Jun 12: 1942 Experiences of Training at Santa Ana Army Air Base, Orange County – Memories of training, early World War II, David K. Hayward, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, China-Burma-India.
May 27: Memorial Day Event – Freedom Committee / Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation, Harbor Lawn-Mt Olive Memorial Park, Costa Mesa
May 8: Company Commander Mechanized Infantry – William Francis Pavone, Jr., 1st Lt., Infantry, Vietnam
Mar 13: Infantry Playground for Pawns – Kirby Matter, 1st Lt., U.S. Army, Vietnam War
Apr 10-14: The Wall that Heals – The Vietnam War Memorial Wall, ¾ Replica, Balearic Park, Costa Mesa. Sponsored by The Freedom Committee of Orange County and Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation. Opening day speaker William B. Mall, Major General, U.S. Air Force. Closing day speaker Sgt. Frank Orzio, U.S. Army
Feb 13: Illustrating the War – Vietnam War through artwork, Edward J. “Ed” Bowen, SP-4, U.S. Army
Jan 9: Boot Camp & Platoon 353 – David Coop, Lance Corporal, Infantry, U.S. Marine Corps
2018
Dec 12: Battle of the Bulge – Memories of World War II, Fred Whitaker, Corporal, U.S. Army
Nov 14: Experiences of a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot – Patrick McLarney, Chief Warrant Officer 2, U.S. Army
Oct 10: Air Defense in the Cold War – David Wensley, Captain, U.S. Air Force
Sep 12: Marine One Presidential Helicopter – Victor Pavo Real, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Aug 8: POW, Battle of the Bulge – George Emerson, Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force
Jul 11: Combat Communication Challenges – Marc Lee Flanary, SP-5, U.S. Army
Jun 13: Oil Tenders, USS Hassayampa AO-145 – Robert “Bob” Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy
May 28: Memorial Day Event – Freedom Committee / Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation, Harbor Lawn-Mt Olive Memorial Park, Costa Mesa
May 9: Seal Selection and Training – Thomas Weaver, Captain, U.S. Navy
April 11: Defending Continental US During Cold War Defense – Alan “Al” Harvard, Major, U.S. Army
Mar 14: Grunts in the Vietnam Jungle – Frank Pangborn, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Feb 14: MIA TSgt Chuck Johnston – William “Bill” Mall, Major General, U.S. Air Force
Jan 10: Tet Offensive & Battle of Khe Sahn – Steve Tucker, Captain, U.S. Air Force
2017
Dec 13: Pearl Harbor and the Pacific War – Howard C. Bender, USN, Chief Yeoman, U.S. Navy, WWII, U.S.S. Maryland, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Pacific Theater
Nov 8: Pilot CH-46 Vietnam, Golden Age of Aviation – Benjamin L. Williams, Lt. Col., U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam War
Oct 11: My Navy Pilot and Combat Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan – Roderick “Hot Rod” Kurtz, Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy, Iraq and Afghanistan
Sept 13: Single Bomber Mission – David “Dave” K. Hayward, 1st Lt. U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, China-India-Burma, Bomber Pilot
Aug 9: Really Understanding the High Cost of Freedom! – George Ciampa, Pfc, U.S. Army, WWII, Europe, Graves Registration
Jul 12: Vietnam-Daily Reconnaissance – Douglas Allen Milliken, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Infantry, Vietnam War
Jun 14: Shipboard Experiences 1942-1946 – Jack Dee Linscott, GM-2, U.S. Navy, WWII, South Pacific
May 10: WWII and George S. Patton – Richard “Dick” O’Brien, Sergeant, U.S. Army, WWII, Europe, Infantry
Apr 12: Flying 35 Missions in WWII – Roberto “Bob” Ruiz, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, Europe, B-24 Liberator Pilot
Mar 8: Combat Flying in the South Pacific Theater during WWII – Theodore “Ted” Tanner, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, South Pacific, Bomber Pilot
Feb 8: Life Aboard the Philippine Sea – William “Bill” Schultz, AT2e, U.S. Navy, WWII, Pacific
Jan 11: Carrier Warfare in the Pacific, 1942-46 – Roderick “Rod” McChesney, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, WWII, South Pacific, Carrier Aviator
2016
Dec 14: Pearl Harbor Survivors – Howard C. Bender, Chief Yeoman, U.S. Navy, WWII, U.S.S. Maryland, PHS, South Pacific and John A. Hughes, Major, U.S. Marine Corps, WWII, PHS, South Pacific, Aviator
Nov 9: Helicopter Pilot Vietnam – Sven A. Akesson, CW04, U.S. Army, Vietnam
Oct 12: Fighter Pilot- WWII, Korea and Vietnam – Sidney M. Yahn, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Air Force
Sep 14: Live and Let Live – Personal Accounts of the Tuskegee Airmen – Robert “Bob” Friend, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, European Theater
Aug 10: A B-25 pilot in China-Burma-India, 1943-1944 – David K. Hayward, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII
Jul 13: Siege at Khe Sanh – A Personal Account – Hammond “Ham” Salley, Major, U.S. Army, Infantry, Vietnam
Jun 8: A Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam, 1965 – Malcolm Campbell, CWO4, U.S. Army
May 11: Ace in a Day – Willis “Bill” Hardy, Colonel, U.S. Navy, WWII, Aviator
Apr 14: My Military Career during the Cold War – Richard “Dick” M. Grabow, Colonel, U.S. Army, Infantry, Germany
Mar 9: Flak, Fighters, And Boiled Potatoes – Robert D. Davis, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, B-24 Bomber, Gunner, POW, 500-mile walk
Feb 10: Maritime Aviation, Anti-Submarine, Artic Flights & Replenishment at Sea – Robert Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy, Cold War, Naval Aviator, Ships Captain
Jan 13: A Corpsman in Vietnam – James T. Pinnix, Spec 5, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class, U.S. Navy, Vietnam
2015
Dec 9: Pearl Harbor and the Pacific War – Howard C. Bender, Chief Yeoman, U.S. Navy, WWII, South Pacific, Pearl Harbor Survivor
Nov 4: Victory over Japan (VJ Day) Reunion Beijing, China – David “Dave” K. Hayward, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, China-Burma-India, B-25 Pilot
Oct 14: Secret War – Vietnam – John “Tilt” Stryker Meyer, S/Sgt, U.S. Army, Infantry, Vietnam
Sep 9: WWII South Pacific, 1st Marine Air Wing – F4U Corsair – Irving B. “Irv” Saunders”, S/Sgt., U.S. Marine Corps, WWII, South Pacific
Aug 12: From the Sea to the Mountains – Robert Dugan, S/Sgt, U.S. Marine Corps, Korean War
Apr 8: Memories of “Peace Terms,” A B-24 in Action – Herb Guiness, Captain, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, B-24 Liberator pilot, European Theater
Mar 11: P-51, F-80, F-84, F-86 Keep ‘em Flying – Orville E. “Pete” Pederson, Sgt, U.S. Army, Korean War
Feb 11: The Air War in Vietnam – Marvin “Marv” Traywick Garrison, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War
2014
Dec 10: Experiences of a “Chopper” pilot in Vietnam – James C. “Jim” Grimm, CWO2,U.S. Army, Vietnam
Oct 15: Special Forces Operation for Vietnam – Robert “Bob” McClain, Captain, U.S. Army, Infantry Officer
Jul 9: Rescue of Medical Students in Grenada – William J. Mall Jr., Major General, U.S. Air Force, Cold War, Vietnam, Grenada
Apr 9: Radar Bombing 14th Air Force in China, Flying the Hump & Typhoon – Vern P. Martin, Sgt., U.S. Air Force, WWII, Asiatic-Pacific, China, Burma, India
Mar 10: Suicide Missions – Story of the Glider Pilots in action – Robert H. “Bob” Meyer, Captain, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, Glider Pilot.
Feb 12: Life of a Young GI during WWII – Howard “Howie” Louis Beach, Jr., Sergeant, U.S. Army, WWII
Jan 8: Naval Aviation Combat in the South Pacific – John A. Hughes, Major, U.S. Marine Corps, WWII and Korea
2013
Oct 13: Battle of the Bulge & Assault on Germany – Fred Whitaker, Corporal, U.S. Army, WWII
Sep 11: Battle of the Bulge & POW Experiences – George H. Emerson, Sergeant, U.S Army Air Force, WWII, Tail Gunner B-17
Aug 14: Special Navy Advance Group & The Invasion of Europe, June 6, 1944 – Jack R. Hammett, Warrant Officer, U.S. Navy, WWII, Pacific
Jun 12: A Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam – Malcolm Campbell, CW04, U.S. Army
Apr 10: Korean Conflict – Bryan P. Roland, T/Sgt, U.S. Air Force
Mar 13: B-24 Radio/Gunner – Robert D. Davis, Technical Sergeant, U. S. Army Air Force, WWII
Jan 7: Attack on the U.S.S. Liberty by Israeli Defense Forces – Donald Pageler, Crypto Technician 2nd Class, U. S. Navy
2012
Dec 12: Combat Flying in the South Pacific, WWII – Theodore (Ted) Tanner, Lt. Col., U.S. Army Air Force
Oct 10: Flare Drop Operations in Korea – George Joseph Widly, Aviation Specialist First Class, U. S. Navy
Aug 6: Point Man in Jungle Combat – Robert John Leahy, Specialist 4, U. S. Army, Vietnam War, Combat Infantryman
May 9: Surviving in shark infested waters – Dr. Norman R. Loats, Storekeeper 2nd Class, U.S. Navy, WWII
Apr 11: Vietnam War Stories – William E. Anderson, Major, U.S. Air Force
Mar 14: War Experiences & life as a POW – Edison Wainright Miller, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam.
Feb 8: Korean Conflict – Combat Medic in Action – Frank Ramirez, S/Sgt, U.S. Army
2011
Dec 13: Pearl Harbor Revisited (70 Years Later) – Bankston, Bender, Gregory, Hammett, Higgins, Iantorno, Porter, and Thomas
Nov 9: Experiences of a WWII Fighter Pilot – Lt Col Powers, USAF, WWII, European Theater
Oct 12: America’s Biggest Naval Battle and Survival at Sea – Norman Russell Loats, Storekeeper 2nd Class, U.S. Navy, WWII, South Pacific
Sep 14: Missing in Action-Jungle Survival – Eugene C. Wallace, Colonel, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII
Aug 10: Life of a Young GI during WWII – Howard “Howie” Louis Beach, Jr., Sergeant, U.S. Army, WWII, 9th Infantry Division, 9th Recon
Jul 13: Bombing Mission to destroy oil refineries, Romania, WWII – Robert Sternfels, Major, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, European Theater, Ploesti Raid
Jun 8: Flying the King Fisher, The Eye of the Fleet – Daniel D. Huston, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, WWII, Battleship Scout Pilot, U.S.S, Colorado, Pacific
May 11: The Mekong Delta Navy – John “Kirk” Ferguson, Commander, U.S. Navy, Vietnam
Apr 13: Attu, Normandy, and Okinawa and Korea – Frank H. Haigler, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps
Mar 9: Liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp – Daniel Gillespie, S/Sgt., U.S. Army, WWII, European theater, Infantry
2010
Oct 13: Pacific Theater – 1945
Sep 8: Combat from a modern bomber perspective – Miller
Aug 11: Flying WWII Bombers in the Pacific and Europe – Panel
Jul 14: The Forward Air Controller – William B. Mall, Major General, U.S. Air Force
Jun 9: Reflections of a Combat Engineer in Vietnam – Timothy Richards, Captain, U.S. Army
May 12: The Ground Pounders
Apr 14: Salute to our Purple Heart Medal Members
Mar 10: The Combat Nurse in Vietnam – Moore
Feb 10: Stories about Gen. Patton’s Tank Corp – Merl “Bus” Cornelius, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Sergeant, WWII
Jan 13: Sighted Sub, Sank Same – David D. Huston, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, WWII
2009
Dec 9: The Quick and the Dead – Jack R. Hammett, Warrant Officer, U.S. Navy