Happy Veterans Day from the NJCAA
November 9, 2009
The entire NJCAA community would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the brave men and women that serve our country in the armed forces. We are forever grateful for the sacrifices you, along with your family and friends, have made and continue to make for our country. It is because of you that we get to live in a country where sports can thrive and flourish in both a professional and amateur setting.
On this Veterans Day, the NJCAA would like to recognize the military veterans that are within our ranks. Below are the names of coaches, players and administrators from our member institutions that have served our country in the military. We thank you for your service and dedication to the United States and to the NJCAA.
Also, please take some time to read our special November issue of NJCAA Review, our official monthly publication. This issue features two great stories of Iraq War veterans Bernard James and Zac Holmes and how both are using their experiences in the Air Force and Army to pursue their dreams in the classroom, basketball court and cross country course.
The list below was compiled based on information provided to the NJCAA National Office from its member colleges. If you know someone that should be on the list below please send their name, the NJCAA college they are affiliated with, branch of military, rank and any other information you would like to provide, to NJCAA Director of Sports Information Mark Krug at mkrug@njcaa.org or via fax at 719.590.7324.
HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO EVERYONE!!!
Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Minn.
Erin Cahoon
Current Member of Softball Team
Hospital Corpsman Second Class/E5, US Navy
November 1996-January 1997, Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.
January 1997-May 1997, Naval Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Ill.
May 1997-July 1997, Field Medical Service School, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
August 1997-August 1998, Branch Medical Clinical, Gaeta, Italy
August 1998-October 2003, Naval Hospital Corpus Christi Health Care System, Corpus Christi, Texas
October 2003-February 2004, Naval Hospital Corps School, San Diego, Calif.
February 2004-August 2006, Naval Healthcare New England, Newport, R.I.
August 2006-August 2007, Medical Task Force, Camp Arifijan, Kuwait
August 2007-August 2008, Naval Healthcare New England, Newport, R.I.
Bismarck State College, N.D.
Sean Greene
Current Men's Basketball Player
Airman 1st Class, US Air Force
June 2007-June 2009, Minot Air Force Base, Minot, N.D.
Black Hawk College - Moline, Ill.
Matthew Case
Current Member of Men's Golf Team
E-4, Machinery Technician - US Coast Guard
January 2003 - December 2004, Marblehead, Ohio
December 2004 - March 2009, Boston, Mass.
Broome Community College
Ed Yetsko
Women's Lacrosse Coach
Head Coach and Business Dept. Adjunct Faculty Member
Capt. US Navy and Naval Reserve
Retired 2004
Submarine Warfare Officer, North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.
Reserve duty, SUBLANT including maintenance and staff units (two Commanding Officer tours) joint staff duty with USACOM and Second Fleet. Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer to New York State.
Brown Mackie College, Kan.
Francis Flax
Current Men's Basketball Coach
Spec 5, US Army
April 1970 - March 1972
Ft. Leonardwood, Mo.
Ft. Rucker, Ala.
Pacific Command Headquarters: Honolulu, Hawaii
CCAC - Allegheny, Md.
Leslie J Callahan
Current Member of Women's Golf Team
Senior Chief Petty Officer Crypto logic Technician, US Navy
1978-79, Pensacola, Fla.
1979-82, San Vito, Italy
1982-85, Misawa, Japan
1985-88, Homestead, Fla.
1988-91, DD-983, Charleston, S.C.
1991-93, CRG, NorthWest, Va.
1993-95, CGN-37, Norfolk, Va.
1995-98, NSGA, NorthWest, Va.
1998-2001, Naval Recruitment, Pittsburgh, PA.
2001-04, Kunia, Hawaii
CCAC - North, Pa.
Brian Moehler
Current Ice Hockey Player
E5, US Coast Guard
August 2001 - Present ,North Hills
Brad Nelson
Current Member of Men's Golf Team
E5, Navy
1990-2001, San Diego, Calif.
Rich Bigley
Current Ice Hockey Player
E3, US Marine Corps
2005-09, Camp LeJeune, N.C.
CCBC - Dundalk, Md.
Leslie P. Dowling
Head Softball Coach
Corporal, US Marine Corp.
1968-70, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, Vietnam
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, Ohio
Ron Harris
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
US Army, SGT
October 1986 - February 2001
Cochise College, Ariz.
Steve Lane
Women's Basketball Head Coach/History and Math Instructor
US Army
1971-1983, Infantry Officer, Airborne, Ranger, Member of 12th Special Forces Group.
1983 ended service as Capt. And Detachment Commander for ODA 235, Company C 12th Special Forces Airborne, due to training accident. Disabled American Veteran.
Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa
Sean Taylor
Head Cross Country Coach
1LT/ Iowa Army National Guard/Medical Serve Corps
Medical Operations Officer/ 334th BSB
Currently Serving
El Paso Community College, Texas
Dana Eisenga
Athletic Information Program
SGT Major, US Army
1971-97, Ft. Ord, Calif.; Thailand; Los Angeles, Calif.; Korea (twice); Ft. Bliss, Texas (three times); Alexandria, Va.; Ft. Clayton, Panama; Ft. Still, Okla...temporary duty in Germany, Honduras and El Salvador
Todd Fiske
Assistant Cross Country Coach
Petty Officer, First Class - US Navy & Navy Reserve
1988-94; 97-08, USN Reserve San Diego, Calif.; Port Hueneme, Calif.; Guam; Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; Puerto Rico; Kuwait; Iraq and Alaska
Galveston College, Texas
Ken Delcambre
Current Athletic Director/Head Softball Coach
E4, US Army
82nd Airborne Division, 307 Combat Engineers
1964, Ft. Bragg
1965, Dominican Conflict, Dominican Republic
Gateway Community College, Conn.
Roberto C. Camacho
Current Men's Soccer Player
E-5, US Navy
NOSC Phoenix, Jan. 14, 2008 - Present
USS Bonhomme Richard LHD 6, July 13, 2009
Gloucester County College, N.J.
Thuan Lo
Member of Men's Tennis Team (Region 19 4th Singles Champion)
US Marine Corps
Gordon College, Ga.
John T. Campbell
Cross Country Coach
US Marine Corp., Stg.
Combat Veteran, Vietnam
1967-1969 Gordon Middle College
Hagerstown Community College, Md.
Robert "Bo" Myers
Director of Athletics and Leisure Studies
Captain, US Marine Corps
1968-79
Vietnam Veteran
Herkimer County Community College, N.Y.
Jason Rathbun
Head Baseball Coach/ Adjunct Instructor in Psychology/ Residence Life Area Coordinator
US Army
1996-1999, 92 Gulf attached to 3-15 Infantry Unit, Fort Stewart, GA
Basic Training in Ft. Leonardwood, Mo.
AIT in Fort Lee, VA
1998 Operation Desert Fox in Kuwait
Disabled American Veteran
Iowa Western Community College
Jason Dulberg
Men's Soccer, Volunteer Assistant Coach
Sgt. 1st Class, US Army
February 1989-April 1989, Basic Training, Fort Dix, N.J.
April 1989-July 1989 Medical Training, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
November 1989-March 1993, Orthopedic Technician, Fort Devens, Mass.
February 1991, Orthopedic Technician, Kuwait
March 1993-November 2001, Orthopedic Practitioner, Fort Levenworth, Kan.
November 2001-October 2004, Orthopedic Practitioner and Combat Medic, Landstuhler, Germany
March 2003-February 2004, Deployed to Mosul, Iraq, Combat Medic supporting 25th Infantry, Hawaii
Itawamba Community College, Miss.
Tyrone Fox
Current Assistant Football Coach
E-4, US Army & Mississippi National Guard
2002 - Camp Casey, South Korea
April 03 - March 04, Iraq War
Joliet Junior College
Steven Thomas
Member of Men's Cross Country Team
CTM3, US Navy
September, 2003-March, 2006, Pensacola, Fla.
Brian Kasher
Current Member of Football Team
SGT, US Marine Corp
October 2003-December 2007, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Mich.
Leonard M. Jordan
Current Volunteer Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
2nd Lt., 92nd Infantry Division, 371st Infantry Regiment
April 1942-June 1946, Fort Huachuca, AZ & Italy
Kankakee Community College, Ill.
Erik Villagomez
Current Member of Men's Soccer Team
US Marine Corps
Two Tours in Iraq War
Lakeland Community College, Ill.
Mike Baltus
Current Member of Men's Golf Team
Lance Corporal, US Army
2006-08, Fort Benning, Ga.
Lamar Community College, Colo.
Craig G Brooks
Current Head Softball Coach & Athletic Director
E-3 BUCN, US Navy (Seabees)
MCB 3
1974-77, Port Huneme, Calif.
Lewis & Clark Community College, Ill.
Becky Haynes
Former Basketball Player
SGT, US Army
Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
Two Tours of Duty in Iraq
Louisiana State University @ Eunice
William Chance Mistric
Current Baseball Player
E4 Corporal-US Marine Corp
July, 2004-October 2008, Quantico, Va.
Miami-Dade College, Fla.
Susan Summons
Current Head Women's Basketball Coach
PFC, US Army Reserve
1976-78, Ft. Jackson, S.C.; Boston Mass.
Marion Military Institute, Ala.
Marcus Thomas
Current Head Men's Basketball Coach
Specialist, US Army
1994-96, Fort Bliss, Texas
1996-98, Fort Carson, Colo.
James Hazewinkel
Wrestling Coach/Physical Education Instructor
1967-1969, Army, Special Services, West Point Military Academy
1968 US Olympic Greco Roman Wrestling Team, Mexico City
1969 US World Greco Roman Wrestling Team, Del Plata, Argentina
James and his twin brother David hold the record for brothers being on the most World and Olympic Wrestling teams together. Six consecutive years on US Greco Roman Wrestling Team, four World Teams and two Olympic Teams from 1967-1972 placing second, third, fourth and sixth in World Competition.
David Hazewinkel
Wrestling Coach/Physical Education Instructor
1967-1969, Army, Special Services, West Point Military Academy
1968 US Olympic Greco Roman Wrestling Team, Mexico City
1969 US World Greco Roman Wrestling Team, Del Plata, Argentina
David and his twin brother James hold the record for brothers being on the most World and Olympic Wrestling teams together. Six consecutive years on US Greco Roman Wrestling Team, four World Teams and two Olympic Teams from 1967-1972, placing second, third, fourth and sixth in World Competition.
Marshalltown Community College, Iowa
Paul Irwin
Current Member of Men's Cross Country Team
ISSN, US Navy
January 09 - March 09, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
March 09 - August 09, Naval & Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Dam Neck Naval Base, Virginia Beach, Va.
August 09 - Present, Naval Operations Support Center, Des Moines, Iowa
Massasoit Community College, Mass.
John Varela
Current Men's Soccer Player
Lance Corporal, US Marines
2001-2005, Hawaii
Jamilson Silva
Current Men's Soccer Player
Corporal, US Marines
2004-2008
September 2005-May 2006 & February 2007-September 2007, Iraq War
Mohawk Valley Community College
Steve Senior
Women's Soccer Coach
US Marine Corp Reserves
February 1969-February 1975
Nassau Community College, N.Y.
Louis Sepulveda
Current Assistant Volleyball Coach
E-4, US Navy
1990-94, USS Guadalcanal
1990-91, Operation Desert Swarm & Operation Provide Comfort
1992, Bosnia Operations
Edward Mack
Current Football & Track Coach
E-4, US Army
August 1971-March 1973, Fort Belvoir, Va.
New Mexico Military Institute
Dr. Bret Simmermacher, Lt. Col., DSM
HPER Instructor/Head Baseball Coach
MSGT, US Air Force - retired
Niagara County Community College
Eric Knuutila
Corning Community College Wrestler 1971, Region III Champions
Current Niagara Wrestling Coach
US Marine Corp., SGT
1966-1968, Vietnam
Derek Hornung
Current Men's Soccer Player and Captain
US Army, SGT
2005-06, Iraq
Continued Reserves Service
Zechariah Lange
Current Member of Wrestling Team
A1C, National Guard
2005-Present, National Guard
Brandon Thurston
Current Member of Wrestling Team
2008-Present, Sr. Airman, Reserves
Northeast Community College, Neb.
Douglas C. Brown
Athletic Director
1st Lieutenant, US Army
1969-1971
Fort Lee, Va. & Fort MacArthur, Calif.
Yongsan Compound; Seoul, South Korea
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Michael J Miller
Current Sports Information Director
E-4, US Navy
Four Years of Active Duty, Great Lakes, Ill. & Honolulu, Hawaii
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
James Cheatham
Football Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Capt. Air Force, Oklahoma Air National Guard (OKANG) Services Fit Officer, Services Squadron Commander and Force Support Squadron Officer
1993-93, Active Duty, Austin, Texas
September 1993-November 1993, Tinker AFB, OK/138th FW, Tulsa, Okla. ANG
Northern Oklahoma College - Tonkawa
Michael Riley
Current Head Women's Soccer Coach
June 1970-May 1973, Mannheim, Germany
Ocean County College, N.J.
Ernie Leta
Current Head Baseball Coach
SGT, US Marine Corps
1966-70, Vietnam
Bob Mazanec
Current Head Softball Coach
US Navy Reserve
1971-77
Oakton Community College, Ill.
Victor Fuentes
Current Member of Men's Soccer Team
SGT, US Army
September 2004 - September 2005 & August 2006 - September 2007, Iraq War
Pima Community College, Ariz.
Grant S. Waltke
Current Men's Golf Coach and Former Golfer at Pima
US Air Force
1966-68, Pilot Training in Air National Guard (Ft. Wayne, Ind.)
1968-74, Staff Sgt., Air National Guard, Tucson, Ariz.
1989-91, Staff Sgt., Air National Guard, Tucson, Ariz.
Jerry Stitt
Assistant Athletic Director
E-5, US Army
May 1968 - May 1974, Tucson, Ariz.
Jason Osborn
Current Football Player
E-6 T SGT, Air Force
2001, Kessler AFB, Miss.
2001-04, Scott AFB, Ill.
2004-07, Raf Mildenhall, England
2006, Balad AFB, Iraq
2008 - Present, Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, Ariz.
Edgar F. Soto
Athletic Director and Baseball Coach
E-4, US Marine Corps
October 1993 - August 2001, Tucson, Ariz.
David G. Herrera
Men's & Women's Basketball Administrator
WWII
Boatswain Mate 2, US Navy
1941-45, South Pacific (New Guinea, Australia & Philippines)
Private, US Army
1940-1941, Fort Sill, Okla. & Abilene, Texas
Pratt Community College, Kan.
Corey Ferrell
Cross Country/Track & Field Asst. Coach
SGT, US Marine Corps
August 05 - March 06 & April 08 - Sept. 08, Iraq War
Roane State Community College
Renard Leron Flowers
Current Men's Basketball Player
SGT, US Marine Corp.
Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan
Camp Fallujah, Iraq
Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Rock Valley College
Chris Bowlen
Current Men's Basketball Player
E5, US Navy
2004-08, Norfolk, Va.
St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley
James Langley
Current Men's Soccer Player
Sgt. E5, US Marine Corp
2002-06 / 2008-09, MCAS Miramar
2003, Iraq War Deployment
2004-05, Iraq War Deployment
2008-09, Iraq War Deployment
Scottsdale Community College, Ariz.
Anson McEachern
Equipment Manager
E-4 Communication Specialist, US Army
Drew Thompson
Current Football Player
SGT, US Marines
2003-09, Two Tours in Iraq War (Falujah, Ramadi, Syrian border, Al Asad, Baghdad)
South Plains College, Texas
Former Track and Field Athletes from SPC that are Veterans of the Military
Kevin Lyons, Edward McCloyen., Johnny Ramos, Carlos Ybarra, Pete Gomez, Jimmy Sendejas, Brad Raven, Kevin Wiley, David Garcia (Purple Heart earned in Mosul, Iraq this year), Precilla Howard, Blanca Reyes, Ricky Serrato, Edmond Chapa, Bobby Sain, Juan Rodriguez, Denes Balazs, Robbie Brown and Louis Koiner
Southwest Mississippi Community College
James L. Williams
Current Head Track & Field Coach
E-5, US Navy
1971-75, Lakhurst, N.J.; Albany, Ga.; Key West, Fla.
Charlie Floyd
Current Women's Track & Field Coach
US Army
State College of Florida
Lewis Gibson
Current Head Volleyball Coach
Active Duty US Navy, August 1986-March 1990
Deigo Garcia BIOT
Naval Security Group Activity
Adak, Alaska
Cryptologic Technician Technical Third Class (E-4)
Legal Specialist (E-4), Army Reserve-32nd Transportation Command, August 2000-March 2001
Surry Community College, N.C.
Tom Pendergraft
Current Men's & Women's Golf Coach
First Sergeant, US Army
82 Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, N.C., 1960-1981
Tallahassee Community College, Fla.
Bernard James
Current Member of Men's Basketball Team
MP, US Air Force
2002-08
Iraq War
Tyler Junior College, Texas
John Peterson
Current Men's & Women's Tennis Coach
1st Lt., US Air Force
1970-1975
Moody AFB, Valdosta, Ga.
Eglin AFB, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.
Columbus AFB, Columbus, Miss.
Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas
Charles Smith
Current Assistant Athletic Director
Technical Sergeant (E-6)
July 2001-present, 207th RED HORSE Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
September 2007-July 2008, Iraq War, 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadraon, Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.
February 2005-May 2006, Iraq Wary, MPA War Efforts in lieu of Mobilization, , 2d Civil Engineering Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
July 2004-August 2004, Operation Noble Eagle, National Defense, Homeland Security, Presidential Secretary, Andrews AFB, Md.
June 2005 & May 2006, 554th RED HORSE Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
September 2005, 55th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
Contanya "Tan" Robertson
Former Assistant Athletic Trainer
2 Lt., US Army
August 1998-present , Texas National Guard
February 2000-September 2000, Tuzla, Bosmnia-Hertzegovina
August 2004-present, ETS National Guard
June 2009, Active Duty-Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Ga.
Currently at Fort Lee, Va., awaiting branch school to become Ordnance Officer
Zephan Cannon
Former Student Athletic Trainer, 2006-2008
Lance Corporal, US Marines
Station at 20 Palms in California
Vincennes University, Ind.
Zac Holmes
Current Member of Men's Cross Country
US Army
2004-08, Fort Lewis, Wash.; Two Deployments to Afghanistan War
Walter State Community College, Tenn.
Bill E. Gardner
Current Head Men's Golf Coach and Former Basketball and Baseball Coach
E-4, US Army
1966-68, Seoul, South Korea
Jared Smith
Public Address Announcer for Walters State
Petty Officer 3rd Class, US Navy
1981-85, USS Inchon (home port Norfolk, Va.)
Westmoreland County Community College, Pa.
Jim Roberts
Head Softball Coach
IC2, United States Navy
July 1976-July 1980
