Spirit of the Fourth

Representing the theme of “In the Spirit of Service” are Grand Marshals Bobby Cheatom, Ernest H. Collier, Esequiel Briones Leos, Gunnery Sergeant Philip Bishop, Joseph A. Petrini, Lieutenant Will Whiteman, U.S. Navy, Major Dudley Elmore, Master Sergeant Torain S. Kelley, Orlow F. Garrett, Robert Holloway, Solomon K. Espinda, and Ulysses Miller, Jr., who are representing the Wounded Warriors from the following conflicts:  World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The 2010 Spirit of the Fourth Grand Marshals are all Purple Heart Recipients.

BOBBY CHEATOM

Mr. Bobby Cheatom is a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran who was awarded his Purple Heart while serving with the 212^th Military Police Company, 519^th Infantry Battalion, of the 8^th Army in Korea.  Mr. Cheatom was wounded on March 19, 1953, while serving in North Korea, when his position was overrun.

Mr. Cheatom also served with the 101^st Airborne Division, 101^st Military Police Company, while stationed in Vietnam.

ERNEST H. COLLIER

Mr. Ernest H. Collier is a Korean War veteran whose Purple Heart was earned in South Korea in 1951.  The battle area was near Pusan, Korea.  The actual award was made by General Mark Clark at Letterman Hospital, in San Francisco, CA.

Mr. Collier has the distinction of entering the U.S. Army as a member of the 9^th Horse Calvary Regiment (otherwise known as the “Buffalo Soldiers”) in December 1942.

ESEQUIEL BRIONES LEOS

Mr. Esequiel Briones Leos is a Korean War veteran who was awarded his Purple Heart for wounds received on May 15, 1953.  Mr. Leos was stationed at an outpost called “Dale,” which was adjacent to the infamous location called “Pork Chop Hill,” Korea.  Mr. Briones received his award during a hospital ceremony in 1953.

GUNNERY SERGEANT PHILIP BISHOP

Gunnery Sergeant Philip Bishop, (ret.) has served 26 years in the U.S. Marine Corp and has seen duty in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.  Sergeant Bishop is the recipient of two (2) Purple Hearts.  He was awarded his first Purple Heart for wound received in Korea during October 1950.  His second Purple Heart was awarded for wounds received in Vietnam.

JOSEPH A. PETRINI

Mr. Joseph Petrini is a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded his awarded his Purple Heart while serving as a U.S. Marine.  Mr. Petrini was walking point in An Hoa Basin, Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam, when wounded on February 17, 1970.

Mr. Petrini and his family are residents of Rancho Bernardo since 1982. His real estate office is also in RB.

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM WHITEMAN

Lieutenant Will Whiteman, U.S. Navy, is an active duty Iraq Freedom veteran who serves as a Counter-Intelligence/Human Intelligence Officer with the Multi-National Force - Iraq C2 Team.  Lt. Whiteman has been awarded two (2) Purple Hearts for wounds incurred in battle.

Lt. Whiteman earned his first Purple Heart on April 1, 2006, at Mosul, Iraq, during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded his second Purple Heart for wounds incurred on August 19, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation Enduring Freedom.

MAJOR DUDLEY ELMORE

Major Dudley (Doug) Elmore is an Afghanistan War veteran who was awarded his Purple Heart for wounds received on July 2, 2002.  Major Elmore was on a medical mission while serving with the 1980 Forward Surgical Team (F.S.T.), 3^rd Brigade, 101^st Airborne Division, stationed at Kandahar, Afghanistan.

MASTER SERGEANT TORAIN S. KELLEY

MSgt. Torain S. Kelley is an active duty Marine who is an Iraqi War veteran.  MSgt. Kelley was wounded on November 11, 2004, while serving with the 1^st Battalion, 3^rd Marines.  He came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades while participating in “Operation Phantom Fury” near Fallujah, Iraq.

ORLOW F. (”Buzz”) GARRETT

Mr. Orlow F. Garrett is a World War II veteran who was awarded two (2) Purple Hearts.  Mr. Garrett was first wounded in “Operation Dragoon” near the city of Besancon, France, on September 7, 1944.  He was wounded a second time while fighting to liberate Germany on April 12, 1945, resulting in the award of his second Purple Heart.

It is very noteworthy that “Buzz” Garrett was recently awarded France’s highest honor medal, the French Legion of Honor, for the defense of France and the Allied effort.  The medal was awarded on May 8, 2010, at the French Consulate in Beverly Hills, CA.

ROBERT HOLLOWAY

Mr. Bob Holloway is a Korean War veteran who was awarded his Purple Heart for injuries incurred in battle in the Panmunjon area of central Korea.  Mr. Holloway had the distinct honor of having his Purple Heart pinned on his flax jacket, by his Commanding Officer, Brigadier General Chesty Puller of the 5^th Marines, 2^nd Battalion, Fox Company.  Bob’s award was on February 25, 1953.

SOLOMON K. ESPINDA

Mr. Solomon K. Espinda is an Iraqi War veteran.

ULYSSES MILLER, JR.

Mr. Ulysses Miller, Jr., is a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries incurred while performing an Air Force Special Operations mission in Phouc Vinh, South Vietnam.  The medal was awarded by Headquarters, 7^th Air Force, A.P.O., San Francisco, CA, on 20 December 1969.

Mr. Miller is also the Commander of Chapter 0049 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in San Diego.  Chapter 0049 is the largest Purple Heart chapter in the state of California.