Fresno City College honored “The Greatest Generation” during a Veteran’s Day celebration on Nov. 7. The ceremony, held at the Veteran’s Peace Memorial, concentrated on veterans who served in World War II during the wars in the Pacific and in Europe.
The event remembered the raising of the flag in Iwo Jima, the pummeling of Pearl Harbor by Japanese planes and the victorious campaign of U.S. forces in the battle of the Coral Sea. It recalled the battle of the Bulge, the Italian Campaign, and the Final Offensive against Germany.
Robert E. Fox, Dean of Student Services, warned those gathered that they would be listening to the sounds of propellers from the Black Hawk helicopter that flew overhead.
Fox said, “We dedicate this fly-over to the brave men and women currently serving in times of war…and those who answered our nation’s call to arms in the past and stood on the ramparts of freedom in times of war and peace.”
Fox continued, “Today we pay special tribute to those great Americans who were raised during the great depression, fought in World War II, worked on the farms and in the factories, and sacrificed for the war effort while maintaining the home front.”
FCC’s interim president, Dr. Guy Lease, spoke about one California hero, Pat Bowman, who was raised in Los Angeles during the depression and was an 18- year- old freshmen at UCLA when WWII broke out. Bowman volunteered to join the fight and became a pilot in the Army Air Corp.
After his training, Lease continued, “Bowman served in the Pacific where he met a young nurse from Pennsylvania whom he eventually married. Upon completion of his tour in New Guinea, he was reassigned to be a pilot trainer in the U.S., and he later joined a bomber squadron in England.
“He flew many missions in the last year of the war over Germany and many of the other countries that were conquered by the Nazis earlier in the war.”
Lease said, “In two of the three squadrons, he was the lone surviving pilot.”
Lease told those gathered that the California hero was in fact his own father-in-law.
Later, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Bob Small led the invocation, followed by the raising of the colors. California Heartland Chorus performed the Star Spangled Banner. Then came an armed-forces salute.
Arthur Hill and Fredric Earnest Von Ruden were honored with the Citizen Soldier Award for their service in the Army and Navy.
The event respectively featured a display of a submarine model.
“It’s the latest class of the United States submarines…The fast attack,” said Navy Sailor Jim VanVranken.
Van Vranken and fellow Navy officer Rocky Rokers joked that they represent the highest class in the navy, “We are submarine sailors.”
The displayed submarine is a model-sized version of the sub that shot the Tomahawk missiles during Operation Dessert Storm.
Rockers said, “Over 90% of the missiles [in Desert Storm] were shot from a submarine 200 miles away.”
VanVracken added, “We brought it here to show people, and make them aware of sub marine sailors.”
The ceremony continued with a performance by FCC’s New Wrinkles called the “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” which was followed by a Hula Performance by the Polynesian Club of Fresno.
The tribute to the “Greatest Generation” concluded with a Rifle Salute.
FCC student Petrina Daw, a cadet sergeant majoring in psychology said, “I think it’s amazing; It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to work with our veterans, and it’s an honor to be around people who have been there, done that, and fought the great wars.”
